DIY Forts and a Christmas Miracle

Auntie, you rock! If I was counting on one Christmas miracle, I'm pretty sure that hearing those three little words at some point during the holiday might just have been it. But to get there, I pretty much had to pull off a miracle of sorts myself. 

I've always been a bit over ambitious with the type of projects I tend to take on.  I plan and plot, source and shop.  I am an ardent collector of images meant to inspire and I am prone to amassing project materials to be used at some point, "someday". These little a-frame forts, well, they were one  such project that sat and weedled away in my little brain for the better part of the last year. In more recent months, I had sketched several renditions, changing mock ups as new trends in fabric and accessories emerged. They were always intended to be made as Christmas gifts for my beloved nephews and nieces and I was set on awing them with individualized style and trimmings that would speak directly their very different personalities.  

But timing really is everything. For all my planning, what might have otherwise been a fun and painless project snuck up on me in the end, snowballing along with the dozen or more other handmade goodies I decided to juggle in the last month before Christmas. I so badly want to look like a rockstar and tell you that pulling these three little forts together was a breeze. But I can't do so in good conscience. I ran short on fabric- twice... the hand-studded trim almost put me over the edge one particularly tiresome evening and I realized halfway into the last one that I had the wrong thread (note to self:  I don't care how pretty the color is, heavyweight canvas should not be sewn with delicate viscose thread). Cut to said thread breaking mid-stitch on the machine 19 times per panel. For four evenings and a day I whined my way through the details, frustrated and sure none of the three would turn out half as good as I imagined. 

Hand-studded trim lined the opening to my nephew's striped canopy, while oversized poms and gold sequined trim fancied up the entrance to my niece's bohemian retreat. 

And then suddenly, the clouds parted and they were called finished. 

In those final hours before the holiday, they stood around our tree and I felt accomplished. Hell, I was excited, even giddy. I couldn't wait to pack them up and deliver them to those smiling little faces on Christmas. There was no way they would not love them at first sight.

And so it all went to plan where my sister (unaware of these oversized gifts until they arrived Christmas day at her doorstep- surprise!) busied her children behind closed doors while their Uncle and I set these custom forts up in their respective bedrooms. I had butterflies in my stomach as we unveiled them one at a time and lo and behold if the first words out of their mouths were not "What is it?". I have to admit, I was a little deflated.

Then a funny thing happened. At the end of the night, after all of the gifts were torn open, they asked if we couldn't put them together in one bedroom so they all could sleep in a "super-fort". Suddenly, it was all they could focus on. I jumped inside and filled the colorful a-frames with pillows and blankets stolen from every room in the house (hell, I was so tired that I was ready to settle in myself) when all of a sudden, I got my miracle.

"Auntie, you rock!"

"Really? I rock?"

"Yeah. This is the greatest Christmas present ever."

I heard they slept there for two more nights.

Holiday Floral // LA Flower District

Today, I thought I'd share a few floral moments around Holtwood House as seen over the Thanksgiving holiday. I parlayed my current fascination with rocks, agate and geodes and worked them into my holiday tablescape. Air plants were mounted to vintage brass candlesticks that flanked the center arrangement and worked to counter the weight of the amethyst. A little greenery eventually made it's way to every corner of the house, a detail which helped make the house feel festive and holiday-ready.

But before all that fun could begin, I made a trip out to the LA Flower District (one of the happiest places on Earth as far as I'm concerned) early last Wednesday morning. I loaded up on pods, berries and greenery and spent the remainder of the day styling my arrangements. You know, those are my favorite kinds of days... quietly creating with a little background music, just before the true hustle and bustle of staging a party begins. 

Most major cities have a floral district of sorts- a place where vendors gather to sell mostly wholesale to the trade. There are two within my reach- Downtown LA (my market of choice) and San Diego- and just as expected, there was plenty of inspiration to be had at the "Mart" that morning around every corner.   

Never been to the Flower District? There are a few things you should know. 

Go early. Professional floral designers arrive as early as 2am to get the best picks. If you are non-trade, plan to arrive by 6am on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Entry hours are a later on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Plan to arrive right at 8am on those days. Though posted hours suggest the market is open much later, you will start seeing some of the bigger vendors packing up early.

Bring cash. Though many vendors take credit cards, it really helps to expedite your transaction (and limit your budget in the event you want to go completely nuts) if you have cash. Unless you are carrying a trade badge, you will also to pay the $2 entrance fee at the door and they only take exact change. Quarters are also helpful if you are lucky enough to snag a parking spot on the street or need to use the pay only restroom.

Dress in layers. An early morning walk through these chilly buildings calls for a sweatshirt and gloves- particularly this time of year. You'll likely peel a layer or two off, depending on how late you stay.  Better to be prepared than uncomfortable.

Bring a hand cart. Bundles of newspaper wrapped blooms get heavy. Avoid frequent trips to the car and bring a little shopping cart if you have one available. It's best to keep all your picks visible anyway so you can easily pair to what you've already purchased. 

The "district" has two sides. The Southern California Flower Market off Maple in my opinion has the best selection of flowers. My favorite vendor there is Mayesh. Go there first and snatch up anything unique you must have. It will likely be gone if you think you are going to come back to it. Price out more common blooms like roses, hydrangea, tulips, etc... from several vendors.  The other side- Los Angeles Flower Market- will hook you up with the best selection of tropicals and orchids.

The lowdown on other details, including hours and parking can be found on the LA Flower District website.