LEELANAU -- In our weekly “Made with Michigan Hands” report, whether you're a dog lover or horse lover, one northern Michigan woman has the perfect designs to spoil you and your favorite animal.
7&4's Kate Fox introduces us to the custom accessories of Bad Pony.
Owner of Bad Pony in Leelanau, Katharen Lattimore says, "I like it when I’m in Traverse City or I'm in Glen Arbor and I see someone walking a dog and they have one of my collars and leashes on, it's an incredible feeling to see that."
Lattimore makes it her life mission to create luxury pet accessories that will make any animal dazzle.
Lattimore says, "For me my four dogs are my family...I’ve always had animals in my life they've always brought me joy"
The goal is create unexpected accessories for horses and dogs so she transforms vintage fabrics into hand crafted saddle pads for horses and designer collars, leashes, outfits and beds
"I reduce, reuse and recycle as much as I can, if I go to Salvation Army or Goodwill and find a pair of vintage draperies, if I love the fabric I buy that and I can turn that into collars, leashing and dog beds."
Everything is durable, affordable and completely custom.
Lattimore says, "If they don't like the way it looks or want a different buckle it can be so ultra customized and it's the same price, whether they buy one or I make it from scratch, and I can make one in 15 minutes while they wait."
It’s a quick creation that supports the state's economy.
She adds, "I buy everything locally I get my webbing from a mi company, my buckles from a Michigan company."
For Lattimore, the best part is seeing the customer’s excitement as they spoil themselves and their favorite animals.
She says, "It's wonderful to see the joy in their faces when they find something that makes them happy and they know that it's making their dog happy or they think -- it's just really neat experience."
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