New web routing

Hi Just a note for anyone who typed in www.xanthewalker.com looking for my Etsy shop. I decided that it is best for that address to bring you here.

Think of my blog as a hub. From here you can go to Etsy, email me, or look at my flickr pics.

And thanx for stopping at my booth and picking up a business card :-) 

I think every blog post needs a photo....enjoy a shot of my pineapple upside-down cake.

St. Paul Craftstravaganza

Another year and another Craftstravaganza. Whew I am tired! I had a lot of fun, but boy the weather did not cooperate. The gals at "i like you" were nice enough to let me stay in the studio above the shop. Comfy enough couch, but I am not used to city life anymore. I had such a hard time sleeping, I tossed all night. Too many lights outside, buses and cars running all night. I woke waaay too early. So my day started with me scraping ice and snow off my windshield. I was freezing since I was too dumb to bring a warm coat, all I had was a rain jacket. With a quick breakfast of cold leftover pizza (from Goloony's), I headed over to the MN State Fair grounds. I will soon regret that cold breakfast. 

I think the Fine Arts building is a great venue, but it has no heat. All day we, shoppers and vendors alike, froze. It developed a type of comaraderie, we were all in the same boat. We were all freak'n cold! *grins* I'm afraid the poor weather kept quite a few shoppers away. Still I'm glad I went.

I met so many nice and interesting people, like my booth neighbor "Hi Lisa!" *waving* And also people who have purchased from me online. Nice to put a face to a name. By the time 6pm came around though I was more that ready to leave. I packed and loaded the van in record time and cranked up the heat. I was so chilled to the bone, I couldn't stop shivering for almost two hours. I got a warm bite to eat and started the four and a half hour drive home. I woke up this morning so sore. 

Amazing the difference a day makes. I felt tons better by this afternoon and spent a nice warm sunny Sunday weeding the garden, doing a bit of painting, and riding the go-cart! Now it is bedtime and I'm enjoying the quiet. Outside it is dark, really dark and I know I can sleep.

For a full vendor list:

http://www.craftstravaganza.com/2008/vendors.html

My Heart Aches

Bluto

6/30/95 to 4/21/08

We Miss You

IF ---Fail by Emma

This is Emma's (age 10) sketch for Illustration Friday word "Fail".

IF ---Fail

"No Willpower" --- painted paper collage on 11x 17 canvas board

I admit, I am an emotional eater....but not quite to this extent. 

*grins*

I haven't used canvas board since high school. I found a pack of three while cleaning and rearranging my studio. I wonder where they cam from???

My Patch

I love my little guy! Just look at that face *grins*

Sitting with Patch in my lap is 

so relaxing. He just curls up and makes cute "reet reet!" noises.

A feast!---yummy

Busy as a mole

April has arrived and most of the snow in our yard is gone. 

We discovered that the moles have had a party this late winter. Snow melts and the dirt clumps appear! All over the yard are mole tunnels and dirt mounds. The mice were busy too! Cute little mouse nest.

grassy mouse nest

Finally I spotted a robin hopping around yesterday. I love robins. During the summer, when I'm busy weeding in the garden, picnicking with the kids, or just sitting and reading a book, there always seems be a robin hopping around  nearby. I love the peep-peeping.  As a family, we keep an eye on the nearby Nest full of gorgeous blue eggs. We name each of the hatchling, have a funeral and burial when we find one dead. Poor birdies...I even made a shrine to honor the little guys. For all the little hatchlings.

Bird shrine ---outside (the top is a mini gazing ball and a broken vintage Fiestaware saucer)

The shrine swivels open on pins 

bird shrine ---inside (with broken egg, shredded money nest, and LED votive)