More JoeysCoat treasures from Antiques By The Bay...

Bountiful inspiration...

 

The three-day-weekend spent with friends - old and new...

I spent this past weekend with friends in the Bay Area.  My visit coincided with the monthly Antiques By The Bay event; an incredible Flea Market with more than 800 vendors offering up all things vintage for sale.  I have been to this Flea before in my search for inspiration for Joeys Coat. 

My favorite booth to visit is owned by Daniela and Eric Davis of Patine - a vintage home decor shop in Selva Beach, California.  They sell a wide variety of antique French linens, including grainsacks, at their booth - the selection this past weekend was brilliant. 

Dana will design one of a kind treasures from the aged hemp and cotton, thoughtfully incorporating the colorful stripes to add distinct personality to each coat she creates.

Thank you Daniela and Eric - I look forward to my next visit!

French grainsacks in the dappled sunlight at home on Vashon Island...

Yard Sale Treasures...

Yard sales on the Island are abundant in the summertime...this past Saturday was no exception.  My typical Saturday morning ritual includes waking early, enjoying coffee with the pups, dressing according to the weather and mapping out the route.   At the end of my search I happened upon a sale tucked back at the end of a private drive.  As it was late in the day,  most items I scan for were already gone.  As I was leaving with some lovely French ribbon circa 1930, the owner asked if I was looking for anything in particular.  I told her my focus is buttons and buckles.  She asked what I used them for and I told her about JoeysCoat.  She turned, went into her house and brought out a large glass vase filled with Bakelite, Mother of Pearl, vintage plastic, and bone buttons and buckles...each unique and extraordinary.  We sifted through the tiny treasures together...we shared the same appreciation for their beauty and history...and it became apparent we also shared the same love for our dogs.

Thank you, Anita...I am grateful our paths crossed...

Joey finds his way to You Tube...

You know how life takes you down a particular path and you are unaware of the significance of something until years later?

My youngest son and daughter-in-law just celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary.  They exchanged vows in our meadow beneath the cherry trees.  Tom and Kate are the owners of Bridgman Landscape and Stone in Seattle.  For nearly a year they spent every off day transforming a blank canvas into a beautiful garden setting.  At the end of each day, I would arrive home from work and take in the view of the fruits of their labor.  They performed all the work while keeping five dogs and two very busy puppies occupied; no small feat.

One of the days, while taking a well deserved break from laying the stonework for our spectacular fire ring, they made a short film using the video function on their digital camera.  Kate expertly edited the film and set it to music; Teenage Wasteland by The Who - the perfect soundtrack for a puppy wasteland.

Recently, while endeavoring to create more space for JoeysCoat in our little Island home, we stumbled across the video and watched it again.  There was Joey...in the background...shy, quirky, a reluctant puppy mentor, far more interested in chasing his brother.

This past Friday night, our friend and filmmaker, Richard Montague made it You Tube ready.

Something created six years ago for fun, now takes on new meaning...

The bride and groom...

Our brilliant fire ring...



The kitchen garden entrance to the home of JoeysCoat...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjZgZuAKfVs



We are so close...

The process is ramping up at light speed...the web design and store is in the final stages, the brilliant "mannequins" are completed, the coats are receiving added couture touches, JoeysCoat and all that it is, is coming to fruition.  From most profound tragedy to joy and celebration...it speaks to the duality of life.  There is no joy without sorrow, no failure without success, no loss without love...thank you Joey for taking me on this amazing journey...

Hanging out...

Discarded blankets, shirts, trousers, skirts...all given a new purpose in life...

Gratitude...

Today, while contemplating how to begin my next post, I decided to check the Stats tab on the menu bar.  This is not something I have made a habit of since beginning the JoeysCoat blog, therefore I was not prepared for what I found.  In addition to the United States, Joey's story is being read in Germany, Canada, The U.K., Malaysia, The Philippines, Australia, Denmark and France. 

I am humbled by the far-reaching audience.  You honor me and my boy...thank you.

The last photo of "Joey" taken the day before we said good-bye...