Have You Seen the Bride? Katie and Jesse’s Wedding

My friends Katie and Jesse got married and I got to make a few things for their wedding. Man, was it fun. It started with a sash for her wedding dress and moved on to jewelry for the brides maids, jewelry and adorable hair doo-dads for the bride and finally included their cake and petit fours for the guests. It was a really fun wedding to be a part of and everything looked amazing.

All the photography in this post is by The Image Is Found Photography.

Roberts’ Grapes 2012

Nurtured, grown and harvested by my family, then made into a lovely preserve by my friend Margot. I took the photos. And I will eat fruity spread later. You’re welcome. (I’m an incredibly lucky human.) p.s. Isn’t my Mom the cutest?

Jewelry Frames

I made some pretty jewelry frames. Disorganized jewelry makes me sadface.

Pretty easy to do. I took the backs off, removed the glass and saved them for something in the future. I cut pieces of lush and thick upholstery remnants I had stashed (a gift from my niece a few years ago) about 1.5″ larger than the cardboard back pieces all the way around and attached them, pulling tight.

I couldn’t find my glue gun, which I think would have been the best course of action, so I had to do a bit of hand sewing to pull the back pieces towards each other, kind of like a corset. It took way longer than if I’d been able to find my glue gun, but I do love working with my hands, so no harm. I used three different but complimentary fabrics.

I cut some lace strips and sewed them on at intervals along the length, pulling the strips tight and then stitching a tiny bit in the center fronts to hold them in place. My earrings aren’t generally heavy, but I still wanted the lace to stay in place once I had them all hanging.

I screwed hooks along the top of two of the frames to hang my necklaces from. I decided not to pad under the fabric with any batting because I wanted a flatter surface so the earrings and necklaces would lay flat. I think I made the right choice.

I don’t like them so center-focused on my bedroom wall. Right now they are directly across from our bed. I’m thinking I’ll move them to another wall and place something I’d rather stare at in their place.

Mend it Better Book Giveaway!

WE HAVE A WINNER

Thanks to everyone who entered!


Congrats, Jerusalem. I’m emailing you now.
xo









Want to win a copy? See below!

Kristin Roach has written this adorable book called Mend it Better. (Publisher, Storey Publishing) And I’m in it!

The book has full-page color photos and easy to read, step-by-step instructions:

I first met Kristin when I asked her to participate in a craft panel at Blogher in ’07 that I moderated. I wanted her to be a part of it because of her passion of reusing and finding new ways to look at waste and crafting.

Part of her creative journey, which she recounts in the book, is receiving many of her Grandmother’s sewing and craft supplies. It’s a beautiful story. I love how Kristin takes something like patching your clothing, which some people might find embarrassing, and turns it into something not only practical, but beautiful. Wear your patches with pride, indeed!

If you’re into sewing, great writing, inspiration and information, this book is for you.

Check out the Mend it Better website. Want to win your own copy? Leave a comment with your favorite color. Winner to be chose at random. Ends Friday the 16th at midnight, PST.

Golden Tree at Dusk or Let in the Light

When the sun gracefully bends down in the sky to about here

the most beautiful thing happens off my balcony. Before I show you that, let me back up in time just a bit.

When we first moved into this little condo about a year ago, we were in the middle of some very stressful family things. We were distracted and heavy with Life and it was such a stroke of Universe (can I use “Universe” that way? Yes? Good.) that Joe’s aunts owned a place that was becoming available right when we needed it. It made the entire process of trying to find a place so much easier. We just slipped in quietly.

I remember when we walked through, checking out the closet space and shower, looking off the balcony and thinking, yes, this will work. The balcony faced the busy street, but was insulated by large and leafy mature trees. The sound was muffled. You could hardly see the cars whiz by. There were flower scents heavy in the air and hummingbirds flitting around. I thought, as long as there are these trees here, I can stay here. I enjoyed the shade and comfort of those trees every morning and every evening. They created a little nest for me. Quiet, solitary.

Fast forward through time, because we can, to late summer, early fall. Perhaps September? One morning I woke to the sound of a chainsaw. Looking out the window, I saw men in orange vests suspended above ground, deep into my trees, chopping off bits here and there and large branches right in the center of the best, fullest tree, the one I’d come to count on as a buffer to the world. I was devastated.

The next day, as I drank my coffee and glared at the empty spot where the branches used to be and where now nothing but a barren trunk stood, I wished we could move. Immediately. I hated the cars driving by. I hated the increased dust that flew up to the balcony and into the house. I felt betrayed. I spent a lot of time not looking out the balcony doors.

Fast forwarding through time again, somewhere in late November, I noticed some green bits had sprung from the trunk. They were tiny bits of things, nothing like their majestic predecessors, but there they were, all the same. Green and alive and making themselves known. I was begrudgingly impressed with their will to live, but very slow to warm up to them. And then dusk happened.

I sat with my cup of tea and couldn’t tear my eyes away. The honey dripping light blazed the bark to a glow that almost made me cry, but to be fair, I’ve always been a sucker for yellows and browns. The color turned dark amber, and then within seconds, was gone. I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath.

The days were short and the Dusk Tree glow lasted for approximately 47 seconds every evening around 4:30. I couldn’t wait and found myself finding reasons to be hanging around the balcony, waiting to see the light show. I busied myself at dusting the cd cases or talking to the houseplants. My Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura erythroneura) Gracie, (who has always refused to do what she’s supposed to do: pray), and I have historically found ourselves at odds when it comes to air temperature. She’s a picky little thing, wanting no breeze whatsoever, while I prefer a nice flow through the house. We had a lot to talk about.

One particular evening, as the sun dipped low to right above the ocean, Gracie shushed me quiet and began to fold her leaves, doing exactly the thing that her genera is meant to do. The tree outside glowed amber and Gracie, one by one, brought each leaf up and tucked it away. I was quiet, of course, and meditated in my own way.

Early the next morning, I crept out to watch Gracie unfold and welcome the sun. The tree outside was not just a Golden Dusk Tree, it was also a beautiful Back-lit Green Glowing Tree in the morning. I sat on the couch with my coffee and pointed out to Joe how beautiful the light was just then. Yes, he said. No more words were required. Although, at this point, he might argue that me pointing out how beautiful the light is every morning and every night might be more words than are necessary.

Here is a composite of “our” tree:

Boo!

Adorable Ghost Snow Dude created by Tony. GSD is our only Halloween decoration, as I dislike Halloween with the heat of a thousand suns. But when your son makes you an adorable Ghost Snow Dude, well, what can I say. My tiny, shriveled Halloween heart grew three sizes that day.

Introducing DandyGoods.com

You may have noticed I love to create things, jewelry being high on my list of favorite items to fiddle with. So, what the heck. I made a little store. Introducing DandyGoods.com.

To celebrate, please use the (case-sensitive) coupon code DGCOOL25 for 25% off your order. Whee! I hope you find something you love. Below I’ve listed some of my favorites. Click on the image to go straight to the page.
xoxo