Window of Inspiration

I know I have brought your attention to this beautiful shop before and Dahlia has so many lovelies, but today my eye was caught by this locket.

What I love about this locket is that you can make it your own.  The peacock feather is only one of a million examples of what you could treasure in this little window. 

It made me start thinking of what little treasures I would place in it.  I think I would make it my inspiration window.  Maybe one day it would contain a scrap of my favorite yarn waiting for a project.  Another day it could be a magazine clipping to stimulate my creative juices.  Yet another day it might contain a drop from my precious perfume bottle that was my Grandma's scent to inspire me to be the same caliber of woman she was.

My window is full of possibility...

San Juan Dreams

I have wanted to go to the San Juan Islands ever since my little sis went there in high school with her choir group (remind me again why I dropped out of choir).  She came back with some of the most beautiful pictures of gardens she visited and I was in love.  Head over heals in love with the vibrant colors and the promise of being surrounded by the ocean.

We will not speak of how many years it has been since high school, but it has been more than a few and I have never made it there.  Not once.  That is about to change.  Mark and I have decided that we are going to take a week off of work this summer and take a camping trip there, splitting up our time across the three main islands.  I can not tell you how unbelievably stoked I am!  Cozy campfires, sea kayaking, orca watching, and the smell of the sea for a whole week all await me!

I know, you are probably thinking it is a bit early to be planning out summer vacation.  For goodness sake it just snowed here this morning, but I am a planner.  There, I said it.  I am a planner to the 10th degree.  Mark rarely complains, though he does not understand why I am already trying to decide which campgrounds should be graced with our presence in July. Let's face it though, he only benefits from my incessant need to plan.  I can still be spontaneous (yes, really), but I find comfort in having a framework and knowing that I can take a shower. 

Weekend of Creations

This was a weekend of creating.  On Saturday I participated in painting class at Grande Ronde Cellars in Spokane that was put on by Painting With Spirits.  I had a great time and met some intersting people.  Many of them had taken a class with Painting With Spirits before and plan on doing it again.  I may be among them soon.  I do not necessarily consider myself a painted, but I have played around with watercolors here and there.  This was my first time painting with acrylics (well, on a canvas anyway) and I really enjoyed it.  This is what I came home with (and yes, that is my nearly empty wine glass next to it) and it gets me itching to do more.

I have also tried my hand at felting soap thanks to this great tutorial.  I practiced on Irish Spring soap (the green and white for an extra wink to St. Patty's Day) and Dove (the purplish brown and yellowish brown).  I am pretty happy with the results and already have some handmade soap (what can I say, I am an arts and crafts addict) setting up to make some more.  What do you think?  Etsy worthy? 

Folly of Multitasking

Note to self: do not attempt to make a grilled cheese sandwich and spin at the same time.  Something is going to suffer. 

R.I.P. Grilled Cheese.

At least it wasn't the spinning.

Painting with Spirits

Care to join me? I just signed up for this local event and can't wait for Saturday now.

Naked Needles Need Not Apply

Apparently as soon as I cast off a project, I can't help but start three more.  I am using my purchase of a new set of needles as my excuse.  My grandfather gave the time honored gift of cash for Christmas and my birthday this year, so I put it to good use and purchased the KA Switch Exchangable bamboo needles (and yes I got the dragonfly case).  I am in love and had to immediately find a project for them. 

First though, let's take a look at what I cast off in the last week or so....

Pattern: Smokey Quartz Lace Shawl

Yarn: Kollage Corntastic in Zircon

Pattern: Rose Red

Yarn: Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Worsted in Blue Pine

Pattern: Sew Q's Lacey Scarf

Yarn: theurchiness Handspun in Maroon Merchant

Replacing these projects are...

Pattern: Simple Mistake Rib Vest

Yarn: Queensland Collection Rustic Wool DK in 204

I am returning to my work on my Queen of Hearts mittens.

I have cast on a secret project for a swap partner. 

I have begun work on my first design (eek!) for a Fair Isle hat.  When I get a bit further I will give you a sneak peak, but I can tell you it is chocolate brown, purple, and green and includes dragonflys.  Best of all, I am making it out of 100% baby alpaca by Misti Alpaca.

Until then I leave you with this question.  Is it wrong to have popcorn for dinner, because it felt so right last night.

...the handiman's new air popper...

Beacon Hill

Mark reminded me today of how much I enjoy hiking Beacon Hill.  No, really I do.  Do not let the huffing and puffing from climbing fool you, nor be deceived by my girlish shrieks from sliding in the mud.  I really do love it. 

First, I love it because it has great views.

Second, you are more or less engulfed in a mini-forest in the middle of town.  This does my heart and soul good on many levels.

Lastly, and maybe the most important, it whips my winter laden booty into shape.  Today Mark and I took Justin and Kerri with us.  It was fun to see Charlie play with his "cousin" Porter.  I swear those dogs ran three times as much distance as the four of us walked.  It was also nice to have a fellow huffer and puffer along with me for a change (not naming any names).  I should patent this the Beacon Booty workout!