Mugshot Monday: Catching Up

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Juliet Tiu

June 17: A few nights before we left for vacation. That day was warm and maybe even humid. Everyone had gone to sleep, I was busy tying up loose ends, and I remember wanting to drink something cold. Naturally, I found the closest thing to winter – a picture of my dog-in-law, Graham. In my mug: Bourbon and branch, my late-night drink of choice nowadays.

June 24: Very quiet morning on our vacation. Part I: Leavenworth, WA. My sister-in-law rented a beautiful lodge for all of us to stay in. Twelve of us altogether (missing two others, bummer.) This was also where my pink eye was wreaking havoc. Terrible. So, I exiled myself one day and rested.

Spent a little time thinking about what I might do, if I could spend my day doing anything and money was no object. Easy to do out in the woods and no internet. Once again, my thoughts wandered around: art studio, designing with paper, designing fabric, teaching classes, or maybe owning a kitschy lifestyle-home shop. What about combining bikes, coffee, art…

July 1: Traveled to Woodinville, WA for a day trip with my husband, kids, niece, and nephew. Traded in my mug for a wine glass and relaxed at Chateau Ste. Michelle.

(Columbia Winery is just across the street, but too grown-up/clubhouse-y for the kids. Note to self: visit next time without them.)

July 2: (bonus) Coffee at a favorite spot, Valhalla Coffee Company in Tacoma, WA. It’s like they knew I was coming that morning – the music playlist included Chicago, Air Supply, Bee Gees. Awesome. Of course, that doesn’t mean my husband immersed himself in nostalgia, but that’s okay. He seemed to enjoy me geeking out, and we talked vinyl records and open playlist night with another customer who owns a local bar.

That morning Valhalla offered a Uganda Bukonzo off the regular menu. My husband and I could not get over the unique cherry flavor. It wasn’t too acidic, and not too fruity, either. Fantastic balance. So we brought home a pound.

July 8: Relaxing back at home with a bin full of mail and tea in my favorite little footed mug.

Mugshot Monday: Walls

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Juliet Tiu

PROMPT from Monday Mugshots Collaboration May 30th: My Walls. Do you have walls that you put up?
SHOOTERS: Shoot your mug in front of a cool textured wall.

I could have gone all deep and philosophical on this topic, but I just wanted to go for face value this time. This wall might not be super textured; it’s one wall of our home which we built on our own. (Well, let me clarify that, we general contracted on our own. My father-in-law and husband did the site management during the summer.) It seems like a long time ago now. Seven years.

My cup of tea sits in front of water-stained limestone, and next to a newly planted lemon balm plant. I’m dreaming of a tea garden where lemon balm, chamomile and lavender can coexist. We have healthy echinacea growing but I always forget that we can use the buds for tea.

This morning I snagged my husband’s Intelligentsia mug for a few sips while I worked on a friend’s subway art piece. (Needed more caffeine since I finished mine so quickly.) And yes, I cut out letters by hand.

I realize I haven’t been very timely or good about sharing tutorials this Spring, and now we’re into Summer vacation – oy! Friends, I’m primarily trying to do more, sit less… so not to worry, I’m still making, baking, creating. Join me at Instagram or at the Facebook page for more of the daily happenings. Thanks and do let me know if you’re keeping up with Monday Mugshots!

Mugshot Monday: What If

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Juliet Tiu

With a little Baileys on the rocks in my mug, I wonder – what if this crafty, artsy part of me could really do some good in the world? What if I would just take flight…

Work-in-Progress Wednesday: Paper Medallions and such

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Juliet Tiu

Hi friends. My blogging sort of starts to take a backseat this time of year. Sorry. So you know it’s the end of the school year and Spring if you find yourself trying to enjoy the outdoors, and at the same time torn because you have chores, errands, teacher gifts to (buy, make, come-up-with, assist with).

I do so love this season though – when the leaves are all popping yellow-green, and like, overnight even! This is also the one week in the year that I think the front of our house looks the loveliest. It’s tough choice – enjoy the weather because we have so few perfect days, or work? I just keep trying to do both.

Current projects I’m juggling

Paper medallions for lapel pins, except that the pin part didn’t work as well as I wanted. I’m thinking pop dots (sticky dots) might suffice. It’s only going on top of regular name badges for this brunch I’m going to on Sunday. Lots of paper medallion tutorials around the internet like the one I used from How About Orange. It’s a great way to use up some paper scraps.

My mushroom print quilt strips in progress too. The inspiration for this is from The Cottage Home’s review of “Quilts from the House of Tula Pink” and the Totally Tubular Stacked Block Quilt.

Behind all this craftiness, I have a penchant for business development. Not so much running my own business (that’s still a dream!) but I help out at our church as a publicity chair – so, for those of you who follow the Facebook page, you’ve had a sighting of my other writing.

(You might ask, when do I sleep? I get anywhere between 5-7 hours of sleep.)

Have a great rest of your week! Follow me on Instagram since I might not be writing so much… but I’m always up to something. 🙂

Happy MAY!!

Mugshot Monday: Sickness

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Juliet Tiu

After a fabulous Easter week (including getting back on my bike), I was down for the count today. Camped out on the couch, did absolutely nothing but sniffle, cough, and whine about how achy I am. Yep, not pretty. And the ~~world~~ housework came to a halt. Also not pretty. Life goes on – hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Today’s mugshot is my little concoction for when I’m sick: hot water, lemon slice, ginger, and honey. It’s soothing. If my sinuses are acting up, I’ll steep a cinnamon stick, ginger, and a few whole black pepper. Let that cool a bit and add honey. You better sit with a box of tissue because your nose will start draining like crazy.

Have a great week everyone! (And go, Michigan!)

Mugshot Monday: If my mug could talk

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Juliet Tiu

Yes, I should sit…

I could sit at my sewing machine, at the desk to finish our taxes, at the table with my kids, at the tea bar, on the couch to watch a few shows on the DVR (anyone watching Dallas?!).

… but yesterday, I sat for a few minutes with my leftovers from a wonderful Easter weekend.

So This is Julie

Make | Create | Cook

Tag Archives: mugshot