Construction Paper Christmas Card

I thought that this year, I would make our Christmas cards..... 3 hours and a little carple tunnel syndrome later... here's what I came up with.....

Made these with plain old construction paper, scissors, and glue.  No pens or markers either.... hence the claw-like protrusion I have on the end of my arm that used to be a hand.  Both pieces are 8.5x11.  I don't want to show the completed card though, because I'll be sending these out in the mail soon!

That's Vodka in the water bottle..... just kidding ;)

The O'Connors are complete!

We go to take a wonderful trip back to Portland to be in my brother, Pat's wedding.  We had a great couple days there (not long enough though) and gave us a little taste to tide us over until our Christmas trip!

This was a week before the wedding, on October 29, which was our 5 year wedding anniversary.  As always, I look happy while Jean-Luc looks surprised.  ;) All of us O'Connor kids got married in the fall. Jack and Kelly Oct. 22, 2004, us, and Pat and Jennifer on November 6 2010!

These pictures are a little too close...okay, a lot too close.  Had to re-do my hair and it came out pretty well- but was a little dissapointed with the dude that did it.... conversation went as follows:
Me: I was thinking loose curls, and having my hair pinned up low and to the side.  Also, putting my bangs up in a little pomp...
Him: Ok (mummbled)
Me: The only think I really don't want is super tight to my head or really tight ringlets.
Him: Ok (mummbled)
What style did he give me you ask?  I got a tight, slicked back chignon directly center at the nape of the neck, with one, random ringlet in front of my ear on the right..... and btw... he didn't even touch my bangs.
But, I did leave the salon with a lifetime supply of bobby pins in my hair.......

Best parts of Portland!!!!! Family, Friends, Skyline, and Burgerville!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the last/best things I saw before getting on the plane back to the midwest.... my mom, just the way I like her.... silly and fabulous!

Fall Wreath

Through two moves, I could not find my fall wreath.... a perfect excuse to go to JoAnne's and buy supplies from crabbby old ladies that give my cat-ear beanie dirty looks.... (Excuse me, but you work at a sewing/craft store.... wouldn't you be happy to see someone who actually makes stuff and is creative???) Chalk up another one for living in the midwest....
Anywho.... had a good time making it, and two little drop-wreath thingies...

Before and during construction............

Sorry about the glare from the storm door....
I used a combo of bunches of fall leaves/berries/flowers/cat tails
Ostrich feathers
Black velvet leaves
Red sparkley grass-type stuff

What you can't see is the squirell and/or bunny chew marks on our pumpkins... the little ones get scattered all over lawn every night. :)

Mantel

Here you go mom!  This is our new mantel, in our new house.  It is exactly what I had been looking for, and found it at a neat little shop called Ecletables.  The mosiac hanging on the wall was made by Grandma Julia and her friends who were part of a ladies auxillary called "Home Extension."  This was made over many once-monthly meetings (that, btw, are still being held with surviving members), where a gaggle of mid-century housewives would get together, swap recipies and gossip, and have an day away from kids and chores.  I have many fond memories of the Chritmas Party of 'HE' ladies, where I would be allowed to miss school, eat candy, and be fawned over while serving tea and coffee.
The collection of knick-knacks on and around the mantle are from antique shops, garage sales, and hand-me-downs... I collect anything, as long as it speaks to me.

Past Experiments......

This was a 50th birthday cake I made for my father-in-law's birthday dinner at the families' favorite dinner place, Cafe Du Berry, off Macadam in Portland.  This has been my most ambitious cake to date... yellow cake with chocolate filling, the bottom and middle layers are cake, the tower is a styrofoam cone covered in frosting... (couldn't get the rice krispie treat to behave for tower, so I had to make an emergency trip to Michaels!)

This was my first attempt at a quilt last Christmas for one of my best friends' little boy, Nolan. (the white-ish material are baseballs)  I loved making it, even if all the edges didn't match up... made several more for other babies....

Welcome

I have to admit that until very recently, I was not a blog fan.  I especially never had a reason to write or maintin a blog, because let's face it, who cares.  After a year in my new (cringe) home, the midwest, I thouht perhaps my family and friends back in the great Pacific Northwest might want to see what I'm up to, and I figured if nothing else, this will give me something to do.
This site will focus on fun crafts, sewing, design, and cooking projects that I am either trying for the first time, trying to perfect, or a new leaf I'm trying to turn over (like making my own broth).  This is in no way a place for me to pretend that I can do anything better than anyone else (because I can't), just a place to share ideas.
Most of all, this is a place for me to pay hommage to my maternal grandmother, Grandma Julia.  Much misunderstood and 'pu-shawed' in her time, she has always been an inspiration for me.  She graduated top of her class in the 30's from Jefferson High, believed in gnomes, wore bright red lipstick and Chanel no. 5 while collecting eggs from the chicken coup, painted her carpet with brown daisies, hand-made all of my mothers' clothes, and most importantly taught me how to cook, sew, and think for myself all in the short 13 years I had with her.