advent arrival

Yesterday, we started the advent calendar. Because it's already December, you know. Can you believe it?

Every year Silhouette comes out with a limited edition advent calendar set, and they're usually more pricey than I'm willing to spend. Through this blog, however, I used a 40-percent-off coupon code and nabbed this baby for a steal. The kit included the frame, clips, and a download card with all the exclusive envelope and holiday designs.

I spent hours on this. The Silhouette machine is pretty amazing, but it doesn't let you off the hook entirely. I had to keep track of what element needed to be cut in which color and then re-cut the elements that the machine messed up. Then there was the sewing and gluing. This calendar demanded much of my time and patience, so it's a good thing I'm thrilled with the outcome because this little guy will be gracing our walls for many Christmases to come.

I filled each day with a small activity. Some of the cards coincide with our calendar and most of them are things we'd do anyway: the church Christmas party, drinking hot chocolate, watching the Mormon Christmas devotional, turning on It's a Wonderful Life. Seven of the days correspond to chapters from 

A Christ-Centered Christmas, a book that helps you and your family infuse more Christ into your Christmas calendar. I think my favorite card is "Rock around the Christmas tree." I don't remember which day I assigned that activity to, but I can't wait.

If you're interested in buying your own Silhouette machine (I love mine--Josh gave it to me for Christmas two years ago), troll these blogs for giveaways and coupon codes (this is not a sponsored post--I'm just trying to help you find deals if you're interested!):

Little Miss Momma
Eighteen 25
I Am Momma, Hear Me Roar

I think one of the things I love most about Christmas is the anticipation. I love the music, the outings, the buildup. What do you do to anticipate Christmas? Do you have an advent calendar?

the nursery

 

 

 

 

 

ABC art: designed in Adobe Illustrator, printed through MPix, frames from Michaels

Prince of Peace: $18.95 with employee discount

Rise and Shine: pegboard from Home Depot ($6.95), wire baskets from Home Depot ($11.95) and spray painted, Rise and Shine made with my Silhouette and painted with paint on-hand

Giant horrifying moose: The one thing Josh requested for his birthday, which doesn't fit anywhere else in the apartment except by the Diaper Genie, Costco

ASHER letters: made using this tutorial

Crib and dresser (also from JCPenney, but currently unavailable)

Bedding: bumper fabric ($5.98 per yard), bumper ties and dust ruffle band ($6.98 per yard), bumper piping ($5.98 per yard), dust ruffle (Kona solid from Joann, can't remember yardage price)

Dinosaur silhouettes: 12x12 canvases from Michaels, stencils made with my Silhouette, paint on-hand

Glider: Craig's List ($40), recovered cushions ($6.98 per yard)

End table: Homegoods ($50, used a gift card)

Book basket: Homegoods ($10)

Lamp: Bed, Bath, and Beyond ($15, used coupon)

Celtic knot art: hand-drawn gift from friend 

 

There are still a few spaces on the nursery walls that could use a little something extra, but for now I'm perfectly pleased with all of it.



another overdue reunion

I almost don't want to tell you the last time I took out my sewing machine. (Think Christmas.) I know. So after Christmas sewing I started battling first-trimester nausea and had little energy for anything but Gilmore Girls and necessary laundry. Then I started getting back up on my feet again and geared up for moving.

Now I'm mostly unpacked and getting ready for a baby, trying to balance work, settling in, and striving for more conscientious housekeeping. And really, I have a hard time being motivated to sew for myself when I'm only going to get bigger.

But last week, I had an itch. A sewing itch. I wanted to cut out fabric and feel the pleasure of feeding it through the machine needle, the satisfaction of pressing newly stitched textiles.

So I found some scrap fabric and made an apron. I even pulled out the aqua jumbo ric-rac. My machine was so happy to stitch, and I felt joyous at this reunion. I spent an afternoon creating, and boy, did it feel good.

I also finished some kitchen embroidery that I still need to hang up. I just like looking at it all. So happy.

My dearest sewing machine, I promise I will not wait four months to take you out again. That sewing hiatus was far too long. Start thinking Babe's nursery.

domination

Remember the time when I successfully installed an invisible zipper on the first try without crying even once (unlike my first experience with an invisible zipper)?

Because I do, and it feels awesome.

a week in snapshots

A treat in the washer--better than finding cash in your coat? I can't decide.

Shattered eyeshadow--sad, sad, sad

Investing in mini loaf pans to optimize pumpkin bread baking--obviously

My name in the acknowledgments of a book I worked on at the Maxwell Institute--awesome. I feel like a secret celebrity at my new job. But really, I'm sure I'm the only one who feels that way.

Josh stocked up on more wooden models, especially since it looks like Michael's isn't going to stock them anymore.

Krylon Glitter Blast spray paint + fake pumpkins--you see where I'm going with this? I knew you'd love it too.

My favorite vignette in the home currently--I loved doing the embroidery projects (the reading mudflap image was Josh's idea, actually), and I sustained several hot glue burns while assembling the wreath. The Trick-or-Treat art was a birthday present from my mother. I love it all. (PS--Did you notice the hint of teal ribbon I used to finish the inside of the wreath? I love that final touch. And attn: Allison: please note my beloved Asher Lev copy peeking out from under Trick-or-Treat frame. )

This weekend I'm going to settle in to listen to General Conference, the semiannual meeting where we get to hear from our prophet. Thought that prophets existed only for the Bible? Think again, and be really glad you did. I know I am.

I hope your week was as good as mine and that your weekend is delightful!

my week in review

{via}

:: Monday we did nothing. And loved it. Oh wait, we hung out with our friends Craig, Shilah, and John. It was lovely.

:: I started a five-day temp job on Wednesday. It's in a much closer location, and parking is free. While it's a thoroughly boring job, my supervisor gave me express permission to do whatever I want to fill the time. Hello, Pinning, blog reading, and book reading.

:: This job is two minutes away from the temple, so one day for lunch I ate my sandwich on the temple grounds. It was lovely.

:: I finally got my birthday package from the family. We've had quite the postal service fiasco: They tried to deliver it, didn't get a signature, and took it back to the post office without leaving a message in my box telling me so. So for a week I've been bugging my complex office and the mailman trying to find my package when really it was at the post office the whole time. The package was worth the frustration, however; I'm talking wedding photo book, people. And a cake plate and dome.

:: I went to Joann's during my lunch today and bought six patterns on sale. (Here's the thing: You buy sewing patterns only when they're on sale. I'm talking $1-4 sale, here.) I found some pretty fabric for a good deal but the cutting line was so long I had to duck out before they called my number.

:: No joke, I started planning my Christmas gifts. I want to make some and buy some, and I want to start now so December doesn't catch me off guard. This is the first time I've had this much holiday foresight, and I'm hoping it sticks.

:: I'm ready to decorate for fall and Halloween, and I'm thrilled about it.

:: I have a few autumn clothes I'd like to sew, but we'll play it by ear. In my head, though, all my ideas turn out perfectly darling.

knowing when to call it a day

I knew it was time to put the sewing machine away for the night when I sewed the zipper through the entire dress twice.

Regardless, I like how this project is turning out. Just call this a minor setback.

I'll tackle it tomorrow.

the ultimate setup

Pretty much this is the setup I've been enjoying every afternoon all week. Not pictured is the television in front of my dining-table-turned-sewing-table, so I've been polishing off season seven of Gilmore Girls and the movie Mansfield Park.

Since becoming unemployed my computer time has reduced to a mere fraction of what it used to be, resulting in over 200 unread blog posts in my Google Reader and no pinning for days. This computer break is kind of nice, really. When I hit the job search hard again, though, I'll inevitably spend more time on the computer and will hopefully return to blogging regularly and commenting and pinning.

And when I hit the job search hard, I'll have to confront the looming threat of the professional life crisis that's been hovering over my mind and emotions, the crisis that will force me to define what I want and what I'm going to do, the crisis that will very likely compel me to take some risks. But for today, I'll ignore the crisis cloud and transform the dining table into a sewing table and continue watching Downton Abbey on Netflix.

domestic battles

One of the things I most love about post–college graduation and marriage is the time I have to cultivate domesticity. I love wearing aprons and baking and sewing and decorating. We know this.

Lately, however, domesticity has been giving me a run for my money. I've had a few successes, but I have also lost several battles. Please review the following case studies.

01. The grease-stained shirt, possible points: 1
I bought a new taupe shirt from DownEast Basics, and I was really excited about it. I've been needing new basics, and this was perfect. My first time wearing it I was cooking pork chops and butter splattered from the pan onto my brand new shirt (lesson: always wear an apron). I washed it right away (like, I left the pork chops in the pan as I stripped through the kitchen to get my shirt in the wash), but the stains remained. After I tried Mom's suggestion to treat the stains with dish detergent, I ended up washing the shirt about five more times before the stains came out. But, they came out. In fact, I'm wearing the shirt today. Success.

02. The wraparound skirt, possible points: 2
Mom directed me to this really cute wraparound skirt pattern that was advertised as a one-hour project. I found the perfect fabric and, after a trip back to get more fabric after a cutting mishap, I went to town. I learned to hand-hem, because I don't like the blind-hem stitch on my machine. Using a dress Mom made me as a reference, I taught myself how to hem by hand, I was very pleased with the results. Success.

Then I set out Saturday night to finish it, and the waistband was completely backwards. The skirt ended up even less finished than when I started working on it. (One-hour project? False.) Failure.

03. The Boston Cream Pie, possible points, 4 (because ganache counts as 2, obviously)
The first thing I said to Josh as we got in the car to go home: "I hate the cake." I don't even think I'll save the leftovers.

Part A. The cake
I don't even want to talk about it. But I do, because I'm so mad. I looked up a sponge cake recipe from Cook's Illustrated, because how can they lead you astray, right? The cake turned out tough and holey. Cakes elude me, readers, and I really wish I could figure them out. Whenever I make them, they don't rise very high, and sometimes—like in this case—they actively seek to do me in. Failure.

Part B. The custard
This part worked out fine. I like making custard, and so far, it's never let me down. If you can't find me, chances are I'm watching Gilmore Girls and eating the leftover custard by the spoonful to drown the rest of my Boston Cream Pie failures. Success.

Part C. The ganache
Don't even get me started. I think this counts as negative two points actually. Every single time I've made ganache it turns out thick and smooth and delicious. This time it was runny and grainy. I couldn't even look at it. Failure.

Final tally: Domesticity— 4; Me—3

So maybe I'm not losing by as much as I thought I was. Domesticity is sometimes elusive, I've learned. And when I get frustrated I have to remind myself that my mom and grandma have had years and years more of domestic experience than I've had. And really, catching up to domesticity shouldn't be so hard when I'm only one point behind.

Wish me luck. And maybe volunteer to clean up the Boston Cream Pie that I'm ready to smash on the ground. Thanks.

a very non-crafty Easter outfit

:: headband, CJW
:: earrings and necklace, Grandma (or CJP, if you prefer), also worn at my wedding
:: white cardigan, Gap, $15
:: green shirt, DownEast Basics, $10.99
:: polka-dot skirt, CJW
:: taupe shoes, Ann Taylor outlet, $42 on sale

No comments on any skirt craftiness said all day. Success.

All skirts and vanity aside, Easter was wonderful. It's probably my favorite thoughtful holiday. I'll reference last year's Easter post here. This time is a time of pure rejoicing--and we have so many reasons to rejoice. He lives, and He triumphs. What better reason to celebrate than that?

sometimes when you sew a skirt

:: Sometimes you start sewing a skirt with trepidation.
:: Because the last time you made a skirt, the reception was iffy.
:: But you're really excited about this one.
:: Because you've already made one skirt.
:: Even if it was "crafty."
:: So you start sewing.
:: And it's going great.
:: Until you insert the damn invisible zipper and realize you did it wrong.
:: So you take it out and try again.
:: And that damn invisible zipper still didn't go in right.

:: And then you have a meltdown.
:: You might not have the heart (or time) to pick up the skirt again for another week.
:: And when you do, you still have to tackle that damn invisible zipper.
:: Twice.
:: Because you did it wrong.
:: Again.
:: And then you realize that you put the waistband on upside down.
:: Because you sewed the waistband on upside down, you thought you cut the skirt pieces out wrong and trimmed off the "extra fabric."
:: So you take the whole skirt apart and re-cut the skirt front and back pieces.

:: And you sew the whole thing all over again.
:: Including the damn invisible zipper.
:: Twice.
:: But the waistband is on correctly this time.
:: Phew.
:: So you stitch-the-ditch and trim your thread until you're ready to hem.
:: And you try our your blind-hem presser foot this time.
:: You love it.
:: You press the skirt.
:: And try it on.
:: But you don't post any pictures of you in the skirt, because you couldn't get a decent one no matter what you tried.

:: For a second skirt, it's not that bad.
:: Maybe even a little less crafty than the first one.

dreaming versus doing

I spend lots of time on the internet. Lots. And most of that online time happens at work (who wants to spend time at the computer at home when that's all you do at work?). When I'm not making FedEx labels, sorting invoices and expense reports to send to the corporate office, calling couriers, restocking the three Coca-Cola fridges in the office, or getting hot chocolate at the Pearl Bakery, I'm reading blogs, finding new blogs to read, adding items to my Amazon Universal Wishlist (genius), and since last week, pinning on Pinterest (addiction).

Resulting from this continual online investment is a bevy of new blogs in my Google Reader and almost 150 Pinterest pins amassed within one week. I have so many ideas for home decor, parties, crafting, DIYing, recipes, and color combinations, not to mention the punctuation and signage art with which I want to adorn everything. And don't forget my new wardrobe that exists only in Pinterest pins and the birthday parties I'm ready to plan for my imaginary children (let's just say that when I have a girl, she'll be set).

In this idea-collecting process, I've found creative energy and motivation, an excitement for the endless possibilities available to me. That's a fun feeling. One of my priorities is to create a beautiful home and do that while living within our means. The ocean of blogs and websites overflows with ideas to achieve both those ends. In cases like this I love the internet.

The thing is, my imagination gets ahead of my life; I don't have the time (or the means) to do all of this all at once. I make time for many things I love, and that also means I have to pick and choose. I also have other domestic responsibilities, like laundry and grocery shopping (we're currently on day three of really needing more dish soap), so I have to balance the necessary things with the nice-to-do things. Balancing my wants and needs isn't difficult usually, but there is an aspect that is especially frustrating about my current situation: I wish that I could spend more time doing instead of dreaming. And really, don't we all?

So right now I'm doing as much as I can and still dreaming so that I'll never run out of things to do. And with Pinterest on my side, I'll probably never be low on ideas.

my latest "craft" project

My sewing has been progressing nicely. I finished up curtains. I've had a few more fabric-buying excursions, and I've even bought fabric for a pattern that's not in my sewing book. I'm that serious now.

Last night I finished my first clothing project since the skort I completed when I was nine. I made a wraparound skirt. When I picked out the fabric, I even had a whole outfit in mind for this skirt. It was a great transition project into apparel sewing because it combined new and old concepts into something that wasn't too hard and still increased the sewist's confidence.

I found a few things I could have done differently, but I thought that, for a first piece of clothing (since I started sewing more seriously) I did pretty well. It's even green for St. Patrick's Day. {Please excuse my lanky post-work hair}

So when I came into work today and one of my co-workers complimented me on my skirt, some pride welled up inside me.

I felt even further validated when he asked me where I got it. "Oh, I made it!" I confidently answered.

"Oh, I was wondering. It has that crafty feel to it."

. . . Thanks? All my confidence, pride, and validation went mostly out the window.

While I do aspire to be a craft master, I want the things I make to have style. Especially the clothes. I don't want my clothes to look like a craft project. Which apparently, right now, they do.

So with a little more trepidation than I had before, I'm headed into my next skirt project. Or, should I say, craft project.

like Powell's for fabric

Continuing in the vein of my last post, I'm going to tell you about a new favorite place of mine. A couple of weeks ago I was telling Karen (remember, she's my MIL) about my sewing progress (she gave me the book I've been using), and she told me about this store in northeast Portland called Fabric Depot. Um, yes, please.

So last Saturday I went.

And the sight that met me upon entering the store stopped me in my tracks.

Yes, it's like Powell's for fabric. I hardly knew where to start. I had a few specific projects to buy fabric and notions for, so at least I had some direction. But still. FD has a section dedicated to fabric with food prints. And there's an entire section for fake fur. I had to stop myself from stopping in the yarn section—yes, the yarn section. Plus the home deco fabric in the back. Plus the pattern corner. And the whole second half of the store is dedicated to notions (funny story: when I was a teenager and my mom was making my prom dress—told you she was good—she talked about getting notions for the dress, and I was confused and thought she meant ideas, like, "Hey, that's a good notion! What a great idea!" False. And yes, that was a seriously run-on sentence.)

I wish I'd taken a picture of my cart by the time I went to the cutting station, but just imagine a tiny cart overflowing with at least six bolts of fabric plus notions and a pillow form. The fabric was a little on the spendy side, even with everything 20-percent off, but this time I was okay with that. (I told Josh I would spend more than a little!)

Spoils of the day:

The only downside to this textiles excursion? I forgot the zipper I need in the cart when checking out. And it was the perfect color. {insert mild expletive here}

So. If any of you aspiring craft masters happen to be in the Portland area (whether specifically to come to Casa Wilson or not, though I can't tell you how much fun it would be to have visitors), I'd be happy to take you to the Powell's of fabric, Fabric Depot. And Powell's itself. Obviously.

**Don't forget that tomorrow is the 12th—pull out your cameras and get ready to take some pictures! I know I will!**

a love affair

I'm in love. So in love. With my sewing machine. I love it.

Love. it.

I really have no idea why my interest in sewing didn't spark earlier. Like, a-decade-ago earlier. You see, my mom is the master seamstress, the ultimate sewist. And being as objective as I can, I will say that really I haven't known anyone who can sew like my mother. I sewed a little growing up; in fact, I even made a skort for myself when I was probably nine or ten. But that's where it stopped. I think my mentality was something like "Mom can make anything, so why do I need to learn?"

Then once I got married and serious domesticity started setting in, my mentality switched to something like this: "Hold the phone! If I can't sew, how will my daughters ever have cute Easter dresses and first-day-of-school dresses?? If I can't sew, I'll never have window treatments!!" Enter the sewing machine on the Christmas list.

Now I can't get enough. I've been making my way through the book Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew One Project at a Time, and I think that, despite my late entry to sewing, I'm not a lost cause. (Though I do lament that I waited to pick up sewing until I moved to Oregon, 1,280 miles away from my mother and her patient tutelage.)

Since Christmas, I've made napkins with mitered corners.

I've made a knitting needle case. (I'm looking forward to filling it more, and yes, I do have a second size-7 straight needle, and some size-10 circulars are hiding in one of the pockets.)

I've made a knitting bag.

And it's reversible.

I've made an eye pack, which Josh was eager to model.

I have more projects in the works, and I'm itching like crazy to get to sewing clothes.

Sewing is just the best. Sorry, Mom, for not catching on eons ago, but I'm sure glad to finally be in the loop.

weekend adventures in the kitchen

Would you believe that Friday night this kitchen mess resulted in only cereal and toast for dinner?

It turns out that when a recipe calls for two tablespoons of fresh rosemary, the quantity does not transfer to dried rosemary. Josh and I practically exploded rosemary out of our ears.

Other weekend minutiae that wouldn't fit into a post elsewhere:

:: Origami boats with our Primary class yesterday. Because Jesus was a carpenter. Obviously.
:: A long overdue haircut.
:: Lots of sewing, in stretchy pants nonetheless.
:: End of January. Finally. Can't say I'm sad to say goodbye (am I ever?).
:: Women's Conference. End of April. With almost all my favorite people.

what I've been up and will be up to

I opened this package from Josh on Christmas morning.

While the wrapping job left more than a little to be desired, Josh made up for it by hiding this under the wads of wrapping paper.

I am unable to adequately convey my deep, deep, unbridled excitement over this gift.

Now I'm in Colorado for the week (we spent Christmas with all the super fun Wilsons), I'm spending all--or nearly all--of my time reading this book recommended by Miranda

Love it. I'm consumed with crafting elation.

This next week will be full of family-ing, eating, cooking, and sewing. Obviously.

I hope your Christmas was wonderful, and I'll tell you all about my wonderful holiday soon. See you next year!

weekend project

Last Friday I was wiling away the hours at work until I could go home, and I came across this:

 

So, naturally, my goal for the weekend was to recreate it.

Friday night I made the gingerbread dough (from scratch).

And the dough chilled overnight.

Saturday I used the templates I printed to cut out the pieces, and I baked them.

Then I melted sugar into caramel so I could make windows.(This is my favorite aspect of the house.)

Sunday I whipped up some royal icing and decorated the pieces. I should have mixed the icing until it was more firm, because my envisioned crisp, intricate designs turned out looking more like a lumpy cartoon.

Today I glued it all together. And you know, it doesn't look like Martha's. But that's okay. (Also, I don't plan on eating this--it was purely a crafting endeavor.) The pieces warped a bit in the drying, and the caramel glue was messy. The royal icing pooled, and the detailing was a little sloppy.

But I love it. And I'm going to do it again next year.