Treasury Feature - Whippet Good!

We were featured in an Etsy Treasury called "Whippet Good"!  This Treasury is SO fantastic on so many different levels!  The Lion Tamer really cracked me up- not to mention the piece that must have inspired it all- the Whippet Good print!  So glad our Boutique Greyhound Silhouette in yellow could be part of such a fun Treasury!  Thanks SerendipiT!

New Listings - Gift Certificates Now Available!

That's right, folks!  We are happy to announce that we just listed gift certificates in $25 increments ($25-$100) on our Etsy shop!  We wanted our shoppers to have more options when shopping this holiday season, and we thought there was no better way than to give the gift of choice.  You may want to give a gift to that special greyhound or greyhound person in your life, but you're not really sure what they already have or what they need.  Enter the Greyhound Threads Gift Certificate!  Purchased in increments of $25, you can choose either a snail-mail gift certificate sent to you or directly to your recipient, or you can choose to have it sent electronically (we like to call it our "Paper or Pixels" project).  Your recipient will receive a credit on their purchase for that dollar amount when they shop Greyhound Threads on Etsy.  Happy Shopping!

 

Greyhound or Impostor?

I was browsing Urban Outfitters for amusing stocking-stuffers for my in-laws, and I came across this sweater with a dog's head on it...the question at hand is, "Greyhound, or Impostor"?  Thoughts?

**Please note, these photos are the property of Urban Outfitters.  Source can be found here.

Enamored by ElleJW

I am absolutely in love with the work of ElleJW of Almost an Angel 66!  I've been a long time admirer, and I posted about her work as the very first Featured Friday on the blog.  The past few days, I have been "ooohing" and "aaaahing" over two prints that I newly noticed (not sure if they are new, or just new to me!).  It sure would be nice if Santa brought me the pair for Christmas this year!!

This first print is titled "A Little Whisper" - I love the bunny ears (as we call our pup Ana's ears since they stick straight up in the air when she's listening for/to something).  I love the expression on her face- intent, listening...mouth slightly agape like there is a treat just out of view!

The second print is titled "Eventually" and features two black greyhounds looking just as intently off the page as the pup above!  I love this one because it is such a perfect mirror of my two, Ana and Blue!

Don't you think these 5x7" prints would be the perfect compliment to the ElleJW print we currently own (it's 14x10")?  Here's a tiny picture of it (I don't think she's selling prints of it anymore because I can't find it listed anywhere online!).

**Please note, the photos on this post are the sole ownership of ElleJW of Almost an Angel 66.  Source an be found here.

Introducing "Dressed to the (K)Nines" Flower Clips for Dog Collars or Hair

I just finished listing some new items at Greyhound Threads on Etsy, and I'm so very happy to announce the addition of a brand new line called "Dressed to the (K)Nines"!  The line launched today in the new Accessories section of the shop with the listing of three flower clips that can be worn either clipped to a dog's collar, or worn in your own hair!  I was inspired to create a multi-functional accessory due to a strand of kid's pearls I bought for my own posh-pup, Ana, a couple of years ago.  She loves to wear her pearls when we go out, but every now and then I will borrow them to wear as a choker.  I just love the versatility and was inspired to create other accessories that could be used by both human and hound!

The first listing is for a flower clip in Ivory Tulle with Black Polka-Dots.

  The second listing is for a flower clip in layered

Black Tulle with Ivory Tulle and Black Polka-Dot accents.

And the third listing is for a flower clip in

Buttery Yellow Satin with a Wooden Center accent.

Cyber Tuesday - Enjoy 10% off your total purchase today only!

Cyber Monday - Kylie Parry Studios

My Cyber Monday shopping has been focused around Etsy for the most part.  I found this morning, as I perused the online offerings, that I must have done all my "big-box" retailer shopping on Black Friday.  I was ready for something more personal- something handmade!  Etsy never fails to deliver, and today it was made only sweeter with some stores offering discounts on their already reasonable prices for quality goods.

There is one shop in particular that I found myself repeatedly drawn to today- Kylie Parry Studios.  I initially found this wonderful treasure of a shop because of the beautiful, modern dog bone ornaments that can be customized with the name of your dog.  Today only, Kylie is offering 20% off regular prices (the prices in her shop reflect the discount already!), so these sweet bones are only $11.20 each!

Personalized Dog Bone Ornament

While I adore these dog bone ornaments, and would adore one of each for Ana and Blue, I must admit that I fell just as much in love with these owl ornaments below.  Immediately, I thought to myself that these would be wonderful as necklaces & started trying to decide which would pair with more outfits!  These owls are only $12.80 after the 20% Cyber Monday discount!

Handmade Owl Christmas Ornament in Tan, Cream & Goldenrod

 

Rustic Red Hoot Owl Ornament

 

At the same time, I saw this wonderful Bee's Knees ceramic necklace...it's just amazing!  I love the honeycomb detail on the goldenrod colored pendant, and the accent of the bronzed bee!  This necklace is only $14.40 after the 20% discount, and it comes with the sweet little bee accent and the chain!

I knew that at least one of these items had to be mine, though it is unfortunate that all could not be!  After rigorous discussion with one of my friends over which owl ornament/pendant would be best, I finally decided on the bee necklace and the rust colored owl!  I am going to make the owl into a pendant and use the chain from the bee necklace so all I have to buy is the jump ring for the owl- I think they both are going to be amazing!!!

**Please note, all photographs are the property of Kylie Parry Studios.  Source can be found here.

New Listings - Snoods for Cold Weather

 New Snoods have been listed in the shop this morning, just in time for Holiday shopping and the cold weather that is upon us- check out all the Snoods we offer here! And, remember, we offer everyday Free Shipping on all orders to US addresses!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our home to yours,

Greyhound Threads wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

*Chihuahua-Turkey photo courtesy of The Orange County Register, here. It's actually a great article about keeping table scraps away from your pets, especially during the holidays!

October is Adopt a Dog Month & a Treasury Feature - Ode to Nimue

October is the American Humane Association's Adopt-A-Dog Month!

Greyhound Threads always encourages families and individuals looking to expand their family to adopt rescue animals instead of buying from a breeder or pet stores.  In addition to shelters and humane societies, please keep in mind that if you have a specific breed in mind, most often you can find rescue groups in your local area that specialize in your desired breed.  If you are interested in adopting a retired racer, there are many, many wonderful groups to help- and if you are in the Greater Richmond, VA area, please keep James River Greyhounds in mind!

In celebration of Adopt-A-Dog month,a fellow-Etsy seller created a wonderful tribute to her "fur daughter", Nimue the White, who passed away this past Spring.  Nimue was abandoned & left at the vets for several hours after her birth, and Brizel4TheAnimals was able to adopt her when she was 3 months old.  They spent seven wonderful years together- here is Brizel4TheAnimals' Ode to Nimue in which Greyhound Threads' Boutique Greyhound Silhouette in Mod 50's style with White Greyhound is featured:

Please do make sure you check out Brizel4TheAnimals' Etsy shop- the proceeds from her work benefit three areas of her life that are very important to her, including medical care for two senior rescue dogs!  Thanks Brizel4TheAnimals for including us in your wonderful Treasury & for reminding us that October is Adopt-A-Dog (or any animal!) month!

A Few Moments in Sunshine

One of my muses taking a few moments to enjoy the sunshine- I thought I would share this peaceful photo with my readers!

A Social Experiment - Chicago Craft Social

One of the things I love about owning Greyhound Threads is that it pushes me beyond my current creative comfort zone!  I love to craft and try new things, and the shop allows me to experiment with crafts that I never would have thought of before simply due to my desire for variety and differentiation.  I started the shop focused solely on coats.  Slowly, I am evolving our product lines, and I love taking on projects that push me to develop new skills and non-wearable products (though wearable items are still a huge focus).  As I previously said, one of the HUGE benefits of living so close to a big city is that there is a massive talent pool of crafters and artists in the local area to connect with and learn from.  A great event for just that is the Chicago Craft Social, which I attended with my crafting friend over at Pomely Grove  (check out her blog, too!) this past Friday!

So, what is the Chicago Craft Social?
Oh, my friends!  This event is such an amazing opportunity to not only meet fellow crafters and artisans, but also to learn many different crafting techniques!  The goal of the organizer (another Amanda!) is to create a place where you can learn a new craft, meet like-minded crafters, or just hang out (though there were so many awesome crafts, who had time to just sit and chat?!).  You can bring your own projects, but, again, we didn't have any time at all to work on our own stuff when there were 20 different projects we could choose from to learn. 

How did the project tables work?
Projects are listed on the Craft Social blog a few days before the event, a guide is provided when you arrive so you can navigate the tables, and the advice is given to rank your projects so you can make sure you get to your favorites first.  There definitely were popular ones that filled up fast, but we still managed to learn everything we wanted to- the variety of supplies (like fabric) were dwindling, so we didn't have all the pretty colors to choose from for some projects, but we were still able to complete the projects.  Seating is limited at each table, but you just rotate around at your leisure, and everyone was great about making room at crowded tables!  Most projects don't require that you bring anything- they provide everything- but they did let us know some things in advance that we could bring if we really wanted to customize our craft.  Professional crafters, every-day crafters, and craft businesses run the craft tables to teach the eager their particular craft offering.  There even are craft company-sponsored tables (like Mod Podge), and some companies even donate for the goody bag that everyone gets.  Oh, yes! The goody bag!

What?!  A GOODY BAG?!
Oh, yes, my friends- a goody bag!  I actually did some research on the goody bag before signing up for the Craft Social, just to see if the goody bags were all that fantastic (I wasn't picturing anything glamorous).  I couldn't find any reviews, so I wanted to make it known to everyone in webland that the goody bags were awesome!  Everyone received a pair of Westcott Titanium-bonded Non-Stick scissors (that's right- tape and glue won't stick to these!).  They sound like the ultimate crafting scissors- I'll have to do a review of them once I've broken them out for a project.  We also received a 2 fl. oz. bottle of Mod Podge, a coupon for ArtGlitter.com, a sample of their ultrafine art glitter, and a pencil from Evanston Print & Paper Shop (which I'll mention later)!

In addition to the goody bag, you get a raffle ticket when you go into the event, and you can select one of multiple items that you would like to try to win.  Throughout the night, they draw names out of the bag next to the corresponding item & you can win great prizes!

AND (yep, I'm not done with the freebies yet!), there were amazing snacks provided!  I'm talking cheesecake bites, brownies with marshmallow topping, cookies, fruit trays, crackers & hummus, a veggie tray, and more!  Coffee and tea were also provided.

Did it cost anything to attend?
Yes- admission was $25!  The event has limited availability, and based on what I learned at the event, it was well-worth every penny (especially with the added bonus of all supplies provided, the awesome goody bag and free snacks!).  I should probably also mention here that no kids under 18 are admitted to the event.  The site says that with scissors everywhere, it's no place for small children, and I quite agree!

So, what crafts did you learn?

My friend, Mel from Pomely Grove, and I made our way around four different craft stations over the course of the three hour event.

The first table we went to was the collograph print table sponsored and run by Jessica Taylor, designer of FIORI FALSI.  This technique for print-making was phenomenal- definitely expect some newly inspired items in the shop over the next couple of weeks!  Essentially, Jessica taught us a method of collograph print making that uses common, every day objects around your house (cardboard, some sort of material for creating texture, a wooden spoon, cloth and oil paints) to transfer a shape and texture of your choosing onto fabric.  I created a greyhound "stamp" of sorts that I then covered with unbleached muslin & pressed with the wooden spoon to transfer the image:

After collographing, we moved on to the bird's nest table where we learned how to make the increasingly popular bird's nest pendant, ring, and earrings using beads and wire.  You can see below that I chose to make two pendants- one is silver wire with taupe, egg-shaped beads, and the other is a lime green with yellow and brown wooden beads.

The third table we went to taught us a variation of fabric flowers.  Using just strips of fabric and a running stitch, I created this cute little flower that I will eventually use to create a brooch:

And, lastly, we were able to squeeze in a quick fabric-scraps headband at a table sponsored and run by Earth Cadets (a Richmond, VA native- it was so exciting to meet her & chat a bit about home!).

In all, we had such a fabulous time learning our new crafts and meeting some of the local crafters (since it was a social-focused event, we actually were able to spend some time talking to them vs. the Renegade Craft Fair which was selling-focuses).  We can't wait for the next Chicago Craft Social!

Introducing a New Line @ Greyhound Threads - Weekend Wear Scarves!

I just finished listing some new items at Greyhound Threads on Etsy, and I'm so very happy to announce the addition of a brand new line called "Weekend Wear Scarves"!  Knowing that some dogs can be fussy about their ears being covered (like with a snood that can be pulled up over the ears or worn down around the neck), I was inspired to create a neck-only accessory for the cooler weather that could be functional and fashionable.  The Weekend Wear Scarf is a streamlined scarf that snugly secures around the neck of the hound by inserting one end through a loop on the other end.

Blue models the Weekend Wear Scarf in the Reversible Mod Dots pattern.  The patterned side is a slate blue fleece with mod, multi-color dots, and the solid side is a thick navy blue fleece.  Doesn't he look dashing?

Ana shows off the stylish Weekend Wear Scarf in the Froggy Woodland pattern!  The patterned side is flannel with a frog, toadstool and small flower motif, and the other side is a solid cherry-red fleece. So simple and pretty!

Also listed today are two new coats!  One is a Weekend Wear Coat in Reversible Mod Dots (it matches the first scarf listed above), and the other is  very stylish Weekend Wear Coat in Red, Grey and Black Plaid!  Check everything out over at the Greyhound Threads Etsy store!

Featured Friday - Suegray of Suegray Jewelry on Etsy

One of the things I love most about Etsy is that it is a meeting ground for so many creative minds!  I could (and do!) spend hours at a time perusing the wares of others, marveling at their craft, becoming inspired by their work!  One of my most recent meanderings on Etsy lead me to a wonderful shop by Suegray Fitzpatrick called Suegray Jewelry.  The reason Suegray's shop jumped off the monitor at me was because of this beautiful pendant that she creates and sells on her shop:

Suegray creates the most magnificent hand-made jewelry out of fine silver using her personal collection of unique and amazing antique wax seals.  This particular pendant of a greyhound running with a letter in it's mouth also has a wonderful french proverb above, "je suis presse" which translates as, "I am pressed (for time)" or "I am in a hurry".  She does call out that the words are so, so small that they are very hard to read on the pendant (even with a magnifying glass), but you can make out most of it in the image above.  She creates each pendant by hand-stamping the antique french seal into fine silver- the result is this amazing seal that conveys so much old world charm!

This second greyhound charm also caught my eye and also evoked a very emotional response as I read the description.  This "wax seal" pendant has a wonderfully faithful greyhound sitting next to a monument with the phrase "le temps passe l'amitie reste" written around the edges in very tiny letters.  The translation is, "the time passes...the friendship remains".

In Suegray's photos, you can see some of the small, interchangeable seals that she uses to mold the silver into her beautiful pendants.  Here's a better look at the actual antique tools she uses to create them:

As you can see, a variety of pendants are available, not just greyhound ones!  Some of my other favorites are:

The Curious Dog 

(no real story here, just a pointer- beautiful!)

"Calmede ons agitee au dedans"

This phrase on the below pocket watch pendant translates as, "calm when agitated on the inside" or "calm when inwardly agitated"...but Suegray has a beautiful (and trendy!) translation of, "keep calm and carry on"!

And, lastly, this ever so true "c'est la vie" pendant of a small, single-masted sail boat traversing the rocky sea!  "Such is life"!

So, how can you buy Suegray's amazing pendants (and other fine jewelry!)?

• You can shop on her Etsy store, suegrayjewelry, or you can shop from her personal website, suegray seaglass jewelry.  All of her pendants at either shop are about $40 before tax & shipping!
• If you are in the Rhode Island or Massachusetts area, you can find her in-person at the following events:
• The 36th Annual Harvest Fair (10/2 & 10/3, 10am-5pm, Middletown, RI)
• The North American Seaglass Festival (10/9 & 10/10, 10am-5pm, Hyannis, MA)
• The 19th Annual Cornucopia Sale at the Pennfield School (11/13, 9am-4pm, Portsmouth, RI)

Please note: All photos are the property of Suegray Fitzpatrick of Suegray Jewelry.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips Treasury

Receiving a notification that an item from your shop has been selected for another Treasury is a great way to start off any morning!  Over night, a busy little bee was creating the Tiptoe Through the Tulips treasury featuring our Boutique Greyhound Silhouette that pairs a solid black silhouette with an "X" pattern background with vintage wash.  Thanks so much to calloohcallay for selecting us to be part of this fun treasury!

September is National Sewing Month!

September may be more than half over, but I still feel that I should announce that September is National Sewing Month!  I honestly had no idea, until I went to Joann's Craft Store last night and saw a sign on the window.  No, I don't go to Joann's only once a month...I've actually been there four or five times already in the month of September.  Just chalk it up to inattention, I suppose!  Usually, I am on a mission when I go to Joann's- I have a specific list of things to get, or I am preoccupied with all the other things I need to get done.  Last night, I was able to go with a clear mind and only one required item (black Velcro for some of the darker coats I am making for the Etsy shop).

What is National Sewing Month all about?  In 1982, President Ronald Reagan declared September National Sewing Month "in recognition of the importance of home sewing to our nation".  I like to think that home sewing has only increased in importance over the years.  Tools, like Etsy, are such an important part of how the craft industry continues to evolve and reach new people.  I'm excited to see what is in store for us over the next few years alone!

There is site that is dedicated to National Sewing Month (www.nationalsewingmonth.org) that has some great tutorials, including a tutorial on creating a matching dog collar and leash!  If anyone tries it, I'd love to hear how it goes!

Treasury Feature - Aqua Autumn Harvest by Caposhi

I'm so excited to announce that Greyhound Threads received notification that we have been featured in a third Treasury on Etsy!  Caposhi put together this amazing and modern take on Fall colors with her Aqua Autumn Harvest Treasury featuring warm pumpkin tones and wood-grain, with a pinch of dusty aqua!  Our Boutique Greyhound Silhouette in Orange with Mod Flowers was a featured selection, and we couldn't be happier that we were included in this beautiful Treasury- thanks Caposhi!  Please be sure to check out her blog, as well, where she features all of her weekly Treasury selections and more!

I also created my first Treasury with a different take on fall colors, called Fall with a Twist - Navy & Yellow.  No dog-related items on my Treasury, but still fun to peruse, if I do say so myself!  Enjoy!

Featured Friday - The Mod Dog

One of the first things new greyhound owners learn about their pup is that their heads are much more narrow than their necks, which means they require a special kind of collar called a martingale.  The martingale collar is designed to keep the greyhound completely secure and comfortable at the same time.  A traditional collar would need to be kept tight around the smallest part of the greyhound's head, which definitely would be uncomfortable for the dog.  A martingale collar has two loops, instead of the traditional collar's one loop, and the large loop is meant to fit loosely (but still snug!) around the neck.  There is a ring on the small loop where the leash is clipped- as the dog pulls forward or the walker pulls back on the leash, the small loop is pulled tighter, which causes the large loop to fit more snugly around the neck.  Once the tension on the small loop is released, the collar loosens again- perfect for those pups with narrow heads because they won't be able to slip their collar!

Here's an example of a basic martingale:

When we picked up our first greyhound, Ana, we went to the adoption coordinator's house where, in addition to filling out the paperwork, meeting our new family member for the first time, and standing around in awe looking at all the fresh-off-the-track beauties, we were able to peruse their "shop" of greyhound necessities.  We picked out a basic martingale and matching leash in a solid color that would go with everything.  We told ourselves that we would pick up a "pretty" patterned martingale in a few weeks.  Three years and another greyhound later, neither of our two have fancy collars.  I've gone to a lot of greyhound picnics and events where vendors sell them, but they always have been either too ornate, or let's face it, too expensive (some vendors will charge up to $75 for a collar!).  Enter Etsy and The Mod Dog!

Another fabulous find for our Featured Friday segment, The Mod Dog creates custom collars and leashes for your pet! You can choose the style of the collar (buckle or martingale), the webbing color (which is the main collar material), the pattern (which is attached to the webbing), and the hardware!  Each collar is custom created for your pup, so it will take between 1 to 2 weeks after your order is placed for the collar to arrive.  I've found quite a number of "favorites" on the shop, and they look like they would be well worth the wait!

The Halloween Retro Mod Dots Martingale Collar

The Jumpin' Jack Martingale Collar

A Whale's Tale Martingale Collar

I haven't purchased one (well, two!) for my hounds yet, but I already have the two picked out that I want to get them.  It's a trend in our greyhound group to color-coordinate our dogs with a signature color.  Ana's signature color is purple, and Blue's is, well, blue.  They also have secondary signature colors, just because we like variation, and Ana's is pink, and Blue's is red (we like him to wear blue and red together because they are Superman colors!).  So the fancy martingales we want need to coordinate with their primary and secondary signature colors.  Here are the ones we love for our two:

The Crimson and Clover Martingale Collar - only $20!!

The Polka, Polka Makes Me Happy Martingale Collar - only $19!!

(but we'd want to make it either 1 1/2" or 2" wide)

And, because we at Greyhound Threads love shops that work with rescue groups, we are excited to share with our readers that a percentage of every sale at The Mod Dog is donated to a local Georgia rescue group (mainly the Atlanta Weimaraner Club Rescue).

So, where can you find more information on The Mod Dog and purchase collars and leashes?  Here's the scoop:

• You can shop The Mod Dog on Etsy
• You can "like" The Mod Dog on Facebook
• You can "follow" The Mod Dog Blog (we love the blog and the alliteration!)
• And you can stay in touch through The Mod Dog twitter updates