crafty shtuff: bringing back the elbow patch

Awhile ago I was perusing blogs and came across this freakin' awesome tutorial on Honestly... WTF.  I've always loved the aesthetic of an old coat or sweater with elbow patches and here that trend has come back in a demure lady like way.  Of course I had to try it! 

The beautiful DIY inspiration from Honestly... WTF.

Here is my attempt....

Hearts like WTF?!

Or stars?!

I decided on the hearts since the premiere wearing of my creation was the 4th o' July and stars seemed too much.  I have another sweater in mind for the stars! ;)

Stab, stab, poke... felting is a good stress reliever!

Until you stab yourself! ha...

Thank goodness for my latest impulse buy, Cynthia Rowley Band-Aids!
I can keep felting in style... 

Starting to look sweet!

Doris thinks it is for her.

Ta-Da...Fin!

island life: farms

I grew up a city girl, small city, but a city none the less. Farming was for people in the Midwest with overalls and plaid, right?!  Yes, very naive.  Then I moved to bigger cities, Seattle & Phoenix, even more removed from the idea of any kind of farming.  Then there came this urban farming movement.  I finally escaped PHX for SJI and moved into a small beginning of a homestead.  We had chickens, a large garden, we bought what we did not produce from local producers/farmers. This is an awesome lifestyle, I don't want to go back!  I started asking questions, getting books from the library, wanting to be a farmer.  I've learned about chickens, I have friends whom I am going to make cheese with, I live for the Saturday farmers market!!  Who is this girl?!  Me, full of new amazing knowledge and very happy.  

I do still long for London & shoe schooling.  I have tracked down the local markets but will have to become an urbanite who shops at Marks & Spencer every night for individual meals to sustain me. 

So... Claire, Suzanne, & I went to two local farms yesterday.  Not your typical farms.  Alpaca's & Lavender farms right here on SJI.  Here are the pics of our sunshiny day off adventures!

Suzanne & I at Krystal Acres alpaca farm.

One hot stud with a pompadour after being clipped! So cool!

Mama's n' their babes! awwww....

I have awesome furry ears!!

Alpaca fur creations at their cutest! 

Award winning Alpaca's!!! 

It's SOOOOO fluffy!!!! I'm gonna die!!!

Pelindaba Lavender farm.

Lavender is of course harvested by purple tonka trucks....

Suzanne wants an aromatherapy Orca. 

Pets love lavender too, apparently. 

Lavender everything.... You name it, it was most likely here!

you're my obsession: noodle bowl monday

Ever long for something you can't have?!  I've been introduced to Noodle Bowl Monday only in time for it to disappear for the summer!  Ughhh.  Friday Harbors delectable Backdoor Kitchen has given me my latest obsession and take ith away.  During the "off-season" BK brings in extra local business by opening for lunch on Monday's with the infamous "Noodle Bowl Monday".  It is a flavorful Asian rice noodle bowl with your choice of "protein" on top.  I am now on hold with panicked longing for this meal till October.  

Le Sigh....

My 1st noodle bowl, beef.

2nd noodle bowl, tofu.

Claire loves it too!

Coconut cream pie for desert!

Amber & Dan are groupies as well.

 Bk gets its name from the outta the way location.  It is on the backside of nursery/landscaping warehouse.  Which I think makes it even more magical once you do find it.  Sunset magazine has even found them.  Another reason why I love their mag, they've got amazing taste.

Look for the sign next to the gravel parking at the big green building. 

Keep going to the right of the green building!

Follow the pavers to the Backdoor Kitchen!

fabulously festive fourth! part deux

How ever did I forget the about the fireworks?!  Not on my TV anymore!  This year we were blessed with the best vantage point ever.  Our friend Sophie lives in a home with a dock in Roche Harbor. The owners of this home were visiting on their yacht at the end of said dock.  They brought their own amazing fireworks for pre & post show sparkle.  Once the big display jumped to life the owners of the boat said "everybody to the other side of the boat!" so on the boat we went with an unobstructed view of Roche Harbors $11,000(the estimate I heard) extravaganza!  It never ceases to amaze me how nice people are up here!

Pre-show sparkle from the otherside of Posey Island as the sun disapears finally at 10:30pm.

Some firework packaging from our dock. Rawrrr!

Boom! 

Aaahhhh!

I love how it reflects in the water!

Ooohhhhh!

Streaming into the water like a shooting star.

sshhhhhhh..... silent sundays: mum (since it was her b-day week!)

fabulously festive fourth!

When I lived in Phoenix the 4th was not too exciting.  We would through stuff on the BBQ and run back inside to the air conditioning.  We never were up to enduring the heat to watch fireworks outside so we sat around the TV.... boring!

Living on San Juan Island is the opposite.  I LOVE the 4th of July here.  There are events all day long, the whole of Roche Harbor is decked out, and everyone is dressed to kill in red, white, & blue!  

This is the festivities schedule!

Wearing my jubilant kicks, lookin' for fun!

Hotel De Haro in full patriotic garb!

Glamorous homes decked out as well!

Roche Harbor is so wonderfully nostalgic.

Independence pups.

Cutest pirate on the island! Arrggghhh! 

Hebrew hot dog at the Harbor. Mmmmm.

UW Husky Marching Band. H-U-S-K-Y! 

Blind-folded dingy race, was utter chaos! but very funny!

The crowds are ready for the log rolling competition!

Legal libations on the docks while watching the contests. 

1st up... 12 and under rollers. They were too cute.

Then everyone else tried to hang on for the win.

 Hope your 4th was a blast too!  If you ever get the chance to enjoy it up here.... DO IT!