In my other life I am - The Crazy Costume Lady...
As a little girl I always wanted to be a ballerina. Mom and Dad sent me to lessons - I have a vague recollection of a mirror, a bar, a lady teacher, and a big Irish Setter...maybe the ballet teacher had a dog?!
The way I remember it I went to my classes and then...there came time for a recital...I think the idea of a recital, getting up in front of everyone - just scared the living daylights out of me...so, I refused to go. And that was the beginning and end of my ballet career.
Now I live vicariously through all the wonderful ballerinas at Merced Academy of Dance by being their Crazy Costume Lady!
I take care of the platter tutus - I think they are my favorites - don't tell the other tutus!
I help all the ballerinas and ballerinos stay organized...
I keep track of the hats....
...and sometimes the feathers....
This picture is thanks to Stacy Avalos
Sometimes I make headpieces - like the one on Miss Briana...but if I am going to be honest...Lane actually made this one and I just attached it! Of course she had to pass it by me first because I am a bit bossy and opinionated about things like that - truth be told.
There are little girl tutus....
and tutus for tumbling!
Pointe shoes...another love of mine. I am envious of the beautiful girls that get to dance in them. I am proud of the beautiful girls that get to dance in them. And in my dreams...I dance in them!
Isn't this the perfect juxtaposition? Top hat and pointe shoes....what could be better?
So they dance and I sew, they dance and I glue, they dance and I glitter....all the while being so happy to be a part of it all.
From dancing Miss Briana's Carousel ...
To Carol's beautiful Other Side (or as I like to call it The Kermit Dance) a ballerina's life is not always easy...
First of all there is wearing those pointe-y shoes...
Then there is all that practicing...
and practicing...
and practicing....
.
And all the listening...because there will always be cleaning, and changes, and more changes...
...and no matter how tired you might be, or how much your feet might hurt...the show must go on!!!
So whether they are dancing a modern piece like Envy...
...a classical piece like La Bayadere
or a modern ballet piece like Shadow Fax...
These ballerinas (and the ballerinos too) give it their all...
150 percent every time they hit that stage....it's a special group and I am happy to say that I am their...
Crazy Costume Lady!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
A Celebration
Saturday the family had a celebration to honour this lovely woman
We threw a heck of a party because that's what she would have done
There were flowers because Mom loved flowers and always had pretty arrangements in the house and at her parties
There were pretty tablecloths and sweet initials (Colleen I loved the B's!!! Great job!)
It looked like a party for sure!
We even hung flowers....(for the people who asked - marthastewart.com )
We wanted to share something of our mom with everyone so we made packets of her recipes
We prepared many of Mom's wonderful dishes...
And in honour of the wonderful fruit 'waterfall' that Mom used to make - Jennifer created these gorgeous fruit and veggie baskets. I think they are better looking than the ones that you can order...but that's just me...
There were some of the sweetest cupcakes...with special little flowers and B's handmade by Jennifer and her daughter, Bethanne...and baked by my Lane!
We made some cute luminaries ( which didn't actually get lit until the after clean-up relaxation)
And chalk flowers led the way to the beautiful garden that Lyle has planted for his Bride...
We were so happy to have family and friends with us to remember our extraordinary Barbara
Special friends from Mom's first job at Metropolitan Insurance!
Me with little bro, Brad, and his Tina
Representing the Consani part of the family
Our wonderful neighbor from Mom and Dad's days on Willow Springs Road in Morgan Hill
More of the Morgan Hill group
The wonderful lady who always made Mom's hair so lovely
The Shad Man
Me and my Bethanne
My other sweetie niece Dominique
Dad saying beautiful things about his Bride
A sewing buddy
Jennifer and her hubby, Dennis
Me and my hubby, Brian
Colleen and her hubby, Eddie
Four beauties...Madison, Lane, Bethanne, and Dominique
Bethanne with our wonderful Galaxy
Sharing some fun
Sharing some secrets!
Some Habitat friends
Perusing the scrapbooks
Colleen, Galaxy and Dominique
My beautiful Lane
And, as we say in our family...because Dad says it....A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL
To those of you who were with us thank you for celebrating our Mom with us. For those of you who couldn't make it we felt your presence.
Mom, we know you were with us, we miss you and we love you.
xoxo Elizabeth
PS Thanks to our wonderful photographer Madison who took most of these photos!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
I Spy With My Little Eye
I thought it might be fun to give you a glimpse into the home of artsy-fartsy, always doin' a project, never quite have the mess cleaned up people...and that would be us - the Toel family. My husband might take exception to this statement - in his mind it is the girlies and I that are the messy ones...but I know better.
For example let's take this photo:
Can you spy:
The forgotten Christmas stocking (there is at least one item each Christmas that ends up staying out all year because the boxes got put away and then it is found)
The fun art with our name from my friend Annie
Lane's peacock that is going in the fair
Some copper pieces that my Honey made
A grandfather clock that is slightly out of place
Paintings in the fireplace (not on the mantle like normal people)
My wonderful tissue flowers from Madison
The 'magic flower' that all the kiddos that come over want to play with - you would have to have seen one of these in action to appreciate it!
The Rumi book from my little bro and Tina ( I am one day going to do a painting for them finding inspiration in this book)
A beautiful painting of freesias also by my Honey
Now....stop and think....this is one tiny corner of my house - can you even imagine what the rest of this place might look like?
Another glimpse:
This is my Madison's room. We convinced her when she was small that she LOVED fairies just so we could make her this fairyland room!
Get ready for the I Spy:
Can you find the amazing hand cut flower cabinets that her Daddy made her
How many fairies can you count
What about the saw, towels, etc. evidence of the new desk she is sitting in - a birthday gift from her Daddy to replace the cute little vanity that was there for little girl Madison
Can you find the LLadro clown that was her Mommy's when she collected clowns
The branches of the 'tree' we made for the fairies to hang out in
One happy and content girlie tucked away in her corner of the world
*** A note of interest - Lane also has a very special room that is currently undergoing a make-over. We will share that with you when it is complete.
The last part of the house I will spring on you right now is my makeshift desk. This is where I create almost everything from scrapbook pages to hand sewn purses to wedding corsages to crazy jewelry - and I almost NEVER clear it off!!!!!!! Are you ready?
Can you spy:
My sis and I laughing and having a great time
My favorite Jiminy Cricket cup that somehow got a chip
My sweet snacks (there are at least two in this pic because I am never without a snack close by)
Two forms of communication because heaven forbid I should miss something!
A vintage flower pot
The sweet pincushion that Madison made for me
Take note of where the TV is located - when I am doing my artsy fartsy stuff the TV is never far away
Notes for a blog
A flower pot from the begonia that my Dad gave me for Easter - he picked it out himself!
You can't really see this, but the yellow cup that holds my pencils, stray knitting needles, pens, crochet hooks, paint brushes, etc has the cutest little gnome on it
Well I could go on and on...but...I think you get the idea. If you ever come for a visit there is plenty to look at in our house! And if you don't feel comfortable with a little bit of a mess (or on some days a lot of a mess) or some piles of stuff here and there - well then you might need to just stand on the porch and peek in. Don't worry I'll bring you a soda or something while you're out there!
Tell me something special about your house!
xoxo Elizabeth
For example let's take this photo:
Can you spy:
The forgotten Christmas stocking (there is at least one item each Christmas that ends up staying out all year because the boxes got put away and then it is found)
The fun art with our name from my friend Annie
Lane's peacock that is going in the fair
Some copper pieces that my Honey made
A grandfather clock that is slightly out of place
Paintings in the fireplace (not on the mantle like normal people)
My wonderful tissue flowers from Madison
The 'magic flower' that all the kiddos that come over want to play with - you would have to have seen one of these in action to appreciate it!
The Rumi book from my little bro and Tina ( I am one day going to do a painting for them finding inspiration in this book)
A beautiful painting of freesias also by my Honey
Now....stop and think....this is one tiny corner of my house - can you even imagine what the rest of this place might look like?
Another glimpse:
This is my Madison's room. We convinced her when she was small that she LOVED fairies just so we could make her this fairyland room!
Get ready for the I Spy:
Can you find the amazing hand cut flower cabinets that her Daddy made her
How many fairies can you count
What about the saw, towels, etc. evidence of the new desk she is sitting in - a birthday gift from her Daddy to replace the cute little vanity that was there for little girl Madison
Can you find the LLadro clown that was her Mommy's when she collected clowns
The branches of the 'tree' we made for the fairies to hang out in
One happy and content girlie tucked away in her corner of the world
*** A note of interest - Lane also has a very special room that is currently undergoing a make-over. We will share that with you when it is complete.
The last part of the house I will spring on you right now is my makeshift desk. This is where I create almost everything from scrapbook pages to hand sewn purses to wedding corsages to crazy jewelry - and I almost NEVER clear it off!!!!!!! Are you ready?
Can you spy:
My sis and I laughing and having a great time
My favorite Jiminy Cricket cup that somehow got a chip
My sweet snacks (there are at least two in this pic because I am never without a snack close by)
Two forms of communication because heaven forbid I should miss something!
A vintage flower pot
The sweet pincushion that Madison made for me
Take note of where the TV is located - when I am doing my artsy fartsy stuff the TV is never far away
Notes for a blog
A flower pot from the begonia that my Dad gave me for Easter - he picked it out himself!
You can't really see this, but the yellow cup that holds my pencils, stray knitting needles, pens, crochet hooks, paint brushes, etc has the cutest little gnome on it
Well I could go on and on...but...I think you get the idea. If you ever come for a visit there is plenty to look at in our house! And if you don't feel comfortable with a little bit of a mess (or on some days a lot of a mess) or some piles of stuff here and there - well then you might need to just stand on the porch and peek in. Don't worry I'll bring you a soda or something while you're out there!
Tell me something special about your house!
xoxo Elizabeth
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