One Room Schoolhouse

The last remix post! 23-28

2011-03-01T10:39:00.001-08:00

I'm finally done with my February remix challenge a la Kendi! Similarly to last time I tried this, I'm finding that I'm a little more creative with my clothing now that the remix is over, and I'm hoping that I'll be more discerning once I start buying clothes again, as well.

Mostly, though, I'm just SO glad that February is over! I'm ready for spring weather, sunshine and bare feet. March brings a lot of excitement (including a trip to California, where I am DETERMINED to go to Disney Land), and the possibility of a few changes in my life. I'm ready!

top - GAP, cardigan & shoes - Target, pants - LOFT

sweater - Target, scarf & bracelets - vintage, pants - LOFT, shoes - TOM's

cardigan & boots - Target, belt - F21, jeans - GAP, top - Charlotte Russe (?)

top, tights, socks & boots - Target, skirt - American Apparel, scarf - gift

EVERYTHING in this outfit is from Target. I need to shop somewhere else.

dress - modcloth, sweater - UO, jeans - GAP, shoes - Tom's, scarf - Lifestyles (local hippie emporium)

17-22

2011-02-24T09:13:00.000-08:00

I'm writing this with my windows open and a spring rain falling outside. Birds are chirping, crocus are peeking their heads out of the soil, and spring has finally and truly arrived, bringing with it my annual tendency to devolve into cliche and read a lot of Wordsworth.

Anyway! Briel came to visit me this week, which was absolutely lovely and involved a lot of vegan Chinese and Vietnamese food, shopping at the fabric store, and watching every movie preview we could find in succession (this took about three hours).

I can't believe my 28 for 28 remix is nearly over (and, with it, the month of February!). I am more than ready for March to come, bringing with it leaves on trees, a trip to visit Jessa in California, and hopefully a final decision about where I'm attending grad school in the fall!

top - Anthropologie (sale), sweater - UO, belt - J. Crew, jeans - GAP, shoes - Target

top - GAP, sweater - F21, pants - Loft, shoes - TOM's

dress- vintage, belt - J.Crew, shoes - TOM's

dress - Banana Republic outlet, sweater - Old Navy, shoes - Target

top, tights & boots - Target, skirt - Boden (gift), belt - J.Crew, necklace - Anthropologie

dress (as skirt) - Modcloth, tights, boots & scarf - Target, sweater - Ruche

It looks like I spent a lot of time this week being sleepy and slightly frumpy at work. Also, I need to learn a new pose!

Going to the Zoo + a bonus outfit!

2011-02-23T10:22:00.000-08:00

Last week I spent a day off at the zoo--admittance was two for one because it's February, but on the particular day that we went it hit nearly 80 degrees! It was a perfect afternoon of basking in the sunshine and hanging out with animal buddies.

shirt - Fossil, jeans - GAP, shoes - TOM's

10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15!

2011-02-16T20:24:00.001-08:00

Here are my next six outfits! I've found that Kendi's Remix Challenge starts to yield really interesting results about halfway through... that's the point where you're really forced to start wearing your clothes in ways you'd never thought of before. I think this set of outfits shows that, since I've started to be a little more creative with my pairings and accessories. It also doesn't hurt that the weather has finally turned nice, so I'm back to being out and about, at work and in classes, interacting with the world and wanting to make a good impression through the way I dress.

Ten

blouse - Modcloth, cardigan - F21, pants - Loft, shoes - UO

p.s. You might have noticed that my original set of items to remix only included 27 pieces--this floral blouse is my 28th piece, which arrived about a week into February.

Eleven

shirt - Fossil, cardigan - F21, skirt - Boden (gift), boots - Target

Twelve

sweater - Ruche, pants - Loft, shoes - Target

Thirteen

t-shirt, sweater & skirt - Target, tights - Hue, shoes - UO, belt - J. Crew, pearls - ??

Fourteen

blouse - modcloth, skirt - American Apparel, boots - Target, belt - J.Crew

p.s. This was my Valentine's Day outfit? Is it hearts-and-flowers-y enough?

Fifteen

long-sleeved tee - Target, blouse - Anthropologie (sale/gift), jeans - GAP, shoes - UO

5, 6, 7, 8, 9!

2011-02-13T21:03:00.001-08:00

Hey, guys! Contrary to what you might assume, I have NOT given up on Kendi's Remix Challenge. I just need to get caught up on posting photos! February so far has been COLD and I've spent so long snowed in that these outfits are probably not as polished as they could be. BUT it's finally warming up, the snow is melting, and the crocus are starting to come up! I'm not sure that I'm ready to make the big "spring is here" proclamation, but I'm crossing my fingers and I think we're getting very close!

Five

dress - Banana Republic outlet, cardigan, tights & boots - Target

Six

I think this whole outfit is actually from Target. Oops.

Seven

cardigan - Old Navy, top & jeans - GAP, shoes - TOM'S

Eight

top - GAP, skirt - American Apparel, cardigan - UO, tights & boots - Target, belt - J.Crew

Nine

dress - Modcloth, scarf (in hair) - vintage, tights & shoes - Target

Now that it's getting warmer, it should be interesting how these pieces transition to a different kind of weather. I'm looking forward to getting back to my regular schedule this week - work, photography classes, yoga, and writing/coffee dates with myself.

Curried Lentil Potato Soup

2011-02-09T20:10:00.001-08:00

So, I'm snowed in AGAIN. Actually it's not so bad; we only got five or six inches this time so hopefully the roads will be clear in time to get out of the house tomorrow or at the very least so I can go to work on Friday.

I had a few too many sweets yesterday, so I was feeling a bit off all day today. I usually eat in a pretty healthy way, but lately the winter blahs have led me to seek solace in sugar and carbs a bit too often. I wasn't even hungry at all today, which trust me is not a usual occurrence.

I decided I needed to make an "everything but the kitchen sink" kind of soup... something warm and comforting on a snowy day, and a soup that would be full of all the veggies that I needed to use up. I started pulling everything I could think of out of the cabinets, and this is what I ended up with!

This is more of a method than an actual recipe, and could easily be adapted to work with whatever you have on hand.

Curried Lentil Potato Soup

Ingredients:

2 tsp olive oil

5-6 cloves garlic, minced

1 large onion, diced

4-5 medium-sized potatoes, diced (I used Yukon Gold)

3-4 more diced veggies (I used half a bag of baby carrots cut into coins, the rest of a bag of green beans, rinsed and trimmed, and 3 summer squash, diced)

1 tsp sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp curry powder

1/2 tsp tumeric

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

6 c. vegetable broth

3 c. water

1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 c. red lentils, rinsed & picked over for stones

1 c. brown rice blend

Directions:

1. Saute onions & garlic in olive oil in a large stock pot until onions become translucent and golden. Add spices, being liberal with salt & pepper. Add carrots, potatoes, and other veggies, and continue to saute until veggies start to brown.

2. Add vegetable broth, water and tomatoes. Stir thoroughly & bring mixture to a boil. Add lentils and brown rice blend. Bring to a boil again.

3. Reduce heat to simmer. Cover pot and let simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally (soup is done when rice is done).

That's it! This was easy, comforting, and healthy--exactly what I needed!

Snow Daze

2011-02-07T17:27:00.001-08:00

1. Of course I wore a skirt with my snowboots.

2. Just after the snow ended, my neighborhood looked like another planet.

3. Giant snow pile, featuring my mom and my dog Lucy for scale.

At first I was elated about the blizzard that engulfed, well, most of the country last week. It was exciting! We received about 15 inches of snow here, which was an all-time 24-hour snowfall record (since 1905) for Tulsa! However, the downside of living somewhere where snow like this never happens was that it took days and days for the city to dig itself out. I finally went back to work for the first time today, after an entire week at home. I was so ready to get out!

For contrast, here's the lunch I ate on a restaurant patio in 80-degree sunshine three days before the blizzard took place. I'm trying to soldier through, but I have to admit the midwinter blues are really getting to me. I'm looking forward to getting out of the house for lunch and a movie tomorrow, though, and to waking up early for a Skype date with a dear friend who's currently on the other side of the world.

Does anyone have good winter cheer-up ideas? So far I've bought plane tickets to go to California in March. That helped :) Next, I'm thinking I need to give myself a Valentine's Day pedicure and maybe read in bed with some Sleepytime tea.

Sourdough Anadama Bread

2011-02-06T17:38:00.001-08:00

Ever since Christmas, I've been a bread-baking fiend. I found sourdough starter and The Original King Arthur Flour Cookbook under the Christmas tree, and I haven't looked back since. Sourdough starter is essentially a form of yeast that lives in your refrigerator. When you bake with it, you "feed" the remaining starter with flour and water, and it bubbles with the yeast bacteria. The whole process is somewhere between baking and a science project.

The great thing about sourdough starter is that you can use it to make sourdough bread, but you can also use it in the place of yeast in other baked goods. After making a loaf of basic sourdough, I branched out and made sourdough anadama bread. I grew up eating anadama because it's the one thing my mom likes to bake--she would always make three or four loaves at a time, each one laden with nuts and dried fruit. I did the same thing with this batch of anadama--I love it when one slice of toast from a loaf of bread is basically a meal.

Sourdough Anadama (adapted from The Original King Arthur Flour Cookbook)

1 c. boiling water

1/2 c. cornmeal (I used Bob's Red Mill medium-ground)

1/2 c. non-fat dry milk (optional - I didn't have it on hand, so I left it out)

1/2 c. dark molasses

1 1/3 c. Sourdough Starter

1/4 c. butter or vegetable oil (I used butter)

4 1/2 to 5 1/2 c. King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour (I used half unbleached all-purpose and half white whole-wheat)

1 tbsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

Optional: 1/4 c. pecans, 1/4 c. walnuts, 1/4 c. raisins, 1/4 c. chopped dried apricots

1. Make the Sponge: Pour the cup of boiling water over the cornmeal ina large glass or ceramic mixing bowl. Mix in the molasses, dry milk (if using) and butter. Let cook to lukewarm and blend in 2 c. flour. Blend in the sourdough starter. Cover with plastic wrap and let this work for several hours (I left it out overnight)

2. Make the dough: After the sponge has grown, add 2 more cups of flour into which you've blended the salt and the baking soda. Knead this dough and, if you have time, let it rise once more in the bowl.

3. Shape: Divide the dough into two halves. Pat each half into a flat disc, and sprinkle the nuts and dried fruit equally across the two discs. Roll up the discs and knead each a few times to distribute the nuts and fruit throughout the dough. Form each half of the dough into a loaf and place into a greased loaf pan. Let the dough rise in the loaf pan for 2 to 3 hours.

4. Bake: 15 minutes before you want to bake your bread, preheat the oven to 350 F. Bake the bread for about 45 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes in loaf pans, then remove loaves and let cool on wire rack.

I recommend slicing into the bread as soon as it's cool enough and enjoying it slathered in some butter or earth balance! Delicious!

1, 2, 3, 4, Can I have a little more?

2011-02-04T18:00:00.001-08:00

Is anybody except me STILL snowed in from the blizzard earlier this week? I elected not to go in to work today because the roads are still awful, and after it started snowing AGAIN this morning I got a call telling me not to bother coming in tomorrow, either. So.... six-day snowday? I guess I'll take it! I am definitely starting to suffer from cabin fever, and am hoping to be able to get out and do something--anything!--by Sunday, at least.

Under the circumstances, I'm pretty proud to have gotten the February wardrobe remix challenge underway! So far I've taken all my photos indoors, which I hate doing, but to be quite honest I'm just impressed that I haven't been in my pajamas since Monday. So, here's my first four looks:

ONE

shirt - Target, courderoys - Loft, boots - Target, hat - Talbot's (gift), scarf - Target

TWO

dress - vintage, tights - Hue, shoes - Target, hat - self-made, necklace - handmade (a gift)

THREE

skirt - Boden (gift), tights, shoes & shirt - Target, sweater - UO, hat - Talbot's (gift)

FOUR

jeans - GAP, top - NY & Co, cardigan - F21, boots - Target, hat - Talbot's (gift)

So far the remix is going pretty well, although I'm excited to get of the house and have a reason to get more dressed up! Tonight we went to the WalMart that's about a mile from our house to get a few groceries, which was my first time out in a week. I got so excited to have a reason to put on a more put-together outfit! Then I realized that I was dressing up to go to WalMart. Have I mentioned the cabin fever?

I'm having a great time perusing Kendi's list of 30 for 30 bloggers. There are so many, I don't know if I'll be able to make it through by the end of the month! I'm looking forward to discovering some great new blogs.

And now, to make up for the poor quality of my photos this week: a gratuitously cute picture of my cat!

28 for 28!

2011-02-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

Happy February! The first day of the new month brought a HUGE snowstorm with it and, along with about half the country, I am thoroughly snowed in. I'm trying not to go crazy from cabin fever, but instead to look on the bright side... more time at home to burrow into my cozy bed, read books, and work on sewing projects! I hope I still feel the same way at the end of the day tomorrow....

Anyway, there's nothing I love more than a project, and to keep myself busy (and distract myself from the fact that it's February... ugh) I've decided to participate in Kendi's 30 for 30 Challenge! This will be my second time doing this particular wardrobe remix--last time was last summer, so it should be fun to tackle the project at a very different time of year. I'm putting my own spin on things, and remixing 28 items for 28 days (it is February, after all!). I'll probably be grouping my outfits into one or two posts a week, because I have lots of other things I want to blog about too!

Part of the remix involves a shopping ban, which is great because I've really been trying to cut back on my frivolous spending. I'm also putting myself on a fabric and books shopping ban, because I tend to spend more on those things than I do on clothes! I have all the fabric I could possibly need, and as far as books go, I need to get in the habit of visiting the library as my first resort when I'm looking for something new to read.

Okay, enough with the chatter--onto the remixing!

28 for 28!

8 Shirts:

L to R: Target, Target, GAP, Anthropologie, Fossil, Target, NY & Co, GAP

2 Sweaters:

L to R: Target, Ruche

5 Cardigans:

L to R: Target, F21, UO, Old Navy, F21

3 Dresses:

L to R: Vintage, Banana Republic Outlet, Modcloth

3 Skirts:

L to R: American Apparel, Gift, Target

2 Pairs of Pants:

L to R: GAP, Loft

4 Pairs of Shoes:

L to R: Target, UO, TOM'S, Target

I can't wait to get started! Hopefully the roads get clear soon so that I can get dressed to do something other than watch The Weather Channel and bake oatmeal almond cookies, which were my two main activities today.

Felted Forest Friends

2011-01-25T20:39:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the title of this post is a bit much even for me, but seriously, how cute are these guys? These little sewing-room accessories are samples that I stitched up tonight for work. I've been meaning to get these done for-ev-er (like, probably since before Thanksgiving). I think they turned out adorably! Plus, these aren't just cute, they're also functional!

The owl holds your scissors!

Inside the toadstool is hidden a retractable measuring tape.

And the soft tree stump doubles as a pincushion!

It felt good to sit down and do some sewing. I've been distracted by other things lately, and I've been putting off getting my machine out and getting back to making things. Some other exciting projects will be forthcoming! Plus, sewing gave me a chance to catch up on my latest TV addiction.

Pie Weekend

2011-01-24T18:49:00.001-08:00

I spent most of my weekend baking strawberry-rhubarb pie. The problem was, my pie was, um, soupy. Also a little too sour. Also the rhubarb didn't get cooked enough even though it was in the oven for two hours. I guess not every baking project can be a success.

On the bright side, the crust, as always, was the best part! I baked some pie crust "cookies" by rolling out crust, cutting it into squares, and brushing them with butter and sprinkling them with cinnamon sugar. I also folded some squares of pie crust around apricot jam and baked them. Both pie crust creations were delicious (and far better than the pie itself!).

What I Read in 2010: Part 2

2011-01-19T18:45:00.000-08:00

photo by me

Brr! It's getting cold outside! There's snow in the forecast for tonight, and I'm crossing my fingers for a bit of a snow day tomorrow. I have bread dough rising right now, and it would be bliss to get to stay home and read by the fireplace tomorrow. I've been meaning to post the second part of my list of books from 2010 (find the first part here). It was a busy fall, and I didn't quite reach my goal of 100 books, but I came close! As you can see, my reading tastes are pretty diverse and not terribly literary. The titles in bold are the ones I liked the most!

What I Read in 2010 (Part 2!):

51. Heaven to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace

52. Insatiable by Meg Cabot

53. Second Nature by Nora Roberts

54. Summer Dreams by Nora Roberts

55. Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

56. The Search by Nora Roberts

57. Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

58. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

59. Something Blue by Emily Giffin

60. Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner

61. An Accomplished Woman by Jude Morgan

62. Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

63. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

64. The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman

65. The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews

66. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

67. The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford

68. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

69. Hot Rocks by Nora Roberts

70. Bone Worship by Elizabeth Eslami

71. River's End by Nora Roberts

72. Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker

73. Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

74. The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff

75. Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb

76. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

77. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

78. The Hunger Game by Suzanne Collins

79. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

80. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

81. Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer

What's For Dinner: Green Fried Rice & Baked Tofu!

2011-01-18T16:17:00.000-08:00

This was dinner one night last week--"green" fried rice (green because of all the green veggies it includes!) and baked tofu. I love baking tofu in a yummy marinade because it is easy, fast, and really good for you. This meal reheated well for work lunches. Both of these recipes came from the Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers cookbook. As a bonus, this meal was vegan! I'm trying to eat vegan more frequently at home (it doesn't always work... tonight I'm having cheesy baked pasta, oops!).

Green Fried Rice (from Moosewood Simple Suppers):

I've added my own modifications and simplified the directions to reflect the fact that I left out the eggs--I strongly recommend that you check out this cookbook, which is full of awesome, healthy and fast ideas for vegetarian dinners.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 tsp. Chinese chili paste (I left it out because I was feeding this to my spicy-food-averse family)

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 eggs, beaten (I left the eggs out because I was trying to be vegan, but they would be a good way to add even more protein!)

4 or 5 stalks bok choy, chopped (I used napa cabbage instead because that's what they had at my grocery store)

1 bunch scallions, chopped

4 cups rinsed and drained baby spinach (I used more like 8 cups, since spinach reduces dramatically)

1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels

2 cups cooked rice (I use brown rice; it's better for you!)

1 tbsp soy sauce

Directions:

In a large wok or skillet heat the oil over medium-high heat, warm the oil, chili paste (if using), salt and garlic. Cook for a few seconds, then add the bok-choy (or cabbage, in my case) and stir-fry for a couple of minutes. Add the scallions and spinach and stir-fry until the spinach is just wilted. Add the corn and stir-fry for another minute, or until thoroughly hot and defrosted. Stir in the rice. When the rice is hot, mix in the soy sauce. Serve immediately.

Easy Baked Tofu (from Moosewood Simple Suppers)

Ingredients:

1 cake firm tofu

1 tbsp. vegetable oil (I used olive oil)

1 tbsp dark sesame oil

3 tbsp soy sauce

2 tsp grated peeled ginger root (I used a little dried ginger which was what I had on hand)

1 garlic clove, minced

(I also added a tsp. of brown sugar, and about 2 tsp. of rice vinegar)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400. Cut the tofu into cubes (or slices, triangles... any shape you want!). Lightly oil a baking dish large enough to hold the tofu in a single layer. Whisk together the marinade ingredients and drizzle over the tofu. Gently turn or toss to coat thoroughly. Bake uncovered, stirring once or twice, until the oil is sizzling and the tofu is firm and chewy, 30 to 40 minutes.

I love eating this way--I wish I was organized enough to do it every night!

What I'm Wearing

2011-01-13T08:38:00.000-08:00

I think I'm going to return to doing weekly outfit posts here, because I really do like sharing outfits that I put together, and I think it helps me to put a little more care into what I'm wearing. I don't know if this really falls under the category of "dressing more like a grown-up," but I at least felt put-together in this outfit, and ready for a day of writing at home and running a few errands. Excuse my awkward pose--it was very windy, and I have yet to master the whole "self-timer" thing. I recently purchased a remote for my camera and I'm excited to play with it soon--hopefully it will make self-portraits much easier!

top - OK Tees

sweater - Target

belt - F21

jeans - GAP

boots - Target

I love this shirt! I purchased it from the OK Tees guys at Indie Emporium. I love how the heart is approximately over the actual location of my heart! Very cute.

I'm not working today, so I'm hoping to get some serious sewing, cleaning, and writing accomplished and to take a trip to the library. Tonight I start a new photography class! This one is on studio lighting, which is a topic I'm rather intimidated by and know very little about--here's hoping for the best!

Checking in on 24 before 25

2011-01-08T15:12:00.001-08:00

I apologize for the fact that the above photo of me as a small child has absolutely nothing to do with this post... I just like it and I hate to post anything without a photo accompanying it!

I thought, in the spirit of the new year and making lists of goals, it might be a good time to check in on the list I made on my birthday. (The items in bold are things I've accomplished!)

24 Things Before I Turn 25

1. Participate in the 365 Project.

Ummm... abandoned.

2. Make homemade preserves.

I made amazing peach preserves when I visited Briel in Tuskahoma, and I made some awesome apple butter and gingered pear marmalade to give as gifts this Christmas!

3. Learn how to spin with a drop spindle.

Also accomplished in Tuskahoma!

4. Go to Dollywood.

Not yet! Maybe this spring or summer?
5. Go on a long hike.

6. Spend an afternoon reading outside.
7. Take a yoga class.

I've started going to Yoga once a week at the YMCA and it's amazing!
8. Sell my wares at a craft fair.

Sharing a table with May at Indie Emporium was definitely one of the highlights of the fall!
9. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

This still needs to happen!
10. Volunteer at the Humane Society.

I think I'm going to start doing this in the next month or so!
11. Go to a show at Cain's.

On New Year's Eve I went to see Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey cover Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Beyonce, along with some other local artists. It was awesome!
12. Take a dance class.

No! But a new dance studio is opening just down the street from where I work... maybe the time is ripe to delve back into the world of adult ballet.
13. Throw a party.
14. Write a YA novel.

I'm working on it right now!
15. Get my photography certificate.

I'm signed up for 5 more photography classes this spring.
16. Go out dancing.

I think going to see jfjo counts, considering the amount of dancing that was going on at that show!
17. Go to a show at the Brady.

I went to see Vampire Weekend there in October!
18. Apply to Library Science grad school.

My applications will officially be complete on January 15!
19. Write a chick lit novel.

Done! That was my Nanowrimo novel this year.
20. Go to the Tulsa State Fair.

Yes! I went to the fair and saw amazing cakes and cute animals and ate waaaaay too much fried food.
21. Go to a show at the BOK Center.
22. Visit NYC.

Not yet, but my friend A and I have been talking about a trip there together sometime.
23. Attend a music festival.

No, but I'm researching and plotting....
24. Visit J in California.

This still needs to happen!

Not bad considering I'm less than 1/3 of the way to my next birthday! Does anybody else make goal lists at times other than New Year's? How are you doing on yours?

A Winter Photo Walk

2011-01-07T20:55:00.001-08:00

I was lucky enough to receive a new Diana lens with an adaptor for my Nikon DSLR for Christmas! I love the look of lomography and I have a Diana film camera, but I am horrible at taking film in to get developed, so this was a whole new level of excitement and instant gratification for me. I took the new lens for a test-drive around my grandmother's snowy (and fantastically mid-century modern) neighborhood in the St. Louis suburbs--here are some of the results! (click to enlarge the photos to really get the full dreamy and saturated effect of the lens)

Happy 2011!

2011-01-06T16:37:00.001-08:00

photo by me

Hi there! It's been awhile. The holidays this year were incredibly hectic but also very, very fun, and now I'm working on settling into 2011 with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation. The new year, so far, has been defined by chaos and family crises, and as a result I've put off making a serious start on my resolutions--but isn't that kind of the thing about New Year's Resolutions? There's always going to be chaos, and inconvenience, and, well, life getting in the way of our attempts to be better. The real trick comes in learning to jump in and make changes regardless of the circumstances.

New Year's Resolutions 2011

1. Finish a draft of my novel and submit query letters to agents. Whoa, is this a scary one! But I've been working on a project for a while that I'm very excited about, and I think this might finally be the year that I jump into this whole "writer" thing with both feet first. (Also the year I think up some less tired metaphors to describe the creative process!)

2. Get serious about healthy eating and exercise. I'm a pretty healthy eater, but I'd like to eat vegan meals more frequently and learn to avoid dairy without feeling deprived. I'd also like to try my hardest to eat at least 7 servings of fruits and veggies per day, keep going to weekly yoga classes, and try to exercise at least a couple more times per week, preferably outdoors.

3. Get good hair and good skin. This is so shallow! But as long as I'm being honest, I may as well admit that I'm in seeeerious need of a good haircut. I cut my own bangs a while ago and, well, it's still a problem. I also need to find a new dermatologist! I haven't been for about two years and, guess what, people? Adult acne doesn't just go away on its own.

4. Start dressing like a grownup on a regular basis. To me, this means I can still dress creatively and colorfully--I'd just like to have fewer days where I revert to jeans, TOM's, and a Threadless t-shirt.

5. Spend less time online (dramatically less) and more time reading real books (dramatically more). Guys, this is so hard! I've already completely failed at it this week, due mostly to a newfound obsession with the show Friday Night Lights. (It's on Netflix instant watch! And yes, that does count as time online). Basically, I've really been noticing over the last few months that my existence has been so overtaken by electronic media--T.V., the internet, Google Reader and email on my smartphone--that I have a hard time clearing my mind, like, ever. This is really disturbing to me, and I hope to make a serious effort this year to curb my addiction to the gadgets that complicate my life.

6. Grow & expand my blog and handmade business. This may seem like it's at odds with the previous resolution, but I think it's really all about time management--learning to be able to get online, do the task I set out to do, and close my computer. I'm so excited to blog with more frequency and start a rotation of regular features. I'm working on Elsie's Blog Love e-course right now and it's really inspiring me to take blogging more seriously! I'm also pretty psyched to start sewing some new springtime aprons and accessories for my shop!

7. Keep in better touch with far-away friends. I have so many incredible friends--the only problem is, they're scattered all over the globe! Awesome when I want an excuse to go on a trip, but not so awesome when I realize that I haven't done as good of a job keeping in touch with everybody since college as I would have liked. I want to email more joke you-tube videos, set up more skype dates, and send more letters and birthday cards!

8. Be responsible about going to the doctor. I haven't been to the doctor in... um... awhile. I just really hate setting up appointments! But this is going to be the year that all changes!

9. Go on at least one date. This is hands-down the scariest and most difficult one on the list. I don't even know where to begin! Online dating terrifies me, and I'm too shy to meet guys in real-life! Suggestions?

10. Travel as much as possible and go on at least one adventure per month. Nothing helps me get perspective like getting away from it all, even if it's just for the day! I want to take trips to see my friends, trips with my family, and day-trips to see museums, go to gallery openings, and eat food more often!

11. Go back to school & move away from home. The wheels have been set in motion on this one... I'm waiting to hear back from several schools where I've applied to Master's degree programs in library and information science. Will I fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a librarian? Hopefully, this will be the year that I start working toward that goal!

12. Try to always focus on the positive and enjoy this phase of my life. I spend way too much time worrying about and planning for the future... I need to learn how to be more present! Yoga helps, simplifying my possessions and routines helps.

I know this seems like an ridiculously long list of goals, but my theory on New Year's Resolutions has always been "Go big or go home!" You'll never achieve anything if you don't make an insanely detailed list of goals first, right? I think some famous philosopher probably said that. Probably. (Resolution #13: Make fewer lists).

sour cream apple pie

2010-12-06T15:11:00.001-08:00

Just a quick post to tell you that if you haven't made Alicia's Sour Cream Apple Pie, you need to drop everything and go make it right. now. Seriously one of the most delicious pies I have ever made! And that is coming from someone who fancies herself to be quite the expert. If I was going to change one teeny thing about this recipe, I would probably double the streudel topping. Otherwise, it's perfect!

Thankful

2010-11-26T17:42:00.001-08:00

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving! Mine was low-key and peaceful, and couldn't have been nicer. I made a meat-free meal for my family, then went on a photo walk around my neighborhood as the sun started to set. The evening was spent making Christmas cards and watching the original Miracle on 34th Street (and Bridget Jones's Diary!).

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for:

-The support and love of my family.

-An amazing family of friends all over the country--and the world!

-My drive to write and to create.

-Books, and words in all their forms.

And, on a less serious note:

-space heaters

-SWEATER TIGHTS

-Pie

-my playlist of Christmas pop music

-that I've finally mastered the skinny jeans/boots concept.

Taking a Day Off

2010-11-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

(via)

I had big plans for today--my day off. I was going to be terrifyingly productive, run all over town, and accomplish all the things I'd been putting off for weeks. Instead, I woke up with a migraine, and spent more or less the whole day reading blogs, taking Advil, and drinking herbal tea. I hate the frustrating feeling of losing a day--but this was my body's way of telling me to take some time off. The bright side is that I've run across a ton of new blogs and great posts during my epic day of interneting!

~101 Ways to Cheer Yourself Up Part One & Part Two

~A great list from Yes and Yes of "31 Things I've Learned in 31 Years" (this whole list is so very true and wise)

~I'm totally in love with the blog One Pearl Button. Alli's a grad student in Archeology who posts all about photography, sewing, knitting, crafting... all the things I love!

Have you guys run across any great bloggy finds lately?

p.s. I've been using Pinterest to keep track of all my online discoveries (I've gone a little nuts posting sewing and crafting tutorials lately!). If you're on Pinterest, follow me, and if you're not on Pinterest, I can send you an invite!

A Week of Tea Towels!

2010-11-08T11:18:00.001-08:00

Happy Monday, everybody! My weekend was NOT long enough--I spent Saturday working, and Sunday doing a very long and involved deep-cleaning of my space. But I did get to go to the movies on Saturday night, and it feels sooooo nice to finally have everything tidy and clean again!

I also watched the last episode of Sherlock on Masterpiece Mystery last night. What a cliff-hanger! The time in front of the TV gave me the opportunity to finish the final tea-towel in a set that I've been embroidering for myself. The patterns are iron-on vintage reproduction patterns that I found at Hobby Lobby. I've been working on these for a few months whenever I have down time from other projects. I love them! They're going to look perfect in my super-cute future kitchen.

Aaah I seriously can't get over how cute they are.

How was your weekend?

Gifted Magazine

2010-11-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a brief break from grad school applications and novel-ing to ask my bloggy buddies (too much?) if y'all have seen Gifted Magazine? It's a new online mag put out by the lovely proprietoress of Creature Comforts, an amazing design and visual inspiration blog. (Bonus: she just moved to Tulsa so I guess she's a local blogger now too!) Anyway, Gifted Magazine is an absolute treasure trove of blogger and handmade business profiles, as well as gift ideas and (most excitingly) inexpensive and adorable DIY holiday project ideas!

Do you have a strategy for the holidays yet? My family is trying to make our celebrations more low-key, with less emphasis on gift-giving and more emphasis on the traditions that make the holidays fun, like cookie-baking and movie-watching. We're also switching from a real tree to a sparkly silver tinsel tree!

For myself, I'm trying to do make as much homemade as possible. All my gifts are going to be made by myself, and I'm hoping to have time to make cards and wrappings as well!

Tulsa Indie Emporium!

2010-11-01T08:47:00.001-07:00

Whew! What a long, great weekend! It's a struggle this morning to get back into a productive week-day mindset (and boy do I have a lot I have to get done this week... mostly related to grad school applications... ugh). I'm feeling a bit gross--I think I have a sugar hangover from last night's Halloween treat-binge of candy, s'mores (using vegan toasted-coconut marshmallows!), roasted pumpkin seeds, and apple cider. Plus I woke up this morning and it was suddenly COLD outside! I guess this means autumn is really here.

I barely took any pictures this weekend because I was so busy! I was a vendor at Tulsa Indie Emporium, which was a truly amazing event that I was grateful to be a part of. Too often, I find myself falling into the creativity-sapping mindset of "There's nothing to do here and no interesting people," but that is definitely NOT the case! I met so many vibrant crafters and artists this weekend, and came away not only with a great sense of satisfaction from my own participation, but also with a renewed appreciation for the handmade community that exists here.

Without further ado, my weekend:

breakfast at Blue Dome Diner

My bestie/assistant/moral support Briel and my friend May of Electrofervor hanging out at our shared table

After an epic day of craft-fair-ing, we headed to Tulsa's new Anthropologie to ooh and aah over the store's beautiful clothing and housewares. I didn't buy anything, though--I'm trying to spend less money on unnecessary things (and make more of my own clothes) this fall. This weekend also involved dinner at Lanna Thai, seeing Red (it was so good!), and an afternoon of shopping at craft stores and fabric stores. Add in the aforementioned cozy Halloween evening of treat binging and answering the door for Trick or Treaters, and I'm worn out!

Happy November, friends! I'm hoping the new month brings new productivity and progress on a number of projects. Plus, I'm diving into Nanowrimo once more (I already have 1700 words that I stayed up past midnight last night to write!), and am hoping to "win" (write 50,000 words) for the third year in a row. The next few weeks are going to be busy!

War Eagle Craft Fair!

2010-10-18T20:41:00.001-07:00

This weekend I made my way to War Eagle Mill in northwest Arkansas for my first trip to the War Eagle craft fair! I've been wanting to go for a couple of years now, but this was the first time it was logistically possible. It was definitely an experience. With nearly 300 vendors in one place, I began to feel overwhelmed with options. I didn't get to wander among the booths as long as I would have liked, but there were some great vendors, both of handcrafted goods and of vintage odds and ends. Ultimately, the heat and dust won out over my curiosity and we departed the fair earlier than we had planned, but I was still glad I made the trip. The Ozarks are always gorgeous in the fall, and there's something about craft fairs that just seem autumny to me. What are your favorite autumn excursions?

The Fair! Part 2

2010-10-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

I love the fair. When I was but a wee baby Kathryn, my first outing with my parents after I was born was to the fair. The fair is in my blood, it's in my heart, it's in my soul. It's the perfect combination of deliciously bizarre food, handicrafts on display, baby animals, creepy midway attractions, and incredible people watching. Oh, and did I mention the food? Sadly I only got to eat cheese on a stick (a must for any vegetarian who secretly misses corn dogs and isn't too picky about the questionably vegetarian preparation methods of said cheese on a stick), and my beloved PINEAPPLE WHIP. I sprung for the $6 cup, I think it was a solid choice.

manna from heaven

death-defying dog trick show, to benefit shelter animals!

Amaaaazing 4-H displays. I love this kind of thing. Pumpkin cow!

BAYBEEEEE GOATS!!!

Sheep and baby sheep! These sheep rock! (this one's for you, Allison)

Cake, cake, cake!

2010-10-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

I'm back! And hopefully with regularly-occurring posts, too!

Last weekend I made my yearly trek to the Tulsa State Fair. My favorite part of the fair is always the Sugar Arts Show, which displays amazing (and frequently bizarre) feats of cake-decorating and fondant- and marzipan-sculpting. Here's a few of my favorites:

Magic Schoolbus cake! I'm newly obsessed with Mz. Frizzle and am sort of considering a Mz. Frizzle Halloween costume this year.

Halloween cake! Owls! Pumpkins!

Amazing Dia de los Muertos cake with sugar skulls

A gnome. Made of cake.

Kitty Gaga. Doesn't really require any more explanation. (my only question: shouldn't she be wearing a dress made of raw fish?)

Exhaustion

2010-09-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

via weheartit

Hello, long-neglected internet world! This month got really crazy really quickly, between friends leaving town and making new friends and looking for jobs and interviewing for jobs and finding new jobs and... let's just say I'm exhausted. I want to sleep for a million hours, not so much because I'm physically tired, but because I'm emotionally spent. However, very soon I should be adjusted to a new schedule and back here on the blog. I'm hoping that after this weekend I'll be rejuvenated and back to regular posting. Until then, thanks for hanging in there!

My First Fashion Icon & Fall Trends

2010-09-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

It seems like every style blogger I read is talking about fall fashion, and in some ways I'm excited for the clothing possibilities the changing seasons offer as well. I certainly won't complain when I'm able to wear more outside than just shorts & a tank top or a dress and sandals. (Unfortunately it's still so hot here that that's not going to happen for a while). I have mixed feelings about trends for fall, though--it seems like neutrals and a certain tastefulness are going to be in, and, well, I don't do neutrals very well. According to this Refinery 29 post the big color trends for fall are: camel, metallic, olive, ice blue, rich purple, and red. I can get behind purple and red, I guess? The others I could take or leave. Really the problem here is my first fashion icon, Mz Frizzle:

Talk about being able to put together an outfit. I think I still strive, at least subconsciously, to create a theme any time I put an outfit together -- and sometimes, the theme is something classy (like, "Mad Men") but sometimes the theme is something less sophisticated (like "Kinds of Sea Creatures!").

The truth is, I like dressing like Mz Frizz now and again (or more often). I like wearing outlandish colors mixed together, and jewelry that thematically coordinates with my shoes. I like sewing my own clothes in colors and combinations that you just can't find in a store. So, I think my personal fashion trends for fall 2010 are going to be: color, ruffles, ridiculous shoes, handmade accessories, and of course a good Mz Frizzle up-do.

Okay, maybe I'll throw in a few pairs of boots & skinny jeans, and a cardigan here or there. But only if it has ruffles on it or felt flowers pinned to it (or both).

Open For Business

2010-09-08T15:05:00.000-07:00

At long last, I can reveal the project that's been taking up most of my time lately! After a couple years of hemming and hawing, I've finally opened up a One Room Schoolhouse Etsy Shop!

The shop contains all sorts of hand-sewn fancies, all with a retro aesthetic. I've been hard at work sewing aprons, necklaces and wallets! Putting the shop together was more work than I anticipated, but it's already been a rewarding experience even if it's only been open a couple of hours!

If you like what you see here, hop on over and take a look at the rest of my wares. I welcome feedback on my shop (um, as long as it's not utterly scathing criticism). And, if you buy something from me, I will love you forever and ever! Obviously.

sneak peek

2010-09-06T19:11:00.000-07:00

This is just a little glimpse at what I've been working on lately... the final product will be unveiled soon! (Hopefully tomorrow, if I can get my act together)

Weekend in Tuskahoma

2010-09-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

I'm home from spending a lovely weekend in Tuskahoma! Apart from a slight (HOUR LONG) backup on the turnpike, the drive down was uneventful, but beautiful. The southeastern corner of the state is all low, rolling mountains, pine trees, lakes and crisp air. I had a great time at the labor day festival with Briel--adequate (excessive) amounts of funnel cake, roasted corn, and fried cheese on a stick were eaten. Plus, all weekend there was a definite snap of autumn in the air--when we woke up on Saturday morning it was almost cold, and we briefly considered taking sweaters and jackets with us when we left the house (that idea was ultimately vetoed, and not only because I'd forgotten to pack any extra layers).

In addition to the labor day festival, we made preserves (!), Briel taught me how to spin with a drop spindle (!), and we also visited some yard sales and went shopping at the variety store in Clayton. Plus, there was plenty of quality lazing-about time, and a little exploring of abandoned houses. A wonderful labor day weekend, all in all!

lazy kitties on the porch

peach goo, soon to be peach preserves

freshly cleaned jars waiting for preserves

the finished item

My first bit of hand-spun yard (dyed with kool-aid)

Outfit Friday, regency style

2010-09-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

It is still SO HOT here! Yesterday was at least 97 or 98, plus a lot of humidity. Looking at the forecast, I doubt we'll start having fall weather (read: mid-80s) until early October. Oh well, I supposedly love summer, so I guess I should relish these last days of scorching heat.

Anyway, this weekend I'm off on a surprise trip to Tuskahoma! (The surprise is that I'm actually doing something spontaneous). I'm going to visit Briel and go to the Choctaw Nation labor day fair. Plus Briel saw my list in my last post, and has promised not only to teach me how to spin with a drop spindle, but also how to make and can peach jam! I'm extremely excited.

Yesterday I was reading a regency-era romance novel (Georgette Heyer, anyone?) over breakfast and got inspired to create an outfit that would be reminiscent of that era. The result was maybe less "regency" and more "crazy lady with three different prints," but I still liked it.

top - Modcloth, skirt - GAP, shoes - UO

The skirt I wore is several years old and is intended to sit at the hips, but I safety-pinned it in a few inches and added a scarf-and-brooch belt arrangement to disguise all the jerry-rigging that went into this outfit.

scarf - hippie store, brooch - gift

24 before I'm 25

2010-09-01T21:44:00.001-07:00

image via weheartit

Okay, this is the last birthday-related post, I promise. Just a little list of goals, some serious and some not so serious, to accomplish before my next birthday.

24 Things Before I Turn 25

1. Participate in the 365 Project.
2. Make homemade preserves.
3. Learn how to spin with a drop spindle.
4. Go to Dollywood.
5. Go on a long hike.
6. Spend an afternoon reading outside.
7. Take a yoga class.
8. Sell my wares at a craft fair.
9. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
10. Volunteer at the Humane Society.
11. Go to a show at Cain's.
12. Take a dance class.
13. Throw a party.
14. Write a YA novel.
15. Get my photography certificate.
16. Go out dancing.
17. Go to a show at the Brady.
18. Apply to Library Science grad school.
19. Write a chick lit novel.
20. Go to the Tulsa State Fair.
21. Go to a show at the BOK Center.
22. Visit NYC.
23. Attend a music festival.
24. Visit J in California.

Almond Raspberry Layer Cake

2010-09-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

Birthdays are, above all, an excellent excuse to prepare a fancy dessert. As long as I've been old enough to wield sharp kitchen implements and use the stove, I've insisted on preparing my own birthday cake. This year I made this oh-so-tempting Almond Raspberry Layer Cake recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I love almond pastries and dark chocolate, so I thought this would be the perfect combination. I had a blast putting the cake together (it had so many steps! Crumb coat! Homemade buttercream frosting! Decorative icing piped through an actual pastry bag!). In the end it was quite a confection, and I think my family quite enjoyed it. My only failing was that I prepared the cake layers a day early, and stored them wrapped in plastic in the microwave overnight--and I probably should have frozen them instead. The cake turned out just a tad on the dry side, despite the fact that I brushed each layer with simple syrup before adding the raspberry jam filling. Oh well, live and learn.

Twenty-Four!

2010-08-30T18:47:00.001-07:00

Last Friday, I turned twenty-four! This is a strange age to be. I feel like I'm old enough that I should be a grown-up, yet making that transition to adulthood and maturity can be awfully overwhelming. Although this birthday gave me pause, I didn't want my weekend to be filled with too much self-reflection. I've always been somebody who absolutely loves birthdays, and this one was no different. My day was filled with delicious food and antique store shopping, and on Sunday afternoon we took cake to my grandmother's house (she's not able to leave home) so we could celebrate with her as well.

Really, I don't think there's a good reason not to like birthdays! Although birthdays can sometimes seem like a reminder of time passing, they're also a marker of wisdom gained, and a day to wipe your slate clean for the year ahead. Of course it's easy for me to say that at twenty-four, but it's an attitude that I hope I'll keep for a good long while.

birthday flowers

twenty-four balloons!

a new lens

cake decorations need not reflect one's growing maturity

a visit with Scout, the sweetest puppy in the world

Taking a Break

2010-08-26T11:46:00.001-07:00

I've been taking a little blogging break this week to focus on getting the rest of my life in order and to savor my birthday celebrations this weekend. (24! I'm almost a Real Grown Up now!) Since this weekend promises to more or less be a culinary bacchanalia, I'm certain to be back on Monday with zillions of food pictures and cooking stories, plus a few shots from last night's Hanson concert (yes, they're still going strong). In the mean time, I'll take a cue from the cutest cat in the world (Cricket!) and get in some valuable relaxation time while I can.

30 for 30 FINALE!

2010-08-17T09:37:00.001-07:00

I'm finally done! Actually, I've been done for a few days, but this weekend was busy with house guests and lots of eating, and I didn't get the time to post. Because of the haphazard nature of my 30 and "necessity" (in the form of a trip to Chicago and a couple of job interviews), I ended my shopping ban a little early, and am now resolved not to buy anything else until it's time to look for a few key pieces for fall (knowing Oklahoma weather, this will happen in like mid-October). This challenge has definitely made me more mindful about my shopping--I doubt that I will completely stop buying things on a whim at Target, but I'm hopeful that in the future I can replace a good portion of my mindless acquisition with home-sewn clothing, repurposed vintage, and higher-quality clothing from more ethical sources.

28!

dress (as top) - Modcloth, skirt - self-made, belt - F21, shoes - Target

29!

top - UO, skirt - American Apparel, belt - J.Crew, shoes - Nine West Outlet

30!!!

short - Levi's, shoes - GAP, cardigan - Target, top - Modcloth, belt - J.Crew

(Photo Credit: BRIEL, who said, "I want you to mention me on your blog, and I don't want any of this "B" crap.")

Lucy's excited the challenge is over too!

The Baldpate Inn

2010-08-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

I decided that The Baldpate deserved its own post... this place looms large in my childhood. It's kind of magical and kind of haunted feeling. I've always wanted to set a mystery novel there.

Gratuitous Colorado Photo Post - Macro

2010-08-11T17:09:00.001-07:00

Colorado Gratuitous Photo Post - Micro

2010-08-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

Colorado Outfits Part 2

2010-08-11T08:25:00.001-07:00

Good morning! I'm back with the second half of my Colorado outfit photos. These are from the half of the vacation where I got a little bored dressing for nature and started changing clothes halfway through the day so I could wear one thing to hike in and another thing to go out to dinner in. When I was little I went to a private school and had to wear a uniform, and I vividly remember coming home at the end of the day and immediately changing into the most outlandish ensemble I could find in my closet--this sort of felt the same way.

23!

shirt - vintage, plus hiking jeans & shoes

Okay, this isn't particularly put-together, but look at that creek! Those trees! That blue sky! I wish I was back in Colorado right now.

24!

top - Target, cardigan - GAP, skirt - self-made, belt - F21, boots - vintage

I wore this to go to dinner at the Baldpate Inn, one of my favorite places in the world. The Baldpate is a rickety old B&B-style lodge that clings to the side of a mountain. All the floor seem to slope. Dinner is salad, homemade soup, thick homemade bread, and amazing pie. The walls are covered with photos of famous people who stayed there in the '20s & '30s. The Baldpate is named after a mystery novel called The Seven Keys to Baldpate, and accordingly there is a key museum on the other side of the lobby, where old keys with hand-lettered tags hang from the rafters and on every wall. In short, it's a magical place.

25!

top - (dress) F21, cardigan - Target, jeans - GAP, belt - vintage, shoes - vintage

I wore this to hike around the Alluvial Fan (don't worry, it's more of a slow amble on a paved sidewalk, or else my boots would have been most inappropriate hiking footwear). The Alluvial Fan is a cascades that formed in 1982 when Lawn Lake burst through its dam and flooded the valley. My dad was there when it happened, along with his parents and brother--they happened to be headed up Trail Ridge Road (the highway that goes over the Continental Divide) and they saw the whole flood happen from above.

26!

skirt - American Apparel, jacket - GAP, scarf - Target, shoes - Nine West Outlet

Every year since I was small we've celebrated my birthday early during our Colorado trip. I didn't particularly want to this year since our trip was earlier than usual and coincided more closely with my mom's birthday than mine, but we ended up celebrating both. I can't complain--we went out for pizza, I got a brief respite from the chilly (in the 70s!) mountain weather in the form of chai from Starbucks, and my parents gave me a beautiful turquoise ring & necklace that they had purchased at a local jewelry shop. What can I say? I'm spoiled.

27!

dress - Fossil, shoes - TOM'S, bag - craft fair

I wore this super low-key outfit for some last-minute shopping at the Macdonald book shop & stationary store, as well as one last leisurely drive through the park. Good-bye until next year, mountains!

Colorado in Photos, part 1

2010-08-10T20:42:00.001-07:00

gratuitous cute animal photo

the back of Long's Peak! My white balance was screwed up in this photo but I kind of like the vintagey effect it gives.

Lichen! I get excited about weird things!

Angsty dead tree photo ahoy!

These grew in the meadow outside our cabin

With my tail between my legs...

2010-08-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my far-too-long absence. Oh, blog people, I am so ashamed at my failure to post before this. I have the usual litany of excuses: I was out of town, then all my laundry was dirty from vacation so I couldn't wear any of my 30 for 30 options, then I went to Lolla in Chicago and I knew I'd have to burn any clothes I wore there, and now I'm home, incapacitated by a cold (not a surprise, since I spent the weekend in uncomfortably close quarters with approximately 200,000 (other) dirty hipsters), and finally with time to blog.

Whew. Anhow, I managed to keep to my 30 for 30 mostly during my Colorado trip. I have many photos from our yearly family vacation to the mountains that are more interesting than these ones of my outfits, but I'll get these out of the way before posting the rest.

18!

shirt - Fossil, shorts - Levi's, cardigan - Old Navy, boots - vintage, bag - craft store purchase

(Worn to drive many hundreds of boring and hot miles across Kansas. Note the wind. Oh, also I drove through the most terrifying rain and hail storm of my life - it lasted an hour, and I literally couldn't see more than three feet in front of the car, and we were in a construction zone, so I couldn't pull off the road.)

19!

skirt - self-made, dress-as-top - Old Navy, belt - Target, necklace - made by M's host-brother

Worn to veg out in the hotel room in Denver (note the terrible mirror photo), shop (!) (yes, I broke my shopping ban out of desperation - I forgot that it got cold in places that aren't Oklahoma, and didn't pack a jacket, so I ended up buying one on deep discount at Eddie Bauer), eat a lot of food, and see Inception

20!

jacket - GAP, skirt - self-made, top (not visible) - UO, scarf - vintage, boots - vintage

Worn to pick up my grandmother at the Denver airport, drive to Estes Park, buy food for the week, eat at the Sundeck, and discover that our cabin had both mice and spiders.

21!

shirt - Target, scarf - Target, sunglasses - Target, plus gross hiking cut-offs and shoes!

These shorts and shoes weren't part of my 30 options, but they were a necessary capitulation to practicality while on the trail. I'm counting them as workout wear. Also, this was worn to hike at Bear Lake, picnic at Sprague Lake, and take approximately 40 billion close-ups of wildflowers and dead trees. If you are lucky you will see some of them soon.

22!

shirt - GAP, scarf headband - Vintage, necklace - craft fair, plus hiking cut-offs and shorts

This outfit is obviously the epitome of laziness, but as you can see from the background, I had more important things on my mind! Part 2 of vacation outfits coming soon, after a gratuitous photo post of pretty mountain scenery.

oops, I did it again

2010-07-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have to admit something very shameful now: I woke up this morning and, in the throes of a terrible headache (excuses, excuses), got dressed in my workout clothes. And I haven't changed out of them all day. Everybody needs a day off, right? The thing is, there is a certain kind of woman in these parts whose daily uniform seems to be: a certain kind of Nike running shorts, a tank top, a bleached blond Bumpit ponytail, and diamond studs in her ears. Since I am not tall, fit or tan (and I don't have pierced ears and I gave my Bumpit to Goodwill), I tend to shy away from this kind of outfit. Also because I think clothing should be more of a creative choice than that. But anyway, I spent a day walking on the Dark Side and I have to admit it was a little thrilling.

However, I DID get dressed yesterday, in my 17th challenge outfit!

17!

skirt - American Apparel, tank - GAP, scarf - Lifestyles (hippie store), sandals - GAP, belt - Target

Scarf-as-top day! Proof that I've learned at least one useful thing from this challenge. I hope my huge multi-colored headings properly convey how excited I am to officially be on the downward slope of the 30 for 30 challenge. Not shopping is harder than I thought it would be! In the interest of full disclosure, I came this close to buying a straw boater hat and a teapot necklace at Forever 21 the other day, and was stopped not by a guilty conscience but rather by a very long line at the register. Still, I think taking a break from shopping is a very good idea, and hopefully will make me a much more careful and frugal shopper in the future.

For now, I'm off on an adventure! I leave early tomorrow morning for my family's yearly week-long trip to Colorado, where there will be a lot of eating, a lot of looking at the mountains while drinking hot beverages in the morning, and a little light hiking (we wouldn't want to strain ourselves). I will hopefully have sporadic internet during the trip (I need to get away from technology for a bit, to be honest), but I will still be keeping to the challenge and photographing my outfits, and will compile a massive outfit post upon my return!

30 for 30 14-16

2010-07-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

Halfway there, guys!!! To be honest, the remixing is getting a little more challenging--sure, I could just pair each of my different shirts with each of my different shirts and have 30 outfits, but that wouldn't be very interesting, now would it?

This was a good, very low-key weekend, mostly spent reading and pretending to clean but really reading some more. We also celebrated my grandmother's 91st birthday! To be honest I am trying to remember what I did on Saturday right now and all I can recall is that at one point I ate some rhubarb pie. I guess that's good enough?

Anyway:

14!

boots- vintage, dress - Fossil, tee - Target, belt - vintage

I finally got my new boots in the mail! I bought them a couple of weeks ago and included them in my original 30 for 30 choices -- I just didn't know it would take me quite so long to get my hands on them. Nonetheless, they are beautiful, and I'm excited to have them in my closet. I don't wear leather unless it's second-time-around leather (according to my constantly fluctuating moral code, as long as I'm not supporting the current leather industry, it's okay). I probably over-think things a little bit.

Oh, also: I went to Walmart in this outfit and a guy unironically purchasing a bald eagle/american flag T-shirt told me he liked my outfit, so I'm counting it as a win.

15!

dress - Urban Outfitters, shoes - TOM'S, tee - Gap, belt - J.Crew, necklace - gift

I am pleased to announce that I actually did a decent job of going outside to take pictures this weekend! I am getting better at the whole tripod/self-timer routine. Anyhow, this outfit was very easy and felt comfy all day. Without this challenge, I never would have thought to layer my shirts and dresses like I did on Saturday and Sunday -- I typically just throw a cardigan on over a dress and that's the extent of my fashion ingenuity. Anyway: fashion! It's happening over here, y'all!

16!

skirt - self-made, shoes - TOM'S, shirt - vintage, necklace - gift, scarf - gift

This photo looks completely demented--can you believe it was the best of the bunch? My outfit today was completely sloppy-dirty-hippie, which is kind of my default mode of dressing. I also haven't shaved my legs for about two weeks (overshare?). I went to the dentist this morning (while suffering from horrific cramps), and figured I was suffering enough without also exerting the effort to dress decently.

I have been craving cold weather lately (i.e. have been watching a lot of netflixed Northern Exposure and fantasizing about winter soups). I'm still kind of enjoying the summer heat, though--it's very satisfying in a southern gothic novel / iced tea on the verandah kind of way (easy to say when one can hide in an air conditioned building all day like I can). I always romanticize the season I'm not in at the moment -- in six months, when I'm in the throes of January seasonal depression, I know I'll be longing for summer again.

30 for 30 12 & 13, plus NEW GLASSES!

2010-07-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

So I ended up changing into yet another outfit before going out last night, due to an unfortunate incident related to my insistence on wearing SPF 100 sunscreen and a navy blue top at the same time. The sunscreen (and the bug spray I layered on top of it) turned out to be entirely unnecessary, since a thunderstorm swept through town, canceling our plans to watch a movie on the lawn at the art museum. Instead, Jessa and I ate our picnic in the car while watching the storm move in, then stopped by Starbucks for caffeine and headed to a late (indoor) movie. Still a fun night!

top - F21 (dress), shorts - Levi's, shoes - GAP, belt - vintage (my grandma's from the '40s)

I think I've finally mastered the dress-as-top challenge! The key is a wide, tight belt that will keep everything in place once you've folded and tucked it up. Does anybody have a more reliable method to make this work?

Also, my hummingbird and butterfly garden is doing SO well due to all the rain we've been having lately! I can't believe I grew it entirely from seed!

Tonight I headed to Lanna Thai (reliably the best Thai food in Tulsa, in case you were wondering) for a farewell dinner for Ruth, who's moving to Taiwan with her husband in a couple of weeks. It was good to be able to say a laid-back good-bye. I've become so much closer to Ruth, since we were both back living in Tulsa this year. I'll miss you, friend!

Top - Modcloth, Skirt - self-made, Tote - craft fair purchase, Shoes - Nine West outlet

I really like this loose, blousy silhouette for summer. I also like the combination of a very femine outfit with my new 1960s astronaut glasses! These glasses are the most amazing thing ever and seriously make me feel so confident! (even if I look a little sheepish here - I made Lissie photograph me in front of Lanna Thai and was a little embarrassed that people walking in had caught me pretending to be stylish).

I don't know about you, but I've had a very long week and am looking forward to a relaxing and productive weekend. I'm going to try to stay off the computer (except for the occasional episode of True Blood...), and will be back with more outfit posts on Monday! Do you have exciting weekend plans?

30 for 30 - Eleven!

2010-07-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

I did a very bad thing and forgot to photograph my outfit from yesterday--so I guess that puts me a day behind and with nothing to show for myself! I was too busy eating pistachio gelato and watching True Blood (so bad, yet so good) and writing cover letter after cover letter. Okay, really, I'm going to stop complaining about this job hunt someday soon. Like when I get a job.

Today's outfit is extra simple, because it is extra hot outside (heat index of 108!). Tonight I'm headed to the movie on the lawn at the Philbrook (it's Stargate!), and even after dark it will still be sultry.

top - Charlotte Russe, shorts - Levi's, sandals - GAP

bracelets & rings - gifts, necklace - craft fair purchase (made from a clock gear!)

It strikes me that this pose, which I imagined would show off my accessories, actually just makes me look like I'm having digestive trouble. Awkward!

30 for 30 - TEN!!!

2010-07-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

I'm a third of the way there, folks! Today was a long, hot day of running errands followed by a lovely evening reprieve in the form of dinner at The White Owl with a friend, followed by a trip to the movies to see Knight and Day. I was surprised by how much I liked that movie! Highly recommended.

sandals - GAP, skirt - American Apparel, belt - J. Crew, top - vintage (my mom's)

I did a bit of remixing here--the skirt is actually quite long, so I rolled the waistband and belted it higher to make the length a little more current. It's not rocket science (or even a dress turned into a top), but I'm working in baby steps here.

It finally felt like summer again today! It got up to 94 or so and is supposed to climb higher in the next few days. Thank god -- I was starting to feel like I lived somewhere normal.

My bracelets were all tangled together in my jewelry box this morning and I just decided to go with it! Also, I listened to a lot of music from the 60s today--this song in particular always gets me excited for hot hot hot weather.

30 for 30 - nine!

2010-07-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

This outfit looks totally inappropriate for the sunny weather happening in the photo, but when I initially got dressed this morning it was (yet again) rainy and gray outside. Plus I spent the morning at the optometrist, and was dressing for a chilly doctor's office environment.

jeans - GAP, top - Fossil, scarf - vintage (from my mom), bracelet - vintage, belt - Target

Today I learned that boring T-shirt + big scarf + belt = new top! That's handy to know. I also spent the morning shopping (oops!). Actually, since my prescription changed and I hadn't gotten new glasses for a couple of years, I decided that some fancy specs were a Necessary Medical Expense, and thus exempt from the 30 for 30 shopping ban. I picked out some pretty cool ones too--they kind of make me look like I work for NASA mission control in 1963 (in a good way).

30 for 30 six, seven and eight

2010-07-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

This weekend's trip to St. Louis was a bit of a whirlwind, but a little time out of town was also exactly what I needed. I drove up on Friday morning with a friend, and we stopped in Rolla, Missouri to eat lunch and check out UMR's scale model of Stonehenge.

Top - GAP, shorts - Levi's, shoes - TOM's, bag - craft fair purchase, sunglasses - Target, necklace - F21, head scarf - vintage (from my mom)

My road tripping outfit was pretty basic (comfort is important when you're driving for seven hours), but I do love the back detail on this tank top:

Upon getting into the city on Friday, we decided to have a late afternoon snack of gooey butter cake from Gooey Louie, and a peach concrete from Ted Drewes! After all that sugar we still had a little room for dinner, and met up with my college friend Anna for Vietnamese food, used-bookstore-strolling, and late hours at the St. Louis Art Museum.

Saturday we were up early to meet Anna again for pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes at Booster's Cafe (ridiculously good), followed by a stop at Third Degree Glass Factory so Anna could pick up some blown-glass creations she had made! Then we rounded out the day with a trip to the St. Louis Science Center, where we checked out an exhibit about pirates (!), one about Charles Darwin that made me want to become an amateur naturalist, and an amazing Omnimax movie about the Hubble Space Telescope. I love learning about cool new things!

dress - F21, belt - Target, bag - craft fair purchase, shoes - GAP

(with respect to the length of this dress, I have decided to adapt a Lady Gaga approach to dressing in which pants and decency are viewed as entirely optional)

Sunday morning we got up to go to church and brunch with my grandmother, who taught me everything I know about garment construction! She's a retired home ec teacher, and spent the Saturday afternoon of our visit judging the local 4H sewing entries.

dress - Old Navy, cardigan - Old Navy, shoes - Target, belt - Delias, necklace - craft fair

Kendi Everyday

p.s. I'm having the hardest time figuring out how to turn an image into a link in Blogger! Does anyone have any good advice for someone who is practically computer illiterate?

Rain, rain GO AWAY RIGHT NOW

2010-07-08T17:34:00.000-07:00

My outfit picture for today really conveys the extent to which I'm COMPLETELY FED UP with the endless rain that has engulfed Oklahoma. Will I never be able to outside and take a decent photo for this project again?

top - GAP, skirt - self-made, shoes - TOM's, necklace - J.Crew Outlet

I think the 30 for 30 must be getting to me because last night I had a dream that a commenter told me I was being too wordy in my blog updates. So, briefly: I wore this outfit to run some errands and get drenched in rain yet again. At least now I have groceries and garden trellises to show for myself.

Also: I'm going on a short road trip to St. Louis over the weekend, so I won't be posting again until Monday--but I WILL be documenting my outfits and adventures! Also, the 30 for 30 challenge makes packing a lot easier.

Book Reviews Part One

2010-07-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I posted a list of the 50 books that I've read so far in 2010. Ali asked for reviews and recommendations, and I am happy to oblige! I couldn't narrow it down to a list that could fit in one post, so I'm going to do three or four posts over the next couple of weeks broken down by category. Today's category: children's books!

Any Which Wall, by Laurel Snyder

I adored this book! It's a kind of a tribute to the work of Edward Eager (Snyder talks about his influence here), which was a big part of my childhood. The wonderful thing about this book is the simple, everyday quality of the magic that the children discover. Plus, the town the book is set in, Quiet Falls, is based on Iowa City--an area of the country that is very dear to my heart. This story is, to a certain extent, about the way that the modern world (cell phones, the internet, TV) tends to rob life of its magic. This is a good book to read in a hammock on a summer day, and a good reminder to pay attention to the world around you.

The Evolution of Calpurnia tate by Jacqueline Kelly

This book is about Calpurnia Tate, the only girl in a family of boisterous boys living on a pecan plantation in Texas in 1899. Calpurnia, over the course of the book, develops a close relationship with her grandfather, who is an armchair scientist and a devotee of Charles Darwin. In many ways, Calpurnia is who I want to grow up to be. She is endlessly curious, rebellious, and passionately intellectual (even if she is only 12). This book is heartbreaking at times, since much of it deals with Calpurnia's desire to be taken seriously and to be able to go to college and become a scientist which was nearly impossible for a girl at that period in time. Without giving anything away, I'll say that by the end of the book I was hopeful that Calpurnia would one day reach her goals.

30 for 30 three and four

2010-07-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

Today you get two outfits for the price of one--it was just one of those days when it becomes necessary to drop everything, shower, and completely change clothes around 5 p.m. This morning I was functioning on less than an ideal amount of sleep (up too late writing cover letters). Whenever I'm sleep-deprived, I get really cold--does that happen to anyone else? Anyway, between that and the cloudy skies outside I just wanted something cozy and comforting, hence this outfit turned out to be more an autumn-appropriate combination.

dress - Fossil, cardigan - GAP, scarf - vintage (my mom's), shoes - Target, bracelet - museum gift shop, necklace - handmade

I love scarves because they're like a blanket you wear, and I love belts because they're like a hug you wear. Sorry--have I mentioned I'm sleep-deprived? Anyway, I should say a couple words about my necklace - it's actually made from beans! I purchased it from a friend who was selling them on behalf of her host-brother in Nicaragua, who makes them by hand with local nuts and beans. I think it's really lovely and for a long time I wore this necklace every day.

Most of my day was spent taking my aunt's newly rescued puppy to the vet. She's the cutest thing ever, but she's also suffering from the fleas and ticks which are a side effect of her mistreatment and abandonment before she was found by my aunt. Luckily, the vet says she's reasonably healthy and, now that she's being treated for worms and has her vaccinations, she should grow into a healthy dog! I'm so relieved. So basically I spent the day cuddling a flea-ridden puppy, hence the need to come home and shower and change.

Tonight I went to go see Eclipse, the new Twilight movie, with some friends. I'm not really a twilight fan, but I am a fan of awesomely bad movies and making snarky comments, so it was enjoyable evening. Continuing my theme of being cold even though it's in the mid-80s outside, I wanted an outfit that would be suitable for an air-conditioned movie theater.

jeans - GAP, shoes - Target, top - Urban Outfitters, cardigan - Old Navy, necklace - Fossil

I have to confess, I just recently purchased my first pair of skinny jeans, and I love them! I used to think I was too curvy to wear such tight-fitting jeans, but I decided to try them anyway, and I'm glad I did. They certainly don't hide my curves, but sometimes it's better to just flaunt these things.

30 for 30 day 2

2010-07-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of The Challenge! My outfit for today was the kind of thing I generally wear when I have five minutes to get dressed. I knew today would be pretty low-key--just running some errands and coming home to write and work on job applications and grad school research--so I kept things casual and simple. I thought about belting a cardigan over this dress, but it was so hot and humid that I couldn't bare the thought of adding another layer. In fact, when I walked outside to take pictures this morning, my camera lens and display immediately fogged up. Not a good sign.

dress - Urban Outfitters, shoes - TOM'S, headscarf - vintage (from my mom), necklace & rings - gifts

I love this dress because it's so light and gauzy--the next best thing to wearing nothing at all in this heat. The headscarf is a necessity due to my second-day bendy and frizzy hair, and the TOM'S are quickly becoming my favorite casual summertime shoes--they're light and breathable, yet still comfy and durable enough for lots of walking and exploring. Plus they're vegan!

I should say that this outfit didn't exactly work out as planned--on my way home from errand-running, I was caught in a torrential rainstorm, which led to a comedy of errors in the drive-through lane at the post office (dropped Netflix envelope floats away on a river of rain, bedraggled girl splashes after it and gets completely soaked in the process, deposits soaking wet Netflix envelope in the mailbox anyway)(the girl is me). At that point I was so wet that I just went ahead to the pharmacy and the gas station--by the time I got home, I closely resembled a drowned rat. Oh well, now I'm cozy in my purple owl pajamas. Time for tea and working on my resume!

30 for 30 Day 1

2010-07-05T12:33:00.001-07:00

Okay, people, I am really pulling out all the stops for this 30 for 30 thing. By which I mean, I actually managed to both iron my skirt AND shave my legs, all on the same day. This is a rare occurrence.

It was actually kind of hard to put an outfit together this morning because I felt like I had too many things to choose from! Restricting the pool of clothing I can use already has me thinking of more creative ways to wear what I already own, but I'm sure I will be desperately fantasizing about other clothes soon enough. I went with something simple and appropriate for the heat today, but still nice enough to go out for dinner and a movie later. Also, I'm trying to train myself to actually wear heels out of the house--usually I get dressed in the morning, put on nice shoes, and then end up changing into flats when faced with the prospect of actually having to go somewhere and, you know, walk. I need to learn how to be a grown-up lady!

top - GAP, skirt - self-made, shoes - Nine West outlet

belt - thrifted, bird necklace - fossil, bottle-cap necklace - craft fair purchase, watch locket - gift

Happy Fourth!

2010-07-04T23:33:00.001-07:00

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! I celebrated by sleeping in ridiculously late by accident, baking up some shortbread, doing a LOT of laundry to prepare for Kendi's 30 for 30 challenge , and then heading over to have dinner with family and set off a little heavy artillery. I'm a huge fan of literally burning through large amounts of money in the form of fireworks -- plus my grandmother's house, where we spend each 4th, is just outside the city limits, meaning we can blow up stuff legally! I'm usually not quite so violent in my ideologies, but something about celebrating our nation's founding just makes me throw caution to the wind, I guess.

scarf & earrings - thrifted, dress - anthropologie (years ago), shoes - Target

Speaking of throwing caution to the wind, check out my ridiculous patriotic ensemble. I think of this as my "Fourth of July" dress because that's the only day I ever wear it. I bought it on sale from Anthro years ago (maybe even when I was still in high school), and I've never figured out another occasion that it would work for. Maybe a 1940s beach-going themed party? I'll have to work on that one.

And finally, a gratuitously cute shot of the puppy that was dumped on my grandmother's property. My mom and I are taking her to the vet early next week to make sure she's healthy and parasite-free so she can finally be allowed indoors. My mother suggested they name her Scout, and I think it's going to stick!

The 30

2010-07-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

Here are my chosen pieces for Kendi's 30 for 30 Challenge! Supposedly it's a better idea to plan ahead and have ideas of how to put your pieces together into outfits... but that seemed like a lot of work and honestly I was feeling far too lazy today, so it looks like I'm going to be flying by the seat of my pants. It was enough effort just to line things up near a window so I could get some decent light!

Shirts, from L to R: white tank & gray tank - GAP, gray feather tee - Target, navy flower tee - Charlotte Russe, aqua crochet-back tank - GAP, Stop Black Fox tee - vintage (my mom's from the '70s), floral top - Modcloth, red polka-dot top - Urban Outfitters, teal striped tee - GAP, typewriter tee - Fossil

(This seems like a lot of shirts, but I'm sure I'll get sick of them soon enough!)

2nd Layers, L to R: navy blazer - GAP, abstract floral cardigan - Target, aqua cardigan - Old Navy, navy cardigan - GAP

Skirts, L to R: navy high-waisted skirt - American Apparel, other three skirts were/will be made by me.

(I've been intending to make that mustard and teal material into a skirt for weeks, so I've decided it isn't cheating if that transformation happens during the challenge)

Bottoms: denim cut-offs - Levi's, skinny jeans - GAP

Dresses, L to R: blue and gray floral - Fossil, purple sprigged floral - Forever 21, Yellow floral - Old Navy, empire waist dress - Urban Outfitters, daisy belted dress - Modcloth

Shoes, L to R: black sandal flats - Target, gladiator sandals - GAP, Toms, mustard wedges - Nine West factory store

(not pictured, and rounding out my 30 items, are the awesome vintage cowboy boots I recently purchased via Etsy, which I hope will be here soon! I'm anticipating a lot of boots & sundress ensembles, as well as some hot-mess boots & cut-offs combinations)

Tomorrow, let the remixing begin!

Because I am Crazy

2010-07-04T15:28:00.001-07:00

In the past few months, I've become kind of fascinated with the world of personal style blogs. Something about keeping a log of everything you wear, and what you look like every day, really appeals to the obsessive record-keeping part of my brain. Plus, it's kind of addictive to see how people express themselves through their clothing, and how real people with real bodies and real budgets interpret (and eschew) trends. Keeping all that in mind, I've decided to participate in Kendi's 30 for 30 challenge this year. (If you are at all interested in clothes and styling, I highly recommend you check out Kendi's blog!)

Anyway, here are the rules of the challenge:

1. The first rule of the 30 for 30 challenge is: don't talk about the 30 for 30 challenge.

2. No shopping for 30 days! (I'm going to abstain from buying new clothing, but may still shell out for a new book or two....)

3. Pick 30 items of clothing, and wear 30 outfits made of those items.

4. Shoes count towards your 30 items, but belts, jewelry & other accessories don't.

4. Pajamas, exercise clothing, etc. doesn't count towards your 30 clothing items.

Since the next 30 days of my life includes not one but two trips, this is going to be a challenge. One trip is my family's yearly week in Colorado, which involves a lot of hiking and chilly nights. I'm going to do myself a favor and decide right now that hiking boots, fleeces, grubby jeans, etc. fall under the category of "exercise clothing," but I will try to select only a very few outdoor necessities to add to my 30 items for that trip. Later this evening (after coming home from food and fireworks at my grandmother's house) I will post my catalogue of the items I've chosen.

Also, quickly, I think this kind of challenge is a good idea not just because it will force me to be more inventive when putting outfits together, but also because (I hope) it will make me more appreciative of what I have and more careful about what I buy. My goal is to approach acquisition mindfully (not always an easy task), and maybe putting myself on this kind of clothing "diet" will help. Furthermore, I wore a uniform to school for 12 years of my life and, to be honest, I kind of miss the simplicity of being able to throw on the same skirt, blouse, knee socks, and shoes every morning. If only I was still fifteen.....

What I've Read in 2010

2010-06-29T20:23:00.001-07:00

Every January, I set myself a challenge: I will read 100 books this year. Most years, I end up with a list of 60 or 70 titles, but this year I'm actually keeping up with my goals. Here's what I've read so far, with no omissions--not even the most embarrassing supermarket romance novel has been kept off the list. I tend to read four or five books at a time, keeping a balance between literary fiction, romance, young adult fiction, and nonfiction, so that I always have a book to pick up that suits my current mood. Keep in mind that Nora Roberts generally tends to coincide with periods of great stress in my life--I self-medicate with trashy romantic suspense. What have you read lately?

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly
Out of Sheer Rage by Geoff Dyer
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers
Song of the West by Nora Roberts
Boundary Lines by Nora Roberts
Prom Nights from Hell by Meg Cabot, Kim Harrison, Michelle Jaffe & etc.
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halprin
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation by M.T. Anderson
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
Born in Ice by Nora Roberts
Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
The LIghtning Thief by Rick Riordan
Service Included by Phoebe Damrosch
The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder
A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
The House of the Spirits by Isabella Allende
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Hotel Paradise by Martha Grimes
A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle
Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts
Lord of the Far Island by Victoria Holt
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Band Geek Love by Josie Bloss
The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin
Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
Truly, Madly by Heather Webber
Runaway by Meg Cabot
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Meg Cabot
The Old Man and Me by Elaine Dundy
Wild Life by Molly Gloss
Genuine Lies by Nora Roberts
Geektastic Ed. by Holly Black and Cecil Castelucci
Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan
Betsy and the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace
An Off Year by Claire Zulkey
Betsy’s Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace

Goin' Wild in the Country

2010-06-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to be able to meet up with two of my best friends for a trip to the Indiana countryside. Rarely have I spent four such perfect days--our trip was filled with sunset walks, flying luminaries, farmer's markets, history museums, lazy afternoons spent with embroidery and Moonstruck, and just basically perfection.

What was I thinking?!?

2010-06-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

Image by 工字背心, found via Creature Comforts.

I miss my long hair so much! What was I thinking when I cut it short? I know what I was thinking: I need to metaphorically shed a year of negative thoughts and self-doubt and anger. And it worked, but I REALLY miss being able to go days without washing my hair and throw it into a braid and leave the house. Next time, remind me that I hate short hair, I hate having to wash my hair every other day and STYLE it for goodness sake to have it look decent.

For My Dad

2010-06-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Daddy, for teaching me how to swim, for tutoring me through physics and calculus (even when I dissolved into tears over my homework every night), for teaching me that reading separate books silently together IS a family activity, for helping me put up the Christmas tree every year, for always coming running when there's a bug in my room and then humanely capturing it under a glass and putting it outside, for doing the dishes every night after I cook dinner, for loving me and supporting me even when I don't know what the hell I'm doing with my life, for telling me that everything will work out in the end, for giving me a hug whenever I need one, and for reminding me that it is ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA to wear tie, closed-toe shoes, and to be prepared no matter what (it's the boyscout motto, after all). You're the kindest person I know. Happy father's day!

Ruth's Obi Belt

2010-06-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

My friend Ruth recently (by which I mean a month and a half ago; these pictures are ooooold) graduated from grad school and requested only one thing of me in return: an obi belt! Ruth wanted something she could pair with solid t-shirts and use to dress up otherwise basic outfits. After a little snooping around on the internet, this is what I came up with:

This project couldn't have been easier--just cut two 5" wide strips of fabric (mine ended up being patched together and ended up about 80" long), sew together with right sides facing, leaving one end open, turn, press, topstitch, and that's it! The hardest part for me was matching patterns--I used the same Amy Butler print in two different colorways so the belt would be reversible, and I wanted to be certain that the same portion of the bold horizontal print would be visible on both sides of the belt. I think it turned out pretty well!

(just to give you an idea of what it looks like on--Ruth wears it much more cutely than I do!)

(and the other side!)

Sunny Day Dress

2010-06-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

The sun came out! It was gloriously sunny and only in the mid-80s today, which was perfect weather to explore the gardens at the Philbrook with Jessa. We also saw "To Live Forever," the current traveling exhibition of Egyptian artifacts from the Brooklyn Museum. It was a really cool exhibit, but Jessa and I both agreed that we wished the wall text and information in the accompanying brochure were more extensive. Then again, we are both REALLY into ancient Egypt. The whole outing kind of made me want to re-read The Egypt Game, one of my favorite childhood books. Sadly it just got packed into storage, so I guess I'll have to wait a bit. In any case, here are a few images from my day:

(not recommended while driving)

(Jessa's awesome front door)

Dress-thrifted at White Rabbit in IC, Bracelets - thrifted, Shoes - Target, Hippo- Awesome

Rainy Day Skirt

2010-06-14T23:08:00.001-07:00

The blog is back! I know the world was waiting with bated breath for me to return to this little sphere of the internet. Life has settled down again--my family is almost entirely settled into our new house, and my grandmother, although debilitated from her stroke, is able to live at home with the care of my aunt and uncle. Plus, we're deep in the middle of my favorite season, and I'm almost afraid that I'll blink and summer will have passed me by! What is it about summer that seems more fleeting and ethereal than any other time of year? (and hotter?)

It wasn't hot today! A miraculously lovely thunderstorm swept through Oklahoma today, leaving Tulsa cooler and breezier than it's been since early April. (Less miraculously, there was a ton of flooding in Oklahoma City, which is scary! And I hope everybody there is safe.) In any case, I love a good rainy day.

I made this floral patterned skirt last night using this tutorial from Freshly Picked. It worked like a charm, and only took about an hour! (It probably could have taken less time if I was less fastidious about measuring twice and cutting once). In any case, I think I'll be making more skirts along these lines, with a few adjustments (an inch off the waist so it fits more snugly at my natural waist, an inch shorter, deeper pockets!). This is a very versatile method that can be used to make any number of different styles of skirts.

On an entirely different note... I've been thinking about starting to post outfit pictures in this space. I can't decide if it's an exercise in completely over-the-top postmodern narcissism, or whether it's a way to showcase my creativity. I really do think of clothing as a creative outlet, and I'm somewhat addicted to the fashion blogs of others, so I think I'll give it a shot, for a little while at least. Plus my friend Ruth told me I should, and Ruth knows all.

(top-Gap, Skirt- self-made, boots-Target, necklace-J.Crew outlet, scarf headband - thrifted)

Wish this was me

2010-05-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

via weheartit

I had a million things that I've been wanting to post about, but then life spiraled out of control and now I'm afraid I can't spare even a small sliver of my brain to devote to this blog. What's going on? There's the fact that I'm moving in two weeks. And my grandmother is in the hospital. And I'm going to Iowa to see friends graduate in two days. And there have been two hate crimes and a student death at Grinnell. Add to that life's small injustices (an ant invasion in my bathtub, the fact that I'm pretty sure I'm lactose intolerant, and a nurse at the hospital asking me if I'm still in high school), and my plate overfloweth, and not in a good way. Hopefully I will be back here in June, after the move is over, with better news about my family and my alma mater and the state of the world in general. Until then, I'll be spending a lot of time pretending that I'm taking a nap in a field of wildflowers.

Scavenger Hunt

2010-04-27T21:21:00.001-07:00

My photography class is finally over. I'm a little sad, but excited to move on to Digital 2 in the fall! Our final assignment was a scavenger hunt--I drove all over Tulsa frantically searching for birds and statues and signs to complete the assignment. I put together an album of the photos I chose to show to the class--check it out!

Texas

2010-04-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday morning I woke before the sun had fully risen, dragged myself painfully out of bed, and threw my bags in the car. Then I picked up my two oldest friends and set off on a ROAD TRIP! I love road trips. I love propping my feet on the dash, I love road snacks, I love mix tapes and rolling hills and taking naps against the window.

This particular trip took us to Texas, where we spent one day lazing on the beach and one day exploring San Antonio, including witnessing a cactus auction! We stumbled across a cactus sale at the garden center in San Antonio, and before we knew it an auctioneer was selling large, mysteriously shaped cacti to a group of eager cactus lovers.

It was wonderful to take a step outside my normal life and have a little bit on an adventure. I always feel rejuvenated and eager to try new things when I get home from a trip. I'm planning lots of travel this summer, so hopefully I'll be incredibly motivated all the time. Hm.

pretty pretty pictures

2010-04-17T19:09:00.001-07:00

I've been taking a lot more photos lately, mostly due to the fact that I'm taking a photography class at the local community college. I conned my parents into buying me a fancy camera, so I figured I should probably actually learn how to use it. (I don't think they minded too much... my dad is a huge photography buff and when I was taking pictures today he was hovering over my shoulder, giving me instructions about which shutter speeds to use).

These were taken at a nursery and the hardscaping retailer next door. In case you can't tell, I've just learned all about depth of field, so I'm kind of obsessed with dialing my aperture way down to get that blurry background effect. I'm pretty pleased with how these turned out, and I may even use a couple of them for the photographic scavenger hunt which is my final project for photo class!

Time to go--I just went to the grocery store, and there's some cookies & cream ice cream with my name on it in the freezer.

Let's play dress-up!

2010-04-17T18:50:00.000-07:00

I recently inherited some great '70s and '80s patterns from my mother (by "inherited" I mean, "she was going to throw them away and I saved them from the trash"), and I was looking through them today when it struck me that, with a few variations, these patterns could yield a super cute summer wardrobe! Through the magic of genetics, I'm about the same size now my mother was back in the day, so I could definitely make these patterns work for me.

I love the white shirt dress with the belt! Shirt-dresses are usually a bit awkward on me because I'm somewhat short-waisted, but the great thing about sewing for yourself is that you can adjust the fit of a garment to your heart's content. I can totally see this in a floral print with a contrast belt and collar, or maybe in navy with red top-stitching. What do you think?

Love the turquoise blouse with the huge bow at the neck. I would make it sleeveless or give it cap sleeves, and make the bow a contrast color. Maybe a light pink floral with a seafoam green bow? I would wear this tucked into a high-waisted denim skirt, or maybe layered over some denim cut-offs.
That red gingham dress just screams "summer" to me. I would make it a touch shorter, but I love the loose, blousy cut of the bodice. The lines are simple enough to support a really vibrant print, maybe something with birds or a graphic floral. I would probably not make a matching belt, but instead belt it with a scarf or one of my many classy faux-leather belts from Target or Forever 21.
Um, can anyone say ROMPER? This culotte dress could so easily be shortened, and it would be a perfect loose, forgiving cut for a summer playsuit. My only worry is the width of the legs--I might need to adjust that a bit to ease my mind (I would constantly be worrying about, ahem, exposing myself).
This nightgown pattern is a little cheesy, but I really like the babydoll nightgown in the center. I have a hard time finding pajamas that are comfortable because I can't stand any kind of lace or embroidery that might chafe against my skin. This could be mitigated by sewing my own nightgown in a super-soft swiss dot or knit material. Maybe one little teensy ribbon bow wouldn't hurt....

The Big Quilt Post

2010-04-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... I haven't updated for quite a while, largely because I've been utterly consumed by the most massive sewing project of my young life. I've made plenty of things before--skirts, formal dresses, shirts, doll clothes, stuffed animals, throw quilts--the list goes on. But never before had I attempted the holy grail of the sewing world (at least to my mind): the Queen Sized Quilt.

It's done!!! I've blogged about this quilt before, and then got off-track because I naively neglected to purchase a walking foot for the quilting portion of this project. I thought to myself, "How different can a walking foot be from a regular sewing foot?" So I blithely sewed onward with my usual garment foot... and then halfway through the first side of quilting realized that, um, EVERYTHING HAD SHIFTED. Duh. Because a sewing foot only has feed dogs on the bottom, and therefore pulls the backing through more quickly than the quilt top. Whereas a walking foot has feed dogs on the top as well, and hoists all those layers of fabric through there quite neatly and efficiently.

If you're ever going to make a quilt BUY A WALKING FOOT. Learn from my mistakes! Mine cost less than $20 and was a miracle. After I finally got the walking foot in the mail, I finished the rest of the quilting within a week, due to that perfect little gadget.

So, learning curve aside, I'm very pleased with how this project turned out. I love the sunny quality of the fabrics together, and the mixture of 30s/40s reproduction fabrics with more modern, graphic prints. Also, sleeping under a handmade quilt just feels entirely different. My grandmother made a pink quilt for me when I was thirteen or so, but it was a little too small for my queen sized bed. This fits just right and is the perfect light blanket for spring, summer, and fall. In the winter I'll be able to layer it over a down comforter.

The quilt back is an aqua colored king size sheet. Not too much more expensive than fabric by the yard, plus no worrying about piecing narrower widths of cotton together. I accidentally didn't buy enough of the binding fabric I intended to use, but I had this floral print in my stash (I think I was going to make a retro sundress out of it once upon a time) and I think it works quite nicely.

I gave my bed a little makeover to celebrate finishing this epic project. My new sheets are the "Shabby Chic" line from Target and weren't too pricy. Um, the sheep came from the Easter Bunny. I'm an adult, I promise! (I'm totally not).

PROOF

2010-03-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

Spring is here! It's really really here! It was warm and sunny and in the 50's here today, with temperatures supposedly nearing 70 on Friday. I really hope it comes true!

Although the warmer weather and sunshine should have put me in a good mood today, instead I was SUPER GRUMPY. I hate days where my mood just refuses to budge, despite all my attempts at magical thinking. I drove to my grandmother's house and was grumpy. I went to Hancock's to check out fabric possibilities for spring clothing and found nothing and was grumpy. I came home and went for a walk and was grumpy. I made stir fry for dinner and the tofu fell apart and (you guessed it) I was grumpy.

I'm making Decisions about Life right now, and Waiting to Hear things, and it's just put me in a frame of mind where everything seems simultaneously hopelessly static and terribly uncertain. Spring makes me realize all over again how much I love Tulsa as a concept, yet I feel as though I haven't taken full advantage of living here this year. Yet, if I'm going to be moving away soon, and traveling in-between, there's really no point to starting anything new, right? (Obviously that's ridiculous--spring is the perfect time to start something new--but that's just how my mind's been working lately).

Forgive me my rambling. Hopefully tomorrow I'll wake up all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to take the world by storm! Hopefully.

Home Again Home Again

2010-03-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

I'm home again after a trip down to Florida to visit my grandmother. It was so, so nice to be in a place where I could step outside and enjoy warm weather! Even if it was actually a bit chilly most of the time we were there, I still enjoyed it.

Lately, every month I sort of press the "reset" button on my life, and come up with new plans, new goals, and new worries. My goal in March: try something new at least once a week. Like, something I've never done before. Also, be more thoughtful. I miss learning new things, grabbing onto a new theory or idea and turning it over and over in my mind.

Quilt!

2010-01-25T18:46:00.000-08:00

My latest BIG project is a queen-sized quilt for my bed. This picture doesn't really do the fabric justice--it's a mixture of peachy pinks, aquas, and cheerful purples. A tad little girl-y, but that's just how I roll. The quilt pattern is the "Ollalieberry Ice Cream Quilt Pattern", by Alicia Paulson of Posie Gets Cozy. Buying the PDF was definitely worth it--the instructions are clear and easy to follow, even for a novice quilter like me.

Sewing the quilt top together was easy-peasy, since I'm fairly experienced at garment sewing. The actual quilting, however, is another story. I've been struggling a bit to keep all the layers of the "quilt sandwich" aligned and smooth. I'm just hoping there aren't toooo many visible mistakes when I'm done! I find that putting on the local 50s & 60s oldies station helps a lot with the quilting process.

Winter Hibernation

2010-01-25T18:35:00.000-08:00

I've had kind of a hard time getting back on my feet after the holidays this year. This isn't so much because of post-holiday letdown--I'm not a huge "Christmas" person--so much as it's just a result of the fact that I'm sort of unmoored right now. I'm floating between jobs and obligations, and have been mostly taking advantage of my copious amount of free time by reading and sleeping and baking pies.

Christmas this year was defined by a surprise blizzard on Christmas eve which left me and my family stranded at home when we should have been driving to visit family in St. Louis. We finally got there, though, after a looooong and snowy drive across Missouri. Christmas was quiet this year, if a little rushed by weird weather and such.

Now I'm trying to throw myself back into the day to day. For me 2010 has had a slow beginning. I'm going to try to hold myself accountable more, though. I might start posting book reviews to this blog, or (gasp) spending a little more time and thought on my posts. I have many New Year's resolutions, but right now the one I want to focus on the most is living more intentionally, and taking more pleasure in the quiet moments in my life.

Little Things

2009-11-08T21:32:00.000-08:00

Just a couple of things making me happy right now:

Weather warm enough for Chacos and a sundress, even when all the leaves have fallen:

And a kitty asleep on my bed on a lazy Sunday morning.

Red Red Red

2009-11-08T21:25:00.000-08:00

Today I went for a hike on the grounds adjacent to the Gilcrease Museum. It's still warm here, but all the leaves are off the trees, making for a dismal backdrop to the unseasonably gorgeous weather. There were hints of color once I started looking, though.

Halloween Weekend

2009-11-08T20:54:00.001-08:00

Autumn has been treating us well, with mild temperatures and the best fall color anyone can remember.

Fall means: layering
Chrysanthemums
Halloween!

Crazy Lady Alert

2009-11-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, you just need to put pictures of your dog on the internet. This is not my dog, however. This is my friend J's INCREDIBLY CUTE new great dane puppy, named Macey:

She came over and had a playdate with my dog, Lucy (a year-and-a-half year old cocker spaniel mix):

There was a little hesitation at first, but they got along famously! And once Macey is done with puppy kindergarten, maybe Lucy will join her at some much-needed training classes.

Tulsa State Fair: The good, the bad, the bizarre

2009-11-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

Way back at the beginning of October, I made my annual pilgrimage to the Tulsa State Fair. (Why a state fair if it's just for one city? Only one among the many unsolved mysteries of the fair.) Anyway, by far my favorite thing about the fair (besides fried cheese on a stick) is the crafts. I saw some amazing quilts:

I'm still not quite over this quilt, which featured embroidered presidents of all the presidents (minus the current one):
Mysterious antique cameras--what were they winning awards for?

True story: I once made a hooked cat pillow very similar to this. Unfortunately I gave it to my friend Meggie for her birthday. If only I still had it!
And then, there was what can only be described as the sublimely bizarre.

Rejuvination

2009-11-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling a little down in the dumps lately... I've been in a rut, and haven't been doing a lot of blogging, or anything else for that matter. But I really want November to be my turn-around month. To start with, I'm making a serious attempt at Nanowrimo for the second year in a row. Last year, I wrote a novel that was basically Jane Austen meets Steampunk meets fantasy. This year, I'm writing a romance/mystery/thriller set in the mountains of Colorado. I've been looking over my photos from this past September's trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, and just recalling how beautiful it was is doing a lot to recharge my spirit.

Braids & Warm Hands!

2009-09-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

I have recently become obsessed with the Flickr group Braid Wednesday. I've also been wearing my hair in braids more and more (especially on bad hair days--see above!) Maybe I should join?

It's campaign season in Tulsa, and there are approximately 50 mayoral candidates.

But most importantly, I made some hand warmers! These are from the "Victoria Fingerless Mittens" pattern in Knitting Little Luxuries. I made them with Caron "Country" in "Coral Lipstick." This yarn is nice because it's cheap and mostly acrylic, but doesn't feel cheap and acrylic. It's 25% Merino, but not scratchy at all--I'm usually super wool-sensitive, and these don't make me itch in the least. And they're cozy and a little victorian-y and make me feel like I'm ready for fall to come!

green weekend

2009-09-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend was full of green... it's finally cooling off a little here, and the yearly end-of-summer drought that turns everything brown seems to have passed us by.

A Birthday List

2009-09-01T14:03:00.001-07:00

23 Things to Do Before I Turn 24

(a.k.a. Jeez, I'm old now!)

1. Purchase a drop spindle and roving and learn how to spin!

2. Visit Grinnell friends in Iowa

3. Visit A-Ro et al in Chicago

4. Visit Leigh in Prague

5. Visit Ali & Rachel et al in Minneapolis

6. Go running regularly & run a 5K

7. Take more pictures without an occasion

8. Take an art class of some sort

9. Take a yoga class or just do yoga regularly again

10. Learn how to drive stick shift

11. Write a romance novel

12. And submit it to publishers

13. Write poetry again

14. And submit it to journals

15. Sell stuff on Etsy!

16. Learn how to flamenco dance (take lessons from Lexi)

17. Cook and eat more unfamiliar food

18. Cuddle with Cricket & Lucy (my dog and cat!) more

19. Cuddle more in general

20. Make fewer lists

21. See at least 1 live music show per month

22. See at least 1 theater performance per month

23. Spend a WHOLE DAY reading in the hammock

A few from Arkansas

2009-08-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

I decided to take off an a little weekend jaunt to Arkansas with my friend Jessa, with the result that I've eaten a lot of good food and seen a lot of bizarre stuff and not gotten a lot of crafting done. But it was a great weekend! Here's a hint of what it was like:

Finally, finally finished

2009-08-16T14:00:00.001-07:00

This was a week of ups and downs, that's for sure. Ups: coffee with friends, seeing Julie & Julia (which I loved), Thai food, laughter, and I have a kitty on my lap right now. Downs: STILL not having a job, or even any interest, despite sending out a billion resumes, ennui, a short-lived flu virus, sleeping way too much. BUT! I'm healthy again, and willing to give next week the benefit of the doubt. Come on, world! Something good needs to happen!

In the meantime, continuing adventures in unemployment (or, as my friend Amanda insists, FUNemployment): I finished my quilt!

It's backed in the hot pink/magenta color that I accidentally use for everything. Check out that sweet hand-stitched binding:

I made a label, too, which features a little stitched kitty:

Current Granny Square count: 34.

Also it's hot as hell here. More incentive to stay inside and sew (as if I needed incentive).

Dog Days

2009-08-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

It's that time again... the point in the summer where you just want it to be OVER, so you can go back to school and go outside again and buy school supplies. And, okay, so I'm not going back to school this year, but I did buy school supplies!

Plus, my current state of unemployment allows me plenty of time for important things like quilt-making. It's almost done, I just have to sew the binding down by hand and make a label! I think I feel a Battlestar Galactica marathon coming on.

All-Consuming Quilting

2009-08-03T21:06:00.001-07:00

For awhile there wasn't much news on the crafting front because I was spending a little too much time snoozing and not enough time, well, making.

I did get a new oilcloth tablecloth for my craft table! I love the aqua/red/yellow combination. I ordered a couple yards of oilcloth and just pinked the edges to finish it and square it off. Hooray tablecloth!

Anyway, I recently got a copy of Patchwork Style, which is an insanely beautiful book. I really wanted to start in on some of the projects immediately, but I couldn't work on something new knowing that I had a quilting project squirreled away that I've been meaning to finish for about a year. So I got it back out....
And forced Jessa and Lissie to come over and hang out with me while I sewed...
(Jessa was working on a collage book for a friend from college. I like this page!)

And... voila! All the squares laid out prior to assembling the top. The top is sewn together now. I just need to buy batting, tie it all together, add a binding and I will have a (sort of) real quilt done!

Caution: do not start a quilting project unless you have copious amounts of time and many episodes of Ugly Betty to see you through, because you WILL NOT be able to stop working on it until you get to see it put together!

It never hurts to be prepared!

2009-07-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

Dudes, I made a skirt!

When it gets to be this part of the summer--the long, hot, interminable part--I always start wishing it was fall. I love fall--school supplies, Halloween, campfires, penny loafers, wooly scarves, corduroys. I decided to prepare myself by buying corduroy in July.

I can't decide if this fabric is ugly or awesome. I really like the teal/mustard combination, but I think it might be weird from a distance. Oh well, too late now!

I like this pattern a lot--it's McCall's, can't remember the number at the moment. It came out a little big--I took it in, but it still sits more on my hips than my waist. I'm going to make another from this pattern, and I'm going to try to make it so it sits more at my natural waist, and hits above the knee.