Puyallup Sewing Expo 2013 -- Annie's loot

Sis's pictures of the expo itself are better than mine, so I'm just going to post my loot!  I love the classes at the expo, but the real treat for me is buying fabric and patterns.

So first the patterns:

New from Louise Cutting:

 

 

I don't like vests, generally, but this one is really cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the fabrics, all from Marcy Tilton:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cocktails

For Sis:

Winter walking in the Pacific Northwest

Click on the pictures and make them big.  You'll feel like you're actually there.

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge


Yesterday David and I walked all the way to the end of the boardwalk at the Nisqually nature reserve, all except for the last 700 feet, which is closed due to hunting season.  Here are some of my pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Tacoma waterfront

 

We've also had several good walks along Tacoma's waterfront the last couple of weeks.  Here are a couple of David's pictures of Mount Rainier seen from the waterfront:

 

 

 

 

Hey, look! I got a present!

Sister gave me a present this morning for no reason at all!  A giant felt acorn, and a dish to keep it in.

A grand luncheon

Last Friday our friend Carl was Chef of the Day, and invited David and me to attend a splendid lunch.  Carl planned and cooked the entire meal for 16 people.  It was splendid!  Here are some pictures.

First peek at the table

 

Carl created the centerpieces from materials in his parents' yard -- grapes, grape vines and hops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of Summer

 

 

 

 

Westport

 

 

 

 

  Leavenworth

 

 

 

 

Orchard and Vineyard

 

 

 

 

Mmmmm!  That was good!

 

 

 

 

The chef and his very proud parents

 

Monarch Dress

Today I finished my summer sewing!  This is the Monarch Dress (Vogue 8813).  Not finished as in completely done, of course.  I need to snip threads, tweak the neckline and find some light weight buttons for the pockets.  But I'm happy with it.  And glad to be done.

 

 

I kind of like the way the hem scallops in the front, although I don't think that's intentional.  I have to say that the smocking did not work well on this fabric -- it was impossible to mark, and the zigzagging puckered up so tightly that the pearl cotton couldn't be pulled.  So I faked it.

 

And here is a picture of my birthday present from my friend Pam, Heddie the Hedgehog!

 

 

This morning David got out our wedding album, so I decided to put up one of the pictures.  I can't believe how much hair we used to have!

 

 

 

 

 

Get with child a mandrake root

Funny, I just bought a book on John Donne yesterday, and today -- look what I found in the garden!

 

 

Of course, mine is a carrot, and very obviously a boy.  But what does that matter; impossible is impossible.

 

We also harvested potatoes this morning.