I’m going to spend the next hour or so doing some clean up on my blog (mostly by assigning categories to posts) so if you get some sort of email notication each time I update then you are going to get slammed with emails. Sorry about that.
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Going backwards…
Say hello to my new Christmas tree. The one I was walking down Main Street in Pleasanton with yesterday – while two of my sisters pretended like they didn’t know me.
They thought I was a bit bonkers but I prefer to think of myself as a visionary. This is for next year, obviously. I also bought that shiny silver thing (I realize the irony of that statement since everything in the picture is silver and shiny…) in lower part of the picture. It’s kind of tree shaped too. And a pretty, glittery star ornament. Everything was 40% off and bought at various establishments in Pleasanton. My favorite being American Harvest which is just the best store ever.
But let’s back up a bit because the whole day was pretty amazing. Nicki and I have been trying to get to Livermore and Pleasanton for a day of shopping and lunch for MONTHS now. It finally came together yesterday and as luck would have it our sister Kate was available too. The first stop was Livermore with the sole destination of In Between Stitches. It is a quilt shop owned by two sisters, Leslie and Melissa and where the adorable Pam of Pamkittymorning – yes that Pam! – works.
And I got to meet her! She’s kind of a blogging rockstar, wouldn’t you say? The store is beyond fabulous, as are the people that work there. They have exactly the kind of fabrics I would stock in a quilt shop if I owned one – huge selection of 30’s repo type fabrics, lots of shabby pinks, creams and greens. Tons of embroidery patterns. I think I like the embroidery and applique aspect of quilting more than anything so it was just my kind of store.
I ended up picking up an embroidery pattern (future post) and a pattern for a felt runner. They had an example in the store and I made a beeline to it. It combines felt applique and embroidery and is the type of project that is small enough that even I can finish it with my short attention span.
The store is full of different types of projects so if you aren’t into quilting it is still absolutely worth the trip. While we were there a number of quilting designers and bloggers just happened to show up. We all lined up for picture taking and I’m sure Nicki will post her pictures (my camera wasn’t there) and will identify the other quilters.
Here is a picture of the runner pattern. I decided to go with a more muted palette of pinks, apricots and creams. In Between Stitches has one of the best selections of felted wool I have ever seen. The picture above doesn’t quite get the green right – its more sagey looking in real life. I’m hoping to start on it tomorrow so hopefully I’ll have some shots of my progress later on this weekend.
After Livermore and a hair raising drive to Pleasanton we had lunch at Fontina’s and then just wandered up and down Main Street, picking up after Christmas bargains.
Wheeeee! I know I wasn’t going to buy any more supplies for projects but honestly, can you blame me?
Pâtisserie
(picture stolen borrowed from my sister, Nicole)
Pâtisserie. I do believe that is my new favorite word.
I haven’t said much about the holiday festivities except for the occasional "Phew! Tree is up." or "Phew! Tree is down." post. I spent the greater part of my vacation (12/21-1/7 so still in progress) sick as a dog. My body is wont to do that – as soon as I am free of any professional obligations all manner of previously intimidated viruses and bacteria feel free to have a party at my place. Whoohoo! Party at Andrea’s. Literally.
I did manage to pull it together and invite myself down to my sister and brother in law’s house the weekend after Christmas. Rick and I drove down on Saturday morning and just as soon as we arrived we hopped into my brother is law’s car and headed into Pacific Grove to pick up fish for the evening meal and a secret stop at Gerard Bechler’s Pâtisserie for a certain someone’s birthday dessert. Certain someone being Rick, before you all start sending me birthday salutations. I’m aging fast enough, thank you very much.
My sister and brother in law (Dennis) met the man before the baker, if you will. Meaning they met him socially and became friends with him and he just happens to be an amazing pastry chef. Pastry Chef – now there is a friendship I would definitely cultivate. It’s almost as good as a – – – hmm. I can’t think of anything better. When we went to pick up the dessert Gerard wasn’t there but oh my the dessert was.
I’ve been hearing stories for years now of parties where Gerard brought some amazing confection for all the guests – towering crouque-en-bouche (see image above), individual chocolate lanterns with actual candles burning inside, artists being inspired to do his likeness in chocolate after eating one of his desserts. And now we had one of our very own to enjoy.
I cannot describe how good it was – it was a vanilla custard surrounded by individual cream puffs, drizzled in caramelized spun sugar and topped with fresh berries. We ate our amazing dinner of fresh fish tacos and drank tons of wine and then each took a modest portion of dessert. Lots of moaning ensued and then there was a total loss of decorum and we just passed the cake plate around and each took a turn basically licking it clean.
The next morning we drove back into Pacific Grove and decided to have breakfast at Gerard’s. Well he does quiche just as amazingly as he does desserts. Dennis and I had spinach quiche while Nicki and Rick had ham and cheese. It was just more custardy than other quiche I’ve ever had. And as a bonus Gerard himself was there and came out and visited with us for a few minutes. The holidays are his busiest time and I’m sure the Sunday before New Year’s was no exception. After we ate our quiche and drank our coffee and piled into the car Gerard came out to the parking lot with a small china dish with four perfect chocolate truffles to see us on our way.
Can you even imagine a better way to end the year? I’m not sure I can. Gerard is on a much deserved holiday in France and I, along with most of the rest of you, am on a diet. So when I am enjoying my steamed vegetables and salt-free broth I am going to dream of cream puffs, flaky pastry and sea breezes.
Beginnings
There is something just so deliciously clean slate-ish about January 1st. You can dust off your hands of the previous year, straighten your shoulders with firm resolve and not look back.
The new year is full of hope and plans and dreaminess. I’m not much of a resolution maker because, well, it’s just never really worked out for me. I’m more of a "I’m really going to TRY…." type of person. I have the standard issue health and finance related goals but more than that this year I am going to try to be more creative.
I buy all this stuff, the bits and pieces, and make half hearted attempts and what usually stalls me is that I can’t quite get to my vision. And I’m not a very patient person. My Christmas cards are a perfect example. I was going for something kind of sweet and simple and instead they just looked hokey to me. Instead of trying out different versions of it I just shoved it all into my craft closet and that was that.
I have boxes and bags of stuff shoved into my craft closet. The above is just a small sampling.
What interests me most is altered art. There is stamp shop near me in Roseville that has an example of a small shadow box with an apothecary theme that just fascinates me. It has a teeny little skeleton, small little jars, all manner of things you can imagine would be in an apothecary’s shop. That’s the sort of thing I would love to create. Little intriguing vignettes.
The second thing that, well I’m not sure if ‘interests me’ is the right term – more like ‘frustrates me to no end’ and that is photography. I have a decent camera and I don’t know how to use it properly. A class may be in order. I did receive a digital photography book for Christmas and I’ll start there. I suppose the instruction manual that came with the camera is another good place to start.
So there you have it – more creativity and the pictures to prove it.
And I’m going to TRY to be better about posting. I don’t know what happened in the last couple of months but it sure didn’t lend itself to blogging. Less of that.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to those near and far! I hope that 2008 is everything you hope it to be and more.
I’m looking forward to some big changes in the upcoming year. A new home, a renewed sense of calm and gratitude and just a bit less stress than the year we are leaving behind.
May the year be rosy and bright for you.