Chez Gisele

Finals are over and a Christmas workshop!

Finals are over and I still can't believe how quickly the semester flew by. And although by the end I was getting tired and life was so busy, I still loved it so much and I'm excited to keep going! AND if you remember from this back to school post, I was wondering if I would meet people and make friends, and you know what!? I did! I put myself out there, sat next to students who asked questions like me and attended study groups and in the end I made a few acquaintances and a friend...someone I have hung out with outside of class and can talk to about real life. That is so exciting to me!

But, with all this school and busyness of the holidays, I haven't had/taken much time to really craft. My poor craft table is piled high with stuff to organize and put away and currently I only dream of projects I want to do.

So when my sweet friend Erica of Splendid Things invited me to a Modern Christmas Workshop at her home for a girls crafting and design night, I almost said no, because I struggle to commit sometimes...but then, how can I pass up on girl talk, checking out this talented woman's craft room and making some seriously amazing Christmas crafts? I couldn't...I needed it. I'm so glad I went!

I didn't take any photos of her space becuase I was exhausted and just wanted to take it all in but everything was perfect! Perfectly decorated walls, a hot cocoa cart with all the best toppings, Elf playing in the background and good conversation. If you want to see how amazingly talented she is, check out her blog. She has amazing style and plans the most amazing parties withouth blowing the budget. I seriously want to throw a party and have her style it for me...or just style my house for that matter. ;) Amazing!

She gave us about ten projects to choose from, with examples, and I instantly fell in love with the idea of a holiday dreamcatcher. She had fabrics and embelishments galore to choose from so all I had to do was the fun stuff! AND the kicker...I've had a bare space in my dining room since we moved in so I had the perfect spot for it. Hooray! 

Here's how my they turned out. (I can't take much credit for the adorable framed deer art because besides glueing everything together, I pretty much just copied her example.)

I love it! And let's be honest...this baby is staying up all year. Remember the holiday pillows from this post last year? Yeah, they've been on my couch all year. Apparently it's always Christmas in this house! ;)

So, moral of this post? If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of Erica's workshops...do it! Not only was the entire night wonderful but she sent us home with a fantastic take home gift that had more Christmas decor and the perfect lip gloss...which I admit, was my favorite! :)

And if I don't see you before then...Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

- Gisele

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Back to School: University Style (Take 2)

Upcycled Zippered Clutch

It all started when Elise posted a sneak peek for her 29 handmade clutches for sale this month. I instantly wanted one...they are beautiful and unique...and made by Elise (she's totally inspiring!) And then I realized that I don't own a single clutch...have never carried one...don't know if I would even like carrying one...and probably shouldn't spend that kinda dough on something I may never use... but they were soooo gorgeous that for a few long gazing (possibly drooling) moments I forgot about all of that.

Meanwhile, in the real world, I have been going through our closets, purging more clothes that I always keep but never wear, and have been thinking about the idea of a minimalistic capsule wardrobe inspired by this awesome blog from Caroline when I got the idea to attempt my own clutch from clothes in the "donate" pile.

The great thing about using material from pre-worn clothes is that they have been washed and dried numerous times and have stood the test of time so I know they aren't going to fall apart...you get what you see. And they are essentially "free". I pulled a pair of Nate's khaki pants and my striped shorts that are too small from the pile.

I couldn't find anything in our pile that I loved for the lining so I bought two fat quarters and a blue 20" zipper from Joanne's.

I created my own pattern using some thin cardboard (you know the stuff that comes in the photo envelope from Costco when you order large prints?) My pattern size was 11-1/4 x 14-1/4. I cut two pieces of cardboard to that size and then decided how much of each outer color I wanted and cut the other cardboard piece in two for the outside pattern.

After that I loosely followed this tutorial to help me install my FIRST ever zipper and put the whole thing together.

I had to fiddle with the zipper after everything was said and done to get it to look right and to keep it from popping off but in the end I think it looks pretty good for a first timer and it's completely functional...I need to find a zipper expert to give me some tips on the exact installation process and I'll be golden.

 

I am SO happy with how it turned out! It's neutral on the outside with a pop of happiness on the inside. Honestly, I can't stop looking at it and I'm so excited that I created a piece that I feel confident carrying into public. I took it out for a spin on Saturday in the pouring rain and it was awesome. I've never been the kind to switch purses based on outfits...I basically carry a purse until it dies, but I feel like a clutch is an easy way to throw a few essentials in a cute bag, switch it up a little and dress up my outfit when I wanna feel a little extra shnazzy. :)

I probably would have been over the moon happy if I had purchased one of Elise's masterpieces but seeing as they sold out in less than 30 minutes of being listed, it's super unlikely I would have been quick enough to get one anyways. I'm pretty happy with my decision to upcycle some old clothes into my new handmade clutch...and now I know, clutches are fun!

This is only my 2nd official sewing project that I've finished and already I feel like I've improved...which is exciting! Here's my first project where I sewed a pillow out of an old sweater. :)

-Gisele

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September MAKE29 : behind the scenes.

Play Dough

 

 

Dump it out with a thud.

 

I show you how to squish it.

 

You rub your fingers together not sure of the texture.

 

I start with basics...ball, worm, heart...

 

You decide you're semi ok with this new medium.

 

You put pieces inside the cup, close the lid, take them out.

 

I create stuff.

 

We talk about what each thing could be.

 

You say triangles are pizzas so we add toppings.

 

You say "oh no!" when hats and eyes and pepperonis fall off.

 

You remember all three ball forms of the snowman long after it's dissembled and call them by name as you move them around.

 

Your imagination is growing...it makes me proud.

 

I keep creating and we keep talking.

 

You realize that squeezing the cup makes the lid fly off which causes instant laughter.

 

I chase it down, repeat...we laugh again.

 

I start taking photos of your first dough experience...you say "next me"...so I sit back down.

 

I make a dog, you call it fish...you give it kisses.

 

Time for lunch.

 

Reluctantly squish all of the dough back into the cup.

 

Things just keep getting more fun.  

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A Few Iconic Weeks

Dear Graham and a Day at the Zoo

Back to School: University Style (Take 2)

Ok, it's been 8 years since I stopped going to school....8 years!? That's a long time and I honestly didn't think i'd ever go back but, once I made the decision, I have been super excited.

That being said...I was pretty anxious about my first day. 

Like, seriously...

• do people still carry backpacks? (I have this vision of me walking into a classroom with my bright blue Jan Sport I got in high school and everyone else has jet-packs or something equally ridiculous and cool.)
• and do people even use notepads anymore or is paper outdated? 
• oh my gosh, don't forget a #2 pencil!...is that still a thing on bubble tests?
• ok, and remember not to talk too much...no one likes a teacher's pet. (I should know)
• maybe I should've remembered to buy a notepad so I can actually take some notes...ah!
• I wonder if I'll make any friends?
• Is there a coffee shop on campus?...I don't see a coffee shop on campus...

And in the most sane area of my brain, I know that no one really cares what bag I carry, what I wear, or if my hair is puffy and sticking out funny on one (or both) sides. I know that everyone is there to get their 3 science credits and be on their way. And I know that in all reality, I don't really need to impress anyone...I mean, I'm not looking for a husband anymore...check that off my college to-do list. ;) BAM!

 

But it's funny to me how insecurities creep up when I'm placed into situations I've previously experienced... I always thought I'd somehow be way past all of that nonsense at this point in my life, you know, with all of my life experience and my deep infinite wisdom, ha! Apparently I'm not quite there yet.

 

The truth is, I do have some life experience that will help me this time...and I'm in a place where school now feels like this amazing privilege and something I get to do. I have this goal I want to accomplish and I'm not doing it because it's expected or because I don't know what else to do with my life...

 

I'm doing it for myself, because I want to! My family will, of course, benefit from it and are completely supportive and encouraging, but I'm the one choosing to work hard towards the end goal.

 

...I'm so excited!! 

 

(Note to self: remember this in November when I'm sick of trudging through the snow to class three nights a week and sick of all the reading.) 

 

And now that I've had a few nights of class...

• Maybe I should invest in some pepper spray...
• I'm totally getting the older versions of my textbooks and saving a few hundred bucks.
• OMG....3 hours of Geology is sooooo long.
• Really, there's no coffee shop on campus?? ...I really need to look into that.
• Don't talk to people giving away free stuff no matter how cool it is...they're selling something.
• Thank goodness I brought a #2 pencil!
• I've totally got this! 

Quick class review: (because apparently this post isn't long enough yet)

 

I was dreading and putting off taking my science credits after some bad experiences in HS but based on first impressions:

 

*Astronomy is going to be great! Tough but fun.. I think. The professor actually taught cool, relevant stuff, while being engaging, interesting, and of course, hilariously nerdy... What more could you want in an Astronomy class? 

 

*Geology is going to be pretty cool. The teacher is passionate about the subject (again, it's better they care vs not.) I'm sure I will learn a lot if I can just keep focused and retain all of the information we're trying to cover each week.

 

AND....If you made it to the end of this extremely long post, congratulations....you're amazing!

 

And now, just for kicks and giggles, here's a photo of me during my first week of college in 2003 and now in 2014. Cheers to growing up!

 

 

 

Hope your holiday weekend is fantastic! (I'll be studying!) :)

 

- Gisele

Date Night Ideas - 30 Days of Lists

I read about this fun idea on another blog about using basic lists to document what your life looks like at the moment. It makes documenting your life easier if you don't have time or desire to be super crafty, just love lists, or it can give you an opportunity to try something different...like I'm doing today. You can create an actual basic list, or dress it up a little. There is a 30-day list challenge that you can participate in here if you're interested.

The challenge today was to create a list using one of their prompts from their previous 2011 list.

As you can see in the photo above, I chose Date Night Ideas. It's easy to get stuck doing the same "dinner and a movie" type activity, so lately I've been thinking about fun things that Nate and I can do to mix it up when we get the opportunity to go out. Gotta make it count, right!?

Here's my list in case it's difficult to read my handwriting in the photo:

Arcade Night

Shooting Range

Take a Class - DIY, dance, cooking...anything

Beer/Wine tasting night

Live sporting event

Live music

Snowshoeing

Geocaching

Thrifting

Stargazing (up the canyon)

Visit an art gallery in Salt Lake

Obviously some of these will cost more than others, but I tried to include a variety of options. I'm hoping this will help us out next time we are looking for a fun idea!

I'd love to hear any ideas you have or fun dates you've tried out!

Want to see lists that others have created? Check them out here on Facebook.

- Gisele

Currently

Laughing at Graham "planking" with his aunt and uncle.

Enjoying all of the rainy days and thunderstorms we've been having this summer.

Feeling excited and nervous to start school next week.

Remembering how ridiculously high priced text books are.

Discovered the TV show Community on Hulu... how did I miss this for so many seasons? Hilarious!

Wanting to add this coffee mug to my collection...Troy and Abed are my favorite!

Waiting for my hair to grow long enough for an easy short ponytail.

Loving the look of white nail polish.

Cheering for Graham learning to stand up without assistance.

Excited (mostly) for cooler weather.

Wondering where the summer went.

Hoping to grow a hop plant like this in the backyard next spring.

Drinking lots of pretend coffee with Graham.

Compiling and narrowing down my Spotify playlist for this months One Little Word challenge.

Driving a minivan around town while my car gets some work done... 

Tying up important loose ends before life gets busy with homework.

 

-Gisele

 

Currently Reading: Picture Books

Happy Tuesday! ...we're off to the library to see what we can find! :)

Gisele (& Graham)

Life Lessons and Scrambled Eggs

One of my favorite things right now is to make scrambled eggs with Graham.  

The thing is...

I know I'll be picking shells out of the bowl.

I know egg will drip onto the counter into a sticky mess.

I know i'll have more dishes to do.

I know it would be quicker and more efficient to do it myself.

 

BUT

 

I love...

watching his face light up with the responsibility,

seeing those discerning eyebrows furl as the gears turn in his head, 

hearing his exclamation to "dump it!" when the pan is ready

his desire to use every wooden spoon we own to stir the eggs as they cook

and the tiny thrill of rebellion I still feel in my heart from sitting on the counter. ;)

 

And I can't help but think that in some small but crucial way I'm teaching him the important lessons of life...

 

That it's ok to try things that seem too difficult...things we may fail at.

That it's ok to enjoy doing things that we may never be the "best" at.

That sometimes life is messy.

That some thing's are worth the trouble and inconvenience.

That spills will happen...and that spoons, counters and hands wash up.

 

Clearly...lessons I'm still learning too.

 

Sometimes I can't wait for the days to pass, but as I soak in the joy of his passionate giggles at this newly discovered confidence and independence, I'm reminded to be present.

 

It's all worth it.

 

Gisele

July Book Review: Picture Books

In the last few months, Graham has become obsessed with reading. He's always loved books, but he will now sit still for (sometimes) five books in a row! Usually the first thing out of his mouth each morning is "book!" while pointing to his collection and he wants to read throughout the day! This is SO awesome and something I totally looked forward to happening, but I quickly realized that our collection was too small and I was going a little crazy reading through our entire library multiple times a day. We desperately needed a trip to the library.

Before we went the first time, I did my research...looked up books that people had recommended, placed them on hold and we got some really fun gems. After we returned the first batch, I tried the lets just go and see what we find method and we ended up with very few books that I desire to read more than once in my entire life...so I think I'll try to do the pre-search when possible, at least until he can pick out his own books. :)

Here is a review from the first group of books that we borrowed (in the order pictured above):  *links will take you to the Amazon description

Sheep in a Jeep - Nate and I find this book funny. It's short, sweet and silly. I'm not sure that Graham actually gets what's going on in the story...but he likes the sounds we make and points out the animals. It's a win-win!

Freight Train - Simple, colorful, very few words. Graham likes this one a lot and points to each car so we can tell him what color it is.

Starlight Sailor - This is one we actually own and one of our favorites for the past while! The words are beautifully written and poetic. The pictures are gorgeous! Definitely check this one out!

Silly Little Goose! - Another simple book where the pictures tell more of the story than the words. Graham knows what a goose says now, "HONK!", haha! Although I don't love this one, he finds it enjoyable and asked for it a lot when we had it.

The Baby Blue Cat and the Whole Batch of Cookies  - This is a childhood favorite that my parents held onto for the grandchildren. I need to buy this one for our personal collection but I don't think they print it anymore so I'll have to find it used. Sweet story and cute old pics. Perhaps it's the good memories tied to the book, but I just love it! Graham likes it too...but maybe not as much as me. See if your library has it...it's worth a shot. :)

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes  - Simple, sweet, great bold illustrations, and great for learning about fingers and toes as the title suggests! Graham loves this one...he calls it "baby!!"

Bear and Bee - This book cracks me up! I'm not sure Graham gets the humor yet but we do voices and he laughs along. I would love to own this one!

Where the Wild Things Are - This is another one that we own. Graham loves this book and I love watching Nate read this one to him..he makes it really come to life! It's a classic, and although I never really connected to it before...it's definitely a favorite now!

I Am Winnie the Pooh - This is a super simple board book, but I included it because Graham wanted to read it over and over and say the characters names on each page. I sure wish I could impersonate Winnie the Pooh..it just feels weird saying "think, think" knowing I sound nothing like Pooh. :)

Bear Snores On - I really enjoyed this story and illustrations from the very beginning. It was a little long for Graham but when he was in the right mood we could make it through.  

The Day the Crayons Quit - This book is one we'll try again when Graham gets a little bit older because it is funny! Way too long for his attention span at this point, but a great book that Nate and I enjoyed.

Sylvie - I thought this book was adorable and a good length but neither Graham nor Nate really loved it. Oh well. If you run across it you should definitely read through it...I think it's worth it. :)

Jamberry - This is probably the most read book out of all of the library books we borrowed! Graham LOVED this story, the pictures, finding the bear and different animals and pretending to eat all of the different kind of berries. We could read it over and over so I'm sure this will definitely be making it into our library at some point.

I'm starting to make a list of books that I wouldn't mind having in our personal library, as well as books that we can try again when Graham gets a little older. I'm excited to add to our personal library over time and have some of these to read over and over! So much fun!

I would love to hear what the favorites are in your home so we can check them out! Leave a comment!

Gisele

 

One Little Word - (May "I Am" Prompt)

I was so excited when I read that the One Little Word prompt for May encouraged us to use layering techniques that I've always wanted to try. The prompt was to create nine cards with "I am" statements that are relevant in our lives right now...some positive, some maybe not so positive. And the challenge was to get messy with it...really embrace the imperfection and enjoy the process.  

I took awhile to create and narrow down my list of "I am" statements. Once my final list was complete I created my cards like this:

Step 1: Apply base colors and patterns using gesso and paint on cards. Let dry and repeat until desired texture is reached. This is how my cards looked after each had 1-2 layers.

Step 2: Use stamps to add extra layering effects.

Step 3: Add the words "I am" to each card. This could have been been done with stickers/handwritten/printed. I decided that I liked the idea of using my own handwriting but still wanted it to be uniform, so I carved a stamp.

 

Step 4: Create each unique "i am" statement using handwriting/stamps/stickers.

Step 5: Embellish!

Supplies Used: Cardstock, Gesso, Paint, Stencils, Stamps, Stickers, Pens/Markers, Small embellishments 

Here are my completed cards. I got a little carried away and created 18.

 (click on image for a larger view) 

As with each monthly prompt, the activities are not the most important element but they are a helpful tool to challenge me. 

The physical act of creating each card really gave me the opportunity I needed to work through what each statement means about me and how I feel about it. I love that every one of these little cards contains a very tangible and vulnerable piece of who I am in this very moment.

I hope you had a wonderful and safe 4th of July!

Gisele

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