Simply XSBaggage

Ice Storm

Boy, we've had some wacky weather here in the Pacific Northwest lately. Up until about a week and a half ago, it was almost starting to feel like we were going to bypass winter and just head on into spring. Then we got hit with some snow. Not a lot of snow where we live, just enough to let us know that winter was, in fact, here. And then, in the middle of this last week, an ice storm blew in. An ice storm like I have never seen before!

It was 29 degrees and raining, so every raindrop that fell, instantly turned to ice. Encasing everything in a frozen cast.

It was beautiful. And eery. It wasn't long before we started hearing pops and bangs throughout the valley that we live in, as branches and limbs of trees succumbed to the weight.

Unfortunately, it also wasn't long before our power went out as branches and trees fell into power lines. Before long there were about 250,000 homes and businesses without electricity in the counties surrounding us. And the freezing rain continued for almost 24 hours, making it dangerous and impossible for utility crews to start fixing it.

When our power finally came on last night I was jumping for joy! Today we're back to our typical Northwest winter weather: 40 degrees and raining.

One big, long ice storm sure can make you appreciate Washington rain!

Snow, Snow, and MORE Snow!

Today was the first day in weeks that I didn't work in my shop for 15 hours or more. Since before Thanksgiving I've been working pretty much 24/7. I've been starting around 4:30 a.m. and working through until 8:30 or 9:00 at night. My only reprieve has been the two mornings a week when I get to go play with Isaac for a couple of hours. 

I am so thankful for my husband who's been picking up the slack around the house and who also doesn't mind 'winging it' for meals. And also for Nikki, who comes to do the 'deep cleaning' that needs to be done around our home every other week. That alone is a stress relief for me!

But today I took the afternoon off and it felt great! We've been having some incredibly cold and snowy weather, unusual for Port Angeles. I curled up on the couch with the blanket and pillows and settled in watching the storm coverage on TV. There's a Blizzard Warning for our area and we could get up to a foot of snow tonight! And there seems to be no end in sight for snow!

Wow! 

Lucky for me we have a cozy little home and plenty of food to eat if we get snowed in! I'm so glad we didn't have this storm last weekend, when I held my Holiday Open House! Oh! Here are pictures of my house set up to be a little shopping boutique:

And, the most serious shopper of the day was:

my grandson Isaac! hmmm which Key Fob should I get....?

I hope you're all staying warm and cozy this weekend!

Stalking the bookstore

Yesterday when I should have had my nose to the sewing machine, I was out stalking the magazine racks at the grocery stores and drug stores. A picture of one of my handbags was going to be in a magazine and it was to hit the newsstands yesterday. 

After stopping at no less than four 'big chain' stores and not finding it, I went downtown to our local bookstore, and hit the jackpot. It probably seems like a silly little thing to everyone else, but I was pretty excited to see a handbag made by little old me in one of my favorite magazines. Here it is below, you'll have to look hard because it's pretty small, but it's in the lower right corner:

This is on page 3 of the Mary Engelbreit Home Companion magazine, August/September 2008 issue. I love this magazine and a few weeks ago I bought a subscription for it. I don't know why I hadn't done that sooner, as I always buy the new issue when it comes out. Here's what the beautiful cover looks like:

I love how this magazine features artists, some well known, some not so well known. It's so intriguing and inspiring to see how they live and work. I find myself pouring over the pictures of their studios, taking in every little detail. 

The colors that Mary Engelbreit uses in her products, (she is a real person, you know!), are bright, cheerful and heart-warming. I've used those bright colors as inspiration in my home. Although I think my little home probably looks like M.E. on steroids. I've used lots of yellow, pink, and lime green. This house was so gray and neglected when I bought it, and I guess I went a bit overboard trying to brighten it up. oops! I like it though, and that's what matters, right?

It's going to be another beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm going to try to steal a few minutes this afternoon so I can sit in the sun and read my new magazine. 

Have a beautiful day!

We Love Free Press!

The local newspaper ran an article yesterday about the Juan de Fuca Festival and I got a little mention in it:

Vendors mixed
But vendors in the tent city that occupied a closed-off Fourth Street and part of the City Hall parking lot reported mixed results.

Lisa Kendrick, owner of XSBaggage and Co., said her sales this year were better than last year's.

"This is my second year here, and it has been great — way better than last year," Kendrick said.

She runs XSBaggage from her Port Angeles home and designs and makes purses, wallets, hair accessories and other products.

She sells the items online at www.xsbaggageandco.com, and to retailers from New Zealand to California.

Of course, I had to go out and buy the newspaper right away!! I have to say, the Peninsula Daily News did a terrific job of covering the Festival all weekend with articles and photos in their paper. 

Okay, I seriously need to get back to sewing now. I've got a little trip planned for Dr. K and I in a few days and I need to be all caught up with orders before I leave.  Ready>Set>Sew!!

It's all about the Dots!

Just popping in today to show you a really fun blog that I just discovered after being featured there today. It's called 'On the dot creations'. It's written by Julie, and it's all about showcasing great polka dot design. Look at this eye candy:

Does it get any better than that? I mean, EVERYTHING is better with polka dots, right?!! Thank you Julie for featuring me today!

Missing

Nicholas Francisco of Seattle called to tell his wife he was on his way home from work on Wednesday. He never arrived home and a search is underway. More information is here. His wife, Christine is desperate for information. They have two young children, ages 2 and 4, and she is pregnant with their third child.

Christine is known by many in the Etsy community as Bella Style Boutique and Rinnovi Body Spa. She and her family could really use our prayers right now. Also, please check out the link of information above, as it contains details and pictures that you can forward on to everyone you know. Someone, somewhere had to have seen something that could help in the investigation.

Featured (again) Today!

I just had to pop back in to say I've been featured today on a beautiful blog based in the U.K. that features Independent Designers and Crafters. I'm so excited that they picked me!

You can check out the site here.

Okay, now I really am off to Port Townsend for the day. Really.

On our minds

I've been distracted this week by the news reports about a young family missing in Oregon. James and Kati Kim were travelling in the Pacific Northwest for the Thanksgiving holiday with their two young daughters. They somehow became lost and or stuck on a mountain back road. The good news is searchers found Kati and her girls after 9 days, and they are in great shape, thanks to many prayers and a very determined Mom. Amazing!

Searchers are still trying to find James, and you can read about the progress on a website dedicated to the family here.

Please pray for the safe return of James so this family can be reunited!