Votives & the Vet

Honey had her first trip to the vet today. Dr. A is also from South Carolina and of course everyone thought she was too cute....it was sad for me because I was thinking about Napoleon and my last trip there with him, but I am trying to move forward. Having the party and so much other work to do has helped me not think about the loss as much, but I still miss my little boy so much. Honey is filling the void, and it's just like a little baby, watching her change and do her "firsts." Last night she was in the dining room and gave her first woofs, which actually sound more like little clucks. She heard something strange outside and was letting me know. This morning she saw herself in a tall mirror, and was wide-eyed that there was another dog in the room. A few more little clucks and a slow move towards the dog...it was a very good laugh! She is doing the terrier shake with her toys, and is showing signs of being very dexterous, and I love to watch her little personality come out.

I did some candles up for the party; since I'm doing a sort of a natural theme I wrapped glass candles with soft bark sheets I pulled from a tree at the office. The candles are from Farmers Market Candles (Robert) http://www.marketcandle.com/ and they are only $10 for a wide selection of wonderful candles. They are clean-burning soy and they have a very high (12%) fragrance content and are very "true" to their fragrance; nothing artificial or yucky-smelling about these....

I did a vase up too in this bark, and I sure hope I can get the glue and bark off later!

Standing Behind the Merch

My days are very, very full right now. Between the baskets and my family, little Honey, orders, markets, events and all, there is always a lot going on. I am up before 5am every day, and my brain and hands are working non-stop on all these projects and to-do's.

I generally don't take a chair to the markets, but today I brought one to Palisades Market, where I sat and made notes and got organized for most of the morning. A shopper I recognized came up and was musing over the sturdiness of the Moroccan baskets. They are well-made baskets I told her, finishing my note, "I stand behind my merchandise" I added. "Do you also sit behind your merchandise?" she dryly added. In the movie, this is where I flash a dirty look at the camera.
In the end she bought the small Moroccan basket she liked, and gave me her card to send her some followup info. I finished the market then made a few stops on the drive home for party materials, then went to Max's 40th birthday party then got home and filled and labeled all the party favor jars. You'll have to wait until the weekend, to hear what I am doing.

Honey is about the same color as the coco mat at the front door!

Love to be an Earlybird

Little Honey is quickly becoming the light and the love of our lives; she is SO sweet, so affectionate, and so little! She slept with me the first night, then with my parents last night, until Honey woke Mom up with puppy kisses around 3am. Honey took a peep break after Mom took her to the kitchen, then Mom went back to sleep. I got up before 5am and had some playtime and with Honey (we play fetch a lot), and got started on all my day's work, which began with coffee and making a bark-rimmed vase (intended pun!) and addressing invites for Honey's party next weekend.

I took my Mom with me at 7am to a "Designer Flea Market" at the RedHill Design center. I love to be an earlybird, because you DO get the deals. I got some great stuff from Cargo & Company, one of my favorite stores, then spied something over the top at a neighboring shop: a dog house made of braided basket materials; perfect for the French Basketeer! Honey is so small, this is like a Villa for her, a 3 bedroom 3 bath house, or at least a house that she could spread out all of her toys, install a small sofa and invite 5 of her best friends over for a cuddle!

Of course I bought it, though as a retailer I'll not reveal the price; did I mention that I love to be an earlybird!? I am going to figure out how to decorate it for the party, then if I'll keep it or not. My brain is working hard on the party. Today I got party favors for the guests, and it will be a lovely lovely event.....!

Later in the morning I set up at Corona del Mar market, and Honey was there for a few hours; she made lots of friends, and began her socialization here; she was fabulous; this is the best-bred dog I have seen in a long time; I will post on that later. Merci mille fois Donna!!!

Cool 'n Foggy

We've had heavy fog overnight the last few days, then getting into the mid 70's during the day here at the beach. It's the perfect weather if you are a wild mushroom, ivy on the wall or freshly-planted cyclamen and kale, don't you think? I like the cyclamen for fall, and it reminds my Mom of being in Germany, where my Dad was in the Army many years ago. She said every butcher shop had a basket of cyclamen in the refrigerated store.

Shopping Downtown

This afternoon I drove my sister to downtown LA, which I know quite well, so that she could go to a meeting. In the meantime, I went to the garment district to look for trims and fabrics for the party for Honey. I like Levine's; it's a good place to start. They had few natural ribbons, but it was enough to get me started. I have not finalized things, so it is good to have a variety on hand; buy quality and you will eventually use it, that's my philosophy!

Downtown LA has a definite vibe; every 10th car is a cop; there is lots of activity. Doesn't bother me, but it sure is a change from Orange County!! I don't understand the wierd kids mannequins but they were all around...

Honey is Coming!

Honey is getting ready to make her way from South Carolina to California later this week, hopefully Thursday. We are so excited!! We hope it will be a good flight for her; I am sure she will be as happy in the Southern California sunshine as the rest of the dogs here!

I have started to plan a party for her, a doggie shower of sorts, in the next 2 weeks. This morning I got up at 5am and did my invites online, and last night called to see if Susie the Super Chef can help me with the food. She can, and would love to do so; now we are brainstorming over what to serve. Duck is a must, she says; thinking too of cranberries and wild rice and other hearty kinds of foods. Here is another shot of all the pups; there is our little girl on the far left.... I think this is one of Honey's aunties, also from the Czech Republic, since this dog has a long tail (it is illegal to dock puppy tails in Europe).

I am still woefully behind in everything in my life. Why am I planning a party when my voicemail is still full? I am taking delivery of a new order from Madagascar today and getting ready to place a small order from Morocco for Christmas. And of course I am constantly thinking of how to make the party super special!!

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Last Thursday was a complete and total, unmitigated disaster. I was booked for an event at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the pink landmark hotel with all the bungalows. This is a VERY nice hotel! I had hired someone to work the show for me, but she somehow did not understand that she would be there working by herself (she thought that I would be there with her all day). Now why would I hire YOU to work the show if I could do it by myself? Anyway, she also brought along her little Chihuahua Buttercup, who was appropriately dressed in a pink jacket with a turned collar, a la Legally Blonde. Little Buttercup made a lot of new friends for us that day, but unfortunately it was not reflected in sales. My salesperson also managed to lose her purse and the bag with Buttercup's food on the way to the event, so there was a lot of drama. There were about 50 other headaches that day but I'm going to save the rest for later and let you enjoy the photos of Buttercup in a basket.