Saturday, August 29, 2015

Bride and baby gifts

We're attending 5 weddings in the next 10 weeks, which means lots of wedding cards and bridal showers! And being in our upper 20s means lots of BABIES and baby gifts. 

Here's a couple of things I've made and gifted in the last few weeks! Including some brushlettering practice on the greeting cards. 

                               

Tutorial here for the personalized wedding dress hanger


1 Samuel 1:27 


I can't resist buying mint clothing for my friends' babies! 

Monday, August 3, 2015

Spaghetti Squash Harvest

In March I planted a few squash seeds that I had dried and saved last year. I started them indoors near the windowsill without any expectation that they would actually sprout...but sprout they did! Given my indoor planting fails in the past, I was elated---something GREEN was growing!


Fast forward to May. I transplanted 15 of these squash plants into my tiny backyard garden and watched them take over and bloom like crazy. These bamboo stakes helped the leaves climb upward.









Squash blossoms! I love watching busy bees pollinating these flowers and how they transform into actual squash. Unfortunately the deer ate a ton of these blossoms before they became squash. Still, I had plenty of squash growing---about 10 total.

 

I harvested 8 spaghetti squash this week. You can tell that they are ripe when they become a rich golden yellow, with a tough skin that can't be easily scratched by your fingernail.

But this week I noticed that something was EATING my plants. After more online research I realized that squash borers (moths) were laying eggs in some of my squash and leaving a nasty scar a la Taylor Swift lyrics. Some squash even had small holes drilled in where the eggs had HATCHED into larvae. Yep, definitely threw those squash away pronto while wearing latex gloves. Yes, I wear latex gloves to garden because I happen to have a bunch that I use for the hospital.


Despite having to toss several squash invaded by squash borer larvae (yuck) --which involved my screaming upon cutting them open and discovering said larvae and alarming my poor husband, I was able to salvage a few unaffected squash. I'm loving the ombre effect.




*note the Pinocchio squash at the front of the line

The easiest way to prepare spaghetti squash:

1. Cut squash in half using a strong sharp knife
2. Scoop out the pulpy seeds and toss, or save for planting next year
3. Drizzle the squash with oil, salt, and pepper
4. Bake flesh side down in the pan, for about 30-40 minutes in the oven
5. Let cool, then scoop out the insides, which will be a golden pasta-like consistency perfect for substituting the noodle part of any pasta dish, or topping with bacon and cheese (my personal favorite way to eat it). 

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Anniversary card with hot air balloons

This week Andrew and I celebrated FOUR years of marriage! Just saying that makes me feel like an old lady. Andrew surprised me with pink daisies and we had a lovely dinner at a local French restaurant. We also kept up our annual tradition of kayaking at a local lake, this time at Jordan Lake in Apex.

This year I decided to make a hot air balloon-themed card. It reminds me of the movie Up and of the annual St. Louis Hot Air Balloon Race that we used to go to in Forest Park.

The balloons are two paper hearts folded in half, and the baskets are quilled from dark brown paper. 

It has been an incredible 4 years of growing together!