害羞草研究所淭hese ain害羞草研究所檛 your nana害羞草研究所檚 bandanas.害羞草研究所�

That害羞草研究所檚 the tagline Kathy Mackey of Chilliwack uses to describe her custom-made pet accessories. She害羞草研究所檚 the designer and creator of Simply Fetching Pet Designs.

害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶛Bandana害羞草研究所� is now the 害羞草研究所楤害羞草研究所� word 害羞草研究所� we do not use that here. These are neckwear害羞草研究所� sounds way more important,害羞草研究所� she said with a laugh.

Mackey will be selling her handmade items at the 151st annual Chilliwack Fair Aug. 11 to 13.

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Spread across the table in front of her on a sunny summer afternoon is a slew of neckwear for dogs and even some for cats.

As Mackey mentioned, they害羞草研究所檙e not your standard, run-of-the-mill bandanas. These are handmade creations and each one is unique. Themes include: western, floral, stars, skulls and crossbones, dinosaurs, military, sugar skulls, sports and more. Her Harley Davidson-themed ones are called 害羞草研究所榖ad-nanas.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e all about fun, and fashion and showing off,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 have not run out of ideas yet. I don害羞草研究所檛 know how, but I just haven害羞草研究所檛.害羞草研究所�

She uses all sorts of fabric including faux leather and suede, flannel, denim, and fabric by Indigenous artists such as Cree designer Linda Lavallee.

For a long time, Mackey has loved to craft and do embroidery, but if you asked her about a year and a half ago how to thread a sewing machine, she wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have the answer.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 never sewn in my life,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 went online 害羞草研究所� which is another thing I just learned how to do 害羞草研究所� to see what害羞草研究所檚 out there to get some ideas. In 2023 there still is nothing out there but bandanas. You tie them in a knot and they get all these wrinkles.害羞草研究所�

She said she was blown away that she couldn害羞草研究所檛 find any pet neckwear that wasn害羞草研究所檛 a tie-up bandana, so she decided to start her own business.

Simply Fetching Pet Designs neckwear is made of three layers 害羞草研究所� the feature fabric at the front, a liner at the back, and fusing in the middle. If you scrunch it up into a ball, it springs back into it original shape.

害羞草研究所淭hey always retain their shape,害羞草研究所� she said added that they are quite durable. 害羞草研究所淚t all looks so fragile, but it isn害羞草研究所檛.害羞草研究所�

Each one is adjustable and has a velcro closure. They are to be hand washed in cold water and dried flat.

She uses buttons, beads, fringes, lace and other embellishments. Mackey adds a 害羞草研究所渓ittle something special害羞草研究所� on the back of each piece and each one has a matching clip/barrette, she said.

There are Elvis ones, Minion ones, and some have little pockets made from old kids害羞草研究所� jeans which are meant to hold dog treats.

Styles range from sparkly rhinestones to motorcycles.

Her business is on Facebook and Instagram. For a 69-year-old who recently gave up her flip phone, learned how to sew and use the internet, Mackey害羞草研究所檚 pet neckwear business is pretty impressive.

Simply Fetching Pet Designs has been around for a little more than a year, but almost nobody has seen her work.

Mackey has Crohn害羞草研究所檚 disease and it was a severe flareup last year just before the Chilliwack Fair that put the kibosh on what would have been her first hometown show. She ended up in the hospital for more than a month.

Last fall, she had a booth at a dog show in Chilliwack which did not go well. She later realized sales were low because people at dog shows are breed-specific and none of her neckwear was made to highlight one type of dog.

害羞草研究所淭hey are Bernese mountain dog people, they are poodle people, they are chow people害羞草研究所� that害羞草研究所檚 all they care about,害羞草研究所� she said about folks who compete at dog shows. 害羞草研究所淭hey don害羞草研究所檛 care about cute and colourful.害羞草研究所�

But, she said she always looks on the positive side of things. She had great feedback at the dog show about her work, and she figured she was simply at the wrong event.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 why I害羞草研究所檓 looking forward to the fair, it害羞草研究所檚 family oriented,害羞草研究所� Mackey said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not missing this year.害羞草研究所�

Mackey will have her booth set up at the Chilliwack Fair from Aug. 11 to 13 at Chilliwack Heritage Park with more than 300 neckwear pieces for sale. Prices range from $14 to $34. She does custom designs on request, including for weddings.

For more, check out Simply Fetching Pet Designs on and (instagram.com/simplyfetchingpetdesigns), call/text 604-703-5858 or email a1a@telus.net.