A little over a year ago my friends, Theresa and Shane Holden, opened a dog hotel named ruff., in our hometown of Napa, CA. Theresa designed the space, and it is AMAZING.
Front desk

Lobby

Shane in the retail section

Papercuts in the hallway

Kitties can stay, too!

Future grooming area

Ella

Indoor playroom



Outdoor area


Ella in one of the suites



My sister's little girl, Nita, goes for the day if my sister has to work long hours. She loves it.

Hey, dogs! Your hotel is nicer than my house.
More information can be found on the ruff. website.

Two new bags (made with the infamous denim) are now in the handmade shop...

Yesterday we went on a 200 mile endurance run in Josh's 1930 Model A roadster. It was a great day.






goofy...


We only had one minor issue, which Josh quickly resolved (with thanks to the keen observation of an onlooking friend)...

We drove through lots of these...

Huge thanks to these two kids for organizing this event:

I have a secret confession. There is something in my garage, which haunts me every time I go out there. When Henry was a baby I had the BRILLIANT idea to start a line of denim. These wouldn't be just any jeans. No! The would be eco-friendly! Locally made! Flattering, but not so low your underwear stuck out! It would be great! I could work and have Henry with me so he didn't have to go to daycare! Hey--if this chick could do it, so could I! So I jumped in. Business licenses. RN number. Fabric. Thread. Zippers. Buttons. Sewing contractor in San Francisco. Kathleen Fasanella's wonderful book from front to back about a bajillion times.

Can we see where this is going?

Lots of money later (the credit cards are STILL being paid off from this one!) it was finally time to pick up the finished product from my man in the city. And guess what? They were HORRIBLE. Awful. As in I wouldn't even donate them to charity because there is no way I would ever expect anyone to wear them awful.

Now, five years later, I have finally tied up the loose ends from this adventure (as in the people in the local tax office trying to collect $ on profit, which was never made) and am actually really grateful for the experience because I learned a lot. The experience is behind me, but I still have a few reminders. Like the eighty 4" jeans zippers and 40 plus yards of hemp/cotton denim in the garage.

That denim has stared at me for five years, daring me to find a new use for it! I just left it alone because it intimidated me. Until the chickens needed something to line the walls of their brooder. Once I cut off those few yards for the chickies, I finally had enough courage to use some for myself. So, a few night ago I made this bag...


The infamous denim, a thrifted (machine-made) lace table runner, some of my favorite (also thrifted) plaid for the lining, and leather straps (remnants from the re-do of my chair).
I used it last night for the first time, and I think I love it.

Last weekend Henry and I went to an estate sale where everything was so old that it crumbled into powdery dust the second you picked it up. Odd. I did manage to score a perfectly functional DYMO label maker (which I have been having waaaaaaaaaay too much fun with) and these beauties:




Available in the vintage shop for those of you who like your things dusty and worn (like I do!).

Can't quite seem to finish this wreath...


I have been working on it forEVER!

So it all started a few days ago, when this boy:

finished this car:


I decided the new car **needed** a gigantic prize ribbon (inspired by Danielle's ribbons, I'm sure) and furiously went to work stitching one up. I then snuck out and placed it on the dash (with a magnet) for someone to find in the morning. Completely impressed with myself, I must say.
This late-night ribbon making turned into an obsession, which produced this:

and this:

and this:

I like them grouped on a wall...

or pinned to a tote bag...

Available here. :)

Jamie, of Inspired Mess just posted a bunch of new items in her shop, including this pretty collage. This little quote is running through my head this morning!

After finding Bonpoint (via oh, hello friend) I have made it my personal mission to sew as many of these pieces as possible before the summer (the fact that they are meant for children does not bother me one bit).








Is it lame and unethical to copy items of clothing? I will admit I feel a little funny about it, but with my current budget and the prices listed here, purchase is not an option. AND since I am making them for personal use and not for resale, I think I will let myself off the hook. What are your thoughts on this?