Friday, July 29, 2011

Project Project Runway: Let the games begin

We will be following Project Runway again this year!

So 'hold on to your hats'
hats off: gown
because it is going to be GREAT!

Do you want to join us?
Come on over to Just Crafty Enough and read all about it.
You can do your own, or just follow along with us. Either way, it's going to be a good time.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Button Projects!

This week's Iron Craft Challenge featured Button projects.
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I did three!
Go and see them all at our new site!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The Models are Hired!

Project Runway starts in 9 days!
And here, the preparations are in full swing!
The Models have been hired!
The full story will be coming soon.
The line-up
We are working on a BIG surprise ...hold on to your hats.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The "Reentry": Minneapolis

We left the shores of Pelican Lake, and headed for Minneapolis.
We have friends and family in "The Cities" so it is always a busy, fun time when we visit.
First, we went to the Edina Aquatic Center. This place is AMAZING.
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There is a huge kiddie area where we spent hours.
And Grandma Bunnie was enjoying the shade, and giving out hugs.
Bunnie and her girls

The next day we hung out with Kathy and Matt.
They visit the Kingfield Farmer's market all summer, and blog about what they find, and how they use it through the week. I love reading all their ideas, and seeing their menus. So it was such a treat to see the market live and in person with them.
As an extra treat, Kathy let us know there was going to be a puppet show in the morning. So we got the lead out, and met them in time to see the show.
Now, let me say, we have a little Farmer's Market here, and they have little musical acts that Jambi loves, so we thought this would be a good fit from the beginning.
We were unprepared for what we saw. It was off-the-charts spectacular.
I was sitting off to the side, so my pictures do not do it justice.
This was a full scale "production". There were two puppeteers and an accompanist.
puppet theater (and accompaniment)
Jambi sat for some of it, but mostly she stood in rapt attention.
she loves the show
She oooed and aaaahed, and pointed things out to make sure everyone appreciated the finer points.
Jambi (and Pooh) enjoying the show
The show was original material, "The Amazing Cow-Boat Adventures!" The puppets and Marionettes were all hand made, and well loved. They sang their way through a whole repertoire of songs and scene changes. The show lasted a full 30 minutes!
cow-boat theater
Jambi is still singing the songs from the show. (and it took me 2 days to figure out what song she was singing. ! "powder-co, powder-co" = "Part Cow, Part Boat, Part imagination!")
The Kingfield farmer's market itself is just charming. There is a perfect mix of different booths; hand died yarn, artisanal breads, and really interesting cooked food, (including these ladies at The Chef Shack.) And, of course, there is beautiful produce, just as you would expect.
One of the highlights of the whole thing was me, on a bike, pedaling to blend my own smoothie!
blending my own smoothie!
Can I just say, they put frozen strawberries in there! And it was a hot day!
We are thinking of getting this pedal blender for our home. It would clearly do some good! Now, where to put it...?

Monday, July 11, 2011

Summer Vacation in Review Part II

We took a trip "off the ranch" and went to the quilt store
A field trip to Back Porch Quilts
We all got fabric for our "next project". (And now I am busy plotting and planning. You will certainly see what I got, and where I am going with it in the future.)

Grandma Bunnie made matching dresses - and shoes - for the girls!!
The ladies in their frocks
Crazy cute.
skipping in the water
New fishie dresses
She admired the Pelican
Admiring the Pelican
And got Daddy to buy us Ice Cream
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She lined up for the parade
parade line-up

And then marched!
marching

And fell in love with two hats
Two hats

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And radiated general cuteness.
new dress

We all had a dog'gone good time!
The little dog

I hope you all have had a fun filled first half of summer!! Lot's of heat, and fruit, and ice cream cones, and pretty dresses, and sparkly hats, and loved ones all around!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Summer Vacation in Review

After Camp, we went to Minneapolis, then we headed North again, in a caravan of 4 cars. It was the annual pilgrimage to Fair Hills.
3 meals-a-day, ice cream socials, sail boats at the ready, water equipment, a pool, a hot tub, kids activities, The Lake, and the whole family together. What is not to like?
happy swimmer girl
We hit the pool, and the kayaks right away the first day.
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An old fashion Bingo game
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We started with ridiculous weather
foggy
but that left us time for dancing, and costumes
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"family"
We visited our excellent flea market, and Drive scored some old plates
old plates and signs
Three generations took rides on the waterslide!
Three generations:The Waterslide
And Mom, the skipper, took us sailing
Sailing
I'll space out the fun.

Part II tomorrow

the art of recycled art

The Iron Craft Work room:
I have in mind my project for this week's Iron Craft Challenge. But I cannot find the ‘trash’ to do it with.
I am now hording trash – and making my husband a little crazy.
I need one certain kind of plastic. (plastic # 6) and in San Francisco – there are NO places that are trafficking in the #6. !!!
Think “salad bar clam shell”. Well not here! It is all recycled brown paper folding boxes, a la Whole Foods.

Do I really have to shredding Target bags and knit a ‘shopping bag’ out of shopping bags?
Heaven only knows I have a stash of those!!!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Minneapolis Charm

Between camp and Fair Hills I had the pleasure of staying with Kat.
This woman is a crafter, a foodie, a food blogger, eats mostly local, and is well known at the farmer's markets and the local restaurants. It is always such fun to stay with her and get a window into her world.
Frozen treats
(Here are strawberries, frozen for later treats)

One day during our visit, I wanted some ice cream, or a little treat of some sort, but we didn't really want to get in the car.
We walked to a place called Wise Acre. It is a converted Garage, and the doors roll up.
Wise Acres
Until recently it was a custard place.
Now it is a 'local' food place.
tall grasses.

And it is run by the same people that own Tangle Town Gardens, Wall garden, Wise Acresacross the street. The containers and planted wall are amazing.
Wise Acres playing
This place was charming. And the fact that it is walking distance to Kat, and 'local' food, and beautifully done...it had everything going for it.
It was exactly the kind of charming afternoon that makes Minneapolis irresistible in the Summer-time.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

At the Lake

This is the picture that will be on the fridge for the next 100 years or so.

I think the faces say it all.