The New Bernina B710!

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EHRMAHGERD.

So I finally bought me a sewing machine.

CONGRATULATIONS IT’S A BERNINA!!! I got it at Modern Domestic here in Portland and my friend Brittany helped me unload it BECAUSE IT’S GIGANTOR.

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And, of course, I began to cry because, really, I’m 31 and that’s all I seem to do nowadays.

 

Bernina B710AHHHH That new Bernina smell. Astounding.

 

hibernina4GIGANTOR BOXES. Myself, as Maru, and Brittany, as Sea Captain discovering land.

I AM SO EXCITED, IS IT OKAY TO CONTINUE THE ALL CAPS EXTRAVAGANZA?!?!?!?!

MAY THE LITTLE BRIGHT STUDIO EMPIRE COMMENCE!

Ahem.

Love, Amy

 

The Luminary Owls Tote Bag

tote bag featuring whimsical owls

BEHOLD – A revealing truth behind human kind’s greatest scientific achievements – Owls have been behind it all. ALL ALONG. Totally true.

Behind every great scientific achievement, there’s an intellectual owl. Featured in this bag are owls who have hooted inspiration and courage to countless humans. DNA mapping? An owl. Polio vaccination? There were a few owls hanging around the lab nodding in approval. Apollo 11 mission? They say the guys had small owl lockets tucked inside their space suits to honor their smart buddies.

In order to ensure owls continue to be the go-to animals for all scientists, I will donate $10 to The Owl Research Institute, based in Montana, US, which is a state I am dying to visit one day.

Let this tote bag be an inspiration for your future scientific projects. Get it right here!

Bernina Stitch Sample

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In just a few days, I will be the proud owner of a brand new sewing machine. It’s been years since I’ve had a sewing machine. So I went crazy and bought me a Bernina.

Well, there goes my dream of ever getting out of debt.

BUT IT’S SO WORTH IT OMG!

This is a stitch sample made during the Bernina new owner class at Modern Domestic, which is quite frankly, one of the greatest places on Earth. It is a sewing shop, classroom and fabric boutique. Oh their new fabrics kill me. I WANT THEM ALL.

HURRY UP BERNINA!!!

Love,

Amy

The Little Bright Studio business model

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Oh hai there.

​I am Amy and I like cats, science and making stuff. Not necessarily in that order, but “cat” often trumps other interests, mostly because my own cat, Lt. Kitty Picard Stewart, demands such attention.​

​Currently, I am designing a collection of really awesome bags. Why are they awesome? Because they are BAGS FOR SCIENCE!! And Bags for Science are awesome because:

  1. Their existence in this universe is to foster science education and scientific exploration amongst the youth ​of this fine country of USA.
  2. They are meant to be durable bags, durable enough to withstand the weather in the Pacific Northwest.​
  3. Bags for Science will rekindle the love of exploration and discovery.
  4. Cats like Bags for Science.​

Little Bright Studio will work around the social model of “you buy something, I give something” (think Tom’s Shoes or Warby Parker glasses). For example, you buy a pencil case/pouch, Little Bright Studio will donate pencils to a school, or its monetary value. Bringing home a bigger Explorer backpack will guarantee a classroom gets a cool microscope! ​I hope to work out the kinks of this type of socially responsible business model in the coming weeks.

Science is SO rad and it’s even more rad when young (and older, too!) minds are able to comprehend and apply it. I still dream of being the first Puerto Rican woman in space. Or the first Crazy Cat Lady. ​Later on, I will explain to you why it’s crucial that we invest in scientific education for our youth.

Thanks for reading and I hope to fill you up with more info and goodies!

Live long and prosper, ​

Amy

p.s. “SciBags” is a tentative name for this line. Thanks, Rosie!​

The Peonies of May

Oh, just photos from Linnea and I’s trip to the Adelman Peony Garden Paradise in Salem, Oregon. Peonies upon peonies upon peonies. Move along, move along.

Miss Linnea instagraming.

Sweet Angie, low tide and the Ocean.

Angie, why are you so pretty  and awesome and funny and fantastic and bright and caring and awesome? And why are you so far away? And why haven’t I visited you in Minnehappiness? Cause I suck.

Cannon Beach, Oregon shrouded in absolute Pacific Ocean beauty.

Bitty B.

Low tide at Cannon Beach is heavenly.

Winter happened and it will happen again

As it happens periodically, winter happened, it’s gone and it will happen again. Always frigid cold for this Caribbean, always quiet, always seemingly endless and always emotionally challenging. It has been so since moving to the States ten years ago. A few lovely images were produced, though.

A beautiful snow fell upon NW Oregon late winter. Den and I drove up to his friend’s house in Mosier, just a few miles east of Hood River. Oh, how beautiful it all was.

Biking up the St John’s Bridge in Portland, OR.

Fantastic donuts at Irving St. Kitchen in the Pearl District.

The Columbia River Gorge

I just can’t get over the Columbia River Gorge. The Oregon side and the Washington side. Hood River and the giant wind turbines past Maryhill. The Maryhill winery and all the windsurfers.

I can’t get over living in the Pacific Northwest.




I partied with sheep on my 30th brithday.

Months before my 30th birthday in April, I came to the conclusion there would be no time to plan an outlandish party welcoming me into this fabulous decade. Nor did I want to spend the money (hooray for responsibility). Instead, I decided to make a childhood dream come true: hold a baby lamb in my arms.

Oh yeah, I am an exciting person. Thrilling.

After researching a few sheep farms in the Willamette Valley, I settled on Dolce Farm & Orchards and called them up. The message I left on their voicemail went something like this:

“So, um, I’m Amy and I’m turning 30 in a few weeks and I kind of want to hold a baby lamb in my arms, can you make this happen? okthanksbye”

The super nice Ann from the farm returned my call and informed me the sheep will most probably be giving birth just a few days before my birthday.

“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”, I reacted.

Weeks roll by, the anticipation grows, my friends know about my plans and they too are excited (or just plain confused as to why I want to spend my colossal 30th birthday with…. sheep).

WHY?!?!?!?!?!?! OMG LOOK AT THIS BABY LAMB! HE WAS JUST A DAY OLD AND PRANCING ABOUT BEING ALL CUTE AND MISCHIEVOUS AND GIVING LITTLE KISSES TO HIS MAMA SHEEP AND OMG I WAS FLIPPING OUT AND NEVER ONCE DID A SHEEP POOP ON ME!!

Actually, I still flip out whenever I see these photos. Seriously. Needless to say, a little tear fell down my face as I held that little button in my arms. Ridic. My guy and I spent the rest of the afternoon cruising around the countryside near Newberg, OR.

 

GAHHH!!!!!!!

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These are Icelandic Sheep, I think they are an absolutely beautiful breed.

 



This is Panda. She was very curious about us.

There were some beautiful hens around, as well, as if guarding over the baby lamb. Their eggs were delicious.

Thank you, Ann, of Dolce Farms & Orchards, for graciously allowing us to meet your little babies and let us in your wonderful farm. A dream come true, indeed.



OMGSHEEP!!!!!11!11!!!

LBS