Hello 2009

We're heading out to the Capay Farm for a wonderfully-themed "Greater Depression New Year's Eve Extravaganza". Both Ben and I are dressed liked hobos, and I spent the morning lamenting the fact that I can't grow a 5 o'clock shadow to match his. Oh well. I'm sure we'll have plenty of crazy photos of the costumed revelry next week for you all.

In the meantime, I wish you a very Happy 2009! May it bring you all the love, luck, and joy that you can handle. I see good things in our future.

Photo courtesy of Ajax All Purpose Blog.

End of the Season

Sorry I have been ignoring you; it wasn't intentional. I've been real busy eating these.

Scenes from a Farm Wedding

The head table before the reception starts. Decorated with local wildflowers and fresh apricots from one farm over (Full Belly Farms), the Bride's collection of blue glass, and of course, peacock feathers from the farm's most famous bird.

He made an appearance during the ceremony rehearsal the day before, but kept clear of the festivities the day of the wedding. He might have been a tad jealous of Kristi's dress.

Later in the evening, guests hit the dance floor for some high spirited square dancing in front of the barn. Square dancing has thankfully replaced the chicken dance at my most recent weddings.

Thriving on chaos

I always thought I was the one sane person in my family who didn't take on twenty projects at a time, but after a phone call with my sister last night, I realized that was a complete fantasy. My sister takes multi-tasking to an art form, but she learned it all from our mother, who has a full time job, runs a major NIH-funded research project, and freelances--you know, just on the side. I've come to the conclusion that I thrive best when I have lots of balls in the air, but then I need short sabbaticals to recharge. Just when you think you're oh so different from your family, BAM! You find yourself growing up and being just like them. I can just see the high school version of myself rolling her eyes.

This weekend is all about the balance, as shown in the photo above of my two side businesses. Our growth charts have been kicking it around the blogs this week--thank you for all the lovely press! It's so exciting to see an idea realized, and watch it grow and spread. We're working through this insane Bay Area heatwave to get more charts made. The Capsule SF fair is fast approaching (next Sunday, May 25th!), so we have lots more to go.

Tonight I'm driving out to the Capay farm to get back to work on wedding preparations for one of my favorite clients, Kristi & Blair. We'll be hauling major river rocks up from the creek to mark paths and garden beds. Since it's going to be 98 tomorrow, I imagine we'll also be jumping in the creek a lot, as well. The photo above shows test prints of their wedding invitation, which was so fun to make. I'm going to post more photos of my client work soon, just another glimpse into my strange mind.

Speaking of, I forgot to mention that Poppytalk did a Miss Natalie Studio Visit last month! Check it out on their April 30th, 2008 post (scroll to the second entry).

Capay Valley

In addition to doing a craft show this Saturday in Sacramento (3-11pm @ Bows & Arrows), we're going to be spending the weekend on a beautiful farm in the Capay Valley. Last time we were there was for New Year's eve. The weather was sunny and crisp as we walked along Cache Creek, which serves as the back boundary line of the farm.

Ringing in the New Year, we had a shockingly bright salad lined with watermelon beets and all local produce. Oranges from the orchard just outside the farmhouse door. Homemade beer from our favorite brewmaster. And a first for me--homemade eggnog from the cows two farms over. Potent stuff. Michael Pollan would have been proud.

Looking forward to meandering down the creek this weekend and combing the grounds. I am designing a wedding on the farm in June, so it'll be more of a working vacation, but I don't really consider it work as I love these kinds of projects.