Small Town Girls Go To The Big City!

January is the perfect time to go to the Seattle Gift Show.
Get out of town, eat out, shop, dream, plan...

Last weekend, Jon, Kristen, Gabby, and I went to Seattle and did just that.

Kristen and I checked out the new design trends and began to plan the Spring Open House. We are excited to start working on light and bright designs for spring and summer along with lots of plants and flowers for outdoor living.

There are so many wonderfully fun shopping districts to check out! Here is Watson Kennedy, located in a courtyard close to Pike Place Market - love the black and white awnings.

There's also a great antique store in the area that can take hours to explore - watch out for the stuffed rattlesnake. I have a thing for old script, so this little framed ditty caught my eye.

We hit the Ballard District in time for the Sunday Farmer's Market and strolled through some great shops like Lucca, Cupcake Royale, and Damselfly. Check out this elaborate Valentine theme shop window!




Back at our Bellevue hotel, Gabrielle was crazy for the indoor pool.

Of course time went too fast and we had to leave more to explore another time. How 'bout you? Do you have a favorite store to recommend?

A Taste of Jessica's Talent

Wow, Christmas really takes over one's time! Had good intentions to post more of our Christmas decor but it just didn't happen.

Jessica is our resident textile artist and she delighted her nieces, Gabrielle and Lily, with handmade dolls for Christmas. Here is Lily's doll, complete with blonde felt pigtails!  The little gathered skirt and tiny pink cape are reversible for more "outfits." The fancy little button hides a velcro fastener to make it easier for little fingers. Dolly came complete with her own coordinating blanket and pillow.


I wish we'd gotten more photos before the girls gathered them up and went off to happily play with them. These are unique dolls that the girls will hold dear for years.

Jessica is a whiz at finding new ideas and creating treasures out of old vintage fabrics - all without patterns or instructions. We are looking forward to more treats that she will have on sale at our next open house in April. And don't miss her "green" coffee sleeves at  Coffee Social, 113 W. Indiana and at Boo Radley's at 232 N. Howard here in Spokane (they were a featured Christmas gift idea in a recent issue of The Inlander).

And, speaking of talent, Jon can do anything with wood! Here is a darling little wooden elephant pull toy that went to little Miss Jillian this Christmas.

-Linda