Remember my mention of the to-do list that keeps growing? Well, one of the items at the top of that list is a dining room table. We really want to find a rustic farmhouse style table. There certainly are a lot to choose from at places like Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, etc and they are all lovely, but we want to find something with a little bit of individuality. Perhaps an actual antique.

Not too long ago, I took a trip to Scott Antique Market and was blown away. It was my first trip and while I had heard stories of how cool it was, I really wasn’t expecting to be so charmed by the place. It is the world’s largest indoor antique show. It comes to Atlanta once a month and is a mecca for anything and everything you could imagine; antiques, art, pottery, silver, rugs, vintage clothing, collectibles, accessories, jewelry, etc. You could easily wander around the place all day long. I did. And I plan on going back next month. Perhaps I’ll find our dining room table there. I’ll keep you posted for sure.

Here are some random images from my recent trip:

I'm still kicking myself for not buying the orange one...

...proof that you really can find anything and everything!

I loved these refurbished tables!

more along the lines of what we're looking for...

I love these antique desks!

I really liked these free standing cabinets, too. Perfect for a kitchen island!

coolest floor lamps, ever.

 Take a look at all the neat uses for old coffeebean bags!

messenger bag

bar stools

ottoman - how cute?

Market dates are the second weekend of every month. I’m going in June to continue the hunt for our dining room table. Maybe I’ll see you there!

I can’t believe it’s been more than three months since the wedding. It went by in a flash. All the more reason we are grateful for our photographer, Heidi Geldhauser with Our Labor of Love.  She captured the entire experience and we will forever have breathtaking photos to memorialize our special day.

I know I’m long overdue posting proper photos and details of our wedding day, especially since I documented every single bit of the planning process and the prep work involved. Well, I was waiting for a very special reason. Style Me Pretty, one of my favorite wedding blogs, decided to do a cover feature on us!

So here it is, our wedding day, in all of its sweetness.

Style Me Pretty: Georgia Lake Wedding by Our Labor of Love

I won’t lie; I’ve looked at it pretty much all afternoon.

And here are some of my personal favorites.

Words can’t express how proud we are. We pulled it off! Our vision became a reality and we were able to share it with our most beloved friends and family. It will undoubtedly remain one of the best days of our lives!

My oh my. I can’t believe that I am this excited after just one lesson. I will say that pottery on the wheel is really challenging; you have to use a lot of upper body strength and be forceful with the clay, but you also have to be really gentle. It will surely take me a while to figure out the balance of it, and learn my own techniques, but already, it is totally awesome.  I can’t wait to go back to MudFire for more instruction!

Really quick, let me just say how adorable the studio is. I walked in last night and was instantly charmed. Artists were scattered around the room working on their individual projects, but engaged in friendly conversation with each other. Music was playing and there was a little lounge area and big potted plants sprinkled around. Shelves showcasing pieces of work, in all shapes and sizes, reached all the way to the ceiling.  It was warm and cozy and inviting. This place truly is a community.

My wide eyes must have alerted the staff that I was a newcomer, so I was greeted pretty quickly and assisted with the initial paperwork and then I met my instructor, Stephanie. She looked about my age but told me she had been a member of MudFire for 5 years, so I knew I was in good hands.

We went over the basics; the wheel, the tools (my good friend, Kathy gave me pottery tools as a birthday gift, so I came prepared!) and then I was given my very own 25 lb bag of clay. Wow.

She sat at the wheel and demonstrated a few key techniques…a big part of learning how to throw pottery is learning how YOU best fit the wheel, the way YOUR hands are most comfortable handling the clay, and really just getting a feel for it. She had me work with my eyes closed at times so I could really recognize the feeling I was looking for. It was SO cool.

There were moments when I felt I really wasn’t getting it, but she talked me thru it and let me find my way. And you know what? I made three bowls!! Okay, okay… she pretty much made the first one, but the other two were all me! They might be a little lopsided, but I think they are precious. I even got a nod of approval from a girl sitting nearby, “That’s your first bowl, ever? Wow.”

That totally made my night.

They have to sit for a few days to dry before I can go back in and trim them, which I plan to do next week. And, while I’m there I’ll practice throwing some more…I have a massive bag of clay to get thru!

Here are some shots from last night:

my clay!

Stephanie working the wheel

my first pot!!

e.Claire's creations!

I have a long way to go. But already, I’m intrigued and inspired and just can’t wait to get back into the studio. Stay tuned!

Happy New Year, everybody!

As a kid, I tried to imagine what the future would be like. I always assumed that by the year 2011 there would be flying cars in every driveway and robots in every home. I’m sure there are plenty of engineers and researchers working to develop both…all in good time, I guess.

Personally, I’m working on developing some inspiration for myself. With the wedding three full months behind us and with the busy holiday season also a happy memory, I’m looking ahead and I’m eager to see what 2011 will mean for me.

I want it to be a year of discovery. I want it to be a year of growth. I want to learn anything and everything that I can. But, I’ve been having a hard time finding some direction. As a student, I am very curious to see if I can master something; if I can learn a skill. But often, once I’ve mastered the skill, I find myself looking for another challenge…which means I guess I haven’t yet found ‘my thing’; the one craft that challenges me to really dive in and explore.

So, in the New Year, I’m determined to find my niche. And I’m getting started right away. I received a membership to a local pottery studio for my birthday from my amazingly thoughtful and supportive husband.

Located in Decatur, MudFire Studios is a pretty unique concept. Rather than signing up for a series of classes, your membership is an all-access pass to all of the tools, equipment, glazes, firings, and lessons!

I’m heading there later this week for my first lesson and I am really excited about it! I will document the discovery process, like I did with the sewing classes I took over the summer. So, stay tuned!

If you’re local to Atlanta and want to explore pottery, check out MudFire Studios. Maybe I’ll see you there!

MudFire Studios
175 Laredo Drive
Decatur, GA 30030
phone: 404-377-8033
fax: 404-371-1554
www.mudfire.com

Figuratively speaking, of course!

I’ve got to give major kudos to Eric and thank him for his help giving my blog a new look for the summer. He’s an amazingly talented designer and can read the “matrix” (a.k.a. work all the coding) and lucky for me, he’s patient enough to teach me HTML.

Thank you, my sweet E!!

So, do you like the new look? I’ve love to know what you think!

And, if you have a “button” that I can link to your blog, let me know!

This class is teaching me a lot more than how to sew. Initially, I had a good bit of ‘machine envy’ as it’s pretty clear my sewing machine is one of the oldest in the group. The others are super high-tech with top loading bobbins, spring loaded needle threaders, and pre-programmed decorative stitches that rival embroidery. My little machine can make straight and/or zigzag stitches. Sigh. 

At first, I was totally guilty of coveting thy neighbor’s machine and by the end of the first class, I had convinced myself that I needed a new machine; surely I’d be better with a new machine; I’d definitely be more efficient with a new machine.   

But, isn’t that mentality just the trappings of our disposable society? We always feel the need to upgrade; our digital cameras, our cell phones, our wardrobe, ourselves.   

There’s nothing that I need to do, that I really need to do, that my sewing machine can’t handle. She’s sturdy and reliable and come to think about it, has a nice vintage flare. Now that she & I understand each other, and as I continue to learn how she works best, I’m pretty content with my old gal. 

I think I’ll pass on an upgrade for now.

Which means one thing: I can buy more fabric! 

Speaking of…I must again mention that Whipstitch has the most beautiful fabrics. When I arrive each day, I really struggle to choose my fabric for the night’s class because there are simply too many wonderful options. 

Tonight we finished our picnic carry-all and placemat and I am SO in love with it. It may seem basic, but I think it’s lovely and I’m extremely proud of myself for making it. 

my picnic carry-all and placemat!

it even folds up to fit in a picnic basket!

We also started on our reversible tote bags. While I’ve mastered the pillowcase tote bags that we made at Crafty Chicks Night in April, I’ve never started one from scratch, so I was eager to learn how to start this project from the beginning. Surprisingly, it was easier than I was expecting (maybe I’m getting the hang of this) and somehow we ended up ahead of schedule which means I took home the finished product! Check it out!

my reversible tote bag!

that's right, people...it's two bags in one.

 Tomorrow is the final class and we have quite a lofty goal to accomplish. We’re making piped and corded pillows complete with a zipper. I’m already debating which fabric to choose…

Tonight’s class taught me all about fabric…types, weights, weave, print direction, selvedge edges, grainline, crossgrain and the absolute importance of pre-washing. I learned more about fabric than I thought there was to know.

I also learned that while there is value to being ‘self-taught’ in many areas of crafts and creativity, when it comes to sewing, there’s more value in learning from a professional. 

For me, anyway. 

For example, I couldn’t figure out why I was having such difficulty threading the bobbin and getting it to cooperate with me. Well, it turns out that I was making it way more complicated than it needed to be by actually taking the whole thing apart each time I tried to thread it or needed to change the thread color. I’m pretty sure I was messing with parts of that machine that only a repair man should. 

So, while being self-taught is worthy of many accolades in many areas, when it comes to learning the intricacies of a sewing machine, I think it’s better left to a professional.

Tonight’s projects were to make continuous bias tape and to start what will become a picnic carry-all and placemat. Sounds pretty easy, right?

continuous bias tape...don't be fooled by its apparent simplicity!

the purpose of continuous bias tape...to cover rough sewn edges.

my soon-to-be a picnic carry-all and placemat!

Let me just say that my respect and admiration for those who can actually make more than the above mentioned items grew exponentially after tonight’s class. It was a very technical night of measuring, cutting, ironing and sewing. However, the not-quite-finished-product was totally worth the effort!

This week, I’m taking an “Intro to Sewing” class at Whipstitch Fabrics. Whipstitch is the most adorable fabric shop in the West Midtown District of Atlanta. If you haven’t already discovered this little gem, you most definitely should. I can promise you’ll be inspired to sew, quilt, craft and create.

While I have managed to make a few pillows lately, I am hardly a professional with my sewing machine, and quite honestly, I’m still pretty intimidated by most of its bells & whistles. So, I enrolled in what I’m calling a ‘bootcamp-style’ sewing class. For 2 ½ hours a night, four nights this week, I’ll indulge in all things needlework.

And, while I know it won’t do any justice to the ‘pseudo-professional image’ I may be trying to establish, I’ve decided to document my progress in the class and “proudly” show off my creations each night.

The way I see it, we’re all novices in the beginning, and the one thing that stops most people from learning something new is the fear of not being good at it. So here I am; in all of my novice glory.

In tonight’s class, we learned all about our machines, and the many sewing notions (tools involved such as bobbins, thread, stitch removers, seam guides, etc). We learned how to thread the bobbin and thread the machine. And then we made “stitch samples” which are basically a way of seeing all the different stitches each machine can make.

my stitch samples

my zigzag stitch...impressive, no?

Here’s my handiwork. I keep having to remind myself that I’m still learning. Quite possibly, one of the most important things I’ll learn in this class is the phrase…”it’s just a prototype.”

my dinner napkin...not too shabby (from a distance)

admire that stitchwork - steady as she goes!

Here’s hoping the three posts that follow this one show some substantial progress. In fact, until it’s time to sew again, I’m keeping my fingers crossed…because tonight’s class was definitely a humbling experience.

I have found that planning a wedding at the same time as a friend is really fun…and quite helpful. I am thrilled to share the wedding planning experience with my good friend, Michelle. 

She will get married just a month after I do and I can’t wait to watch her walk down the aisle!  She will be a stunningly beautiful bride.  I also can’t wait to attend her wedding because it is going to be absolutely fabulous. It will be a black tie affair at a beachside hotel in South Florida. Although we are planning completely different styles of weddings, I know they will both be breathtaking and I can’t wait to see how they turn out!

Throughout the planning process, we have enjoyed bouncing ideas off each other and sending over photos of inspiration (bridesmaid’s dresses, flowers, cakes, etc) that we think the other might like. It’s been really special to share this process with a sweet friend.

Michelle recently approached me about contributing to a story for the Wedding Channel. She had heard they were doing a feature on DIY weddings and she thought of me. The storyline was certainly right up my alley, so I eagerly accepted!

Initially, when I spoke with the producer, I told her about all the ways we’re saving money on the wedding; from choosing the venue, designing and printing our invitations, and making much of the décor.  When I mentioned that I had a friend planning a wedding also, and how fun it had been sharing the process, she had an idea for a new storyline; two friends planning two completely different weddings. Within a week, the camera crew was scheduled for the shoot.

quite the set-up!

focusing in...

getting mic'd

reviewing my notes

smile big for the camera!

it's a wrap!

The story will be broadcasted all across the country, so if you happen to see it, let me know!!

I have no idea what happened in Atlanta today, but the cold and dreary weather was no reflection of the gorgeous weekend we enjoyed. On Sunday, I took the camera on a long walk and snapped some shots of all the recent blooms. Flipping thru them tonight reassured me that spring has, in fact, sprung. 

Here’s hoping the rest of the week is sunnier than the start!