Paper Pie

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Amanda Soule

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

This Moment

I love to take part in Amanda's ritual.

Eleven Months

A few days ago Rylie turned 11 months old! I have been taking her photo in this blue chair each month since she was a wee babe. Check out the almost complete collection of her first year here.

This Moment

Joining in Amanda's Friday ritual for the very first time.
Happy Earth Day!

The Quiet After the Storm

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas! I had every intention of peeking in over here to wish you well before the big day, but alas, Christmas definitely snuck up on us fast this year. Rylie came down with a pretty awful cold around the 15th and it stuck around right up until Christmas, then of course I was not feeling the greatest either. All of that compounded with a lack of sleep and the rushing around for all of our holiday preparations has us a little exhausted over here.

We are definitely recuperating and enjoying these quiet days after all of the festivities have ended. I plan to pop in here a few more times before the new year. Here's to hoping that really happens and that life will return to a less frenetic pace very soon.

More Christmas photos here.

34 Weeks

day lily belly taken by Ryan, 34 weeks, Los Angeles Arboretum

Queen Anne Cottage taken by Ryan, 34 weeks, Los Angeles Arboretum

Ryan and I spent the day together strolling beautiful landscapes. There were blooming flowers, exotic plants and plenty of photo ops. In between doctor appointments, childbirth classes and nursery prep, we are making a conscious effort to savor these last few weeks while it is still just the two of us. We are beyond excited and ready to hold our daughter in our arms, but we also know that in our new roles as parents we will be very busy and may not have the abundant time together that we have now. So while we can, we are just enjoying being together, as we look to the future and all of the joy and excitement that it holds.

Liz & Kalli #51 Tulip

Hello and welcome to another installment of Liz and Kalli art goodness. We only have one week left to our art/word project before we start on our new endeavor. This week's word is tulip, Liz's is on the top and Kalli's piece is on the bottom.

*Liz

I have to admit that I really just picked the word tulip so that I would have an excuse to go to the store and buy fresh flowers. Not that one really needs an excuse for that though, right? These little beauties are making me smile every time I look at them. That alone makes them worth every penny.

*Kalli

My "tulip" is a themed treasury. Did you know that you can get in and play with the new Treasury East and curate treasuries to your heart's content? It's a good way to kill time and play around with themes and colors, plus it's sort of free promotion. Here is the link.

Oh yes, I have been hearing of this new Treasury East thingy. Cool. How nice of you to name your treasury "Tulips for Liz." Nothing quite says spring like tulips, don't you agree?

Liz & Kalli #50 Thread

Hi there! Sorry for the tardiness with this Tuesday art project. Both Ryan and I have been busier than ever. It seems hard to get to everything. You may notice that this is #50 for the Liz & Kalli art project. I can't believe that we have done 50 already! When we first set out on this project we thought we would try to stick with it for at least a year. We have! Actually it has been longer than a year but as you know, our pieces do not always make it to the blog on a weekly basis. Anyways, after #52 we are going to call the art project quits. BUT, we have a new project in store that I am very excited about. It's going to be quite fun, so stay tuned. So without further delay, let me tell you about our pieces this week. The word is thread, Liz's is on top and Kalli's is on the bottom.

*Liz

I bought this framed thread art piece when I first moved to California. I got it at the Salvation Army in Santa Monica. I like to think that it is a souvenir from someone's travels in Latin America. I love this piece, it is so vibrant and loud, it just makes me happy. Ryan hates it. I think he thinks it is tacky, but it's not. It's really not.

*Kalli

I just finished this necklace today, and attached an "in progress" photo. It's made with howlite stones dyed to look like turquoise, hand-knotted on silk and finished with sterling silver end bars and clasp. I've been wanting to do a classic-style, multistrand choker necklace with pearls, but I think this is younger and more appropriate for Spring and Summer.

Pretty, pretty and my favorite color.

Liz & Kalli #48 Balloon

Hi, it's Wednesday and I am a day behind on the Tuesday art project. We were in North Carolina this past weekend paying a visit to my wonderful Mother and Father-In-Law. As you can imagine, I am a bit behind on things as I try to get back in the swing. This week's word is balloon. Liz's piece is on the top and Kalli's is on the bottom.

*Liz

I call this collage Zebra with Balloons, in the most sarcastic way possible of course. One thing that I have learned during this little art project with Kalli, is that inspiration is sometimes really hard to come by. You kind of have to keep trying until you figure out something you like. Many times that is how it all comes together in the end, by trying. I have a beautiful notepad with illustrations on each page, including this Zebra. He seemed to want some brightly patterned balloons to keep him happy.

*Kalli

These brightened up my day a little, though I wish I had gotten slightly different colors at the balloon place, they looked a little different before being inflated. I might do another little shoot with more translucent balloons next time. 

Fun and cheerful balloons, Kalli. They make me feel happy and optimistic, just like spring!