12.14.2011

rip, pin and roll: book wreath

I made this yesterday as it poured down rain all day, not to mention the day before that. The epitome of a rainy-day-craft. All I needed was some hot apple cider and Bing's Christmas tunes in the background. I bought the wreath form earlier, intending to make this, but alas, it sat there naked until now. So here is what I did.
 
[I never used the scissors, actually, but] I started by tearing out pages, and then folding them two different ways. I never completely fold it so it creases. The first is a simple cone, where I staple the bottom (These will go on the outside of the wreath).


The second, I folded the bottom-left corner of the page with the upper-right corner, and then pinch the middle and fold it so it looks like so...
                      
Then you staple to bottom.
                      
Take the folded cones and glue them to the outside of the wreath form (you can use a wire wreath form, or a straw, foam or wooden one, it really doesn't matter)
After the cones are glued to the outside, begin gluing the smaller page folds to the larger ones, or straight to the wreath.
Keep going until its full and finished. And you're done.
I also made snowflakes to hang off the shelf in the living room. enjoy!
And these are photos of a Christmas-light boat event Ryan and I stumbled across when we wanted to catch the sunset. Pretty rad if you ask me.


12.10.2011

best friends

 Last weekend, one of my bestest, most beloved friends, Hannah, got engaged! She is, in every sense of the word, amazing. She lived the first six years of her life in France, then in the Bay area, and then in Hawaii where we met and fell in bestie bliss. I am so happy for her and Will, and as much as I love looking at wedding blogs, it will be hard to resist turning this into one as I follow her wedding-ness. 

 
 Hannah's parents are missionaries who started church planting in France and have since moved back, continuing their ministry with Bridges and YWAM. On July 7, the high-school sweethearts will be tying the knot at her parents' France estate! [Please cue some Yann Tiersen]. This house is so unbelievably picture-perfect, and will be the perfect place for friends and family to come together in the name of love.

Typical Hannah room. Simple and beautiful.

 This courtyard is so dreamy. I can already see the twinkling lights and french cuisine for the wedding.




A stone nook. love.
 



 So beautiful
 One of the Discipleship Training Schools held at their home.
Stay tuned for more photos! :)

11.20.2011

good eats.



One of the great perks about my internship is going to free media luncheons and dinners. Last week, I got to experience a garden salad be prepared for me from the restaurant's garden. Here are some of the other great eats.

 
 
To start, a spinach and kale smoothie drizzled with local honey. Next, red-stemmed spinach salad, pork belly and citrus. Poached eggs atop yams and pork wrapped in kale and mustard greens. For dessert, strawberry shortcake infused with sweet basil.
 
 I also previewed the swanky Saguaro Hotel and its newest eateries by Chef Jose Garces: Old Towne Whiskey, Garces Trading Co. & coming soon, Distrito.



Bourbon-infused pumpkin shake. Yum!

10.26.2011

rule of thumb

some great craft ideas using a little more than your thumb. enjoy!
 (via weefolkart)
  (via grayhood)
These green reindeer are my absolute favs. 

10.23.2011

crafty craft

Out of boredom the other day, I began this little craft that turned out to be pretty nifty. All I used were strips of paper (which I saved from my printmaking class) and fabric dye (food coloring works too). Enjoy.

I filled a baking sheet with water and dye. Remember to cover your counter with newspapers because the dye can and will stain your counter tops if you're not careful.



To get the gradient effect, I added more dye every round so, in my case, there's light pink to crimson.

I rolled the strips of paper until they swirled (the tighter you roll, the tighter the swirl is). I then glued them in sections and pinned them to the wall. VoilĂ !

 
This hangs above my bed in my room. Simple and pretty.