My happy home

Last year I mentioned the possibility of entering my apartment in the Small | Cool Contest.   I didn't get "moved in" enough to feel confident exhibiting my living space to the world, so I held off.  But I worked on my apartment here and there, and was ready to enter this year's contest; of course it helped that I was already in spring cleaning mode. I scrambled a bit to take and edit the photos and to create an easy floor plan, and got my entry in by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin. Yet sadly, my apartment wasn't selected for the contest. Still, I feel good about having entered at all -- my strong and courageous thing for April -- and I feel good about the little nest I've built these past 15 months. And I'm happy to share it with you here:

There are still a lot of things I'd like to do:

• 
  
  re-upholster the loveseat


• 
  
  turn my library card file into additional kitchen work/counter space


• 
  
  get rugs


• 
  
  design/furnish the patio


• 
  
  sew one last pillow cover

which is basically the list I had from last year! I also considered "upgrading" to a larger bed, but I'm just so darn comfortable in my little daybed, and I love my current layout -- it's so perfect for the very little time I actually spend here.  I've recently cleared some room for my round folding table, now in the corner; it just needs a spot of lighting to make it fully functional. In reality, however, I spend most of my time on the floor, near the coffee table that also serves as my dining table, desk, and craft surface.

Nevertheless, I would love to hear any comments (and criticisms), as there's always room for improvement and beautification. Lemme know what you think!

Birthday self-gifting

I have a habit of buying for others things that I want for myself. (Maybe a therapist would call this projection? Whatever.) It's something that I've noticed about my gift-buying habits over the last few years. And it makes sense, too, if "you are your friends" holds true. I get to buy something without the guilt of having been too extravagant, because it's okay to lavish other people with things. Win-win!

This year, however, is the year of being good to myself. So when I found out about the Graphic Image winter sale, I got my click on and picked out a few things. And they arrived just after my birthday!

A beautiful desk-sized address book in a beautiful Robin's Egg blue leather, with gold embossing and edged pages.  My pocket one, which I've had for seven years or something, is not in the best condition.  And I wanted something a bit more substantial, a bit more grown up. Not just as a place to store contact information, but a history of places and friends.  I love my parents' old address books, filled not only with their distinct and beautiful penmanships, but the strikethrus and squeezed-in jottings that reflect home purchases, new jobs, the advent of mobile phone numbers, and all sorts of life changes -- including births and deaths.  I am eager to start my own!

I have set up an online address book through Postable (ironic, I know), which I've emailed and posted to Facebook, for my friends to send me their updated information. Then I'll transcribe it all into my book.  But which pen to use? Or shall I use pencil? And shall I write in block letters or script? The possibilities are endless.

My second self-purchase was a jotter. It's such a classy way to write notes. And easier for me, the slightly scatterbrained overwriting lefty. I don't have to flip through pages, but whatever's on my mind can get shuffled to the top, and additional notes can be written. And when I write (or doodle) I have a nice, compact, flat surface.

So far I love my self gifts! What have you, or would you, buy for yourself?

FO: Selbu Modern

If you've seen any of my weekly photo mosaics (which I'm terribly behind on, I know) you may have glimpsed my first FO of the year: a Selbu Modern beret.  A fantastic pattern! It's knit in a skein of Lang Jawoll sock yarn (white) and Elann Baby Cashmere (purple), both of which I've had in stash for years now. My stranding skills leave much to be desired, but blocking really helped even things out.

I finally took a couple moments after work to take some snapshots, which proved more difficult than I'd anticipated.  Here are the best couple of the lot.  They don't show off the hat exceptionally well, but well enough I suppose.

The pattern is simple enough to knit, because it's so well written and the chart is so clear.  The pattern adds just enough a pop of texture and contrast to my usual attire of mostly solids, yet doesn't overwhelm some of the prints I occasionally wear. This, along with an Urchin hat I knit up about three (!) years ago, has been keeping me warm and toasty all winter. A beret is the best hat for this head.

Spring cleaning

I was looking forward to Daylight Savings time so much, but got sick the weekend of and had to take most of the following week off. One day, when I finally mustered enough strength to get out of bed, I managed to squeeze in a spot of spring cleaning:



Ah, those old days of paper statements and returning cashed checks! I used to be quite fastidious with my bookkeeping: stapling receipts, in chronological order, to their corresponding statements. Boy am I thankful for paperless everything these days ! I finally let go of old, no longer applicable paperwork, too -- like AP and SAT scores, college acceptance letters, check stubs from part time college jobs (when I thought $11/hour was a killing!), etc.

I feel so much lighter and freer.  Next steps: my inbox and closet!

What's on your spring cleaning list?

Old School birthday bash

I love organizing and throwing parties for people. I love the planning, the sending, the organizing, the gathering of loved ones onto the birthday gal or guy. But when it comes to myself, I typically shy away and am content with a small dinner with my closest circle.

A few years ago I said to myself that by a certain age, I will love myself enough to throw my own birthday party.

"That certain age" was this year.  And amid doubt whether I'd actually follow through, I called my city and secured the gazebo area.  Once the credit card got charged, things got real.  So I downloaded the fonts (Marcelle and Colleged) and got out my contact list.

The theme: Old School.  Feelin' like a kid again. 

It couldn't have happened with all the help from friends far and near. My game masters filled up water balloons for the tossing.  Laid out sacks for racing.  And brought jute string for the three-legged race.  

My BFF laid out an entire spread to fulfill my "candy apple bar" request.  She even peeled the caramels, one by one, and melted them together. Another friend supplied the most delicious furikake Chex mix ever.  Yet another plucked and washed three whole bagfulls of lemons from his tree for me to have a lemonade stand. And cakes?  Three: the other BFF brought both the cake I wanted (a fruit tart) as well as "a proper birthday cake" (old school, complete with roses in our high school colors); and there was an awesome birthday brownie (which I may have taken home without sharing) with a secret message. 

My only real material contribution was the pinata, which was inspired by my inordinate love of polyhedra and high school Geometry Honors.  I'd wanted to cover it in tissue paper or fringed crepe, but ran out of time... but looks okay with seams done up in painter's tape.  I filled it with old school candies: Smarties, Tootsie Rolls, and Dum Dums. Everyone insisted that I take a turn at bat, and I need to tell you how desperately difficult it is to willfully destroy something you so lovingly created -- even if you made it to be destroyed.  I wasn't strong enough, but my brother (pictured) gave it a good go, and another karate-practicing friend gave it the death blow: a drop kick.  Beautiful yet painful to watch.

And the gifts.  A table full.  I haven't had so much to unwrap since I was a kid.  Which goes along with the old school theme, I suppose.  It was SO nice to be SO loved by SO many people -- from family to friends from so many periods and parts of life.

Funny: when everyone started gathering for the birthday song and cake, it was all I could do not to sing along; I'm usually the one holding the cake, or taking pictures, or recording. It took some a moment to remind myself that everyone was singing for me!  I had to force myself to stay in the center of the circle, and smile.  And once I accepted and allowed that in my heart, I could truly and fully appreciate and receive the well wishing. In the end, I'm glad that I gave myself this opportunity for people to shower me with love. Not so much with their presents, but their presence.  Both on this day and in my life all these years. 

Best! Birthday! Ever!

13.1

I've been told that if I ever run another 1/2 marathon, I'll be disappointed: no one produces like Disney. From bib pickup to expo to starting bell -- not a bell, but fireworks! -- to running through the theme parks, whilst Disney staff, music, and characters cheered us on. Runners themselves got into the Tinkerbell spirit.  I don't think I've seen so many wings or so much tulle in my life (on both women and men)! It was a memorable experience indeed.

What a great way to start the year: crossing the finish line arm in arm with my oldest, closest friends!

From being someone who vehemently declared that I was not a runner, that I would never run, the last seven months have been quite a transformation -- mentally and physically. Here I am, a runner.  And the process taught me, all over again, that it's never to late to change. And that if I can change, anyone can.

The bestie is already talking about the Coast to Coast Race Challenge.  Hmm....

Valentine's

In every box of Crane's stationery there is a "Thank You" card. Over the years I've saved up a neat little stack, waiting for the perfect reuse opportunity.  It came this Valentine's Day! Inspired by a perforated card set I spied at Paper Source, I set to work.  Sketching different sized heart shapes as stencils. Grabbing my thimble and a small nail. Punching away. Then sewing, using sock yarn remnants.

I decided to employ the trusty fountain pen to fill up some of the white space, resulting in one of my favorite cards, which was sent to one of my besties:

Here's what my coffee table looked like at the end of January and beginning of February:

As you can see, I didn't just sew my cards.  I also picked up some cardstock and "X" and "O" letters at Paper Source to make some simple "hug and kiss" cards.  I splurged on the anatomical heart stamp and new ink pad to make a "heart of gold" card. And I printed out Zebra and Love Big cards, free printables courtesy of Bunny Cakes. The variation was absolutely necessary to save my poor fingers from all the needlework, and to flex some creative muscles. 

I had a good time creating about 20 cards, and more fun writing messages to my beloveds. Hope you all had a Happy Valentine's Day!