Oh, the places we go: Renegade Craft Fair, San Francisco.

Truth? Okay.

Will and I were not looking forward to our trip to San Francisco for last weekend's Renegade Craft Fair.  It's not Renegade, it's not San Francisco, it's not anything that any body did or did not do ---it's us. Last summer, we did not take days off or play in the summertime or sleep, really.  We built the shop and then...the summer was over.  No joke.  Building the shop was a huge risk, one that we were happy to take and one that has paid off more than we could have ever dreamed of.  But, frankly, we're pooped.  We vowed to give ourselves a 2012 summer.  We vowed to hang out with friends and family, to have dinner dates, attend summer concerts, play in the park, experience the city in ways we haven't before.  Summertime in Portland is just NOT to be missed.

So we were sad to have to go back to San Francisco and work our butts off (one of 3 trips to SF, this summer alone).  But the moment we got in the car, all of our whining had to stop.  So it did.  It stopped; and it stopped good.

We ended up having a wildly beautiful, successful, and bright weekend.  We were---we-are-not-worthy--- impressed with how many people the hard-working Renegade crew pulled into this show.  The venue was perfect---open, airy goodness.  The weather could not have been better.  The crowd was glowing and friendly.  The line got picked up by two new beautiful shops, whose orders are being filled as I type--Bespoke in Truckee and Kitkitdizzi in Nevada City.  We are so flattered by everyone's kindness/words.  We discovered stunning new products to bring into our own shop.  We had a mouth-watering meal at Don Pisto's.  And we had a chance to just be together and do what we love to do.

Thank you, Renegade.  Thank you, San Francisco.  Thank you for putting a spark back into us. heart you guys~betsy ***Song of the Moment: The Socialites, by Dirty Projectors***