Barb's Weblog

Coupeville!
It poured! It was wet and awful, we forgot our awnings! Our bungees! Our clamps!
Business was slow and we stood ankle deep in rain water! Just when we thought all was lost the sun broke out and the real fun began!
Carol and Laura came to visit after haircuts at Studio A with the wonderful Shawn, bearing cherries and other local treats, and Ray and Diana from Oregon came to see me, so it all turned out really fun. Lowie tiormented children with hairwrapsm we premeired our new armbands, and the following images of the show pretty much show it all.

Now I am off to bed! Caught a cold and need my nyquil!
Laters!

10:16 PM — e-mail me your comments

I'm a dog person, no doubt about it.

I like to bring Boots everywhere I can, and he is generally the most excellent dog.
He comes at a whistle, behaves great at the dog parks with other dogs, is popular with both the dogs and their owners.
He gets to come to a few shows during the art show tour, in the winter or when weather is cool, if there is good dog-walking places close by and little girls to walk him. He waits in the van patiently, being the perfect watchful dog.
Sometimes he gets to come just for set up at shows where dogs are not allowed, so his feelings won't be hurt. But then he goes home and waits here where his job is to keep an eye on things, and mom.

But with all my love of dogs, there has to be a better place for them at Art and Craft Shows!

Last weekend at Anacortes Arts Festival, where people are encouraged NOT to bring dogs, hundreds of dogs were there anyway, and the number of challenges and arguements was appaling. In one awful second in front of our booth, a very uncontrollable dog viciously attacked another aggressive dog across the aisle, and with an older woman caught in the middle, it was a miracle no one was hurt. IT was loud and terrifying.
This dog's owners had to know they had an aggressive animal (they wrestled him for several minutes near me).
Crafters were not allowed to bring dogs by contract, yet one couple in a nearby booth with a very young agressive shepard attached to it had to deal with his constant (I mean like every minute or 2 for 3 solid days) attack on any dog on leash or in arms that walked down his section of sidewalk. If you know your dog is afraid or agressive or does not behave in any way, please do not bring him to art fairs!

I have the PERFECT dog and even he embarrased me by growling at a chihuahua once (sorry little Jamison, it really wasn't like him to behave so rudely...)
And I know he has a problem with huskies, he seems to smell them coming and gets mad at the very scent, and he can be shy with kids and thinks boys are evil...so I do not expose him to those situations where he will have to be put on the spot. Because of his handsome good furry looks he is a kid magnet, so we keep an extra sharp eye on him when they are around.

So, you see even the most perfect dog needs you to help him out in scary situations. Art shows are crowded, noisy, confusing places for dogs and the best dog is up against a lot at shows. Its hard for me to give up all the cute dogs at shows, but very few shows are roomy enough to be good for dogs, and any dog bigger than an armful is often TOO much dog for a crowded event.

Do every crafter and promoter a favor and consider carefully before you bring your dog into a crowded show!

This weekend its off to Coupeville Arts Festival. Lowie and I will be working it all weekend, and the weather appears to be cooperating with only a bare chance of cold or rain. We expect to have a great time, and will be showing off the first samples of a brand new product, just a preview of next weeks big selection, which is off at the anodizer's getting colored! Its aluminum, its NOT a hairwrap, and girls of all ages will love them...and boys and young men as well I think! I think I'll keep it a secret for a little bit...you'll have to see for yourself for a little while!
If you can't make it to Coupeville, come see them next weekend at Magnussen Park, the summer's Best of the Northwest show.

OK thats my rant for the week

6:13 PM — e-mail me your comments