Winter Show

We enjoyed meeting all of the people and dogs that attended the AKC 2010 winter show. We got a chance to test a couple of our new collar racks out, and were pleased at how they turned out.

Here are a few pictures from the event:

I've started a photo album of customers dogs sporting their new neckwear. If you would like to have your dog(s) added, send a clear image(s) to info@nearlynakedneckwear.com and we would be thrilled to add them to the website gallery and the photo album.

To the left of the photo album in this picture is the trim swatch book. This is where I have a small sample of each trim I have in stock. I'm not sure if this makes it easier, or more difficult for people to choose their custom collars, LOL.

There are now smaller collars and more matching leashes now available from the feedback I have received. If you have any comments or suggestions for items for us to carry, feel free to let us know. I am currently working on sizing for double-bar buckle collars, adjustable buckle-free collars, combination buckle & chain martingales and combination buckle and webbing martingale collars. Also on the list of items to eventually start making are harnesses, matching key fobs/keychains, and possibly matching belts for people.

I'm currently scoping out shows for the spring & summer, and trying to book booths where I can. Upcoming events will be listed here when bookings have been finalized.

The AKC Winter 2010 Dog Show

Nearly Naked will be setting up a booth at the Alberta Kennel Club Winter 2010 Dog Show, which will be held on February 5, 6 & 7 at the Big Four at Stampede Park. There will be hundreds of collars to choose from, including many matching collar & leash sets, to fit dogs big and small. Custom orders are welcome!

Upcoming Events

Nearly Naked will be setting up a table at the Training Troop's 2009 Pre-Hallowe'en Howler October 24 & 25, 2009. This is an agility trial that is held at the Training Troop Trial Site: Wet Creek Stables, which is an indoor facility 20 minutes from downtown Calgary (6.4 km west of Deerfoot Trail at the Balzac turn-off ).

For a map to this location, please visit the Training Troop's website:

http://www.trainingtroop.rocky-dog.com/tt_trials.html#October

We will also be attending the Elbow Valley Arts & Crafts Market on November 14 & 15, 2009. This event is being held at the Elbow Springs Golf Club. Follow the signs off Highway #8 on your way out of Calgary heading toward Bragg Creek. For more information please e-mail for details.

Two More Weiners

The two new weiner dog mannequins have arrived, and boy do they look great! I can't wait to use them at upcoming events.

We will be at the Elbow Springs Golf & Country Club on Saturday & Sunday (November 14 & 15) for their Annual Elbow Valley Arts & Crafts Christmas Market. In the works are some Christmas themed leash & collar sets, and a few other Christmas themed collars.

Have You Seen My Weiner?

I'm still not sure what to name him, but it'll come. He did a good job modeling at the PADS Event, and will hopefully have a long and successful career ahead. There will be two more weiner dogs joining him in the near future, to help model collars on different coat colours. I've chosen to have a black and cream, as well as a cappuccino and cream dog mannequin made up. This will come in handy for events that it is impractical or not permitted to bring live models.

Here I am trying to get as many collars up on the display racks as I can without dropping them all. Apparently I can't count peg holes, and it took forever to get them all in the right spots. Some days there is not enough coffee in the world.

Hopefully next year we will have a booth at the Lilac Festival, the Sun & Salsa Festival, and the Pet Expo in Calgary. There are a few dog shows and events that I'm keen to see if we can get registered for as well. If anyone knows of some great events, please let us know. :)

The Weiner Dog

This Friday I am expecting a package from UPS, containing the newest NNN collar model. Okay, so he's not going to be quite as good looking or cuddly as my current models (Summer, Kitty & Willow), but he will travel well, be accepted anywhere, is non-allergenic, never has to pee, eat or be taken for walks, and he can wear a LOT of collars all at once. He is an extra-long weiner dog mannequin. I can't wait to meet him, and then I get to name him.

I'm still sewing like crazy to get a few more collars put together before Sunday's event. My latest count puts the total around 330 completed collars. I think I might be able to get another dozen or so done, depending if the dogs will settle and let me sew.

The Collar Room

These are 2" webbing martingales in progress. I'm hoping to have these completed in the next day or so. The PADS event is getting closer and I need some more goodies to sell. After I finish with the 2" & 1 1/2" ones, I'll start on some 1" collars.

Here are the 'models' taking a break, LOL! More like they are wondering when we are going for our walk.

Here are some spools of jacquard trims. I do carry a few grosgrain and satin trims, but the jacquards are so much nicer. Buying in spools is cheaper than by the yard, and also the way most of my suppliers sell it.

This is my way of trying to keep things in their place. Although, I'm running out of place to keep things...

I try to colour-match as closely as I can to both the trim and the satin, and as a result I have over a hundred spools of 100% polyester thread that I can see. Gosh, I didn't realize there were so many...

It's back to work now.