Good Bye Dear Friend.

I am sad to say that this morning our family dog, Serene, passed away.

What started out seeming like just an ordinary case of worms turned into something more and before we could get her to the vet, she succumbed to her illness or complications related to it. I still do not know what it was, but it could be any number of things and may have even been related to a preexisting condition that had been hinted at in a prior vet visit.

With all the grace of her name, she went without once having complained and was still a loving dog the whole while. If I didn't know better I think she really just let herself go at the end after having a long, relaxing brushing from my wife.

Serene came to us two years ago. A shelter rescue and a bit of a holiday gift to my two daughters, she had bonded more with my wife, Jenn, than anyone in the house. She was loved by friends and family alike and enjoyed nicknames like "Stalker Dog" and "The Sausage".

She was a bright spot in our lives for the short time she was with us.

Good bye Serene.

You were the best.

-Eli 

...By Their Cover

Darned right I'll judge them. Judge them to be AWESOME!

My buddy Chuck at Portobello Road just keeps getting better and better with the craftsmanship on his handmade journals. What he can do with a hand full of paper, some leather and a burning tool is amazing. Each time I check them out I just see him getting better and better and with so much variety.

I've taken the liberty of posting a crap ton of images of the various finished and WIP books he's been doing. Many of these are custom work while others are simply the artistic expression of a talented craftsman and good friend.