All images by Katie Dudley Photography
A few weeks ago, Tom (@foodbytom - he's the real deal) invited Alix, Katie and I to enjoy an evening of fine food and learning. We learned details about vegetables, steak and mousse I hadn't paid attention to before. With good food, it's all about the details.
I'm not going to spill all the beans on what I learned in our cooking session, but one of the takeaways from the class was how to cook asparagus to perfection. Just about any cooking method will work (we blanched then cooked in a skillet), but the key to making them amazing is peeling the stalk just below the tip. It removes all stringy-ness. Brilliant, right? We all have Tom to thank for that one.
We also talked about plating food. I realize I'm terrible at it. I over-think the plating so my food looks very one-dimensional. Plating is a real art form. Alix aced it with her meat tower.
I want to have a rad garden so I can use cool things like mini radishes and kale blooms for perfectly styling my meals (maybe that'll help the kids eat their veggies?).
We learned so much and ate well. There weren't difficult instructions or outlandish ingredients, so I could duplicate what I learned at home. And I have! The moment I walked through the door that night, I went to work making mousse. Now I'm Penelope's favorite person.
You can book Tom for private cooking sessions (he'll come to you) and pop-up dinners! Both are tremendously fun. Chris and I did a double date with our friends Miriam and Allen. We learned the art of gnocchi and pizza.
I'm happy with how they turned out, despite my limitations with the design and time.
See above how I tiled them.
I was very limited on the design as I didn't have much time to execute. I was given the official 'go ahead' while I was flat on my back with strep throat. The next day I created the designs. By the time I had work ready to print we were less than a week away from the deadline. Obviously no time for fun stuff like letterpress, gold foil, laser-cutting, etc.
Of the local digital print services I tried, no one wanted to touch this job. We needed 500 of each design (2000 cards total). I sent it off to overnight prints and they pulled through for me (granted, it required a substantial rush fee).
I would love to re-work these prints and get them completed with off-set and silver foil printing. I just don't see that happening though.
As far as the design process goes, I painted the starry scene on watercolor paper with dry gouache. Added gold and glitter touches then scanned in. I lettered the quotes separately and placed them over the background.
Naturally, I was bored with my current selection of clothes. I had to make something new. I had some fabric that I knew needed to be palazzo pants or culottes. It's a very breezy fabric I found at Michael Levine Loft in L.A.'s fabric district. I love visiting there, but I need to sew up more of my fabric stash before I visit again. I have too much fabric now!
I used a vintage patternsimplicity 8550 for the pants. The size I got measured for a 23" waist (who has a waist that small?!? NOT ME. but looking at the technical drawing and the flat pattern pieces, I did the math and it was a simple gathered pant with a straight waist. I could alter the waistband without having to change anything else. I did add an extra 2 inches in the length just in case. I'd rather they be too long than too short.
The fabric I chose is a glorified 
I decided to sew and complete these all on Saturday (the day before leaving for Tennessee). I'm thrilled that I finished them and they worked! I plan on making another pair, but with a few slight changes.
It was a real treat to have Brandi of Brandi Gard photography photograph this session. It's not often I get to take direction from a pro. Feeling so glamorous.
Outfit details:
I made dresses for the girls and bought Felix pants and a polo. It's kind of unreal how Felix's pants match the fabric I picked out for the girls.
I found this great polyester (I'm assuming it's polyester) in the fabric district in L.A. last month. It's very drapey, but with how light-weight it is it's completely opaque. I've had trouble finding fabric with good drape and opacity these days. The print and colors aren't what I would normally gravitate towards, but it's growing on me. I like the little tulips and the unexpected blue. I love dressing girls up in blue. Little known fact: Pink used to be a boy color and baby blue was a girl color because they were the pastel versions of red and blue. Red being viewed as more masculine than blue. I don't think color should be relegated to just masculine or just feminine. I like mixing it up.
Also, I think I have the most beautiful children. I might be a tad biased.