New Shirt

I was having an I'm over gloomy winter moment, and one of my new favorite people had just recently told me that when her mom was stuck inside on a rainy or gloomy day that she would make a sun dress to brighten her mood. I figured that it sounded worth a shot so I made a bright fun shirt using some fabric I found a while back at the thrift store and some sewing tools that Jason's amazing mom got me for Christmas and the Built By Wendy pattern I got a while back.

Here it is.


I love it. It makes me feel like I'm channeling MIA.

What Type Are you

What Type Are You?

I'm letre orne.

Via 2or3things
Love Pentagram

The Glass Castle

I'll be finishing up this book this weekend.

I think I'm going to have a hard time saying goodbye to the Walls family and their dysfynctional Appalachian hijinks.

Shane Waltener

Lovely instalation, make sure you listen to the soundtrack.
Via Montmarte's Sketchbook

Life of a Personal Chef

The Scout had a fun article on being a personal chef that I really enjoyed.

I looooove cooking, which is funny because when I was little I was the pickiest eater in the whole world. I subsisted on a diet of all thing beige. I used to only order hamburgers when we went out to eat and hated all vegetables. I think making food on my own has made me enjoy it more. It's now a creative endeavor and more of an adventure.

I've become a pretty decent cook by absorbing cooking shows, reading blogs and cookbooks. Alice Waters The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution has made me want to master the basics though. I've been roasting chickens(Ina has my favorite roast chicken recipe)and making vinaigrette's and aioli's. Alice's passion for all things fresh, local, and easy is super inspiring. Maybe one day I'll be personal chef material.

Alice in action in her early years in Berkeley

I really recommend it if you haven't read it already.

Craigslist and Paper Hats

I've been craigslist obsessed lately. You can find ANYTHING. I found this ad particulary interesting:

I am a talented paper hat maker who is currently taking orders for the spring season. It may be the case that a lot of art related businesses are failing due to the lack of support and the economy in general BUT THE PAPER HAT BUSINESS IS THRIVING! My hats are original because I hand design them all. I make triangle, oval, SPORTS!, cowboy, and pet hats to name a few. All my hats are in between doll sized and human sized, they fit comfortably in a large hand. Cats love wearing hats! My prices are based on material alone (I love making hats)

5-7 sheets computer paper (the kind in your printer at home) = $4
Scotch Tape = $7
10 hrs hat making = $25
Normal total = $40 per hat (Triangle hats with out wooden box or velcro)

I cant wait to start making your hats! contact me today!

Allen

I have to admit I'm curious.

Thought of the Day

Here by FieldGuided

More kitchen inspiration

From the UK store Labour and Wait
Via Pitch Design Union

Hoosier Cabinet

These are beautiful, if you see one near Philly let me know.

1369 Lightbulbs

Jeff Wall
MoMa collection

Korean in Olney

I like good food and I also like food that's really honest and not all dressed up in white fancy table cloths. So it's been fun exploring the outskirts of the city for yummy ethnic food. Like this Korean BBQ place Josh and Lydia took us too in a strip mall in Olney.

It was glorious, fish eyeballs and all.

Happy MLK Day

Convicting words from a Birmingham Jail
"I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection."

More Watercolors

Via Antique Helper

Barnacle Rings

Digging these salvaged rings from Islay Taylor.

I WON!!!!

Jason and I ventured down the street to the Part Time Studios gallery a couple weeks ago for first Friday. I entered a raffle and won one of Halligan Norris's AMAZING hand crafted pieces of jewelry. Look how cute this bad boy is:


PS The Part Time Studios crew had a KILLER setup, complete with Polar Bear Portraits. We got a little carried away. You should stop by the next time you're in fishtown.
2031 Frankford Ave. in Philadelphia

Matteo

I saw the most AMAZING fine linen bedding yesterday at ABC carpet and Home. Vegetable dyed blues and greys by Matteo. It has lovely simple details of crochet and trim but for the most part they let the linen be the focal point.

From their site:
We make our beds every morning. Therefore, our beds are simple. The seasons of the year are worth
savoring. Sometimes we sleep on the deck under a linen sheet; sometimes we weigh down the duvet
with blankets. Central air is nice, but an open window with fresh air is better.


They also have a linen clothing line that I'm mildly obsessed with, it's also at ABC. Everything is sustainably made and sewn in LA.

See more here.

Manet's Watercolors

Au Revoir Simone

This video reminds me of The Boxcar Children

Roll Tide!

Watching Alabama win their bowl game last night with lots of friends was a lovely welcomed distraction.

Also in Alabama's honor here are some recipes I've learned from my Southern husband. You should notice a theme of simple and delicious and fattening.
Potato Candy
Rotelle Dip
Sausage Balls

Sailors Valentines

please click the image to see detail.


Sailors used to bring back these crafts for their loves after their voyages at sea. They are made using only sea shells to craft flowers and poems.I was at home this week at the beach and was reminded of an old art teacher who practiced this craft. You can see more of her work here.

A Simple Request

My grandfather's not doing well. If you think about it I would really appreciate any prayers for him and my family.

A poem for Monday, for the new year

The Layers

I have walked through many lives,
some of them my own,
and I am not who I was,
though some principle of being
abides, from which I struggle
not to stray.
...

by Stanley Kunitz

Reflections on 2009

Some favorite memories:

1. Painting some awesome kids an awesome mural and seeing flying condors in the deepest canyon in the world in Peru



2. Running the 10 mile broad street run....without training.


3. Seeing California, Portland and Seattle for the first time.

4. Playing lots of frisbee.


5. Growing in community.

6. Discovering and eating at Que Chula (best chorizo in all the land) and Picanha (yummy brazilian food)

7. A fun birthday at the zoo


8. Making new friends and missing old ones.

9. Enjoying my amazing coworkers.


And getting married to my favorite person in the whole world.