T W E N T Y T H I R T E E N - a review

Those little moments captured. Threads in a tapestry hung with triumphs, trials, tests and truths, complied for a glimpse of twenty thirteen in review.

This has become a favorite tradition - gathering the hours of footage accumulated over the year of photographing and sticking them into a few minutes of video, to be watched over... and over... and over.  Counting blessings, reliving amazing moments, remembering how the sun felt on my face as I captured that shot or the fancies that went through my mind as I watched life unfold around me, holding up my camera and tucking a moment from time into my hard drive for later.

I hope this last day of 2013 finds you strengthened, full of joy, and ready for the beautiful blank new year ahead!  I'm looking forward with all my heart to continuing the journey with each of you.

What are some of your favorite 2013 memories?

Ode to Joy

Outfit Details:

gold tulle skirt // Kellie Falconer

coat (embroidered by me) // ModCloth by Tulle

flats // ModCloth

top, sweater // thrifted

The newest addition to the shop, our classic tulle skirt in glamorous gold for winter festivities.  View it here!

Mine made it's holiday debut at the Glenn Miller concert a few weeks ago, but everything got topsy-turvy and I only just now got around to shooting the outfit... everything was freshly dusted with snow last night, and it's just started again.  The world is so beautiful and gracious and steeped in old memories today.  

I fell in love with Twenty Thirteen.  It's been the best year of my life.

But I am so excited for Twenty Fourteen that every time I think about it, I can hardly sit still.

I don't even know what it is that I'm so excited about... Only everything in the whole wide world, I think.

May your last day of the old year be brilliant and peaceful, and blessed beyond measure.

The last few years, I've stayed home on NYE - doing one of my favorite things; dressing up, drinking tea, playing my accordion, and talking to myself on PhotoBooth.  All by myself.  It's balm to my introverted soul.

But tonight, I'm head-over-heels excited to be headed to my firstest everest swing dance - wheeee!!

What are you up to this evening? I want to know!

God bless us, every one!

Christmas day - simple and sweet and full of tiny things made with love.  Like the crocheted octopus my sister made, which I promptly bobby pined to my hair like a fascinator all day.

We drove to the top of the hill just before dinner to see the lake, with the far-off mountain ranges gleaming rose in the fading light.  Christmas carols sung a cappella in my brother's new truck on the way back down the hill had a special festive madness all their own...

The greatest joy, though, is contemplating anew the endless love of Christ for us.

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.

(while opening presents - my octopus defends it's young against a fierce origami koi fish)

Then, a few days ago, Tasha came to visit and we had a long-anticipated party under the new worktable, which she helped build.  This table was designed to not only maximize efficiency in the studio, but it was also engineered with an eye for the perfect grown-up fort.  Because we do what we want and we do it right!

Jack, Tasha's new camera and an identical twin to my Nikon Algy, had a total blast.

As did we.

The adorable friend art is by Kate of FlapperDoodle and Scathingly Brilliant!

And then, Psych.  If you've seen it, you know the awesomeness that ensued.  And if you haven't - well, then.  Would you like to share a pineapple?

And with that enigmatic phrase, I leave you.

As we come to the end of Twenty Thirteen, God bless us, every one!

December Vignettes

December has come and gone like some impressionist painting - a blur of color and quiet, detail and dream.

I've been enjoying my new piano so much. The bus studio slowly became the workroom of my dreams with a little piece added here, a new table curtain and ironing board cover there. You'll recognize the board cover fabric here, and here!

The December contra dance was Perfect. 

I sewed my way through all of Rudyard Kipling's Just So stories, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol while getting orders finished for Christmas delivery.

I went to the Spokane Jazz Orchestra's Glenn Miller Christmas concert again this year with wonderful friends. The Bing Crosby theater was again magnificent, and the music so, so brilliant.

Quiet, peaceful, crisp and clear. The impossible unfolding before me without my even looking for it.

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."

Hot fudge sundaes just before midnight in concert finery: excellent, this is.

I hope your December has been beautifully bright, irresistibly merry, and blessed with countless quiet and treasured moments.