Happy Birthday Kjell!

Katerie and Kjell

Last night, Patty & Jimmy Barrier hosted a fun party at Canlis Glass Gallery and Studio to celebrate Kjell Schei's 40th Birthday.  When husband Ken and I arrived, Kjell and Jimmy were standing outside close to the street and both offered to valet park my car for me (which I immediately accepted of course!).  I thought that was a nice touch that both the birthday boy and the party host hopped into my car and took care of finding a place for it.

Leigh & J.P. Canlis

Scott Swerland and friends pulled up just in time for Scott and Ken to connect and walk into the party together.  We walked into the Canlis Glass Gallery and Studio and enjoyed seeing the fascinating glass art pieces by artist and studio owner, J.P. Canlis.  Beautiful Leigh Canlis was also on hand to greet the guests looking striking in her fitted black dress, though she is currently five months pregnant and expecting her second daughter in December.

Patty had pulled together a bunch of photos from the past that featured Kjell with all of his friends.   Everyone enjoyed poring over the photos to find pictures of themselves and others that they recognized.

Patty Barrier, Lisa Cooney, Bunny Vena

In addition to a lovely buffet featuring salmon sliders and sushi, guests sipped wines from Hedges Family Estate which Ken and I had transported from the winery back to Bellevue the prior weekend when we visited the Hedges on Red Mountain.  Favorite, homemade miniature red velvet cupcakes were the featured, special dessert.  Additional entertainment included the opportunity to watch J.P. Canlis at work heating glass rods up to around 500 degrees Fahrenheit in order to build individual glass wheat stalks.  It was fascinating to watch how long it takes to build each stalk and how patient J.P. has to be to make it happen. 

JJ McKay, Anne-Marie & Tom Hedges

It was so nice to see and catch up with some of Kjell's friends that we see only from time to time.  It was also fun to see old friends, Anne-Marie & Tom Hedges, JJ McKay, Pat Wallace, Bunny & Michael Vena, Sinead & Bijal Shah, Christine Bloch & Joel Jackson, and Ginny & John Meisenbach there to celebrate with Kjell. 

Some of the other attendees included Kjell's sister, Carrie Schei and Adam Brotman, Mike Schreck and Leslie Fischer, Liz & Brian Quinn, Bradley & Sistie Dickinson and Mark & Lisa Beebe.

Lisa & Mark Beebe & Mike Schreck & Leslie Fischer

Toasts from the heart were shared with Kjell by Patty Barrier, Scott Swerland, JJ McKay, Dean Waller, Ken Hatch and me.  Though Patty had specifically requested "brief" toasts, Ken and Dean may have tied for the most lengthy and verbose toasts, though both were extremely sincere.  Ken and I both reiterated to Kjell that we love him and think of him as a member of our family.

Happy 40th Birthday, Kjell!  We all look forward to sharing many more magial years with you!

Watching J.P. work on glass