B次元官网网址淭hese ainB次元官网网址檛 your nanaB次元官网网址檚 bandanas.B次元官网网址�

ThatB次元官网网址檚 the tagline Kathy Mackey of Chilliwack uses to describe her custom-made pet accessories. SheB次元官网网址檚 the designer and creator of Simply Fetching Pet Designs.

B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址橞andanaB次元官网网址� is now the B次元官网网址楤B次元官网网址� word B次元官网网址� we do not use that here. These are neckwearB次元官网网址� sounds way more important,B次元官网网址� 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, theyB次元官网网址檙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 B次元官网网址榖ad-nanas.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e all about fun, and fashion and showing off,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 have not run out of ideas yet. I donB次元官网网址檛 know how, but I just havenB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�

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 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have the answer.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 never sewn in my life,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 went online B次元官网网址� which is another thing I just learned how to do B次元官网网址� to see whatB次元官网网址檚 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.B次元官网网址�

She said she was blown away that she couldnB次元官网网址檛 find any pet neckwear that wasnB次元官网网址檛 a tie-up bandana, so she decided to start her own business.

Simply Fetching Pet Designs neckwear is made of three layers B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭hey always retain their shape,B次元官网网址� she said added that they are quite durable. B次元官网网址淚t all looks so fragile, but it isnB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址渓ittle something specialB次元官网网址� 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 kidsB次元官网网址� 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, MackeyB次元官网网址檚 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 CrohnB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淭hey are Bernese mountain dog people, they are poodle people, they are chow peopleB次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 all they care about,B次元官网网址� she said about folks who compete at dog shows. B次元官网网址淭hey donB次元官网网址檛 care about cute and colourful.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to the fair, itB次元官网网址檚 family oriented,B次元官网网址� Mackey said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not missing this year.B次元官网网址�

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.