happy new year!

i have one resolution: to get out of this book-reading rut. i think i've read one (maybe two) books in the last three years.

it ends in 2011.

have a happy new year!

100th post

i took the day off today in the hopes that i would cross off some of the things on my to-do list (which has grown so long that i actually typed it up and printed it out). so far i've crossed off:

set up and decorate the christmas tree (one string of white lights seems to be on the fritz. i'm not sure i feel like un-decorating the tree to fix it).

make, write and send christmas cards (i'm still waiting on some addresses but most of the cards are going out in the mail tomorrow)

made 30 of the 50 swag bags for the indiemade craft market. i'll be working the DIY table tomorrow from 11-1pm. if you live in the allentown, pa area, stop by!

it doesn't look like an impressive list but it took all day. now i'm going to snuggle up on the couch with my space heater and kitty and catch up on dexter.

dipped spoons

from: mischief + madness.

for you

found here.

molly m designs

i don't wear jewelry often. i have one pair of earrings that i wear on a semi-regular basis, but i would wear every pair of molly m designs. seriously. every pair.

EmersonMade

EmersonMade. love it.

sewing up a storm

i've been working in my studio (a fancy word for my slope-floored and poorly lit sewing room) everyday after work. i've been working through some old commercial patterns and trying out new ones. i have to admit, i can't remember the last time i've sewn this much for myself. i sew almost every day at my job and for the last few years, i could only commit to quick sleeveless tops or super-easy, unlined pencil skirts that i could whip up in a couple of hours and still be in bed by 11 pm. i haven't gone so far as to add sleeves to anything i've made recently (it is, after all, still summer for at least another month), but i've been working steadily though a good chunk of my fabric. to keep a log of the things i've done, i'm planning on posting about each pattern and project soon.

as much as i love the satisfaction (and compliments) i get from wearing something to work that i made the night before, i'm beginning to think that it's time i work on some more challenging projects. i'd like to make a grey wool winter coat (and perhaps a copy of the toggle coat below), some well-fitting tailored button-down shirts (maybe one in a soft chambray for the autumn), a pair of jeans that really fits, some wool pencil skirts with anthropologie-inspired details and actual linings. it's time to step my sewing up a notch and work on quality pieces to build my ideal wardrobe.

wants

all from here. and all well, well out of my price range.

more shoes

i'm intrigued by the design of worishofer shoes. some say they look "orthopedic" but apparently maggie gyllenhaal likes them. i'd also like to try these on in person.

pin-hole photography

michael weasley takes long-term pin-hole camera photographs. in the top photo, he set up four different cameras to photograph the re-construction of the museum of modern art building...for three years! fascinating!

out and about

it's been about a month since i've posted, but i've been starring lots of things in my google reader. here's a few of the things that caught my eye:

i like these toms wedges but i'm intimidated by the heels. i'd like to try them on in person and see how comfortable they really are.

this fomato card just about sums up every trip to target i have ever taken.

shoulder-less

i know i've been absent from blogging lately but that's what happens when you work 6 days a week in the summer time. my busy summer schedule will soon be over, however, and i'm starting to look forward to some peaceful days in my sewing room. i'm trying to fill my closet with more easy-to-toss-on-in-the-morning dresses. so far, i've made three from the same pattern and i'm looking for more silhouettes. i like the exposed shoulders on these silk dresses by sariah (but i think i'd make mine out of washable cotton).

another quilt to make someday

add this red, grey and white quilt to the list of things i'm going to make someday. spotted here.

New Dishes

inspired by a merry mishap, i've decided that it's time to retire my thrift-store purchased yellow-and-white floral dishes (which only have 4 plates but about 38 teacups) and get myself a complete set of dishware. i'm pretty sure i'll be going the classic white ikea route, but might consider adding this pattern of doodled circles myself.

Kitten vs. Converse

from milk.

wish list

add this rachel comey bag to the list of things you're going to buy for me (but make it a surprise).

summer wardrobe

i'm adding this mina stone skirt to my list of summer skirts to make (probably in navy blue, not white).

all dressed up...

...with a gala to go to! the company i work for has a fundraiser gala in early june with dinner, dancing and a silent auction (for which i'm making a quilt using fabrics from last summer's shows). the big question is, what am i going to wear? this is my one occasion a year when i get to dress up (and i mean big-time-black-tie-dress-up) so i've been looking for gown inspiration. i've decided i'm going to make this dress by carolina herrera worn by christina hendricks:


last year i wore a red gown so i'm thinking i'll make this one in navy blue. now i just need the time to fabric shop, pattern the dress, make a mockup, fit it, cut and build the dress and track down the shoes my sister has promised to let me wear.

baby animal portraits

these have been all over my google reader but they're too darn cute not to post. i swear i'm going to buy one of each of the prints in this series of portraits of baby animals by sharon montrose.

(also check out her husband's etsy shop, chalk chalk, where he makes chalk drawings of human-powered transportation. i might have to get a couple of those, too.)

ryan marshall photography

i loved the maternity series that photographer ryan marshall did of his wife's pregnancy. he's doing another series on his blog, pacing the panic room, called the walk to 40 weeks. i'm really enjoying how these ladies deal with the whole you-have-to-wear-a-tent-when-your-pregnant issue with some really great pieces (including the stellar embroidered mini dress above!)

calling all sheep

sheep made from rotary phones by jean-luc cornec’s from the museum of telecommunication in frankfurt.

(found here)

when grown men cry

this weekend i'll be cleaning out the dozens of bookmarked pages and posting all the interesting things i've been collecting for the last 6 months. first up is this series of 13 portraits of famous actors crying by sam taylor-wood. i picked my favorite actors, steve buscemi, sean penn, dustin hoffman and robin williams. it's up to you to determine if the tears are real or not. i like to think that they are.

flying geese quilt and other quilt inspiration

due to flickr photo restrictions, i can't post the pictures of this incredible flying geese quilt from the tokyo international quilt festival. i am particularly partial to the flying geese pattern (i think i've made three quilts in this pattern) and i love how the quilter used color and shape to make the quilt into a landscape.

it makes me want to start a new quilt. right after i begin my ellsworth kelly quilt inspired by his 1951 painting Spectrum Colors Arranged by Chance II.

before and after

call her crazy, but marisa's goal is to take one thrift store purchase a day (costing no more than $1) and turn it into something wearable. new dress a day is where she chronicles her 151 (and counting) new creations. some of the dresses she starts with are truly in the so-ugly-i-could-puke category but marisa seems to be unafraid to cut it up, sew it back together and take it out on the town. there's no way i could do it, but i certainly admire a girl who will spend no more than $365 dollars this year on an entirely new wardrobe.

bethany obrecht photography

photography by bethany obrecht. wonderful.

summer wardrobe inspiration, continued

i'm not a girl who goes for short-shorts but i'm really enjoying these looks from nadinoo's new spring/summer collection. the 1940's details are adorable! i think i'm going to have to make some peter-pan collared summer blouses to wear with my summer skirts (yet to be made).

summer wardrobe wish list

i'm going to be taking some wardrobe inspiration from the spring/summer 2010 line by allison wonderland. it's got everything i like about summer clothes--high-waisted a-line skirts, cotton fabric, big pockets, and adorable cap-sleeve tie-front blouses. i've been disappointed by my local jo-ann fabrics selection of summer-weight cottons so i'm going to have to search extra hard (and perhaps pay a little more) for the fabrics i really want.