Garden Nursery Fun

Winding down spring break with a trip to Woodinville, a quilt shop and a garden nursery with Cathie, which small town will be our next adventure outing?

A few pictures inside and out at Molbak's

Would love to have brought home a rhododendron named Del, probably of the King George family, smelled divine, large pale pink blossoms, loved it!  Saw another named Kristin, no fragrance, but made me think of my father-n-law, Marshall would buy his rhody's and azalea's by name, miss him! 

I have to add I enjoyed this week off spent with family and friends, catching up around the house, errands and appts put off too long, and birthday parties for the mom's.  It is also the last one with Kirstin at home, she will be able to live on campus next year thanks to a generous grant offered by the UW, still in major shock, relief and giddiness! I am so very proud of both my daughters, they are not perfect, but I am perfectly happy with them! (okay most of the time, well often, often enough!)

Easter weekend was hectic and fun.  We had a crafty treat day hosted by Keri on Saturday and we made a mess again too, dyeing eggs, icing cookies, gluing banners! Another great girls gathering, they always go too quickly. New plan, next time, not on a holiday weekend, and maybe at a different venue, will have to see when that time nears huh? Almost forgot to add my teenagers had egg hunts at home and at Grama Carole's house, Luke got a head start for probably the first time ever, or was that cheating? Butter Cookie Monster he is, so I sent the rest fo the cookies home with him, Kristi got her one cookie at least.  I ate the one our cat Oreo was licking on, no biggie, tasted great! This year I iced the chicks a pale yellow and the bunnies purple with a white icing blob for a cotton tail, should have taken a picture of them, next time! I Love that recipe out of the Susan Branch Christimas book and apparently so does Luke, Kristi told me today he ate 3 for breakfast the other day, kid after my own heart!

Michele has an awesome cutting machine, just add a glue stick and wahlah!

Yep, this one's Alaina's, what more can I say?

Sometimes you need a little rest, and then maybe a little more

Paper Pieced Hexagon's Wild

Hand sewing. Paper piecing. Using creativity to find peace.  I miss my dog. Oh, I have a cat in my lap as I type this, and the cats do greet us when we get home, but they are cats, not the same. I yell less, or was that my form of barking back?  I actually have vacuumed up food (and a lot less hair of course). I really still don't like to say his name yet, but he said goodbye and let me know he was happy and okay and he also did help me wake up on time one morning recently too, nice to know he checks in, what a good boy.

Tucker's last bath, with Nini trying to keep him warm

Not only sewing, but sleeping and Pinterest and 3 seasons of Downton Abbey later, I think I am over my bout of bronchitis, check that off my bucket list, I better never have that again, ever! Just waiting to kick the last of this headcold thing, blech. When it is time to rest, life gives you the opportunities you might say. So my heart heals with time to rest.

Valentine paper pieced hexagons coming together.

We've also had to say goodbye to Great Uncle Bill.  What a kind man from another generation. His service has been arranged to include a Naval Tribute, as appropriate for he served over 30 years for our country.

I thought I would cheer my Gramma up, as now she has lost another brother and also the father of her children lately, a visit to her old friend Norma was in order.  Kirstin even got some more freeway driving practice before her driving test, which she passed, no problem! Now a car?

Norma 3 years ago at 104!

So Norma turned 107 last week!  She is also a very kind lady.  I like to think of her as sort of a mother figure for Gramma, and nothing better than a hug from someone special.  Norma was thrilled with the visit and we also brought her a little surprise.

1878

This is her Grandparents marriage license from Lehigh County, Iowa 1878!  We framed it with UV protective glass for her to have out and she can share with her family, there are still quite a few of them left in town. In fact, while visiting Norma, I got to meet cousin Claudia, who knew of me thru another cousin Katy, who I have yet to meet other than thru email, but we have been working on their family tree together.  Again, funny how life works isn't it? Claudia remembered my Gramma from years ago, and was happy to see her again.  My Gramma married into a really neat family, and they are one reason why I enjoy genealogy and family history so much. I really can't wait to see what is in their box of photos!  I do love that life continues to give you things to look forward to.  I end with, Newfoundland...and a Way To Go Hawks!

Oh the Holiday's

Well the 2013 Holiday Season whipped thru quite quickly around our house.  Did I really not mail Christmas Cards? Still very surprised by that.  Thought a nice Welcome 2014 Card would be a nice touch, where might those show up from?  Maybe when this annoying dry cough goes away, okay I will just eat another Lifesaver.

Holiday fun stuff!

This years cousin party for my kiddo's at their Auntie's house yeilded a new craft experience of mini snow globes. Yes glitter everywhere, what else can I say?

Snowglobe Creations

Some of the other crafts that were made at our house have all gone to new homes this year too.

Felt Ribbon Candy Ornaments

Singing elves

I think I will go find the pictures of the singing pinecone elves to add to this post.....

Collage making

Spring Break 2011 Long Beach Peninsula

Well here is my practice collage, photos from a few years back, but still fun memories of a short hike out to the beach, complete with a carcass, we were thinking racoon maybe.  We were down there for Earth Day and also removed quite a bit of debris from the beach on that day too.

Shilshole Marina

A few more collages I played around with today, I really like the Viking Art at Shilshole.

Little things I have made

Some pictures of things I have made out of cotton, felt, wool, stretchy nylon, sewn by hand and on a machine and needle felted and stuffed, trimmed and beaded.

Boating through Lake Union out to Lake Washington

Here are some random photos of picturesque scenes between the Ballard Locks and Lake Washington.

Urban Craft Uprising in Seattle July 13 and 14, 2013

Urban Craft Uprising :: Home  Happening in Seattle this weekend.  Well done to everyone that it made it such a fun place to hang out. A wonderful meld of people and their art.

Here are some of my favorites today, and ways to reach them too.

Fernworks, www.fernworks.org, okay these handpainted layered necklaces, tiny worlds unto themselves.

texture, www.textureclothing.com, outta Bellingham, lovely thick comfy knits, the skirt that hit just below the knee I  really admired along with the wristers, which I would love to have some to wear at recess.
 Really hoping to win her raffle :)

Son of a Sailor Jewelry, www.sonofasailorjewlery.com, all the way from Austin TX, modern flair of colors shape and design, how do you choose? Definately a favorite shop.

Rebe, www.specksandkeepings.com,  has clothing that defies explanation, sedate colors and patterns with great shapes and accoutrements, I can't begin to do them justice.

Le Petit Elefant by Genevieve Santos, www.genevievesantos.com an illustrator with watercolors that make you smile and imagine. She has done up in several different products, from prints to pins.

Hasenpfeffer Incorporated,  from Camano Island, has an Etsy shop, which has lovely handmade dolls with outfits for them that are just too cute and hugable.

Such Sweet Tierney, a local Seattle greenwood girl has, londontierney, a  shop on Etsy, check it out, love her screen printed bags and towels and other goodies.

Estrella Soap, estrellasoap.com, is Seattle based also, and what a varied selection of vegan based soaps. A great booth, complete with coffee beans to clear the senses, I really liked the Orange-Spice, mmmmm

Tuesday Scarves, located in the International District of Seattle, has an Etsy shop also, tuesdayshop. Rian has infinity scarves that are wide enough to wear as a shrug even.  She got in her new line of fabric made from her own photography of local area pictures she took too, and best of all, was able get her new scarves done in time for the show.  Great texture and color combinations are paired up it makes it too hard to choose just one.

Nell and Mary, www.nellandmary.com, these handmade products outta Portland OR,  just made me happy.  The bags, napkins, tea towels, oh my. The Roof Line Tote was my favorite.  Keep on printing and I will dream to take just one of everything please.

The Sprinkle Factory has an Etsy shop luckily and they have the cutest mini dessert necklaces, pins and earrings and the like. Just pick your favorite treat, no calories.

Fininshing off with Half Pint Homemade Ice Cream, a Seattle favorite, I tasted the Earl Gray Chocolate that my girlfriend Cathie got, mmmm but I ate a whole Chocolate Brownie bowl, Yes! The brownies used for the ingredients came from d:floured a bakery also from Seattle and were gluten free to boot. Keep and eye out at the local farmers markets for both these guys.

Urban Craft Uprising, I will be back again!

plaster french macaron ornaments | paper, plate, and plane

plaster french macaron ornaments | paper, plate, and plane

This is the super cool site for learning how to make real looking macaron ornaments, I can only hope when I try this they can look almost as real as hers.

Gramma's knit Sea Stars at the beach

My Sea Stars at Golden Gardens

Sea Stars hanging out at Golden Gardens

Paper Snowflake Ballet Dancers

Our ballet dancers are hanging out at Keri's house.

I decided to add the link to the snowflake ballerina pattern.  You will probably have to copy and paste as I am still learning how to add links to the blog.  I love how easily language is translated too.  You can see them  on my Pinterest board named Winter, I just had to repin them!

http://krokotak.com/2012/11/snowflake-ballerinas-for-little-hands/

Blue moves North

Blue Elf has a new home in the North, in Edmonds.  He has left his horse behind, but before he ventured off he managed to snap a self portrait of himself to leave behind for us to remember him by.  How did he get his hands on the camera anyways?

I think Blue is going to want a friend....