All of the tools and hardware required to make one Dumaine bag: big scissors, little scissors, rotary cutter, skiving tool, edging tool, hammer, steel dapping block, hole punches, scoring tool, pen, branding iron, circle template, belt edger, straight edge, burnishing cloth, buckles, loops, clasp, (not pictured: strap cutter, oblong buckle punch)

Note: this isn't meant to be a step by step "how to" tutorial.  
Just thought I'd share a day in the life at the studio for those interested in what goes into making a leather bag by hand.  xo

patterns. thread, zippers..... 

1 cow hide yields 3 Dumaine bags - 6 lg pieces per bag.

Adding loops. tag, rivets...

So much harrrrdware!

Hammering rivets. (I quite enjoy this part)

Shoulder pad anyone?

Adding the zipper then pocket to the front piece... 
(thats my trusty/rusty Consew industrial walking foot)

Branding leather rules!

I use my dapping block as a straight edge aaaaand....

Voi-la!

Wait, better check my email, I mean, FB, I mean twitter, I mean... 
Back to WORK!

Edge-finishing all of the pieces before putting it all together...

"Putting it all together" - a.k.a. forcing a 3D thing to be a flat thing 
long enough to sew: LEATHER WRESTLING

Skiving (or is it skifing?) the edges, then burnishing.

Adding the last of the hardware (the fun part!)

Dumaine. Done.  (O.K., so I left a few of the boring bits out, but you get the idea!)

March's Sunday Secret Postcard Project send off...

"Art is manipulation without intervention." -Louise Bourgeios

White birch. Orange wall. New Pfaff industrial serger.

So long tiny studio with N facing windows,,, hallo SUN!
(that blinding white is actually the window below)
A rare commodity in our beloved Pacific NW.

My 3rd story west facing view from my desk.  Pretty sunsets from here!

Wow.  February has turned out to be one the best and worst months for me.  I'm trying hard to focus on the good things amongst personal loss and sadness and this space is really been helping me to do that. 
I already feel so inspired here.  Looking forward to new ideas, new projects, new beginnings, and holy shit, SUNLIGHT!
If you're cruisin down NE MLK between Stanton and Graham... Come say hi! I'll make us some tea.

...and I'll make you one.  Inbox me through my contact page and we can trade addresses.
above: Round l & ll of Sunday Postcard Project
(collages made from cutting up an old art date planner + watercolors.)

Blunk home and studio: Now a Residency for artists.

Pull switch next to bed.

carved wood sink

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J.B. Blunk. Sculptor 1926–2002. His home and studio are now home to a Residency Program for artists in Inverness, California. Sign me up.
Some of his work is featured in a new book: Handcrafted Modern
by Leslie Williamson. Definitely on my buy list.

_It's a total drag. First I was sick over NYE but made the best of it with hot toddies and boggle while hanging at the coast with friends. Getting over it I thought "hey, that wasn't so bad for my once a year cold" then
-BAM- I got this heinous upper respirtory/sinus infection that made my head want to explode and my lungs hurt from coughing so hard. The last to go.. my voice. I sound like a dying cow as I type this.  Yesterday our basement flooded and today I had a full cord of heavy maple delivered in the RAIN. I just loooove stacking soggy wood, lemme tell ya.
So waaa waaa waaaa.. this is what I was craving after being sick, tired cold and achy and it really did the trick. (and it's easy as hell.)

(confession: just this once... squash pic - not mine, though I did "polaroid-ize" it. Bottom pic: view from my kitchen window)

Curried Pumpkin (or Butternut Squash as it were) Coconut Soup: