Christmas Tradition

Every Christmas day for the last 9 years (since we have had the dogs) we have a tradition of going to the coast to walk on the beach. Come rain or shine, we still go. 

So, Christmas Day 2012, the wettest year on record, the forecast was predictably gloomy! But we are not easily put off, an 80% chance of rain did not stop us making the flask of coffee, with a little nip of whisky in, packing it in a bag with some home made chocolate brownies, kitting the dogs out in rain coats and jumpers and we were ready to get on the road!

Camber Sands is our most local sandy beach now that we live in Kent, and if you have never been, you should go. Miles of sand and dunes and although the little town is not really what you might call picturesque the beach is stunning.

The rain pelted down all the way down through the lovely countryside, and when we arrived we did have to wait 10 minutes in the car with a cup of coffee as even we were wondering what we were doing, the dogs had been thinking that since we left the house! But as if a Christmas miracle had happened the rain stopped, and the sun even showed its face!! So we got our hats and coats on and off we went!

It might have been dry, but the wind was gale force! Bracing was the word we used! The dogs had a fantastic time, Frankie running in the dunes and Bruno chasing a frisbee that flew in the wind. 

Frankie in mid flight!

 Bruno going against the wind!

The sky was magnificent and we were not alone in our madness, there were other dog walkers and even someone on a horse. 

So all in all, we were glad we had made the effort, it was fun and  exhilarating and it always fills me with joy to see my whippets running around, doing what they do best!

So here is to tradition, and if you can't be traditional at Christmas when can you be! 

Happy New Year, and we look forward to sharing 2013 with you. 

Show Time!

I know it's a cliche but where does the time go? I haven't had any time to write a blog post since October! When I started this little blog, I thought I'd have time to do at least a post a week! Well, nearly 6 weeks since the last post there seems to be something not quite right with my calculations!

So, what has been keeping me so busy I here you ask. Simple. Two big retail shows. Those of you that follow me on Twitter, Facebook or my personal fave, Instagram will know that we attended the Country Living Christmas Fair at the beginning of November, and the Wealden Times Midwinter Fair just last week. 

 Up to Islington we went with the van loaded up with Redhound goodies to sell to the lovely ladies (and some gentlemen) who attend this very popular sanctuary of retail therapy.

This year I made the stand look very Christmassy, and we topped up our stock with lots of dog treats from our friends at the Beach Dog Bakery, another Kent based business. 

We had garlands, baubles, brightly coloured leather collars, and snowflake Christmas jumpers.

All of our beloved vintage dogs on wheels went to good homes with delighted new owners. It never ceases to amaze me just how popular these little dogs are. 

What I love about this show is that it is a great time to catch up with some old friends, and being in London, a few nights out at lovely eating establishments! Drinks with the lovely ladies at Poppy Children, and a meal at Bill's with Poppy Treffry were both enjoyable.  

Five frantic days ensued and much stock was sold, and the van was a little lighter on the way back home.

One week later, after frantically making up the orders that had come in while we were away, we set up for  our local fair at Bedgebury, The Wealden Times Midwinter Fair. Seemingly just as popular as the Country Living Fair. I was a little concerned that no dogs were allowed (they were encouraged at the Summer Fair) but I need not have. The lovely ladies of the Weald came and loved what we do, and bought their dogs coats, collars and Christmas Crackers! 

It's been a bit less frantic at The Barn this week. Only one show to do, The Rare Brands Market at The Corn Exchange in Brighton next week. Friday 7th and Saturday 8th December. Pop in if you are in town. 

Roll on Christmas I need a rest!!!

Red is the Colour!

At this time of year I am forced to feel festive. NOT out of choice, but necessity, because it is that time of year when we at Redhound have to get ready for the big Country Living Christmas Fair.

So it has been all about RED this last couple of weeks. Red Christmas jumpers, Red bandanas, and Red Christmas stockings!

I have been working out on the knitting machine all week, and to my surprise I seem to have a slightly more toned waistline, who needs the gym.

Next week it will be all about bandana production. Lots of triangles of lovely cotton in beautiful prints, and then I will be putting the sewing machine through its paces, zoom zoom.

And this year we are offering our bandanas with a treat tree as a gift pack! There will be frantic packing of these lovely gifts the day before setting up at the show no doubt.

 This week I have been amazed by the response I have had on the social media sites, there was a time not so long ago, when those two words just wouldn't have been in the same sentence! Running a business is so different now to how it was when I had the Wedding Dress Shop. But I have embraced it and use Twitter (@RedhoundforDogs) and Instagram (@redhoundfordogs)

 I am getting orders from all around the world! Collars and Coats are going as far away as Australia! 

I love the sharing of thoughts and pictures, and the way that I can connect with my customers in a more personal way. 

This little dog won a bandana for being our 700th follower on Twitter, and it gave me such joy to make the owner so happy!

And George is so terribly CUTE!!

Last but not least we took a delivery of wonderful bright coloured dog collars made in the softest of leather by our shoe maker friends in Devon. 

I love them all, and I am sure that the good people of London will too>

You can buy tickets on line at www.countrylivingfair.com

or call the ticket hotline 0844 848 0152

7-11th November at the Business Design Centre Islington

So if you are going pop along to meet us, stand P34

A Trip to Suffolk

It may seem like we are always on holiday here at Redhound, but it just so happens that our long weekend in Devon was closely followed by a week in the lovely dog friendly county of Suffolk. In fact this was our first week away for over 3 years! So we were really ready for it! 

Suffolk is a beautiful county and we stayed in a lovely converted stable that we booked through a great website www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk All of their properties are of a high standard, and lots are dog friendly too. The Stable had underfloor heating which is heaven to the whippets! We loved the peace and quiet, the only sounds at night were foxes and owls, and no street lights so it was very dark at night, great for restful nights and restorative sleep, both of which we needed! 

We found some lovely shops, I loved this one, so traditional, and they sold a bit of everything, from rabbit food to wool!

We ate some fantastic food, fish featured on all menus, and I got my fix of fresh crab, Bruno has discovered at the age of 9 that he too likes crab!

We found some amazing churches and they all had these beautiful hand embroidered cushions on the pews 

We went to some beaches and had fish and chips! And lots of sea air! 

 More embroidered cushions on pews and we saw The House in The Clouds at Thorpeness!

Then the week was over! We were supposed to be resting, and relaxing, but this doesn't come easily to us, so we had fantastic days out, great dog walks and lots of exploring. We even met the man who discovered the Hoxne Hord, the biggest single find of Roman coins, jewellery and much more. Now in the British museum he is 89 and still going out with his metal detected! A really lovely gentleman, and a great character!

So back in the Garden of England now, and in the throws of moving our business to an old Kent Barn, we truly have outgrown the house!

These two are glad to be home and back in the usual routine which involves lots of sleeping during the day, and less exploring and walking! They have a holiday every day here!

A Trip to Devon

After a very busy summer and a hectic 5 days up at the Burghley Horse Trials, we needed a break! So off to Devon we went where we are lucky enough to have some very good friends who live on the wonderful Dartington Estate. Oh it was good to be back and we slipped into the slower pace of life like we had never left

Some pics of Burghley don't be fooled by that blue sky, it was very cold in that tent at night

and then to Devon

So, after an early mooch around the weekly vintage market in Totnes, the first place I visit is Redhouse Gifts our old shop, where I meet Maggie the new owner and we head for the nearest coffee shop for breakfast and to talk shop! Maggie has really carried the shop forward and has lots of lovely goodies, mainly British and I did have to make a few purchases!

The window looked pretty good I thought

Then it was straight down to my second favourite shop in Totnes, Inspired Buys on the Plains, I would give you a link to a website, if Beverly the owner had one! No, Beverly is wonderfully eccentric and old fashioned, traits that are illustrated well in her little shop that has a mix of new, but nostalgic products, up cycled products that she makes and some vintage finds from car boots and markets. Beverly has a wonderful eye for pleasing products, and I came out of the shop with a clock made from a tiddlywinks box, some scrabble letters, and a wonderful dog on wheels, oh and a whippet tea towel by Poppy Treffry. She knows me so well!

I have named her Elsie

Then it was Saturday lunchtime, and we had a picnic planned with four humans and four whippets, on Dartmoor by the river. The weather was kind and the dogs were mostly well behaved apart from the chicken stealing incident, but Bailey is only ten months old, and I forgive him. We all laughed alot.

In the evening we had a bbq and some more friends joined us, and after some Pimms and wine it seemed like a good idea to go on a river trip and take dinner the next night. MMmmmm

Sunday was spent eating, walking dogs, and more eating. Then the river trip. John and Debbie were keen, they had cooked and packed the picnic, we were not so keen, the weather looked a bit bleak!

We were not put off, the boats, some sort of canoe if you are wondering, were put on the water and we all climbed on, two in each boat, I froze for fear of capsizing in the cold River Dart, and loosing my precious Aigle Wellies in the deep water!

We reached our destination just in daylight when the rain went from drizzle to proper rain. A glass of wine was consumed under the trees and it was decided that getting back and eating in the comfort of their home would be safer! How relieved was I, this meant only having to get out of the boat once! I have no photos of this trip as I felt that the iPhone was just too precious to be lost in the river in case of a capsizing!

On Monday it rained heavily and I went to visit John in his studio to pick up some beautiful dog collars he had made for me. Oh the smell of his workroom is heavenly, a mix of leather, wax and machinery.

I took some pictures

Then we left Devon behind

After a short week we are off to Suffolk for a weeks holiday, yes it seems it is all play and no work for us at Redhound for the next 10 days. 

Hooray

Mad Dogs & Englishman

The country fair, village fetes and charity dog shows, are they quintessentially british?  

When I arrived at the Rye Dog Show early on Saturday morning, I thought to myself, "how very British". The rings were all laid out for the dogs to parade around, the stall holders were setting up, as were we, in the Pimms tent they were cutting up cucumber and mint leaves, the band were tuning up on the band stand and the vintage cars were arriving and parking in neat lines waiting to be judged.

Oh How I Love It!! 

So just a few images of my day so you too can share in this lovely British tradition.

The Cars made me think what a lovely time it was when the police only had Morris Minors.

Remember when you could buy this stuff for 35p/gallon?

And Best in Show went to this beautiful lurcher!

Very well deserved I say.

but Nancy won three rosettes!

I left feeling so proud of the country I live in, loving it's quirky traditions, and just a little bit sunburnt.