Reusable Gift Bags

 You can't go wrong with a drawstring bag. These are smallish - about 8" wide x 10" tall.
Perfect size for these birthday gifts I picked up at the local Spring In The Country Bazaar.

Some lotion ,some face scrubbies and who doesn't enjoy a good Lemon Drop.
The lotions and face scrubbies were made in my town. The Lemon Drop mix in Oregon.

My friend in Japan sent me the "This Took Me Hours To Make" ribbon which was about right. Haha. Perfect finishing touch.

 While out doing errands yesterday, some plants might have jumped into the car for a ride home. This one is a Primula and will need to stay inside for a bit longer until the night time temps go up. Then it will be part of an awesome patio pot outside.

It's on my kitchen table right now, getting in the way of taking photographs, but making me smile at the lovely lavender colors.

 Do you utilize re-usable gift bags?  I've seen IG posts where making a stash of these is a thing.
I have a stash of decorative paper bags. I don't think I want a stash of fabric bags too.

For the time they take - lined, reversible, I can't see someone shelling out cash for these.

Probably a bit like receiving handmade jam/jelly. If you return the jars, that person will gift you more jam.

Clackamas County Fair 2016

Smiling pigs, Floppy rabbits, Cocky roosters, Bedazzled llamas and a spotted cow.

I almost didn't go. We finally got the hots as in 100 degrees hot. The Clackamas County Fair wouldn't be complete without the paramedics taking someone out for heat stroke.

One of the vendors handed me a free ticket so I went between work shifts on Friday. At 9:30am, it was already 90+.

Once inside, I got wrapped up in my agenda of looking at Hobby Hall, a quick walk past vendors downstairs, then out to the barns for the cutest rabbits and piggies.

My kids and I would enter our creations and then endlessly speculate "WHY?" as to what the judges picked to be ribbon-worthy.

 The lights weren't on yet when I climbed up to Hobby Hall where the textile entries reside (early). Even with low lighting, this scrabble quilt is amazing.

 "Oh No You Didn't" was the title of this adult professional painting.

 Clothing entered. My work shorts won a red ribbon - not a blue ribbon like I expected. This just means someone else entered an adult pant or short that was even better than  my work shorts.

Actually, it's just sadly ridiculous how easy it is to win a blue ribbon. There were even less entries this year than last year. I am on a mission to encourage people to take the time to enter their makes into their county fair. 

County Fairs are one of the last ways to enjoy our agricultural heritage and they are fading away.
 

 My table runner won a blue ribbon! 

All of my items won ribbons which means I can splurge on more fabric once I collect the premiums! Blue pays out $4. We can enter our items at our county fair for free. The ribbons won pay out in cash. Woot!

 Happy dance to someone else showing off their collection of little airplanes.
I might have most, if not all, of these. Ahem.

My airplane items were all together in the same case with the airplane collection. 

My echino blue airplane bag in the back got a blue ribbon, the others a red.

 

Franny the cow. Yep - she had a nametag on - attached to her ear.

Newly shorn and bathed goats.

This smart aleck llama was in the same pen as a spotted llama. I know Teresa would like a better photo of the spotted one but he wasn't cooperating on this super hot day.

Cow butts.

 
 Also, on this super hot weekend was Junk Refunk, an event started last year by my friends at Big White Goose.
This years Junk Refunk was even bigger.

I had a couple of friends working as vendors on Saturday. I loaded up a cooler after work with frozen Otter pops and sunscreen and made the rounds offering vendors a cool treat to either use around their neck or actually eat.  I even had one vendor, who was by herself, avail herself of me as a booth minder while she searched out a bathroom.  

 Lots and lots of people, most of them from out-of-town, came through Junk Refunk and they were buying, in spite of the 90+ temps.

 My friend I went to school with and her younger brother. Their mom still lives across the street from my mom & dad's old house.

Their booth is Farm Vintage.
Out of Sherwood.

Today, it's a tad cooler, and I spent most of the day watering everything outside. I also  rearranged my guest room and straightened it up with fresh sheets and a dusting as well as throwing my kid's stuff willy-nilly into the closet to hide it better.

Hoping your summer is amazing.

Year Of The Rabbit

I found this fabric at a church rummage sale. The wine red and the rabbits drew me in.
{Not to mention I was born in the Year of the Rabbit.}
A curtain of some sort, I realized later they were Japanese Noren - hanging door curtains.
Which distracted me into thinking I needed to sew my own Noren.

Thankfully, I don't always listen to my distractions. While I would love hanging door curtains in at least one doorway of my home, hubby would just get tangled up.




Crafty Tokyo Mama sent me this fabric with Oregon on it. Perfect color match.





This free pattern with the hidden pocket started out here, but soon morphed into something better.
I added hardware from my recently deceased tote, plus an inside pocket. This is a deep tote - perfect for trolling the vendor aisles at SewExpo.



The only thing lacking is handles.
If I have to, I will sew some but I really wanted leather-like flat handles so I'm off to Joann's to see what I can discover.


A very roomy, lined, Waterfront Park Pleated Tote.

I have another tote in my queue - a more tailored pendleton one plus a messenger bag for my niece which I am hoping to get done in the next week. I also need to buckle down and sew new pajamas and a top or two - utility sewing - but all involving the super fast serger so it's really a question of procrastination.

I Spy

Found these photos on the memory card. From a few weeks back.
As I was backing my car into it's space at work.
From the corner of my eye.

Ms. Rabbit who lives next door in the garage somehow 'escaped'.

I helped the gal 'corral' her. Looks like she wanted a breath of fresh air.

Warm day, lying in the shade, watching, snoozing.

(SewMamaSew) BUNNY Giveaway

SewMamaSew is hosting another Giveaway Day.

UPDATE: MAY 27, 2011. Winner announced here. Thank you to all who entered.

I managed to upcycle four of these bunnies out of one woman's striped t-shirt and I put a couple into my etsy shop. I also gave one of them to my little great-niece who is 5 months old. 

I thought someone out there would really really love one for their very own. Missy Bunny is about 6" high. Her ears make her seem taller.
This rabbit is all soft cotton knit, stuffed with poly-fil and the little face is embroidered on making this perfect for your little one or as a gift.

To enter, please leave a comment (& contact info, if necessary) and answer the question:
Where are you going on vacation this summer?

I can ship domestically as well as internationally. This giveaway is open to anyone.
The winner is decided randomly by me.

Giveaway is open until May 25th (evening PST). I will ship the bunny as soon after I close the comments and get contact info.
Thanks for commenting.

I need some vacation planning. My husband of 24 years is not the best at handling the pre-vacation details. Actually, I would love it if someone just gave me a vacation dream that is reasonably priced, about a week long and the details  dove-tail nicely. Wishing for the moon here.