Distressing Furniture

The hubs and I have been blessed with families that unloaded their old furniture onto us when we moved out.  Which is actually kind of awesome because we saved lots of money.  But it's less awesome when the furniture is outdated and non-matching.  Luckily for us, I'm a thrifty DIY kinda gal!

I did some serious research (ahem) on Pinterest, and consulted my copy of the very 90's DIY paint book Debbie Travis Painted House (thanks Mom!).  And came up with this!

So..... 2013 Happened!

And I pretty much blogged about none of it!  Woops, sorry about that.

I expect 2014 to be much of the same sadly.  Especially because this is set to arrive in June...

And this little one will be 2 years old in a few weeks!

 
And this furry one will be 1 year old in a few weeks!

Wowzers, life just flies by!

I actually did a fair amount of sewing in 2013, I just didn't have time to take photos or to blog about it. Maybe I just need to do quick little posts with lots of photos via Instagram?  Peut etre.  I'll try and do better for 2014, ha!

Novatron's Closet

I must admit that I've been lazy when it comes to sewing for the Little Miss...  My sewing time is quite limited these days, and I've been justifying not sewing for Nova by the inexpensiveness of simply buying clothes for her...  But with the recent Joe Fresh factory collapse in Bangladesh, I just can't justify it any longer...  Here she is wearing some of her JF clothes...

This and That

So much for my 2013 goal of being a more consistent blogger!  I blame it partially on this little munchkin who has recently started walking (!!!):

 And also THIS little furball who we have added to our family:

The Dressy Raincoat or Disappointing Minoru

Here on the wet West Coast of British Columbia, Canada we get a lot of rain.  Like...  a LOT.  I feel like there is a rainfall warning at least once a week.  At least during the winter months anyway...  I wanted a nice, somewhat dressy waterproof jacket that I could wear during the monsoon weather here in Squamish.

The Joy of Quick-Wins

Sometimes just a minor effort gives maximum reward.  Like changing the buttons on an old sweater to update your look.

Super fun!

Happy Friday everyone!
xxx
Caramia

The First BC Family Day (Project 52:7)

Family Day has been a stat holiday in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan (maybe Ontario?  I don't know, I don't really pay attention to "out east".  Except Newfoundland.  I can't get enough!).  Poor old British Columbia was feeling left out.  Hmph!  Forgetting about us, stuck over here on the other side of the Rocky Mountains...  Harrumph!  So in 2013 the provincial government gave BC a Family Day statutory holiday.  A paid day off to spend time with your family.  Yay!
 

I actually didn't know the holiday existed until a few days before, when I went into work and saw a sign on the door saying we were going to be closed for the holiday.  Cue fist pump!

Christmas Sewing Leftovers

I finished a few pieces before Christmas, took photos, and then forgot to blog about them!  Woops!  All the hustle and bustle of the holidays took over my life for awhile.  And then the Little Miss turned one, and I returned back to work.  Phew!  I can hardly believe it's February already!

First up is the Simplicity 2512 by Cynthia Rowley skirt.  My hips are basically non-existant so this skirt helps me fake an hourglass shape.  Love!

Sewing Inspiration: Downton Abbey and the Roaring 20's

Welp - I am officially on the Downton Abbey train!

Not that I didn't think I would like it.... au contraire bonjour!  (ps: that is a Ladies' Man reference).  It has everything I like in a show...  history, drama, intrigue, British accents, Maggie Smith, the English countryside, and period costumes!

Happy Birthday to our Little Miss! (Project 52:3)

Well, I can hardly believe it - the Little Miss will be turning one tomorrow.  One (!!!).

Project 52 (52:1&2)

In an attempt to be a better blogger, I'm copying my fellow blogger and real-life friend Lani over at Squamish Baby by participating in Project 52.  Just in case you've never heard of it - and I hadn't until I started following Lani's blog - it's an online project to take one photo per week to document our lives. 

Holiday Gratitude

Autumn walk in Squamish, BC, Canada

I am a very blessed woman.  I mean it.  I have a wonderful husband who I adore, and who loves me more than I deserve.  Together, we are lucky to have our beautiful 11-month-old daughter.  She is healthy and happy (most days... she is teething, ha!).  We live in the beautiful community of Squamish, and we both have good jobs that we enjoy.

I really feel like sometimes I need to sit back and remind myself of these things and be grateful.  In light of the appalling events that took place last week in the U.S., it's important to be thankful for what we have and appreciate the fragility of life.  Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy, including the families of the gunmen as that cannot be an easy cross to bear...

Try not to get caught up in the frenzy of the season... spend less money, but give more of your time.  Make memories with your loved ones and enjoy the things you do have, instead of lusting for the things you don't.  Sending love and light to everyone during this holiday season.

View from First Peak, The Chief, Squamish

Happy Monday!
xxx
Caramia

Autumn in Dramatic Fashion

After a glorious summer here in the Sea-to-Sky corridor, autumn has officially arrived.  Bringing with it chilly temperatures, changing leaves, and torrential rains!  I actually like fall since some of my favourite clothes are perfect for the cooler weather.  Boots, sweaters, tuques, mittens... and my brand-new sweatshirt with a dramatic collar!

DIY Fabric Necklace

I saw a feature in In Style magazine a few years ago on some fabric bead necklaces by Louis Vuitton, and I ripped it out for my Inspiration Binder.  These bad boys retail for over $800 (!!!).  Like, holy frig who has that kind of money for a FABRIC necklace?!?!?  No diamonds or gold or anything!!!  Well I figured I could probably make my own for a mere fraction of the price.  So I did some Googling.

Fireworks Taffy

Back view, unfinished neckline

I have a serious shortage of cute tops in my wardrobe.  Lots of my dressier tops are made of hard to wash fabrics, which doesn't really work for my life right now with an 8-month-old baby.  Cotton is pretty much the way I roll these days...  I used a cotton voile for the Taffy Blouse from the Colette Handbook.

But Not A Real Green Dress (That's Cruel)

Family photo at our friends' wedding

We've had amazing weather for most of the summer here in the Sea-to-Sky corridor.  It's been nice, but having a baby definitely changes your outlook on things.  Instead of rejoicing at the +30C temps, I began cursing it, knowing that it would be next to impossible to put the Little Miss to bed when her room was 29C and the sunshine was still streaming into the house.

End of Summer...

It's that time of year again here in Canada... the crisp chill in the air, days are getting shorter, the leaves are beginning to change colour.  Autumn is on it's way!  My husband brews his own beer from scratch, and is quite good at it.  He planted hops at his parents house a few years ago, and it was harvest time while were in the Okanagan for the Labour Day long weekend (Sept 1st)...

The "Enjoy It While It Fits" Bonnet

We're going to a wedding this weekend in Salmon Arm.  It's supposed to be very hot and sunny, and apparently there will be little to no shade during the outdoor ceremony.

So the Little Miss needed a fancy hat to wear!

Adventures in the U.S. of Eh!

Well it's certainly been awhile since my last post... not surprising considering the Little Miss is now 6 months old (!!!) and has decided that she no longer wants to nap during the day... sigh...  But I thought I'd check in with you guys and update you on the goings-on around these parts.

Viewpoint near Manzanita, Oregon Coast

We just returned home last night after a wonderful 9-day vacation to the Oregon Coast (and beyond!).  N and I enjoy travelling and we're always up for a road trip so that we can stop along the way if we want to check something out.  Travelling with a 6-month-old is MUCH different than travelling alone with your spouse, ha ha ha.  Little Miss pretty much dictated our entire trip... if she was sleeping in the car, we didn't dare stop.  But if she was awake and fussy, we would stop ASAP.

The Sleep-Deprived Sorbetto

 Back in 2010, a friend asked me to make her a green skirt.  I misread the instructions and ended up making her purchase way more fabric than was necessary.  So I decided that I would make her something else "someday" as a surprise!