Well, everything is in order. I have my tree, gifts wrapped up in muslin bags, and...oh, yeah, some fresh gingerbread that will be coming out of the oven later today. Yesterday I wasn't feeling so much of the Christmas cheer that I used to look forward to as a kid. Then my aunt passed on some great advice to me: "Just do what you love." There are few things I love more than delicious, homemade food, so what better way to create some cheer in my home than the smells of traditional winter foods cooking in a hot oven. I found a recipe that calls for lots of fresh ginger, orange zest, and a cup of whole milk. Yum! And so, on this eve of Christmas, I am finally getting into the spirit and making my own cheer. I wish you all the best (and lots of warmth and delicious food) over this holiday season, and all the cheer that can fit into your own oven. Happy Christmas!
0 Comments
Remember the Wisecraft Handmade book release contest I entered at the end of October? Well, guess what? I won! I found out yesterday during Goen's nap. I was perusing my favorite sites when I noticed this post on the Wisecraft Handmade blog. As soon as I saw the title "Contest Winner" I got super excited and anxious all at the same time. I forced myself to only scroll down far enough to read the next line, partly to hold off the excitement and partly because I was afraid I would be disappointed. When I finally got to the end of the post and saw my name (in lights, it seemed), I almost squealed. No lie. I had to put my hand over my mouth just in case one accidentally slipped out. I was finally able to do my Happy Dance after Goen woke up. I danced around the room with him singing out loud. He enjoyed it so much he kept asking for more. So we spent the next half hour spinning, sashaying, and squealing delightedly around the room until I got dizzy and had to stop. I emailed my address immediately, of course, and am now eagerly awaiting my prize in the mail. I'll be sure to show it off as soon as it arrives. Eep! I'm so excited! And, just so you can share in my excitement, here is a little reenactment of my happy dance.
I wasn't really planning to put up a tree this year, or any decorations at all for that matter. It's hard enough to keep Goen from pulling ornaments off our story vine. So I wasn't thrilled about the idea of getting a tree and finding a place to put it, somewhere that was out of the way but where we could still enjoy it. Our house is set up in order to maximize toddler-approved space, and a tree was not in the plans. But then a package arrived in the mail from my dear, sweet mother. Inside the brown cardboard box was a neat wool pom pom garland and a couple ornaments. Of course, then I had to find a way to make a tree happen so I could have a place to put them and admire them. There are so many cool, non-traditional, small-space tree ideas out there (this one is my favorite), but we have nowhere to put it that is out of toddler hands. Then I came up with a brilliant idea, one involving the oak tree that fell into our backyard (and is still resting on the eaves of our place and the one next door). I cut off a bunch of small, leafy branches, trimmed them, and bundled them together. A visit to the bushes outside our complex resulted in several bundles of red berries. Then I had my husband bring home a vase from his classroom. I also grabbed the brown packing paper that had been in the box my mom sent. Although I have never taken a flower arranging class before, I think I did a pretty good job of putting it all together. This little "tree" now sits on our dining table where we can enjoy it for the rest of the year. And I even had a little gift for Goen to put under it. Do you have any toddler-friendly, out-of-the-way tree ideas that work for you? How do you handle keeping small hands out of the gifts under your tree? Six months. I have been blogging here for six months. That's half of a year! I can hardly believe that time has gone by so fast (though if you had asked me as it was happening I would have said it was dragging by). Now, looking back at my archives, it feels like the past months have just zoomed by. Part of the reason it felt so slow at the time was that I didn't get to spend much time at my sewing machine. Once Goen was able to reach the reverse button, it was all over and I could only sew when my husband took him on an outing, which wasn't nearly as often as I would have liked. This past week, we noticed that he was tall enough to reach my machine when he stood on his tip-toes. That spurred us to find a solution for my sewing dilemma. The change we came up with was to move my sewing stuff into the garage. We have a two-car garage and one car, so there is plenty of room to set up a little sewing studio, and that is just what we did. Now I can actually sew while my toddler sleeps since he can't hear me down in the garage, two flights below. My husband was joking with me about now having all his "car"s in one place. Ha ha, honey. I love a good joke.
Here is a little photo tour of my new space, a semi-blog-birthday gift to myself! Over the weekend we went to a pool party and barbecue at David's sister's house to celebrate the beginning of another school year (she is a teacher, too). The weather was sunny and warm, the house casting enough of a shadow over the pool to make everyone happy. We had brought a couple pool noodles for Goen to play with. Although he had played with them at home in the living room with no problems, he did not like them being in the pool. He pointed and squealed until I got the hint and tossed the noodles out onto the deck. This was only the third time he had been in a pool, so we spent a few minutes helping him get used to it. One of his favorite games at home is when I say," Ready? Set? Go!" and then he jumps off whatever surface he happens to be on. I played this with him off and on the whole time we were in the pool and he loved it. Any time he felt scared to jump, he reached forward to pull my hands closer to his body. He may jump off the bed, couch, and baseboard heaters, but this kid knows his limits.
Goen and I spent the whole time at the shady shallow end of the pool. I would have liked to play around a bit myself, but a mama's job is never over. When the shadows lengthened and it started to turn chilly, the two of us got out, dried, and changed. While everyone else finished swimming, I finished up my massaged salad for dinner (a recipe I will be sharing with you all quite soon). I peeled little cuties to put into the salad, though many segments were diverted to Goen (he loves those things). Dinner preparations proceeded at a leisurely pace. When the eggplant came off the grill, I managed to feed Goen a few pieces before he remembered he doesn't like eggplant. Then the chicken came off and he ate lots of that (dark meat, of course, and pre-chewed). Then he discovered there was cheese on the table, at which point he refused to eat anything other than delicious baby Swiss. We cleaned up and then it was time for dessert. I had made Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies using this recipe (though I did hold back a little on the white sugar), which we paired with ice cream. It was delicious. As the gloaming hour approached, Goen made it clear that he was ready for bed. I ate another bite or two of ice cream (okay, maybe it was three) and then carried all our stuff out to the car while David held Goen. We gave hugs good-bye then loaded ourselves in the car and drove home. It was a fun and relaxing time for all. We were able to forget, for a few hours at least, all the work that still needs to be done in the classroom in preparation for back-to-school night. It was nice to get together with family and enjoy food together. And you know it was a successful get-together when you can't wait for the next one. And I hope the next one comes soon, because Fall is just around the corner. Part of my family drove up from Southern California to celebrate my birthday (officially, it was last week) and stayed with us for the weekend. On Saturday we had a dinner party and cake (which I made myself), on Sunday we went to a museum and had dinner at the park, and Monday morning we went to the woods. A lot happened during those three days, but here it is in brief. Dinner and Cake and Ice Cream: I didn't get pictures of my party, but it was just a small get-together at our house. We had hamburgers with fresh tomato and avocado and fruit salad on the side. I spent most of the morning making my cake using this recipe. I changed it up a little bit by using hot cocoa made with milk instead of coffee, which just made it even yummier. Bay Area Discovery Museum: The Discovery Museum in Sausalito is (or at least can be) a great place for kids (and adults) of all ages. Everything is hands-on and imagination oriented. There are lots of outdoor activities, such as hula-hoops, percussion instruments, climbing structures, raised streams, and foam building blocks. If there had not been so many kids playing with the foam blocks, I daresay I would have joined in on the fun. I did hula hoop, though, and was quite impressed with myself because I remembered some of what I learned in bellydancing class about bending my knees to get the side-to-side hip motion. After that, we went to the art building. One of the tables had magnetic blocks, and this is where Goen went first. At another table they had paper, maps, scissors, glue, and markers. The theme of the day was "Where would you go?" I quickly gravitated to this table and Goen and my brother Dalton soon followed. I decided to make myself a birthday present, although when I started cutting I had no idea what it would be. I cut spirals from squares of maps and glued them to a folded piece of orange construction paper. Here I am with my finished art piece. I guess it turned out to be a mobile of sorts. The paper hangs down in cascading arms that intertwine with one another. Despite all the fun things there were to do, I think Goen's favorite part was chasing the birds. They were moderately used to people, so they stayed on the ground and hopped away until he got really close, and then they would fly a short distance and the game would continue. Dinner in the Park: After nap time and a run to JoAnn's to pick out a birthday present from my parents, we went to the park for dinner and to let all the kids run. It was a perfectly warm day. I (sort of) had a chance to sit and talk to my family while Goen played. My mom got a chance to hold her grandson, but only for a moment since he was intent on running (maybe next time mom). It got chilly as the sun went behind the mountains, so sweaters went on for everyone. This is a cute sweater I picked up from a secondhand shop in Fairfax. I just love the fish and the green is my favorite shade for Goen. Goen, Dalton, and MariJane played together for a while. I like that my family is able to visit often enough that Goen can build a relationship with them. Every time they visit, I can tell that he is more comfortable with them and less shy. We went home when the wind started to blow chilly gusts. Leftover cake and ice cream was on the dessert menu. Muir Woods: Yes, another trip to Muir Woods (my third since we bought our annual pass about a month ago). But part of the beauty of nature is that it looks different every time. Perhaps it is a result of looking at it with new eyes. Either way, it was a treat to see it with my family, who always appreciate the outdoors. Instead of going on the boardwalk as we usually do, we went on the paved trail (through the entrance and to the left over bridge one). It loops around back to the entrance and had more opportunities to get really close top the trees. There are several close enough to touch and smell and one that has a burned out section large enough to stand in. The overcast sky and shade of the trees combined to make picture-taking difficult (one of the drawbacks of a 50mm lens). Luckily, this picture of my family came out okay. The section of tree they are standing in front of was about 1000 years old when it came down. One last picture of me and the kids and then we left. We drove home, said our farewells, and my family set off for their own home in Southern California. You'll be back before my next birthday, right guys? Maybe Christmas... A daughter can dream. Whew! It's been a full week of posts. But here is the cherry on the sundae. My sister planned for over two years how she wanted her wedding to be. And her planning showed in the details. Here is a photo tour of the wedding ceremony and the reception that followed later in the day. The Ceremony Family and friends arrive at the Ventura pier in Southern California, the wedding will take place on the shore beneath the pier. Ventura is about 15 minutes from the town where my siblings and I grew up, so it is a special place. Before the ceremony, we wait for the groom and everyone else to get in place. I take the opportunity to get a few pictures. Here is my dad and Kristin as they wait to walk down the beach. My brother Dalton acts as ring bearer. I snap this picture without him knowing it. He looks so contemplative, looking off into the distance. The rings are tied to a handmade burlap and lace pillow with twine. Along with each ring is a dog tag stamped with "Beauty" for her and "Beast" for him. My sister admires her bouquet one last time as she gets the go ahead from down the beach. Everything is ready! With a big grin on her face, Kristin walks onto the sand and towards her sweetheart. A proud dad by her side, they walk arm in arm. My sister MariJane is the flower girl. But, instead of flower petals, she is scattering little pebbles at the feet of the procession. Then the bridesmaids (except for me since I ran ahead to get the picture) all in red. It is a slow walk because of the sand, but then I suppose it is supposed to be a slow walk anyway. Inch by inch, we get closer to the chosen spot. As per tradition, Zachary still has not seen her dress. It is an exciting moment! And then he sees her and she sees him. It is a touching moment. Everyone has a smile on their face, and a few have joyful tears. The ocean beats on the sand and the wind blows in our ears so it is hard to hear. My brother-in-law Steve (in the center) begins the ceremony. When he gets to the vows, Kristin goes first. She sings a song she wrote herself. Zachary speaks eloquently of his love for my sister. More tears, and I can't stop my own. After some wonderful words read by the best man and my sister Averie, it is all over. But it has only just begun. We take many pictures of the wedding party. Here is one of almost all of my immediate family (my brother and his wife were unable to attend) plus one aunt. And here is just the sisters: Me, Annie, Kristin, and Averie. The pier supports created a wonderful neutral backdrop for all the pictures. It was a lovely wedding, but the celebration is only just beginning. Taking Photos After the Ceremony We spend quite a while taking pictures after the wedding. My sister has a nasty sunburn to show for it. But we get some pretty shots for them to remember this special day. The Reception The wedding is over by 11:30, but the reception doesn't start until 5:00. It's a good thing, though, because there is still a lot to do to prepare. We manage to finish almost everything before guests start arriving. Kristin put together this table. On the left is a box for cards tied with red and black tulle. On the right is a shadow box frame with a slot cut in the top. Instead of a gift registry, the couple requested donations for their future home purchase. The stickers on the front spell "home fund" and inside is a little painted wood house and their engagement picture. Right in front of the home fund is a copy of the Dr. Seuss book Oh, the Places You'll Go, which they used as a guest book. Guests were asked to sign wherever they liked. Here is another of Kristin's brilliant ideas. Messages in a bottle. Every table has a bottle on it and slips of paper and pens. Each bottle bears a label for a significant anniversary, starting with the honeymoon and going to 50 years. Everyone writes advice, suggestions, quotes, or other fun stuff and puts them in the bottles. The bottles will stay sealed until the anniversary listed on the label. It was lots of fun to come up with things to write for each bottle. The bottles are reused sparkling juice bottles with a chalkboard label, some ribbon, and stickers. They are also filled halfway with sand. After everyone has a chance to digest their food, we bring out the cake. Kristin and Zachary cut the first piece together. If you missed it, check out the cake post to see how we made the cake. It was delicious! After they feed one another a bite of the cake, Zachary puts a dab on Kristin's nose. She tries to do the same to him, but he is so tall that she can't reach when he backs away from it. While the guests finish their cake, the father/daughter and mother/son dance begins. It is a slow dance and both couples have a good time dancing and chatting with their respective parent. My sister has a smaller (and less special) bouquet for throwing. Dalton catches it, but when my brother Jerem tells him the significance of catching the bouquet, Dalton gets a funny look on his face and drops the flowers on the ground. Kristin wore her garter under her pants (she didn't want to wear her dress at the reception; they wanted it to be less formal), so Zachary has a hard time getting it off. As per tradition, he uses his teeth. Zachary throws the garter to the small crowd of guests and MariJane catches it. Of course, she doesn't know the story behind it either, but she is a bit young anyway. My brother Jerem in the center wearing a shirt I designed and painted many years ago. And then the dancing begins. Most of the guests had left, so it is just my family. It is lots of fun spinning and bouncing along with the music with all of them. I know, my sister Averie is in every picture of the dancing, but she has so much exuberance that it's hard not to photograph her moves. After all the guests leave and everyone else is inside cleaning up, Kristin quietly comes to get me. She asks if I will take some pictures as she and Zachary have one last dance alone in the fading light. (I didn't want to use a flash and end up with flat pictures, so they are a little fuzzy, but in a pleasingly artistic way.) And then they leave for their honeymoon and their new life as a married couple. Oh, the places they'll go! Thanks for joining me for Wedding Week. It was a fun way to continue the celebrations. I hope you enjoyed the tour. If you use any of the ideas or tutorials from this week, please leave a comment with a link to some pictures. I always like to see how other people use ideas in their own way. Here is the final Wedding Week installment before the event photo tour. This post is all about the dress my sister wore for her wedding. But, of course, it is no ordinary dress... Kristin's wedding dress was made by our mom. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of its construction since I was not awake when most of the sewing was done (she was up a lot of late nights right up until the day before the wedding!). However, my sister hired a great wedding photographer (me) and had a wonderful assistant wedding planner (our sister Annie) helping design photo ops. So, I have many pictures of the finished dress. Plus, I will let you know about the little details that made it such a gorgeous wedding dress. The pattern is Simplicity 3878, but with a few minor alterations, which I will detail below. The waistband was done in black satin. The wrinkled effect looks divine when worn. The bust has a layer of tulle added to it (not called for in the pattern). Since she used black tulle over white fabric rather than matching colors, it looks much better with the tulle over the bust as well as the skirt. Another detail that was added are the little red flowers cascading down one side of the dress. They start just below the waistband on the left side of the dress and continue all the way to the bottom. They are attached with a dab of hot glue on each one. The tulle over the skirt is a double layer, rather than the single layer called for in the pattern, which provides a more substantial look. This picture shows how the flowers are placed on the tulle. There is enough distance between each flower that they are still spaced appropriately when the skirt folds and flutters. You can just imagine they are dropping from a tree and spinning gracefully to the ground. It is a beautiful effect. Here is another view of the bust. The tulle continues up over the edge to create a small ruffle. There is also a flouncy underskirt to be worn under the dress to give it a fuller look and add some bounce. Along with the dress, she wore these shoes. They are Soda wedge espadrilles in red canvas. I imagine they were a little difficult to walk in on the beach, but easier than regular high heels. The shoes went perfectly with the tiny red flowers on the side of the dress. And, if you notice in the header picture on the opening post to Wedding Week, the red theme is continued in the veil. Here is the whole ensemble. I always thought it was difficult to recreate professional-looking photographs, but all it really takes is a sheer curtain, some morning light, and a camera with a decent lens. Oh, and no flash. Nothing ruins a picture faster than a flash (unless you have a really high end one). But I'm getting off topic. The setup is perfect for scrapbooking or for a collage frame of a wedding. Everything appears as if the bride is just about to get dressed and ready to meet the groom. I can't help but sigh. I've enjoyed showing you all the loveliest pieces of my sister's wedding. The dress is the final post before the event photo tour. Check out tomorrow's post to see the dress in action.
|
Carley Biblin
Hi. My name is Carley. I love to sew, craft, and create. As a Jane-of all-crafts so to speak, I enjoy sewing, writing, cooking, drawing, photographing. But the constant thread (if you'll excuse the pun) throughout my weeks is needle arts. Archives
January 2017
Categories
All
|