Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Customers, Dogs and Other Sentimental Things

I met one of my customers last week. She lives in Tucson and has purchased several things from my Etsy shop but we had never met in person. Last weekend she stopped by my house on her way back to town from herding lessons with her dog.

I love meeting my customers (who, more times than not, have gone from customers to friends). We visited and she did a little Christmas shopping. She also asked me to create a custom Cowgirl Cuff for her from her dog Otie's collar (sadly, he is no longer with her). I thought that was a great idea and was happy to do so.

The design was hers. She knew she wanted something simple with a heart on it. I love how it turned out. And I really love the sentimental quality of it. She told me the collar had been hanging on a hook that she passed by every day. Now she can wear it on her wrist and have a sweet reminder of her beloved Otie.

I really am a sap when it comes to keeping momentos of the animals that have come and gone from my life. I'm happy to know there are others out there who feel the same way.

What momentos do you keep of the special animals you've shared your life with?

14 comments:

Sarah Sullivan said...

Wonderful post hon!! My sister Anne lives near you and said the other day she would love to meet you!! I am sadly too far away:(

I still have the lead from my sweet horse Stormy..miss him still. I also have a chunk of main from my pony when we shaved her bridal path..let see...36 years ago..geesh..I am getting old!!
Happy holidays to you hon, Sarah

Mikey said...

That's such a wonderful idea!! I love it! One of my old dog collars hangs on the box of my dog's ashes. I have them lined up on a shelf, and have asked that when I die, I be cremated and have my ashes scattered along with my dogs. Together, everywhere :)

Rocky Mountain Yankee said...

That is a really cool idea for a dog collar. I kept the halter, bridle and a cutting of mane hair of my last horse, Lacy, that I had to have put down. I don't think I will ever be able to put the halter and bridle on another horse. I keep the mane hair in with a picture of Lacy.

Judy said...

What a wonderful memento you made for her. I love your leather work. I just found an older post of the leather wristlets and they are awesome!

Carolynn Anctil said...

That's a lovely tribute and reminder of the love she shared with her companion. You did a beautiful job.

I love meeting people who have become friends through other means first. I have long time client, whom I've never met in person, who has invited me to join her & her husband on a trip to Aruba. I can't go this spring, but hope to go in 2011!

Shelly's Stuff said...

The cuff is beautiful! What a nice memento. We still have our pitbull Doom's very first collar. I look at it now and can't believe he was every that tiny. I don't think it would even fit over his muzzle now!

Julie Harward said...

This is such a beautiful bracelet and such a good idea! It brought tears to my eyes because I have a collar from our previous golden, Buck. He is still with me, in my heart, always missed, always loved.
You have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS..Come say hi :D

Annette Tait said...

Bridget that is just so wonderful and beautiful! I bet she is so happy now wearing that cuff - I know I would be - because the sentimental value is immense!
I have a tiny glass jar of fur and whiskers :) I keep them from all my rabbits, they mean so much to me and a whisker is so delicate.
I keep the whiskers in a special flat tin.

Christina said...

I hope one day to meet you too. I would love to wander your place and meet all your four-legged family.

I have collars from my good old dog Moe. He went into sudden cardiac distress 9 years ago the day after Thanksgiving. I stayed with him while the Vet helped him across the bridge. As awful as it was, I was so grateful to be there with him. Also, have the collar from my good kitty Oscar that left for the bridge way too early this past April. How these creature leave impressions on our hearts.

The Wife said...

Love the cuff. That was a great idea. We have crosses where we buried the last two dogs. We put their collars around the cross.

Desert Rose said...

Sounds like all of us that read this get choked uo! Truly a great way to remember a beloved pet.

Dusty Devoe said...

What a beautiful bracelet. We lost out beagle Riley 4 years ago, and I have his collar on a stuffed dog. It is in our den. Everytime I pick it up, the tags jingle and Rosie comes runing in there. She remembers it. I also have my kitty Snowflake's collar in my nightstand. She's only been gone a year. It still smells like her. Merry Christmas!

Rural Rambler said...

Sweet post, sweet idea Bridget. Glad that you made it come together. We have the ashes of our last three kitties and a small bit of each of their fur. Along with a whisker or two that were found after they were gone. I still have one of my bay girl's shoes and a bit of her forelock.

Anonymous said...

Great Cuff Bridge! Perfect. I have little pictures of kitties that have passed. Georgia Rae is our first dog, Bob second and we are discussing a little brother for Bob. When I lost West this summer I made her a funky headstone.