Brooch Bouquet - Handmade for this Beautiful Bride

In January, my daughter was engaged. She showed me a photo of a brooch bouquet and asked me to make her one to carry on her wedding day. Her sisters and I collected brooches for a few months, and realizing that we needed many more, we tucked a note into the Bridal Shower invite asking friends and family to help.

 

 

These brooches were lovingly and generously given to Liana for her special bouquet.

 

 

 

After weeks of wiring, twisting, glueing, forming and arranging, all the individual pins became one beautiful bouquet.

 

 

For this beautiful bride to carry down the aisle.

 



 

 

And to celebrate with her sisters. 

 

 

 

Cleaning Nabokov's House

I purchased this book for summer reading, but finished it in 2 days!

I loved the main character's independent spirit.

Who knew?

Meatloaf.

Busy January. My son had surgery, 80 miles away from home, so I stayed at the hospital, for 2 days, and we've driven back twice for the doctor to check his progress, soooo - I missed a couple of family birthdays. Last Sunday the whole family came over for Sunday dinner and belated birthday gifting. My husband made his famous meatloaf to serve the crowd, and we are often asked how he makes it, so here is the recipe. Beware - it makes a huge amount of meatloaf, if your family is smaller try reducing the amounts or freezing the extra for another meal. The leftovers make great sandwiches too.



Color of the Year 2012

Tangerine Tango!!

I have embraced this color! I love orange! My husband is Argentine! It couldn't be more perfect.

Take a look at this post from last year, yes I still have an oraange kitchen that we painted 9 years ago, but I think I want to freshen the paint now. Originally I painted it California Poppy by Ralph Lauren, I still love it, but maybe something brighter would be nicer--



Christmas Treats

Woke up Christmas morning and popped these cinnamon rolls into the oven.

Delicious! Recipe from The Pioneer Woman. I halved everything (made the dough the day before) for 36 rolls, also made only 1/4 of the glaze and drizzled it on.

The Christmas Tree, waiting for the kids to wake up and the grandkids to arrive.

Sweet Baby Granny Gift

Sweet pink baby gift for my neighbor's sweet baby girl-to-be.

Tiny mittens hat and booties crocheted with tiny pink granny squares.

All wrapped up with a soft flannel blanket.

Pink Grannys

Tiny granny squares in pink and white.

Soon to be a precious gift for a new baby girl.

Collecting - Turquoise Blue

I have a lot of turquoise or aqua colored accents around my house.

These blue glass items move were photographed in my dining room, but

they are currently re-grouped on my entrance console table.with a shallow blue glass bowl

for keys and stuff. They never fail to brighten up a dark area.

Friday Finds - Green Glass

Beautiful little footed bowl with a sweet scalloped edge. I couldn't pass it up for only $4 at a local vintage store. The yellow-green color was a bonus. I served chicken salad in it last weekend.

Fun and Games!

Loook what I got in the mail!! I'm sooooo excited!

Scrabble is my favorite game! I ordered 2 sets of tiles from Ebay to play

our favorite version- Speed Scrabble.

I had fun just organizing the letters into rows to check the letter count> Looking

forward to playing at our next family gathering. Don't know how to play Speed Scrabble?

I'll post rules soon, you will love it!



Friday Finds - Yellow Box

I found this cute little wooden box a few weeks ago at a local shop. I bought it because it was yellow, I am a sucker for anything yellow. I've moved it around from room to room trying to find some useful purpose for it, then I realized it would be perfect in the family room on top of my yellow desk. Inside I put my Scrabble Flash Game and a few decks of cards, all ready for fun.

The Golden Gate is Orange

These bridge bookends were given to my by Katrina for my birthday. She knows how much I love visiting San Francisco. The bookends were almost perfect, but they were not very noticed in white. Considering the real Golden Gate Bridge is painted International Orange, I thought a little spray paint would do the trick. I love them even better now!

No it's not me.....

So, I was browsing through this months issue of Glamour Magazine,

and there it was! My figure. In a fashion magazine.

For young, slim, pretty women.

There she was, a pretty woman who was short, and a bit round in the middle.

Wearing a shirt with the sleeves rolled up just like I do.

 (because sleeves are always too long)

  The article calls her petite, I've never described myself as petite, but maybe I will think of myself as petite from now on - I kind of like the sound of it.

And I'm going out to look for some new jeans for sure.

Friday Finds - Turquoise Cross

I found this cute little cross at one of my favorite local shops.

It's metal with small blue beads, and I got change back from my

five dollar bill!

The cross and these dishes I gave to my 4th daughter who is

leaving for college in a couple weeks.

The dishes were a great find from a discount chain store at only

$1 for each piece. She will have a bright and cheery

table set for 1 or 2.

I don't use aprons often, but I had to get this one for $4.95! Pink and white and

hand crocheted, it looks like it has never been used. I would be afraid to get it dirty, so I'm

thinking about re-fashioning it into a halter top for one of my girls.

Healthy Hummus

We love Hummus. I found a healthier version to make at home. Easy and it tastes much fresher than store bought hummus.

Friday Finds - Jewelry/Mug Tree

This started out as an avocado green, coffee mug tree.

Painted bright yellow (I love yellow),

it now holds my favorite casual jewelry.

(sorry no before picture-I forgot)

It's curtains

This photo from Sutton Grace makes me want some printed drapes,

 they add so much life to this dining room, and I love the use of orange on the table.

Orange is such a happy color. Is that a vintage buffet on the back wall?

Flag Art

This beautiful flag wall hanging was made by the artist      Ann Carrington,

who was featured on the Bravo TV series 9byDesign.

It was made from used blue jeans you can see in the detail pics below.

Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.

             - Adlai E. Stevenson

Italian Made

My husband has an obsession with brands. It is something he thinks about a lot. He is very picky specific about what brands he will buy and wear, and very hard to shop for. Over the 30+ years we have been together I have learned some "rules" that will make for more successful birthday and holiday gift shopping. Made in Italy - to him that means quality. Clothing, sunglasses, shoes, pretty much anything 'Made In Italy' is a winner. German made = precision craftsmanship, take a guess at what car he drives. Made In China - personal conviction will not allow him to knowingly purchase anything Made In China.

So last week I picked up these Bistro Chairs to put on our patio. Made In Italy. Can you believe it? Retail $100/chair, Home Goods Price 40% off. It gets better... on clearance for 78% off retail! Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!

Fresh Inspiration

I always think of crochet as my "winter" hobby.

I have been inspired to re-think this.

This beautiful stack of crocheted blankets in fresh summery colors

makes me want to break out my crochet hooks

and make a visit to the yarn store.