photo editing

Last weekend I had the honor of photographing this lovely couple's wedding. It was a beautiful, joyful, fun wedding, and I thoroughly enjoyed participating. This week I am in the land of photo editing where I will probably stay for a while. I've been taking a rather leisurely pace though editing land, enjoying the process as I go. I have made good progress, though, and have a few favorite shots of the couple to share today.

[the blushing bride]

[the dashing groom]

[the darling couple they make together]

Linking up with Jennifer's Studio Sneak Peek.

nursery nook--mobile

After choosing the art I did for Sweet Pea's nursery nook, I knew that the rest of the decor would have to be unique and somewhat untraditional. After looking at a few mobiles (okay, a lot. I looked a lot of them.), I realized that nothing even remotely matched what I had envisioned. So I decided to do what I was inclined toward in the first place: make my own.

After much thinking, daydreaming, and as-I-drift-of-to-sleep designing, I made a workable plan. Last week I was excited to finally able to implement my plan. The mobile is based on a piece of Naokosstoop's art that I love but did not buy because the colors didn't fit with the others I had chosen.

For the flowering branches I chose a few light and shapely sticks left over from bush pruning in our yard and carefully sewed hand-cut flowers onto the end of each twig. The flowers are made from two layers of mulberry paper (one white, one pale yellow), a vintage sequin, and a golden seed bead. This part of the process was so painstaking and time consuming, and I became a little impatient and decided to make the mobile quite a bit smaller than I had originally planned.

I also made a little Red Knit Cap Girl from scraps of scrapbooking paper. I free-handed the pieces to make her, but she is based closely on the girl in another piece of Naokosstoop's art. Then I made a little bunny friend for her and assembled the pieces of the mobile with clear thread.

[It is surprisingly difficult to photograph a mobile.]

I hope I'm not infringing on copyright with copying the girl and rabbit, but I think I'm okay. After all, it is made from a different medium, and thanks to the picky little flowers I will absolutely not be making any to sell. : )

I do love how it turned out. And all of my guys like it too, which is very satisfying. Benjamin is in hearty consent of the art I chose and thinks the mobile is cute, Little Man keeps requesting to "see that thing you made for [Sweet Pea]" and Brother loves the occasional times he is lifted to carefully touch it and watch it move. Now I can't wait to finish the rest of the stuff for Sweet Pea's nursery-nook so that I can enjoy it all together!

Linking up with Jennifer's Studio Sneak Peek.

Little Man's vest

Little Man is going to be the ring bearer in some friends' wedding in June. Fortunately my friend has faith in my bargain hunting and sewing abilities and instead of having us invest in an expensive allowed me to make Little Man's vest and shop on my own for his black slacks and white shirt.

My mom found a pair of nice black slacks for $2, and I found a quality little dress shirt for $1 and dress shoes for $0.25! My friend (the bride) and I found the perfect dark sage green fabric in the bargain section of the fabric store months ago, and I finally made Little Man's vest last week.

I enjoy some aspects of sewing formal-wear: the attention to detail, the precise design, the beautiful sheen of the fabric. I must admit to breathing a sigh of relief when it was all done, though. All the lining puckers and slightly crooked front seam aside, I love how it turned out. And I have the completely biased conviction that Little Man will make the cutest little ring bearer ever when he wears it.

s'more topped brownies

A couple of weeks ago I had dessert duty for our final home group meeting of the year. We were supposed to have a cook-out, enjoy the springy weather, and make s'mores. The unpredictable weather, however, forced us to change our plan. Here is the super-easy oh-so-yummy solution I came up with:

S'more Topped Brownies

1 box brownie mix

1/2 container marshmallow cream

2-3 graham crackers

chocolate chips to taste

~Prepare brownie batter according to instructions on box.

~Bake the batter in a 9"x13" pan also according to instructions on box.

~Take the brownies out of the oven on the doughy side of done-ness.

~Cool the brownies in the pan.

~Spoon dollops of marshmallow cream evenly over the top of the brownies.

~Break graham crackers into bite-sized pieces and distribute them evenly over the top of the brownies too.

~Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top of the brownies. (Benjamin thinks that it would be better with no chocolate chips at all.)

~Broil on high for about 3 minutes until the marshmallow creme is golden. (Watch it very closely, though, each oven is different and it can overcook so quickly.)

~Cool again.

~Cut into squares and enjoy!

~Sprinkle chocolate chips to taste over

custom camera strap cover

Last week's second custom project was a camera strap cover. The friend who asked me to make a red and white one for her last autumn requested another in blue and white to give as a gift. (I must admit that I find repeat customers quite delightful; it's very satisfying to know that they like my work enough to pay for more!) I, of course, was happy to comply with her request and had a crisp blue and white camera strap cover complete with flower pin put together in no time!

custom calligraphy

Last week I received two custom orders. The first another custom I Corinthians 13 calligraphy. (I hope you aren't tired of seeing these yet...)

I was particularly pleased with how this one turned out; the ink laid down with particular crispness on this paper. You'd think that all parchment papers are created fairly equal, but the more I work with different papers, the more I realize that they really are all very different. Even different shades of paper in the same package interact with the ink differently. Depending on the day, I find this exhilarating and exciting or frustrating and annoying.

My customer was giving this as a wedding gift and requested that the couple's wedding date be added underneath their names. I love how each of these pieces takes on a character of its own! I hope that this couple will enjoy the character of their calligraphy and be encouraged by its message.

monday menu

[pasteis and coxinhas, savory Brazilian treats]

Here's what I'm planning to cook for my family to enjoy this week:

Su-chicken cacciatore, salad (my in-laws are visiting us, so I'm planning Sunday this week)

M-roast with balsamic-caramelized onion reduction, potatoes, and carrots (No, I still haven't gotten to this one.)

T-clam chowder, salad, fresh rolls,

W-leftovers or chicken nuggets and tater tots

Th-grilled chicken, orzo with parmesan and basil, vegetable

F-macaroni and cheese

I am much better at planning warm, comforting winter meals than I am at planning cool, easy summer meals. With the arrival of spring, I'm realizing again that I need to come up with creative warm weather meals. What are your favorite things to make in the warmer months? Do you have a favorite summer recipe? Please share your ideas with me; I could really use the help!

Mother's Day photos

I know this post is a bit late, but perhaps it's better late than never, right? Before church on Mother's Day my precious little guys were convinced somewhat against their wills that they needed to take photos with Mom. When you're three-and-a-half and one-and-a-half it's a very hard thing to take a break in your excited morning running and playing to sit still and pose for the camera. I thought my guys rose to the occasion very nicely, though. Here are my favorite shots of the morning:

[getting set]

I love how unposed and relaxed this one is.

Plus it's the only one in which Sweet Pea's Bump can be seen.

[my precious firstborn]

Little Man gave me a rare cuddle

for a breathtaking photo.

[my darling second]

Brother was more interested in the book in his lap,

but that's okay with me.

[both of my sweet boys]

I love them so much.

Brother's quilt

I have finally been able to set aside some time to work on my sewing projects, and I completed three this past week! First on my priority list was finishing Brother's "big boy bed quilt." I started it quite a while ago when were first transitioning to his toddler bed. Due to irksome back pain, delightful custom projects, and general lack of motivation, though, it was on the back burner for several weeks. It felt great to finally finish it for him!

Brother is pretty much obsessed with blankets, often trying to carry four at once, and protesting in great dismay when he can't quite manage it. He's also crazy about animals of all sorts. I was delighted to combine these two loves by using the Alexander Henry teeny tiny 2-D zoo print in chocolate as the main print in and inspiration for his quilt. The rest of the quilt is scraps from my stash (modern and vintage) in greens, blues, and oranges and natural muslin.

I couldn't resist adding a turtle appliqué mimicking the turtle in the main print. Brother points at it and chants "tuh-tle! tuh-tle! tuh-tle!" in the cutest way.

I'm so glad that I chose to arrange the triangles into asymmetrical diamonds instead of the zig-zags I originally planned. This quilt turned out being a little big for a crib quilt and a little small for a twin quilt. At first I was disappointed, but the more I look at it, the more I'm just pleased with how it turned out. After all, its smaller size will make easier for small arms and short legs to carry it along with three other blankets and a couple stuffed animals, right?

Linking up to Studio Sneak Peek!

plants

All of the glorious springyness in the air has me itching be do something with the pretty plants I love so much. We won't be attempting to really garden this year since our ground still needs significant preparation involving more time and energy than we have this year. (Benjamin is going to be back in school plus working one full-time job and two part-time jobs plus being an amazing husband and father. Yes, I'm very proud of him. And I have all sorts of things in my summer schedule including taking part in three weddings, investing in the boys, and having a baby.)

Anyway, all that to say that we're sticking to container gardening on our porch this year. I'm a little sad, but overall I'm very relieved to not have the burden of larger-scale gardening right now. Although it won't be warm enough to place the plants in the ground for a couple of weeks still, we couldn't resist purchasing some plants. Until they can go outside, they looks wonderful on our counter.

Brother chose these striking marigolds.

He particularly loves the reddish one.

Little Man chose these cheerful pansies.

He also chose some pepper plants.

I told him that I love him a lot to get pepper plants for him

since I really don't like them. : )

I chose tomato plants

as well as fragrant basil and rosemary.

And I simply couldn't leave my dream geranium behind.

I love the deep, richly colored blooms

and ornate leaves.

I can't wait to see these small plants flourish with a little care over the summer!