Family Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

 

We took a fun family and friends trip last Sunday to a Airlie Hills Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch.

This was the patch of super large pumpkins.

We took the classic haybale tracter ride.

They had fun activities like the potato sack slide.

Max is sitting at the bottom of the hay bale pyramid that has a fast slide from the top to the bottom.

Big tricycles.

Max found his perfect pumpkin.

It was a good day except for the “Dark Maze”  that was a hay bale maze made in a green house and had dark plastic over the top so that it was very very dark and hot. The kids convinced me to go in with them after they had already been in by themselves earlier. I had a full on panic attack when it was completely dark and I couldn’t find our way out and then I banged my nose into Henry’s head. 2 days later and my nose is still sore. Luckily a kind older child sensed my panic -perhaps it was my shrill yelling- and led us out of that hell hole maze. Totally embarrassing…

Big Menorah Ornament

This time of year our sales for the “Menornament” start to pick up.

This morning we got a request from a customer to see if we could make one extra big to hang on a wall or over a door.

This was the biggest I could make it and not have it too flimsy.

 

For a size reference I had the kids hold it.

So what’s new in the shop you may ask…

With both kids in school all day for the first time ever and a little slow down in Etsy sales I had time to get a few ideas made into new products in our shop.

Hanging Vase -Clear Recycled Glass Pyramid Celtic Spirals - for flowers or rooting cuttings or just looking pretty

This is my new Celtic Embraced Heart design as an aluminum ornament.

 

 

As a brass pendant…

The Celtic Embraced Heart Copper Pendant

The Celtic Embraced Heart Sterling Silver Pendant

I had been wanting to make this Madonna Swirl design as an ornament and jewelry for a long time.

Big Madonna Swirl Aluminum Earrings

and Aluminum pendant

And now we have the dragonfly design in a brass pendant.

Dragonfly Copper Earrings

The Dragonfly Copper Pendant

Almost forgot the sterling silver Madonna Swirl Pendant

And the Celtic Knot Cross Copper Pendant - Celtic Knot Infinity Swirl

I also had time to take some new improved pictures of some of the things that just weren’t looking good enough like these:

Henry’s 3rd grade trip to the Newport Aquarium

Yesterday I went with Henry’s class and one other 3rd grade class on the big trip to the Newport Aquarium.We had lots of room on the bus.Henry and Ethan sat together.

Emmit was used as volunteer to show the features of the Oystercatcher bird.

They had fun goofing around in the tank that you get to crawl under and into.

More hijinx.

Goofy pictures of Henry's class

The day went well. I was able to be fully caffeinated thanks to the Aquarium coffee shop and the best part- I got to take a nap on the way back on the bus. Any day with a nap is a good day.

October Harvest

These are the fruits of my non labor. We have 2 different types of delicious seedless grapes that grow on my makeshift trellis’ without any help from me. No watering or pruning.

Blackberries are everywhere in Western Oregon. We have one particularly delicious wild variety that grows on my sad butterfly bush. This year the berries came on late. They were delicious today but all the heavy rain will probably make them moldy and yucky in a day or 2.

The property came with an old lovely King apple tree. It really could use some love and care. But with no help from me we get some great big apples.

 

The gratuitous cute kitty picture. Mrs.CuteKitty sleeping on our porch.

I added the copper version of this design to our shop today.

Celtic Knot Cross Copper Pendant - Celtic Knot Infinity Swirl

A miracle occurred…

Ever since we bought our house about 18 years ago my wonderful creative husband has been cleverly hoarding collecting large amounts of “useful” metal things. And many of those things have indeed been useful. But as our lives have changed and the brambles have grown I have been patiently awaiting the day he would get rid of some of the excess. Well yesterday that day came in shape of 2 industrious rednecks with a truck and large trailer in search of metal to take to the scrap yard. 

Those friendly yokels hit the mother lode. The scrap metal dudes later told me that when they first arrived Nick was only willing to part with 2 items. Then I got home from picking up the kids at school and as I realized what was occurring a huge smile came across my face. Nick then told them they could take whatever they wanted except for some select things.

 

They even brought their weedwacker and cleared large chunks of land. They are coming back again tomorrow for more.I love those guys!

And I love my husband.

New Tiny Little Shawl Pins for Lace Shawls

We’ve been getting lots of requests for more of our designs in the smaller gauge light weight wire in brass, copper and aluminum. These pins are perfect for fingering weight lacey knits.I’m hoping our wonderful customers will start sending us pictures of their special lace knit shawls with our pins being used.

The little one above is

Little Brass Shawl Pin or Brooch - Circle With a Twist

Little Celtic Shawl Pin or Brooch - Brass Celtic Double Swirls and Curls

I’ve included my stubby weathered hands in the photos to give a sense of scale. At least they were somewhat clean.

Little Copper Shawl Pin or Brooch - Celtic Tree

Little Sterling Silver Shawl Pin or Brooch - Celtic Infinity Loops

Little Brass Shawl Pin or Brooch - Celtic Infinity Loops

Little Celtic Shawl Pin or Brooch - Brass Double Crossed Loops

I plan to make lots more and add them to the shop as soon as I can. It’s really fun to play around with different scales of the same design. Not all of them lend themselves as well to the thinner gauge wire. If there’s a design of ours you would like as one of our “Littles” that I haven’t made yet just let me know.

On the personal note both our boys started school this week. This is the first time that they both are in school all day. Max is in 1st grade and Henry is in 3rd. It’s pretty weird to have such a long stretch of uninterrupted time. We plan to get lots of work done and even take a few much needed naps.