A Taste of La Conner! – Guest Blogger Leslie Barnes

Thank you to Leslie Barnes, who recently attended a workshop at Gail Harker Creative Studies Center and wrote this post for Gail’s blog (and is allowing us to share it with our readers as well). We love it when guests come to La Conner and discover how very cool our little corner of the world really is! 

© Lynda Williamson

Just returned from session 3 (A &D) and although my suitcases and the supplies inside are still in need of unpacking and sorting, just wanted to do a bit of gushing over Gail’s new digs and the quaint town of La Conner.

We (L, L, and L) fly from Calgary to Abbotsford, rent a car and drive to Gail’s. En route we stop and shop for class supplies and anything else that catches our eye. Bellingham is a favorite pit stop and there we visit Dakota Arts, Stampadoodle and a new find, Sweet Art (the most amazing chocolate treats including turtles and caramels!!). A good thing it is too far to drive to on a whim ….

© Gail Harker 

Gail’s ‘Barn House’ is so amazing! The studio space is warm and inviting with ample display and work areas. The lighting is superb – much natural light and every window offers a view of gardens, fields and shrubs. While Gail will tell you that there is much more for them to do, it already feels like “Gail’s Studio”. La Conner, just minutes from Gail’s (we drove it in a golf cart in good time – what??), offers great shopping and restaurants. A few samplings this time included: La Conner Brewing Co. (clam chowder, Thai chicken pizza, chicken nachos), Nell Thorn (French bistro salad with creamy gorgonzola; con oglio pasta (olive oil, garlic, pepper flakes, Parmesan … )) and some shopping at the Stall and Cottons (silk and wool scarves, beautifully patterned socks and supple leather gloves).

© Lynda Williamson

What more could you ask for?? Coffee!! Coffee????? We realized that there was not a Starbuck’s to be found in La Conner – Oh No!!! (no franchises allowed in La Conner – how cool is that!). Fear not, the coffee addicts in the group are pleased to report that they have La Crema!!! Only minutes away from Gail’s, Troy, the engaging barista (and owner), will get you fixed up with your on-the-way-to-Gail’s latte. By the way … don’t eat breakfast – pickup one of the Scone Lady’s amazing scones at La Crema (Marion berry, lemon and coconut cream … just to name a few). You might just want to order ahead, to avoid disappointment!

© Lynda Williamson

We already feel quite a home at Barn House and look forward to more ‘finds’ in La Conner when we return in 2012. Home is where the heart is and there is much heart in the new Gail Harker studio.

p.s. Do not drive the rented golf cart on the highway – it is OK to drive it in La Conner but illegal on the highway (but only if you get caught) … 2 blondes in a golf cart, what do you expect!!

0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply