Poop Happens

Today in suburban Chicagoland the sun shone once more and I had to face the inevitable...the back yard. Those without dogs or back yards will not have the foggiest of what I speak, but I know some of you out there will commiserate. You see we've had a very snowy and cold and weather confused December around here. We've had snowstorm after snowstorm and then wicked freezing temps and wind storms in between. Then starting this weekend we had rain and more rain and flooding and then a great thaw. Until yesterday and today when it was dare I say...somewhat mild and dry.
I had to go out there. It's been almost 2 weeks folks and with 3 dogs and multiple potty trips per day you know what was out there. Poop. And lots of it.
When I got my cute knee high plaid wellie rubber boots I pictured myself skipping along the English countryside jumping mud puddles like a J Crew model. I really didn't picture myself plodding along my melted back yard dodging doggie land mines in them like a drunk hopscotch player. They're too cute for that...alas there I was. Cuteness factor cut down dramatically by the ugly metal pooper scooper I was wielding like a weapon in the fight against poo-poo. I have had dogs for years and have long suffered the delusion that underneath the layers of snow the dog poop will just disintegrate. Poof! It's gone! Yet every thaw shocks me back into reality - that stuff does not go anywhere. It's like being a dog-doo-paleontologist as the layers of snow and ice melt to reveal little piles of history just waiting to be discovered and examined. "Oh my look here! That pile has some digested red cardboard in it from when Fiona ate an ornament box... must be early December era. Fascinating!"
Oh sure...some of you will get on your high horse and get snarky and say I should just follow the dogs out each trip and scoop as they go to avoid this Poopapoolaza. But did I mention it's been really cold and snowy and we've had wind and ice storms? Did I mention I have 3 dogs, none of whom poop in synchronicity? Did I mention how cold it is out?
It occured to me as I was out there scooping (as this took quite a bit of time and the mind does wander) that my backyard is like a metaphor for the nation and the change of presidents approaching. Sure my back yard may be snow covered again by the end of January and look pretty innocent and clean and like a clean slate of new beginnings, but underneath there will be a lot of poop to clean up. A lot.
I hope Obama looks as cute in wellies and has a bigger scooper than me.

Fiona is set for Super-Stardom! (Let's Keep Our Fingers Crossed!)

Excerpt from a letter we received Saturday from the editor in chief of Bark Magazine:

Shannon -I am so happy to announce that the photo you submitted to Bark’s Smiling Dog (or Cover Dog) contest is under consideration for placement in our book, DogJoy: The Happiest Dogs in the Universe, to be published by Rodale in October 2009. As the editor of the book (and the magazine) I have the double pleasure of not only selecting the photos for this project but also in delivering the good news to you. Although it is still up to the publisher to make the final decisions, I am hopeful that yours will be included. If your dog’s photo appears in the book, it will be in a chapter called Laughers. For your participation, you will receive a copy of the hardcover book, and a three-year subscription (or renewal) to Bark. Also attached is a “fact sheet” that summarizes pertinent information about DogJoy. We are hoping to include around 500 photos (which have been selected from our large pool of reader submitted photos numbering around 15,000)! If you have any questions, do let me know. Thank you again for sharing your wonderful dog with us, and I am thrilled that we have this very special book project to spread his/her talents and charms to thousands of other dog lovers.

All my best -

Claudia Kawczynska Editor in chief, The Bark

Is There Anything Cuter than Well Dressed Labradors?

Hi,
Just dropping a note to say I loved the collars and Moose and Bella did too!!!
Thanks a bunch!
Lacey Westman

Keep 'em coming...we love fan mail...

Hi...
Just a quick picture of Maisy in her new collar - - she was so excited to find it under the tree yesterday!! The stuffed duck in the picture was also under the tree - - she won't put it down!!!! Thanks, too, for the adorable gift from Fiona - - what a wonderful, CUTE surprise. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season and a great 2009. We look forward to many fabulous collars for Maisy in the new year!!
Thanks Again!!
Maisy and The Schultz Family

More Wonderful Holiday Photos from Fiona Fans...

Holiday Greetings from a Wrinkly Dog

Fiona says thanks...

To All Our Friends -

Fiona was very spoiled by Lucky Fiona clients this holiday season and she would like to give a big tail waggin' THANK YOU to everybody who thought of her. She appreciates all the lovely Holiday Cards she received and also the wonderful gifts from her friends across the country. It warms her little setter heart to know that people and pooches love our collars so much and thought of her when holiday shopping. (She is so in the spirit she is not even jealous that some of you remembered her doggie sister Caelan and brother Dugan too!)

Making connections to animal lovers and their beloved animal companions is what Lucky Fiona is all about. This will remain the focus of our little collar company and we adore you for sharing your stories of love and devotion with your four pawed pals throughout the year. Warm setter smooches and Merry Christmas to all -

Shannon & Fiona

p.s.

Carter - the lovely portrait you sent has been framed and hangs proudly in our studio so Fiona can gaze at your handsome snout all year long.

Why I Love Santa

It's important when you love animals that you marry somebody that shares this love or at least loves you enough to tolerate your cuckoo-ness over animals. I got lucky on many levels by not only marrying a man that adores creatures of this world, but also adores me enough to support me in every way as I journey through life with a great focus on our animal companions.
Case in point - my darling husband Alex, my partner in everything big and small agreed to play Santa for a charity photo shoot at a local dog store we wholesale collars to. Proceeds went to one of our favorite charities - Save Our Setters Inc.
I don't know too many men who would so readily say "Sure! My one day off a week? I'll put on a beard and a hot furry costume that will make me feel like my core temperature is 160 degrees and let dogs jump/ sit/pee/shed and express anal glands on me for 5 hours! Sign me up!"
He's a prince among men I tell you. (and yes he really did have anal glands expressed on him by a rather nervous pug who released this "special gift" on Santa's lap - not the smell of Gingerbread and Cinnamon I tell you)
Indeed, my hubby is a special guy. The type of guy who will wrestle a 3 legged labrador named Licorice who just didn't want to sit still for a Holiday Photo and gave the photographer and Santa an aerobic workout that left them panting harder than her. Licorice with her 3 legs just about knocked over the set and had Santa's beard and hat askew by the time the photo was finally taken. Alex's comment as an exhausted Licorice left the photo area "We should all be so excited for Christmas! We need to rescue a labrador!"
I should add by the end of the event he also thought we should adopt a Great Dane, a Dachshund and at least 3 greyhounds.
I love my Santa for many reasons and after 14 years of marriage and 20 years of being together I keep finding new reasons, animal related and otherwise. Playing Santa on his day off with so much enthusiasm is just a small nugget of him, but one I had to talk about nonetheless. Watching him love animals in a way I know some people will never have the capacity to makes me love him even more... and was the nicest Christmas present this animal loving wife could ask for.

More Seasons Greetings...

Shannon & Fiona,

Maddie and Maizie just wanted to wish Fiona, Dugan and everyone a very Merry Christmas! Also, they wanted you to meet their friend Gracie. She came to visit for Christmas and her mommy took these wonderful pictures!
PS...Her mommy fell in love with Maddie and Maizie's Lucky Fiona collars and HAS to have one!
Merry Christmas!

The Law Family

This Week's "Friend Of Fiona" is Breck!

Let it Snow...Let it Snow, Let it Snow! That is what we are singing here in the Midwest and from what I hear in many other parts of the country too. Hence we had to pick a "Happy Snowhound" enjoying a snow day today as our Official Friend of Fiona. This is Breck the 5 month old Labradoodle looking festive in his Howliday Custom Lucky Fiona Collar. We really like how he has accessorized his collar with a little snow on his snout...very dashing indeed. Tell your Dogmom to pick out a free collar for you Breck for being this week's winner! Breck reminds us all of a very worthy dog lesson - it's good to just get out and enjoy the snow a bit.

Yes I'm still here!

Sewing, cutting, packing, sewing, ironing, folding, sewing, cutting, shipping...it's been a busy little studio as we are still working every minute of the day to get your collar orders out by the holiday!
The dogs say Mommy hasn't even had time to kiss Santa Claus! (Even though I had some cuddles with him as seen here)
Thank you all for your orders and for making this holiday bright. We'll be back to blogging and creating more fun products when this holiday din settles down.
Until then your collar getting under the tree for your beloved pooch is my main focus. ( I do lose sleep over the dog out there waiting for the mail to arrive with his or her's special holiday gift! I really do!)
Smooches to the Pooches-
Shannon
Head (and tired) Bitch Around Here

Inspiration Come in the Form of a Happy Aussie

Some days when you are knee deep in Holiday-Hub-bub and collar orders are coming out of your ears you feel like crawling under the warm covers and waiting for spring to arrive...then you get a letter like this one and you feel inspired TO KEEP GOING!

Dear Fiona,
Today was a good day. First my people presented me with two brand new snazzy collars that were amazingly just my size! Now, I may be young (about 6 months) but I know style when I see it! I can't wait to show them off at my weekly romp at the dog park. But wait, it gets better! I was strutting around the house showing off my new collar, and my people bring out the treats. You know, the REALLY good ones. All I had to do was sit still and be my normal adorable self and they kept shelling out the treats. It was great. Reminds me of the day my smallest person left her peanut butter sandwhich unattended on the coffee table. Ah... life is good.
So here's a few pictures of me to add to your collection. I like how the brightly colored collars compliment my merle coat and accent my fluffy neck fur (Australian Shepherds like me have a lot of neck fur). I also enjoyed reading your blog, especially the pictures of snow. We don't have snow down here in Florida, but it looks like the sand at one of my favorite places - dog beach. I wonder if it's as fun to romp around in.
Thanks for inspiring your people to make such stylish collars. I'll be sure to tell all my furry friends about you!
Sincerely,
Socco
Aussie Puppy
Sarasota, FL

This Week's Official Friend of Fiona is...Bogey!

Oh me oh my...such a distinguished looking gentleman isn't he? Fiona is proud to announce this week's winner of her "Official Friend of Fiona" photo contest: Bogey!
Bogey looks dashing in his "Holly Jolly" Howliday Collection Custom Collar from Lucky Fiona and we just know he will pick out an equally charming collar as his prize for submitting the winning pic this week. His Dogmom is quick to point out the wine glass was photo-shopped into the picture so don't start any crazy rumors about Bogey and his alleged drinking problem! Or his supposed stint in a Malibu rehab facility with that famous Animal Planet dog he supposedly had an affair with. All lies we tell you. Lies. Bogey is a true pillar of dog-society and would never stoop to such levels! I mean look at that face? Would he ever make trouble? Fiona thinks not and that's our story and we are sticking to it.

Fiona knows the Truth about Santa's Little Helper

I think I figured out this week how Santa does it all...it has to be steroids. All those toys, all those chimneys, all the travel and lists! No mere man can do it all unassisted! Speaking of being super busy - we are! Our Lucky Fiona studio has been blessed with many, many orders this holiday season. Like many. A lot. In these hard economic times we realize this is truly a gift to us - thank you. To be able to make high quality products and bring custom made collars to your beloved dogs and cats is what we love to do. We are pulling many late nighters but want our dear customers to know we are running at the 10 day max on fabrication. We are going to insert hours into the day to get all orders to destinations by the holiday, so we appreciate your patience in our turnaround time.

Last Sunday I woke up with a really sore hip and truly is there anything sadder than a 37 year old complaining about her "bad hip"? (I imagine people picturing me with a walker hobbling to my sewing machine) At any rate I like Santa have a workshop of collars to measure, cut, press, sew and send off to well behaved dogs and cats! No time to be down and out with a bad hip! A trip to the doctor on Monday resulted in some steroidal treatment and let me tell you I am zipping around now like a bat out of hell! It dawned on me that Santa too must be fully loaded with 'roids this time of year. It's really the only explanation. I realized the full spectrum of my "Roid-Rage" yesterday when I recounted I had been to the post office 3 times in one day mailing out collars and I was happy and full of zest each time. What normal person is happy at the Post Office this time of year? I think the one postal worker on my last trip was pressing a little white button under the counter as I rambled on about "how the lines were not that bad and heck I'm thirsty why isn't there a water fountain or soda machine here or a latte stand? Wouldn't that be great?Do postal workers get a lot of overtime this time of year or are they in the same budget crunch most companies are? And why do I have to fill out a Confirmation form in person when online when I print postage I don't have to fill out the form and do you have any Nutcracker stamps left?" All while smiling like a maniac and craving a cheeseburger.

Then I got home and shoveled the driveway.

So you see if everybody just dosed themselves with some steroids holiday tasks would be done with lots of energy and vigor! Bad hip? What the heck- I forgot all about it - I'm already planning my prescription refill request for next holiday season.

Special Thanks to Go Dog Go

Lucky Fiona was so pleased to take
part in our favorite local dog shop's Holiday Open house yesterday. Go Dog Go is a wonderful store that not only takes care of our nutrition needs for all our dogs and cats but is also is our favorite stop for one of a kind gifts for four pawed kids. Go Dog Go was kind enough to donate a portion of their "Photos with Santa Paws" sales to a charity close to Lucky Fiona's heart...Save Our Setters and Sarah's vet bill fund. Thank you Go Dog Go and if you are in the suburban Chicago area stop in their wonderful store at :
4050 Wolf's Crossing
Oswego, Illinois 60543
630-636-9418
www.go-dog-store.com

This Week's Official Friend of Fiona is...Lulu!

Her entry was a wee bit late for our calendar contest but we could not deny the lovely Lulu the honor of being this week's "Official Friend of Fiona"! Little Lulu looks positively smashing in her limited edition custom Fluffernutter collar courtesy of Lucky Fiona. We know she will have no problem picking a new favorite from our shop and as our winner she gets her choice of any custom collar. Congrats Lulu!

A New Christmas Carol for English Setter Lovers

While driving to the groomers with Fiona this morning and listening to Christmas Carols on the radio I sang my new rendition Of "Sleigh Ride" to her. She didn't howl so I think she liked it! Sing along dog lovers...and feel free to insert your own doggie lyrics too!

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingling too

Come on, it's lovely weather for an english setter and you

Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling "yoo hoo",

Come on, it's lovely weather for an english setter and you

Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap, let's go,

Let's look at the snow, We're riding to get treats at Go Dog Go! (our favorite store)

Giddy yap, giddy yap, gidd yap, it's grand, Just holding your paw,

We're gliding along with a song of a wintry fairy land

Your cheeks are spotty and whiskered and comfy cozy are we

We're snuggled up together like two sweet setters would be

Let's take that road before us and sing a chorus or two

Come on, it's lovely weather for an english setter and you.

There's a holiday party at the dog park today.

It'll be the perfect ending of a perfect day!

We'll be pointing the birds we love to point without a single stop

At the fireplace while we watch the doggie pupcorn pop. pop! pop! pop!

There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy

When they pass around the pigs ears and the raw tripe pie,

It'll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives

These wonderful things are the things we remember all through our lives!

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingling too

Come on, it's lovely weather for an english setter and you

Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling "yoo hoo",

Come on, it's lovely weather for an english setter and you.

It's lovely weather for an english setter and you

It's lovely weather for an english setter and you

Lucky Fiona Testimonial

Fiona & Shannon,

Maizie asked me to email you and tell you her testimonial. She has been doing much better. She can jump on the bed, countersurf, and even run up and down the stairs like a speedy gonzales. When I asked her how she can do all that, she said it is because of her Lucky Fiona collar. She insists that it gives her superpowers (the hip surgery at NC State doesn't have anything to do with it!). She sends her high fives to Fiona for sharing these superpowers with her! :O) Oh yeah, and a kiss for Dugan too.

Melissa Law

Calendar Contest Winners

It was very difficult to pick but we have finalized our picks for the 1st Annual Lucky Fiona "Official Friends of Fiona 2009" Calendar Contest! Thank you to everybody that entered and sent in their photographs.

The Winners are:

Miss January - Fiona (you didn't think we would not let her take top billing did you?)

Mr & Ms. February - Belle & Petey

Mr. March - Carter LeDoux

Mr. April - Jack (our favorite cat entry!)

Ms. & Missy May - Maizie & Maddie

Ms. June - Lucy

Mr. July - Yoshi

Mr. August - Bailey

Ms. September - Ellis

Mr. October - Cooper

Mr. November - Ted

Mr. December - Riley

Congratulations Winners! You all will receive a Lucky Fiona Gift Certificate to be used anytime in 2009 for a free custom collar! Calendars will be on sale in our Etsy shop with proceeds going to the shelter we adopted Fiona from in central Illinois.

If you lean far to the right and squint it looks perfect...

My Christmas Tree is as crooked as a shihtzu's underbite. I don't know how my husband and I do this, but I would be lying if I said this was the first time we have brought home a Christmas Tree that was somewhat defective. It looks great at the lot, we shake it and twirl it around looking for bare spots...we deem it as the perfect tree. "It's THE one! Wrap it up!" my husband bellows to the less than enthusiastic tree lot salesman who probably has to hear this speech a thousand times a day until December 25th. We bring it home and put it in the $50 tree stand that guarantees to straighten any tree with it's spherical rotating magical base. Then we wait to see who will admit first we bought a pretty awful tree. This year in the late afternoon light of my living room it became very evident our perfect Christmas tree had a perfect case of scoliosis. The trunk was completely curved and in typical male fashion my husband got out a power tool to "fix it". So commenced my husband breaking a sweat hauling our "perfect" tree in and out of the front door in multiple attempts to cut the bottom off at different angles to make it stand up straight in the $50 tree stand that has a college degree in physics. This resulted in less than happy holiday cheer as a few expletives were shouted between us and each trip in and out resulting in a growing trail of needles and a shorter tree. When my 8 foot tree hit the 5 and a half foot mark I had to end the amputating. Now in years past we usually take the offending defective tree and set it up on the back deck with some old lights. Neighbors think we are really in the holiday spirit decorating our deck and we let them believe that ruse. So my husband said "I guess it's time to start decorating the deck - get your coat so we can go back to the tree lot." and right then I kind of had an epiphany. Right there in front of the world's most crooked Christmas tree.
"No." I said to my confused husband. "It's perfect, we're not going anywhere."
This past year has been all about imperfection for me. From broad subjects like our imperfect president and the imperfect war our country is in. The economic crisis that has hit us in the first year of me running this business. The fact I went from working a perfectly respectable job managing a medical division to making handmade dog collars as a full time career. The polite smiles of people who think I am nuts devoting my energies to something they perceive as a hobby. It's all just a little too imperfect for some to swallow.
I love the perfection of my imperfect life and home. In a suburb of freshly manicured hands mine are crooked and dry, worn from digging in the garden and playing with dogs all day. My house is not immaculate as I live with 3 dogs and 3 cats that shed, drool, vomit and wear down anything new. My perfect new car has scratches on the sleek paint job from an enthusiastic setter ready to go to the dog park who jumped on the door. My imperfect yard has holes dug in it and the grass is worn in places and we don't have a hired landscaper to make it perfect again. My clothes are comfortable for sewing and walking dogs in, but not perfectly tailored or out of a magazine. My husband wears a uniform and turns a wrench while most men in our community wear suits while trotting to the train to downtown offices and perfect bonuses. My dogs do not come when called and my 14 year old cat sometimes misses the litter box. There is no perfection here and guess what? We are pretty damn happy.
My husband and I sat on the couch tonight facing our tilting tree. Lights dim, candles flickering, cozy on this chilled evening. The dogs were snoozing around us and one cat curled up on the tree skirt like a present waiting to be unwrapped. They were blissfully unaware of how crooked the tree is, just happy to be in our presence. My husband looked at me and said "I think this is the perfect tree for us this year, don't you?" "Yup" I replied. "It's perfectly imperfect."

We May Be Crazy...

Fiona insists we offer a sale in the Etsy shop on Black Friday like no other! (she is so pushy when it comes to giving her fans a good deal - she is as stubborn as a setter can get!)
So for today only Friday November 28th 2008 -
BUY 1 GET 1 FREE ON ALL COLLARS!
Yes, we know it's NUTSY.
Order any standard collar and simply list your choice of a free collar in the buyer notes as you check out. Limit 5 free collars. Surcharge for martingales and extra wide widths applies.
Order them up before we wait till Fiona takes a nap and end this crazy promotion!
www.luckyfiona.etsy.com

Lucky Fiona Calendar Contest

Last Chance! Please submit your photos of your dog or cat wearing Lucky Fiona for our first annual Calendar Contest! 12 Lucky Winners will not only receive a free custom collar but also be featured in our 2009 Friends of Fiona Wall Calendar that will be for sale in our shop. Please email submissions to luckyfiona@comcast.net and be sure to notate calendar contest in the title line of the email.

Important Company Announcement

Rebecca Marino (left) and Company Head Bitch Shannon Barry (right) October 2008

Lucky Fiona is proud to present the newest member of our team and announce her promotion! Rebecca Marino has been named Senior Sales Executive for East Coast Territories. Rebecca is a New York native and the proud Catmom of the adorable feline duo Jack and Fiona. She has played an integral part in the development of our cat products and will play an important role in us expanding this line in the future via test marketing with Jack and Fiona. Her devotion for all things kitty has earned her the nickname "Crazy Cat Lady" and her great enthusiasm for our dog line is noteworthy of someone who does not have a dog. Rebecca uses a unique and personal style of marketing our products to boutiques and shops that has proven to be successful in both the US and Canada. Congratulations Rebecca and we look forward to your continued success and the day when we can actually pay you in money and not just cat collars and catnip toys.

This Week's Official Friend of Fiona is... ???

Fiona is so thankful and happy that so many doggie pals of hers submit their photographs wearing Lucky Fiona to be considered an Official Friend of Fiona in our weekly contest. But we want to remind everybody to please let us know your dog or cat's name when you send in your pictures! Our weekly winner will receive a free custom collar of their choosing for having the honor of being an Official Friend of Fiona. But we need to honor your pup or kitty appropriately so please let us know who the attractive four pawed pals are when you send in photos. Here are some good looking pooches above that we have no identity for...come forward and let us know who you are so we can award you!

We've Been Featured on some Great Blogs!

Thanks to Candi and Shirley for featuring us on their Blogs today. We appreciate the nods!

Dolce Chic

http://dolcechic.wordpress.com/

Pinkie's Page

http://pinkiedahlia.multiply.com/journal/item/454/Some_of_my_favorites_at_Etsy.com

Fountain of Youth in a Vittles Vault

My wild child Dugan will soon be 9 or 10 or 11 years old...the beauty of rescue is never knowing the truth. In as much as I want to avoid the truth...he is getting old. It hits me in sneaky little pangs...I watch him stand up a little slower on cold mornings. His movements more deliberate and sometimes a little limp from his bad shoulder, my heart aches upon the sight of it. I pass him on the living room couch and go about my tasks of the day and pass him again 4 hours later and realize he has not moved in that time. The dog that was literally a twirling dervish when we rescued him, a dog that paced the house and yard non-stop, a dog that would announce to the world a squirrel was three doors down the street. Now he slumbers unstirred by the world around him, uninterested in the movement he once thrived upon. He has earned this rest. But I hate it.
I foolishly challenge this ageing in the only ways I can...I increase his joint supplements, I change his food, I order more blood work and radiographs at the vet. I kid myself that we are taking the shorter walking route because I am tired, not because he is showing signs of having enough for the day.
Dugan in his early years was the dog that defined the term "behaviorally challenged". Our introduction was the day we got him home and found he had scaled the washing machine to reach a shelf with the cat food dish above it. He is the reason we had to install a new pantry door after he learned how to open it himself and one day had a smorgasbord of 17 Power Bars and a bag of wheat flour. For years we prepared dinner with him gated in the laundry room as he had previously learned to silently steal things off the stove as they were cooking. To this day we are quite sure we are the only dog guardians we know who have to leave their crockpot in the garage to cook an all day.(bonus the garage never smelled so good as you arrive home from work) We've considered publishing a coffee table book of his abdominal x-rays to offset the cost of his vet bills for "ingested foreign objects". Lastly his quest to invade the litter box has resulted in several engineering marvels on how to secure the litter box area involving diagrams, wood, metal, children's play tents and carefully arranged bungee cords. Dugan, our wild and mischievous Dugan was the reason we started to get nervous any time the house seems a little "too" quiet.
So now to see him legitimately quiet is well...troubling. He's getting old and as much as I prayed for these days in his wild youth, I now scorn them.
The other afternoon I sat next to him during one of his marathon naps and heard him give a contented sigh as I sat down beside him. I traced the contours of his face with my fingers and found more white than red fur, no matter how many times I tried to find the opposite. His deep amber eyes had that haze of wisdom that older dogs get, his nose a bit dry - the pigment starting to fade. I stroked his coat and my hand found calluses where his skin had toughened with age, he flinched a bit when repositioning his bad shoulder to move closer to me. I put my face in his neck and begged him not to get old and he responded by falling back to sleep in my arms.
I think he may have been listening to me though. Last night I was working in my studio when I heard my husband yelling from downstairs and the familiar cry of "Dugan! No! Bad dog!" I ran downstairs to investigate and my husband reported that he was walking to the powder room and stumbled upon Dugan with his head in the food container having a late night snack. He had knocked a 30 pound Vittles Vault on it's side and then using his Irish Setter skills had unscrewed the vacuum locked lid and helped himself. While my husband uttered some expletives as he got a broom and pan to clean up the sea of kibble on the floor I just stood back and smiled. Perhaps my old boy isn't so ready to retire from mischief just yet...and that is fine by me.

This Week's Official Friend of Fiona is... Lucy

Look at Lucy the Supermodel! Her Dogmom reports she just feels like a beautiful "girlie-girl" in her new custom made "Kitchen Sink" Lucky Fiona Collar. We agree so we have declared this girlie our Official Friend of Fiona this week. We hope Lucy can take time out from posing so nicely to pick out her free custom made collar courtesy of Fiona for being this week's winner! Congrats lovely Lucy!

Thank you for caring and sharing for Sarah

Fiona and I wanted to take a moment to thank everybody that bought charity collars during the months of September and October to benefit Sarah the Irish Setter being fostered by Save Our Setters. We had hoped to sell 50 collars in October and came darn close falling just a handful short of our goal. Unfortunately we had many people place orders that did not pay for them and we have been trying diligently to collect those much needed funds the past weeks. But some bad apples will not subtract from the wonderful people that did make payment knowing 50% of our retail was going to be donated to Sarah. The caring emails and thoughts that came forward for Sarah really made us believe in the power of humane causes and that every dog deserves a chance. We will continue to follow Sarah's progress at www.saveoursetters.org and will keep positive thoughts going her way as she continues to recover. We are creating some beautiful collars for Sarah to wear when her neck is healed so she can feel like the special pooch that she is and hopefully find her way to her forever home in style. Fiona and I say thanks to all who cared and contributed and helped change the life of this special dog.

We love a rave...

"Shannon,

Your collars are high quality, washable, adorable patterns and love the charms you put on the collars and are so reasonably priced. You wouldn't believe or you probably know that there are so many collars out there, but I got real tired of buying over priced and cheaply made collars. I prefer the cotton custom made collars especially since I can wash them because my 'Little Sadie' loves the dirt! She comes in from the backyard at times with 4 black paws and a black mouth and Max comes in clean! She's a handful, but I love her to death. Everytime I think of using one of the coupons you have sent me you always have such a great deal on collars. Thanks for checking on the collars for me; I really appreciate it.

Jackie, Max & Sadie"

Thanks a Caboodle!

Thanks so much to Krista at 9 Chicks Clothing for featuring us on her blog!

http://chick9clothing.blogspot.com/

We appreciate the mention and love it when other people love our collars as much as we do.

When your little kitty flies the coop...

It seems like just yesterday our kitten Sully came home from the shelter to live in our happy four-pawed home. He was our sweet blue eyed baby boy, our fuzzy little Siamese monster. Innocent of the outside world and happy to be in our home it seemed all he needed was...well, all he needed was me. And I was fine with that.

This past weekend dear Sully mastered the doggie door and with that little flap of plastic swinging in the breeze my innocent young Sully is no longer a sheltered inside cat. He can now come in and out on his own and like a Mommy bird not ready for her chicks to fly I am melancholy over his new founded skill.

Never interested in that door previously I long held the hope that exploring our house was enough to satiate his curiosity. Alas on Saturday morning I sat and watched as he used his head to wedge the magnetic strip of the dog door open and then hopped outside. He repeated the feat and immediately came back inside and then with eyes opened like saucers he hopped back out again. I followed him outside and watched as he crouched on the deck, low like a panther he patrolled the perimeter inch by inch. He slowly made his way to the grass and daintily stepped on it. Head high he looked back at me as if to say "Holy smokes, this stuff feels strange!" He pawed at the grass, then did a belly flop to roll in it. The next hour I stood in the morning chill mesmerized as Sully commited many firsts. He clawed his first tree trunk and chased some real live birds near the feeder.(thankfully his bell did it's job and gave them plenty of warning to flee as he lumbered toward them) He was so joyful as he pounced on leaves, weaved through the wilted garden vines and at one particularly proud moment stood on top of the covered grill like King of the Mountain. I have never seen him so happy and in turn I had to let go of my fears and let him be a cat. A smart cat who figured out the dog door.

So my baby kitten had discovered the great outdoors and there is no going back. Thankfully he cannot scale the fence and seems none too interested to do so at this point. So every day we are working on his training and coming inside when called - I let him go outside supervised in the morning and treat him with Kitty Caviar when he comes to the door when I call him. Brody, our other young cat who has always gone out the dog door into the fenced yard is ecstatic to have a playmate out there. She chases him around the raised garden beds and showed him the best sunny place to sprawl out on the deck.

I guess it's time for this Cat-Mama to let go and see what the cats drag in...

Basset Bash in Georgia November 8th 2008

http://www.bhrg.org/

For more info. on how to help Bassett Hounds in need.

Thanks to Yoshi's Dogmom for sending in this awesome photo of Yoshi enjoying the festivities at The Basset Bash and Waddle in Georgia yesterday. Doesn't Yoshi look dashing in his custom Lucky Fiona "Snowball" Collar in martingale styling? Making Yoshi even more handsome is the fact he donated a custom basket including a Lucky Fiona Collar/Leash combo and gift certificate to the cause for a special fundraising raffle. Looking good and doing good for doggies makes everybody a winner! So stick your tongue out all you want Yoshi - we still think you're the best!

This Week's Official Friend of Fiona is...Molly!

Can I get a big paw in the air for this week's Official Friend of Fiona? Miss Molly is certainly looking lovely in her Silly Stripe Collar and she looks even better with the knowledge that each Silly Stripe collar purchased in our shop the proceeds are given to a monthly charity. Thanks for doing a nice thing and looking fabulous all at the same time Molly. Tell your Dogdad it's time to get you to the computer and pick your free collar for being this week's winner! (pssst....also tell him to enter our calendar contest too!)

2009 Lucky Fiona Collar Calendar Contest

Do you have a fabulous photo of your cat or dog? Like this one for example! We simply adore this eye catching photo taken by the very talented young photographer Tristan Marino of New York. We are looking for photographs for our 2009 Lucky Fiona Friends of Fiona Calendar. 12 lucky winners will receive a free custom collar and the honor of their animal companion being the Featured Friend of Fiona of the month on our monthly wall calendar! Does your dog or cat have what it takes to be Miss April or Mr. September? Fiona herself will pick each month's winner - calendars will be on sale in December in our Etsy shop. Deadline for submitting a photo is November 24th! See rules below:
* Dog or Cat must be wearing Lucky Fiona in the photograph.
* Due to reproduction laws no professional studio photos please.
* Email photographs to luckyfiona@comcast.net and please include Calendar Contest in the title of the email.
* The higher the resolution of the picture the better!
* Please also include your pet's name, age and mailing address with email submission.
* Email us with any additional questions! luckyfiona@comcast.net

Good Luck! We can't wait to see the submissions!!!

We love a rave...

Shannon - Thank you so much! The package arrived today, and everything is great. I can't believe you included the Mimi for free. It was unbelievably sweet, and I greatly appreciate it. I just left feedback for you, but I also wanted to send you a quick message to let you know that I really love your products. And it's not just me - we were stopped on our walks with Ellis twice last week by people who had to know where we got her collars, and I happily told them about Lucky Fiona. Your styles are so fun, and all of the collars and the leash that I've purchased are well made. I also want to thank you for being so accommodating with my error about my mother-in-law's dog's neck size. You're always such a pleasure to purchase from, and the quality of your work speaks for itself. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Kalin and Ellis

Every Dog Has It's Day Planned to the Max

The following was a short piece I wrote that was published in the Chicago Tribune a few years ago, I thought with daylight savings time upon us it deserved another run!

On the night we turned our clocks back for daylight-savings time, my husband and I went to bed with smiles on our faces, looking forward to that luxurious extra hour of slumber. Such a simple pleasure in these crazy time crunched days we live in.
At 4:45 a.m. it started. A faint whimper from the dog bed, the restless paws out-stretching, then the clickety-clack of dog nails on the hardwood floor, which immediately awoke the other two dogs. I felt warm doggy breath on my face as I played possum while squinting to see the clock. For the love of Pete, 4:56 a.m.!
As a wet nose scanned my face, it became immediately evident: Dogs do not understand the concept of daylight-savings-time. Their internal clocks cared nothing about an extra hour of sleep; they wanted breakfast at what they perceived to be their regular feeding time.
I continued to feign sleep, but by now the dogs were taking turns whining to communicate the early signs of supposed starvation. The tone and pitch of the whines getting more melodramatic by the moment. I nudged my husband, but a scan to my left showed his bald head swaddled in our down comforter like a newborn babe as he snoozed blissfully.
So I shuffled downstairs bleary eyes at 5:07 a.m., fed the dogs, then let them outside. "Perhaps I could still go back to bed" I thought to myself and in the same instant one of the dogs spotted their arch nemesis Mr. Squirrel in a tree and the chorus of shrill barking began. Wanting to keep the dream alive for others in the neighborhood who lay in sweet slumber I dashed outside in the morning chill in my PJ's and slippers. Reality set in as I extinguished the barking that my dream of that magic extra hour was also extinguished. Forced to start my day an hour earlier than planned I looked at three exuberant dogs and realized once again they are far wiser than I. Why waste that extra hour sleeping when you can just start your day sooner? So I did.

Dugan's Mailbag

Oh we are a sucker for an adorable picture around here! Here is Dugan's special girl Maizie and her sister Mitzi in their Howl-o-ween costumes. (Take note how nicely their Lucky Fiona Collars compliment their ensemble.)

Halloween Tips from the Setters at Lucky Fiona

* Candy is for everybody but dogs.
* Real spiders taste pretty good even though Mommy freaks out when we eat them.
* The doorbell ringing is not a reason to bark like a crazy banshee.
* The doorbell ringing is not a reason to bark like a crazy banshee.
* The doorbell ringing is not a reason to bark like a crazy banshee.
* I will not growl at my Dogmom because she is wearing a wig and a costume.
*Candy is for everybody but dogs, but nobody said anything about eating the wrappers.

Happy Howl-o-Ween!

Fiona wishes all her four pawed pals a happy holiday! Here are some pictures from the Lucky Fiona library of some of our favorite pooches dressing up for Howl-o-Ween.