NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

The name of my blog (and business) is, after all, A Little of This That and the Other and as I have never even come close to posting or talking about cooking before, I think this qualifies as 'Other.'  I made this salad for Thanksgiving at my cousin's house.  I was told to bring something green.  I considered bringing green jell-o, but decided salad might be more appropriate.  I asked a friend for a suggestion since I didn't want to bring the same old salad.  He recommended this salad.  With a little trepidation, I went to get the ingredients.  I had to ask what kale actually was and even broke off a tiny bit to taste.  It was VERY bitter, but as I had been assured that the salad was very good, I got everything I needed and went home to make it.  It was delicious!  The dressing and the cheese somehow take the bitterness away.  I have since made it a couple of times.  It lasts quite a while in the frig, so making the full recipe isn't a problem if it is only for you or one other person.  It is also perfect to take to a pot luck. 

The name of the restaurant this comes from is called

True Food Kitchen.

SPECTACULAR SKY IN SANTA BARBARA

The sky seemed to be on fire!  It was just so beautiful.

The sun sinking into the water.

Me and Dan

 Dan Smith and Matthew Hester

Dan Smith, Don Townsend and Brett Brooks

I was in Santa Barbara this last weekend for a memorial service to celebrate the life of Michael Hester, Dan's step-brother.  We took the Double Dolphin out to put his ashes into the sea.  It was a very emotional and touching tribute to someone who's life ended much too soon.  Although the occasion was sad, it was nice seeing old friends and family.

And for anyone wondering why I've been posting so little of my work lately, it's because a lot of what I've been doing has been either picked up by the designer or delivered by me to the client, but there hasn't been anything to photograph.  A pillow cover without the pillow form inside never looks quite right in a picture. The same goes for valances that aren't on rods.  Hopefully, this will change soon and I can go back to posting pictures of my actual work.

THE EVER POPULAR WHITE LINEN

 I delivered this slipcover yesterday to a client in La Jolla.  There was no need to take a picture of the 'before' as it was also a white linen, but was waaaay past its prime.

 Side view

 Instead of the buttons I normally do, my client requested something different.  This was after I had already cut the slipcover with the intention of doing buttons, so I had to figure out another solution.  They have dogs and were afraid that the dogs may chew the buttons off.  It was too late to do a zipper down the side and in an effort to foil the dogs, I chose to do ties.  

 The ties are hidden so there is nothing for the dogs to munch on!  My client was very happy with the compromise and I now have another option to offer future clients.  

Since I normally do not get sunset shots, I thought yesterday was the perfect opportunity since I was in La Jolla at the right time.  I left my client's house and made my way to La Jolla Shores.  As you can see, I was a little too late and only got the very last sliver of the sun sinking into the ocean.  I may try again today, here in Coronado, as we are having simple beautiful weather and the sunsets have been pretty spectacular.

A WINTER SUNRISE SKY

I couldn't resist taking pictures of the sunrise this morning.  My iPhone takes okay pictures, but as I didn't have my camera with me, it was better than not taking them at all.  I know most of the country is buried in snow.  Luckily, that is not the case here, though it  was kind of cold this morning (53 degrees) and I do realize that it is all relative.  We will warm up to the mid-70s today.  This is my idea of a perfect winter temperature!

A ROUND CHAIR

Yes, it truly is a round chair!  Seems like something you might find in Las Vegas covered in red satin.  In this case, though, it is just a very comfortable chair in a home here in Coronado.  And instead of red satin, my client went with brown velvet.  I keep thinking I've seen everything when it comes to furniture styles and what can be slipcovered, and inevitably something else comes along to, once again, show me this isn't the case.

AT IT AGAIN WITH PHOTOSHOP

 When I was taking pictures before Christmas at the Hotel Del, this was on the front porch and I couldn't possibly pass it by without taking its picture.  I just knew I could alter it in Photoshop.

 This is the inverted version.  It's not great, though I do like the colors.

 Now we're talking!  This is simply posterized and I just love the look.

With a filter of some sort.

But this is by far my favorite.  I like this one so much I made it the wallpaper on my iPhone.  I just love the colors and the overall look of it.

One thing I really want to do this year is more photography and then figure out something to do with all the great images I come up with. 

 I'm open to any suggestions!

STARTING THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT

Freshly cut from my tangerine tree!  And I just love the orange with the aqua colander and the green grass.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2011!!!

Do things you never knew you could do.  You just may surprise yourself in the process!

Make it your best year.  EVER!!!

(I swallowed fire 8 years ago.  Just an example of what you CAN do if you put your mind to it!)

CHRISTMAS IN CORONADO

 The Hotel Del Coronado is all decked out for the holidays.  After 3 straight days of rain, last night it finally was clear and I went and took pictures of the hotel.

 The tree inside the hotel lobby.

 Another display in the hotel.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa to everyone!  And all the best in 2011!!!

A VERY VINTAGE DRESS

This dress is/was my Great Aunt Leta's (second) wedding dress in 1950.  I wore to a family dinner last Saturday night to honor her.  

It has a full circle skirt.  The dress is made out of a silk taffeta with a quilted waist and horsehair at the hem to make it stand out.

With my cousin Ryan

And my cousin Grace

This is Leta with her new husband Joe, 1950.  She was born on 22 December 1915 and died several years ago at almost 93.  (There is a picture of us together, taken in 2001 at a family reunion, but I cannot find those pictures.)  

So, even though you are gone, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow on what would have been your 95th birthday!

AN EASIER WAY

 When my client asked me to replace the covers over her outdoor cushions (you know, the kind that are made out of the almost plastic-y fabric that have a bend in them so that the seat and back are together in one cushion) that are on the chairs in front of her shop here in Coronado, I balked.  The covers that were on (and falling apart) the cushions at that point had (gasp) velcro for a closure.  Have I ever mentioned I HATE velcro?  Not only do I hate it, my sewing machine hates it as well.  I avoid it like the plague.  

So I figured out an easier, and I think, better way.  I used little ties instead.  It becomes a part of the design of the cover and looks waaaaay better than velcro ever could.  This cover was actually pretty simple.  It has a mock-box at the bottom to give the cover a more fitted look without making a boxed cover, which probably wouldn't bend the way it needs to.  My client was happy, I was happy, and, most importantly, my sewing machine was happy!

AND THE WINNER IS...

Debby from Romancing the Bling!

And do yourself a favor and go visit Deb's blog.  She makes the most amazingly beautiful jewelry.  As I've said many times, I am not a jewelry person, but her stuff could almost convert me!  It's that lovely!

Congratulations, Deb!

This giveaway is the last I'll have for a while.  At least that's what I'm thinking today.  Next week, who knows?  Thanks to everyone who left a comment.  I wish I could have sent something to all who entered!

SEWING CLASS

 This past Saturday I taught a How To Make a Slipcover for a Dining Chair class at a local fabric store.

 There were two of these chairs and as the class was scheduled for just two hours, I made this one at home on Friday.

 I knew I couldn't do this short, ruffled skirt at the store since the thickness of the fabric (a kind of bark cloth-type weight,) the time factor and the fact that I needed to sew it on with my industrial machine made that impossible.  

 I also wanted to show two different styles for the same chair.  I had everything cut out and ready to go.  I thought the tailored skirt would be a more practical one to demonstrate and I figured I would be able to sew the skirt on with my regular Bernina.  I thought wrong.  In the end, I had to bring it home to sew the back corners with the industrial.  Still, I was able to show how it is done and even put it on the chair so that everyone could see the finished slipcover.

 The finished chair with its long, tailored skirt.

And the same chair with its short, frilly skirt (my favorite.)  The manager of the store liked them so much that he is now going to design the new bedroom display around these slipcovers chairs.  Not bad, if I do say so myself!

And just a reminder:  You have just one more day to enter my Christmas Tree Skirt giveaway.  I know that blue and white toile may not be everyone's cup of tea, but you can always give it as a gift.  The pictures don't really do it justice.  It is very pretty and will look great under YOUR tree, so leave me a comment on the post from 7 December.  I'll be drawing tomorrow morning.

THE OTHER VELVET SLIPCOVER (FINALLY)

 I'm kind of embarrassed to say how long it took me to get this delivered.  I finished it the week BEFORE Thanksgiving and just took it yesterday to my client.  I forgot about it because I put it in the guest room and, for me, out of sight tends to mean out of mind.  Plus, when I finish something, in my own mind, it's done and delivered, even if it's sitting in my guest room.

 This velvet was no easier than the other one.  At least, though, there wasn't a skirt, so I didn't have to worry about lining.  I did a 1 1/2" ruffle at the bottom instead.  If you click on the picture, you can see the detail better.

 I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to button it (like the other one I had to fix) that I made it slightly looser than I wanted to.  Still, it doesn't look bad.

My client was happy and that's all that matters!

DON'T FORGET MY TREE SKIRT GIVEAWAY.  YOU ANOTHER WEEK TO ENTER THE DRAWING.

A NEW MOTTO TO LIVE BY

 I got this wonderful tile at Artisan's Alley this last Saturday in Coronado.  The artist's name is Carla Stephenson-Funk.  I've decided it is the way I am going to live my life from now on.  And, really, if I am living Happily Ever Now, doesn't that included Ever After, as well?  

Seems to me it does!

You may remember a while back I posted this:

When I first made them up, I did them in several different colors and only the top one made the blog.  This time I thought I'd include the pink variation, too.  I still haven't decided how to use the particular mantra or motto.  Pillows?  T-shirts?  On canvas?  Still contemplating this.  In any case, between this motto and my latest, I think I'm set.  What motto do you live by?  

I'd love to hear.

Tomorrow I will do the tree skirt giveaway.