Where did it go?

Hello Friends!
It's been ages since I spent time with my blog but I'm blaming that on the fact that somehow magic occurs every year about this time and summer once again slips away with ever-increasing speed. As with most people summer is filled with family, friends and adventures into the great outdoors. Who can be sitting at a sewing machine? The days will soon be filled with darkness and the sun beckons us to soak up and save up its rays for the long, gray winter we know lies ahead.

I returned from the Lavender Festival filled with new ideas to try. In the coming months I will share those ideas as they take on three dimensions. I hope to expand into making smaller purses and even a fun jacket. Stay tuned....

For now, here's a glimpse of my summer.


One of our projects is the replacement of all the glass on my sweet little greenhouse. It's happening, but slowly!



This is the start of a rock garden on the approach to our house. Now it just needs some more plants.



Time out for play with our grandson and friends while camped on Idaho's pristine Selway River.




My sister came to visit and we hit the road for a trip around the Idaho panhandle.


We camped at Lake Pend Oreille....



Played in Lake Coeur d'Alene...


And kayaked on the Snake River. It's been a busy, fun summer...and...it's not over yet. We are leaving in less than two weeks to do an 8-day kayaking circuit of the Bowron Lakes in B.C., Canada. Should be a great adventure!

I hope everyone had a great summer and will enjoy these lovely days that lead into fall. One of these days I'll get back to my sewing machine...

Lavender Festival

I've been sewing again in preparation for the Daffodil Hill Lavender Festival just west of Salem, Oregon. I've made some new pillows, but also new purses and table runners. The festival dates are July 11 and 12. My dear friend, Suzanne St. Pierre of Living in the Garden will be my road-tripping and festival companion. It promises to be a fun weekend and a great adventure! Check it out below:

DAFFODIL HILL LAVENDER FESTIVAL

July 11, 12 10-5

Come join us once again to celebrate summer and spend a relaxing day in the country.

Enjoy food, wine, frosty drinks, gourmet baked goods,

wreath demonstrations, u-pick lavender, many talented artisans from the

Northwest and live music all weekend.

Come, pull up a quilt and make a day of it! A short drive west of Salem, but a world away.

$5 admission with proceeds going to

Women Ending Hunger

For a special evening treat, join us on Friday, July 10, 6-9 for our

Preview Party, featuring gourmet appetizers, wine, live music and the opportunity

to be the first to enjoy the wonderful array of artisans goods.

Tickets are limited and sold in advance at $20.

To make reservations call Kelly Hadley, 503 566-7376

For more detailed information go to www.lavendergoods.com and

click on Lavender Festival.

To Mapquest: 6435 Crowley Road, Rickreall OR 97371

Farm Chicks Fun

My husband and indispensable helper, Rich, and I are ready for the big weekend.

As you can see from the photos below, Farm Chicks was not only fun, it was intense! It was an opportunity to meet many wonderful people and make new connections--and to learn a lot! Since this was my first show, I came home tired but glad for the experience and all the fun we had.

Pillows and purses galore...


I'm ready!



Some of the attendees...Farm Chicks is BIG!

Somebody has to help...

Since the beginning of March, I have been working one day a week at Living in the Garden. It is a job that keeps you on your toes with trying to keep up with replenishing displays and helping customers.

It is a place of incredible beauty and inspiration and it is such fun to spend at least one day a week away from my sewing machine. I feel privileged to be immersed in such splendor but somebody has to help. If you live nearby, see for yourself and come and meet Suzanne and see what happens when you make your dream come true!

Farm Chicks Show

I am pleased to write that through a twist of fate, I am going to be at the Farm Chicks Show! I will be there with all my pillows plus some new ones and I'm bringing some fun handbags that I've been making. If you've never been to the Farm Chicks, I can testify that it's a very fun event. Come and see for yourself!

Here's an excerpt from their website:

Meet the Farm chicks®

Our childhoods couldn't have been more different. Serena bounced through the first years of her life in a hippie gypsy wagon, wandering the back roads of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Teri grew up in tiny White Swan, Washington, herding geese, doing farm chores and kneeling in daily prayer. Who would have guessed that 30 years later, an Irish Nun would bring us together, seeing instead our many similarities?

Serena and Teri

We both come from families that lived frugally. From our mothers, we learned a clever knack for thrifty creativity. Adept at taking ordinary objects and turning them into something useful, our mothers created cozy homes on tight budgets. We both dreamed of being mothers ourselves someday in that same stay-at-home style.

Now Teri has two grown girls and Serena has four boys. And we both share a passion for junking, baking, and creating fun projects. Together we founded The Farm Chicks Show, created Farm Chick Style™ and are Contributing Editors for Country Living Magazine.