Dear Friends...

I've been silent the past three months in order to spend every moment with my father.  It was a gift of time I will never forget.  

John Charles Preston, Jr

April 19, 1926 - July 3, 2015

How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
- Winnie the Pooh

It is a happy New Year...

2014 was a very busy year for JoeysCoat.  There were gallery shows, fundraisers, the creation of our first Lookbook, a trip to the New York Gift Show, the launch of our wholesale store in Etsy, and I cannot forget Martha Stewart's American Made.

Then in early Fall, my focus became all about my 88 year old father.  His health began to decline, and JoeysCoat took a sabbatical.  There were some scary moments.  Thankfully, my stubborn old dad is not one to give up or give in.  Life is good.  My father is determined for it to remain that way for a long time to come and I am grateful.

With the New Year approaching, and my dad's much improved health, there was just enough time for the creation of two, beautiful African fabric coats for my grandpups, Zombie and Biscuits.

May the New Year be filled with Good Health, Love, Peace, Beauty, Compassion, Courage, Grace, Freedom, Comfort, Joy, Hope and Understanding for all...

The Big Adventure...

Gathering coats for my trip to NYC next week.  I think our gray skies and raindrops are influencing my choices!  

Definitely need more color.  

I'm thinking African fabric!

That's it!

Lookbook 2014

The first, ever JoeysCoat Lookbook arrived fresh off the press, in today's Post!

Never having taken on a project quite like this, I turned to my incredible support system of talent for help.  My part was easy.  I supplied the images and descriptions.  The challenging work of editing and formatting to meet the printer’s specifications was accomplished by my talented oldest son and his wife - always willing to lend a hand whenever I am in need.  The result is a brilliant twelve page mini-catalogue of select JoeysCoats that will accompany me to New York next week.

I am grateful beyond words...

Walter!

We met Vashon Island photographer, Kathleen Webster, early yesterday morning for a JoeysCoat photo shoot.  

Fiona shared the spotlight with Walter, 

a darling spark-plug-of-a Jack Russell puppy.  

He was a natural!

Milo Style...

Remember Milo?

I recently visited Milo and his human, textile designer Ruby Chambers, in her Tacoma studio.  

~ A tiny sampling of Ruby's collection ~

Neatly filled with all the trappings of the perfect Carpetbagger style JoeysCoat, Milo in his chenille tapestry, antique metallic ribbon and Bakelite "hardware" fits right in with Ruby's considerable collection of opulent fabrics and trim.  

The sun happened to be shining so we took advantage of a quick walk around the block before saying our farewells. 

 Thank you Milo and Ruby for sharing your sumptuous world with me...

What Is Pretty Fluffy?...

In the words of Serena Faber, founder and editor of the Pretty Fluffy blog, "Pretty Fluffy is the go-to guide for the modern dog owner and your ultimate resource for stylish pet living."  

Based in Sydney, Australia, Serena is a passionate advocate for animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. Included in every publication of the Pretty Fluffy blog are sections on product reviews, healthy recipes, cruelty free living, health and well-being, spotlighted pet friendly homes, and training tips.  

In 2012 Serena created the worldwide movement, The 13 Project - To make and act on a list of 13 acts of kindness towards animals in the remaining 13 weeks of the year.  What a great concept!

Meet Soda, the inspiration behind Pretty Fluffy!


Please check out the Pretty Fluffy blog...and while you're there, take a peek at the JoeysCoat feature in the Shop It! section!

http://prettyfluffy.com/trends-shopping/shop-it/joeyscoat-dog-coats

Thank you Serena and Soda!  

I'm Just A Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love...

'Flame'

Petite

Lightly padded, fine embroidered print silk kimono coat and tab

Antique Obi belt

Silk crepe binding

Antique metallic embroidered ribbon belt loops and trim

Apple Juice Bakelite buckle

Apple Juice Bakelite buttons secured with vintage Soutache

Steppin' Out...

JoeysCoat style...

Under the blanket...

The other day I happened upon a blog titled 'Under the blanket' that published a wonderful entry featuring JoeysCoat.  Delighted with the kind "shout out" I wanted to learn more about it. Turns out that the blog is a facet of the company, BlanketID; a company whose inspiration was brought about by visits to animal rescue's and shelter's, in search of a "special friend" to adopt.  

In their words:       

"We were touched by what we had seen, and a big idea took shape; an ID tag that would hold details online and never be out of date, together with a simple system that could immediately alert shelters, pounds, animal control, SPCA and any other local members with details and a photo of a missing pet.

Then, we made it even better; we added tools to print your own lost posters and flyers, GPS mapping of where pets were reported found and even the option to report your pet as Stolen (it happens more often than you think!).

Then we put the idea to work. By adding a small annual fee to the tag (less than $1 per month), we created a way for everyone to give a little back. We even provide a way for our members to choose which organization they would like their support to go to.

Thanks to our fantastic members, over the last three years we have been able to help over 100 organizations that make the world a better place."

The Blanket ID Tag

Please check out the BlanketID website to learn more about the important work they do...and while you're there, take a peek at the brilliant JoeysCoat blog!

http://blog.blanketid.com/2014/03/joeys-coat/

   

Layla in Northern Lights...

I am delighted to share this photo of Layla from Virginia, a nearly two year old Frenchy, wearing 'Northern Lights'.  

As every dog owner knows, each pup is unique, no two are alike.  The same goes for JoeysCoat.      

A one-of-a-kind for a one-of-a-kind!

Seattle Humane Society - Tuxes & Tails...

Founded in 1897, the Seattle Humane Society was the first humane organization formed to serve King County in Washington State. Today, SHS remains true to the original mission - to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves and to bring people and pets together. Both animals and people alike benefit greatly from the important work they do. It happens through companionship . . .

All healthy and adoptable companion animals who come through Seattle Humane Society's doors are given as long as it takes to find them a home of their own, regardless of age, beauty or infirmity.  In addition to providing medical care and treatment needed, Spay and Neuter services, vaccinations and microchip placement, Seattle Humane Society services include a pet food bank, a visiting pet program, and an animal adventure camp for kids.  

The long and short of it - they help pets and the people who love them. 

JoeysCoat is honored to support the Seattle Humane Society's life-saving work for homeless pets by donating 'Mourning Matthew' - Couture Dog Coat by JoeysCoat - to the 25th Annual Tuxes & Tails Silver Anniversary Gala on May 10, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue.      

'Mourning Matthew' - Named for Lady Mary Crawley of Downton Abbey

Extra Small

Rayon velvet with a floral flock lining coat 

Cotton velvet belt and tab 

Black Middy layered with fine linen braid belt loops and trim 

Czechoslovakian glass buckle 

Silk hand-stitched buttonhole 

Mismatched buttons, both Celluloid, one with a "crossed thread" design, the other with a gold Gryphon crest, secured with back buttons to allow for movement

  Tiny Mother of Pearl button finish

Save the Date!

A Little Ray Of Sunshine...

...came streaming through my window...

I did my thing...

Fiona did hers...

Teamwork at its finest!

Street Style...

If you take yourself for a walk in a JoeysCoat, 

you run the risk of showing up on Pinterest!

PAWSH...

What is PAWSH?
PAWSH is a modern, artistic dog-centric magazine, daily blog and fine art pet photography studio based in Toronto, Canada.  Read worldwide, PAWSH celebrates a life lived well with dogs by creating content that helps pet parents provide the very best for their furry loved ones...it's a new breed of dog magazine that combines poetic words with all-original photography to serve as a go-to-guide for new and seasoned pet parents alike.  

Who Reads PAWSH?
A loyal, international readership, the majority of which is located in North America and Europe.

What topics are covered?
Pet wellness, fashionable finds, nutrition, celebrity interviews, DIY dog activities, training tips, inspirational stories, pet-friendly home decor, editorial photoshoots and more!

"A new breed of dog magazine 

connecting pet-lovers with the best pet brands."

Sounds like the perfect fit for JoeysCoat...

Every Picture Tells A Story...

The Beginning...

The Middle...

The End...

Expect the Unexpected...

Wool/Cashmere blend paired with a vintage Army blanket...

Rayon/Poly vintage necktie paired with antique metallic ribbon...

Bakelite and Celluloid and Lucite and puppy dogs...

There is a certain symmetry...

That symmetry is JoeysCoat...

Back In The Saddle...

I am sad to say, blogging has been relegated to the back burner of late as I have focused my attention on the Etsy build, shooting and editing photos of pups in coats, the holidays, family, life...

I'm feeling pretty rusty so I'll start out with something simple - like one of the coats I uploaded on the Etsy store today.  I needed a snap of a pup in the coat and it happens to be Fiona's size.  Needless to say, she was in rare form.  You'll see what I mean...

I love this coat.  I named it Buckaroo.  It's a heavy woolen Navajo style horse blanket with machine embroidered belt and tab.  The silk crepe binding is a vintage Lanvin necktie.  I picked up those buttons at an Eagles rummage sale in a little community just south of the Island I live on.  I was told they were donated to the rummage sale by a local Antiques dealer.  The coat really came together nicely.

  

The belt loops and the trim down the spine are woven Japanese braid I foraged at the Alameda Flea Market. The wee cowboy hat button was a treasure passed on to me by a dear friend.

 

That was a lot easier than I thought it would be...

the Talent says "giddy-up!"

The Dog Show...

JoeysCoat is honored to join 14 Vashon Artists

in this month's Vashon Allied Arts Gallery Show 

celebrating "the Dog".

 Join us at the Opening Reception, 

Friday, January 10, 6 - 9 pm, 

for a first glimpse of the JoeysCoat designs Dana has created for this special Show.

Norman is modeling "Seal" -

made from a vintage "sealskin" patterned velour women's overcoat found at a Seattle thrift store. The coat is lined with windowpane plaid cotton flannel and bound with a poly/metallic brocade vintage necktie. The belt and tab are printed velvet with ultra-suede and cotton flannel liners.  The belt loops and trim are antique metal Gimp discovered at a flea market.  The generous Abalone belt buckle is another flea market find.  The beautiful see-thru "horn" plastic with gold metal filigree buttons are recycled from a mink coat and attached with back buttons to allow for movement.  The buttonhole is hand-stitched with silk thread.  The coat is finished with a "gem cut" gold metal button on the top.

"Seal" is one of five inspired new JoeysCoat designs that will be on display at The Dog Show.

See you there!   

Emma and Milo...

When Emma, the Australian Shepherd met Milo, the Terrier-Pom mix, it was as if they had been comrades forever...add in some warm sunshine to balance the cold temps and awesome JoeysCoat designs to bring out the beauty in the beast so to speak, we had all the makings for a successful day for photographs of JoeysCoat in action...

Emma's size Small is Carpetbagger Joey #13 made of cotton chenille in a neutral African pattern.  The coat is lined with silk organza and bound with silk from a vintage necktie.  The cotton belt and tab is a block print pattern.  The belt loops and trim are vintage Petersham.  The buttonhole is hand-stitched.  The buckle and buttons, secured with back buttons, are made of Hard Plastic designed to resemble stone.

Milo's size Extra Small is Couture Joey #42 made of the softest handwoven Mohair.  The belt and tab are wool tweed.  The belt loops and trim are hand-crochet braid from a Rhode Island antique textile collector.  The unique shape buckle is layered Bakelite.   The buttonhole is hand-stitched. The swirl design buttons are Hard Plastic and secured with back buttons.

The action starts here...  

I didn't say a lot of action...