Oh Hey There, Winter

It's you again.

(Check out my freshly knitted Hurricane Hat living up to its name)

Colette

I was so excited to hear that Sarai of Colette Patterns has come out with her second collection of beautiful, vintage-inspired sewing patterns.

All five of the new looks are named after varieties of tea, and they are all equally enchanting. But I have to admit, I was particularly enamored by Sencha.

Bonus: If you pre-order, like I did, shipping is free!

image via Colette Patterns

Need Fur Hat.

I am so utterly charmed by this girl.

Found on my new favorite streetstyle blog, The Streethearts.

Knits, Part II

This beauty is coming along quite nicely.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Yes. Finally.

Bring on the Knits.

To be continued...

For the sake of a post

Here's something interesting to look at.


Pieter Aertsen, Meat Stall, 1551


Hans Holbein, Ambassadors, 1533

Contemplate the bizarre.

I was never really a summer girl.

I'm finding it hard to believe that classes are starting next week. When fall semester comes round, I tend to expect crisp autumn air, knee socks and orange foliage. But I always forget that it coincides with the harsh and humid last few weeks of summer.

This is not meshing well with my recent bout of obsessive knitting. I want to be surrounded by all things warm and snuggly. Which is a very confusing desire considering the fact that my apartment is a balmy 83 degrees right now.

And on the Etsy front, I have all sorts of lovely sweaters and jackets, vintage and handmade to put into the shop, lovely fall and winter wear. But I don't want to post anything out of season. 'Tis a shame.

Well.. here's to hoping that the seasons change soon, and that my classrooms are air conditioned in the meantime.

I did it

Who's proud of me? I know I am.

Hot Update

What happened to July?

Well it's getting to be that painful part of the East Coast summer. Heinously humid nights in un-airconditioned apts. Kinda waiting for the Fall to swoop in and cool things down.

I did, despite oppressive weather, manage to scrape together an Etsy update. Hooray!

Look for it this weekend.

Heather Ross

I am IN LOVE with Heather Ross' whimsical prints. Her Mendocino collection is really feeding into my (increasingly unhealthy) obsession with quilting and patchwork (which I have done nothing practical with). A fat quarter set is currently lingering on my Etsy favorites. I'm sure it won't be long 'til I cave.



However, there was no such hesitation when I spotted this beauty:

Yes! That is, in fact, a unicorn print! I purchased the FQ from this etsy shop, and I also snatched up some yardage in green.

Now I should probably figure out what I will be doing with all this beautiful material I've been recklessly charging to my paypal account.

It rains, I bake.

I thought I'd jump on the polyvore train (waaay late) mostly because I love the "How I'd Wear It" series at camp comfort. I especially adore this one curated by Melly from Greenlaundry.

My inspiration? Oh this lovely summer weather:


Pretty colorful for the scene outside, but I am smitten. Particularly with that Steven Alan top.
I have almost that exact Octopus pendant from this Etsy seller, which I wear with just about everything.


Other important things (besides imagined outfits, of course) on my agenda this dreary afternoon include making macarons! I'll be using Emily's helpful tips and this recipe. We'll see how they turn out.

It's so nice to be home.

"I got it on Etsy"

Did anyone see the Etsy shout-out on Weeds?
So awesome.

It's hard out there for a jet-setter.

Just returned from a week on the Left Coast.
Full-on June Gloom in the Bay Area, but that's okay.

Putting together the scheduled Etsy update, however only the first installment.. due to a myriad of reasons including but not limited to: lost luggage, unavailable models, and shoddy wireless. We'll see how it goes.

It's nice to be home, but Monday I'll be right back at the airport. This time NYC.

I think when I'm back (for realz) I'll be deserving of a nice long coma and some home-cooked meals.

Pretty Magic Bubble Land

Etsy update June 2oth!

Tune in for confections such as...


(title courtesy of "The Joe")

Hot for Mociun

Exactly.

Summer time is good time.

When I haven't been working weekdays, 9-5 (like a for-real human person), I've been spending my time...




...getting cozy, making things, and dressing up the new digs.

Sunshine Ahead

I am officially committing to a quilt. Fabric has been ordered (yay!).

A splurge made possible by my stress-induced need for retail therapy and anticipation of the free crafting time to come. And oh, the colors. Yum.

clockwise from top left: Wood Grain from Joel Dewberry's Aviary Collection, Painted Mum from Heather Bailey's Fresh Cut Collection, Wallflower in Mustard from Amy Butler's Lotus Collection, Flower Stripe by Valori Wells.
All from materialgirlshoppe on etsy.

Quilting: Perhaps.

I'm mildly obsessing over quilting right now. I'm thinking it has something to do with the beautiful quilts over on Wise Craft .
The prospect of conquering a quilt is sort of daunting, though. I've tailored a blazer and drafted my own patterns, but can't seem to man up to a blanket.
But just thinking about the prints and patterns and colors has sort of got me worked up.



Maybe I could put some of my handprinting to use.

Something to take on this summer perhaps? After finals, of course.

All fabrics found at http://www.ciaspalette.com/

Exhibiting

My 'Uniform' project has been successfully installed for the Ignatian exhibition this Friday. After a laborious 8 hour day in studio, it's finally done. And for that, I'm almost as happy as I am with the pieces themselves. (And it was so much fun leveling those pieces with slanted floors and ceilings..)


muslin, wood, water based ink, textile medium, gesso
55'' x 30'' each

nest/de-nest

The boy and I have recently signed a lease on a new place, and I cannot wait to fill it with crap.
Beautiful crap (of course).

I do say this in the midst of my spring purge. For the past couple days and the next couple days I have and will be extruding the unneccessary things from my space and my life, to be be sold, given away, recycled, and tossed.
It feels so good, but it sort of makes me want new things. Things I won't feel like giving up come next spring's purge.

Some gorgeous wares currently exacerbating these feelings:


skinnylaminx (sadly, sold out )


madebymavis


esthercoombs

Proof

(2'x3')

A proof that was worth ruining the scraper bar (we need a bigger etching press).
I can't wait to see how this project develops.

Featured!

Details

I like where this is going...

Shop Update

Tempting, yes?

Spread your leaves and dance

One thing I decided I would do this year is start an herb garden.
I'm not a gardener by any means, so I'm kind of nervous about the undertaking.

It'll be nice to have something green around though. Maybe not for a while, but any effort to combat the dreariness of eternal Buffalo winter is probably good.

I can already smell the fresh genovese basil...

The picture is from madebymavis on esty, who makes the most beautiful moss terrariums

All Swallowed in My Coat

The snow and wind is getting pretty oppressive at this point.
I think I'm ready for Spring.

Yeah, I think I remember what that's like.

For the Love of Mirabai

Hey, I am my love's and my love is mine.
How do you dare cry love?
But if my love were restored today
your love call would be a joy.
I would gild your crying beak with gold
and you would be mine.



Although she happens to be refering to a divine "you," I can certainly appreciate Mira's very sensual musings for her love, Krishna. I can't say that my own religious devotion could be described as erotic, but this seems so... genuine.

Happy belated Valentines, I mean to say (in a round-a-bout way).

Boots: A Necessity

When your "leather-like" favorites are steadily deteriorating from daily exposure to Buffalo elements and salty sidewalks, it's time to consider some new boots. Regrettably, I find myself in that position.

I want to say that I'm looking for function, primarily... but I would prefer to look adorable. I would also prefer not to spend more than 100 bucks.

Some contenders:

Rocketdog



Target



MIA

Warm Things

When it looks like this outside your window,
you might consider something..


..like this.

(shop update!)

I Fell

It is one of the most beautiful films you'll ever see.
I promise.

Etsy

To the two or fewer people who read my blog:



New stuff!