New things in life....

I can't believe it - summer is almost over. In two weeks I'll have a three month old, a preschooler, and an eighth grader...holy crap. Where have the last few months gone? I feel like I've gotten nothing accomplished but I know I have done way more than most new moms could undertake.

I've had a baby....

I've grown a garden...

I've picked strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and even canned peaches for the first time...

Now all I have to do is make 300 hats and I can rest...wishful thinking right?

My favorite things this month...and one very not so favorite thing.

Favorite thing #1:

So many of you may already know this but just in case ya don't....I'm pregnant and due on June 10th (those of you who've put up with my whining - I owe ya big time!). New baby Mahri Adele will be here on June 10th...woohoo!!

Favorite thing #2:

The Laurelhurst Neighborhood garage sale on June 19th...it's the best slew of second hand heaven I've ever been to in my life. I'm just hoping I can hobble around well enough by then to check it out...if not there's always next year sniff, sniff....

Favorite thing #3:

Pad Thai Kitchen on SE 23rd and Belmont...omg the best Thai food I've had since I moved here almost ten years ago. Seriously, it's THAT good!!!

Not so favorite thing...I've had to take a break from crocheting for the last month or so as I've got the dreaded pregnancy induced carpal tunnel UGH! For those of you who don't know me - I cannot sit still without being productive so it's been torture. My dr. has assured me that it should subside soon after baby gets here...only a month or so more of it to bear but on the bright side I'll have a newborn to take care of so the likelihood of me having time to crochet is slim anyways right?

My two favorite things this month...

1) Joe's Donuts in Sandy...nothing beats their blueberry fritter and it's waaaay worth the drive.

2) OMSI $2 day....only $2 per person on the first Sunday of every month. The fam and I had great fun there last weekend and all for only $8!! Woohoooo!

Last two for the year....woohoo!!

Last two shows for the year are this weekend - let's hope the freezing rain and snow aren't too treacherous. I've been spending a LOT of late nights crocheting trying to play catch up from last weekend's blow out sales I had so I'm hoping I'll have enough goodies to choose from. This is it folks - get em while they're hot! Saturday is Hip Happening in Sellwood and Sunday is the mother of all handmade sales...CRAFTY WONDERLAND SUPER COLOSSAL HOLIDAY SALE!!! Info on times/locations can be found to the right. Anyone wanting to get a custom order before xmas this is the time to do it. Next week I start my holiday baking extravaganza woohoo!!!!

More shows this week....

Two more shows for me this week - details on the times/locations can be found to the right. First up is Scrooge Lives at Mount Hood Community College for Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Second is the French American School Holiday Market in NW Portland...one of my favorites. Who can beat chocolate, circus performers on stilts, and aerial performances?? I wish all my shows had such great entertainment!!

Also, on a side note, the Secret Society Sale is tomorrow (Sunday 11/29)....I won't be selling my wares but I definitely will be doing some shopping. So if you need some entertainment be sure to check it out!

Irvington Artisan Market this Saturday...

Two more shows coming up this week!!

Two more opportunities to get some shopping done early this week...Good Shepherd Community Church's Annual Harvest Bazaar and Llewellyn Elementary's Holiday Market. Details on when/where are to the right and, if you didn't notice already, I'll be at two shows at once thanks to the help of my wonderful family who'll be helping me out with watching my table. Thanks Susan and Christine!!!

A Weekend of Shows....

So it's gonna be a busy weekend - info on the times/locations are to the right......I can't believe it's almost my third show of the year. Usually, I'm just gearing up for my first one by now so the early start has thrown me off a bit.
First up for the weekend is the Lewis Elementary Holiday Bazaar on Saturday November 7th. Some of my favorite artisans will be there as well - Becky with Little Daisy Chains, Barbara with B Hive Designs, and Jen and Sarah with Urban Designs. Come start your Christmas shopping early to support a great cause - 30% of all sales go to the school...good karma anyone?

Second up for Sunday November 8th is the Siren Nation Art and Craft Sale. What can be better than a sale at McMenamin's hellooooooooooooo!!!! Not to mention you can enjoy the soaking tub for only $5!! Sounds like a relaxing Sunday to me. : )

Flowers anyone?

Hip Happening show this Saturday!!

Next show is this coming Saturday...Hip Happening here I come!! Also, a fun event I heard about this weekend...Circus Artemis. A group of us are going to check it out on Sunday night - woohoo to ladies night!!

Skating with Scissors This Saturday!!

Come see me and a ton of other very talented artisans at the upcoming Skating with Scissors Craft Show! Details on the hours/location are to the right...hope to see you there!

The holiday lineup already?

Is it really time to start gearing up for the holiday show season? Holy crap where did this year go???? I'm super excited and a little freaked out by it but yay! Time to see some of my favorite fellow artisans again woohoo! My first show of the year is closing in fast....Skating with Scissors at the Oaks Park Hanger in Sellwood. Should prove to be a lot of fun with over 100 vendors and benefitting the Rose City Rollers. By the way, if you haven't been to a Roller Derby bout yet you so need to go. What's better than burly beauties skating super fast whilst pushing eachother as hard as they can???

I am a lean mean crocheting machine...

So as the year passes I'm now starting to realize that it's getting closer and closer to crunch time and my imagination is beginning to fizzle. It was bound to happen eventually I guess. It's a good thing the gardening season is here again so I have some newly found inspiration.

Hip Happenings....

So I finally ventured out of our new home into the real world again yesterday. It felt good to be amongst the living. I was lucky enough to drive by a Hip Happenings sign in the Sellwood area so the hubby and I stopped by for a quick peek as I've been wondering about this show for a while now. The Sellwood Masonic Lodge is a great venue if you ask me...of course I love Sellwood so I'm biased. I definitely will look into signing up next winter. I ended up purchasing an awesome hand thrown berry bowl for the MIL too so I killed two birds with one stone woohoo!! Never hurts to shop early for mother's day right?

I've taken a much needed break from crocheting since I've been focused on getting the house put together. I'm starting to get my creative itch again so I think it's time I get back into the groove of things....

Winter is almost over...or maybe not??

So in Portland winter is usually over by now...that is IF we get a winter. Rain seems to be the norm here with maybe a flurry here and there if we're lucky. Judging by the snow that was briefly on the ground this morning I'm thinking we may have another couple weeks or so of this unexpected chill. I am usually glad to see the first signs of spring but the longer winter lasts, the longer hat season is. Yay me! Don't get me wrong the daffodils popping up in my yard are definitely a welcome sight. My green thumb is just waiting to be unleashed!! But I must say, logging into Etsy and seeing that I've sold a few more hats has been wonderful not only for my ego but for my motivation as well.

On another note, the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) is putting me a little on edge. I'm hoping I'll be able to sell children's hats next season but how the law is written as of now it's not looking good. I'm crossing my fingers that it'll be amended before this fall....

Seafoam green...the ultimate color for blonds!! Who knew???

I figured out that seafoam green is the most wonderful color for blonds this season so here are a few I came up with in the last week or so. I've been a busy woman lately and I'm hoping to get a few more posted up on Etsy in the next few days so keep an eye out!!!

After a long busy winter it's finally over!!

Seems like this season FLEW by....literally. It feels like just yesterday was my first show and now it's already Christmas. Where did this year go??? 364 days and counting until next xmas...: )

I woke up this morning to a plethera of wonderful gifts under the tree including a BEAUTIFUL sterling silver smoke tree pendant from Tiny Forge Designs I was eyeing at the Secret Society Show this year. A big pat on the back to my dear hubby - yay me!!! He always gets me the most wonderful gifts...which is actually extra great because it proves that he does in fact listen when it really counts haha!! What I would do without him I don't know...

Last hoorah for the year!

Last show for the year this coming Saturday (12/13/08) from 9:00am - 3:00pm...Butler Creek Elementary, 2789 SW Butler Road, Gresham, OR 97080. Come see me if you can!! It's your last chance to place a custom order and still get it a week or so before Christmas so do it while you can. : )

Busy busy....

I'm excited and kindof sad at the same time that my last show is this coming weekend. I'll admit it, I'm so ready to bake a thousand batches of cookies and finish putting our lights up...it's time for the holiday spirit to set in. Am I the only one who feels like Christmas totally snuck up on us this year?

On the other hand, I've had such a great time this season that it makes me sniffle a little. I've met so many wonderful people this year and had pretty great success for the most part which is AWESOME!

Eh, I'll get over it, in another nine months I'll be doing this all over again. My fingers are starting to cramp from crocheting my 400th hat haha!! : )

Here's a few pics from this year...the baby I just had to take a picture of so I could post it here. She was the cutest thing with bright red hair which the green hat totally complimented!!!

I'm either really motivated or certifiably insane...you pick.

So I have three, yes count them, THREE shows this weekend - the dates/times/locations can be found on the right hand side of the page. I've done nothing but crochet for the last two weeks trying to prepare. So far, I'm impressed with how much product I've been able to come up with but I still wish I could teach my hubby to crochet. Make it a family affair right? Ahhhh, In a perfect world.......

I'm super excited about the show at the French American School on Friday and Saturday. They've promised wine tasting, pastries, and performances - all with a French flair so it should prove to be a fabulous time.

One more weekend to go and then I can get started on my marathon baking session....woohoo!!!