Category Archives: Leathercraft

Hooray for us! | strong leather dog collars

We launched our website on April Fools’ Day 2010. Our supporters have been really loyal so we wanted to do something to mark the event. We thought about having a BBQ, but that would limit it to Sydneysiders. Instead we’ve come up with a huge promotion and, since the trend these days is to have a birthday week, we’ll be running it from Monday 28 March 2011 at noon [Sydney time] until the following Monday 4 April 2011 at the same time.

Everyone that buys a full priced collar from our website during that week will receive a complimentary narrow, standard or wide 4ft leash worth $75 [+GST] with their order.

As if that wasn’t enough, one lucky person will also receive a complimentary matching cuff. To be in the running here’s what you need to do:

1. “Like” our Facebook page > http://www.facebook.com/ruthlessleather
2. Post the link to this blog post on your own page and tag Ruthless Leather [instructions on how to tag are here]. Feel free to gush about how great we are and what a fabulous promotion this is!
3. If you have privacy settings on your account you need to “unlock” the tagged status update by clicking the padlock and selecting “Everyone”. Only then will it appear on our wall. I must be able to see your tagged post on our wall [under "most recent"] for your entry to be valid.

The winner will be drawn using Random.org at noon on 1 April 2011 and announced on our Facebook page. If the winner is not able to purchase a collar during the period of the promotion that’s ok, we’re extending the time frame for that person and giving them until noon on Fri 1st July 2011 to place their order.

I’ve set up a Facebook event page here for anyone that wants to RSVP to make sure you don’t miss it > https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=192733737426877. Don’t forget to invite all your friends too!

Oh, and another “hooray for us” – Me and Dave[less] have been together ten years today! Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone x

Shauna (Fido & Wino) - Congratulations on one year- that is so exciting! Here is to many, many more!

Debra Manskie - Well done for both the business and your relationship!

Simon - Congrats to you and Dave! You make great stuff, photos and leather.

Sarah - Congrats!!! Have a Happy Birthday Week! :)

Julie Clegg - Congrats! What an exciting time!

Ruthless Leather update #13

Wow, first leather update of the year and it’s March already! Slack!!

We had a busy couple of weekends with Woollahra Council’s Puppies in the Park on Sunday and Doggywood at Fair Day the previous Sunday. Thanks to everyone that came out to say hi. It was great to meet so many nice people and their dogs. We have such loyal followers and our website is one year old on 1 April so I’m trying to come up with a way to celebrate… watch this space!

Kim from My Staffy asked if we could make a custom order for her GORGEOUS boy, Buddy. She liked the Lone Ranger and the Rocknrolla, so we made a hybrid and called it the Lone Rocker! Pictured below is a regular version, but a wide version is also available.

We’ve had a number of inquiries about locking snaps, so we’ve sourced some and added them to the leashes section as an optional extra. They’re currently only available in brass and aged brass, but we’ll keep looking for a stainless steel option. [Chopper is wearing a regular training Nightowl in brown, brass and amber with a matching standard 4ft leash.]

We added Three-way leashes to the website towards the end of last year. Depending on the height of the user and the dog, it may also be used as a hands-free leash. It’s double-ended so it works with certain training harnesses too.

Dave made this cuff for his friend’s birthday recently. I love the simplicity of it. It needs a name before I can add it to the website. Any suggestions?

The boy often models customer orders for me so I can give them a sneak peek while they’re waiting for the postie to arrive. He’s such a good boy… sometimes!

Ruthless Leather Update #12

Here’s a quick update for anyone that might have missed all these tidbits on our Facebook page.

Every time Dave makes a design in a different colour combination I photograph it for the gallery on our website. [Which I updated recently, so if you sent us a photo of your dog it's probably there now!] Here are some recent favourites:

If the customer lives nearby I’ll sometimes deliver the order in person just so I can take a photo of the dog in their new bling! Here’s Flynn the Kelpie in his regular brown and antique brass Lone Ranger. Lots more photos of Flynn can be seen here!

Zeus the Amstaff in his wide brown and brass Rocknrolla with a nameplate. [Collar pictured above, top left.]

Charlie the Amstaff in the prize he won at the Sydney University Pet Fair. A wide brown, brass and amber Nightowl. Don’t we have the best looking clients?!

Some dates for your diary:
Ruthless Photos and Ruthless Leather are going to be at Mosman Pet’s Day Out on Sunday 24 October. If you’re on Facebook you can RSVP to the event here. We’ll also be at the Dogs NSW Spring Fair in Erskine Park on Saturday 20 November. You can RSVP to that here.

Please also note that the cut-off point for Ruthless Leather Christmas present orders is Friday 12 November. We’ll continue to take orders after those dates but Christmas delivery won’t be guaranteed. Remember that we also sell gift vouchers. They’re delivered by email, so they can be purchased at any time.

Kristin - These collars are so gorgeous!

Ruth[less] - Thanks Kristin!

Neglected and dejected

No, Chopper’s not neglected or dejected, he’s just refusing to look at the camera because he knew there was no food or toy in it for him. He’s quite the diva sometimes!

What I was actually referring to was my blog. I haven’t posted for ages. For those that don’t know, Ruthless Things isn’t just Ruthless Photos and Ruthless Leather. There’s also Ruthless Design. I’m a freelance typesetter and creative artworker and this is my really busy time of year. The majority of my work is typesetting long documents such as annual reports and prospectuses, so for several weeks I’ve been up to my eyeballs with big mounds of paper and financial tables. Regular blogging will resume shortly, I promise!

Here are some things I quickly wanted to share:

– Congratulations to Mark Lindsay and his dog Charlie for winning a custom-made Ruthless Leather collar at the Pet Fair in Sydney University. One wide Nightowl in brown, brass and amber coming right up!

– The raffle to help pay for Sam‘s medical bills raised over $970. Thank you so much to everyone that bought a ticket and congratulations to the winners whose names have been posted here. Sam has since been adopted and he’s settling into his new home really well.

– Ruthless Photos and Ruthless Leather have both been nominated for MDBA Dog Owners Choice Awards. Go us! Nominations are open until the end of the year, so if you want to you can still nominate us here.

– Ruthless Photos and Ruthless Leather are going to be at Mosman Pet’s Day Out on Sunday 24 October. It will be Ruthless Photos first event so if you’re in the area make sure you come by and say hello. There’s bound to be a giveaway of some sort! If you’re on Facebook you can RSVP to the event here and/or here! We’ll also be at the Dogs NSW Spring Fair in Erskine Park on Saturday 20 November. You can RSVP to that here and here!

– Speaking of Facebook. I’ve added an events tab to both pages, so you can keep an eye on it to find out if we have any upcoming events. I’ve also added a reviews tab to the leather page. There have been some really nice comments left if you want to read them, it’s here. [I may add one to the photos page eventually, but currently most of my clients aren't on FB so it seemed a little pointless.]

– I’m very excited to have secured three more places to display my photography. I’ll wait until the work has been hung to reveal the locations though.

– I now have samples of all the products that Ruthless Photos offers. I hope to photograph them over the coming weeks and share them here. They’re a bit special.

– I know it’s a bit early to be talking about Christmas, but so it doesn’t come as a shock to anyone, please note that the cut-off point for Ruthless Leather Christmas present orders will be Friday 12 November. Bookings with Ruthless Photos will need to be made and shot before the end of October. We’ll continue taking bookings and orders after those dates, but Christmas delivery won’t be guaranteed. Remember that we also sell gift vouchers. They’re delivered by email, so they can be purchased at any time.

– I still have a Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM ultra wide angle lens with a lens hood which I’m selling for $750 +p&p [or free pickup from Eastern Suburbs of Sydney]. It’s as new and comes with box, manual, etc. Email info@ruthlessphotos.com if you’re interested.

Sydney University Pet Fair 2010

On Saturday we took our Ruthless Leather stand to the University of Sydney’s Pet Fair. We were decked out in our new shirts – which took almost an entire day to source and get printed and cost more than one of our collars – and I brought my camera and treat bag as well, just in case! Lots of people turned out and some even came especially to see us. It was a beautiful sunny day and even though it made for difficult shooting conditions I managed to get a few snaps worth sharing with you. [Click on the thumbnails to open full size pics.]

We had a great day and met loads of awesome people and their pets. If you signed up to our mailing list on the day and this is your first installment – welcome! We’ll announce the results of the draw on our Facebook page on Saturday 11 September and the winner will be notified by email. [The album of photos is posted there too and there are heaps of comments if you want to go and check them out.]

I’m selling off some of my photography gear as I simply never use these pieces. I have a Canon 50D body which I’m selling for $850 +p&p* and a Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM ultra wide angle lens with a lens hood which I’m selling for $750 +p&p*. Both are as new and come with boxes, manuals, etc. Email info@ruthlessphotos.com if you’re interested.

* Or free pickup from Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

Mel S - Great shots Ruth. Especially love the one of the English BT. Slip and I would’ve come in to see you and strut our RL collar ’round the joint except that I was in Goulburn at a horse hoof trimming workshop.
Smiles…

Janet Palmer - oh look at those gorgeous faces!!

Ruth[less] - I know. I wish we could do a pet fair every weekend!!

Tatelina - I love going through your blog…favourite photo is the tri coloured Bull Terrier!