PROJECT: craft kits.

In the beginning stages of planning PROJECT: craft Lindsay and I knew we wanted to provide a little something for our attendees to make. We wanted it to be simple + compact. This idea from Danielle Thompson fit our criteria and we ran with it.

Each kit was wrapped up sweetly in a muslin bag and contained pre-cut felt circles, vintage buttons, magnets, tiny scissors, thread, sewing needle + instructions.

Would you like a little PROJECT: craft kit too?

There are a few available in the shop just for you dears.

PROJECT: craft tickets.

One of the most exciting + inspiring aspects of PROJECT: craft was scheming with Lovely Lindsay. I remember an evening conversation with Ryan about one of the elements Lindsay and I were planning. He asked whose idea it had been and I honestly couldn't tell him. The whole planning process was so easy. One of us would mention an idea + it would grow into something we couldn't have done alone. I think that's pretty remarkable.

One of my favorite elements were the tickets we sent to all our attendees. If you know me, you know how much I love a little happy mail so of course we had to include some into the PROJECT: craft experience.

Lindsay and I designed the tickets ourselves and had them printed professionally. We went with Overnight Prints and couldn't have been more impressed. The quality was fantastic, the price was great and the weight and sheen of the finished product made us a little giddy.  What can I say, we're paper people.

We chose to slip the tickets into handmade wool felt sleeves.  We wanted this bit of mail to feel like a little gift to our attendees and we figured the felt sleeves could be re-purposed into business card holders for the future.  The pretty sage wool felt was purchased from Giant Dwarf and cut out and sewn by us.

These little wood buttons may just be the one thing I'll always remember about our first PROJECT: craft. We stewed over them for so long trying to decide on the right size, if there should be stitching around the perimeter, should we use the scissors, nix the scissors, etc, etc. . . In the end, we were amazed by the artist we worked with, Rob from Bullfrog Laserworks. Rob was so kind and professional. He does incredible work and I've been thinking of other ways to use his talent in the future.

Be My Guest.

Hello, friends. PROJECT: craft was this past Saturday and it. was. so fun! I loved every second. Meeting new friends, catching up with old ones and feeling the creative juices flowing. All week I'll be posting pictures of the event, sharing some of my favorite etsy shops that contributed, and giving you a sneak peek at all the teeny tiny details Lindsay and I put into the evening.

But first, I'm guest posting today over at one of my daily reads, No Biggie. Kami is a such a sweetheart. She's just the kind of gal you'd want for a friend/neighbor. She makes cool stuff, cooks yummy food, gives the best "quick tips", and shares her experiences with her adorable + fun family. I'd love it if you paid me a visit over there. I'm giving the details of this little gift card packaging I recently created. I'm even sharing sources. . .

How I know It's Fall:

Exhibit E:

Enjoying my favorite fall movie in bed wearing cozy, stripey socks.

It was raining outside too. That made it even better.

Chicken Pot Pie.

Woah!  It seems you all love your comfort food as much as I do.  You demand, I supply.  This is my all time favorite chicken pot pie recipe.  It's Ina's but simplified a bit because really, do people still make chicken stock from scratch?  I hear it's a simple process, but I've never taken the leap.  I did however use Ina's exact pastry recipe because it is perfection.  And her idea of cooking each pot pie in it's very own oven safe bowl?  I love that.

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

3 Tbs olive oil

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

5 cups chicken stock

2 chicken bouillon cubes

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter

1 chopped yellow onion

3/4 cup flour

1/4 heavy cream

2 cups diced carrots

2 cups frozen peas

1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

Cube the chicken breasts and cook in a skillet.  Remove from heat.

Heat the chicken stock in a small saucepan dissolving the bouillon cubes.  Let simmer over medium heat.  In a large pot melt the butter.  When the butter is melted, add chopped onion and saute over med-low heat for 15 minutes or until translucent.  Slowly add flour to the onions, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.  Add the hot chicken stock to the onions and flour and stir until thick.  Add 3/4 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoons pepper + heavy cream.  Add your cubed chicken, peas, carrots and parsley.  Remove from heat.

For the Pastry:

3 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1/4 lb cold unsalted butter, diced

1/2 to 2/3 cup ice water

1 egg beaten with 1 Tbs water for egg wash

Mix flour, salt, and baking powder in stand mixer with paddle attachment. (Ina suggests using a food processor with a metal blade, but I don't have one of those and my stand mixer worked just fine.) Add the shortening and butter and mix quickly with your fingers until each pieces is coated with flour.  Mix on low speed until the fat is the size of peas.  With the mixer running, add the ice water.  Only mix until the dough is moistened and just comes together.  Dump the dough onto a floured surface and knead quickly into a ball.  Wrap in plastic and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Divide the filling among 5 oven safe bowls.  Divide the dough into 5 equal pieces.  Roll each piece into a circle large enough to cover the top of one bowl.  Place the dough over the bowl and press to make it stick.  Brush the dough with egg wash and cut slits in the top.  Place on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

This recipe is enough to feed my family of seven with an extra bowl for lunchtime leftovers.  

How I know It's Fall:

Exhibit D:

Delicious, individual sized pot pies baking in the oven.

Mmmm...comfort food.

How I know It's Fall:

Exhibit C:

Colorful tights!

My legs are so happy.

How I know It's Fall:

Exhibit B:

A new fall dandee banner courtesy of miss Lyndsay J.

How I know It's Fall:

Exhibit A:

Soccer paraphernalia strewn all over the cozy brick house.

My heart broke a little. . .

before. . .

during. . .

and after. 

ollie's first haircut was traumatic for both of us.  

his curls are gone, but his sweet personality remains.

one question. do you think they'll grow back?

This very moment...

Oliver is dressed up in Owen's old Yoda costume and I'm sure I haven't seen anything cuter.

We're listening to this song.  A lot.  I think my children love it more than I do.  Maybe.

I'm planning a sweet baby shower for a most dear friend.

The cozy brick house is clean.  Now, if I could just keep it that way.

I've been a really good girl lately.  Watching my sweets + practicing pilates.  Friends, I've shed five pounds!  Five more to go and I'm back to my pre-baby weight.  Like, five babies ago pre-baby weight.  Hip! Hip!

I'm searching for some great fall boots.  Do you have some favorites I need to know about?

Did you remember today is September 1st?

I've been happy all day.  It must be because my bones are telling me fall is just around the corner.

Oh, and because Oliver already has his Halloween costume picked out.