Anita S

Reason to wear fur

2014-06-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

A new friend sent me a great email about reasons to wear fur. Here they are as follows

my top 10 reasons for owning fur....

1) Fur is a natural, sustainable resource
2) Fur is beautiful
3) Fur is warm and durable
4) Fur does not pollute
5) Buying fur helps manage wildlife conservation
6) Buying fur helps create jobs
7) Buying fur is a valuable investment
8) Fur supports other industries & trades
9) Fur is versatile
10) I like fur fashions

When I read his reasons I thought to myself these are solid arguments. I just thought of fur as something warm and beautiful. It goes beyond just warmth and style.
Many people are employed because of fur sales. The designers, cutters, operators, tapers, pattern makers, finishers, basters and of course the sales force. We cannot exclude the trappers. Everyone of these people are employed because of the fur trade. To end the fur trade would mean these people would be unemployed.

It is important to be well informed about the fur trade. Canadian trapper have to follow strict regulations or they lose their license. Those purchasing the the raw skins to be tanned face hefty fines and other severe penalties if they purchase blackmarket furs. This is not to say that it does not happen. You as a consumer must do your research the information is out there. I can only speak from my own experience. When I purchase skins or fur I look for Canadian made products. They are held at stricter guidelines. That is not to say that other countries are not as strict. It is up to consumers to be aware and not to take everything at face value. Know your product and do your research. If you are still unsure ask an expert. I am here to answer any questions

Happily Everafter

2014-05-20T16:21:00.002-07:00

May 10 I had the honor of being a bridesmaid in my dearest friend's wedding. It is a day that was filled with love. I have never seen a family to love each like this couple. They are an example of unconditional love. I was moved how much they genuinely care for each other. They are an example of what love should be. This does not mean they do not have have differences of opinions it just means they work together. I knew I was happy for them but I did not think I would cry tears of joy. I am grateful to have taken part in this glorious day. I want to wish them many wonderful years together full of love happiness and prosperity.
To Jen and Dan

cutting a pair of mitts from raccoon skins

2014-04-24T16:01:00.001-07:00

Sewing fur mitts

2014-04-24T04:47:00.001-07:00

How to remove a "stain" on fur

2014-03-14T07:48:00.004-07:00

I have been asked,"How do I remove this "stain"from my fur?" The trick to any stain removal is to get it while it is fresh. You simply wipe off the excess and use a little bicarbonate soda on the stain and very very lightly brush it off. You can use a pet brush but not your pets brush.

Now if the stain is dried on, topically dampen the spot only. Do NOT saturate the fur. Shake on a little bicarbonate soda and brush very very lightly.

This method will work on most stains. Do NOT attempt this method with dyes, make-up, oil, blood, and pen marks. If you have a doubt. Do NOT attempt this method and bring it to a qualified fur cleaner.

Men Can wear fur too

2014-03-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

Fur was synonymous with women's fashion. Those days are long gone. Men are taking care of themselves and dressing well. Fur longer strikes an image of femininity. It can also portray an image of ruggedness or a dapper gentleman.

Fur has become a staple in men's fashion. Fendi's menswear is filled with fur: fur collars, fur coats, and caps. Men are choosing to look good staying warm. And why not they deserve to look and feel good too.

This winter has been cold thanks to the polar vortex. A fur trapper hat is the perfect hat to keep warm. A fur bomber jacket will keep you toasty. Now if you think that you cannot wear fur as active outdoor wear you are mistaken. If you are an avid skier, skidooer or an outdoor enthusiast. Fur will keep you warm. A fur trapper hat with a face guard is great to cut the wind. Elbow length fur mitts are great when skidooing. No snow will get in.

Fur is great for any lifestyle from the rugged outdoors man to the well dressed man. It holds no stereotype.

Coyote fur trapper

coyote fur elbow mitts

coyote trapper hat with tail

Raccoon trapper hat

A.M.Furs

http://www.ebay.ca/usr/a.m.furs

Handmade and made in Canada fur

2014-02-28T15:13:00.000-08:00

Why handmade and made in Canada eh, well I will tell you. It is all about quality.When it is handmade it is not mass produce and each item made has a certain uniqueness. Each item made differs in their subtle nuance. No one item can be exactly the same. The individual making the item is creating a work of art. A master furrier can create a work of art. They create the pattern , they block the piece, cut the pattern and sew it together. It sounds simple enough but it is not.

A lot goes into it.The master furrier must match the skins. Since fur is a natural product there are differences in the shade and texture of the fur. They take the time to match each skin, they sew it together making sure that everything matches perfectly. It is a skill that is learnt over time.

The trade is often passed down in the family each generation improving on the last. It is a difficult trade to learn in school you might not get the one on one training and the time it takes to perfect your skills.

I never explained why I support Canadian made. Well I think it might be a little obvious. I am Canadian and I have a bias for Canadian made products. I like to support Canadian companies and keep things made in Canada. More often than not the industry standards higher and stringent. I buy from Canadian furriers that I know and trust. I know that at each level from the trapper to the showroom floor everything has been documented and accounted for.

Fox fur headband sheared beaver mitts with fox fur cuffs

Elbow length fox fur mittens line in opossum fur

Elbow length coyote fur lined in opossum fur

Elbow length mink lined with opossum fur

My choice to wear fur

2014-01-18T16:59:00.000-08:00

A lot has happen since I last wrote...getting pregnant having a baby and building the family business. My husband is a furrier. Its a tradition that was handed down from father to son. My father in law taught my husband the trade. It is not a simple trade to learn. It is an art. The funny thing is when I was young I used to be anti fur.
I used to hate people that wore fur. I thought it was deplorable. Mind you, I never participated in any anti fur campaign or yelled at anyone for wearing fur. I just thought to myself how can they wear fur. As I grew older I realised I eat rabbit, poultry, beef and so on. Oh yes and I wear leather too. How could I be anti fur. I realised that I was being a hypocrite. How can I be against fur and eat meat. I never became a vegan. I can respect a person choosing a vegan lifestyle but I never embraced it. I started to think are people protesting fur because it is a luxury item and high profile?
For those of you that do not know, most poultry and meat that we buy in the grocery store have a fate worse than fur bearing animals. They live in crowded stalls and some do not even see the light of day. I do not see PETA campaigning against the poultry and cattle industry. (Remember I do eat both) I do think PETA does have a role without them regulations would not be put into place for a more humane way of hunting and trapping fur bearing animals. But they should not target hard working people that hunt and trap for a living. Canadian hunters and trappers have to follow a strict set of regulations (including seal trappers) or face hefty penalties, fines or jail time.
I am not here to bad mouth PETA or convert anyone. I am just stating my opinion. We all have to make informed choices. My choice is to wear fur and support the Canadian fur industry.

slight of hand

2012-07-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

I have recently moved to Ontario. I wanted something different more land a slower. A slower life style. I searched and searched for a new home. I looked at many houses. I settles for the first home. I did everything like I was supposed to. I hired an inspector I looked it over several times. We even brought our respective parents and you know what. . The inspector said that there were a few things that needed to be repaired but nothing major.In his opionion this is a great house. I feel doupted. hrough out the entire time I had a knawing feeling that there was something but everyone was raving about the house but it almost felt like they were over selling the house. Did I forget to mention that we have a newborn baby and a teenager.
Let me tell you the many things that we discovered. Things that were over looked by the inspector. A squirrel's nest in the ceiling of my basement, a colony of huge carpenter ants, a rotted out kitchen and much more. This is the beginning of a major over haul that we did not plan for. Each day we discover bautched repairs and renovations done by the former owners.
Imagine removing a huge deck to discover that you sump pump exits through a former dryer exit. The exit was not even sealed. The grill was bent open the piping passed through it and st space was filled with insulation. That were we discovered the squirrel super highway. which led to the kitchen cabinets and basement. basically access to the house. There was poop every where. What am I supposed to do there is not enough bleach in the world.
I am presently living without a functioning kitchen all my stuff are still in boxes. The best part of all this everytime we get quotes from contractors it seems that the prices are inflatted. This is a beginning of a very long journey. The squirrels are taken care of for now. The carpenter ants seem to be at bay. I do not want anymore surprises. What can I do.
Thank goodness for our health and a beautiful family but I need to find ways to renovate my home inexpesivly and quickly. I would like to enjoy my family before I return to work. Does anyone know where I can get good deals on home improvement supplies. I would really appreciate the advice. Thanks