Category Archives: Blog

Blog, Mimi Shows

Dash and Dawdle Love

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

We didn’t dash and we didn’t dawdle, but I am sure tired today after the Doggie Dash and Dawdle a the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park yesterday!

IMG_1068

(check Cessie out in the bottom right hand corner– she had a blast until she tried to kill a black dog that was 4 times bigger than her! Then she was in time out for the rest of the day)

We met the nicest people (dog people always are right?) and saw the sweetest dogs. I have to say I was disappointed about one thing: I didn’t see a single Setter! That’s all I wanted to see, preferably an Irish Setter but I would have settled for ANY Setter. Not one. Come on Albuquerque! Is there no Setter love here?  I have been really wanting one since I started reading Lucky Fiona’s blog — she also happens to make Dog collars that are very cool, very different from mine, but very cool none the less — She has 3 gorgeous Setters yet Albuquerque doesn’t seem to have a single one. What is up with that???

I was nervous and way busy so I didn’t get great photos, which was really my only regret of the day. We had so much fun, but boy, I have never been so tired! I think it was from spending so much time playing with the doggies, I am getting too old to be bending over all day long!

IMG_1063

The Balloon Fiesta Park is beautiful already, but with thousands of dogs running around it was even cooler.  I can’t wait to see what kind of response our online shop gets from this show. Shockingly we have only had 2 orders from Albuquerque so far so I hope this show got our name out there to all the doggie mommas and daddies out here!

The best part of the day was seeing all the local rescues. So many animals are in need and this was a great benefit for them. I only wish we could have done more.

I did learn a few more things to add to my Craft Show Tips, more on that tomorrow….

Blog

Meet Meru…

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

hound dog, Meru

She is a stunning hound from Utah. Her momma Pamela was nice enough to send me this pic of Meru from a hike they took together.  She is so beautiful! She reminds me of Etta if Etta were a hound. And what a beautiful coat! I just wanna pet her SO bad.

Pamela says all of Meru's friends are jealous of her new collar. I wonder if they are GREEN with envy… hehe.

Blog, Fashion love, Limited Edition Mimi, Sew Sew Sew

Rhapsody in Blue Dog Collar

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

rhapsody in blue dog collar

Today I was inspired. KNME had a show on about young composers and musicians and I was so moved while watching it that I think I came up with a new super cool collar design. Fittingly, I named it “Rhapsody in Blue”.

I’ve been waiting to make a Limited Edition Collar in a boyish color. I just couldn’t find a fabric that moved me. Then this : linen colored with blue polkadot flowers. Perfection. Then I hand beaded the petals with the tiniest beads, they look so delicate, but really they aren’t I had to run the collar through all the buckles after I beaded it, didn’t effect the beads. Then I ran the sewing machine over them to sew it to the webbing and not a one flew off. Awesome. It will work on Cessie even though she is constantly scratching around her collar. rhapsody in blue dog collar

I think I will make 25 ‘Rhapsodys” so get them while you can. They will be on Etsy for $22.50.
rhapsody in blue dog collar

Blog

Doggie Dash and Dawdle Nervousness

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

I am feeling the crunch more than usual lately, but it is for a good cause. On Nov. 2 we will have a super cool booth at the 26th Annual Doggie Dash and Dawdle at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park. The Dash benifits New Mexico Animal Humane, which in my opinion is the best animal shelter in town.

Doggie-dash-2008

 I am super excited to be part of this, but super nervous too! I can't sleep because I keep having thoughts like

"What if I don't take enough product to sell and I run out?"

"What if I don't sell anything at all?"

"What if I can't make my booth cool enough?"

"What if I oversleep and miss the whole thing?"

and on and on. Last night Auggie managed to sleep almost the ENTIRE night, which is awesome for him, but his momma was up being a worry wart till 1 am. And not up watching TV or surfing the Internet, I mean up, wide awake in my bed — which is totally the worst.

There is going to be 3,000 people at the Doggie Dash and Dawdle which is the biggest show I have ever done.  Gosh, I am getting butterflies just thinking about it.

My sister Paula interviewed me yesterday for her school project. She asked me what my weapon of choise would be if I were a super hero. I said and eye linner and a sewing hook. I don't feel much like a superhero right now, but I am hoping to turn into one so I can get ready for Nov. 2.  Weapons of choice for that day? A big smile ( that I won't be able to help having because I get to see so many super cool dogs there!) and 100 collars and Leashes. Mimi Green would be proud of that.

Blog

Doggie Couture, “Adorn Me”

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

The whole reason that Mimi Green started was because I didn’t have a collar beautiful enough to suit my Cecilia. I made her one with super cool scraps that I had and 2 vintage buttons, remember?

My mother in law gave me the nicest gift of jars and jars of vintage buttons last month — these are fantastic buttons, they even got Dan excited!  The more I played with them the more I realized that they belonged on a collar, a beautiful, wonderful collar.
Well I think Dan realized it first, but that’s what is great about him, we are always on the same page.

Red

Here is a peek at “Adorn me #1”  a little piece of Mimi Green Couture for your dog

It is a size medium and there is only one of these in the world.

It is going to be in my etsy store very soon, I can’t wait to get it off to one special dog. And I can’t wait to show you more one of a kind collars that these buttons inspire.

Blog, Mimi Shows, Sew Sew Sew

Tijeras Open Air Market LOVE , XO

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Tijeras Open Air Market. The list of artists looked impressive, but I wasn’t sure if being so far away would be good for drawing a crowd. I was so wrong. We were there yesterday on a slow day (the weather was yucky in town) and the crowd was still phenomenal.
Shoppers seemed so happy to be there and were ready to shop. I felt like they did, I was in such a good mood just for being there. The landscape is stunning in Tijeras and it felt so good to get out of the city and into the fresh, clean air in the mountains.

DSC00878

This was the awesome view from my booth. The booths are already set up, and if you do more than one day you can just put the canvas walls down and leave your tables on site. Makes set up so much easier!
Anna King is the owner of Just Imagine Gallery and the Tijeras Open Air Market. She was an absolute joy to work with — not like other gallery owners I have encountered in my time! In fact half the day went by without me even knowing she was the owner.  I guess I was looking for an uptight, upset, pushy person walking around and instead the owner was so easy going, doing the hula-hoop with another artist! This was a much needed breath of fresh air!  (Please excuse me if you are a gallery owner. I’m sure you aren’t all nervous, pretentious people, but I have had some bad experiences with the gallery folk being down to earth)

DSC00875

Here is my sis Paula working hard for Mimi Green.
The morning didn’t start out so well, but Paula saved the day. First I got up an hour late, we arrived with 20 minutes to set up, and then all my ideas for how I was going to hang the photos fell apart. Finally Paula thought out of the box and made them all hang from the rope we were using as a clothes line (which was Kim’s fantastic idea!) We only got to hang like half of the photos I framed and matted, but that was okay because if I had been there alone none of them would have been hung! Paula was awesome, a natural.
DSC00869

Kim came over Friday and helped me figure out displays. She made this super cool one in the basket. Key fobs are hanging from the sides and there are collar and leash sets inside. Noah pained the frames for me– I thought he did such a good job! I love how he takes interest in my silly projects.
DSC00879

I got to give treats to a super cute Chow named Chewbacca and a gorgeous standard poodle named Poodle;) And I sold lots of tags, collars, and 1 key fab and bought two perfumes from the Laughing Turtle Soap Co. —  They make fantastic body products that are all natural which means I can use them which makes me super happy!

All in all a fantastic day. I can’t wait till next year so I can sign up early and do all the Tijeras Open Air Markets. They start in May and run till Oct.

Blog

Ponoko, John McCain Jewelry, and Tijeras Open Air Market — in no specific order

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

I really love when I think of the perfect piece of furniture that would just complete my living room. I really HATE that I usually can’t find it to buy nor do I know how to go about making it myself.

Those days are over. Today I read about Ponoko.com where you can either photograph or scan in a drawing of what you might want and Ponoko will tell you how much it will cost for them to make it for you. Better than just that, they will make it right here in the U.S.
Making a piece of furniture is just the tip of the ice burg.

Do you need a John McCain necklace? Ponoko can make you one, as strange as it is.

Johnmc

A new lampshade that you designed? A solar powered remove control truck? If you can dream it, Ponoko can make it.

And as and added bonus, after Ponoko produces it they will help you to sell it if you so wish. They will even show you how to cut costs.  There isn’t much this company can’t make and because of that, you will feel like the King of the World. Trust me here.

I wonder if they can make robots that can help sew. I am sitting under a heap of fabric getting ready for the Open Air Markert i am doing this weekend in Tijeras, NM. If you are in NM you should come on out. It looks way fun, music, food, lots of art– good times. 10-5 Sat. and Sunday although I think Mimi will only be there Sat. That is all I can handle I think!

Fairpic13

I have never done a show where I have my own tent. Kim printed a ton of photos for me of the 7 crazy dog shoot  and I am going to hang those for decoration and inspiration.

I will post photos on Sunday– wish me luck!