The Fido Awards Ceremony!

A one-of-a-kind Creature Clothes hand painted dog collar for each Award Category

The Fido Awards were held at The Cinema Museum this weekend and we were delighted to be involved.  So involved that Stolli and I ended up on the stage giving out the prizes!!  VERY EXCITING!

And a giant glittery bone for one very special dog...

I arrived at the very beautiful Cinema Museum in Kennington on Sunday morning with a red suitcase full of the hand painted dog collars that I had made as the principal awards for the event, and one giant Best In World diamante bone.  Stolli my dog came with me as our "Security Detail For The Awards" proudly wearing her K9 by Igloo security T-shirt (Stolli and K9's Mr Binks go way back...).

I'm ready to head up security!

The red suitcase, full of awards

Mr Toby Rose - Master and Hound of Ceremonies, and Stolli and I on prize giving duties in the corner!

The audience gathered... the dogs sniffed each others bums... the suspense was building....

First off Rom Com Rover was awarded to Australian film Red Dog.

Next up came Historical Hound - presented by The Time's chief film critic Kate Muir and won by the wonderful Uggie for his role in The Artist.  It was collected by Uggie's biographer Wendy Holden, who was also on hand to sign copies of Uggie's book - Uggie The Artist - My Story

Blockbuster Bowser was presented by actor & animal ambassador Peter Egan (who Stolli took time off from Security Watch to have a hug with and fell asleep on...).
The prize collar went to Bonnie in the fantastic film Seven Psycopaths.

Peter Egan and Stolli - she fell very much in love with Peter!

Comedy Canine was scooped by Smurf who played Banjo in Sightseers.  Smurf himself was in attendance to collect his prize collar with the films director Ben Wheatley.  He then stunned everyone with his amazing handstands on stage.  This is Smurfs second win for his role as Banjo - he already scooped the Palm Dog Award earlier in the year.  Congratulations Smurf!

Sightseers director Ben Wheatley, pondering his win 

The Sightseers winners make their speeches while everyone falls in love with Smurf

Smurf models his new Comedy Canine prize collar

Smurf steals the show

Mutt Moment was presented by Richard from Right Said Fred and went to Frankenweenie.  Hooray!

Me, Richard Right Said Fred, Wendy Holden (representing Uggie) and Peter Egan

The TOP DOG PRIZE - Best In World - went to the inimitable Uggie who very kindly sent us this fantastic picture.  Thank you Uggie!

The inimitable Uggie with his Creature Clothes collars and giant Best In World bone

What a crazy, fun, mad day.

WOW

The Making Of... The Fido Awards Ceremonial Dog Collars!

The Fido's are coming to town this Sunday December 9th and I can't wait!

Awarded to the most outstanding performances by dogs in film, this 6 category contest is organised by the same mad genius who brought you The Palm Dog Award from Cannes (I salute you Mr Toby Rose!).

After the success of our Jubilee Palm Dog creations (that turned up in the hands, mouths and round the necks of Cannes' thespian finest) we were once again asked to create something fabulous for the winners in each category at this year's Fido's.  the categories:

Comedy Canine

Historical Hound

Rom Com Rover

Mutt Moment

Blockbuster Bowser

Best In World

 A challenge... but an exciting one.

Here's what I got up to...

My notes from our initial meeting, outlining the categories and the colour & feel for each category

Prepping the collar blanks at our beaten up leather working bench.

Cracking open the Swarovski Crystals and heating up the crystal gun...

Paints, studs, logos, categories... the board is set to get creating.  The start of a long night.

We decided that hand painted collars were the best way forward.  I first painted on the lettering freehand, then outlined it in a second colour to bring that Beano/Viz/Cartoon-y vibe.

3 down... 3 to go!

I was worried at this point - the Mutt Moment collar looked very wobbly (too much coffee methinks).  The moment it was outlined it became my favourite of the lot.

A rare moment of quiet concentration!

Painted, outlined, studded, sparkled, buckles fitted, dee rings riveted and we're ready to go!  We can't wait to see who ends up taking home these one-of-a-kind collars

Check back in tomorrow to see the finished awards... and log in on Sunday to see the winners!

www.thefidos.com

www.palmdog.com

www.creatureclothes.com

Vanity Fair's "Hot Pick" - The Fogle & Pole Vintage Collection

I was completely overwhelmed to see my work in the December Issue of Vanity Fair as one of Punch Hutton's Hot Pick's.  It's a bit of a dream come true - I love Vanity Fair.  The glamour, the glitz, the iconic photography.  

Stolli my dog is in the photo, sandwiched between Fogle & Pole Vintage Collection Dog Beds.  

The photo was taken by my husband Nick.

Thank you Punch Hutton & VF!

To see the Fogle & Pole Collection: http://www.creatureclothes.com/fogleandpole

To see more of Nick's work: http://www.picnick.co.uk

To see more of our coverage in the media this month: http://www.creatureclothes.com/press

Dog Powered Sewing Machines

I need this in my life NOW!

I don't think Stolli would be very impressed though...

Thanks to my dear friend Julia for sending me this photo-snippet - amazing.

Disco Loco!

We went to what is possibly the most awesome and crazy and cool and totally brilliant idea ever ever ever over the weekend...

Disco Loco - the rave for folks with kids...

The giant light up pink heart at the back of the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club stage was adored, the balloons jumped on, the disco backdrop shredded and made into necklaces, the hulahoops were hooped, the food was guzzled (there was even take away curry so you didn't have to cook supper when you get home!), the lights were dark and disco-y, the music was loud and the moves on the dancefloor were nothing but spectacular.  Juice for the kids and beer for the mummies and daddies - all at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon.

Quite simply, awesome.

www.discoloco.org

Travelling in Style!

These guys sure know how to travel in style!

Pets Pyjamas

Thank you very much to the Pets Pyjamas gang for featuring us in their magazine feature Behind the Brand. 

Their site is a fantastic resource for pet owners and I was delighted to add my two favourite dog friendly locations to their files - The Anchor in Walberswick, Suffolk and The Pavilion Cafe in Victoria Park, East London.

To read the feature, go to:

http://blog.petspyjamas.com/creature-clothes-interview/

Birthday Roses

I've tried cutting off 2 inches, dunking in boiling water, cutting up the stems and simply cutting off fresh angled ends, but nothing seems to work on my doomed droopy headed roses.  

So I now enjoy them while they last, and when the tops of the necks give in, I chop them off and put them in an old butter dish to dry and look beautiful for a little longer.  Then we make cards and pictures out of the pettles!

Gluey fingers - yes.  Green fingered - no.

Follow Your Art

I went to a fantastic event last night - Follow Your Art - an auction and exhibition in aid of Anti-Slavery International, held at the spectacularly cool Village Underground in Shoreditch.

The space was epic, the works awesome, the people passionate.

Southeby's Lord Harry Dalmeny took his first trip "Out East" to preside over a highly entertaining and fantastically lucrative auction and had the whole room laughing and bidding and laughing and bidding some more, waving our glow stick auction paddles in the air.

I was stunned by Olek's crocheted tribute to Martin Luther King running along the pavement of Great Eastern Street.

A great night, with thousands raised for Anti Slavery International.  I sadly came home empty handed, but then we are very lucky in getting to see work by many of the artists involved on our walk to school each morning.  I love the East End.

Children's Notebook in The Telegraph

I just got a sneak peak of The Children's Notebook in The Telegraph on Saturday, and WE'RE IN IT!!!

Thank you very much to Daisy Bridgewater and her dogs and children for fully understanding where we're coming from and what we do.  I often get told I'm insane when asked what I do... the concept of kids and their pets wanting to wear the same thing is a bit off the wall, but in our house it's the norm.  Not sure what that says about our house though!  

Today the girls and the dog have decided to wear blue and white stripes - they're working the Breton look... yes, it's nuts here.

We can't wait to see it in print on Saturday...

... until then, here's a link to the article on line:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/daisy-bridgewater/9571935/Childrens-Notebook-Animal-magnetism.html

to see the full kids collection, go to http://www.creatureclothes.com & click on KIDS!

www.barkarama.com

We were thrilled to be featured on www.barkarama.com over the summer.  

They wrote a great piece on our "DOG" and "CHIEN" pet beds.  I really love the denim and faux-suede colour/texture combo - very Cowboy Cool.

Thanks Barkarama - we love your site!

To buy the products featured on Barkarama... go to:

www.creatureclothes.com

To see the blog on Creature Clothes... go to:

http://www.barkarama.co.uk/home/2012/08/23/231-sole-ownership-dog-beds

American Apparel Factory Store...

I saw this new store being finished yesterday as I was walking down Brick Lane - an American Apparel Factory Store off Brick Lane!!  Very exciting... samples, slight seconds, over runs, over dyes, over sizes, vintage pieces, basics... I can't wait to see what goodies they have in store for us, shipped direct from their LA factories!

National Puppy Awareness Week

This week is National Puppy Awareness Week (8 - 15th September), run by The Kennel Club.  They aim to cut the number of puppies and dogs ending up in rescue homes following people buying the wrong dog for their kind of life.

I am very lucky in that I have had dogs and cats all of my life, and having worked for myself since I left school my dog has alway come to work with me.  It is essential that before getting a dog you thoroughly research the different breeds.  More importantly thoroughly look at your own life and ensure you can enrich your dogs life as much as they will enrich yours.  

I am a huge fan of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and their rehoming process.  They ensure that the correct animal is going to live with the correct family.  If buying a dog from a breeder, you must do this for yourself.

This week I will be fondly remembering the chaos brought to my house when my dog Vodka had 12 KC registered puppies in one litter.  A magical time, but my life totally stopped for 10 weeks as I had to help Vodka to raise the puppies - bottle feeding them every 2 hours, weighing them, cleaning them... babies were a doddle after 12 puppies!  I like to think that Vodka returned the favour when I had my first child by making sure all scraps of food dropped by the baby were quickly hoovered up...

Puppies grow up fast, and the cute little bundle curled up in your hand as a baby very quickly gets larger...

Stolli when she first opened an eye at about 10 days old.... 

... and a few years later on holiday with us, thanks to the Pet Passport Scheme

For more info on National Puppy Awareness Week: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/paw
All photos courtesy of Nick Stevens: www.picnick.co.uk
The Pet Passport Scheme: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/

Henna Nights

I've recently been going a bit mad for henna.  I seem to have a tube of it in my handbag at all times these days - you never know when someone will want a henna tattoo... I'm getting a bit of a reputation for doodling on people.

Last night I caught up with my darling friend Tara.  We only get to see each other in the summer as she lives in Menorca, and these days our catch up times are spent keeping watch while our respective children bash each other over the heads with spades on the beach...

We used to spend all day every day together getting up to all sorts of madcap things - messing around on boats... creating fabulous beach-side hair treatments using seaweed, sand and shells... one summer it was Street Hockey on the newly laid tarmac of a house-less urbanisation on the coast when we would come over all "Roller Boys" (RIP Corey Haim).  It is my dearest wish that our daughters carry on this friendship alongside us and I hope they will also enjoy some of the freedoms we were so lucky to have on this little island in the Med.

So, last night it was beer and henna - reliving being 13 at the end of the 80's, when it was all about henna tattoos, boys and Top Gun (RIP Tony Scott).

I get my henna on the Bethnal Green Road in London - most Bengali grocery stores keep the tubes by the till.  I use the green tube - Emergency Henna - it has a lovely dark colour and is super easy to apply.  Simply draw on your pattern, trying to keep the line even (a bit like icing a cake with an icing funnel), and leave it for a minimum of 5 minutes.  The longer you leave it on, the darker your tattoo will be.  I tend to leave mine on until the henna is totally dry, usually about 20+ minutes, then just wash it off with water.  Perfect!

Applying the henna to Tara's hand in trying an attempt at a more traditional design
(I seem to only be able to do stars, hearts, lizards and dots!)

Wash on... wash off - my winged hearts and dots are a day old, Tara's henna is newly applied and drying.

Hearthomemag.co.uk blog!

Thank you so much to Heart Home Magazine for their blog on me and what I do - wow!  

Thank you so much for the great write up, and thanks also to my lovely husband Nick for the fab piccies.

http://hearthomemag.co.uk/blog/

http://hearthomemag.co.uk/blog/an-interview-with-product-designer-cosima-pole

Olympic Fever!

I LOVE LONDON & I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!

It's been amazing being in London for the Olympics - it's a bit like London at Christmas when the streets are oddly quiet and empty - but marginally warmer.

I went to visit a stockist in West London on Friday in my new yellow van and drove under Tower Bridge - the Olympic rings were raised as the bridge was about to go up, so I snapped a pic as we drove under them... pretty cool!