Oh No! I need a hostess gift!

I thought you'd like a quick idea for the traditional gifted bottle of champagne or cider. This is a nice change from the festive printed gift bag. A "no sew" project, allowing all the items used to be repurposed.

Wine/Cider
Bags

Take a tea towel (of your choice). Fold it in thirds with the wrong side out.

Bind the end with cording, narrow ribbon, or a rubber band.

Get the cord as close to one end as possible without it slipping off. I wrap the cording a couple of times to secure it. Make a small bow with the loose ends.

Invert the towel. Set your bottle inside the pouch. Stand the covered bottle up and secure it with a bow or band. Embellish it with an ornament, antique broach, french lace doily, etc., preferably in items that would appeal to the hostess. The top of the towel can be left up or rolled down to form a collar.







May you be surrounded by those you love this New Years Eve!
Happy 2009!

She's making a list and checking it twice.

It's the last weekend before Christmas. The last weekend for scratching off the remaining names from your Christmas list. There's just one problem..

SNOW!

IN OUR BACKYARD!

SNOW! EVERYWHERE!

Poor St. Francis only has snow to offer. Don't fret, little critters we've filled the feeders to the brim and added a few apples for an extra sweet treat.

I had gotten so far behind on all Christmas Festivities, the thought of where to begin was overwhelming, so I didn't. Until... my hubby said "did you know there's a snow storm heading our way by Wednesday?" It was late Monday night, when this news flash blind sided me. I replied (casually). "How long is it going to last?" He gave me a long sigh with a soft even longer moan. Then utters, "probably through Christmas possibly New Years!" Me, now in a panic state exclaimed "that means I have Tuesday to get A-L-L my shopping done! ONE DAY-ALL MY SHOPPING -DONE!?@#!$?!
Well, that was the motivation I needed to spring into action. So, with the pedal to the metal I headed to our friendly neighborhood one stop shop. I got the Christmas and groceries covered, plus on the way home I took a drive through Starbucks for an eggnog latte and a gift card too. I surprisingly managed to stay in the holiday spirit, due in part to the many festive ensembles adorning so many shoppers. The Christmas sweater with 3D embellishments and the matching flashing Xmas lightbulb necklace. The holiday cheer that will humble almost any Baa Humbugger. There were a few Scroogies that weren't about to be swayed with glitter and sequins who were obviously heading for a snowman in July meltdown. Something like this....





It's still snowing, but my shopping is done. Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus.

Pretty in pink. This year I staged my table with floral (opened) suitcases. It reminded me of the trunk shows I've attended. Lots of pink, glitter, chiffon, and vintage tags. My hubby did manage to squeeze in a spot for his garden cottage stones. I didn't get a picture before he sold out. I was happy for him. He worked in the summers heat creating each garden stone.

My Patisserie
I've got a detailed pic next.

Here's a closer look at my latest inspiration...sweet rolls, calorie free! Created from a tea towel. The consensus was most customers were going to keep them as faux pastry, rather then unfurling their rolls to use the towels. They're very easy to assemble. If you have any interest in making them, let me know.

These are the vendors seated directly behind us. They sold unique glass and wire wind chimes. My neighbor has a tree filled with these chimes. They glisten in the sunshine and perform together when a breeze moves them. It sounds like a choir singing.



It's a family production... daughter makes the wind chimes. Mom makes jewelry. Pop sets it up and breaks it down at the end of the day.
That's me (in the background) peeking over to chat. You wouldn't believe the comedy of errors that go on behind the scene. For example... I set up my inventory on tall baskets to utilize the space, but when we sat down we couldn't see over the display. We were two Jack in the Boxes popping up and down . Oh well, great aerobics.


This is my sweet friend Vivian, lovingly nicknamed (by all her customers) the "bag lady". We met after I purchased my first (of many) bags from her. I encouraged her to participate in the local holiday shows.
Years later she's still gaining popularity. She has a gift for sewing. The quality and workmanship she puts into each design is amazing.

Table runners are her latest addition. At $5.00 each, Yup, you read it right. I purchased several for Christmas Gifts. I'd show them to you, but I'm afraid the friends and family they're intended for would see their Christmas gifts prematurely. No peeking until the 25th.

I've participated in this venue for many years. Ive seen several artisans come and go. This year welcomed a new talent.

Her paintings are filled with vibrant colors. Each design had a touch of fanciful whimsy.

To my surprise, this is the young artist behind all the colorful pictures ...Madison.

Her mom expressed, this is a new venture.

The dedication to her painting passion is revealed through her paintbrush. The money she earned from the show, would go to future art lessons. Money well spent. Wouldn't you agree?

Selling her greeting cards at $1.75 was an affordable draw to the shopping crowd.

Meeting Miss Madison and her mom was a delight. This young talent has started on what I know to be to be a rewarding journey. By the looks of it she's off to a wonderful start.

LET THEM EAT CAKE....

Or should I say, cup cake

I've got a new line of cup cake
and ice cream cone clippies

They're listed at my Boutique. Click on the link at the top of the page.

You'll find some additional sweet confections there too.

Happy Thanksgiving

I'll be spending the holiday with my visiting family. We'll be dining at the Washington Quay, overlooking the Columbia River, for Thanksgiving. Yea! No cooking, and especially no cleaning the turkey carcass aftermath. It'll be a nice change not trying to clean up in a Tryptophan haze.

I'm participating in a holiday show on Saturday. The event will feature over 200 local artisans. It's always difficult to keep from spending my profit at the show. I'll be back on Monday with pictures to share.

It's been a fantastic ride!

I appreciate your patience in waiting for the reveal of winners. It allowed me the time to gather and invite all the girlfriends over to enter my Parisian Give Away. So lets proceed with the drawing of two winners.

Paw picked by my beautiful assistant Angel.

I present the box with the eligible candidates.

Angel reaches in for the winners

My kitty is Content with her selections, now hands me the names to make the announcement. The winner to receive the Girlfriend (eco tote) with all 25 sweet surprises, is.........A Bite of Country Cupcakes !
The winner receiving the Eiffel tower lamp is.........Decor To Adore!
Girls, email me your addresses so I can get your winnings into the mail.

That brings us to the honorary winners. Hmmmm, what? I've had a few visiting BLOGGERS that have given me the privilege of placing my blog (link) unconditionally on their blog rolls. This gracious act has touched me deeply. I would like to send you a Girlfriend Eco Tote. You sweet girls know who you are, so please contact me too with your info, so I can send you this gift of my appreciation.
Thanks to everyone for your participation in my first Give Away. I promise this is only the beginning of future sweet surprises.



I thought you'd like to see what happened after the photo shoot. Once my kitty came down from the catnip high.

Angel managed to untie her bow, depositing her royal attire on the backyard lawn, faster than you could say Houdini, walking regally back into the house with her royal attitude still intact.

I've listed the Girlfriends Eco Tote in my Boutique. You can find the link in the top right column.

Paper and plastic bags will soon be obsolete in our local stores. Have you've notice most grocers are selling canvas bags? I would like to support these efforts. I've been given an opportunity to provide (from Europe) an eco friendly shopping bag alternative. The price point is between $25-$35USD. Please watch this video and leave your opinions and comments. I need your feedback to see if there's enough interest to pursue this venture.

Sand and Surf

A few weeks ago my hubby said, "Hey, I've got some vacation time I need to use up. How'd you like to go to the beach?"

Well, after I regained consciousness, I jumped into action. Cat sitter, check. Light timers, check. Neighbor on recycling-garbage detail, check. Several suitcases packed later we were on a road trip to our favorite beach in Lincoln City, Oregon. We stayed at the Moon Breaker, a house that has been my heart breaker since it's always booked. Somehow a cancellation entitled us the honor of staying at this beachfront home. YAHOO! This was our first stop....

Factory Outlet Mall

Where a girl's wish list is granted

Okay, I'll admit it. I was a little preoccupied with the shopping, and I forgot to take pictures. No worries; I'll take some as we drive away.... Not as easy as I thought. At least I photographed the most important one.




Isn't it amazing what feats a gal will go through to get a shot for her blog. This was taken at 20mph balancing (in a not so glamorous position), from the front seat, out the back passenger window. My camera doesn't have a S.W.A.T. telescopic zoom lens, so I couldn't get pics of the clothing racks. That's a bit too ambitious for this newbie. We did make time to tour the floral scapes. Spectacular!! Something this Brown thumb can greatly appreciate. To say they were huge is quite an understatement. They're kept like this year round! Which I'm sure is a challenge. Take a look.





The Tillamook Cheese Factory gift shop is very unassuming from the outside, not even a name graces its storefront. But step through its doors and wow! SOOOO much, SOOO fun, fabulous shopping! In the words of my hubby, "I'm on shopping overload!"

I made some new girlfriends at the checkout counter:

Candace and Janace

When I approached these two girls for a picture they were so surprised. I explained it was for my blog. Which neither had ever heard of. After a bit of explaining, coaxing and giggles they turned toward each other for approval. Taking inventory of their hair and makeup, both (looking like they'd just return from the salon) agree to their first blog photo photo opp. "Girls if you go to the library to see this blog post, wouldn't you agree you look divine? Thanks for a fun time! I look forward to seeing you again."

Pat and Candace

Pat did a great job keeping her composure, while getting my packages wrapped up. Meanwhile Candace is terribly distracted by all the laughter and my directing. These girls were charming.

This shop is a must, even before the Tillamook ice cream. Yup, there's ice cream to top off the shopping! What more could a girl ask for? Here's a clip of our cheese tour and the ocean view from the master bedroom balcony.
(Please allow clip to load completely, and then scroll back to the beginning, for your viewing pleasure.)




Glass Blowing Bowls and Floaters
(This is the novice glass blower's second attempt at a bowl. Her first piece developed a hole about twenty-five minutes into in the process. She was moments from completing it and the whole thing was ruined and had to be destroyed. They shattered it right in front of us all! Fortunately the second one was stunning.)

After all that sightseeing it was time for Bubbles and Bubbly, while my hubby rearranged (or should I say, smashed, squeezed, and shoved) the shopping bags into the trunk space (a microscopic crevice) he had created, for the billionth time, just to do it all over again for the luggage when we left. He is the Master Packer! He's had a lot of practice being married to the Master Shopper.

Heading home, and feeling a little guilty for not taking pictures of the scenic drive to the coast, I decided the the solution would be to capture one of the Christmas tree farms, that line the landscape for miles, on my camera. Well, once again, not a good plan at 65 mph! Every pose seemed possible until I'd snap the shot. Then it was a whole lot of, Wow, where'd it go? Was that a tree or did a bug just crash into my lens? Does this camera come with a warped speed option?!?! This is what I caught...I'm not sure if these dwarfish shrubs species are in the Christmas tree family. It's more likely these are the makings for a tumbleweed farm. Remember, it's the thought that counts...Okay you can laugh now...Cause I did.

Though it is always a little sad when the vacation is almost over, there is one place sure to console us, a last stop to the Rockfish Bakery for blueberry coffee cake, pecan bars, brownies, chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies.

We ate the giant oatmeal raisin cookie in the car...You didn't think we were able to make the entire ride home resisting the tempting fumes of freshed baked goodies did ya?


The rest of these delights, with a cup of tea, lifted my spirits. I reflected back to the beach, on my favorite street, Road's End, in quaint Lincoln City, already planning our next getaway.

Now it's time to catch a train to Seattle for the Seattle Cash and Carry Home and Gifts Show. It won't be all work (if you can call a buying trip work). We'll get to spend time with my son and daughter-in-law, the newlyweds of one year. When I return I'll be announcing the TWO WINNERS of my Parisian Give Away.

This unique CLOSED sign was on a store window in Depoe Bay.

The only thing I'll be PILLAGING and and PLUNDERING will be my credit card!
See you soon,
Sara

Halloween Night

The eleventh hour

We had quite the Halloween haunt with pint sized witches, vampires and ninjas topping the evening off with a grand total of 130 treaters! The action usually begins around 5pm. So, we were a little nervous to find the streets and sidewalks were emmmpty at that time. Since there wasn't a ghost or witch in site, we decided to sit down for a quick dinner. You guessed it. The minute we sat down to eat, the doorbell rang, and so it began. The winner of best costume was a young gentleman dressed up as a magnet covered in baby chicks. He was so funny as he proudly announced his title The CHICK MAGNET. As I was passing out the goodie bags, an unexpected visitor appeared from the crowd, a chihuahua dressed up as a bumblebee. I squealed with delight. She was Bow-WOW Bootiful! I wish I could have gotten pictures of these treaters, but there was something eerie possessing our camera last night. Unexplainable phantoms kept appearing in our pictures. What's interesting is, as we prepared for the nights festivities the camera operated without a hitch. Then it became a ghostly turn of events. Take a look.

The castle and sweet treats are prepared.

Galactic Visitors

Miss Bee

I hope your Halloween night was just as
magical

Here's another hint for my fall tutorial.
A sugar (ice cream) cone.
Stay tuned.