Thursday, June 4, 2009

A Saturday Well Spent

Calligraphy-ing the day away...
Last Fall, Mums and I took a calligraphy class from Susie Melissa. Her work (pictured below), is divine and is used by biggies – even note, she has created menu cards for past presidents.




I loved the class, the overall “concept” of the class & what Susie Melissa was preaching. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m die hard for calligraphy. The class did however, bring me to the realization that traditional calligraphy, while gorgeous, is not in the cards for me. I cannot begin to travel down the road where I critique every letter that I write. I am already teetering the line of OCD/perfectionist, and I can-not open myself up to that amount of critique with regards to my handwriting.


I do, however, LOVE the way handwriting can look in a casual, calligraphic manner using simply their fancy pens. Striving for perfection is second nature to me, so realizing that the flawed rendition is still just as fabulous takes some coaching and reassurance from the mum. Pictured below are the works of three women I find very inspirational and blessed up to their ears in talent.


1. Love, Jenna 2. B Dunlap by Betsy Dunlap 3. lettergirl by Gina Sekelsky

I worked on my dear friend’s invites this weekend. (Sidenote - My hands look like those of the guy down the street at Firestone, as the ink has stained the nail beds and nails of my right hand – by stained, I mean black). But, I am overall happy with the end result.

I keep telling myself, “Self, one day you will look back and say, wow look at what you use to claim was calligraphy – you’ve come so far”. So, in this line of thinking, looking at this as practice, and leaving the flaws will only aid in giving the appearance that I have improved years from now.

Sorry for the blurring – but here are a few snaps.


(Does anyone know the word for the act of calligraphy? Webster is not fond of calligraphying)

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Sip N' Meet

A dear friend of mine recently gave birth to the sweetest little girl! I am throwing her a “Sip N’ Meet” (really a sip n’ see, but I had a cute rhyme for the invite. I will have several posts over the next couple of weeks as I prep. The up-side to the quickly approaching deadline is I am a procrastinator. Loud and Proud – I need that date looming over my head, holding my feet to the fire, to accomplish most things. Including actually decorating our home. This means, lots to do, little time. Whew – I’m tired just thinking about it!

No specific colors or theme, this way I will be able to utilize what I have. I'm thinking ,various soft, muted tones and pastel colors, giving off less of "baby shower" notion (not her wishes) and more of a gathering of friends for a joyous celebration of baby girl.

I will be serving drinks and sweets - cakes, cheesecakes, sangria, etc. It will be on a Sunday, mid-afternoon to allow everyone to go to lunch after church before coming over. Boys were not invited - sorry guys! - making the lighter fair acceptable. Her guest list included about 2 dozen ladies - give or take a few. I dropped them with the postman yesterday. I will have pictures of the invites (I'm thrilled with how they turned out.)

A girl's gotta start somewhere - so I scoured my coveted photo collection. Here is a inspirational photo collage...

Click to make ridiculously large.
Top to Bottom,Left to Right:
Decor 8, Concrete & Honey
Kristybee, No Idea (sorry!)
Sunday Suppers, Sweet Paul

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Lillian Ray's Lovelies


I have long loved the look of Lillian Ray's work - and when I spotted on the lovely blog of this fab lady (and hubby)- I couldn't resist passing the entry along.

Click her name above to peruse her etsy shop.

Besos!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Hiatus….

Sorry for the long departure from blog land. I have no excuse. No real good reason – except, it just wasn’t there. The magic, the finesse – whatever it takes to blog on a steady basis. That must be something I have not quite acquired.Have no fear – I’m gearing up to jump back in with lovely photos to boot!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

BtB

After an invite to friends' home for dinner and 4 drop-in guests on their way, I was forced to break open the reserves in the pantry, get crafty, and create a new recipe working with what I had.

I love to experiment with new recipes and tweak them to be my own, however, being gluten-intolerant, I do not get to be the guinea pig. There is no dress rehearsal on my recipes...only an Opening Night.

I baked the evening away, making 26 baby bundts. and one large bundt (Center of Cinnamon Roll Recipe) Bundt.

Cinnamon Honey Rum Fudge Bundt Cake

Cake:

· Box of Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix

· 1 1/3 C. of Milk

· 1 stick of Butter

· 3 Eggs

· 2 tsp. Instant Coffee

· 3 TBSP. Honey

· 50 g of Dark Chocolate (if available, Hersey's 60% dark with espresso bits)

Glaze:

· 1/3 cup water

· 1/2 cup sugar

· 6 TBSP butter

· 1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Chop chocolate into small bits. Combine all cake ingredients and chocolate and mix thoroughly for 2 minutes. Pout cake batter into bundt pan. Place batter in cake pan. Beginning checking cake for doneness after 50 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool cake in pan for 10 minutes. (Very important!) While cake is cooling, combine glaze ingredients over low to medium heat in a sauce pan, stirring occasionally, until butter and sugar have melted.

Once cooled, flip cake onto wire rack or cookie sheet. Using a skewer or chopstick, poke holes in top of cake. Evenly pour glaze over warm cake. Can use a spoon or pastry brush to completely cover cake with remaining glaze.

Combine glaze ingredients over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar and butter are melted. Do not cover cake while still warm. Wonderful served warm with coffee.

The bad news is, Rum Chocolate Cake mix was discontinued - so I have opted for fudge to replace the rum. (Chocolate to alcohol is not TOO big of a concession).

I have to apologize for no after shot. I am re-doing this cake this weekend for Memorial Day Cook Out and will take PLENTY of pics.

Besos!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Thursday, May 7, 2009

T.T.


A recent jaunt I had to make as a sorority advisor, an hour and half drive after work I was not looking forward to, left me a few spare moments to hit up a new thrift store. In record time, I scored a few treasures! In and out with less than $4 spent and a "need" fulfilled always brightens my day.


Besos!
S