[Diana in Wisconsin]

In that same vein, (supporting Small Businesses) we have good friends that have been doing amazingly well with their (local, small, family-owned) fur business! Since raccoon pelts aren't worth spit these days, Beau has been giving them to this couple and they're making amazing things from them. I got my Raccoon Fur Ear Band from them last year, and I want some more of their hats and such. He tans all kinds of furs and she can sew like a dream and does an excellent job.

You CAN wear fur around here, with no one batting an eye or calling you a murderer, LOL!

They also provide all the 'stuff' you need for hunting hounds - leashes, collars, training collars, headlamps (you hunt raccoon at night in the dark), GPS systems and such.

Wishbone's Hound Supply and Furs

These pix are from a show they did ("Cowboy Christmas") in Dubuque, IA a few weekends ago:

Check out the upper right corner of the second pix. A local lady crochets raccoon and opossum scarves for her - they are so cute! She also crochets these awesome hats with a fur Pom-Pom that my friend makes and adds to the top of the hat. I'm lusting after one of those!

[Qiviut]

I really love seeing small businesses like this - “niche” businesses where creative people find something that is appealing and no one else is doing. Especially love the crocheted raccoon & ‘possum scarves!