holiday crafty

I've been pretty busy here but wanted to take a moment to mention the holiday issue of this great e-zine from Amy Powers of Inspire co. It's full of projects contributed by many craft designers that would be a lot of fun to do with your family, or anytime around the holidays. And it's free! A labor of love. Thanks to Amy.

It's A Giveaway!

The Portland Art Collective has a monthly giveaway, and for October it's a beautiful glass chandelier journal created by the talented Tory Brokenshire! So head over here and just leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

the truth about cats and dogs

As you can see, things have gotten a little silly over here. I stitched and stuffed some flannel friends over the weekend, hoping these softies will find new homes for the holidays. Really, who could resist a cat in bird clothing?

It would be difficult to catch up on everything that's been going on the last few weeks...let's just say it's been a great time with friends, and art. An awesome quilt show, a week of workshops at the Art and Soul Retreat nearby in Portland, having fun guests stay here with me, enjoying good food, a little shopping here and there for vintage treasures...what could be better? Now, it's back to the business end of life. Picking up the slack at home, and making some progress in my workspace before the next session of art and friends at the PAC retreat at Menucha in a couple of weeks.

"The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of."

~Blaise Pascal

dragonboat adventure

The women of the Portland Art Collective enjoyed an outing on the Willamette River, thanks to Tory's cousin, Les, who coaches a dragonboat team in Portland. Les agreed to guide our group in the fundamentals of paddling a dragonboat. I decided to forego the paddling, playing photographer and cheerleader instead. Go team!

Here are the ladies, all decked out in full pirate regalia, taking final instructions from Coach Les before leaving the dock.

And they're off!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!

After arriving back at the docks,Paula, Tory, and the rest of the crew headed for land to enjoy a pizza lunch...and more laughs.

color and pattern

Ta-da...the finished top of the "quick" quilt I started last month. Since then my sewing machine has been in the shop for a tune-up and various summer activities have delayed completion...not to mention my short attention span for sewing a zillion (OK, 195) four-and-a-half-inch squares together. I do love simple patchwork, though.


Another recent project...painting up a box of drawers. I've used this color on a few other things around the house lately..."City Chartreuse" from Valspar (at Lowe's).

More progress on quilting today. I think this one belongs at the beach house.

a week in pictures

It feels like summer is winding down. I've taken a bit of a break from blogging while just enjoying the season. We spent a few beautiful days last week in Mt. Rainier National Park. I captured the mountain one morning at Reflection Lakes.

Walking in shady groves of old growth forest.

And through high meadows of wildflowers. The scent was incredible!

Visited many waterfalls--this one is Myrtle Falls, on one of the trails above Paradise Inn.

It was a great little vacation; and not far away from home!

So, fast-forward a few days and here I am in a completely different place--with my daughter on my birthday at the American Idol Tour concert in Portland. I must not be that old as I still seem to enjoy this kind of thing.



Now, I look forward to catching up at home; to settle down and get back to making things again...