The Cle Elum Seven

Quad pocket wallet in glossy espresso, featuring Jamie.

Several years ago a customer came into my shop and told me she had just attended a meeting at the church across the street. She had met with a group of activists who were founding a new chimpanzee sanctuary that was soon to be located in Washington State.

Photo notebook in glossy espresso, featuring Negra. 

I asked her to keep in touch with me about the project, and months later a representative from Chimp Sanctuary Northwest got in touch with me to say the sanctuary was a reality. Since then I've been making special photo products for their annual auction. I've also gotten to know each of the Cle Elum Seven through the amazing blog posts and videos here.

These items will be available at the Out of the Box auction on May 4, 2013.

 

You can learn more about the chimps' transformational journey from a Pennsylvania research lab to Cle Elum, Washington here. My favorite video was taken the day the chimps, who had spent most of their lives in tiny cages, were first were able to go outside and feel grass under their feet. View it here.

A Valentine

In the dead of winter comes a day to celebrate love in all its forms. 

Best wishes to you and your loved ones.

How to Have a Lovely Day

I recently spotted this image on Pinterest and thought it was a nice reminder during the busy season that's just beginning.

Sometimes it's easy to lose track of what's important as we struggle to stay caught up on our To Do list, especially during this time of year. We can get cranky and annoyed.

These little tips are a great way to reset our interactions with those around us, and maybe help others have a lovely day too.

 Wood ornament, made in Germany. Learn more here.

Textile Inspiration

African American quilt show at the Bellevue Art Museum, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

Back in August I visited the Bellevue Arts Museum to see an amazing quilt exhibit called, "Bold Expressions: African American Quilts from the Collection of Corrine Riley."

The incredible quilts were inspiring in their texture, color, and form. Most were made using fabrics reclaimed from worn clothing, feed sacks, and other sources. You really need to see work like this in person to truly appreciate the craftsmanship and detail.

The exhibit ends on October 7, 2012, so you have a few days to check out these inspiring works yourself. Learn more here.

Beautiful Place

Sunny in Seattle

The whole earth was brimming sunshine that morning. She tripped along, the clear sky pouring liquid blue into her soul. 

- Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie

One thing that can safely be said about Seattle residents: We surely appreciate the summer sun when it comes out. (Usually some time after the Fourth of July.)


I can't imagine that those living in warmer places like Florida or southern California can truly understand what it's like to have the sun hit your face after all of those damp months.

Last week, I was so happy about the sunny days that I treated myself to a new pair of white sunglasses. Then I designed a sleeve to protect said glasses.

Now I'm offering these cute cozies for sale in my shop or via email (soon on our website). $18-21 each.

What Will I Make with this New Ribbon?

I often tell curious customers that sourcing materials is truly one of the best parts of my job.

I swear I've built my little business around fabric, ribbon, and buttons, three of my absolute favorite things.

 

When I find a new source, my mind whirrs with excitement over all of the things I can make. I wonder how customers will respond to my finds, and what bag or wallet they will design at LBD.

The above new ribbons are currently en route to my shop via US Mail. My hope is that you will be as inspired by their colors and patterns as much as I am.

Scanning Textiles

vintage_embroidery, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

Here's an idea: Scan a fabric or textile that you like. You can get some wonderful textures and dreamy images this way.

This is a vintage organdy embroidery I found in my stash recently.

Otis the Shop Dog Poses & Meets Famous Puglet

It's no secret that Otis the shop dog digs having his picture taken. I swear I lift my Canon and he starts to pose.

So when I learned from my favorite blogging pug that his photographer human was coming to Seattle as part of her 1000 pugs tour, I signed Mr. Otis Bee right up.
We made our way down to the EMP at Seattle Center and waited with the other pugs. At 11:40 it was Otis' turn to play America's Next Top model.
He did a great job, and I was a proud Momma. Amanda, the photographer, was super nice and Otis was fond of her magical treat bag.


We were Amanda's last appointment before her lunch break, and she told me that the famous Puglet and his Dalmatian brother Dutch were hanging out nearby in her car. "Would you like to meet them?" she asked. I couldn't believe it! I was so thrilled, I think I acted like a crazy person.

That's me with Dutch and Puglet, who is such a supermodel he's even posing for Jeff's Droid.
For those of you who don't know, Puglet is quite famous for his modeling abilities. You can see some of his best work here and here. He treated Otis to a master class at the EMP building. (I wonder what Frank Gehry would think.) Amanda let Puglet off-leash and he scaled the wall and found a pose.

The dogs were BFFs by the end of the time together. Notice Otis (left) and Puglet (middle) in sync.
Thanks Amanda, Puglet, and sweet Dutch for a wonderful day. I can't wait until the book is published.

PS - 1000 Pugs is donating 20% off the sitting fees to the local pug rescue in each area she visits. That means Seattle Pug Rescue benefited from our antics yesterday!

Oh the Places You Go!

Our customers go to some amazing places around the world and I just love hearing their stories. Amy brought this luscious multicolored silk back from Indonesia. We made her this special Audrey shoulder bag trimmed in black and lined in saffron.

Taking a Trip?

You might not have considered buying fabric as a souvenir, but that's what our customer Lisa did when she went to South Africa recently.

 

She found a fair trade fabric store in Capetown and came away with this gorgeous batik cotton. With custom handbags from Laura Bee in mind, she tucked the print into her luggage and came home to Seattle.

When she returned, she brought the fabric to us and commissioned two bags: this Olivia clutch, and a gorgeous cognac Helen Hobo whose photograph I missed.

I Love this Simple Tutorial

This tutorial makes me want to run out and buy napkins in various colors so I can make these adorable flowers.

Neighborhood Pride & a Great Deal

KEXP is our local independent radio station. Each year the station hosts a battle between Seattle neighborhoods to see who can donate the most money to the publicly-funded institution. This year our neighborhood, Ballard, won!

KEXP is treating our 'hood to a day long event tomorrow, May 20th. You learn about all of the cool stuff going on here.

We're offering a great discount to KEXP members tomorrow. Show us your membership card, and we'll give you $10 off when you spend $30 or more. Scroll down on this page to learn about the other sweet deals in Ballard.

Vintage Resurrection by Krissy Maier

Local artist Krissy Maier makes one-of-a-kind jewelry. She takes broken earrings, discarded necklaces, and other vintage components and refashions them into wearable art. (Necklace above $32)

Rings, hair clips, earrings and necklaces are all part of Maier's special line. I love the nostalgia in mystery in each piece.

Sweet Weekend Away

2011-02-05_16-17-48_269, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

Clever Ways to Wear a Scarf

I get quite a lot of inspiration from YouTube videos. I love seeing real people share their tips in fashion, crafts, and makeup.

Since scarves are now 25% off in our shop (and are such a staple this time of year), I thought I'd share the above video with you. I can't wait to try "The Bow" and "The Triple Wrap."

Check out the rest of our January sale offerings by reading our latest newsletter here.

Have you Heard this Christmas Song?

I've been listening to Sufjan Stevens' Songs for Christmas almost non-stop since Thanksgiving. The songs are at once lovely, melancholy, and nostalgic.

My production and customer service duties have taken me away from photographing and blogging the last couple of weeks. It's our busiest, most exciting time of year. Thanks to all of you who have shopped with us so far. We've had a great season!

I want to let you know that we'll be open through Christmas Eve at about 3 pm. We're open tomorrow (Monday) through Thursday of this week from 10 am - 7 pm. (We'll be closed December 25, 26, and 27 to relax with our families.)

Pink Inspiration

Pink Glitter Cottage, originally uploaded by skybluecrayons.

Sometimes I visit Flickr and just type in a search to see what will pop up. Tonight I entered "Pink Christmas" and up came several wonderful images made by kindred spirits.

Take the one above, for example, made by with a popcorn box. It makes me want to build my own sugar-coated Christmas village. (Maybe next year.)

Here's another inspiring pink-themed Christmas picture. Her entire photostream is dreamy and nostalgic.

Post 1000: Santa Photo and Pink Tree

I bought this little folder over the summer because I love any Christmas decorations that are pink and retro. This Santa photo from 1966 has it all. First, the illustration on the folder is both pink and adorable. Plus, it's stained with (hot?) chocolate. I know many native Washingtonians are still grieving the loss of department store Frederick & Nelson.

This photo is a Christmas showpiece. Never mind the pink tree, the saddle shoes, the gloating older sister. The look on the little boy's face shows that scary Santa photos are timeless.

 What must Santa be thinking? (Feel free to write a caption in the comments.)

PS - Blogger tells me that this is my 1000th blog post! Thanks for reading my musings for the last five years. I'm looking forward to 1000 more!

Material Spotlight: Our Zipper Supplier

We use YKK zippers, top quality notions that are made in the USA.

We buy our zippers in bulk from an historic supplier in the garment district of New York.

This video is a fascinating look into their business, which was started in the 1940s by an entrepreneur who escaped the Nazis.