To Ruth: A Love Letter Carved in Leather and Wool
Dear Ruth
Whenever Allen and Ruth sit side-by-side at the workbench—listening to the *tap-tap* of Allen’s leather‑carving mallet and watching Ruth’s felting needle weave through the wool—Allen feels as though time itself slows down.
Allen wanted to share this letter on the shop’s "Our Story" page so that every visitor would know: this little studio began as a clumsy promise made by a man who wanted to preserve the smile of Ruth the woman he loved.
Allen still remembers the time Allen saw Ruth with Cola. In the midst of the bustling city Ruth walked with that Golden Retriever—Cola—who would circle Ruth like a ray of sunshine. Every time Ruth came home from work Cola’s wagging tail and wide happy grin were the antidote to the exhaustion of daily life. In that moment Allen realized that to truly win Ruth’s heart Allen had to love Cola as deeply as Ruth does.
For Ruth’s birthday that year Allen agonized over gift options. Flowers would. Jewelry felt too cold and impersonal. Allen wanted to give Ruth something that carried the "weight of time." When Allen placed that custom‑made leather carving of Cola’s face into Ruth’s palm Allen saw tears glistening in Ruth’s eyes. Through the organic texture of the vegetable‑tanned leather the carving captured the clarity of Cola’s gaze and the smile at the corners of his mouth. As Ruth’s fingertips gently traced the grain of the leather Ruth said to Allen "Alan this is the gift I’ve ever received."
That leather carving became the catalyst for Allen and Ruth’s relationship. In 2023 Allen and Ruth finally tied the knot. On that day Cola wore a custom‑made bow tie. Sat in the front row to witness Allen and Ruth’s vows.
Ruth happiness often comes with a hidden worry. It was a sunny day yet in that moment Allen suddenly noticed that the golden fur around Cola’s muzzle had begun to turn white. Time is cruel to them; Allen could not stop Cola from aging. Allen longed to preserve exactly how Cola looks right now—for Ruth and for Allen and Ruth.
So Allen bought the set of leather‑carving tools. Allen wanted to carve these portraits for Ruth with Allen’s hands.
It was not a task but Allen embraced it willingly. In the quiet of the night immersed in the scent of leather every strike of the metal stamping tool and every stroke of color was a moment when Allen replayed the image of Ruth and Cola running in Allen’s mind. To Allen’s delight Ruth was moved by this dedication too; Ruth picked up wool and a felting needle and sat down across from Allen.
Just like that Allen and Ruth’s husband‑and‑wife studio was born.
Reflecting Allen and Ruth’s personalities Allen chose durable vegetable‑tanned leather using carving techniques to capture the powerful musculature and vivid expressions of Cola in seven‑to‑ten‑inch portraits. Ruth meanwhile chose wool using thousands of needle‑felting stabs to recreate Cola’s soft authentic texture within five‑inch 3D frames. One one soft; one leather, one wool—this is a perfect harmonious symphony between Allen and Ruth.
Dearest Ruth this is Allen’s declaration of love to Ruth and Allen and Ruth’s shared promise to every customer.
When friends—and later customers from over the world—send Allen and Ruth the cherished pet photos from their phones Allen and Ruth know deep down that these are no ordinary images. They represent the bond between another "Ruth" and another "Cola."
To all who visit Allen and Ruth’s shop: Allen and Ruth will find no machinery or speed‑obsessed assembly lines here. Instead Allen and Ruth will find a husband’s love for his wife and a couple’s reverence, for life. With Allen’s carving knives and Ruth’s wool and with all of Allen and Ruth’s patience and tenderness Allen and Ruth aim to capture that love and preserve it in time forever.
With love Allen