Goa Wedding

Our very good friends got married yesterday in Colva Church. It was a fun ceremony, full of fabulous friends. Gioia was a fantastic flower girl. She only had to be carried back to Mommy sobbing once. To be fair, she cried at a part that we had not practiced, where she got swept up into the bridal party and seated at the front of the church away from me and Chris. But for the part that she knew well, the walking up and down the aisle part, she rocked it.

Congratulations Jack and Sangeeth! We love you guys. Thanks for including us in your celebration.

All of our India pictures are here. Scroll down to the end for the wedding pictures.

Old Goa

We took a drive yesterday to Old Goa, to see some very old churches, do a little sightseeing and eat some yummy food. One of the main churches in Old Goa houses the body of St Francis Xavier, who founded the Jesuits. So interesting, seeing the glass coffin of this very old saint, sitting to the side of the massive sanctuary. I am not Catholic, so I don't really understand the reverence for Saints which extends to dead bodies and body parts, but it is a sight to see.

Goa Creche

We made it to Goa yesterday. The island has a strong Portuguese heritage, and Christmas celebrations are still underway. Many houses have little nativity scenes set up by the door or in the yard. Some are small, and some are very large. This one was at our friend Jack's house. The three kings are each on a path leading to the baby Jesus. As we get closer to the Epiphany, the three kings will be moved closer on the path to the baby Jesus.

Photos from our India triip so far are here.

Merry Christmas!

So it turns out that Santa Claus is Chinese.

Who knew?


Hope your holiday is Merry and Bright!

Christmas Eve

Since the movers have packed up all of our stuff in a container, we are staying at the Hyatt. Luckily, Gioia made a little Christmas tree at school, so our room is fun and festive. This year, our Christmas Eve celebrations consisted of eating a hearty afternoon tea, opening presents small enough to carry with us on the flight, doing some Christmas dancing in the room (simply having a wonderful Christmas time...) and taking a picture on Santa's lap in the lobby. Ha!

On Christmas Day, we will be flying to India for the wedding - first to Mumbai and then on to Goa on Saturday. Do you think Cathay Pacific will serve Christmas cookies and gluhwein?

In the Nick of Time

Two flower girl dresses - finished nine hours before the movers showed up. Phew.

The green fabric is a raw silk that the bride is also using in the bridesmaids outfits. I smocked both bodices a little differently so that they coordinate but are not identical. The bodices are beaded with tiny glass beads and rice pearls. The bodice of the dresses used the Ottobre "China Grass" pattern from issue 03/08.

The bottom skirt is an ivory silk dupioni from my stash. I had another silk that the bride gave me to use, but it turned out not to be enough. With that fabric, the skirt on Gioia's dress was way too short (determined by general consensus), so I ripped it out and used the ivory dupioni instead. If I were really good, I would have made little tulle underskirts, but I could not find the netting fabric in Taiwan.

I made matching ivory silk bloomers for modesty. The bloomers pattern was from Oliver + S' tea party sundress. At first I was irritated that the pattern called for bias leg casings, but it actually was a very easy way to construct the elastic leg openings.

Last Taiwan Party

We had a little White Elephant party last night (Dirty Santa, Yankee Swap, whatever you call it...). Before everyone came, we tried to get Gioia to pose for a picture in front of the tree. The problem was that she wouldn't hold still for the shot. She was too busy dancing to the Christmas music.


In true Taiwan fashion, we had to stop halfway through the party to wait for the earthquake to finish shaking the house. It was a long one. Someone said they saw the chandelier swing so violently that it hit the ceiling. Now that's a rockin' party.

It would totally suck if we got buried in rubble less than a week before we left this little island. Yikes.