Some Inspiration...

The summer heat here has been unbearable, as I'm sure it is all over the country.  We've had temperatures hovering around 100 degrees, with the heat index at 109.  Brutal!  I thought I'd just post a few photos that i love, that are a bit summery.  Unfortunately I don't have credits for any of them, but if I find them out, I'll add them.

I love the beautiful simplicity.

Gorgeous. 

I can't wait until the fair comes to town!

I would love to have this as my backyard studio.

I love everything about this bed.  I hope that my will one day be that cool.

Finally, one of my favorite photos of Frida Kahlo.  She is my personal hero, and I hope to do an entire post devoted to her in the neer future.

Check it out!

Check out the AWESOME giveaway on sometimes sweet.  Such great stuff!

My Thoughts Exactly!

I breathed a huge sigh of relief today when I read Emma's Post on "From Scratch".  She talks about being a morning person when the cool thing to do is stay out all night.  As a college student I face some similar challenges.  To me, a 9am class sounds great, and going to bed by midnight is perfectly normal.  My peer it seems often feel the opposite.  Going out at eleven, and sleeping until noon is the college norm. I prefer to wake up early (not too early mind you) and take my time to have coffee and breakfast.  The air feels different in the morning- cooler and calmer.  I don't mind missing out on a late night party to feel rested and awake when the morning rolls around.

The Naiad Frock Grosgrain Giveaway

Take a look at The Naiad Frock Grosgrain Giveaway. SO beautiful. this is the kind of thing that really inspires me. I wish I could wear it everyday.

Just When you Think I've Dissapeared...

I'm back!  A lot has chanced since last I blogged... I finished my first year of college (barely!), I moved into my very first apartment, I got a sewing machine of my very own, and I learned a lot.  I was lucky enough to take a class in the drama department called "Costume Technology", which was essentially a learn-to-sew class.  Being somewhat familiar with a sewing machine, I was able to tackle some great projects.  I learned to use an industrial machine like this one:

Photo

As well as being spoiled by an entire studio of Berninas, Sergers, and really fancy irons.  The class really inspired my to dive further into sewing.  

My desire to sew more was also fueled by my serendipitously acquiring a MASSIVE amount of fabric for free.  It is currently stored in my parents garage, and the quantity and quality of it continues to shock me.  I'll do another full post about my new stash later this week.  

For now, I thought I would share just a few of the projects I have done recently.

I made this camera strap to go in my Diana Mini camera.  Yes, it's from U.O., but I don't care!  I was slightly inspired by the sewing style of Alisa Burke, I love her messy, collage-like stitches.  Plus, I finally figured out how to sew on a button with my machine.  Yay!

And a close up- wow!  Check out that button!

I've also made a bag using the "all-day tote" pattern from Lotta Jansdotter's "Simple Sewing" book.  I've made this bag twice now, and I really like it.  It is the perfect size for a laptop and books, and it holds up well.  For this one, I used some of my fabulous new Amy Butler fabric:

And, of course, lined it in hot pink, and filled it with my Martha Stewart Books!

I also made a summer frock from this free pattern on burdastyle, 

(So it's a little wrinkled.. what's a college girl to do?)

Some zippy pouches like this:

And last but not least, my very first quilt!  Have a peek!

Sorry for the humongous post, but it feels good to be back, and I'll try to keep updated with all of my projects!

XOXO

Check it out!

One Pearl Button is having a FABULOUS giveaway in honor of the blogs 2nd anniversary.  Congrats OPB!


Find the giveaway here.

The Snow Makes Me Knit Sweaters For Everything...

It's snowing here- again.  An occurrence that we dread here at school since we have to walk everywhere.  I fell 4 times last week, and have already slipped once today.  Please don't make me walk to class...

Because of the snow, it seems that I feel the need to knit a sweater for all of my inanimate objects.  First off, a reusable cabled Coffee Sweater!  I've been using this little guy instead of those disposable cardboard do-dads.  So far it seems to keep my coffee toasty warm!  I based mine around the tutorial found here.  I made my cables closer together, and then blocked the whole thing in the end.  I don't think that there's any real trick to it, just lots of eyeballing.

Maybe just maybe my afternoon class will be cancelled and I can knit a sweater for my ipod next!

Glitter Photo Valentine How-to

Ever since preschool, Valentines day has been one of my favorite holidays of the year.  Mountains of candy aside, I have always loved making valentines foe my friends.  It's a great excuse to break out the glitter, and it's fun to tell your friends just how special they are.


This year, since my friends and I are scattered across the country at various colleges, all valentines will be received in the mail (which is almost more fun than in person).  The only caveat is that there won't be any homemade v-day cupcakes this year.


How-to:

For this valentine, all you will need is:

Computer/printer

Photo paper

Markers

Liquid Glue

and Glitter

First, select the photo you want to use, and print it onto a 4x6" piece of photo paper.  For each of my friends I chose my favorite picture of the two of us.  For this example, I chose a fabulous picture of my friends together.

Next, write your message on the back.

Then, write some sweet, cheesy or romantic phrase on the front with marker.  Metallic sharpies are awesome for this.  I highly recommend investing in one.

Finally, go to town with the glitter.  I like tracing shapes or jewelry with the glue, and also filling in negative spaces.  Just be careful to only glue what you want in the same color.  It's VERY hard to direct the stuff.  Doing it one color at a time is the easiest possible way to do it.

Next, mail to your friend, and let them be amazed.

Happy Valentines day!

Washcloth Pattern

On size 5 (US) needles, cast on 30 stitches.


Rows 1-6: knit


From this point until the last 6 rows, there is a five row garter stitch border on the sides.  Remember to always knit the first and last 5 stitches of each row.


Heart pattern:


Rows 7 and 9: p20
Rows 8 and 10: k 20
Row 11: p9, k2, p9,
12: k9, p2, k9
13: p8, k4, p8
14: k8, p4, k8
15: p7, k6, p7
16: k7, p6, k7
17: p6, k8, p6
18: k6, p8, k6
19: p5, k10, p5
20: k5, p10, k5
21: p4, k12, p4
22: k4, p12, k4
23: p3, k14, p3
24: k3, p14, k3
25: p3, k6, p2, k6, p3
26: k3, p6, k2, p6, k3
27: p4, k4, p4, k4, p4
28: k4, p4, k4, p4, k4
29 and 31: p20
30 and 32: k20


Finish border:
33-39: knit


BO all stitches. 


Enjoy the pattern!  Make as many as you can to send to Haiti.  I'm going to contact Corinne form Threadbanger to get an address to send mine to.  Corinne does a lot of work in Haiti, and is planning a trip for the spring.  She is going to personally take all the supplies that she receives and hand them out to those in need.  I'm confident that everything sent to her will go directly to a person in Haiti.

Can you have a snow day in college?

For the second time this season, the East coast is being faced with copious amounts of snow.  So far, we have accumulated over 6", and I don't think it is stopping anytime soon.  

Although I am pretty tired of the cold, a snowstorm is the perfect knitting weather.  Yesterday, I made up a pattern for a little cotton washcloth with a heart in the middle.  It only took about an hour to knit up, so I plan on churning a lot of them out this afternoon.  I am hoping I can find an organization to give them to so that they will go to the earthquake victims in Haiti.  It's not a huge donation, but since I don't have much money, it's what I'm able to do.  I'll post the pattern later today once I get it written up, and I'll also try and figure out exactly where to send them.  I want to encourage everybody to do just a little something, no matter how small to help haiti.  Even just sending one dollar, or one bar of soap can really make a difference in someone's life.

5 Minute Art Gallery

Today, I finally got around to taking down my 2009 calender, and putting up my groovy 2010 calender.  My new calender is all about one of my favorite subjects: mustaches.  It's the "Sex Confident" mustache calender, and I ordered it from themoustachecalendar.com.  As much as I love new calenders, It makes me sad to see the old ones go in the trash.  I had a beautiful Nikki McClure calender, and it seemed wasteful to throw out all of her incredible paper cut art.  So, instead of tossing it, I ripped out all of the pages, cut around the images and words, taped them to the wall, and voila!  A mini art collection.  The images fit in perfectly into our room.  We put some above my bed, some above my roommate's desk, and some on the front of the high up cabinets above our closets.

In my opinion, re-using the art from old calenders is a great way to recycle, and put great cheap art on the walls- you can even customize it to the season.  Especially in a dorm or a rental apartment, where it's against the rules to drill into the walls and hang things, it's fun to just cover the walls with posters and photos.  My closet door features a photo collage of some of my favorite pictures, and it makes me happy whenever I see it.

In my room I also have some screen printed concert posters (which make a way better concert souvenir than a band t shirt):

As well as two Steve Keene paintings (and my Frida doll of course).

Back To School

The time has finally arrived, and I'm back off to college.  While I'm here I'm really going to be challenged to accomplish all of the crafts that I want to.  I have limited mobility (as well as money), and I don't have a sewing machine or many tools, but hopefully, I'll come up with some good ideas.
I'm currently unpacking all of my stuff and re-aquatinting myself with my dorm room.  I unpacked my craft basket, and am half way done unpacking my clothes.  I decided I'd take a little break.  My roommate Carleigh and her boyfriend Carl are here too getting themselves back in order.  We have a cute little room, but it's very weird to be back here.

On another note, I have made my first sale!  I had recently made some frilly aprons sized for a little girl, and a friend of my mom's bought one!  Exciting!  I'm thinking about trying to get involved in a local craft show, and selling more things!

Update!

It has ben bitterly cold here in Virginia (as well as the rest of the country) for these past few days, so I have mostly been inspired to sit on the couch, watch LOST, and play with all of my scrap yarn.  Tonight I finished a little winter bonnet inspired by this one I found on "A Beautiful Mess".  I tried out a couple of new knitting techniques: provisional cast on, kitchener stitch, and an attached i-cord.  I also made the pompom with a homemade cardboard pompom maker.  I think I'll invest the $5 to get a real one.  I used leftover bits of Lion Brand "Think n' Quick" yarn in raspberry, fig, and oatmeal.

The cold weather has had me thinking a lot about shoes and spring.  I have been on an epic journey to find a pair of weather boots that are functional, classic looking, and not a goofy color or print.  apparently, I am not the only one looking for these boots, because everywhere I have gone, they have been entirely sold out.  Any suggestions?  This cold snap has also made me more than ready to shed my coat leggings, and thick scarfs.  I am SO ready for april.


Here are some things I'm lusting over at the moment:


This little dress is adorable, and I'm thinking I may have to make a stop at my neighborhood Urban Outfitters to give it a try on pretty soon.

Urban Outfitters

Another Urabns dress.  I think thai I might attempt a diy version of this one with an old floral sheet, and a dark green t-shirt.

Urban Outfitters

There is nothing I love more than a pair of leather boots.  I already have two pairs of Frye boots, but I am hankering for another.  How about these beauties?  If only I had a spare $500...

Frye

Perhaps a more viable option would be this pair, which I found on sale at Nine West this weekend.  I didn't buy them, but I'm seriously thinking about going back tomorrow.

Nine West

I love these Dr. Martens.  The dainty flowers are so springy, and they would be adorable with a cute cotton dress.

Dr. Martens

And finally, the godfather of all boots.  Thank you Jeffery Campbell.  I would wear these 365 days of the year.

Free People

Sorry about the huge shoe post, but this is the reason why my family calls me Imelda.  I'll just be dreaming of spring...