Getting the hang of vendor events ....

It's October and as always, the smell of the air;  semi-crisp, turning-leaf-deliciousness,  introduces yet another autumn to the lower Hudson Valley.  With it continues the assortment of craft fairs, flea markets and pop up shops hoping to take advantage of the cooler climes and potential shoppers getting a jump on holiday gift giving .  I've learned since joining the deluge of craft vendors back in 2011 with my Lollypups Petwear offerings, that my best customer is the devoted dog lover/pet parent and they can be found, en masse, at pet events with names like Puptoberfest, Petpalooza, Hounds on the Sound, Mystic Krew of Barkus, Bark in the Park. NY Pet Fashion Week, of which I was a participant over the years.  It did take a period of trial and error, kind of a sledgehammer to the head realization, to conclude that non-pet events were a waste of time and to exclude them going forward. The pet events are always for a good cause too, and those attending like the idea that part of my proceeds is going toward pet adoptions, or running a no kill shelter. However, that being said,

My summer 2016 vendor experience was a bust because: 
a) torrential rain is not conducive to foot traffic
b) potential shower forecast is not conducive to foot traffic
c) farmer's markets aren't craft fairs
d) some craft fairs don't allow dogs

....hence, my aforementioned conclusion.

So starting fresh in the fall has produced 3 events for dogs, about dogs, FILLED with dogs, and attended by like minded dog lovers who truly appreciate what I create for their fur babies. I look forward to seeing all the pets sashay and strut with their proud mamas and papas and am happy to hear their stories, especially when they say their pets are rescues.  Sales soar at these events.   A customer can try a harness vest or sweater on their pet rather than just guess if it will fit, and that, more times than not, generates a sale.  I do have photographs of various dogs hanging in funky frames around the booth,that can be referred to for breed,  weight, size etc. which works often too.

Although, in the past, my concentration was on smaller dogs up to 20 pounds, I decided this year to start supplementing my handmade offerings, , with a small assortment of items for bigger dogs as well. Through the NY Now gift show this summer, I was able to add a few leashes, collars, toys, pet themed totes and charms and spa products, purchased at low minimums, to try out. So far, its proven to be a good move.

So having a small business is a continuous, ongoing learning process and sometimes, it takes several tries to recognize what works and what doesn't.  I still love what I do, the process, the designing, the people and dogs I meet. I don't know how long I'll be able to do this vendor part of the business, but while I have the determination and energy to make it work, I'm still loving the ride. Happy Fall!!

Winter has wisked by and here we are in Spring.......NOT

So November being my last post does NOT mean I've been sitting around eating gelato, taking in a theater performance now and then, visiting museums, having regular spa days or, in short....living the luxurious life of a semi-retiree.  Though they are things I'd love to do, I have instead, been filling my days with an overabundance of:

1. Major dieting and gym workouts, resulting in 23 pounds less of me! My knees are rejoicing as is my husband.

2. Holiday lunacy that occurs annually through January with our extended mixed bag of Jewish, Atheist, Christian, Wiccan, Pagan family members....or as we encapsulate the season, Merry Melvin to one and all. 

3. Snow shoveling a path for Ginger's "constitutionals" since walking her has been out of the question and she doesn't want to anyway. The frozen ice around the windows began its annual dripping invasion onto our living room floor.  (No need for my complaining here, EVERYONE had these winter thorns to contend with)

Some good came out of it though. 1) I had enough pots to catch the drips and,  2) I was forced to stay inside and design and make more items for my etsy shop and the upcoming craft show venues. AND Lollypups sweater sales were brisk!! 

4. Trips to NYC for fabric shows, trim shopping, seminars and meeting with potential vendors...all very fruitful I'm happy to add in spite of the tumultuous weather on those days.

5. A little flurry of freelance textile work, always welcome no matter how busy I am. (so nice to get paid for my efforts now and then)

5a.....  Of course, an added monkey wrench tossed into February's activities was my clumsy left foot causing my hard working computer tower to topple over. The screen that displayed my Photoshop textile repeat turned to a pixilated jumble similar to a 1960's psychedelic light show at the Fillmore West. I frantically tried to back up folder after folder, all the while listening to it moan, and groan and crackle until its final death knell......black screen and silence!   So what's the best thing to do in a situation like this..........?

6. Abandon ship and head to FLORIDA for a much needed 16 day respite from the harsh winter climes, with Ginger in tow and surrounded by orchids, koi, palm trees and a jacuzzi!!!

7. March brought more snow but with it came a fabulous birthday weekend with family visits, big noisy Italian dinner, and ample commotion from above mentioned mixed bag  AND my delicious grand babies allowing me my fill of juicy jubbly kisses....well, not my fill but lots!!

8.  Mad weekend over and bed rest called for........SO ready for that gelato.

November already??

Much time has passed and things have certainly been lively here in Lollypups Land since my last post.  First and foremost, new grand baby Evelyn Pearl came into the world on September 26 two weeks early and Ginger and I were there to witness her birth.  Well, not exactly witness, since I used the excuse of a potty break to whisk her out of the house just as my daughter's contractions got truly intense and I began demanding drugs for her.   My job, though I admittedly was against the whole home birth thing from the get go, was to ......yep, boil water!!! Just like in the cowboy movies!!  Seems there’s a portable 4 foot deep inflatable birthing tub used in a home birth, and by the time we all realized that my daughter’s labor was not Braxton-Hicks but real true labor, the hot water heater gave out only halfway through filling it.  So there I was, rushing into the sun porch with giant pots of steaming water, sweat pouring down my armpits, my skin the pasty white pallor of a mother watching her little girl in pain and all I could do was pour water into a tub.  How do you explain this to a martian? Job done, Ginger and I abandoned ship (yes, I just couldn't bear watching what was going on) and while walking outside for a mere 2 minutes.... out slid this little bitty pinkness into that very tub.  Got a cell phone call from daughter #1 to come back in and meet my grand daughter so back I ran with wings on my feet, dragging poor Ginger, mid-pee, behind me.  Ah motherhood!

The Berkshire Botanical Gardens Oktoberfest turned out to be a success even though dogs weren’t allowed on the premises (except of course, Ginger)  It was a glorious weekend, after a bit of rain on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday were perfect. Wanting to experience a New England Autumn at peak foliage, our friends Frank and Julie decided to join JL and I, and ended being a tremendous help!  As was Ginger!!! Sales were brisk and I happily found two beautiful bolts of wool plaid for a mere $4.00 each!! Love those tag sales.
 
Next up, a Holiday Market on the first weekend of December in Stanhope, New Jersey so I've been working on new harnesses and trying to make as much product with a holiday theme as possible.  I also want to do a couple of  black velvet confections for those who fancy some kind of party ensemble for their pup .  Two weeks should turn up something.
I finally got to use the green fringed wool I purchased 2 years ago in Nyack and wanted to add a new Winter Mittens style but ran out of the felt mittens from Tinsel Trading.  Instead, I decided to applique mittens and add little gingerbread men buttons, to kind of update the look.
I'm also able to make it a tad cheaper, so we'll see how that plays out. Our first ever "Pupperwear Party" will take place on Sunday Dec. 14th at my friend Frank's Chelsea high rise apartment,  over populated by multiple varieties of small dogs.  If this works out, I'll look into doing more in other buildings in and around Manhattan.  More on that later. 

All I can say is .......whoa what a ride!!!

The last couple of weeks as a deaf invalid were definitely NOT the high points I imagined for July's end. My viral infection cleared up ok thanks to antibiotics but my ears have not.  (question: which is worse, not being able to speak or not being able to hear?.....)  However,  I had no problem hearing myself bark like an old woman....Heh???.....what???....WHAT??? How truly annoying absolute silence is!  I remember when I relished my "quiet time" only to realize, now, that it was never TRULY quiet. Next step, steroids for 6 days. ENT doc says that should do the trick and I have no choice but to believe the end is at hand,  lest my head explode in silent frustration.  Happily I did attend an outdoor jazz concert at Lyndhurst with friends this past thursday. My first night out in two weeks!   I'm told the band was so bad deafness would have been a blessing to all who attended.  I count myself lucky on that one.

I've been getting as many harnesses and leashes finished as I can in preparation for the upcoming vendor events in September and October,   but am having a hell of a time with the male pattern for the Halloween concept.  Notched collars are way more complicated than I figured on.  I'll get there I'm sure, it's just another minor frustration to add to my deafness, my inability to adopt a dog, and our missed opportunity to spend a weekend with my daughter, son-in-law and grandbaby at a beautiful lake house.  

I've been working on some more creative concepts for the vendor booth too. I feel with these two coming up, I'd like a snazzy set up to attract more customers.  One is a pet event so that's a captive audience anyway,  but the other is a big, high end crafts event at the Berkshire Botanical Gardens ....classy but no dogs allowed.  I think the more attractive the display, the more chance I have at being noticed.  So I made flags to drape in the front and cut out funky frames for the dog portraits. (two more to go)   Ofcourse the sweaters hanging on the grids at the front always attract attention but I want people to meander inside too.  I found a great idea that I'd like to try for hanging light weight shelves made of foam core board and hung from the ceiling with cord.  That way the harnesses will be displayed at different levels rather than crowded on a table and I also have that great chartreuse hat rack I bought some years ago to hang scarves, or leashes . note to self: remember to pack the mirror this time :(

Wish I had a funky chandelier too  but who knows, maybe something will turn up. 
So very glad to be back on track!!

Germ Factory at it again.....

...and so it goes.....again, the best laid plans get a monkey wrench tossed into the works.  A severe throat and ear infection has had me laid up for the past week and no end in sight, though after yesterday's doctor visit (quote:  "oh, those ears look very unhappy") I am now on antibiotics and ear drops.  Still can't hear but happily, I can talk once again.

In the mornings, I managed to finish some more harnesses and leashes in preparation for the upcoming vendor events, though it felt as if I was performing each task wearing a football helmet laden with iron pellets. I was accepted into the Hudson Valley Etsy Team https://www.facebook.com/hudsonvalleyetsyteam which thus far, has been very informative and I even signed up for a new event called "Puptoberfest" http://www.ehrdogs.org/info/display?PageID=12113 to take place September 20th, at Horseshoe Lake in Succasunna, NJ which was recommended by a fellow team member. Something I had no idea about. It is run by an adoption organization called "Eleventh Hour Rescue" and I'm told good things about it.
I feel being included in this team is just the thing I need to get me out of isolation mode, which can so often happen, being the sole employee in a small business. Great comraderie so far, and likes, tweets, tags and pins are very important I'm told, in the social media rich business world.  So Puptoberfest in September, and Octoberfest in Stockbridge in October, should satisfy my craft fair itch for 2014.  New baby due early October, will take care of the rest of the year. :)

My focus now is on the upcoming holidays and realize that pet lovers like to celebrate with their pets.  Without changing the Lollypups philosophy of "dogs deserve dignity", I am making refined autumn garments with a Halloween feel without resorting to "hot dog" or "Yoda" costumes.  Most of those little beings look soooooo unhappy and "undignified".  

I'm loving the way the Halloween Chic harness vest and leash are coming out though.  I'll be listing this one shortly on https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lollypups?ref=si_shop and on the LP website. Also working on another option without the ruffles and center hook and eye trim.  It would be a bit more male oriented, and the idea of making my own buttons with vintage Halloween images and resin domes is more and more appealing considering each one I sourced costs $9.00 (yikes).  I already have the bezels and can easily attach a shank with resin as I was advised by the YouTube tutorials out there.
Next on the menu, a rain slicker (though laminated fabric is rather summery but could work). Also in the works, a  sweet little fringed number similar to the Winter Mittens style in a subtly textured forest green wool.  I'm sourcing different embellishments but I would LOVE to find those adorable felt "winter" mittens in white and white mittens would make the style look new and fresh. Something will turn up I'm sure and once I'm all healed, I'll be making my trek into the city to search for new things.  I missed the Texworld expo and the Fashion Mfg Showcase expo at FIT last week which really bummed me out, but the D&G expo is the first week of August and that one is the one I prefer for fabric, embellishment and trim resources.  

I've been actively sending in adoption forms all over the place, inquiring about adoptees from Pets Alive, Petfinder, Adopt a pet, Allpaws, Bichon Frise rescue, Best friends animal Society, North Shore Animal League, the list goes on and on.  Laying in bed with an ipad has its upside..... I found several sweeties I would have loved only to be told that they were already adopted.  Good for them but disappointing for me. Somewhere out there, I know she's waiting for me to find her so the hunt will continue as long as it takes, since I've definitely reached a milestone in my desire to parent another dog.  A good thing for sure. Although Lacy still has my heart and I still tear up thinking about her, I know it's time.