One of my dearest lady friends, Susan, had her first baby last week (!!) and good thing she did since I made her this little quilt specifically for that reason. It's another one of my friend Alicia's from her Olallieberry pattern and I highly recommend it for beginners. I originally tied it a different way and after washing it, most of the ties untied:/ (Dreadful horrors!) So I texted Alicia a picture of the debacle and said WTF did I do wrong? And she wrote me back this longest text asking me if I buried the tail and hid the knot and a bunch of other stuff that sounded like Japanese. So I asked her if she spoke English. And then (because she's amazing), she made me an instructional video of her sewing these cutest embroidery-floss stars. Not only did they work, they look so so so much cuter than my original plan. I have the nicest, most generous crafty friend. You gotta check out her site if you haven't. I love her. (Thanks, Alicia!!!)

I hope you find a way to be creative today, even just a tiny bit.
xoxo
jolie

P.S. My favorite part is picking out the fabric:

brown butter banana bread with bourbon and walnuts

Hello Lovelies.

Firstly, a heart-felt thank you for all the support following my last post. I did not expect the giant outpouring of love that I received. It touched me so much. I can't believe how many friends, friends-of-friends, and people I don't even know reached out to share how they're dealing with (or have dealt with) fertility stuff. We all cope in silence to some degree (on all fronts, not just when baby-making) and yet this week reminded me how interconnected we truly are. Here's to remembering that when we need it the most.

This week has been a whirlwind of life: doctor's appointments, errand running, tax preparation, external hard drive set-up, auditions, soup making, quilt making, car washing, wine drinking, dog hugs, coffee with friends, hikes, laughs, Pilates classes, pottery classes, teaching, and as many Game of Thrones episodes I could stay awake for. In the middle of it all, I had a TV appearance that amounted to maybe 7 whole seconds of screen time.

Eight months ago when I shot the thing, I had one of the most fun days I've ever had on set. I played a trashy, horrible girl from Queens who had bad hair, nazi tattoos and fake teeth. I was just in one scene but man, I had a blast. I laughed all day with the cast and crew and desperately tried not to laugh when the scene called for me to remove my fake teeth, take after take. (Trust me, that was very difficult.) So when it aired this week and the entire scene was cut down to 7 seconds (and zero dialogue), it stung. Not only was my ego bruised, but it felt like an insult to my experience, like it meant less. I wanted to tell everyone how awesome it had been and how I had a whole scene originally and how fulfilling it was to shoot. I wanted it to look as funny and wonderful and special as it felt to me that day. And it didn't. It looked like 7 seconds.

Needless to say, it was (yet another) lesson in letting go of what others think (truth: they're not really thinking about it). I have to let the feeling of my experience be the representation of it. Not some external, diminished version that a million TV executives had their hands in. I can't control any of that, nor is it personal.

Ironically, if I *don't* let it go, I'm diminishing my own life this week by making it only about 7 seconds on TV, instead of all the other blessings and wonderful things that went down. Like dog hugs and belly laughs and couch time with DP. And all the love and support I feel from so many of you. Also: banana bread. Banana bread went down. And nobody puts banana bread in a corner.


Brown Butter Banana Bread With Bourbon and Walnuts
makes 1 loaf

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose (or gluten free flour + 1/4 t xanthan gum)
1 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1 t cinnamon
1 t kosher salt
2 large eggs
3 large (or 4 small) really ripe bananas, smashed
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
1 t vanilla extract
1/3 cup sour cream
1 cup chopped walnuts, divided


Preheat oven to 350F and grease a loaf pan. Brown the butter (great tutorial here). Pour into a separate bowl to avoid burning and set aside to cool. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Whisk well and then add the brown sugar, whisking again. In a separate medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Then add the mashed bananas, sour cream, whiskey and vanilla and cooled butter. Mix well. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry until everything is just combined and then fold in 3/4 cup of the nuts, being careful not to over mix. Spread into prepared loaf pan, sprinkle the top with remaining 1/4 cup nuts, and (depending on your oven) bake about 45-60 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the loaf pan for 20 minutes and then turn out onto a rack to cool completely. Bonus points: serve with bourbon-spiked whipped cream!

xoxo
jolie

P.S. Do you guys get these daily Notes From The Universe emails? They are wonderful. Case in point:

Everything in your life right now is awesome. Everything is in its right place, under grace, and whether or not this makes perfect sense yet, one day it will. And the time swiftly approaches when you'll be exceedingly grateful for all that has brought you to this day and contributed to who you've become, because it is exactly that person who is now poised to live as you have always dreamed you would one day live.

Beautiful and apropos, no?

P.P.S. If you like Game of Thrones and also goats ---------------> you'll enjoy this.

...and quilter

It's been so busy around here. And as much as I sometimes feel like I'm barely keeping up with it all, I know I thrive when things are spinning a little. I like having different projects in various stages, different facets of me stimulated. The variety is good for me; I like it. This week has been full of auditions of all sorts. I got to play a recovering addict, a mid-western mom, a former stripper, a former TV star, a fiancee to a convicted murderer, a trick-or-treating costume-wearer, and a karaoke singer. Interspersed with all those meetings, I got to play Lena's mom, a teacher to a bunch of awesome young actors, a wife, a hiker, a Pilates-doer, a meditator, a friend, a daughter, a writer, a recipe-tester, a dinner party hostess, a concert-goer*, a cleaning lady, a household manager, an accountant, and a potter. (David and I just enrolled in a pottery class to fill our spare time.)

Oh, and I made a quilt!

My dear friend Liz just had her first baby, a sweet bundle of a little girl named Spencer that I got to visit yesterday. Happy Birthday, Spencer!

This crib-size quilt was made from Alicia's awesome and easy-to-follow pattern (find it here), which I've made several times before. I used some vintage sheets mixed with some new fabrics that have a vintage-y flavor. And instead of machine quilting, I tied it with embroidery floss. There's something so sweet to me about doing it this way. It finishes a little more homey and slouchy and snugglish. Perfect for a new baby, no? And beginners take heed: this pattern is so forgiving--if you're not perfectly squared up everyplace it still comes out looking sweet. Ideal for a non-expert quilter like myself:)

True story: I actually am working on a commercial later today and won't know which role I'm playing until I show up. Ah, showbiz.

xoxo
jolie

*I was lucky enough to see Sara Bareilles in concert this past week and she was amazing. She sang this cover for her encore and I swooned..........<3

wing it!

My sweet niece Olivia turned three this past week and I made her these rad wings!! Don't you want your own adult pair immediately?

I found them on Pinterest via this site (which was a kid's spin on these adult ones from Burdastyle) and I referenced both sets of instructions to make mine. Because they look great all fluttery and not too perfect, this is an extremely forgiving project. Who wants fussy wings anyway?

That's just a little bias tape with ponytail holders on both sides sewn in for her little wrists...

Happy Birthday, darling O!
xoxo
jolie

P.S. If you decide you want to make these, I'm happy to answer any wing-related questions:)

super cool handwarmers (and why you should always carry knitting needles when drinking alone)

This past weekend I found myself drinking alone in Phoenix. I was visiting a friend but had an afternoon to myself. So I decided to settle in on the outdoor patio of a Tex-Mex place. After a spell, I spied my waiter. He was on his own, taking care of the entire patio and the beads of sweat along his hairline betrayed his forced cheer.

Harried Sweaty Waiter: "Welcome to [Tex Mex Restaurant in Phoenix]! Is this your first time dining with us?"

Me: "Yes. I'd like the Top Shelf Commemorativo Margarita."

HSW: "I really like the Orange Beso instead."

Me: "Oh."

HSW: "It's got fresh orange juice, Grand Marnier and prickly pear cactus juice."

Me: "No offense, but that sounds gross."

He smiles tightly.

HSW: "The Commemorativo is good too."

Me: "Great. I'll take it. And can I order some food too?"

HSW: "Alright, but I may try to talk you out of it."

I think this is the oddest tactic a waiter could employ, especially one that is so busy he's SWEATING. I guess not too busy to spend time judging a customer's menu selections.

Me: "Wow. Okay. I'll take the blackened chicken caesar salad with avocado."

He squints at me for a beat.

HSW: "Hmmm....that's okay. But the crab enchiladas are better."

Me: "Nope, not really into that. I'll stick with the caesar."

HSW: "If you say so."

I'm glad he approves.

The margarita arrives and despite the fact that it is the size of my head, I spend the next twenty minutes burning off at least half of its calories fighting off scrappy pigeons who keep making a run (fly?) for my chip basket. Brazen little bastards.

Sweaty stops by again to make small talk.

HSW: "So, are you here for the marathon this weekend?"

Me: "Yeah. Me and this margarita are gonna try and beat our best time."

He looks at me, deadpan.

Me: "Just kidding. I'm not here for the marathon. Hey, do you always have trouble with the birds here?"

He pauses and looks like he might lie to me but then concedes.

HSW: "Yeah, we do."

He looks over to the table next to mine where a few of them are conspiring to attack.

HSW: "Huh. Ha Ha! That one looks like he was dipped in oil."

I follow his pointy finger to see a greasy, sickly one attempting to choke down a chip triangle. There is not a more vile thing to behold. I hurry down my salad with my right arm while defending it with my left. After leaving me to fend for myself, he comes back a while later with the check and to set down a small plate.

HSW: "We have a dessert for you, compliments of the chef: white chocolate pecan tamales."

Me: "Oh, thanks. How nice."

HSW: "Here. Let me show you how to eat them. I'm really hungry myself so I'll show you."

No joke. He picks up one of my gift tamales, peels off the husk and pops the chocolate into his mouth.

HSW: "See? Just like that."

I wish I'd had some knitting with me. I'd have brandished a couple needles and poked the pesky birds and the irritating waiter. Both needed to learn some serious boundaries.

Thank God the margarita took the edge off.

Aren't these handwarmers great? I whipped up a couple pairs of these for some presents last Christmas and they were so satisfying to make. And so stinking cute with that little thumb hole. I could hardly stand the cuteness.

BTW, I used this pattern and the same yarn, Classic Elite tweed.

xoxo
jolie

*P.S. A group of pigeons is called a kit. Which sounds helpful or organized or fun, none of which are true about those assholes.

lily pad

Wanna see the little stroller quilt I just made for my new sweet niece, baby Lily?

I continue to drool over/be amazed by all of Alicia's quilts--she inspired me to buy this book and attempt this log-cabin style. I love how there is some structure involved but also room for some haphazard magic...

I love the homey feeling of the hand-tied quilting. This might be my new favorite way...

Welcome, Baby Lily! I love you already!

Yay, babies and quilts!

xoxo
jolie

cool stuff vol. 9

Happy Friday, lovely people!

I snapped this shot last weekend en route to my carb fest in San Diego. You can see a tiny tiny tiny stripe of ocean in a couple spots if you look to the other side of that field.  It was so blustery. I love how wild and wispy the clouds were.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend...............................................................


Grandad is reluctant yet committed when he sings The Pig Song.

Make your own crepe paper flowers!

Alicia has a beautiful new cross stitch sampler kit for sale:)

If you can't get enough Downton Abbey (like me) you'll love these.

Just in time for the new season's arrival, Mad Men cocktails.

I wanna know who lives here.

Love the notion and look of these natural easter egg dyes.

This tote is so springy, no?

Connie Britton rocks my world!! (Courtesy Mary-Heather:))


xxxooo
jolie

cool stuff vol. 6

Good morning, Lovelies!

Thanks for all the Runyon Canyon love. I'm so grateful. It gives me So Much Joy to make people laugh. So thanks for getting a giggle and passing them on:)


Here are some funny/cool/awesomely disturbing things from around the web:


make the coolest rope bracelet out of a J. Crew bag handle.

A Shakespearean Insult Kit.

Make two different kinds of pie in one dish!

And then learn these cool decorative piecrust edges!

Women laughing alone with salad.

An entire Thanksgiving dinner in just one gaggy slice.

25 ways to wear a scarf!

I'm gonna have nightmares from this.


Hope you have the best Wednesday!
xoxo
jolie

fully expressed

Among all the green that remains year round in Southern California, there's one fiery tree at the end of my street and I look forward to its colors all year. I think it was at its perfect peak right when I snapped this shot tonight and for the first time it occurred to me:

It is so fully being its fiery tree self, without boasting and without apology. And also not wasting any time being something it's not. It just fully expresses and then lets go without attachment.

We should all be so inclined.

xoxo,
jolie

oh, nuts!

How cool is this bracelet? And the fact that you can make it yourself from materials found at the hardware store? Genius!  

Be prepared: when you ask the older proprietor of said hardware store where to find brass hex-nuts he most likely will ask you, "What is the size of the bolt?" and you'll say, "Um...small...ish...?" and he'll look at you like you're an insane person and ask you again, "What is the size of the bolt? Do you have it with you?" and you'll say sheepishly, "It's for a jewelry project" but he won't hear that. He'll just shake his head quizzically and with disappointment and point to aisle 13.  

Do not be dismayed! This piece of jewelry is worth Hardware Store Humiliation.

Here's what you need...........twine (I picked happy orange over white):

Brass hex-nuts:

Add a little bit of braiding.......et voila!

All you need to know can be found in this awesome tutorial from Honestly...WTF.

Happy Weekend, Lovely People:)

xoxo

jolie

baby leo's garland

I cannot get enough of this stinkin' garland.  The one I made six weeks ago is still hanging in my dining room despite the party being over for at least six weeks.  So when Veronica started asking me some questions about said garland to decorate her beautiful new baby Leo's christening celebration, I jumped at the chance to make some more.

Isn't it so happy?

Involved is an intense amount of cutting cutting cutting until your hand is cramped into a claw shape but I had company at my feet...

They hung it outside and it looked so pretty flowing in the breezy backyard.  

It was the most touching day with friends and family and singing and tacos in the shade.  What could be better?

xoxo

jolie

P.S.  you can find the pattern here.