Yeah, you.

It's my birthday! On this very special occasion, YOU (yeah, you) save 29% in the shop by using the coupon code SAVE29. Yeah....

Thinking about: mise-en-place.

And how I could use a whole lot more of that in my life. Listen.

Bistro Aprons re-stocked!

The shop is all stocked up with Bistro Aprons - ready for immediate shipping! And? a goofball picture of my model parents and aunt and uncle. (Come back on Friday for a smoking' hot deal - no kidding.)

On the farm.

This is what passes for gym equipment on the farm.

Around here....

The summer is winding down (today is the first day of school) but our dreams will still be summery for a while....

Friday, I'm in love....

with Hubblesite.org.

The Materials.

The world of textiles is an imperfect one, filled with imperfect choices - so I thought I'd tell you about some of the fabrics I'm using and why.
This is hemp/recycled polyester twill.
My impression: Sturdy, but with a beautiful drape. Super soft, changes color in the light - from dark charcoal and indigo to light and silvery, easy to work with, lovely.
The upside: 77% Hemp - an extremely fast growing crop, producing more fiber yield per acre than any other source. (Fewer resources used.) It is commonly grown without the use of pesticides and herbicides. Fabulous. 23% Recycled Polyester - made from post-consumer PET bottles - which, like it or not, seem to be here to stay. Better to use a finite natural resource twice, right? The process of recycling plastic into polyester fiber is less energy intensive and emits less carbon dioxide than the production of virgin polyester fiber. And it keeps some bottles out of the landfill.
The downside: Recycled petrochemicals are still petrochemicals. Made in China (but, with considerable disclosure about the factory's employee and environmental policies).
So there you have it - imperfect. Better than lots of stuff.
And! Listen to this short (4:35) piece about recycled polyester and cost, climate change, and one percent of the cotton in the world and stuff. It's interesting.

Workroom glimpse.

Around here....

Around here, we're all about space travel. Fin wants to go to Mars. Seamus would also like Fin to go to Mars.

Friday, I'm in love....

I do not know how I got on the Epicurious Recipe of the Day mailing list, but I do not mind.

Hello, Able!

ABLE Tote/Backpacks are finally in the shop! ABLE to convert from a Tote to a Backpack to a Cross-body Bag in a single bound! Unfussy and sturdy, with three pockets inside (one zippered). ABLE to carry a heavy load and look great doing it....
Handmade with care, as always.
These sustainable beauties are made of eco-friendly materials like hemp, organic cotton, recycled polyester, and rubber cut from busted bicycle tires. You're gonna love them - I just know it!
Get free domestic shipping too (on everything in the shop) through the weekend with the coupon code SHIPIT14. xo!

Workroom glimpse.

Around here....

Around here, my chickens are cute but the neighbor's chicken is cuter. (Miniature AND feathered feet? No contest. She's like a ball of feathers that follows you around the yard.) Also, plum tart, Bay Bridge deconstruction and the messiest tastiest burger I've eaten in a long time (from Prather Ranch Meat Co. in the Ferry Building). I'm still thinking about it.