Fabric Love

Okay, I admit it. I was a Wisconsin State Fair Dress Review participant, which means, I was a rural kid who spent my time sewing for 4-H. Anyway, my home economist mother taught me all kinds of skills and my sewing is an homage to her and to my children. I make toys and clothes for them. I make scarves and hats for my husband. When I search for supplies, I find myself at Pacific Fabric and Crafts mesmerized by their selection of patterns, colors, textures.

They have lovely designer fabrics, embelishments galore, designer patterns and such knowledgeable staff. More often than not, they are displaying customer work and conducting some kind of community service--a hat and mitten drive, Project Linus fabric drive, etc. They offer classes for newbies and seasoned crafters. They also have a warehouse in SoDo that offers some incredible deals. Their website offers fun projects and their stores provide such inspriration

Call me provincial, but I love the handmade item. All the love and time someone spent to create a lovely thing is dear. I say that Pacific Fabric and Crafts helps many people find their heaven and create the middle of heaven for those they love. If you are a knitter, crocheter, sewer or crafter, you will find something to help you play. They have many locations, so if you live in the Seattle area, one will be near you.

Common Good Books and Valentines

While visiting friends in St. Paul, Minnesota over the winter holiday, I was early and the other girls were late. What a lucky thing for me since W. A. Frost (our meeting destination) is across the street from Garrison Keillor's Common Good Books. I couldn't help but disappear for an hour. I read from some wonderful books and had to have Ted Kooser's VALENTINES. You can listen to him reading selections at NPR.

If you find yourself in St. Paul, do spend some time with the wonderful literary selections, the interesting author quotations and the signs that urge you to read. Common Good Books is "the middle of heaven" as our boy would say, so is Ted Kooser's lovely collection of Valentines. Maybe tonight you could share Kooser's words with your love while you enjoy some wine and cheese by candle light. It is what I did with my love last night and that was a little bit of heaven for us.

The Title

After my husband fresh-squeezed orange juice for our son, my husband passed him the glass of sunshine. I told our boy that he would be drinking a little bit of heaven. After his first sip, he said, "You're right, it is the middle of heaven!" Some expressions are so sweet, that we just can't bring outselves to correct them.

In this blog, you will find things that we believe are a little bit of heaven, or as our boy would say, things that are the middle of heaven. I hope you enjoy these goodies like we do.

Happy reading!