A Little Fall Update

It has been a busy minute. 

My September Art in the Park show started off  too windy but overall was a good day.

 Among my sales was this pretty card. I wonder what special note was written inside.

After the show, most of my inventory went to Tennessee with my Mother-in-law. She is currently doing a month and a half long craft show at Dollywood and was kind enough to bring my stuff along. I have no idea what if anything is selling. Whatever does not sell will be back up for sale on my Etsy in November just in time for Christmas shopping. 

My prints are currently available. If anyone is interested in the originals they are for sale just not listed. Please contact me. 

Anyway...

Things are getting spooky around here.

My sister visited last weekend and did this craft with Avia. Scary stuff. 

Last but not least, this guy insisted on picking a green pumpkin. I might have weird kids. 

The Girl in the Lane Shop

Some summer so far

It has been a busy summer so far.

I've seen lions.

 I embroidered lots and lots of bibs.

The squirrel and blue birds on telephone wires bib

 The Mr. Bear bib

 The sheep duo

To be honest I am glad these are done and ready to go.

I am working as a nanny for a two-month-old and sometimes I get the pleasure of being paid to bring my own children to the park. Before and after taking this photo I was sitting on a park bench while sewing and listening to the sweet little snore of a baby. I felt very blessed. 

She made way more than I did as a kid.

This was our first visit to the Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati. It was delightful.

Avia will start the 3rd grade on the 13th. This seems crazy early to me. We have a few more summer tricks in our bag but I am sad it will be over all too soon.

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We Went Camping

It was the best.

It was also rather exhausting in the best way possible. 

I came home feeling totally worn out but refreshed. 

Also, probably by no coincidence, I started reading Last Child in the Woods when I got back. I am not far into it but I do love it. It is about the new relationship between children and nature. It is an eye-opening read. If you are a parent or are thinking about being one some day, read it. Then go play outside.

It also starts each chapter with a quote. I personally love that in a book. 

There was a child went forth every day, 

And the first object he look'd upon, that object he became,

And that object became part of him for the day or a certain part of the day,

Or for many years or stretching cycles of years.

The early lilacs became part of this child, 

And grass and white and red morning glories, and white and red clover,

and the song of the phoebe-bird,

And the Third-month lambs and the sow's pink-faint litter,

and the mare's foal and the cow's calf,...

-Walt Whitman

It was a fun little outdoors weekend but I need to get back to work. I am excited to be a part of Art Fair 562. It is soon and I have much to do to get ready.

The Girl in the Lane Shop

Slice of Life

Pretty views

Bellevue Blossoms Fest display

Silly children

Latest work

Avia's work. 

She discovered Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals and found her own love of drawing. This I also love.

Current project peeks

Campfire

Candy

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What inspires me may inspire you: my moms.

I grew up watching my mom's hands. They were always at work. Every time she sewed, crocheted, or quilted I wanted to know how I could get my hands to make what she could make. 

 She gave me a yellow lunch box full of the bits and pieces of embroidery floss from her finished cross stitch patterns. I gave her many many knots and my frustrations. I still have and use the old lunch box of thread but I've figured out how to untangle my own knots...most of the time. 

Thank you Mom. You have made me who I am.

Jane, my mother-in-law. She sews, quilts, and the like. She gives me supplies, advice, encouragement, babysitting, and a listening ear. 

Thanks Bammy.

"Why the buffalo?" you ask.

 For one thing, the buffalo is my mom's favorite animal. Also, even though neither my mom nor mother-in-law live out west, both of their hearts reside on some distant open prairie. Mine does too.

My favorite quotes from these women:

"You kiss boys you have to buy cribs." -Mom

"You're just this side of crazy aren't you Andrea." -Jane

Truth.

Happy Mother's Day to all.

Grey and Lavender Buffalo for sale here.

The Girl in the Lane Shop

What inspires me may inspire you: nature

If nature does not inspire you, stop reading this and go outside. 

Do not come back until it does.

For the rest of you, enjoy.

A glimpse of my current project.

 Detail from White Bear.

 I like making these because I get to create my own flowers.

vintage art magnets

 Tulips in the rain

He also finds inspiration in nature.

Now go outside.

The Girl in the Lane Shop