If you've been around this blog for a few years, you may recall that February is, in fact, not my favorite month. Often it's because I'm beginning to grow tired of the cold winter weather and am just longing for spring (which is of course still months away!). I usually try to be very intentional about combating these February blues by paying extra attention to little things that make me happy.
::leaving a very frustrating day at work (actually, three consecutive frustrating days at work) to find that it's a beautiful warm day outside.
I'm sure you all know by now that I'm a big fan of homemade bread. I've written about my love for fresh baked bread here many times (of course, at the moment, I'm entirely too lazy to find those links. maybe I should add the new search feature...). Although I do bake bread through the summer, when it's hot here, fall is such a wonderful bread baking time. Especially since freshly baked bread is the perfect accompaniment for a nice hearty soup. Something that also makes a long-awaited appearance in fall.
If you've hung around this blog for any length of time, you're probably well aware that today is a very important day for me. It's the first day of my very favorite season. Not that I haven't enjoyed my summer, immensely. But really, I do have a serious love affair with fall (and not just because it's my birthday season). I kicked off the season by wearing some brand new knee socks and my favorite boots, and a corduroy shirt. It was so perfectly fall and I feel full inside.
I moved to California after I graduated college. I had already lived there for a summer, and had a place to live with some friends. I didn't want to stay in Vermont (where I had gone to college) and I didn't want to move back to New York. Also, even though my entire family is from New York/New Jersey, about half of them lived in California--including my brother, my aunt and uncle and two cousins, and my two other aunts. My mom's sister and her husband live just south of San Francisco and their home definitely became my home away from home while I was living there. At the time, one of my cousins was living with them, while her older sister was not too far away, and the same for my brother. While my dad's sisters lived farther south, in Santa Cruz and San Diego.
It's true! Last year, I wanted to knit a sweater. Does it count if I started one on December 31? Who cares, I did. And I'm almost done! I cast on the ever-popular February Lady Sweater using O-Wool. It's the first time I've knitted anything from the top down, and I have to say that I'm really liking it. It seems like most people love this method because you can try the piece on as you're making it, which is definitely why I like it (I hate when sweaters are too short!). I'm really excited about this sweater because the pattern is simple to knit, but interesting to look at (my favorite) and I can already tell it's going to become a go-to sweater, especially as spring (slowly) approaches.
I'm really loving the yarn I chose, except for all those little bits of leaves and hay and whatever else that are spun into the yarn. I actually got a splinter at one point. I can safely say that's a first! Also, I finished another set of those lovely cabled fingerless gloves. This pair was sent off to my friend in Scotland, where I'm sure she needs something to keep her cozy.
What's making you happy this week?
It's Thanksgiving, obviously. There are always so many things to be thankful for...
We had some cupcakes (after we spent quite a while photographing the cupcakes) and warm beverages, which were much needed on the cold afternoon that it was, and chatted for a while.
Then we headed next door to the architectural salvage store and spent quite a while taking photos of all sorts of things that I always think would be good buys (but seriously, what would I do with a wall full of doorknobs? coat hooks?).
It was super fun, and I was once again reminded of how awesome it is to have found all these people that I have so much in common with through the beauty of flickr, and the internet in general. And how wonderful it is when some of those people just happen to be my neighbors.
I took most of my shots in film, so I'll be sharing some more of these when they come back later this week. I've finally decided to switch my film developing from the obnoxious, but faster place, to the slower, but nicer and WAY more knowledgeable (not to mention locally-owned) place. So some of my film may be coming back a little slower. Not to worry, I still haven't shown you most of my desert photos! Or my first roll of cross processed film! Yes, people, I have lots to share. And I think my blogging mojo is coming back. For real this time.
Claire, a wonderful flickr friend, sent me this amazing wallet that she made, along with an adorable card and some vintage ribbon. That card on the right is a little description of all the fabrics that she used in the wallet and where and when she bought them all. How's that for some history?! I absolutely love it and it's so fun to think of her every time I take out my wallet. She'll be opening an etsy shop soon, so keep your eye out.
Nicole is another friend from out here. I'm sure most of you are familiar with her beautiful blog (and if you're not, go check it out. Her photographs and words always make me want to exhale). I sent Nicole some jam earlier in the summer, and she returned the gift with these amazing spices. I haven't tried them out yet, but they are three of my favorites. I'm thinking with all my meal planning, I'll be putting them to good use soon enough.
After the birthday jam my old friend Leah sent me last year, she and I decided to do a jam swap this summer. Leah and I met during our time living in Ecuador almost six years ago (wow) and lived together for a while in Berkeley, where she still lives. She and her boyfriend spent most of the summer with family in Maine, so she sent me some blueberry honey, and strawberry jams, both made from fruit that they picked themselves. The blueberry jam arrived in that lunchbox too! I'll be packing up her jams next week.
Finally, from my mom. This awesome little case was something they saw at a yard sale a while back and my mom immediately thought that it would be perfect for displaying cards at craft fairs. She was so right. She actually called me to see if I would want it, and at the time, I was at a yard sale here. Hmm, I guess it runs in the family? Anyways, I love it and will definitely be using it to display my goods at my show next month.
Isn't that what they always say for weddings? I think so. Well, I certainly had a little bit of both these past few days. This weekend was a.maz.ing. I'm not even really sure how to begin to recap it, except to say that it was exactly what I needed. Every moment of it. I'm going to start at the very end of the weekend and work backwards for you. The part that directly proceeded my carry-on bag being chock full of polaroid film.
I know that I've talked before about how much I've come to love blogging and flickring primarily because of the awesome people I've met through the internet. Well, this weekend, I had my very first flickr meetup. In Portland, Oregon. After spending four solid days with some of my closest friends, it was incredible to meet perfect strangers (well, sort of) and feel just as comfortable around them as I had around my college friends (some of whom I had even lived with at various points).
We chatted, whipped out our cameras, gushed over polaroids, drank coffee (and chai), rolled our eyes at the dude next to us who totally wanted to join our little party, and just got to know each other. At least for the hour we had before I needed to race off to the airport. It was a perfect way to end a perfect weekend. Thanks ladies!
I've written here before about my ongoing dilemma about buying clothing. Fighting sweatshops (and worker exploitation in all forms) has always been an issue close to my heart and I really do my best to avoid buying clothing made in factories that I know nothing about (which is most factories). Luckily, there are more and more small clothing companies out there that are being responsible, both ethically and environmentally, and transparent about their manufacturing practices. I also buy a lot of clothing second-hand, places like this make that easy.
I've (obviously) begun one of my solutions to this dilemma this past year by making a lot of my own clothing. However, I am only one woman. And even if I did have all the time in the world to sew my own wardrobe, I really like the idea of supporting other talents out there and including some other beautiful pieces of clothing in my closet. Needless to say, I've been delighted by all the small, independent designers that are popping up all over the internet. Maybe at some point soon, I'll post a list of a few of my favorites...But anyways, I did finally order the Mayumi Mini Dress from Tiffany earlier this summer. Sadly, when it arrived in the mail, the fit was not perfect. Since Tiffany makes each of her pieces to order, and is pretty much just one of the most awesome people out there, she was more than happy to remake the dress for me. Seriously, she made me another dress! And I love it. It's extremely well made and all the details are accounted for. It's comfortable and stylish and I'm sure the second I wear it out of the house, I'll be getting compliments left and right. This dress is super light for summer, but would also look great with tights and boots (okay, so it was too hot for boots when I was taking these photos, but I really love how it looks. Maybe I could moonlight as a go-go dancer?). Have I mentioned that I'm ready for fall? Right then.
