Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home...

I just completed this ladybug hat;  it's going to be a present for a dear friend's aunt..

I was a bit worried at first, as this is an older lady, but my friend specifically wanted the ladybug theme because her aunt loves and collects the little creatures..I am hoping to get a photo of auntie in this hat for my collection of "Rouge's Gallery" pictures that I put up in my spot when i vend outside at my Saturday Market..and we are back outside again on March 17th..personally, can't wait!
I am posting this as an example of a custom request..and to 'prove' to some disbelievers that I simply cannot keep adult-sized animal or insect, fish or fowl hats in stock..they are always the first to go and the ones ordered for a custom job.
Go figure...

Being Creative in Bad Weather

We were just gifted with a freak snowstorm lasting a couple of days and for dessert we were given an icy Arctic outflow that, although the skies are crystal clear now, lends a fierceness to the air you breathe...
About the only advantage to this sort of stuff is that I seem to get an awful lot done when I absolutely can't go anywhere..
Made lots of new jewelry and a couple of hats, which I'll show here, but the thing that I like the most was a little photo I took this morning during breakfast. It's a beautiful sunrise reflected in the next door neighbors' patio window.
I've often nticed this over breakfast, but most of the time I'm too sleepy to get up and get the camera..not today!
This shot was taken across my houseplants, who live on my dining room table..and it's kind of a neat effect to have the plants inside, taking a picture of a reflection outside, and all of it through glass, too.
My hanging art glass things are in there, too, and I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out..tell me what you think?

Random Stuff #1 ('Cuz That's The Way My Brain Works Best...)

The picture above this is my first entry into what I'm gonna affectionately call my "Rogue's Gallery", because it's the first actual picture of someone wearing one of the hats I've been selling for years...many have promised, but few have come through, and I thought, once I have a few (if that ever happens) I would start a bit of a scrapbook to display at my weekly Market for the inspiration of customers who like my hats, but aren't sure what it will "look like" on whoever they are buying it for...
This little cutie is the niece of a fellow crafter, a marvelous jewelry maker I sell with at my Saturday Market..

I really wish someone would move to this damn Island who knows how to make proper Chinese cuisine, specifically, but not limited to Szechuan...I was, I admit, spoiled for choice in Vancouver, a definite Foodie's Paradise, but nothin' here for miles, and some who have lived here say, not anywhere at all on the whole Island...
I found a great little take-out sushi place a few miles down the road in Chemainus, but miss my Chinese food terribly...going through hot and sour soup withdrawal...I have a recipe for it, but there are 3,847 ingredients, practically none of them available here...
C'mon, someone on the Mainland, we need you here, you'd make a fortune because all the expats here (and we are legion!) complain about this..I'm talking the Central Island area, not Victoria, which, I'm sure, has decent restaurants, but way too far to drive..

Etsy certainly seems to be slowing to a crawl these days, and I can't help but wonder why...supposedly the economy is improving for everyone...but Market sales are slow too, so don't know what the answer is-maybe tax time?
And for all you Californians who read my blog (and I know from my little visitors widget that you do!) nice save! Between your earthquake and our windstorm, seems we pay a heavy price for living on the West Coast...but totally worth it.