Pink Purl

Arts and Crafts

During the past weekend we went to Pennsylvania's state capital, Harrisburg, for the 42nd annual Artsfest, a big arts and crafts festival along the Susquehanna riverfront.  This is always an exiting event, featuring handmade arts and crafts of all kinds, by local artisans as well as artists from across the whole country.  The addition of food and live music creates a fair-like atmosphere.  We went with my family for the fun, and had a great day!  Even baby Anya was having fun, being pushed around in her stroller and taking in all the sights and sounds.

Here's just a tiny sample of the vast variety of beautiful and unique creations, and a peek at the Harrisburg city skyline.

We leave the US on Sunday--just a couple of days to pack and cram in a little more time with family.  The days go by all too fast, but it's been a wonderful time here.  Once we're back home in Norway, and a little of the jet lag has worn off, I'll be back here and catching up with you all.  Have a great weekend ahead, everyone!  :o)

Thank You

Many thanks to all of you good friends and new readers for your condolences for me and my family.  Your kind thoughts and care are very much appreciated at this time as we mourn the loss of a loved one.  We were fortunate to arrive just in time to be present for a simple burial service for my grandmother.  I was glad to be able to have a chance to say goodbye to her and be here for my family.

 

While our trip has been tinged with sadness, there has also been many happy moments and great times shared with family.  A very special highlight was attending my cousin's wedding this past weekend.  It was a beautiful day and we were glad to be there to share the day with the happy couple.

The photos here are of the interior and exterior of Christ Chapel at Gettysburg College, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where the wedding ceremony took place.  As you can see, it is a pretty place of worship, and is situated in very beautiful surroundings.

We have a week left of our holiday to enjoy.  I'll be back here as soon as I can.  Hope all of you are well and happy!  :o)

I'll be seeing you...

We leave for our trip across the big pond very early tomorrow, Tuesday morning.  Today is packing and all last things, and mostly a lot of excitement!

However a touch of sadness and heavy hearts... My grandmother, my Mimi, my Momma's mother, passed away during the weekend.  We had hoped to be visiting her when we got Stateside.  Very sadly, she had inoperable cancer and left us far too suddenly, too soon... The funeral will have already happened before we get there, so we are sad to have missed seeing her and saying goodbye.  We plan on visiting her grave site. She was not in pain.  She loved me, and I loved her.  She is at peace...

These are flowers today for my Mimi... I Love You, Mimi!

This trip will be unique in that we will be part of a festive wedding, and dealing with the loss of a loved one... as well as visiting family and friends as we usually do.  As often, I will try to post, at least some photos, while we're away.  And I will tweet a bit via Twitter when I can too, for anyone who's following me there. One day at a time though...  I will look forward to catching up with you all when we get back.  See you in two weeks!

Happy Day to you, my friends!

Tulips and Tiny Clothes

A quickie post to share a few things happening right now, this weekend!  Just when I was thinking that we might miss all the tulip glory before we went away, the tulip bed is just bursting with blooms.  Last fall we planted fifty to sixty tulip, narcissi and muscari bulbs.  Here's a peek at lovely Angelique and Mount Tacoma tulips in bloom.

At last I've finished sewing the summer outfits I had in progress for our baby niece Anya.  Before needing to pack and bring them along on our trip, here's a quick look.  I used this pattern.  There were a few headache moments while making these two outfits, mostly due to working with tiny little things!  But the finished outfits look really cute, I think, and I'm quite happy with how they turned out.  I just hope they fit Anya!

Something else to take to Anya is this white baby jacket, hat and booties set that my good friend Melanie at jellybeanangel knit especially for her.  Isn't this beautiful?!  I wish you could feel the marshmallow-y softness of the yarn...  Thank you so much, Melanie!  This will keep Anya toasty warm come the winter.

Lots of last minute things this weekend--last laundry, errands, garden work/mowing, pre-packing and checking to-do lists.  I think we'll get done in time... ;o)

Wish you could join me for a cup of tea and take a stroll along the tulip path with me...  here's Queen of the Night in bloom...

Happy weekend, everybody!

P.S.  I'll be closing my Artfire Shop tomorrow, which will remain closed until we get back. So the sidebar may look a little naked until then!  Also, tomorrow is National Day here in Norway!

Shiny and New...

Lots of new jewelry and accessories in my ArtFire shop!  More will be added soon, after we get back from our trip the end of the month. 

Sea Treasures Necklace

Pink Confetti Scarflette

Coquette Choker

Bridal Suite Necklace & Earrings

Lots of crafting happening behind the scenes here, it's just been so busy I've not had a chance to share much of it lately!  I'm having fun working on new designs for jewelry and accessories, and using new and different materials.  Some fun crafting for our niece Anya continues, which I hope to share more about before we go away next week.  The Summer 2009 edition Interweave Knits magazine has some wonderful knitwear patterns and ideas I'd like to try and am daydreaming about... my knitting needles are itching for some attention!  But the next days will be too full for much extra crafting as we finish up all sorts, pack and make ready for our trip. I'll be back before we go, and try my best to catch up with you all before then too.

Happy Day, my friends! :o)