That Jolie Girl

New Banner

I'm in the midst of creating a new banner which is part of my whole re-vamping my blog project.  I didn't realize that a new banner would be so tricky to think up and then create.  I think I have a pretty solid idea of how I'd like it to look and now I'm working on executing my design.  I'd like to incorporate my favorite mediums. 

Metal is definitely a medium I love working in.  I made this little ring to put into my new banner.  So far, it's been giving me a bit of grief, but I also think I'm onto something grand.  So I'll keep working on it until I can get it just right.  

More Paper Flower Ideas

OK, I've started to be a bit addicted to researching paper flowers.  There are just so many great ideas on the internet and I love looking at all the pretty creations.  It also helps wrap my head around my project of making paper flowers for my cousin's wedding and keeps me trying to work out the details in my head before I start crafting.  I apologize in advance if I get to be a bit too flower crazy, but seriously how great is this paper flower wreath from Ruffled?  The whole tutorial on how to make this wreath is posted on their site.  

I know that I can always count on Martha to have great ideas for anything I'm crafting.  I'm totally in love with these paper dahlia favors.  Each one has a bulb inside for guests to take home.  I'm thinking this would make lovely decorations on the tables and then when the fun is over, people can take them home.  I love when a project can serve two purposes.  

Pack Rat Power - Coffee Filters

I'm getting ready to start a big new project.  My cousin gets married in February!  Danny is marrying a boy from Mexico (You can do that in Canada. They don't think there is anything wrong with marrying the person you love, but I digress) and paper flowers are very traditional in Mexico. I asked if I could make some for their wedding.  I'm so very excited about this!  I wanted a way to participate in the wedding, but with Danny living in Toronto I won't be on hand to help much.  This is a project that I can do from a far.  

I'm in the very beginning research steps now.  I've found some great tutorials and Danny has selected some flowers that he likes.  We both think the Jan Brady bouquet by Aunt Peaches, using dyed coffee filters, is a great festive look for the event.  

I dug deep into my Pack Rat soul and knew I had coffee filters somewhere.  I finally located them in the bowels of my art room and now I instantly have a huge head start on this project.  I think I've had these for at least a decade.  They were going to be thrown away, and I knew that one day I would have the perfect use for them.  Well, now I do!  I love that there will be an element of frugal-ness to these flowers because we were both raised to embrace the beauty of thrift.

Stay tuned to see how this project progresses.  It probably won't be in full swing until after Christmas.  Thank goodness the wedding is in February.  :)

The Weepies

Last week, I saw The Weepies at the Aladdin Theater with my husband and mom-in-law.  It was really wonderful to see one of our favorite bands.  I love attending a concert where I can sing along to almost all of the songs.  They put on an incredible show to a sold out audience.  They had great banter and told many stories of how their songs came into being.  It was nice to see this couple making music and a life together.  You could hear the joy in their voices.

The whole night I was thinking about the last time I saw Deb Talen perform.  It was over 15 years ago and she was performing in the band Hummingfish at Key Largo as part of NXNW.  That night she sang 'She' which is the song I share with my husband.  I remembered that night vividly.  I remembered dancing my heart out with the man I was to marry.  I remembered dancing to this song on our wedding day.  I remembered all of the good and bad times we have shared over almost 2 decades.  I sat in that packed Aladdin theater grateful for the imperfect life that has been encapsulated between these 2 performances.  It was a wonderful night.

Here is the song She.

 Their new song, Be My Thrill, is such a catchy song has been stuck in my head since the concert. This will give you a sense of why this concert was sold out.  

Blog Tune up with Sister Diane

In my continued quest to re-define That Jolie Girl and how it will co-exist with my other blog adventure Handmade in Portland, I've decided to take Sister Diane's Blog Tune-Up class.  This is 3 week online class that started today!  I've already received my first lesson that I'll read later tonight.  I've been wanting to revamp this blog and this seemed like the perfect way to do it.  I know I'll be in good hands with Sister Diane - who really is Portland Craft Royalty.   So look for changes to this site over the next month and beyond.  I can't wait to take Sister Diane's ideas and infuse new life into my personal blog.  If you have any ideas on how I can make this site better, let me know!  I'd love to hear from you.