Photo Diary of our Spring Fair set up

I am exhibiting at Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham this week.   Creature Clothes haven't exhibited here for at least 8 - 10 years so it's very exciting to be back.

We will be at Spring Fair (a trade only show) until Thursday 7th Feb.

Here is my camera phone diary of set up...

Our very basic, very tiny space in the Design Lab.
Stage 1 - picket fence is in place!

my trade show box of tricks...

mountains of samples to squeeze into our space

"Our" issue of Vanity Fair... the highlight of our 2012 media coverage

The electrics go in...

The Easy Dogs get bandana'd up with our new Slip on Bandana designs

I always start with the central focal point of the stand - for this show it was the top shelf, Vanity Fair and new product

The Easy Dogs get tethered to the fence by their lovely stripey fabric leads

Our new Slip on Bandana packaging gets pride of place at the front of the stand alongside Emergency Treats Pouch & Valentines Key Tags

Bone Babies and Fur Friend Fleecy Blankets go in (top tip for a show: classic Oscar The Grouch style trash can or drums with lids make a great display plinth and are essential for storing coats in!)

And we're done!  Somehow, this took until 10pm on Saturday night...
The grey walls weren't ideal for us, there isn't enough light and the positioning of our sign isn't ideal (I tried to pull the sign off and place it higher, but it wasn't shifting...) but this was part of the package for the Design Lab and creates an excellent over all look and feel of continuity between the Design Lab exhibitors.  I love the half width side walls and the white display plinths and was thrilled to be using our picket fencing again - it creates a fun, doggy, outsidey kind of look.
Overall, I'm very pleased!

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!