A new year ...

I am looking forward to another year with even more exciting creativity. Last year was a first with my newly opened shop in Dec 2006 and has kept me pretty busy. I had sold my work locally at shops and galleries but my shop on Etsy was all my own. I really do love it. Lets hope the next year is just as exciting!

My bird cake toppers are featured on Etsy Finds today too! Wow!



I did manage to get most of "presents" made for my youngest daughter to some degree. Its difficult to live up to expectations but one can only do what one can. "Rosie" is our new addition to my daughters favorite baby dolls. She is pretty much Annie Ootie's twin with a few minor exceptions. They do look cute together. I sewed two matching hats but never had time to finish mittens and booties on Christmas eve.



My little fairy house and acorn cap fairies (dolls actually) was an improvised affair. I was planning on a house made of either tree bark or log rounds but with all the snow I figured finding materials would be difficult. So I made a house from an old felted brown sweater. I only managed to make 3 little dolls and no furniture and I will have to leave my dreams of decorating the fairy house to a free morning. I want to add felt flowers and vines along the walls and roof.

I love days like this!

We woke up to a nice cool summer morning with a crisp cool blue sky. These really are my favorite days -- a little fall like but still summer!

The state bee inspector visited today and looked at our three hives. They all seem to be doing strong with few mites. One of the hives must have swarmed a few weeks ago though. The inspector is really nice and I am glad that I had a chance to meet him since he sometimes visits when we are away from home. I love the smell of the bee smoker as he puffs in the smoke to subdue them a bit. He did get stung a few times though!

We spent the weekend in Ogunquit Maine and enjoyed a visit to the beach. Saturday evening we took the kids to "The King and I" at the Ogunquit Playhouse. It was a late night and our youngest was having a little difficulty before intermission. She perked up after that though! The next day we went to see "Fairy Houses" at the same playhouse. The author Tracy Kane of "Fairy Houses" was there signing her books. Our family has been making fairy houses since my oldest was about three -- nearly 10 years now so we were so excited. I used to take grape vines to make a little house and the kids would pick flowers and decorate the house! This play "Fairy Houses" was put on by children. Afterwards we explored the woods and fairy houses made in the forest out of natural materials. We spent about an hour and made a few of our own too.

Here are the fairy houses that other groups had placed in the forest...


The fairy house forest tour provided some sea shells, bird seed, hay and pine cones to make our own fairy houses. This is what we came up with using those supplies as well as those we found in the forest.



That afternoon after a yummy lunch outside we went to the beach for a swim. Along the path to the beach we admired these flowers and butterflies.