Nature walks, sisters, and sunshine

My sister has been visiting me this past week from California, and we've been enjoying all the beauty and oddly enough the sunshine of Seattle.

We were enjoying a walk through Lincoln Park in West Seattle, and there are these trees there - forgive me, I do not know what kind they are - but they reminded me of the manzenita in Northern California where I grew up and I love the way their bark peels off in these curls. Arent' they lovely?

The ocean was so peaceful and inviting (mostly because it was really hot and we wanted to go swimming!). Next time you go for a walk, take a camera and pay attention to the smaller things you might not normally notice.

Devonly, yours

Dining Al Fresco

There's nothing I love more than moving my dining room outside during the tepid summer months. And along with that: eating the bounty that summer brings. We enjoyed a marvelous meal with some friends outside (enjoying our new deck, of course!) and the produce couldn't have been more delectable. Don't you wish we had summer produce all year round as fresh as this? Oh, I do!

Heirloom tomato caprese salad with basil picked seconds before

The freshest of fresh summer fruit salad


And a toast to the wonderful evening (not to mention with a glass of some of the BEST wine I've had in a LONG time: a 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stagg's Leap District in Napa. YUM!)

Devonly, yours

Etsy!

Well friends, I finally have my own Etsy shop! It's still in the works, so please have patience, but please don't hesitate to check it out! I have a few items up for sale currently, and will be adding more very shortly.

Here's the address: Devonly.etsy.com

This will be the first time I've "sold" my work to the public like this, and I have to say: it's a lot more emotional than I thought. I know people like my work - they compliment it all the time even when they don't know I've made it. But putting myself out there for the world (or etsy) to see, criticize, deny or buy...why, I just hope it goes well. So, please pass the site along to anyone and everyone, I would most appreciate it!

And to go along with my new shop and (hopefully) my goods that will be flying out of here: I have new business cards!

Aren't they adorable? Would you like one? I will send you as many as you want! So, on that note I am off to flit about and get all that I need to get done today on my day off. Look for more items soon, as in hopefully by the end of the day. Until next time...

Devonly, yours

P.S. Did you notice how many "hopefully"s I had in today's post as much as I did? That is exactly how I feel right now: hope is keeping me going. Please hope with me, won't you?

What I did this Weekend: Events

This past weekend was a typical Seattle weekend: Events and happenings all over the city. Plus a mixture of weather. Saturday was hot and steamy, then rolled in the thunder clouds with a cold and rainy Sunday. I'd like to say that I got a lot accomplished, but I must say Jason will take the cake on that one. He single handedly completed our beautful deck. Isn't it lovely?


Saturday, Seattle Tilth had a city chicken tour where urban-dwellers having chickens opened up their yards and coops for the rest to come and learn. Unfortunately, I was at work, so Jason ventured this one alone. He stayed only in West Seattle, but got some great ideas (and some to avoid). Have I mentioned we're planning a coop of our own?


Not exactly sure the idea or humor behind this church-inspired roost.

Then once the weather turned sour and I didn't have to be at work, the Georgetown Garden Tour took place on Saturday. We got some great ideas for our yard and enjoyed the unique neighborhood that is our neighbor.




But it rained...


And rained some more...


After all the tours, we headed over to the West Seattle Summer Festival and found some great local artisans and businesses. But, the rain got the best of us and we had to duck inside. And the best part was, it was all in our neck of the woods. All in all, I say we had a very productive and eventful weekend. How was your weekend?

Devonly, yours

Friday!

Hello, dear friends! Friday is here at last. What a busy week I've had, have you? But it has been a great week: my dear Jason was home all week (hence not many posts this week!). Mostly because we've been working fastidiously at finishing our deck railings. What a task! But it looks so good! I will definitely show you once it's completed. In other fun news: I have completed my first commissioned piece! This lovely little watercolor was made with extra love for my mother-in-law's bedroom.

Devonly, yours

Celebrating my Independence

This 4th of July, I felt free to be free:

Into the Sunset

At attention

Afternoon Nap

And I even got to drive!

Hope you had a lovely 4th of July celebrating your independence.

Devonly, yours

Farmer's Market

Summer time is the perfect time for fresh and local produce when it's at its peak and in abundance. And your local farmer's market is the perfect place to find it. I ventured up to the West Seattle farmer's market this weekend and picked up some lovely items to make dinner with. This is one of my favorite things to do in the summer: grab a random assortment of delicious goodies and make whatever comes to you and even make it up as you go. No rules, no plans. You might be surprised at what you come up with - some of my favorite dishes are usually ones I make up using what I have in the fridge or pantry at the moment. And how can you go wrong with such fresh produce?

For my farmer's market dinner, I made a tomato salad with fresh heirloom tomatoes, feta cheese, capers, arugula, and a splash of balsalmic vinegar and olive oil. Season it with salt and pepper and it tastes as fresh as summer can be.


I also picked up some fresh spinach pasta. When pasta is this fresh, I don't like to cover up its natural flavor with much. Just saute some garlic in a little bit of melted butter, add a splash of white wine, salt, and pepper. It's so good and so fresh.

Devonly, yours

Get Lost (in a good way)

One thing I love about Seattle is all the little neighborhoods and hidden streets. I love going to a new section of town, parking my car and getting lost in the streets. It allows me to see a side of the city that I never knew. I pop in my headphones, grab my camera, and see what I can find. Today I wandered around the more residential side of Greenlake and I found (besides my house envy) some great little scenes.

Azaleas at their last few days

A bustling cafe window

The cutest thing I saw: a tuckered out pooch dozing in a beautiful backyard

Succulents are the plants that will survive the end of the world

The next time you're bored on a sunny weekend, take your camera and get lost. You might be surprised what you find.

Devonly, yours

Busy as a Little Bee

Hello again friends! I have been so busy working my little toes to the bone at the salon, I haven't had a moment to attend to anything more than sleeping and eating (hey, a girl's gotta have some priorities!) But, alas, I am back! And I have some really exciting things planned for this week! If all goes as planned, of course - which around my house usually doesn't mean much of anything. Last night I finally had some time to attend to my much needy family.

Harley was beside himself that I was actually home playing with him. Poor guy!

I've been so busy I haven't had time to stop and enjoy my lilies that are blooming right now. The colors are magnificent. I love lilies because they're so low maintenance and their yields are gorgeous. Just plant them as bulbs in a sunny spot, water them well the first year, try not to let the dogs (or the hose for that matter) run over them, and wa-la! Wonderful pops of color. I just planted some chartreuse mum seeds around these, can't wait for them to come up! The package said they will germinate in 7-10 days. Amazing!


But I have had some time to do a little something: make jewelery! I was inspired by a recent trip to my most favorite store ever and by the lack of bills in my wallet to make my own jewelery for a fraction of the cost.

These gorgeous tear-drop stone earrings were a cinch! All I needed were the stones (about 75 cents each), some needle nosed pliers, the posts (which I wrapped around the top of the stone), and the earing clasps. So simple, and they're already one of my favorite pairs!

These beauties consisted of: earring clasps, the beads, a little wire, and a round clasp for attaching everything together. With a little help from my pliers, they were complete in seconds flat. I'm going to be making multiple pairs in a wine color for a co-worker's bridal party. I can't wait to see how they turn out.

This necklace was inspired by one I saw at my most favorite store ever. It was a little more time consuming, but well worth it. And since my dress code at work is all black, I have to spice it up with as much color as I possibly can and this necklace sure stands out.

I have a few more ideas that I'm still working on, but those might have to wait a little while. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and Father's Day, and are having a little sunnier Monday than here in Seattle.

Devonly, yours.

One man's treasure

I had the most marvelous weekend this past week staying with our dear friends in Brooklyn. We had brunch at the best little place you'd ever stumble upon (which is exactly what we did last November) complete with mimosas and Bloody Mary's, Eggs Benedict and delicious company. From there, we found the best Flea Market I've ever seen in Forte Green. If only I had a place to take all the treasures I wish I could have bought! I am now in hot pursuit of some of Seattle's better Flea Markets to visit. I will keep you posted on the ones I find. The key to these is that you have to be willing to hunt, and to barter. Below are some snaps I took while wondering around in the warn sun:

Nothing like a cool ice cream after a hot day of bargaining. This weekend, look for some new treasures in some old places.