An eclipse and the Hilltop Street Fair!

Amala Beads at the Hilltop Street Fair - All made by hand!

The summer has whizzed right past - I haven't posted a thing since the end of August when I was reporting on the Hilltop Street Fair!

I've met a lot of fantastic folks in the last few weeks - Sarah Meranda of "Magpie Mouse Studios", Sherrie from "Glitterpants" and "Running With Scissors", Linda Landig of "Linda Landig Jewelry", to name just a few.  It is really encouraging to meet other people who are creative and enthusiastic about what they love to do.  Hand made goods!

I visited the "Bead Fair" at the Tacoma Convention Center, which is sponsored by Interweave Press and Shipwreck Beads, which is right down the road from me in Lacy, Washington.  While there I met Julie Haymaker who has elevated shrinky plastic to a great new level!  She sells fantastic kits which include a special tool she designed to give some of her pieces pretty flower shapes.

One of my favorite booths was "Hands of the Hills", a wholesaler located just up the road in the other direction in Mercer Island, WA.  These folks travel all over the country selling gorgeous Hill Tribe metal beads and findings, powder glass beads from Africa, brass from Africa, Buddhist beads from Nepal, and way too much to tell you about here.  I purchased a strand of beads made from fossilized Stegodon bones and will be using them to make a bone and pearl set - necklace, earrings, and bracelet.

I've totally neglected the garden but did harvest an excellent crop of quince from a little tree I bought a year or so ago from Scott Gruber from "Calendula Farms".  I made up some lovely quince jelly and will be dropping off a jar for Scott at the Proctor Farmers' Market this morning.

Then a trip to Columbia City in Seattle to do some shopping at a show put on by Sarah of "Magpie Mouse Studios" and her friend who makes fabulous fiber art.  I'll post photographs!

Quince from the Garden