CALIFORNIA DREAM'N

"it's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine ... it's summertime!" - Kenney Chesney

In beautiful California when our April showers subside, you know that summer will soon begin.  The beautiful mountainous regions turn from fields of flowery blossoms and grassy green into the Golden State’s famous hills of gold.

It’s when farmer’s markets and street fairs begin to pop up on the streets and people come from local areas to gather, enjoy the fun and fest.

It’s a busy time for local produce farmers to come out to present their most recent crops of summer fruits and veggies.

And Artisans of all types, to show off their beautiful creations and designs.

Summer is best known as a time in which we in California experience the hottest and longest days in the year.  


It is a period of maturing powers and the perfect season for outdoor activities like vacationing, swimming, enjoying the ocean view on the doc or simply lazily laying on the beach sand to soak up a few rays lathered in sunscreen wearing your favorite crochet bikini...watching the children play in the surf.

"Summer was on the way; Jem and I awaited it with impatience.  Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the tree house; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape; but most of all, summer was Dill" 

- Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Summertime

In trying to come up with a good theme for today, all I could think was "summer". As I look outside at the dreary, overcast, drizzly day. (Seriously. Drizzly. I felt speckles of water when I walked out about a half hour ago.)

So, I typed in "cccoe team summer" into the trusty Etsy search bar, and here is some of what I found...

The smells of summer...

Gidget Perfume Oil by Scent by the Sea

And the tastes...

Honeysuckle Gourmet Lollipops by Luxe Lollipops

What's summer without watermelon?

Watermelon applique green stripe dish towel by Leah's Heart

Or sharks?

Shark shorts by 100acreCo

You find sharks at the beach... well, hopefully not! But hopefully you do find sea glass...

Green Melange Beach Mix Sea Glass by Beach Gemming

Or sea stars...

orange sea star paperweight by caroline4art

And what better way to capture the memories?

Mini Album - Summer Fun by studio deb

What makes you think of summer?

Days of Summer

Memorial Day Weekend. The unofficial start of summer. So, what better way to celebrate our three-day weekend and lazy, warm days ahead than to ask our team members about their favorite summer memories...

annie k designs says:

The two-week family vacation. Most families flew but we drove. We live in such a great country and I am lucky to have seen a great deal of it! North Dakota to Texas; Nebraska to North Carolina, Washington DC. I think those vacations fed my wanderlust.  

When going on vacation, you need a travel laundry bag.

Turquoise Hibiscus Travel Laundry Bag

ohmay says:

summer, sun and fun....aloha...

Instant Download PDF Knit Flower Pattern - Hibiscus

Nans Glam says:

When I was young my parents would take me to the tide pools along the California coastline. I would see so many wonderful sea creatures including one of my favorites; abalones. I loved how the shells mimicked the ocean's colors and waves.

Abalone Statement Necklace

Bobbles By Carol says:

I have many memories of family BBQ's in back yards playing croquet. Trips to the beach, which many were spent at the bay, that way our parents could let us 5 girls go in the water without the waves... Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents too...

Patriotic Bracelet

The Crafty Nana says:

Playing baseball in the street in the evening and the address numbers on the sidewalk were our bases...

Sun Hat

And I (Zizi Rho Designs) say:

As a kid, I loved summers as that's when I could raid the library, check out 30 books, and just sit and read. And read. And read.

Knitted Beach or Pool Sandals (for Bare Feet)

What are you looking forward to this summer?

Summery, Sort Of

It's officially summer. So, I went in search of teammates' items that screamed summer to me. And...well, perhaps I didn't exactly come up with the summer collection I'd hoped for. But these are summery, kind of...

What's more summery than a big summer movie? Like the sequel to Monsters Inc.

Monsters Inc Crayon Tote by Not Without Annette

While clutches aren't so summery, necessarily, this washed out orange makes me think of hot days with too much sun.

Orange Clutch by Lulu's Creations

When the weather warms up, I find it uncomfortable to knit, but crochet is fine. And what better to make than a nice lacy top for the warmer weather. (This is a listing for a pattern, not a finished item. But I could see myself wearing that.)

Lacy Layering Halter Tank - PDF Pattern by Foothill Fibers N' Photo

And what better to do during the warmer evenings than to lounge around outside and take in a plant wall hanging?

Silver Industrial Tillandsia Air Plant Wall Hanging by Crazy Art Dolls 

This shelf makes me think of finding weathered objects outside. In the heat.

Reclaimed Wood Shelf by ThisnThat Cafe

As do these brooches.

Porcelain Clay 3 Brooch Grab Bag by Mint Julep Design

And I couldn't do one of my strange collections without some jewelry. Maybe not so summery, but it wouldn't be out place this season. Or any season.

Peace Sign & Dove Charm Bracelet by Love Yew Designs

This post contributed by Liz from Zizi Rho Designs who's not much of a summer aficionado (the cooler weather is better), but whose shop does feature beach sandals and water bottle carriers--perfect for the summer.  

Summer Fun Guide from the California Crafters Club on Etsy

Contributed by Melissa Kojima --- Artist in LA LA Land

I hate to brag, but summertime in California is just the best!  Right?  Right!  Below is my guide to making summer the most fun, and of course, it's a California summer!  No place better!