[BaxtersMommy]

Originally Posted by Connie

Anne...I know you are good friends with Cory. I was also...or at least I thought I was. You cannot understand this unless you had been the one to build a business from scratch. I shared all my information with her...trusting that she was sewing for her own dogs, as she said. I gave her all my trade secrets and pattern. She says now she has changed the pattern, but that doesn't change the fact that I gave her detailed instruction and all the ways I do things...down to making the bow for the dress. It used to take me 20 minutes to a half hour to make just the bow. I then came up with a simple and easy way...I shared that with her. I made everything easy for her. I told her about the fabrics to look for at JoAnn's. She had been there 3 times and hadn't seen it. The next time she called, she said she had found the Tutti Fruitti and bought lots. I told her I was so glad they once again had the butterfly pattern so I could replenish my supply. She said she had bought some of that. Okay...right there tells you she knew I had that particular one. I recently saw pictures of vests she did for someone that was more of my fabric...even the striped fabric I'd gotten to go with the bodice. It was my best seller last year. She knew I had that fabric.

I gave her info on where to get Drings, velcro...what kind of fabric I used for the liniing. I took numerous phone calls from her asking for more advice on how to do something. Even the first dog dress she sold, she called me to ask me how to resize it. I even answered that and kicked myself afterwards!

I built my business all on my own with no help from anyone. I improved upon it as time went on and then share it all with someone I trusted. I realize she took sewing lessons, but they weren't teaching how to sew a dog dress. She got that from me. If she started a website where things were not so similar to mine, I wouldn't be so upset. Go look around other websites. Sure...some of us have some fabrics alike, but if I know someone else is featuring a fabric, I won't buy it out of respect for that seller. She told me when she wanted to know where I got the clear bags I package my dresses in that she wanted to store her girl's things to keep them dust free. That was a lie. She said she wasn't going to advertise her website...another lie.

Anne...I am insulted that you would imply that I made that thread to get business. That was NO my intention at all.

I'm sure that you have read the email that I sent Cory. I do not feel threatened by her, but maybe you took it as that. I did say that she has been to so many meet ups and met people personally, so of course, they will buy from her, rather than me, because they have met her. I don't care...it was the way I was betrayed by a friend. I have enough longtime, loyal customers. My business will continue to flourish and I can at least say I built it on my own and I am proud of it!

I will say it again, you did nothing wrong Connie. It is a shame what has happened here!