BUSINESS PROFILE

Miles of Inspiration

by Emily Tilly

Just over three years ago, Brenda Guajardo brought a new family member into her home and his arrival rekindled a creative urge she’d not indulged since childhood. The new family member was Miles—Miles of Adventures to be precise—a fox red, fun-loving, and playful English Labrador. At that time, Brenda was excited to take a break from 12 years as a professional ultramarathon runner, and she soon found herself spending even more time with Miles due to pandemic restrictions. During that time, Brenda noticed a few of her pup’s toys needed some improvements.

“We were going through a lot of toys I bought from stores, and it occurred to me that maybe I could sew some myself that would hold up better. I bought a sewing machine and—using just scarves and fabric I found— began making toys for Miles,” Brenda recalls. The experience brought back memories of sewing as a child, and inspired her to create Yards and Miles Studio, LLC. The studio offers myriad products, which Brenda makes herself, including pencil pouches, tote bags, make-up bags, key chain pouches, and other home accessories, not to mention other unique items like signature sewn and embroidered dog bone toys or pillows.

In addition to her aesthetic and handcrafted work, Brenda is also an expert at combining embroidery and sewing, which makes each of her products a rare find. Most items have uplifting messages embroidered inside. “The embroidery is really the fun part. There is something classic and timeless about an embroidered item because the personalization is in the fabric—in the grain—so it won’t wash away. It also makes a high-value statement for business and personal gifts. Yes, it is a bit more expensive than an iron-on but that’s what really makes the statement when you present it as a gift, or you keep it for yourself. You're saying, ‘This is important to me and I want to enjoy it for a long time,’” says Brenda.

Yards and Miles also provides custom embroidery for items made or manufactured by other companies: linens, towels, wreath sashes, shirts, and hats (individual, family, team, club, or business), jackets, and backpacks. Brenda enjoys creating memorable monograms, logos, and messages and, in addition to her focus on quality and precision, she consults freely with clients to discuss and recommend optimal placement, size, or alternatives (e.g., a patch) to maintain the integrity of any customer item. Her goal and vision are to provide a close study on every piece that will enable her to produce the highest quality product.

Scan the code to learn more about Yards and Miles Studio or to contact Brenda, and check out her work at Instagram.com/yardsandmilesstudio/

“Yards of fabrics, miles of adventures!” ~ Miles, an enthusiastic, repeat client