Collars & Leashes & Clothes, Oh My!

[Dori & Rua]

As many of you know, last summer I talked about making collars & leashes, agility items, clothing & blogging.  I bought several domains (after input from all of you).

My blog is www.lifewithrua.com.  I have tried to post a couple of times per month.  It is a way for me to exercise my right brain, and because there are only 8,000 plus DK members, I figured I wasn't reaching enough people to brag share about my Life with Rua.  LOL

I also bought a domain that I intend to sell collars, leashes & agility equipment on.  It is www.KangaRua.com.  It is a work in process.  I will start with collars & leashes since they are the easiest to ship, and go from there.  I have a ways to go, but I am making progress.  I had sewing machine issues and bought the wrong size plastic slides.

 

Had to set up "shop"...when I buy my next house, I will turn one of the bedrooms into a real sewing room...right now, with my house for sale, I am limited.

 

New Janome Serger & Janome Professional Sewing Machine.

 

The below is a matching leash & collar set...Spring Stripes!

 

Above is a collar (will be making a leash, too)...Pink Horses!

 

At the same time, I also bought the domain www.BellaRua.com because I just loved the name, but I didn't know what I was going to do with it.  But, after making Rua several cheerleading outfits (also make some for Ellen's two girls http://www.doodlekisses.com/profile/EllenSutton), Rua's Halloween Costume (Mimi Linna has put in an order for one for Lilly), and a number of other items, I have decided that BellaRua will be for clothes.  

 

Gotta have fleece wear..

 

And who girl wouldn't want a wool pink & black plaid coat.

 

So, here is where I need some advice and I couldn't think of a better place to go than here!

I want to "brand" what I sell, so I thought woven labels would be the way to go. I really love the look of this site and the logo...http://www.lolaandfoxy.com/.  I wish I could come up with a cute little logo, but that would hugely increase the price, and after how much work it was to come up with DK logo, I am not sure I want to go there.

I found a place that will do simple ones for a reasonable price for small quanity.  I like the cream background with pink (of course) text - 1/2" labels so they fit on a collar. 

http://www.everestlabel.com/product/half_personalized_labels.php 

 

1. So, do you think it should be just larger font size "KangaRua" or two lines that include website (I would order the same style for BellaRua)?
2. If you were in the market to buy a collar, would the pink text deter you from buying a collar for your male dog?
3. If yes, would a simple white or cream background with grey or black text be better? 
4. Or, black background with Pink & white (I do like this actually better than the cream label - but perhaps this should just be for BellaRua - black & pink have always been my favorites for Rua).
5. Is it better to have a logo from the very start (I would have to have someone create it) and brand that way or start out with just the plain labels and change later)?
6. Anybody have an idea for a logo? When we had the DK contest, Camila made this logo of Darwin which I liked (I bought a decal & several mugs)  http://www.cafepress.com/+sticker_oval,551576209.  Perhaps a logo like this...an outline of Rua?
7. What should I charge for a 1" collar?
8. What should I charge for a 5' Leash?

 

I appreciate your input!  Thanks so much.

 

Dori & Rua

 

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

J This is just great! You are a really good designer. The little collar is such a sweet touch.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Laurie - I didn't even notice that it had changed Rua's hue a little, so I adjusted it a little more into the copper/red range.  Definitely looks more like her fur colour now (on my computer at least!)

A few different options for colour combos with the change.  Colour is about the easiest thing to change, so the possibilities are endless... Making cute Rua logos is fun! :)

[Camilla and Darwin]

These are really cute! I designed some last night with a silhouette that I drew based on Rua. I agree that it's way fun to do this kind of thing. :-) 

So, how did you make the shadow? I've been puzzling over it all day.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Thanks! :D  Yeah it is definitely fun. 

I kinda cheated... I made the Rua silhouette using Photoshop effects, copied/pasted it into PowerPoint and used the PowerPoint shadow feature.  The newer PowerPoint has nice shadow and 3-d effects, so I like to do some of my effects in there.

I then copied/pasted the newly "shadowed" picture into Adobe Fireworks which is where I do the design part.  I could do it in photoshop too I suppose, but I'm more familiar with Fireworks.

I'm hoping someone can take the jumping Rua and "cartoonize" it so that it would be a better logo design.

[Camilla and Darwin]

What do you mean by cartoonize it?

[Donna K & Quincy]

I think this is wonderful.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

This is great!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Dori, I would definitely buy collars from you. You do great work!! Good luck!

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

I need collars now.....where are you Dori?   LOL.

Great job on the logos J!

I am so excited!  Dori, Linda's Seda is also going to need a wedding dress as she is currently engaged to my Wilson.  He will of course need a tux and Murph and Webber will also need wedding attire.  We are planning a fall wedding so get your site up and running!!!

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Oh!  And when I get doodle # 3 it will be a girl and we will need all kinds of stuff :)

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

At least collar bow ties!!  Maybe a wedding veil? OMG

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned and Clancy will be needing formal attire as I assume they will be getting invitations to represent the California relatives!