Grands Wednesday!

From time to time, I share pictures and accomplishments of my grandchildren.  I have lots of pictures, but won't bore you, except to say that I will be posting about once a month on Wednesday, some of my favorite pictures of my grands!  Enjoy!

Today it is a couple of funny pictures of Kayleigh, our 16 yr old grand, an exchange student in Taiwan:

Faces in the Mirror!

Funny Glasses!

She's having a great time but I miss her!

Recent News

Recently, my granddaughter left the USA as an exchange student for her junior year of high school, and it threw me in sort of a funk!  Ever get that way, yourself? We all have.  Well, Kayleigh arrived safely and BTW, changed her FB page to say: "Resides Taipei, Taiwan; From Portland Oregon" Whew!  What a statement at 16!

So thru all this,  I have neglected my blog, and failed to show what I have been working on.  I haven't even shared my exciting news! A bit about that at the end of the post.

I have been working on my inventory for the holiday markets and craft bazaars! (Besides making aprons for my wholesale client, of course!)  Actually I did a post about my new product earlier, just didn't say that it was to be my holiday line.  The post was about how this idea came into being.  You might want to check-it-out here.

Anyway, here is a preview of my new line of Christmas stockings.  I don't know if I will sell it online this year, as they do take quite some time to make with all the handwork; I don't know if I will end up with enough inventory for both the holiday markets and my Etsy shop!  We will see.

So, presenting . . . . hand embroidered and machine quilted Christmas Stockings! In various color combinations!  Traditional Red & Green, currently popular Red and Teal, shabby chic Green and Pink, etc. With more color combinations to come!

Traditional colors

embroidery handiwork

buttons, Venice lace, and bead embellishments

And . . . these will be featured in a new venue (for me, that is).  I auditioned for a juried holiday marketplace back in July and just received notification that I am accepted!!  I have a reserved place in the New Hope Holiday Marketplace!  It is a huge two day affair in November and is highly attended.  My family and I have visited it nearly every year since I moved to the PNW.  I tried out a couple of years back, but only got on the alternate list.  Now I am confirmed, so overjoyed and, of course, busy!!

Tip of the day:  Be sure that you share your most unique product, when auditioning for shows! That was my downfall a few years ago, when I shared product that was too much like everyone else's!  Also, I presented myself , this time, as a textile artist, not just a crafter!  That helped!

What color combinations would you like to see?

Are you preparing for holiday shows?

How is your progress coming along?

Exchange Students

You may remember  in the 2011-2012 school year my eldest daughter, Jackie,  hosted  Katrine, an exchange student from Denmark. Katrine has since been back to the US with her parents for a visit.  We do miss seeing her more often and having her smiling happy self around. Here's the original post about her. and another post about graduation of these two.

GD Courtney, Daughter Jackie and Katrine at prom time

Well, another season of exchange students is about to begin in our family.  Now, our middle daughter, Elaine is sending her daughter, Kayleigh, off to Taiwan!  Kayleigh will be boarding a plane next week for a year in Taiwan!  This can't be!  She just graduated from middle school, didn't she?  Where has all the time gone?

Graduation day with G'Ma and G'Pa

Didn't she just start high school and adapt to what grandma thinks is the "funny clothing" scene?

Didn't I just take her to the orthodontist and wait while she got her braces off?  Didn't she just turn sweet sixteen and flash those shiny teeth for her picture?

We just went to her High school orchestra concerts, didn't we?  Watched her play first chair cello as a sophomore!

And listened to her practice!

And in May, I just said: "Didn't you just take Japanese in high school, now you have to learn Chinese?" That's a lotta change!

 And . . . and . . . the seasonal craft shows are coming up and . . .  Kayleigh is my greatest helper! ahhhh . . . What'll I do?  Scheeze . . . . It's getting to be a fuzzy memory already . . . .

Here's an other post   from last year about her helping me and about her anticipations of being an exchange student.

 What'll I do?  What shall I do?  I know . . . Kayleigh I will miss you! Your sarcastic humor, your crazy antics, all of it!  (Antics post.)  And what?  You cleaned out your bedroom?  For whom?  For a boy!!!??????  Oh yes, I remember, your mom is hosting a boy from India,  Well, I guess that is OK.  But I will still miss you!!!!!

Is this going to be my memory of your Junior year--your lovely face through Skype????/ Yikes!

Well, grandma will endure and look forward to all the news happening from Taiwan. You better write once in a while!  Oh, and Kayleigh, you can read my blog and see what I am up to!  Happy Junior Year!