rachel.simonsen

I'm ahead of schedule...

Which I almost never condone when it comes to Christmas decorating.  In fact, I'm not really sure what has come over me. But I did some Christmas shopping this past weekend and it got me thinking about how many projects I want to do for gifts and decorating and the lists started getting overwhelming.  So I figured I better get a head start. Forgive me for my over eagerness - I do really love this whole Thanksgiving into Christmas season. 

This weekend it was a paper garland to decorate our little built-in area. Which is so very very easy to make. 

I used this papers from this Christmas Paper pad (found in Michael's stores now!) and some solid red and gold papers.  I used three different sized punches to punch out way more circles than I needed.

 

And then I just sewed the circles together with my sewing machine - feeding the garland around a paper towel tube (because thats what I had) to keep it from getting tangled after it was sewn. It really took no time at all, but I'm glad I did it early because this way it is actually done and can enjoy it for more than two days.  

 

Ahh, I love it....but, I think I will wait a little while before I pull out the Christmas movies and cookie recipes.   

(more) tape love...

I know I've shared my tape obsession here before - but in case anyone was wondering, it is not a passing sort of fad. I think this is a love that is here to stay. 

I've been thinking about Christmas presents a lot lately (hence the lack of sharing projects around these parts...they are top secret!) and I'm gathering ideas for wrapping.  I must say the use of packing tape is a strong contender. 

 (three on the left, and the top right one : Kate's Paperie, the bottom right: RetroNaNa Etsy Shop)

Since Christmas wrapping is weeks away, for now I will just be overusing my tapes in completely unnecessary ways ... like instead of drawing a line in my notebook list, I put tape.

 

And now back to work.  My office needs some desperate organizing attention - in the craze of inspiration and designing new projects, tidiness has slipped to the bottom of my list...oops. 

can i rewind...

 

and do this past weekend all over again? Because if I could, I totally would. Trips up north make me so very, very happy. Even incredibly quick ones. Being able to soak in actual fall with leaves, and colors and harvesting...yes, please, I will take some more of that.

 

California is a big state. It has a lot of wonderful, beautiful, exciting places and it may be impossible to pick a favorite place in this state (because I also just stink at picking definitive favorites of anything), but Napa Valley easily makes my top three. I think I may have fallen in love with vineyards and Napa at the young age of 12 when I saw the new version of Parent Trap in the theaters. But the love has been completely engrained after many trips visiting one of my best friend's family vineyard.  The above picture is more or less their backyard.

The whole area though, t's just so beautiful. And I am so lucky to have the benefit of expert tour guides each and every visit. Which is great, because there are so many incredible things to do and experience there.  For example...this is not Europe below. This is a castle...in napa. (I may have pretended I was in Europe for a bit...but I stayed very solidly on US soil.) 

Spotted through out the weekend... patterns and lettering...

 

Let me just take a moment : the fig cafe - we decided money would became no object at lunch. The food was too incredible to order sensible amounts. bread basket and spreads? yes. full lunch? yes. fries or salad? both. dessert? absolutely, are you kidding...when it is pear and ginger cheesecake? I only regret not ordering two. 

 

Don't you just love that old school pattern? The style is so weird and whimsical. And sometimes, I can't help myself with the flooring-feet pictures.  This one was from the Bouchon Bakery in Yountville where I had my very first macaroon. I now completely understand what the hype surrounding these little beautiful cookie treats is all about- they are incredible. I also totally loved the Bouchon Bakery logo and packaging (and potato chips). 

Perfect combination for a weekend: inspiration, beauty, extremely tasty food, and time spent with the best of friends. 

 

inspired by...

Okay, so let me be clear from the beginning, I'm not completely satisfied with this little experiment project. 

But I saw these hairstyles that were part of the Carolina Herrera 2009 fall runway collection and really loved the overuse of pins. And since I have these weird bang-like things that are at a strange length, I myself have been using copious amounts of bobby pins. So I wanted to find some similar bobby pins with metal details...but didn't really see anything I liked that much (granted I am impatient and didn't really look that hard). So I had this bright idea to use these gold buttons I've had sitting around for forever and some gold bobby pins and the only kind of powerful glue I own...

Now, really, gorilla glue is a great substance, but not ideal for metal or extremely small delicate things like this. But I made it work (due to being the impatient person I am, as aforementioned). 

But this is the result...

 

Which honestly, doesn't look anything like what I wanted it to and still looks like buttons on bobby pins unfortunately. But oh well, it was easy and is a little quirky looking in a sweet sort of way. And I'll continue my hunt for more sophisticated bobby pins...

weekend report...

Another weekend has gone by too quickly, however, with the help of a little list making, I did get a good amount accomplished. This was just my personal little fun to do list. The work one was kept separate. 

 

With 90 degree temperatures, I refuse to say it was a lovely fall weekend. Despite not being the season it should, it was beautifully sunny and cheerful. 

 

On Sunday the sister and I strolled around a flea market with coffee in our hands and tried to resist from spending all the money we own. (which I'm quite certain we could have done) 

  

I did buy a few little gems, but haven't taken pictures of them (will do that soon and share). 

perfume packaging...

I think because I'm about to run out of my current perfume, I've been rather drawn to perfume packaging and thinking about what I will purchase next. I'm such a sucker for packaging...it could easily entice me to buy something I don't need...

these may be my favorite (from skeem)

 

Of course I love the type on these and the little jars they are in, but I'm also a really big fan of how they include the scent and story descriptions.  Although I wouldn't want just one... I would want five lined up on my dresser (from CB i hate perfume) 

 

I've had my eye on these Tokyo Milk perfumes for a while...I like the little surprise illustration on the inside of the bottle. (found here)

And from an Etsy seller - Portland General Store. I like the simplicity of the label - clean, clear and direct. 

 

I'll let you know if I ever make a decision and purchase one of these lovelies!

snap shots...

Weekends have been busy as of late...

  

Fall! I see fall!!...

 

a trip up to griffith observatory...

hello pretty scrapbook stickers and pretty sister...

I will take many more weekends please....

the other day at work...

This was the other day at work... seriously. I know, I'm terrible to post this, but I just have to say - I work at the best place ever. We had a little creativity inspiration day spent beach-side. I was a happy girl with my sketchbook.

hello fall, i'm so happy you're here...

Yesterday morning I woke up and I was cold. I pulled all my blankets over me and contemplated not getting out of bed.  This may sound a little bit like complaining - but I assure you, it is not. It was lovely! After a stretch of 100 degree temperatures here in southern California, the 'chilly' weather of 62 degrees was very welcomed. It made it really feel like fall and that is a season I'm ready to embrace whole heartedly. It's not quite the same here as it is in the midwest, no brilliantly colored changing trees, but a pumpkin latte will put anyone in the mood to grab a sweater and pull on the boots. Oh boots! I have my eye on a couple...I decided I need a second pair, so as not to wear out my favorite ones that won't be easy to replace. This pair is way out of my price range, but I loved the different textures and I think I have settled on the color grey for my back up pair. 

 

I can't get enough of leggings right now (I don't really care if they are exactly 'in' or not...they are so comfy.) And I have begun a new phase of love for my french press. I get out of bed in the morning for it. And I've been thinking a lot about textured and textile-type jewelry.  It's percolating...I'll let you know when I have more thoughts on the matter.

I hope you are all getting to enjoy this lovely time of year!!

links...

cream sweater

french press

grey boots

plaid throw blanket

leggings

braided bracelet

braided hex bracelet 

some scrapbooking pages...

Remember how I always say I can't wait to use new product? But.....I do end up waiting. Because there always seem to be more important things to accomplish than the line on my to-do list that is play with new product. These have been sitting half done on my desk for approximately two weeks. Oh well. I bit the bullet and spent 15 min finishing them yesterday. 

I noticed that I usually tend to use one photo and one soft spoken-type piece on my pages, so I decided I should switch it up. This first page I used lots of soft spoken pieces from all over- a kit, a SS, a chipboard sticker sheet.  And when the saying didn't fit my page, but the color did - I just used white out and wrote over. 

And I had this old gift card envelope that I really liked the size of, so I used it to hold the journaling for this next page. I lined the envelope by tracing the shape on patterned paper and sliding it in, secured by a little double sided tape. 

And can I please say a hardy hooray for the weekend?! Let's get it started already...