Home Sweet Home

I often get asked the question, "How many hours per day do you sew?" There is no easy answer to that question, as each day is different. But, for the most part, I spend at least an 8 hour day in my sewing room.

I love my sewing room. I love my wonderful husband who has created this beautiful room for me. He is the best. I tell him what I need (okay, sometimes it is only a want, but he views them the same. Told you he was the best!), and he creates it.

The room did start out with the bank of cabinets and counter top at one end. We created the rest. The sewing area is prefab counter top, supported underneath with bracing to make it extremely sturdy. We cut away the carpet under it and created a "Pergo pad". That's what I call it. It is the greatest. I just roll effortlessly from one sewing machine to the other, or over to my laptop computer. We considered doing the whole floor with Pergo, but decided to keep the carpet to reduce the noise and make it warmer.

The only drawback to my sewing room is that I do not have a window. The room is located in our basement, and doesn't have one. I make up for it with lots of lighting, but I do miss looking out the window sometimes. But, that would just make it harder to work when it is a beautiful day outside.

My fabric rack is awesome. I used to have all my fabric packed in bins, but putting in this rack has been a great decision. I can create and work with everything at my fingertips.

I used to be a professional organizer, thus everything is very tidy and organized. I really can't work in clutter and chaos. That doesn't mean it is always as clean as the pictures. I did do a little tidying just for that!

Truly the best part of being able to work in my home, is that the girls get to come to work with me each day. Their beds are under the sewing counter and on the bottom shelf of the fabric rack. I use to have fabric stacked on the bottom shelf, but they kept making a bed out of the fabric, so I put one of their beds in there and problem solved.

It has been fun sharing my room with everyone. I am always welcome to visitors!

Adorable Tshirts from Pure Country Pet Boutique

I received some most adorable tshirts the other day from Pure Country Pet Boutique. They specialize in apparel and costumes for the smaller dogs at reasonable prices.

These little tshirts fit each of the girls' personalities perfectly. They are made from high-quality cotton that is completely machine washable. I am a bit of a stickler for that. Anything you dress a dog in needs to be washable.

They have dozens of tshirts with all kinds of fun sayings on them. Many of them are on sale right now, for only $9.99 each! If you really go crazy with your shopping, they even have free shipping for orders over $75.

My family loved the girls in these, as they thought they looked like muscle shirts!

Why Do Dogs Run Around Like Crazy After a Bath?

Why Does My Dog Do That? Wednesday addresses the issue of why dogs run around the house like crazy animals after they have had a bath.

For the most part, dogs hate baths. That isn't the same thing as hating water. You can have a Labrador Retriever that would spend 24 hours a day playing in the river, getting soaking wet, but try to get him near a bathtub and it is like you are suddenly lugging an 80 pound bag of uncooperative concrete. What is it about baths?

First, we give dogs baths because we think they smell like..well,...a DOG! This is not a problem to the dog. They like the way they smell, and really are not that fond of all the perfumy shampoos that are marketed towards the owner's sense of smell, not the dog's.

So, you have managed to drag your uncooperative dog to the tub, bathed, lathered and rinsed. Now you towel them off and let them go. Suddenly they are these crazy animals running all over the house, rolling on the carpet, rubbing on the furniture and walls, snorting and sneezing.

And let's not forget the big shake. That's their favorite part...especially if they are in close proximity to a dry human. Ahh, perfect payback.

Dogs do not like the weight of the water on their fur. You will see even the dogs that frolic in the river will stop and shake the water out of their fur. A healthy, dry coat is the dog's best protection from the elements, and instinct tells them to keep it dry to do it's job.

Your dog will zoom all over because they are happy to be free of the dreaded bathtub. You are usually giving them all sorts of attention, talking to them in that excited high-pitched voice, telling them how beautiful they are.

Yes, you do, just admit it.

Mostly, they are just excited to have survived the ordeal once again. For some strange reason it makes YOU happy, which usually results in a treat of some sort coming their way, so all in all, it's an occasion to run and be happy. And he probably really does feel better to be clean than dirty.

Stormie Is a Cover Girl

We are so excited that Stormie is the cover dog for the upcoming May/June issue of Chihuahua Connection magazine. It was so much fun to work with Tamara, the editor of Chihuahua Connection, as we chose which picture to use. Tamara does a great job with this magazine and puts so much time into the efforts.

Stormie is staying pretty low-key about the whole thing. If it brings her more goodies and treats then she will be excited.

Why Do Dogs Sleep So Much?

Today is 'Why Does My Dog Do That? Wednesday' and today we are answering the question of why dogs sleep so much.

There's no doubt about it: dogs sure know how to sleep. The amount of time spent napping varies from dog to dog and depends on the dog's age and personality. Counting little naps and longer snoozes, most dogs sleep about fourteen hours a day. Nobody is sure why dogs sleep so much. The amount of sleep that an animal needs depends upon its species. Horses and cows may sleep only three or four hours daily, because they require long hours of grazing to supply their bodies with sufficient food. Bats and opossums may sleep closer to 20 hours.

The various breeds of dogs also seem to have different sleep requirements. Some very large breeds of dogs, like Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, and mastiffs, often spend a great deal of their lives sleeping – perhaps up to sixteen or even eighteen hours a day, while smaller dogs don't need as much.

A dog living as a pet in the home is likely to sleep more than a dog that works for a living, like a search and rescue dog or a dog working on a farm. Dogs are lucky – they are able to adjust their sleep pattern so that they can be awake when there is something to do, and asleep the rest of the time.

Of course, today's modern indoor dog sometimes sleeps out of boredom. You can help your pet by providing plenty of stimulation during the day – this can be in the form of toys, a companion, or plenty of walks and playtime with you. If he has enough to do during the day, he may stay awake when the sun is up and sleep at night when you do. The weather can also change a dog's sleep. Pets will tend to sleep more on cloudy days than sunny ones, and snuggle up more on cold days than warm ones.

I think the amount of time dogs sleep is what adds to the saying 'It's a dog's life". Wouldn't it be nice to nap through most of the day?

All this talk about napping and sleeping has me yawning big time and wanting to take a snooze. Maybe I will go find the girls and we can take a little nap.

Oh, look. They already ARE napping.

Life's rough, girls. Life's rough.

A Little Too Close For Comfort

On Saturday, we took Stormie and Breezy and went to the NW Pet and Companion Fair. This is a fun local event that features all kinds of vendors and demonstrations. It is a great opportunity for us to take the girls out to meet people and to advertise our clothing line.

This year they had a Dock Dog exhibit, which we had a lot of fun sitting and watching. Even more fun was watching people who had brought their dogs for the day try to teach them to leap into the pool after the toy. The girls lay on the bleachers next to us and seemed to be interested in all the action. We quickly learned that it was similar to being at the killer whale show at SeaWorld, however, and the front row was NOT the place to sit.

One of the other exhibits was a jungle/reptile show. There were all kinds of snakes and lizards, and a skunk (!) in an open pen that you could pet (no thank you!). There was a cute wicker bench with a jungle setting for a picutre taking opportunity, so we thought it would be fun to put the girls on the bench and take their picture.

As you know, this is not normally a challenge to get Stormie and Breezy to pose for pictures, but this time they were very distracted. Right next to the photo area were cages of wild animals. There was a Ocelet cat that was making some growling noises and a Coatimondi that was very interested in looking at the girls.

In the end, we didn't get very great pictures, other than this one. Look at their expressions. Stormie is terrified and just wants to be back safe in my arms. Breezy, on the other hand, is all attention. I don't know what that cat was saying, but she was ready to take him on.

Rest assured, everyone was safely kept in cages, but we left the area quickly.

Too many big cats looking at my dogs like they were a mid-morning snack.

Is This Where I'm Heading...?

I took a big step this weekend and ordered a pet stroller for the girls. Let me explain...

On Saturday, Shawn, P.J. and I took Stormie and Breezy to the NW Pet and Companion Fair at the Expo Center (Shimmer had a little bit of a tummy issue on Friday, so I left her home, just to be safe). We had a wonderful time walking around, showing off the girls in their Spring dresses and visiting all the booths. They may only weigh 4.5 pounds, but after a while it did get tiring carrying them for so long.

Although we had leashes with us, there was no way we were putting them on the ground. Since this event allows you to bring your pet with you, there was lots of dogs. Lots of BIG dogs walking around. One of them even tried to leap up and tried to catch Stormie as we walked by. He got my arm instead, and fortunately was more slobber than teeth, but it was unnerving, just the same.

There were several people pushing their little dogs in strollers, which caught my attention. I have been thinking about getting one to take to events such as this, which would allow the girls to still be seen, but also able to relax and lounge in the comfort of the stroller. We are going to participate in the Portland Doggie Dash in May, and I think a stroller will be perfect.

So, yes, I ordered one and it will be here later this week. I am pretty excited to get it.

Which brings me to the picture above and the title of today's blog.

Shawn and the family are worried that I am going to turn into that woman in the picture. The Crazy Chihuahua Lady with a hundred dogs. I don't know what I would do if I actually ever saw someone walking down the street with such a stroller full of Chihuahuas. Do you see the little faces even peeking out from the basket below?

Too funny.

'Just a Dog'.....

My sister sent me this poem this morning. I love it. It really speaks the truth about how our lives are made so much better by the dogs who share their lives with us.

I also love the fact that my sister, who has always been a strict cat person, is now so totally in love with her little Chihuahua, Fritzy.

Chihuahuas RULE!!!

Just a Dog

From time to time, people tell me,

"lighten up, it's just a dog,"

or "that's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled,

the time spent,or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog,

but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog,"

and in those days of darkness,

the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you too, think it's "just a dog,"

then you won't understand phrases like

"just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship,

trust and pure unbridled joy."

Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience

that makes me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks

and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog"

but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,

the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me

and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog"

but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog," just smile,

because they "just don't understand!"

- Author Unknown

Adorable Business Card Holder

I carry a lot of business cards with me in my purse. Whenever I see a cute little dog that looks like he or she needs some clothes, I introduce myself to the owner and give them one of my cards.

Not being a pushy type person, this was not easy for me to do at first, but I am getting better at it.

I had seen all kinds of business card holders, but when I found this one on eBay, I knew I HAD to get it. You purchase the metal holder and then send them the picture that you want put on the front.

To be quite honest, I was thinking it was going to come and be like a sticker or something, but it has a high gloss enamel finish that protects it and makes it very strong. The case itself is very good quality and I am very pleased with it.

I am very happy with my new business card holder and love to bring it out and show people my three little princesses and how cute they look in their dresses. It has gotten several people excited about my clothing line and they have come and shopped as a result.

Even if you don't have business cards, lots of people carry 'calling cards', which they hand out to people when they need to share phone numbers, Facebook accounts, etc. You can send them any picture that you want put on it.

Check it out here. They are only $7.95 with FREE shipping. A great, great deal.

I hope to see lots of people running around with cute pictures of their little furbabies on their business card holders!

We Won Some Steps!!

We are not what I would officially call 'lucky' people. I rarely win door prizes, raffles, or contests of any kind. I still give them a good try, but I do not have a long list of prizes.

So, imagine my surprise when I actually ended up being one of the daily winners a few weeks ago when G.W. Little was have a birthday celebration week for their little model, Peluche. We won a gorgeous set of microsuede Hi-Riser steps to help the girls get up and down off the couch.

Jumping to and off from high places can a great degree of wear and tear on our little dog's joints and can cause lasting damage. These wonderful steps give them the ability to get up and sit with us without doing themselves any harm.

We were pretty excited when the package arrived the other day. It is super fast to slip the lightweight foam pieces into the microsuede form and presto! we were ready to go. Because they are so lightweight, they are easy to move around to different locations.

The girls took to them right away and now love to race up and down them.

A great big THANK YOU to little Peluche and to G.W. Little for sharing the birthday fun with all of us Facebook fans!

And for helping me to be a 'winner'!

Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Heads When You Talk To Them?

Today, for Why Does My Dog Do That? Wednesday, we are addressing the question: "Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Heads When You Talk to Them?"

There are few things more endearing than watching your dog tilt her head to the side as you talk to her. She looks so serious and intent upon understanding your every word. Are they really listening to us or is there another reason our dogs do this?

Dogs heads are tilted simply because they are curious and inquisitive creatures. They want to understand what you are trying to say and they can do this if they can hear clearly. Because of the way the ears are positioned, there is a need for the dog to cock its head so that the ears are upright. Sound waves can enter the ear directly to reach the ear drums. Have you noticed that dogs do not tilt their heads to the side if you are talking beside them? Tilting the head is only done if the person talking is in front of the dog.

They mainly do it when people are in front of them, since the sound waves aren't traveling directly toward the ears. You'll see this more in puppies than older dogs. It's not that puppies have more trouble hearing. They just haven't been around us long enough to figure out what's important and what isn't. So they respond to almost any sound with a little head-cock, especially when we're looking at them at the same time. They know something interesting is happening, and they don't want to miss a thing. They often cock their heads to make sense out of the babble of noise. The movement allows them to capture every bit of sound.

So, I guess the answer is, yes, they ARE trying to understand what you are telling them, or figure out why you are making that funny noise you use to make them tilt their head because you think it's cute.

Which makes you wonder why they do it.

So, it's a vicious circle that goes on and on.

I dare you to now resist the urge to run and make your dog tilt their head to the side. Send me a picture!

Lunch Box For the Girls

I got this adorable little bag at JoAnn Fabrics the other day. It is actually a lunch bag, but I just could not resist getting it for the girls.

I plan to pack it up with some baggies of food, a water bottle, a couple collapsible bowls, some treats (ALWAYS have to have those treats, you know!), a couple extra collars and anything else I think we might need. It will be great to have this packed in the car, ready to go on a quick trip to the beach, or to have as an emergency kit should we need to leave our home in a disaster situation.

We all have our emergency 72 hour kits for the people in the household, but now I know that the little girls will have their stuff too. I can even clip this onto my own backpack if I need to.

Okay, all that above sounds really noble and great, but to tell you the truth, I just thought it was really cute and would be fun to pack their stuff in! I really do worry about how to care for my pets in an emergency evacuation or some other event, and perhaps I should do a post with information about that!

The Easter Bunny Came...

The girls had a great Easter basket to wake up to this morning. Filled with some of their favorite treats: CocoTherapy Coconut Chips, Halo Live-a-Littles, and Zuke's Mini Naturals. There were toys to play with, which included two Pethead stuffed toys that look like shampoo bottles. The yellow one is 'Control Freak' (that is Breezy, for sure!) and the purple one says 'SuperStar', which of course they all think they are. There were some other various stuffed toys also, but sadly, Bonnie the Golden Retriever has already destroyed one :(. They also received new collars from Crazy for Collars to wear with their Easter dresses.

When it came time to take their picture with the basket, their true natures became apparent. Shimmer sits very prim and proper. Stormie, always thinking of her stomach, is licking her chops, just waiting to dive in. And Breezy, the independent red-head, says "forget this, I'm checking out what's all in here!" Gotta love these girls!!

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter from the crew at Cody and Company. We hope that you have a wonderful weekend!