CURIO for the Holidays

So Lovelies, in case you're pretending otherwise, it's pretty well 6 weeks till Xmas. Time was, I would be getting a bit "excited" at this point. I had to devote precious time to the actual stores. There would be crowds. Post-shopping alcohol was vaguely necessary, like, to decompress.

But now, what with the internet and everyone being half robot (if merely in one's ability to navigate said internet), you can drink while you shop - online! I swear, if you're one of those people who still resists buying from the comfort of your couch, I urge you to get with the program. And I'm not talking about purchasing the occasional gift online. I mean buy it all online cuz, at this point, there is nothing you can't get delivered (even in Canada)!

I usually put together a gift planning post at this time of year as I always seem to have a hundred ideas. However, this year, I'm all about turning you onto the simple, luxe of CURIO, you know, my skin care line. (I'd be pretty high on drugs to do otherwise!)

Just want to advise that - in addition to my current offerings - I'm in the process of putting together a couple of holiday skin care kits. Those bundles will make their way to the shop soon and I'll certainly profile them here.

And, though I hate it when people alert me to irritating (if relevant) administrivia, according to Canada Post, in order to "ensure receipt" of a regular parcel before Christmas, one must put that parcel in the post by December 11 (within Canada), December 9 (USA) or December 1 (pretty well everywhere else). Following what I hope will be a busy next few weeks, the shop will close for hols on December 21 (for 2 weeks).

So, if you're thinking about giving a delicious, organic Serum to your mum or best friend, now's the time to get clicking. And just to entice, here's a pretty photo of Serum A sporting the new label:

No doubt, Serum A, Eye Balm A - Rose and the Body Oils are very popular, but don't forget about the Salves and CURIO Baby*:

Seriously, these scents are bound to CHILL (new parents and new babies)

Y'all know I love to chat so, if there's anything gift-related you'd like to discuss (or any ideas you'd like to bounce) feel free to contact me via Etsy conversations, email (see the side bar) or in comments.

Gifts in Review

Allow me to disingenuously apologize for the photos and bragging to follow. I got good loot this Xmas, all the more appreciated for the crap-ass time I've been having lately.

My gifts fell into 3 categories: delightfully practical (some of my fave kinds of gifts are these), deliciously luxe (some of my other fave kinds of gifts are these) and those that span the gap between the two.

For starters, here's a gap spanner:

iPhone 6

Yeah, I've had the same iPhone (4, in case you're wondering) for half a decade. My husband couldn't stand listening to me complain about how the battery charge had waned to 4 hours - after charging time of 4 hours. To complement and protect it, I got myself a lovely leather fold-over case and this thing is charming. So effective! Next up, Scottie's going to buy me a blue-tooth head set so I don't have to spend 5 minutes trying to put on those stupid earbuds every time the phone rings.

Equally beloved is a totally practical gift - the non-sexy likes of which most ladies might be miffed to receive at the holidays. Not I, mind you. This thing has saved me from refilling a hot water bottle exactly 12 times every evening:

Battle Creek Thermophore Heating Pad

Laugh if you will. I LOVE this thing... It's doing yeoman's work (along with other gizmos) to keep pain at bay.

While we're on the practical track, I asked my parents to buy me these:

ProKinetics Orthotic Insoles

I've had orthotics in the past (as recently as this summer), which worked well enough, but I read about the ProKinetics insoles in one of the more-respected myofascial pain books I've now got on my shelf. Moreover, the woman at the shop spent 30 minutes (long-distance phone call) getting me to do all kinds of assessments and asking me about my gait and step patterns before she'd recommend them to me. Talk about great service. They are working quite well to keep that foot pain I mentioned a while ago in check. FYI, after a lot of research and body work, it seems I've been dealing with the beginnings of Morton's neuroma, which is happily reversible with appropriate treatment. I walked 10 miles on Friday with nary a concern. Alas, walking to work in heels is a thing of the past...

Admittedly, they don't have the luxe cache of my new haul from ça va de soi:

I actually own this sweater already, in navy, and I've worn it to bits. Between hell freezing over last winter and my urge for an elegant - but casual - topper, I got way more use from the first one than I ever thought I would. The new one, however, is a gorgeous shade of ecru with pink undertones. It's made of the same Italian wool as the blue one, but it feels much softer. That's the whack nature of natural fibers...

The blue crew neck sweater below is made from very fine merino and it fits like a glove. It is so gorgeous - and, dare I say, flattering on me, that my mother also had to buy it.

I really do wish that Ca Va would post stock photos of its catalogue. It would seem that they really don't care if you see their wares or not. Of course, they have quite a following, web-presence notwithstanding. This stuff NEVER goes on sale and, let me assure you, it's never affordable. Thing is, when you live in fucking Canada, you can always justify a sweater that costs a zillion bucks. On a very fun note, this time the SA did give me an Egyptian cotton, rather chic, thermal t-shirt as a gift with purchase. (The t-shirt costs 100 bucks.)

What's the moral of this story, besides presents are awesome and I want them all!: You'll note that I was well in the loop on all of these purchases - except for the iPhone (which I truly didn't expect). That's because I hate surprises and I love getting what I want.

But enough of me... What was your fave gift this holiday season? Was it practical? Entirely impractical?? Do you orchestrate these things or do you find that kind of tacky? Let's talk!

This Thing is a Perfect Holiday Gift*

A work friend is obsessed with tea. I get that; I'm obsessed with lots of things. My kid, also, is utterly nuts for the stuff - particularly all of the crazy (and many hideous, truth be told) flavours available at David's. (Every heard of Birthday Tea? Seriously, sparkles and tea should not mix.) My mother loves matcha and other varietals, particularly the hardcore, antioxidant ones. 

Poll 10 people. 8 of them are going to be bonkers for the tea and its accessories.

Here's the thing: While some of the flavours are concerning, many are recognizable and of rather high quality. Moreover, the accessories and marketing at David's Tea pull all the punches. In addition to the most adorable tea boxes and mugs and tins of tea available, this store also stocks an amazing little gizmo - one even I can get with:

It's called the Steeper (as you can see) and it comes in two sizes. The 18 oz is about 20 bucks and it makes a perfect cup of loose leaf tea with utterly NO fuss. You simply put the leaves into the carafe and then add water till the carafe is 3/4 full, steep and - this is the cool part - put the carafe atop your cup, press down and the tea pours through a gate at the base. Rinse the carafe with water to get rid of the residue. That's the whole story.

Did I mention that it looks great?

Wrap this up (it's boxed) with some leaves and you've got an affordable gift for under 40 bucks. 

You're welcome.

PS: Nobody's paying me to say this.

*And while you're at it, get one for yourself (unless you're my mother).

It's All Temporary

I didn't realize that my parents spend all summer indoctrinating my daughter about the evils of tattoos (we call them tattoons here cuz that's what a little kid who lives here used to say). Apparently, every car trip was laden with parables about how they look bad when you're 80 and they prevent you from getting a good job. (Given that the parents are free-spirited hippie-types, I'm kind of surprised (but not).)

What's ironic about this is that, totally in the dark about those conversations, I recently bought M these:

WhitneyJane Temporary Tattoos

C'mon, who doesn't love woodland creatures??

Note to my parents: You've somehow managed to make M more determined to get a tattoo than ever she was before. Let's call these, in your language, "damage control".

Note to M: Wait till you're 25 and you have your tastes figured out. Tattoos aren't for the young and capricious. And then consider a woodland creature.

Can You Believe I'm Knitting Something?

I can tell you about this project cuz my mother only reads my blog 3 times a year, when I remind her of the address and act slightly offended.

At Xmas, just after I made the Glen Haven Shawl, she came to visit. At first quietly admiring, by the time a couple of days had gone by, she was routinely and confidently claiming her certainty that I would give the Glen Haven to her. People, I did not.

Am I a bad daughter? Well, I did knit her 2 pairs of gloves, a scarf and bought her a face potion and a variety of other gifts. I made and cleaned up after Xmas eve and day dinners. I gave her my bed.

I wanted the shawl. My body hurt, extremely, after making it. It was the last garment I knit before deciding that I needed to stop knitting for a while, in the interests of feeling less sore. I love it. I wear it daily.

Yes, she did give birth to me. So we compromised. I told her I would make her one for her bday. Which is why I'm working with this yarn:


to construct this:



I'm finished with the body portion of the shawl. I've blocked it and used wires to flatten out the reverse stockinette slightly (I'm on the fence about rolling yarn, even though that's a hallmark of the edges of this garment.) Next up: the loop and tail ribbed sections.

I discovered my insane love of chunky-weight, baby alpaca after receiving the gift of this yarn. It's like knitting a bunny. Seriously, it is SO beautiful. Furthermore, it doesn't stretch, on blocking, half as much as merino (in my brief experience) or Debbie Bliss anything. It is vaguely fuzzy. Much more so than the springy, entirely smooth Debbie Bliss Rialto Chunky. I don't tend to appreciate any fuzz profile on my knitted items. It veers towards "homemade-seeming" IMO. But, in the instance of this yarn, I'm powerless to do anything but love it.

I bought it at Lettuce Knit - an LYS I value for excellent customer service. It doesn't have the best prices by a long shot. The yarn cost $90.00. But I care about this local resource. I appreciate everything it's done to help me grow as a crafter. So I support it.

Remember, you can read more about all of these objets and view additional photos on my Ravelry page.

Sweet

The Xmas gift sweet-fest continues...


Beginning:


Middle:


End:


I think these caramels (really, they turn into toffee in the blink of an eye) are candy perfection. Just a little bit salty and very buttery. And they are so lovely to look at.

However...

Man, they're an undertaking. The ingredients are simple and standard. The instructions are clear and concise. But for those who are unused to working with boiling sugar / candy thermometers and the great unknown of when soft ball starts morphing into hard ball, well, it can be a bit tense.

Then, assuming you make it through that hurdle (tip: pay attention to the thermometer readings, not your own sense that things look completely "wrong"), once it sets and it's cool, a gorgeous-looking slab in its baking dish, you have to cut it up into sweet little pieces. Lovelies, that is really hard on the hands! Takes about as long as making the caramel. Oh, and did I mention slicing up the wax paper into 4x4 inch pieces. It's more time-consuming and finicky than you would imagine. Finally, there's the actual wrapping, which would be fun if your fingers weren't already bruised from cutting the caramel pieces.

Guess this is why I don't make it every week. Cuz once you eat a piece you forget all the challenge and are transported to another time and place. It really is a labour of love.

Note: The recipe for these is online at Epicurious.

Lifecycle of a Homemade Gift

Beginning:


Middle:


End:






This is the culmination of years of baking, a tried-and-true recipe, online ordering skills and a few labels.

I figured out that each batch makes enough cookies to put 14 (in the circle size I've chosen) into 3 bags. Good info.

The great thing about the dough is that it lasts for a week in the fridge so I made a second batch of it to use when I have some more time in the next few days (she says, hopefully). The cookie-baking part is pretty straight forward: roll, cut, refrigerate, bake and cool, then wrap. It's the dough-preparation that really adds an extra layer of complexity I'm not prepared to deal with on a weekday night.

The amount of planning and labour involved is not negligible but these cookies are insanely delish buttery/sandy/crumbly. (They are not pasty, wan shortbread.) Total cost for each gift: about 5 bucks. So, if you want to save some money but still show your love (and skillz), this is the project for you!

So, whatcha think?? Next up: caramel.

Update on posting recipe: Hey peeps, I'd LOVE to post the recipe but I cannot find it online anywhere and I don't want to infringe on copyright. Thing is, Michel Roux (the guy whose recipe I use) wrote this gorgeous book, in which you will find, not only this recipe, but so many others that will improve your life. I totally recommend it. You can find other sable recipes online but, I've noted, the ratios of butter to flour are not the same in those as in this one. What I can say is that it takes only 4 ingredients: butter (so much of this), flour, confectioner's sugar (not regular sugar!) and egg yolk.

Zig Zag

Here's the latest Xmas gift finished:

Rambler's Scarf by Elizabeth Sullivan

Actually, it just occurred to me that this is the third from latest gift. A shrug and tea cosy followed it. And now I'm back to making another one of these scarves in a different yarn and colour...

But isn't it pretty? Plus, it's easy, though I did alter the pattern by increasing the width by about an inch (4 stitches) and neglected to adjust one element of one row in every 8. Just slightly. Don't tell.

OK, crafters (and apologies to the non-crafters - I have to finish the 20 gifts I've committed to by next week(ish) before I'll have much energy to speak about other topics. Don't worry, though, I've got a few lined up...):

• Do you think making rectangular scarves is ultra-boring? I mean, I know they're lovely and everyone needs a great rectangular scarf, but man, the repetition!
• How far along are you on completing your knitting or sewing gifts?
• Are you starting to resent everyone cuz they're about to get some seriously stylish and useful objets, while your 18 projects languish in the corner?

After the knitting, I start the baking. I've decided to make, as my core gifts, sable (see this ye olde post for a summer presentation of the shortbread) and fleur de sel caramels. I just ordered, and received, the most adorable packaging! I don't know that I'll order wrapping online again - the experience had its drawbacks, though client service wasn't one of them. I think there must be a great packaging place in downtown TO that can sell me the same calibre of item at a lower cost.

At any rate, I'm going to put the cookies in perfect gift-sized windowed cookie bags and the caramels in these little velcro-sealed boxes.

Feast or Famine

I'm writing this on my new MacBook Air, which is everything they say it is, and cute. If I were a computer, I'd want to be this one. My husband has really pulled it back from the edge after leaving me for dead (metaphorically) when I first sustained the foot injury. While he may not have taken it seriously at first, he's bucked up by massaging my ankle and leg, physiotherapy-style, for hours each evening, taking care of all the mobile-elements of family life (i.e., shuttling the kid) and gifting me with top of the line technology.

I think it's safe to say I'm going to postpone the divorce.

In the true spirit of Xmas, however, this post is not about the loot but about the food. For the last two days I have eaten a shocking variety of things that can only be deemed artery-blockers.

I'm not one of those people who frowns on gluttony. No ma'am. Give me your fried, crispy masses. Pastry that gleams with butter. My heart flutters at a perfect cake crumb. I can eat a round of brie.

Seriously. On Xmas eve, we had wild mushroom brie fondue that takes a pound of rinded cheese. Generally it serves 4 till they're stuffed beyond compare. M was sick, so she wasn't eating. Scott just humoured me by eating it. There was but a small amount left yesterday for me to pair with crackers while I drank a bottle of Vouvray (this is hard to find at a decent price and it's so clear and ringy, though far sweeter than the wine I generally choose). I drank it over 8 hours, fyi. This is to say nothing of the struesel cake I ate for breakfast yesterday morning. (Is anything better for breakfast than homemade coffee cake??).

The thing is that Scott's Xmas capon takes a zillion hours to cook. We were three, but he bought a 10 pound bird. Don't ask. In fact, we tried - on a whim, yesterday morning - to invite 8 people over to share it with us. Alas, they had already started to cook their own Xmas dinner at 10 am. Anyway, by 4 p.m. I was really hungry and I had to eat some ridiculous quantity of prosciutto.

By 7 p.m. the capon was juicy, delicious ready with roasted veggies. They managed to be soft on the inside and crunchy, oily on the outside. My fave combo. I won't lie - I ate an ounce of capon and half a pan of veggies - if you can call onions, carrots and potatoes soaked in grease "veggies".

The pan generally serves 6-8.

Scott and his friend of 35 years have a term to describe extreme, painful, disgusting first-world fullness. It's called "klunk" and you can use it as a verb or a noun or an adjective, your choice. To say I was klunk at this moment does not begin to express how I felt. I really thought I might throw up (which is a horrifying thing in my book). Scott felt my stomach and seemed alarmed by its distension.

At which point I decided I would never eat again.

I sense I'm about to break the fast (it has been 12 hours), but I'm going to do it with a hard boiled egg and a slice of cheddar. Though that cake continues to call. (Don't worry - I'm over it. I still feel vaguely nauseated, thankfully.)

Why am I telling you this? Why am I admitting to this horrendous level of gluttony? I'd like to say something like it's to make you feel better about your own holiday ingestion indiscretions, but who are we kidding?? I think it unlikely that any of you have crossed the line as I have. Maybe I'm looking for that one crazy reader who can match me in the stupid eating department? Maybe I am seeking absolution? Who can say.

So here's to hot water with lemon, green salad and chicken soup. Which reminds me, I have to transform those leftovers into a stew fit for a queen. Have I mentioned that my chicken soup is legendary?

Merry Xmas to Me!

While out at physio yesterday, I couldn't resist stepping into the shoe store on the corner - not to buy, of course, but to ogle the pretty (discounted) boots.

Don't ask me how it happened that I managed to walk out with the only pair in the entire place that wasn't on sale (seriously). Let me assure you that the price tag was painful:

La Canadienne Tabitha Boot

You know my love of a) shearling, b) La Canadienne and c) anything that comes from Montreal and d) supporting the Canadian economy (yes, that's what I'm calling it), so technically this was a no-brainer. It marks my fourth pair of boots by this manufacturer- and I have nothing but glowing reports of my first three pairs.

The shearling is truly specatcular - so soft, so warm - and the boots, while rugged rather than elegant, will look good just right with skinny jeans. Never mind that! They'll keep me toasty and dry - with serious grips on flat soles - so that my foot can recover in style.

Notice a theme lately? Kristin and footwear?? My justification is medical necessity. And I'm sticking to it.

The Clip Trip Continues

(This is a re-post of How to Get with The Season Without Going to the Poor House, Part 2 - from November 2008... It goes along with yesterday's previously posted piece.)

The art of shopping will not be disputed by me. Not to be all braggy, but I actually think it is one of my great life skills. Oh, I know, it's shallow and meaningless compared with, say, helping starving people and educating children. But it is a necessary activity and one which we should aim to do intelligently - if not ecstatically.

My husband is intimidated by holiday shopping. He loathes it. He's afraid of stores. He's afraid to buy things for me because I do all the discretionary purchasing in our lives (and 90% of the rest of it) and he hasn't needed to develop the skill. Secretly, I enjoy being the boss of the shopping. But it doesn't bode well when I want a little treat. Note: Scott has given me some of the most lovely gifts I've ever received - from jewels to, ahem, electronics. He just only buys when the inspiration hits him. Otherwise it's just not his thing.

While it vaguely defeats the purpose, I feel so responsible to help him get through the challenge that I have a) presented him with a list of stores containing items I enjoy, b) spoken with a couple of key SA's who have kindly offered to guide him if he visits them and c) explicitly indicated the kind of items I like - and "need" - in various colour palettes that might be useful.

"Why don't you just go buy the things, wrap them and give him the bill?", said my mother good-naturedly. You see, she knows me. And she knows him. And trust me, I'm tempted to do it. But I have to let the little tadpole swim into the sea. It's times like these, I recognize my bourgeoisie is painful. But here's the thing. I don't want something cher. (Cher, of course, is relative and I'm obviously speaking only from my own economic perspective... What's affordable to me may be out of someone else's price range. Lord knows, much of what I see is out of mine.) I'd just like something lovely and thoughtful. One thing. And preferably it should smell, feel or fit nicely.

A propos of giving gifts - let's focus on the giving rather than the buying - you do not need to spend a lot to thrill someone you care about. To wit, here are some reliable stores for gifts at various price points:

• Club Monaco
  
• J Crew (US)
  
• Holt Renfrew (Canada)
  
• Ziggy's At Home (Toronto)
  
• Suite 88 Chocolatier (Montreal)
  
• The Gap (for Ts, jammies, kid's stuff, undies, skinny turtlenecks and scarves)
  
• David's Tea (Toronto)
  
• L'Occitane
  
• AGO Gift Shop (Toronto) - or any good gallery gift shop
  
• Chapters/Indigo (Canada) / Borders (US)
• NEW for 2010 posting!: Etsy Shops
  

You will note that a couple of these are rather lovely stores, selling rather lovely merchandise. But you don't have to buy the evening gown for 15K. You can buy a lipstick from the Bobbi Brown counter and have it nicely wrapped for free. You can buy the cashmere socks or a well-designed tube of hand cream and save approximately $14,970. And here are a just a few gift options for the various people in your life.

(Please remember - it's not about how much you buy or what you pay. It's about how thoughtful and sensory - and beautifully presented - your token of affection manages to be. If you wouldn't want to receive it, please don't give it.)

For your kids' teacher, housekeeper, daycare staff - and anyone else who helps you to logistically function in your life:

• Fine chocolate - the bigger the box the better.
• Hand milled soap and body products made with fine essential oils.
• Gift cards (Chapters, iTunes) - but only if you can't be more personal.
• A spa treatment - but only if you know the person fairly well.
• A book about a subject that interests the giftee.

These gifts can range in price from about $20.00 to $200.00 and up. Here's a brand I've bought, year after year, for various peeps:

Savon de Marseille

For Your Mother:

• Really the choices are endless, but how about fine leather goods (bags, wallets)
• Lovely tea pot and cups - don't forget to include some tea.
• Cashmere scarf
• Unique jewelry (it comes at all price points)
• Clothing if you are sure of her size and style

M0851 Bag

These gifts can get pretty pricey. But I've bought my mother some beautiful antiques over the years, ones that are treasured and yet cost less than $30.00.

For the Men:

Wallets and other leather goods

Gadgets (iPhone, video games, techy stuff)

Hats, scarves - preferably merino or cashmere! (Remember you can find this on sale.)

Leather gloves

DVDs

Cologne - something you know he likes

Affordable crystal wine glasses

Riedel O Wine Glass

These gifts can also range in price quite substantially. I just bought 4 Riedel cabernet glasses for my father, wrapped by the boutique in a fantastic tube to look like a Christmas cracker, for $40.00 all in. And they're "crystal".

For the Kiddies:

• Books, books, books!
• Educational toys from Chapters or Amazon and the like
• Diaries (with keys)
• The latest "kid craze" toy
  
• American Girl stuff (My daughter calls hers a Canadian Girl!). Not the least $$ on the list. So maybe leave these for the grandparents!



• Clothing from H&M Kids, Gap and other affordable stores
• Boots and slippers
• Gorgeous iced cookies
• Lip balm and hand cream - little girls love this!
• Special outing to see a musical, ballet or special Christmas movie (or other cultural event)
• Puzzles
• Art Supplies

This list really does go on and on.

The great thing about kids is that they love anything as long as it's wrapped! You can definitely find a nice child gift for $10.00. Or spend a living fortune...

Thing I Love

My friend Nicole, fellow sewist, made some utterly gorgeous zipper pouches for her friends and family this Xmas. Honestly, this workmanship is incredible. It's a freakin' work of art.


When an item looks as good on the inside as outside, you know you've got talent. Now I have the best new makeup bag!

Play-by-Play

Ah, it's been an exciting time here in Christmasville...

Last night we set the table for a beautiful meal. Alas, as the cooking goddess is fickle, we had a dry pork roast experience. The child (for some unknown developmental reason) decided to complain about the entire affair and then to cry. At the dinner table.

Note that we had mood lighting, but the flash completely messes with it...

Later, when M went up to bed, Scott set up our new 40 inch Sony flat screen TV - soon to have Bell premium internet cable (with Live TV). And a PVR. He also hooked up the PS3250. You should know that I have no idea what any of this means because, until yesterday, I still had the same television my parents gave me in 1989, with bunny ears. It gets 7 channels and that worked for me. But now that the whole dang world is going HD, our stations are starting to disappear. And the child feels left out of the 21st century. And my husband - Mr. High Tech meets Luddites in a Field - can't go half-way. It's either state of the art or a phone without call display.

So here we are having a modern family Xmas.

Happily, M still loves American Girl, which I blew my brains out on this year. My parents assisted the process, buying her jammies to match the ones for her new doll. And there were doll coats and summer dresses and glasses. Yes, doll glasses. Because, as M says, Ella's vision isn't what it used to be.


Amongst all the books and games and crafts and AG, there's the skirt I made for M this fall:

It seemed so big a couple of months ago. Now it's fitting fairly well - I mean, a bit big but it won't last the 2 years I originally envisioned!

I got 3 Hot Patterns, which I love (of course, I requested them by number :-)):


I also bought myself these books, which S kindly wrapped:

SEW
The Beautiful Fall (which wasn't 20 per cent off when I bought it 2 weeks ago)


How to Set Up and Run a Fashion Label (what, a girl can dream...) - sure as hell not 34 per cent off when I bought it!?

Singer Simple Sewing

I think the key here is to either a) read the books 2 weeks before Xmas so that you can realize the value of the non-sale experience (I did buy them after all!) or b) do not look at the post Xmas sale tags. Note: I did get discount for ordering online and using a coupon so all is not lost, but still! These books weren't cheap.

Scott got the regular items: fancy soap, a cashmere sweater, a DVD (Serenity), a new sugar canister (yeah, he asked for that) and a cashmere scarf. Being a guy is so boring!

The weather outside is more ugly than seasonal, but we are cozy up inside. Tonight we'll have our stock in trade (ha!) roast chicken and veggies, from which I'll make a yummy soup tomorrow. I still have pots de creme in the fridge so I'm debating whether to make something else or rest on my laurels.

Happy hols to all my wonderful blog friends and readers (you are so important to me!) - and a special shout out to my family in North Carolina: my mother and father, my sister Allison, her friend Jason, and my nieces Jillian and Caroline. Hope you all have an excellent day in the cabin. Think of us! Kxo

Slippery Slope: Part 1

I figure, since I tortured you with my being tortured about making slips, I should show you the final result. It was, IMO, rather successful in the end. Of course, "the end" implies 20 hours were spent and extra trips to the textile district made and costs increased and food forgotten.

So I've decided to maximize the photo op. Over the next 3 posts, you will meet my lovelies one at a time (2 are variations on the same item so I'll spare you and count them as one).

I'll start with the first one (I mean the first one I didn't have to throw out):





Pros: I made it and it's wearable and I LOVE the complementary colours and a shiny woven slip is more elegant that stretch, IMO.

Cons: The material, while woven and having body, is not optimal. It's a misery of fraying, which you can see if you look closely in photo 3 (why am I advertising this??). I zigzagged over all the edges before finishing them, but I think it's a stopgap measure. I mean, not everything has to last forever, right?

(I warn you, if you fit a small/medium and I've known you for 10 years or more, chances are you will be the recipient of one of these. Even this one :-))