parties, palettes and pinks
2007-05-10 18:46:36
Exhausted from all my events at work this week, and tonight The Boy and I have to finalize the winners of the Name That Wine Competition to announce tomorrow, I hope I have the energy! Looking ahead to all things Birthday on Saturday. May 12th will finally arrive and I promise to stop nattering on about it. Above is an invitation that I mailed out to my Aunt Andrea for my tea party on Mother's Day. (I borrowed her image to show you what they looked like.) Andrea is extremely crafty and I have given her the task of creating numbered tags. Here is a photo of the tags she made for my bridal shower, last August.
Each guest will bring a wrapped teacup, Andrea and I will tie her tags to each one and we will drawn numbers out of The Butler's bowler and collect our present! My list of supplies is ever growing, card tables, bags of ice, farmers market runs on Sunday morning for fresh flowers, and there are the tea sandwiches to make!
I was browsing Neiman Marcus
Read more: parties
all things teacups
2007-05-15 18:04:00
There is nothing so rewarding then making a friend through your writing. With this blog I have come into contact with extraordinary people whom I would have never me otherwise. Michelle has been a loyal reader since the beginning, always offering encouragement to her comments. After having read each others blogs we find that we have more in common each day then we had ever realized. As she wrote in her birthday card, she knows that if only we lived near one another, we'd be very close friends. Well, I couldn't agree more.
Michelle collects tea cups and was inspired by a previous post to find one for me as a birthday gift. (the one above is a Paragon!) I am humbled by her gesture, and her gift was one of the highlights of a very crumby work week. Thank you Michelle, for cheering me up, and for your sweet sentiments! I am fortunate to have met you!
Read more: things
Mother's Day Tea Party
2007-05-14 20:00:55
My Mother's Day tea party began at 1:30pm yesterday. Sunday afternoon greeted my aunties, mother, cousins and close friends with sunshine and light breezes. As each guest arrived I took their wrapped package into the Villa to assign a tag to the gift. Andrea, lovingly, made these tags, with posh Victorian ladies and delicate teacups.
I set up a card table with iced beverages in a faux crystal punch bowl, with an offering of assortment iced teas, french lemonade's, sparkling Muscat, Champagne, and Farley brought port and Thomas Fogarty Pinot Gris. The Butler was on call to replenish empty champagne flutes and lemonade glasses.
I let Dragger's market do a lot of the work for me. I bought Crab dip and spooned it into pre-baked phyllo cups, then spread their deli "almond, apple chicken" salad on triangles of rye bread. The only fussy thing I made was the "watercress Montrachet pecan" sandwiches on raisin bread. Recipe will be posted at the bottom of
Read more: Party
if only i had a blackberry
2007-05-18 20:34:44
(fantasy come true: compliments of Happy Zombie and redkid.net )
the brides maids quilts part 2
2007-05-18 18:00:00
Tea with Mr. Darcy
When I came up with the idea to make the girls quilts, I sent them a email quiz to fill out. I wanted to gain a better idea of the colors in their homes, the colors they were inspired by and whether they wanted the crazy-modern-ness that is Amy Butler, or perhaps something more refined. At the bottom of each quiz were samples of fabrics, mostly from Moda. They were asked to rate from 1-6 what they like best to least. I threw in 30's prints, modern prints, reproduction prints and so on. Becca was the only girl to respond that not only was the swatch I had labeled "C" (Wuthering Heights by Three Sisters) just her style, but that she was in love with that print.
What a nice change from my beloved Amy Butler, don't you think? It was s pleasure to work with the 3 Sisters fabric line. I have been searching all over the net for more information about these designers and wind up with just a nice icon. Geez, there has to be more. Does anyone know more about t
the brides maids quilts part 1
2007-05-17 19:03:52
The brides maids, in all their glory. A year and a half ago, I decided to make each girl in my wedding party a quilt. One that was unique to their own personality, but using the same pattern for all 6 quilts, to tie together the occasion. From left to right we have Lisa, Becca, Lizz, Courtney and Tomoko. (Elin, who is missing, was my honorary bridesmaid, as she was attending college in Sweden.)
I decided to use the pattern Yellow Brick Road. Seemed fitting for the journey this wedding was talking us (me) on. It was super simple and I could make a quilt top in a weekend. Atkinson Designs had wonderfully clear instructions, and for this beginning quilter, that was a huge relief. So I began to search for fabrics and stumbled on an ancient line of Amy Butler's called Temple Flowers. Yellow Brick road, or Turning 20, are patterns that allow for a loud, busy print. And, there is nothing I love more!
Amy's designs seemed to go well with Yellow Brick and I could pick the loudest fabri
chocolate & zucchini
2007-05-16 17:42:07
My new cookbook has arrived! Clotilde has really out done her self on this book. Flipping through it, I feel as though I am curled up on her couch and watching her cook in her little kitchen. Her style, and voice come out in the recipes as she talks you through each creation. There is a Spinach and shrimp, chilled soup, that looks wonderful, a quiche with onion and cumin, or apple, goat cheese and broccoli, and delectable menus for entertaining a crowd. This is a cook book for all seasons, and whether cooking for 1 person, 2 or 8!
Who's tired of teacups? Raise your hand! Yes! I see you, way in the back. I'm sorry. I know. I'll stop, after this one last post, m'kay?
The one at the top is from my aunt Kate, its a slight celery color don't you think? The bottom left is also from Kate and I won it in our teacup exchange, a Shelley. Which is a company known for its scalloped rims. The pink one is from Shreve and co., very 60's don't you think?
Don't you fee
the brides maids quilts part 4
2007-05-20 18:01:00
When in Rome
"Lizz, what are your favorite colors?"
"um... sage, and brown, no wait, PINK."
My fourth bridesmaids quilt was for my cousin Elizabeth. I only used two additional fabrics with this Amy Butler's, Free Spirit, "Charm" fabric line. A soft lime sherbet colored paisley and a rich milk chocolate with microscopic pink dots. One of my fondest memories was when Lizz and I went to Rome together with our grandparents, and to me this quilt took a little bit of a Grecian theme. I had Debbie top quilt this with a Greek Key pattern in pink variegated thread, (which I guess I am pointing out to Lizzard in the photo) and used an all pink Grecian print on the back.
Of all the quilts I made, Lizz'z was never my favorite. There was something that didn't sit well with me as I quilted it. I think I used too much green, and it irks me every time I see the quilt. I wanted a very chic pink and chocolate quilt for Lizz and only a smidge of olive green
the brides maids quilts part 3
2007-05-19 18:00:00
Tea Garden
My third quilt used Amy Butler's Charm line, Tea Garden. Urban, sophisticated, serene and timeless. My sister in law is all these things. Courtney's ability to give you a fresh perspective and unrecycled opinions remind me some of the Taoist philosophy books I have.
Well, whatever. Courtney is just zen.
It was about this time of year where my weekends were more free and I found myself preferring to sew at my parents house. Where there was always ample room to spread out and a complete sewing room full of extra thread and pins if I needed more supplies. Lugging my Bernette around was becoming bothersome. So my mother allowed me to use her Singer featherweight. Court's quilt was made entirely with Mom's Singer, and it was enough to sell me, light weight, durable, and vintage-chic! It wasn't long before I had my own.
(my brother and sister in law)
All the top quilting for each brides maids quilt was done at P.Q., by Debbie, the shop owner. Debbie was extr
I have moved!
2007-05-21 17:46:26
I have moved! Please update your links to my new location!
http://houseofcharm.typepad.com/
the brides maids quilts part 5
2007-05-21 11:01:00
Elin was at The Villa the day Lizz'z quilt came home from the quilt shop. I had it top quilted and was showing off the detail of the pattern I had chosen. I remember how she stood by the kitchen table and stroked the pink fabric lovingly.
"You know I'm leaving soon for Sweden, right? And that pink is my favorite color?"
Oh boy. So much for 4 down, one to go. Now it was 4 down 2 to go. Elin is dating Ryan's best friend Jeff, and came to the U.S. three years ago as an Au Pair. Jeff and his friends would hang out at a trendy coffee shop downtown where he met a gaggle of Au Pairs, Elin being one of them. Being a group of young women in America with no American friends, the girls jumped at any invitations that they were given. Jeff's friends decided to throw a house party and invite all the Au Pairs to join. Jeff invited Ryan and I to the party as well, knowing Elin would be there we jumped at the chance to meet this girl he was so smitten with.
At the party I kept trac
pardon the dust
2007-07-23 19:30:44
Originally uploaded by The House of Charm I'm in the process of updating a number of things, and I am very behind on emails. I'll be back soon!
pardon the dust
2007-07-23 19:30:29
Originally uploaded by The House of Charm I'm in the process of updating a number of things, and I am very behind on emails. I'll be back soon!
a perfect wednesday for a wedding
2007-07-24 21:02:28
Well hurry up and sit down! That's it. Move a little closer so I can tell you a secret. Guess who's getting married tomorrow?? Remember this image? Yes! Elin and Jeff are getting married tomorrow afternoon at City Hall. Elin is back for the summer and has been working with her host family again as an Au pair, and trying to figure out how to go to school in California. After a lot of tears, frustration and loads of research, the couple decided to marry in 3 months time, when Elin would be here to apply for schools and have all her belongs with her. Originally her flight back home was for August 1, to ensure she was prepared for classes at her engineering school in Stockholm, which begins around the 15th- but... Jeff had other ideas, secretly purchasing a ring in May.
After discussing the possibility of marriage, she planned to tell her University in Sweden she wasn't coming back, and to tie up loose ends with her flat and her family on the flight home on August 1st.BUT... things be
Read more: wedding
"I have bolts trickling in"
2007-07-27 13:18:53
I actually said that out loud, to a person, on the phone today.
*GRIN* And maybe someday I'll finish my website and actually launch my site. Wouldn't that be nice?
Oh look, letters!
I mailed Tracy her swap package
packed for the camping trip this weekend
deleted all the photos from Jeff & Elin's wedding, because I'm blond and this sort of thing happens. a lot.
made labels, stickers and stationary for house of charm
ordered business cards
love & pancakes
2007-08-01 10:25:05
Happy one week anniversary Jeff and Elin! Here are a few quick images from last Wednesday!
And here is how Elin & Jeff spent their mini-moon- Off roading in Bear Valley, California with 12 of their best friends. Elin is below, wheeling in B.K.'s Jeep, clearly having the time of her life. *laughs* This photo is used by courtesy of my cousin Joe.
Speaking of camping, our group had an amazing time. Hiking, swimming in Alpine Lake, and sharing spectacular meals together. Here is a shot of all us monkey's sitting on a rock waiting to be fed pancakes for breakfast.
Not just any pancakes, but B.K. made us beer batter pancakes. I didn't ask too many questions... At first I was afraid, and after a few nibbles, I was diving head first into my tent to find my camera. Great flavor, texture and B.K. grandfather's recipe. Can't beat that.
bonfire vineyards update & more pancakes
2007-08-03 16:09:17
So many of you have been asking about the beer batter pancakes, so who I am to hold out on a good thing!
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup beer - we used Rouge American Amber
2 tablespoons butter, melted
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Pour in the egg, beer and melted butter; stir with a whisk just until blended - a few lumps are okay.
Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Coat with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter onto the hot surface for each pancake. When bubbles appear on top of the pancakes, flip, and cook until browned on the other side.
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Now, who likes wine? Raise your hand. Ok, good. Now keep your hand up if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area-
The Boy has been slaving all year over his wines and has decided that this Sunday will be Bonfire Vine
zitune
2007-08-03 15:51:05
My tires got slashed. More on that later. The Boy came to my rescue Tuesday morning, driving me to work and taking the day off to deal with the police, the neighbors, the landlords, and the tires. Such heroic efforts deserved a treat. My fingers dialed Zitune for reservations.
Zitune (Zee-tune) is a Moroccan restaurant that had a soft opening about 6 months ago in down town Los Altos. This neighborhood restaurant is not only fine dining but also a cocktail lounge. Chef Chafik Larobi and his wife Kim Auerbach, who is the general manager, moved from Boston to California with a dream of opening their own restaurant. Chef Larobi started training in Morocco and continued on to the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, after graduation he he found work beside Gary Danko. Kim explained to me that because Moroccan cuisine is greatly influenced by the French, her husband moved to Paris for a years training to gain a better understanding of technique.
Zitune is a me
bonfire tasting finale
2007-08-08 11:50:17
Life is busy. Yesterday I was so low I was going to quit blogging and my business. Today I have phone calls to make and orders to place. Starting something like this is not as easy as I thought. In the mean time, Ryan has Bonfire Vineyards. Our tasting was a huge success and I want to thank everyone who attended on Sunday. We sincerely appreciate your support and feedback on the wine.
Always the first to arrive and always the last to go. We are in the debt of Farley, Bryon, Ben and Lisa who never fail to lend a hand and see us through to the bitter end. (Case in point, the night before our wedding I was happily going home, alone, to get a glorious nights sleep before the big day. Well, not if Smooth, CrispySoft, Bec, Tomoko, Shige and the Cherba brothers had anything to say about it. I was up till 2am surrounded by dozing friends who didn't want me to be alone or nervous without them.)
Best friends, like Smooth and CrispySoft, usually show up for our parties while we are still
portraits of pride & joy
2007-08-10 16:46:26
Jeff and the helicopter he flies.
My cousins Madeline and Stephanie, twirling.
zoe keating
2007-08-09 16:06:27
Mohammad and Ginni were scooped like ice cream in front of the computer. With rounded backs, they leaned in toward the screen, and melted in awe. "Sara, get in here!" Ginni squealed, fluttering her hands above her head.
"Wha-" I began to say as I stepped in from the hallway and crept up behind Mohammad. "Ah." He said softly putting a finger to his lips for silence.
And if you go here you can see and hear what they were so captivated by.
"One Cello x 16, is an ongoing project in which I layer the natural sound of the cello to create rhythmically dense musical structures. Other than sampling and repetition, I do not manipulate the sound of my acoustic cello in any way. "
butter 'n grits
2007-08-17 17:05:46
courtesy of AnsonMills
What is a better cure for the blues then comfort food? We packed our bags last night, and took a red eye to Knoxville, Tennessee. No, not just for the comfort food, don't I wish! We are visiting my brother and sister in law, their new house, and puppy. A visit long over due. This weekend we are celebrating so many events, important to the Teeter clan. August 18th s not only our 1st anniversary, but also Ben & Courtney's 6th. In addition, it is my Father in law's 70th birthday.
I've never been to the South before, and I'm flirting with visions of Paula Dean, buttermilk biscuits, proper barbecue and deep fried seafood. We go straight from the airport to Cracker Barrel. I have no idea what the history of Cracker Barrel is, or your opinion of it, but I have gathered that its a diner with good, down home southern food. Our menu's listed all sorts of temptations.
What the hell is white gravy? Can we just cut right to that? My god- no, w
the noble duke of york
2007-08-16 14:02:05
He had ten thousand men
I get totally weird about dates. I have a patch work memory of distorted perceptions, and if you asked me what I wore yesterday I'd have trouble coming up with a reliable answer; but I remember exactly where I was on days of years past. It then becomes a 'head case' game where I compare today to that same day, 3 years prior. Am I better off? And shouldn't the answer always be yes? And what if its no? what if today three years ago, I was much happier? ... and that is where the game stops. Because I don't have answer. Yes three years ago today I was happier. That is the reality of it, but perhaps I could challenge myself to change my perspective. So OK, today bites, and maybe 3 years ago today I was in another country and doing something amazing. I gotta look at the positive things going for me about the present. Like the fact that I am wiser, I am married... whatever.
He marched them up to the top of the hillAnd he marched them down again.
I stil
morgan winery
2007-08-15 10:40:20
Morgan winery has opened up a tasting room in Carmel, California. Based in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Dan and Donna Lee's property is 65 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their vines are farmed organically, all the grapes are hand picked to up hold the "quality not quantity" standards the couple strives for. Gianni Abate, the wine maker, comes to Morgan with an impressive background, Delicato, Woodbridge and a few years working for the Robert Mondavi Corporation in Napa Valley. A true Italian with a passion for great wine, Gianni is boasted to have an incredible palate.
The tasting room in Carmel is huge, having only opened a month ago, issues like furniture, rugs and a bar are still being worked out. Wines are poured on a dining room table in the center of the room giving you a feeling of being in someone cavernous living room. It's almost cozy, but not quite there yet. The walls have been treated in warm neutrals, creamy yellow accent walls, and whimsical thirties e
cleaning my office
2007-08-14 16:22:47
cleaning my office
Originally uploaded by The House of Charm
Just returned from a working weekend in Carmel. After so much sun and sand, am finding it hard to sit still in front of my computer... so the demolition has begun. I've been meaning to organize the student papers in my office for 2 years now, and today seemed like a good time! Everyone is on vacation. Well, except Lou, the chairman of the department. He helped co-author most of these, and found me standing on top of the pile to reach the top shelf. "Sara! What. Are. You. Doing?!"
"I'm cleaning!" Then I Ieapt off the top of the pile, and assured him that I was keeping at least 3 copies of each publication. He wandered away unconvinced.
volunteer tomatoes
2007-08-21 16:04:11
I love California, I love California, I love California, I love California, I love California. *deep breath* Wheew. Missed my state so much while I was away. The weather here is infinitely better, but Tennessee impressed me with her place in the history of American music as well as the dedication, loyalty and charm of the people who reside there. The University of Tennessee mascot is the Volunteers, for sending the most volunteers to serve in the Mexican-American War of 1846. Just about everything in Knoxville is painted a bright orange to display the pride of the city for its team, including roofs, cars and boats. 1982 served as the last World's Fair in America and the Sun Sphere (coolest logo ever)was built in the Fair's honor. We rode the elevator to the top to get a view of the city. Down below is a expansive city park with fields for soccer and fountains for children to play in. The shot above is of the stadium and sun sphere, taken from a River Boat ride th
you can't always get what you want
2007-08-21 11:39:27
I'll talk about Knoxville in a bit. I realize you are not here to read my whining. However, it is still my place to rumble, stomp my feet and writhe with frustration. You can not move mountains blocking your path, but you can console your self that someday you will be able to soar over them, so high that you will hardly remember a day when you couldn't easily navigate them. I have been there and done that all ready in my life, but oh, there are cycles arn't there?
I think I told that story a while back about how Ryan and I were at a tasting for Fogarty wines, and not a single soul congratulated or thanked Ryan on a job well done. Being his biggest fan, I fumed over this and asked him why no one recognized his efforts. Ryan turned to me and said, "Sara, today is not my day. Today is their day, and mine will come when I've really earned it." On the day of Ryan's first Bonfire tasting, he woke up and his first words were, "Sara, today is my day!" One of many mor
Read more: always
first anniversary
2007-08-19 09:42:15
Yesterday was our first anniversary!! And we spent it with Ryan's family at ....
Yeah, I'm not kidding. We went to DollyWood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. And, actually, we had a fantastic time. Loads of roller coasters, water rides and country western shows. We battled 100 degree heat with diet cokes, lemonade slushies, funnel cakes, pickles on a stick, chocolate ice cream and Philly Cheese Steaks. Not necessarily in that order.
After 6 hours at the park, we longed for the air conditioning of our car. On the way home, bareeling down the highway, we passed the Fireworks Superstore. Ryan freaked out. Grabbing his brother by the shoulders while he was driving, he demanded that Ben pull over. After we all stopped shrieking from panic that Ben might run us off the rod with Ryan's shaking, Ben managed to slow the car down to a speed that aloud us to pull off the highway. We parked in a 45 minutes only parking slot, and took a colective sigh of relief. "Gee Ryan, I w
happy friday
2007-08-24 17:48:03
cappuccino and a "perfect Moment" rose
pink purl
2007-08-23 15:16:00
I have met so many wonderful bloggers since I have started this site, none more special then Tracy. As my vegetarian mentor, she has provided me with advice, support and friendship over the past year. I forgot who it was who came up with the idea for a swap, but we decided to mail one another packages. Tracy lives in Norway, while I am, of course, in California.
Oh, how I pined away from my Norwegian package, pacing by the mail box each afternoon. When it did arrive, the package was bursting with pink tissue paper presents. I sat at the kitchen table, feeling like it was my birthday, and unwrapped each and everyone. There were ribbons and teas! Paper napkins and fabric, a handwritten note, a shimmery key chain, a chocolate bar and best of all- this hand made pouch in funky Asian fabric. Totally me.
Tracy's on line store is having a massive sale right now, her craftsmanship is amazing, and she will do custom orders if you have a particular color theme in mind. I just commissi
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