One Last Bit of Encouragement--and Some Nice Photos of the Girl

I totally lifted these pictures from the lovely Mean Mama (who is--I'm happy to report--not at all mean). We ran into her on our rounds at Picnic, which we happily attended as customers this year, and basically hijacked her day. (Iced coffee at Bard? Check. A walk through downtown? Check. A wade in the cement pond at the park? Check.) The three of us window-shopped the place pretty darned thoroughly, and both A. and I actually purchased something (more of a stretch for me than for her, probably). She got this great little brown corduroy cap--is it normal for eleven-year-olds to experience a sudden interest in personal style? That's what's going on Annabelle-wise, it seems.
And I bought cards from the radiant (and Portland-departing) proprietress of Swallowfield. They feature this print and are not strictly meant for Christmas, but I'm going to use them thusly, thereby relieving myself of the must-make-my-own-holiday-cards stress that visits me every year on some sadly-late date in December.

And--one last push--if you've not yet submitted your entry for Embroidereading, I'll accept images at the flickr group until the final moments of September 1. Just saying.