I Need a Vacation from My Vacation

Pete and I are back home again after a week in Seattle helping our daughter and her partner renovate their new condo.  We spent a week working all day, every day, often into the night -- painting, tiling, going to the dump, shopping at Home Depot, painting some more.  We weren't able to do it all -- they are working on the flooring this weekend -- but we made a big dent in it.  It was fun, but exhausting.  We aren't as young as we used to be.

The Sagres on the right, the Kalmer Nyckle center, taken from the deck of the Hermione

Seattle was hot and sunny -- we could see Mount Ranier every day.  We took one day trip down to Olympia to have lunch with Pete's oldest brother and went to a berry farm and a place that smokes salmon.  We walked Lucy, Clara and Josh's rescue dog, ate in a few really great restaurants, and did I mention that we painted . . .  a lot?

We got home at 1:30 last Thursday morning, slept a little bit, then prepared for house guests for the 4th of July weekend, which was also the weekend the Tall Ships came to our little village of Greenport.  There were six in all: the Kalmer Nyckle, the Sagres, the Lynx, the Picton Castle, the A.J. Meerwald, and the Hermione, a replica of Lafayette's ship.  It was a pretty spectacular site, these six ships in our harbor.  The village closed off the streets.  There was music and food and fireworks for four days straight.  Pete and I were still struggling with jet lag, but pushed our way through it.

Lafayette checking his cell phone

The guests and the boats left Monday and on Tuesday I led open hooking at the Farmhouse Quilt Company.  Are you surprised that I fell asleep in a chair when I arrived home?  Luckily, we had lots of left overs and I didn't have to cook.

The Hermione

We are getting back to our normal routine now.  I am hoping for a weekend full of sun and swimming.

Guess Where I Am . . .

27 Years Ago Today . . .

. . . my beautiful daughter arrived!

Happy Birthday, Clara Jane!

Southold Rug Show

My friend Marilyn Bottjer is having a rug show this month, opening tonight.  Please come if you can.

Country Lane, Cutchogue

A Hooked rug exhibit featuring works

By fiber artist Marilyn Bottjer

Cosden-price gallery in the reichert family center

Southold Historical society

54127 Main Road, Southold, NY

June 13 – June 27, 2015

Thursday-Saturday, 1-4pm.

Opening reception Friday, June 12, 2015

5:30 – 7 pm

Phew!

I'm back from the whirlwind of the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck.  I've spent the last couple of days cleaning out the car and cleaning up my studio, which looked like a hurricane hit it.  Of course, it was so busy, I didn't take any photographs!  Go to Instagram and use the hashtag #clfair and you will get a good idea of the abundance available this past weekend.  Architectural antiques and collectibles were plentiful.  

Our crowded booth on Saturday

My favorite shops were the ones that sold buttons -- Grandmother's Buttons and The Button Shop.  I also liked the mid-century modern silhouettes of Wendy Schultz Wubbels -- she's completely changed her subject matter from traditional silhouettes to Eames chairs and more.  They were really stunning.  I also loved all the topiaries people were selling -- myrtle and rosemary and something called honeysuckle boxwood -- light green and feathery -- that I had never seen before.  

The best part of the weekend was seeing old friends and customers -- lots of rug hookers came by -- and meeting Instagram and blogger friends. ( Hello to Marilu at 518Frenchgirl!  Marilu just recently started blogging about rug hooking, so you should go visit her.) 

The show is remarkably well-run by Stella Show Management.  They had bag checks in couple of places, lots of food available, and even had a moving and shipping company available for furniture and large items.  There were even vendor stalls in the restrooms so we didn't have to wait in line!  Stella has been doing fairs for a long time and it shows.

I'm already thinking about next year.  Although a very expensive show to do, I think it has a lot of potential.  We'll see how it goes  . . . .

Heading to the Country . . . . the Country Living Fair!

Barb and I have been working our fingers to the bone getting ready for a really big show -- the Country Living Magazine Fair in Rhinebeck, NY.   We head out tomorrow morning so we will be ready to open at 8:30 AM on Friday morning.  We are in Building 31, Booth 12.  Stop and see us -- we have lots of new stuff for you!

I won't be able to answer the phone or emails until next week.  I'm also closing my easy shop for the duration.  Sorry!  But I will be back on track soon.

Class is Cancelled Tomorrow!

We have to postpone the Bee Happy Needle Punch class scheduled for tomorrow at the Farmhouse Quilt Company.  It will take place next Tuesday, May 26, 10 to 3.  Sorry for the delay!  Call Janet at 631-236-6030 to reserve a spot.