Finch's Holiday Boutique

Last year I participated in Finch's Holiday Boutique .  Only one lonely towel made it's way back home and the rest of the proceeds went towards a pair of Frye boots for me.  It was so much fun that I was inspired to clean even out more of my stash. In the late winter weather I whipped up hats and hand towels out of spare bits of yarn and thread and saved them for my favorite boutique event.  This year I will be selling...

Hand towels-some old and some new.

Mint green cowls and hats.

 Hats with bows.

 Catnip Mice.

And cups from my most recent pottery hobby.  I'm super excited to check out the fun local craftiness this year.  I even bought 2 tickets to the exclusive Friday night Rigby's sneak peek!

A new Rug

Check out my awesome new rug!! I picked it up at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota annual Holiday sale.  Box Spring has already declared it a favorite hot spot. 

A Change of Direction

A gift arrived for me last week.  Something to remind me that change can be good.  Seems like a lot of "arrows" have changed my direction this year.

From top to bottom.  Arrow ring from Odette; "Choose your own Path" print from Small Talk Studio via Finch's Holiday Boutique; Antique Navajo cuff from The Rainbow Man that I picked up on my recent trip to Santa Fe.

Off the Loom

I finally got this warp off the loom.  Woven, cut, hemmed and washed.  I'm especially loving the hot pink squares.  

Pumpkin

Don't you love it when your pumpkin matches your sweater?

Empty Bowls

Last Friday Emily and I took a rather long lunch and ventured to Powderhorn Park for Empty Bowls, which is an organization that strives to  create art, provide sustenance and promote the common good.  Many of my instructors serve on the board of directors and work hard to run such a massive grassroots event.  And I have to say; it definitely exceeded my expectations.

 The rec center at the park has become a very familiar place to me.  A place where friendly faces gather to create and learn. On this particular day, upon arrival, we were greeted with home baked bread. 

So here's the deal... there are bowls... a lot of bowls.  First, you have to pick your bowl.

I loved this pretty carved white one.

But I went with this one instead.   Then you pay and get your soup and bread.

 The gymnasium was packed.  We sat, gathered and chatted.  After a refreshing bike ride, it was just what we needed. 

 Doesn't Emily look happy?

Afterwards they wash and wrap your bowl up for you.  Then we headed to the raffle area to place our bids.  I have my fingers crossed for the little mugs in the front.  Emily's got her eye on a mustardy yellow sauerkraut crock.  

Bowls for My Boys

 My mom would constantly complain that I fed my boys out of the same bowls that I use daily.  She would exclaim, "What would your friends think if you gave them soup out of this bowl and they looked down and saw the exact same bowl with cat food in it on the floor!"  I have no idea; no one has ever  complained about that, and it wasn't as though I don't wash my dishes.  Nevertheless,  I decided to remedy the situation once and for all.  

Of course after seeing my new cat dishes, my mom exclaimed, "Oh those are too pretty for your boys.  Can I have them?"  "No", I argued, "besides they already have cat food in them, you wouldn't want them."  Turns out she's not so picky after all.  

 I was stoked to see these cat bowls being unloaded from the kiln.  The glazing is always the pivotal moment between loving and hating something.  So many times have I been disappointed by a beautiful piece with a terrible glaze.  

Muffin, in particular, likes his new dish.  Here, he is reminding me to feed him, by putting his catnip mouse into his bowl, which is definitely one of his top 3 insanely cute moments!

They both spend a lot of time looking at their new bowls and telling me how much they love them....especially in the morning.... 

when they are desperately hungry.

Pizza Farm

Enjoying Fall can be difficult when the weather won't behave.  But on one of those rare Fall days when the sun is shining and you crave the outdoors, a pizza farm is the place to be.  Good friends a bottle of wine, or two, and some knitting is exactly what you need to bring to Love Tree Pizza Farm.  They provide the wood fired pizza and you bring everything else, literally.  Spend the day basking in the crisp sunny day waiting for your name to be called and deliciousness served.