An Afternoon of Paper Crafting and Pasta with Andrea

Our friend Andrea asked if I would help her create a paper background for one of her family recipes, and I was happy to do it. So we got together for a little crafting afternoon on Sunday.

She had a rough idea of what she wanted but mostly it came together as we went along, and in the end we were both very pleased with how the project turned out.

We began by printing the recipe up on a nice piece of vellum-like paper, (giving it large margins so there would be room for the frame we would be making to go behind it). Then we layered it over some different papers, featuring a scallop-edged hand-stitched frame (a technique I demonstrated in this post).

Each layer was stuck together with strips of two-sided tape running solidly along the perimeter. Using tape gives a cleaner, flatter look than glue would.

Andrea had the idea of finishing the piece off with a paper appliqué in the shape of an apple because the recipe featured apples. Cute!

Thrift Store Finds

Here is my haul from a recent trip to Value Village. It was one of those good days at the thrift store and I actually had to retrace my footsteps and put some things back on the shelves! And of course, now I keep thinking of the things I left behind and wishing that I hadn't. Anyway, plenty came home with me as it was ...

ass="aligncenter size-full wp-image-22840 blk-brdr" src="http://www.loulou.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/thrifted-finds-thrift-store-2.jpg" alt="thrifted-finds-thrift-store-2" width="640" height="427">(01) I like to collect cute mid-century ceramic figurines, so always scan the knick-knack shelf to see if I can find something good. I've never had any luck in finding an actual true vintage figurine at the thrift store, though, relying on eBay instead. But this little poodle is the real deal, complete with his original "Giftcraft" foil sticker which dates the item to be from the early to mid 50s. It looks like he was kept safely in a cabinet for 60 years as he's in perfect shape with no chips. For $2 I couldn't resist him, although in all honestly, as cute as he is I wish he was a cat!

Dinner at The Lakeview Diner

We had a fun night out with our lovely friends Julie and Guy on Thursday night, going to a place called The Lakeview Restaurant for dinner. (1132 Dundas Street West at Ossington)Looking at these pictures you might be thinking, 'Oh look ... they went to a restaurant decorated like an old-fashioned diner'. Sure, we've probably all been to one of those made-to-look-old places at some point or another, but the thing about The Lakeview is that it really is old. It has been open in the same spot since 1932, and although it was completely restored by its current owners, all the surfaces (tabletops, floor, wooden booths) are original.

Cardboard Casa de Edward

If you go by the look on his face, you might get the impression that Eddie doesn't like his new house very much. But, in fact, he is quite pleased with it, and is wondering why I've never made him one like this before.