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Merry Christmas and Happy holidays to all

12/26/2016

1 Comment

 
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I happen to be a celebrater of Christmas.  I love the whole season and the generosity and joy it inspires in people.  Small acts of kindness are a little more frequent, people smile a little longer, and strangers come together to help one another.  I know I know, I sound like a hallmark commercial, but I really believe in the goodness in people and Christmas gives them the opportunity to express it.  

My favorite gift this year?  My new gigantic mailbox!!!  I have been so busy with orders that sometimes they don't all fit in my mailbox.  My mail carrier is very nice about collecting them from my porch, but I feel bad every time I leave her a note asking her to grab them.  
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How did you all spend the Holiday?  I know for you groomers you probably spent it passed out in a corner somewhere gently sobbing and trying to recover from the week.  While I think we can all agree the money is good the week before Christmas, the long hours, needy clients, and sore feet make me glad it only comes once per year!!

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I spent the morning with my boyfriend, and the afternoon with one of my best friends.  We made cookies, ornaments, and drank a lot!  Followed by a quick walk through the neighborhood to look at the lights it was quite the perfect day! 

Thank you for another great year, Happy Holidays and may 2017 be a little better for us all! 

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1 Comment

All About christmas , New Bow Meme, and 1000 Likes on facebook!

12/7/2016

2 Comments

 
I have had a hard time with Christmas lately.  Living in Florida doesn't exactly put one in the Christmas sprit.  Christmas is my most favorite time of year, but it is hard to feel festive and jolly when you're sweating in the 80 degree weather as you put up the lights.  I haven't even put up my tree yet, which is kind of bumming me out now.  I feel like I am confessing a deep dark secret, "pst, guys, my tree isn't up yet, don't tell!" 

My family has always put our tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving.  It has been my favorite tradition as long as I can remember.  We lived in Pennsylvania and went to one of those Christmas tree farms right out of a movie. Taking a hay ride up the mountain, hot cocoa, horses and Christmas music playing.  We were always freezing and my dad would wrap his big sheepskin coat around us to keep us warm.  After spending all day hiking the mountain we would finally find the perfect frasier fir, which of course my dad and brother would cut down themselves.  

That old tree farm is closed now, and my dad is no longer with us, but my brother and I kept the tradition this year, along with his wife and in-laws.  
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Now for the bows

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Everything about Christmas-time makes me happy.  Including the bows!!  Christmas bows are the best (in my opinion) because they get so much sparkle and bling!  Bells, Rhinetones, Buttons, Glitter Ribbon, ahhhh it makes me so HAPPY. I actually had a special elf help me with some of these... my mom!!  She's always been such a supporter of my business ventures, offering advice and support along the way, and picking up the occasional glue gun too.
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These awesome Christmas Bows were made as a special request!  I love being able to spend time to make extra special bows.  

We Reached
​1000 Likes on facebook!!

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To celebrate reaching 1000 likes on facebook we did a little contest and gave away a prize to the best meme idea!!  This was the winner.  We LOVE it! 
2 Comments

A Little background on the little bird stop

12/3/2016

1 Comment

 
If you asked me what I wanted to be as a kid I would have said Mathematician.  How many kids say that??  I LOVE math!  In high school I would have said a Chemist.  I also LOVE Chemistry.  Clearly this bow business was the inevitable result of my two passions.  (cue sarcasm).  

The dirty truth is this, I was a chemist.  For several years.  After moving across the country (twice) and landing in Florida, I was having a hard time finding a lab job in my highly specialized field. Not to mention lab work is boring. Lab work and creativity are not good bed fellows.  I always loved dogs and worked in kennels all through college so I jumped at the chance to start as a bather at an unnamed corporate grooming salon.   Five years later I left this corporate store as the best groomer in the country!  (so my mom says anyway).  However leaving was a scary thing.  As groomers we are often paid only commission and so a steady paycheck is never guaranteed.  Going to a new salon at the start of slow season in Florida was TERRIFYING for me!!  As a result I put a few bows on etsy to try to supplement my income and pay for my crafting attiction.  

Etsy- great for starting out but I made NO MONEY at this!!  It was so disappointing.  Months and months of $5 sales here and there left me feeling pessimistic and dismayed. After asking a customer about my lack of sales she took it upon herself to post to facebook that people should try my bows!  That night changed my life.  I still remember staying up all night watching the orders come in. It was surreal. Over two years later I now have my own website, 1 part time employee (who is also one of my best friends and sources of support!), been to two grooming conventions, and pay my bills with money from my "hobby" rather than grooming.  Don't get me wrong, I love grooming.  I love working with the dogs and experimenting with grooms, but it is so exhilerating to see something I have built from scratch grow like this.  (PS- Many thanks, and apologies, to people who have stuck with us since the beginning.  My first bows were not great. haha).

Are bows my life?  Yes, they are.  Is my boyfriend super tired of being covered in glitter and talking about bows, absolutely he is.  However, life is a journey with many different paths and this is the one I am on right now.  I invite you to walk the path with me, and find out a little more about the inner workings of a Crazy Crafting, Dog Loving, Glitter Using, Bow Making Groomer!  

Love, 

​Aubrey
1 Comment

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    From Chemist to Groomer to Bow Maker.  Where will we go next?  Let's find out!  

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The Little Bird Stop Handmade Dog Bows and Bow Ties
Copyright © 2015
  • Cat Grooming Info
    • Groom Pricing/Packages
    • Policies and Procedures
    • Request an Appointment- Existing Clients Only
    • Matting >
      • Matting- Information
      • Home Maintenance Tips
    • Rabbit Grooming
    • FAQs
    • About Us
    • Gallery
    • Behind the Scenes- a peak into cat grooming
  • Become a Client