Savina's Fairyland Party

I told you it was going to be a great party. Saul and Lori never disappoint.

The place was beautiful (Lori always does such a great job of decorating).

The food was delicious (Saul always does a great job of ordering).

The atmosphere was fun and light (We like to party).

Here is the celebrated fairy. Isn't she gorgeous?

Some of the decorations made by Lori.

My cousin, Lorena made the fairy dust.

At the party, many fairies, big and small, were spotted:

Alec. Have you ever seen such a happy fairy?

Joaquin. Such a perfect fairy.

Sophia, the fairy of daydreams.

Valentina and Savina earn their wings.

A fairy's job is never done. Three little fairies take a rest.

One of the fairy godmothers (Lorena).

The fairy family (Saul, Paulo, Savi, and Lori).

Fairies are really hard to catch. These are some that we were able to round up.

You know it was a good party when some of the furniture ends in the pool! Even if it is a toy.

Here is the gift I made for Savi. It is a fairyland terrarium. I also made a little bag to hold her tools and instructions that she will need to keep her terrarium looking beautiful.



The terrarium also has a light on the top that you can use as a night light. When it is on, it looks like the moon in beaming down on the garden. Unfortunately, I do not have a good picture of that effect to show you.

A wee fairy house that I painted on a tiny gourd.

Making this terrarium was so much fun. Here are some pictures that document the creation of this project.

I gathered materials from several sources: The flower mart, Blue Hills Nursery, Michaels, etc.
I found these wonderful tiny gourds and nut shells at the LA Flower Mart. I'll have to go back and get more.

I painted the top of the jar so that when the moss is glued on it, there will not be any "bald" spots.
My little helpers, Nico and Luc.
Painting the house on this tiny gourd was so much fun.
It is very important to add a layer of gravel to terrariums for good water drainage.
Another essential material for terrariums is carbon bark. It is not easy to find. I got premium organic charcoal at Blue Hills nursery. It is important to have this in your terrariums because it will eliminate orders and will keep the soil fresh. Be careful because it cannot be substituted with any other charcoal.


I found this beautiful brooch and buttons at Michael's. I love them!
I had a really difficult time finding the perfect fairy. All of the ones I cam across were scary looking. Finally, I found this one that the LA Flower Mart. She's perfect.
I think I have a new hobby. Building terrariums. Mateo wants me to make him one of a war scene, of course. We'll have to see.

I promised Savi, Paulina and Valentina that I would also make them little name tags like the one I made for Viviana that they can use when they play grocery checker or concession stand worker.




Happy Labor Day!

SC
xoxo

Time Slowed Down

It has been hot, hot, hot here these days.

This was the first Saturday in a long time that we did not have to be somewhere or do something so we decided to take advantage of our freedom and the beautiful summer weather and headed out for a stroll at the beach. We ended up in Seal Beach and window shopped along Main Street. I found an awesome metal punch bowl with 9 glass cups (I guess they used to be 10 or 12) at one of the antique shops. It was marked down to $8 so I couldn't leave it behind.

We walked to the end of the pier and watched the boogie boarders and the people fishing. Then my mom and I spent a couple of hours at the bookstore. She leafed through books on gardening and I on sewing and crafting. Horacio and Mateo ditched us and went next door to Best Buy.

It felt so good to relax and let the day slowly slip away. I need more days like this.


It is hot outside but I have autumn on my mind. So I decided to decorate my kitchen windows with autumn-y things in welcome of the season. I love, love summer but I also like it when the seasons change.


Viviana cut some flowers from my mom's garden and made me this bouquet which I put on the foyer table. Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers.

My little student is such a quick learner. She embroidered a flower in a terrarium that she drew herself. She learned the back stitch, french knot, and satin stitch.

She did such a good job!


She starts school next week so she will no longer be staying with me. I will miss her terribly.

I am very excited as tomorrow (well today since it is about 1 am now) is Savina's 3rd birthday party. Lori always does such a great job with her parties, I can't wait to see what she's done for this one. I have been working on her gift which I will show you all later. I think you will like it.


Sara
xoxo

First Day of 7th Grade!

When Mateo was in elementary school, one of the things I looked forward to each year was the start of the new school year. It was a big deal for me, probably more than it was for him. I just relished and truly enjoyed shopping for his school supplies and coming home and assembling them all into his crisp new backpack. The smell of the fresh pencils and papers sent me straight to heaven. Taking his picture, walking to school, and meeting his new teacher gave me such a thrill, I can't even explain. I cried every new school year. And even though last year when he entered 6th grade and started middle school knowing that I was pushing the envelope, I thought those days would last for ever. This year, although we still did the school supply shopping and assembling and the picking out the outfit the night before, there was a different flavor to the whole thing. It wasn't as ceremonial. There was an absence of first day jitters. No walking to school. No meeting his teachers. I merely dropped him off at the curbside of his school and watched him as he confidently entered the gate and disappeared into the sea of middle-schoolers. Life sure goes by fast. So if you have school aged children, enjoy these years because they will be gone before you know it. Sniff, sniff.


Today was also Alec's official birthday and since we love to celebrate, we had a little birthday dinner at his parent's house, D&J. Jeanette prepared yet another wonderful meal of lemon herb pasta with shrimp scampi and romaine lettuce salad. Yummy!

The cake was from Beverly's Best in Fullerton and it was delicious. I think Alec agrees.

Since I am making hand made gifts these days, here are the little shirts I made for Alec.




Good night. I wish you scholarly dreams.

Sara
xoxo