First and most importantly, HUGE congratulations go out to my longtime blog friend Rebecca Behrens. Her debut novel When Audrey Met Alice is going to be published by Sourcebooks and I couldn’t be happier for her! Not only is Rebecca smart and sweet and generous, but her story sounds AMAZING. You can read more about it HERE, and you can read Rebecca’s official announcement HERE.
Congrats, Rebecca! I couldn’t be happier for you!
And, here’s what I’ve been up to lately…
Spellbinding
(Seriously. This book rocks. And look! I splurged on a signed and doodled copy! Find The Raven Boys on Goodreads.)
Opulent
{My dad visited last week and we took him to visit Hearst Castle, the “ranch” once owned by William Randolph Hearst. The property and the house are gorgeous, and if you ever find yourself near San Simeon, CA, I definitely recommend checking it out. (Though, I don’t necessarily recommend driving down Highway 1, especially if you’re traveling with kiddos. My poor girlie had a bit of a carsickness episode about two miles from Hearst Castle, so that was fun to deal with. Oy.)}
Warm
{Indian Summer has arrived in Central California, and I’m SO HAPPY. I adore heat and sunshine and afternoons on the beach. :)}
Prettiness
{Like I said… I love the beach.}
Boo!
{My husband loves Rice Krispie Treats, so my girl and I decided to surprise him with a very festive jack-o-lantern version. Yum… Homemade Rice Krispie Treats are the best!}
Craftiness
{So, Dolly needed a bed. Rather than spend $150 on the American Girl version, my husband and father-in-law crafted her one from old banisters and crown molding, and I painted it. Then, I made Dolly linens from the somewhat garish peacock fabric my girlie picked out. All in all, it turned out pretty darn cute, and the final cost was a fraction of what American Girl was asking. Success!}
Gratuitous
{Because my girlie and I like to get our pose on!}
Tell me: When’s the last time you were crafty? What did you make?
katyupperman.com 
Oh man, aren’t the signed and doodled copies of RAVEN BOYS just the coolest? I couldn’t stop staring at mine. I think the book is really pretty to begin with (the sort of pearlescent dust jacket?) but I’m really glad I did the pre-order to get a little extra awesomeness in.
And way to go on that doll bed! I had a lot of homemade clothes for my American Girl doll from my grandmother, but nothing involving, like, hardware. Very impressive!
I saw those rice crispy treats on Instagram and got so hungry. Maybe I’ll make some. 🙂 I’ve seen a lot of people talking about Raven Boys. I guess I need to read it. Also, love that picture of the beach. I love how you tie Instagram into your blog.
Aw, I love all of your pictures, Katy! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂 I am seriously (seriously!) impressed with the American Girl bed! Wow, so cute! We are definitely crafty over here, but my girlies are limited by their mama’s lack of art skills! We did make some scarecrow paper plate heads and painted hats and construction paper “hair” the other day, and that was a lot of fun 🙂 I love how Fall gives us so much inspiration. I’m also thinking about stealing your Rice Krispie treat pumpkin idea – it looks cute AND delicious 🙂 I know I tell you this all the time, but your sweet daughter is adorable and the pictures of you two together are so precious. I also love your shout out to Rebecca – such great and exciting news and you are always the most encouraging friend 🙂 I hope you have a great day!! Oh! And I’m also a big fan of Maggie Stiefvater’s too. Her’s was the first author blog I ever followed, and a few of her posts convinced me that I really did have time to write – she is awesome 🙂
I made batiked throw pillows for my nephew and nieces this summer when I taught a batik kids camp. They were cute.
The bed you made is adorable.
Aw, thank you so much, Katy! You are such a kind and supportive friend. 🙂 The Hearst castle looks amazing–I don’t know much about it, but I feel like a decadent and/or swoonworthy story needs to be set there.
The heat turned on in my apartment yesterday, so those beach pictures are making me jealous of you lucky Californians!
Loved, loved, loved THE RAVEN BOYS, but then you already knew that. 😉 I really cannot wait for the sequel. I’ve actually found myself missing the characters over the last day or so since I finished it. That doesn’t happen often to me. Fall has arrived in full force up here. No Indian Summer for us. Ah well. I kind of like the cooler weather (aka ‘scarf and awesome boots weather’). Also, very impressed with Dolly’s bed. I sew, knit, crochet, and whatnot like an old biddy, but haven’t done it in some time. Must make something soon. 🙂
Oh wow, that Hearst castle looks really cool. I’d like to own a “ranch” someday, too. 😉 Your husband’s a lucky man if he came home to that Rice Krispie-o-lantern.
Love the Rice Krispie Jack-O-Lantern, I might have to try that! Being crafty and baking are my two favorite things outside of writing.
Yesterday I put the finishing touches on an amigurumi (crocheted doll) ninja for my husband, and I’m about to start another amigurumi of J. Alfred Prufrock for my friend’s Christmas gift 🙂
Love the pictures! And yay for Rebecca! SO HAPPY for her! That rice krispie pumpkin looks delish!
Also, LOVED The Raven Boys – just one problem…I have to wait a year for more Gansey! 😦
Love the craftiness; Dolly’s bed is classier than mine!
Wow, that bed looks awesome! Very very impressive 😀
As always, your pictures are lovely and that rice krispie treat? YUMMY! Your hubby is one lucky man 😀
I just started The RAVENS BOYS and I´m deep into the world Maggie created, her writing is so magical!
(oh and yay for Rebecca, I´m so happy for her :D)
I love the American Girl doll bed! So cute. I still have two American Girl dolls and tons of stuff so if I have a daughter one day I plan to give it all to her. 🙂