Waiting for winter to leave

We have actually had a brighter winter than most but I am so ready for it to be over. The week before last we got about 16 inches of snow spread over 2 days and then it rained and turned to ice on the driveway and in the parking lots. We had a pretty treacherous few days. Last night we got about 3 inches and now it is melting again. We noticed in the night a deer had discovered where James threw seeds for the birdies and some wheat for the pheasant. Given the choice, Mr Pheasant seemed to enjoy the more expensive spread.

Here's a picture of our friend Victoria wearing a fun hat I made to compliment her dreads, and here is Mr Pheasant himself.

 

All the flowers from my garden

The new year is galloping by already. I am taking a 12 week class at KES for people over 50 wanting to start their own business. I am hoping to put James and my art work on more of a business-like footing.
I'm also still looking at things to create other than birdhouses. I plan to experiment in jewelry but meantime here are some of the tea cozies I've been knitting. The body is knit on a round loom, and the flowers are crocheted. They are in acrylic and are hand washable: dry flat.

Dusty rose rose on avocado and pale green cozy. Fits 4 - 6 cup pot. $25.00 + shipping and handling. Teapot not included.

Royal blue w variegated blue tea cozy with daffodil. Fits 4 - 6 cup pot. $25.00 + shipping and handling. Teapot not included.

Teal blue w turquoise and a coral rose. Fits 4 - 6 cup pot. $25.00 + shipping and handling. Teapot not included. SOLD

Light green w variegated beige cozy, burnt orange rose. Fits 4 - 6 cup pot. $25.00 + shipping and handling. Teapot not included.

Variegated beige and pale avocado tea cozy with daffodil.  Fits 4 - 6 cup pot. $25.00 + shipping and handling. Teapot not included.

2011 already! Where did 2010 go?

Best wishes for the year ahead. 

So far we've had a fairly open winter with sun and crispness.

Last time I wrote I had a nasty cold type of thing which hung on tightly for 8 weeks and I am still coughing but life continued.

James has had a show hanging at Kingfisher Used Books since early November and it will soon be coming down.

James and I did the regular craft fairs: one in Wynndel and one sponsored by the Creston Arts Council here in town, as well as James having been asked to show his work at the Images Art Show & Sale in Nov.

On the weekends where there were sales and Farmers Markets James and I did the "divide and conquer" and drove ourselves around the bend but we did it!

The poppy painting in the upper left corner is James' and sold as soon as someone saw the invitation.

In mid-Sept the Farmers Market moved from its outside venue at Millennium Park to inside Morris Flowers Garden Center where we continued until Dec 18.

I feel like I have been baking forever, We also sold James cards made from his paintings, mine made from post cards my grand parents exchanged in the early 1900's, my knit hats, Raku fired pendants James made, lathe turned candle holders James made, and tea cozies I have begun making. By the end of the market we took 2 tables. We will surely continue to need as much space as James also plans to plant a market garden for this coming year.

Our son and his fiance plan to marry in August so we won't be lacking things to do. 

 Here are a few of the tea cozies I'm making. The body is knit and the flower is crocheted. These are for a 4 - 6 cup tea pot and sell for $25.00 + Shipping and Handling, tea pot not included.

 

January can be an enjoyably slow month but I have eliminated that opportunity and will be beginning a 12 week course at Kootenay Employment Services for people over 50 who want to start their own business.

I am thinking of new endeavors other than birdhouses and need to get on a better business footing. I also need to learn how people sell on line.

James is relishing the thought of his "12 weeks of solitude." 

He has been keeping himself busy building a 16 inch band saw from wood, a project he saw on You Tube, but rather than order the pattern he has been designing it himself, and it is quite the beauty.

James has an ongoing show of his work at the Coffee Creek Cafe here in Creston. The restaurant has been recently sold but the new owner wishes to continue showing James' work and that is good for us too. The cafe will be reopening this week with a similar menu, keeping the great Borscht we all expect, but the new owner plans to be open in the evening also.