Pillows

Months ago my friend Tracy gave me some pretty fabric to make throw pillows, and I finally got around to making them. Tracy gave me a beautiful piece of Ikat as well as some yummy cream velvety fabric. I had on hand a raspberry silk faille skirt I'd pulled to pieces. I fell in love with this pillow and decided I would try to recreate it with my skirt fabric and the leftover pieces of the cream velvet (I used the majority of the velvet for the back of the Ikat pillow).

Here is the Ikat:

and here is the mitered pillow:

Mitered pillow I defy you!

The person who made the original started with striped fabric, but I decided I needed a real headache and made my own stripes. Whatever, I am happy with the results, and happy that I used the skirt fabric for something useful.

I found this tutorial for making more graphic mitered pillows. Take a look if you think you might want to make one, or at least the illusion of mitered corners without all the work.

Happy Christmas

Hope you have a wonderful day filled with family and love!

Baby

For those of you who are wondering, this baby is still hanging out. I am pretty sure she is not going to be arriving tomorrow, or even the day after. But that is okay, because she seems pretty cozy in here and I can't complain either. So, we wait.

For Mike

Since you keep asking me what I want for Christmas here are some suggestions.

1. immersion blender

2. a nice iron

3. microfiber dusting mitt

4. a new robe

5. magazine subscription

Quilts

My mom came up yesterday and we headed over to the de Young to see the Amish Abstractions quilt exhibit. The exhibit was just the right size, not too many quilts so as to overwhelm, but just enough to get a good idea of the range of different styles and patterns. What impressed me the most were the teeny, tiny, perfect stitches on the quilts.

Risotto

I made this yummy risotto the other night. I'm not sure why I've hesitated to make risotto in the past, it was easy and really did not take that long to make. In fact, the most time consuming part was chopping and cooking the butternut squash (which I did in a pot with a little water). Recipe here.

p.s. If you don't want to use wine just use some of the chicken stock.

Holiday at Ikea

Saturday we were in the East Bay picking up something from Craigslist and stopped in at Ikea on the way out. I ran in to get some fabric, and as I was going to the checkout line I picked up some of their ornaments. Looks like we are going to have a Scandinavian Christmas. Tree trimming and watching the Christmas Devotional tonight.

Showers

I had two fantastic baby showers last month. One at my mom's house with all the ladies I grew up with as well as aunts and cousins. The other up here in San Francisco with all the wonderful friends I've made since we moved here.

Unfortunately we did not get any shots of the whole table before people devoured all the goodies at my mom's, but here are some detail shots.

Lemon meringue cupcakes and coconut cupcakes.

My mom getting a little dangerous with a blow torch, yes a blow torch, not a kitchen torch.

The aftermath.

The San Francisco shower hosted by Meg and Michelle: There was a theme of sweets because I am having a sweet little girl. Meg made me a CD with all the pictures of the event, but because our place may or may not be a gigantic mess, I can't seem to find them. So, I am going to refer you to Michelle's blog until I can find that CD and put up those pictures.

Nine

I am such a sucker for bawdy musicals. Elizabeth, I will see this with you when you come visit. Baby and all.

Nursery

I think these would be cute in our baby's closet.

See all of them here.

Screenprinting Class

A few weekends ago our friend Andy came into town to teach one of his screenprinting classes. Mike and I attended the class and had a really good time. Andy has been screen printing for over ten years and he really knows his stuff. Andy's website is here, which incidentally Mike built.

Andy has been going all over the place with Nicole's art weekend classes so, you should check out his site and see if there is going to be a class near you. Andy mentioned if you have a large enough group of people who are interested in taking the class you should contact him to see if he can come to you.

Me working a power tool. Hot.

Getting the table ready for a big mess.

Andy will help you finish your screen of your arms are too weak. Mine were.

Inspecting a screen. Job well done.

Mama Bear

I just saw this beautiful necklace on Sunday Suppers and I think I am in love. Also I would like to devour one of those crostatas.

Look at all their goods here.

4 weeks to go

Mike's dad got the baby a flip video for her shower. Let's see if we can restrain ourselves from filling this blog with little videos of her. Here I am with four weeks to go.

Music by Mia Riddle

Happy, Happy!

I want to say thank you to everyone who was praying for us/thinking about us/sending good vibes our way as we waited to hear back about Mike's job interview. He got the job, and we are THRILLED!

When Mike got laid off back in April, he started teaching himself computer/web programming and web development. I admit that I would get a bit impatient at times and say things like, "Maybe you should just apply somewhere just to at least HAVE a job" not really appreciating that he was taking the time to learn something that he really enjoyed and would like to do as a career. Well his perseverance paid off and the perfect job came around and he was ready for it.

Before interviewing for this job Mike was offered another position with his old company and we were tempted to take it just to have the security of a consistent paycheck. However we both felt uneasy about taking the job for a few different reasons. After lots of thinking and praying and some time at the temple (I am so glad we live to close to the temple) Mike turned down the job.

With the arrival of our baby so close at hand this news about Mike being hired is such a relief, and I'll admit I burst into tears of gratitude when Mike got the phone call this morning. We are so grateful for prayer and of our Father in Heaven being mindful of us, as well as the peace that we've had knowing that even if Mike did not get this job everything would be okay. Again thanks to everyone who was thinking of us and lending us support.

Did I Miss The Boat?

You know when you com across something that is really inspiring and you feel like you have discovered something that no one else has? Well I am sure that I am the last person to discover Eddie Ross and his delightful blog. I've been looking through his archives this morning and loving so much of his stuff. Just poke around on his blog and see if you are not inspired too.

Don't Need It

But I certainly want this jacket. I Don't think the pictures do it justice. The best part? It looks cute with my pregnant belly.

Next Year

I am totally doing this.

via

A Good Halloween Movie

I really like watching scary movies during October, well not really scary movies, but good spooky movies. Last night we watched Drag Me To Hell, and it was pretty darn good. It got a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and they called it a, "frightening, hilarious, delightfully campy thrill ride". Agreed.

p.s. the trailers make the movie look like it is going to be really scary and creepy, but really it is just funny.

Shelving

How cute are these little shelves? They would be perfect in our tiny nursery. Found em here.

Ruby Green

Okay Ruby Green, you've got me. I am completely charmed by your styling, by the fact that your little red head reminds me of Ann Margaret, and finally that you have the zigzag fabric I've been searching for. However, I do not find $90 for a yard of fabric overly charming.

It's Official

After almost three and a half years of being married I finally got my butt down to the social security office and changed my name. You may now call me Mrs. Gniewosz.

Dishes

Who does the dishes at your house? I sure don't.

.

Kids Clothes

Last week in between doctor appointments Mike and I went down to Japan town and visited our favorite bookstore. I came away with a darling pattern book for making children's clothes. Now all I have to do is figure out the Japanese instructions.

Baby Book

If I did not already have a baby book that I love, (and bought for $1.50 at the Honolulu savers) there would be nothing holding me back from buying this one. But honestly, I will probably get this Sara Midda one anyway.

Craigslist

It has been a while, I am not very consistent with this. Sorry. I've been spending quite a bit of time looking for things on Craigslist for the baby's room, and I just want to vent about a few things:

1. Put a picture with your item. Why even bother posting something online if you don't have a picture?

2. PLEASE put the dimensions of your item in the description. People, if you area as serious about selling your dresser/couch/crib/piece of furniture as I am about buying it then tell me how big the darn thing is.

3. Don't post an item and then go on vacation for three days. Post it when you get back from your trip and will actually respond to my queries.

4. If you've sold your item please respond to my emails, or at the very least take your post down.

Do you think I've missed anything?

26 weeks

Here are some artsy fartsy pictures Mike took of me. My stomach is finally looking pregnant and not just like a big beer belly.

Here...

are two pictures, since you keep asking. Let's see, this is me this morning at 21 weeks in a trusty wrap dress. Enjoy you harpies.

New

Got these silly little shoes today.

Mani Pedi

Went with Jordan to get a mani pedi (the last one I had was 3 years ago) and saw this lady . My feet don't look half as ugly with a nice coat of polish and a good soak.

A good dress

if you are pregnant, or if you aren't. I guess a wrap dress is a girls best friend right? I have the Calypso Julia dress in this color and and a russet color. Don't be silly and pay full price, troll ebay for one, or wait for the dress to go on sale on the Calypso site.

Decor

I am in love with these bright cheery colors. Perfect for a baby girl, no?

via Brooke's blog.

Adam

I got tickets from work to see the premiere of Adam at the Clay theater. Emily, who has been abandoned by her family and Tracy, met up with us at the theater. I think that if you don't have to pay to see a movie then you automatically become more critical of it. I wonder if I would have liked the movie any better had we payed to see it. The movie was okay, the company was great.

The News

I'm pregnant. And it is a girl. We are SO happy! Due date is December 24th. Merry Christmas to us.

Just a side note and something to look at. Mike has said more than a few times that he thinks newborns are really ugly. Well they have been smooshed in the uterus and then the birth canal, so yes they can look a little freakish (this little one sort of reminds me of a Who). And it would seem that he is not alone in his thinking. Check out Thierry Bouet's pictures of newborns. Pretty funny.

Hi

I have something to tell you on Thursday. I bet you can guess what it is.

Tights

Ladies, for the record tights are NOT pants! If I see one more Sienna Miller wana-be/fashion victim/art student running around San Francisco wearing tights as pants, I will scream.

See how crazy she looks? See how it looks like she is wearing granny panties? This is how you look, just as crazy, just as silly. I am sure you have lovely legs, and a nice rump, but really I don't need to be acquainted with your inner thighs and bum. That's all.

Marin

We went on this great hike Monday. A bit over 7 miles round trip and so, so pretty. After the hike Mike got me some clam chowder and we drove around a bit before coming back to the city.