As I get my footing in 2012, I thought it might be worth a few minutes of reflecting back on all we did in 2011. It was a beast of a year. One where Mike and I were very fortunate to travel quite extensively, spend lots of quality time with our families and best friends and make many wonderful memories of our first year of marriage.
Ironically, many of my favorite moments of the year were intentionally not documented by a photograph. I tried to cement them in my psyche by absorbing them fully instead of worrying if my white balance was set correctly. But between our ever-ready iPhones and the new camera I got this year, there were no shortage of pixels captured this year. Here are a few of the highlights of 2011, in no particular order:
Some friends of mine and I started holding monthly craft nights. The first month, we made of of my favorite projects of the year—t-shirt scarves. (Get the tutorial here.)
I was really fortunate to spend three weeks shooting these commercials in Capetown, South Africa. We worked really, really long days with these guys—the awesomely talented and very French director trio ABCDCD.
But when we had downtime, we were able to see views like this:
We even made it to the southernmost point in the Africa—The Cape of Good Hope.* Here I am with my friend and art director partner, Jenny, trying not to blow into the southernmost point in Africa.
Mike and I spent a long weekend visiting my sister, Michelle, and her boyfriend, Gabor, in Atlanta. My other sister, Jamie, flew in from Colorado to be part of the shenanigans (read: overeating, laughing uncontrollably and making beaded bracelets.)
Meanwhile, Richmond was punched in the face by Hurricane Irene.
Which meant there were plenty of sticks that were mine for the taking. So I make these Hurricane Irene “Hurricanes.” (Get the tutorial here.)
My mom and dad came to visit for a week…
…And my mom and I fashioned some pretty cool DIY wall art out of coffee stirrers. (Get the tutorial here.)
Simultaneously, and I mean literally as the paint was drying, we made a gaggle of these pretty felt flowers. (Get the tutorial here.)
Mike and I spent Memorial Day in Providence visiting our dear friends, McCall and Danny. Although we don’t own seersucker pants or belts with whales on them, we hung on Rhode Island’s south shore with the best of the blue bloods. Or so I like to tell myself.
Later, McCall came to Richmond for a week of crafting and snuggling on the couch. In usual form, we were making stuff the whole time, including while we waited for our BBQ at Buzzin Ned’s.
In March, I cashed in a boatload of frequent flyer miles to go visit one of my besties, Katie, in Thailand. Katie and I worked as creative partners for five years before she hit the road for a year of traveling. I’m pretty sure we didn’t stop talking for more than two to three seconds the entire two weeks I was there.
Mike and his boss (who also happened to be his golf partner) dressed up for their golf league team tournament. Their theme was East Coast/West Coast and Mike dressed up as the West coast half of the equation. I think he looks a little more like he’s going to deliver a 1891 newspaper. Irregardless, they ended up winning first place in the tournament and brought home a trophy the size of a 4-year-old.
Later in the year, Mike ditched the pretty-boy look for a pretty-girl look when he dressed up as Amy Winehouse for Halloween. He makes a pretty convincing strung out rocker, don’t you think?
To celebrate our first anniversary, Mike and I spend the day picking apples at Carter’s Orchard in Charlottesville. It was beautiful and romantic and it rained enough to keep the orchard alive for the next 100 years.
One of the absolute best and most serendipitous developments of 2011 was when our friend Matt was promoted and transferred to Richmond from Portland. This meant that he also brought one of my BEST FRIENDS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD with him—his wife, Diana. I cannot emphasize the awesomeness of this serendipitous turn of events enough. Especially because two weeks after getting here, she found out she’s preggers. We promptly (and I mean like before that pee stick was even dry) went to Michael’s and picked up some yarn for her to begin crocheting a baby blanket.
Speaking of baby blankets, our friends Erik and Myra gave birth to a perfect little baby girl, this summer and I whipped up this garter stitch baby afghan for her. Unfortunately, I got a little crazy with the casting on, so now she’s got a blanket that will also cover her first bed in the dorms.
Mike and I spent an incredible week with his family in Hawaii where we walked around looking like the most touristy of tourists.
It was my first time to Hawaii. In my humble opinion, I must say it lives up to the hype. Big time.
We also tried our hand (which apparently has a giant black thumb) at gardening this year. After an entire summer of dutifully watering, this is what we ended up with—a 3 calorie carrot that wasn’t even worth its weight in organic fertilizer.
The Thanksgiving “kids’” table officially moved to Richmond this year as Jamie, Michelle and Gabor came to visit for the second year in a row. I made us some special, exceptionally forgiving sweatpants for the occasion. (Get the tutorial here.)
And if all of that wasn’t enough, Mike and I packed up every single thing we own and moved into a new apartment in December. Although we really like the new place, I am still mourning the loss of my mecca of creativity—the craft room.
Phew. WHAT A YEAR. It makes me feel inspired, exhausted and extremely lucky to relive it all through these photos. And I cannot wait to see what 2012 holds!
What were some of your 2011 highlights?
* The actual southernmost point in Africa is Cape Agulhas, but since everyone gives the honor to the Cape of Good Hope, I’m going to roll with it. Mostly because I don’t have a photo of Cape Agulhas.
South Africa landscape and Cape of Good Hope photo credits: John Fullbrook
My sister, Michelle, threw a Christmas party recently and came up with an awesome guest book alternative for documenting who attended. She simply had all her guests sign a blank Christmas ornament that she picked up for the occasion. What I love about this idea is that it creates a tangible souvenir of your holiday shenanigans—one that you can pull out again next year and display proudly on your tree. Wouldn’t this make a great New Year’s Eve party guest book? I think it would be so sweet to have a series of them for guests to sign at a December wedding. All you need is a plain ceramic bulb ornament (available at any craft store) and a ceramic paint pen or a Sharpie. 
Here’s the ornament from Michelle’s party. Sadly it’s missing one name in particular—mine. Boo. My Yew Year’s resolution is to import my sisters to my zip code. 
Here’s to having a safe and happy New Year’s Eve with the ones you love!
Recently, my friend Sissy let me pop over to her house (aka her winter wonderland) and take a few photos of her holiday decor. Sissy’s a super talented advertising art director and she owns a phenomenal house in one of Richmond’s most historic neighborhoods, so I knew her house would be brimming with holiday eye candy. I wasn’t disappointed.
If it isn’t abundantly clear from these photos, Sissy is someone who art directs her entire life. From the cohesive colors that tie the rooms together to the estate sale lamps she rewires, Sissy knows what she likes and her house exudes her well-currated sensibilities. So when it came to her Christmas decorations, she didn’t slap a wreath on the door and call it a day. Instead, she sourced a variety of ribbon, ornaments and several types of garland to execute her own vision of Christmas bliss.
Around her doorway, Sissy twisted together a combination of Boxwood, Pine and Frasier roping and secured it with beautiful wire ribbon. She added a variety of ornaments from stores like Target and Ben Franklin to add some pops of color.
Similar to McCall’s Christmas bulb centerpiece, Sissy used a collection of vintage ornaments with a beautiful natural patina to spice up her mantle and dining room table. 
Sissy’s holiday hut is clearly a labor of love, but perhaps the most impressive example of her dedication comes in the form of the hand-tied Magnolia garland that hangs from the mirror in her dining room. First, she “borrowed” a load of Magnolia branches from a friend who has Magnolia trees. She then strung the leaves together, three at a time, one excruciating inch at a time, to make strand of garland that measures over six feet. I’m not sure the photos can do the effort justice. I’ll just put it this way: If Sissy were to sell this thing, she’s have to charge $1.2 million dollars to make it worth her time.
One of the aspects of Sissy’s decorations I love most is that the colors are unexpected for holiday decor. With ever the eye of an art director though, every single detail is tied together for a gorgeous cohesive effect.
Doesn’t all of it make you want to sit down with a cup of cocoa and read some Charles Dickens? I personally think Sissy should leave her decorations up all year long. They’re THAT beautiful.
Thanks to Sissy for sharing her home with me. Such an inspiration!
Before you pack up the mistletoe and put away the leftover ham, here’s one last way to add some (miniature) cheer to your Christmas tree.
Ingredients:
-Small jar
-A small tree or other knick knack (this tree is from Michael’s)
-A couple tablespoons of salt
-6-8″ ribbon
This DIY Christmas ornament is an extension of the Winter Diorama Tutorial I posted last week. First, check out that post for all info about making your own mini snow globe.
Then…
Find yourself a very small glass jar. I used an itsy-bitsy jam jar, like the kind you get when you order fancy room service from a hotel. A baby food jar could also work well. Whatever you use, make sure it’s not too heavy that it’ll snap a branch off your tree. Follow the Winter Diorama Tutorial to make it into a sweet little winter ‘scape.
2. Before adding the “snow,” cut 6-8″ inches of ribbon and hot glue it to the jar lid as shown.
3. Add a small bit of salt to your jar and then on the lid.
4. Donezo! Have yourself a Merry LITTLE Christmas!
