short inspiration

i'm bored with my hair. so i'm letting it grow out. in a couple weeks it's going to be time to go get it reshaped because it's starting to look pretty shaggy.

i'm thinking something along these lines:

also, i'd like to take a second and mention how crazy my husband is for not thinking that emma's new 'do is completely adorable.

 all images via we heart it

scenes from our little thanksgiving

we had a wonderful thanksgiving {and i hope you did, too!}

i was extremely proud of myself for making us a feast and getting it ready on time {i don't cook often, so it's nice to know i can if i want to} 

the menu:

-rotisserie chicken {we're not big meat-eaters, so husband grabbed one of these from the store}

but everything else was made by me:

-homemade bread

 -cranberry relish

-cheesy potatoes {we cheated and made these the night before and had them for dinner!} 

-stuffing

-green bean cassarole

- chocolate crackle cookies

   

we borrowed a table and had dinner in the middle of the livingroom, with good music in the background, and the football game on mute {i don't know how the lions are able to keep fans when they're always so disappointing and heartbreaking, but husband always goes back for more} he sat on a desk chair and i sat on an ottoman.

and besides the food, i also made some decorations. {told you i wanted a leaf theme!}

like some leaf swags:

 and leaf candle holders {using jars i already had}:

and some mini pumpkin votives, too:

i got a remnant of cream-colored burlap a couple weeks ago and made it into a table runner:

i embroidered leaves on it, with one side mirroring the other:

 {the middle} 

 {with graduated colors}

 {from dark brown}

 {to green}

and even though it was just the two of us, i had a little fun with "place cards" using our initials:

i convinced husband to take this photo quick, before we ate:

{and don't be fooled, we put on sweaters over our pj's for about 2 minutes, and then quickly switched back the rest of the day}

so, even though we were far away from family and friends, we had a wonderful day together, with way too much food! 

and then we went and saw harry potter.

i wish thanksgiving came more than once a year!

happy thanksgiving!

it's just husband and i this year. we're happily settled in and watching the parade and planning to have our turkey dinner in pj's. 

i hope you all have a wonderful day with your loved ones!

happiness is a violin lesson

{here}
do you ever have one of those moments? you know, a moment when you're just glowing with happiness from the inside out? you want to shout it from the rooftops, smile at even the crankiest-looking strangers- maybe even run up and give them a hug?

i just had that moment. 

all week long.

part of it is the impending holiday, but mostly it's because i got myself some violin students! {and a violist or two as well} and really, there's nothing in the world like doing what you love. rediscovering your passion. remembering that yes, i do love to teach and i'm good at it!

after my 5th lesson of the week i really don't think i could be happier. unless maybe i got a new pair of shoes. scratch that, i think i'm flying high on that just-bought-10-new-pairs-of-shoes-and-still-guilt-free-about-it feeling. 

it's not "don't rain on my parade" it's "you couldn't rain on my parade if you tried!"

so yeah, i guess it's been a good week :) 

what have you been up to??

ode to my favorite season

i love all the beautiful colors.

{outdoors}

{and indoors}

not even adorable kitties can resist a beautiful, crunchy leaf.

jackets are necessary {because i'm always cold and i like to hide in a big turtle neck}

but socks aren't! {because, really, who likes socks?}

i went on an acorn-cap hunt and came home with handfuls

and everything just seems bigger.

i just love fall!

{what's your favorite part??}

DIY leaf watercolors

i thought it was about time i posted a tutorial. i've made them before, but never for my own blog and i loved painting these leaves this week, so i thought maybe i'd share {plus, how else am i going to post all these photos of my beautiful thumb?}

supplies:

 watercolor paper

a paint brush

scissors

a pencil

art masking fluid {with the painting supplies at any craft store}

 watercolors {which i forgot to photograph. but i think we all know what they look like}

step 1: trace some leaves onto a sheet of watercolor paper. i downloaded a leaf template i found on martha because i can't draw, but feel free to make your own! 

i tried to fit as many leaves as possible on one sheet.

step 2: use a fine paintbrush and the masking fluid to paint the leaf veins. the masking fluid will block the watercolors, so only paint where you don't want color. the masking fluid is slightly yellow, so you can see where you've painted. it can also really gum up on your paintbrush {you can see it on mine} so make sure you don't use your favorite brush and wash it right away. i can't always get it completely clean again.

i painted from the stem to the tip of the leaf, and then from the main vein out. this keeps globs of masking fluid from collecting at the end of the veins, which doesn't look as natural.

step 3: let it dry and then paint with watercolors! i like "dabbing" the paint on rather than using strokes and making the leaf all one color. make sure you don't leave any white spots and you go over the edges of the leaf. just paint right over the masking fluid, the color won't leak through.

 step 4: after it is completely dry you can pull off the masking fluid. i use an eraser to get it started

 and then it just pulls right off!

step 5: finish pulling the rest of the masking fluid off of all the leaves and then cut them out.

 i'm thinking of making little "bouquets" of leaves for our thanksgiving table or attaching them to a wreath. they're not nearly as gorgeous as the real thing, but much more sturdy and the colors won't fade. plus, i can't resist trying something new!

more macaron love

orange macarons with chocolate filling for halloween:

husband doesn't especially like sweets {how i fell in love with a man who skips dessert is beyond me...} but he finally tried my macarons. and he loved them! i said i was surprised, and then he told me he was too. because he really didn't think he'd like them. well ha! i finally found a dessert he can't resist :)

but this batch? my absolute favorite. 

ever. 

fresh strawberry buttercream {which i froze after making a batch in late september} with a dollop of chocolate in the middle.

so so yummy.

i'm becoming seriously obsessed. we may have these for thanksgiving this year.

would you like some cheese with your whine?

is it only wednesday?

seriously?

cause it feels like this week should be over by now and i'm certainly ready for it to be.

oh well, i'll make it through and just keep doing what i'm doing- focusing on thanksgiving and all it's yummy and leafy goodness! 

{i'm not sure what i'm going to do with all these leaves i've been painting, but i'm excited about it!}

random afterthought: my email address was jediangel11 until after i got married. at the age of 22. how silly. {and a little awesome?}

brand update

i just took a whole armload of bags over to t.la.re to sell during the holiday season.

if you live in kansas and are in the manhattan area, go take a look! this little store is full of vintage and handmade goods and i promise you won't be dissappointed!

and if you're not a local, you can always check out my etsy!

{faux bois tote}

{country picnic clutch}

{owly tote}

{vintage lace clutch}

crafty FAIL

a few years ago while perusing my local yarn store i found a pattern for felted slippers and i knew i had to have some. i bought the pattern and told the store owner this was the perfect project for my first major foray into knitting. she stopped in her tracks, asked me how long i'd been knitting and almost laughed when i told her "about 2 weeks". she told me this might be a little too challenging and they offered classes on this pattern and i could sign up. i politely let her know that i would keep that in mind while secretly thinking, "lady, you don't know me!" because when i get my mind set on a project i am rarely detered.

so, i went home and made my mom's christmas present- a pair of felted slippers.

luckily they turned out awesome, and i had no trouble at all with the pattern {although it was by far the most advanced thing i'd done}

which brings me to this project.

i wish i could say that my latest pair turned out as well. since the weather has been turning colder i've been in serious need of some new slippers {husband gets mad when he wanders around the house looking for his only to discover that i'm wearing them}

 everything was going fine and i was super excited about having warm and toasty toes over the weekend.

but it didn't turn out so well.

 since they get felted they are knit several sizes too large, checking that they are going to fit before felting isn't an option.

its as big as my magazine {which is obviously much bigger than my foot}

and one sole is different because i ran out of black and used it as an opportunity to stash bust a little. i used the same yarn but in green {and a little blue, because i ran out of green, too}

 

i thought everything was fine, until i felted them.

and they came out too small, and different sizes.

how this happened is beyond me. maybe mixing yarn was the problem? although i really doubt it because it was the same brand/weight. i think i must have messed up the pattern {although why i'd rather take the blame myself than blame it on something arbitrary like yarn is beyond me...}

 

oh well. they're ruined. at least for me- i'll felt the larger one a little more in hopes that i can eventually make them the same size and then give them away to some needy relative with smaller feet. in the mean time, i had my heart set on new slippers so i'm already working on a new pair. hopefully i don't screw those up, too!