I'm still here.

Lately this place has been awfully quiet. Life has just been so very busy the past few months. Between finishing school and trying to figure out what is next for me I haven't had much time for blogging. But fortunately it looks like these next few weeks will be full of free time. I'll have lots of time on my hands to work on all the projects I have been dreaming about sewing, crocheting, or knitting up.

I haven't snapped too many photos this past month but I did manage to take a few.


Well I hope to be back soon with some more interesting posts.

Merry Christmas.
xo
-esther

Cake Cake Cake

Please excuse the grainy photo. I have such a hard time snapping decent ones at night. Natural light is so much better. Anyway, I made yet another cake. This time it was for a Pride and Prejudice movie night! We sipped some tea and ate homemade scones, soup, and raspberry vanilla cake. Perfect for the cool weather Southern California is finally getting to experience.



It was such a fun night in spent with some wonderful girls. Can't wait to do it again. Next Pride and Prejudice six hour version? I think so!

-es

life

I have neglected my blog once again. Lately I have been quite busy. I have recently started new school classes, began working as a tutor again and signed up for one intense workout bootcamp. Last week was especially hectic with my little Mimi being very sick.She had a real high fever and was in lots of pain. I'm not exactly sure what was wrong with her but I am over the moon happy that she is better. That little pup worries me so much. As of late I have been doing quite a bit of baking. I am trying to practice as much as possible these days and have been attempting to squeeze a little home baking into my days whenever I can. If only the days were a bit longer. I really need to work on my time management skills. There are so much I want to do but I feel as if there is never enough time to do it. Lord knows I'm not the only one. Time is so precious and I waste far too much of it on electronics and other silly little things. I seriously need to change that.

Anyways today I baked this little number.

six layers of buttermilk cake with blackberry Italian buttercream layered in between.



I used this recipe for the cake and was really happy with the result.

Stay tuned for some more cake posts as I will be doing quite a bit more baking in the near future.
Happy Wednesday!!
xo
-Esther

Harvest Festival

Spent the morning running around with this little one at a local harvest Festival. It was quite nice. We made candles, butter, orange juice, and even picked a pumpkin. I was absolutely thrilled when I woke up to cooler weather this morning. The past week was uncomfortably hot. On Wednesday I believe it hit a hundred. This cool gloomy weather is just lovely. Hoping for more days like this.








Oh and you can look at ^this girl wearing the headband I made her a year and a half ago. She has changed so much! So happy I get to be part of her life.

Happy Saturday
xo
-esther

Pattern Making

I really want to learn how to make my own patterns. There are so many things I want to make but I just don't know how to sew up the designs I have in my head. I often attempt to create simple little things like the top below. It was a easy enough design that I knew I could just draft out and then simply sew. It turned out pretty cute but I knew I had to have someone try it out to see the fit. It was a bit small for Livie but she didn't mind at all. In fact she didn't want to take it off. I know you all are probably thinking, Why are you making something like that now that it is fall? Well like I said earlier since I'm attempting to make my own little designs they need to be pretty darn basic. But tonight I am going to attempt to draft out a pattern for something a bit more challenging. I will be sure to share the results.
I tried to take the pictures while Livie was dancing and singing around the room. She wasn't a fan of standing still. Who can blame her, after all she is only two. Hopefully I can get better photos next time.
Time to sew some more. ciao.
xo
-esther

Twins

A friend of mine is having twins!!! How exciting! Two precious baby boys. What joy!!
I decided to sew up some pants for them.I love the way they turned out and really want to make some more.

The pants are reversible but I completely forgot to snap photos of the reverse side before I wrapped them up to gift them.
I think my next sewing project will be a dress for myself. Now I just need to go and buy some fabric. I can hardly wait.

night
ox
-esther

a bit of sewing

Lately I have been trying to think of lovely things to make and sell. I have begun making mac book pro laptop sleeves with the hopes of listing them on etsy soon. I am loving all the fun fabric I am finally getting to sew with. I just think these textiles are perfect for a stylish laptop sleeve.

It's been really great getting back into my sewing. I had quite the break from it last year. I really didn't make much at all. Except for this quilt
I really want to make another. That was a really great pattern. So much to sew so little time....

Night
xo
-esther

poor little thing.

This morning at around 5:15 fuzzy face went outside to go "potty" and got sprayed by a skunk. As I sit here typing the strong terrible odor of skunk spray is still stinking up the house. Right after it happened I quickly bathed her before having to run off to school. When I got to school I realized I had brought the terrible odor with me. (my classmates could smell it...) It's crazy just how strong that skunk stench is. Hopefully I can completely rid myself of it by tomorrow. I don't think I can stand much more of it. The worse thing is that right after it happened Mimi comes in the house and jumps on my bed. Gross, right? Yep, my room smells pretty terrible. My bedding is in the washer for the SECOND time today.



Well besides all that "stinky" stuff life is pretty great. I finish my baking program in December and just need to figure out what is next for me. I'm asking God for peace and wisdom with the decisions I'll be needing to make.

Happy Monday friends.
xo
-esther

Random

Read this book almost ten years ago. Enjoying it all over again.
She makes me happy.

I don't think a day goes by without me thinking about England. If only it weren't so hard for an American to live in the United Kingdom. sigh...

We have two orange trees. This one is dying and that makes me incredibly sad. It's the one we always sit under.

I bought these glasses in Spain. Everytime I wear them happy thoughts come into my head.

That's all.

-es

A day in Oak Glen

I feel like I haven't blogged in weeks... So I thought today I'd leave you with some pictures from yesterday. I had such a lovely time enjoying the nature in Oak Glen with some really great people. I needed some fresh air and those big giant oaks did the trick for me. This afternoon I decided to make a tart with the apples I picked. It turned out quite delicious. I can't wait to go back next year!


Night
xo
-esther