Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Birds, Bees, n' Butterflies

I seem to remember once seeing a picture of an earbud cord getting knitted up, and while that hasn't happened to me just yet I do manage to get the headphones stuck in the knitting quite frequently. This one has been caught in my rendition of "Lavalette" using the vibrant Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Sock in 'Reggaeton'. Although I find the color name to be an absolutely terrible description, it has inspired a fair bit of Clash songs to knit to. It's got a bit of an island, 'hey mon' vibe to it yet not the funky urbanness that's implied in the name. I'm fairly sure the person who dutifully named it may be actually colorless or, to be less racist and offensive, colorblind. Completely understandable considering the larger the kerchief gets, the shorter amounts of time I can watch it grow without spots happening before my eyes.
From dianadorable
Meanwhile, Color is not lacking in this house. And I'm not just talking about the daily application of Jergen's Natural Glow on my ultraviolet bits. I managed to sew a rather girlish, full skirt in a bright Kaffe Fasset cabbage rose print over this last weekend. The enormous flowers in yellows and purples inspired a bit of retail therapy from Zappos, in the form of purple patent pointy flats. I like my little glimpse of toe cleavage as well as the perforated leather that shows my pink nail polish. A lady reveals a little something, something. 


From dianadorable



From dianadorable
If you haven't been blinded by my ankles, then let me promise the Birds n' the Bees n' Butterflies Baby quilt will be started this weekend. There was more thought put into the adorableness of the theme then the actual designing element. I have yet to really figure out how to go about it, Googling 'Best quilt tutorial to showcase fabric' came up with links remarkably slim in relevance. Including the second link provided by Amazon for "24 Applique Quilts for Dog Lovers." I'm going to wing it and expect the little bugger to spit up on the white parts only. It's definitely going to be a perfect quilt for a gender neutral city baby, from the 'Flora and Flauna' collection of Patty Young. By 'gender neutral' I'm not implying eunuch, mind. It's my passive aggressive reaction to people who don't want to know the gender of their child until the birth so their friends and family are stuck either with yellow toned gifts or returning color sex specific items.
From dianadorable

Last week I started at a new salon and have been enjoying a leisurely start to the beginning of a new stage in my life. One that I frequently wish I knew the ending so I'd stop wondering about what to do. Until then I'll plod around in my witchy flats, admittingly a bit sticky with the 90 degree weather we've been having here, a little dazed but nevertheless determined.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Mothers & Flowers & Food Porn

Mothers Day, the prettiest ladies in Purple 
From dianadorable

Flowers held together with love and a stick of glue gun 
From dianadorable
From dianadorable
From dianadorable

Late Night Brunch Casseroles, fantastically delicious 
From dianadorable
 
From dianadorable

Friday, May 7, 2010

Gusts up to 35 mph

It's been a chilly and windy day here in Chicago. I'm made a cuppa tea and am putting my feet up looking through fabric websites.

From dianadorable
My feet are very cozy now that I've got the Culchie socks finished, the pattern itself was simple with just a little bit of lace. The bit of sunshine in the picture was from the last glorious week of weather we had. 
Currently the dismal light is preventing me from taking pictures of the other projects I'm working on and have finished. I may be able to sneak in a peek tomorrow morning of the finished security grate as well as a skirt that I'm in the process of completing that features my new favorite color, mustard. Mamma Susie inspired the lovely hue when buying me a very expensive but lovely Easter shoe purchase from Anthropologie. There just isn't enough of that vintage jewel shade in my wardrobe.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Painting a Security Blanket

This May 1st I am celebrating the creation of the 8 hour workday (124 years ago) with a new job that I start May 17th. Today I also resigned my lease, giving me with yet another year to improve my little nest.
Mayday Mayday! Sounds like a distress call this crafty dame was ready to answer.
A late Spring clean has led to an adventure in painting. Being an urbanite includes taking off the interior security window bars to get to Windexy swipy part of the deep sparkle. One of the perks of my apartment is my charming back door, it's one decade away from derelict but for now the crackling pale blue is fantastic. Once I took the bars off I was blown away by all the light flooding into my tiny kitchen.
From dianadorable
These evil black bars are draining the life out of my tiny colorful foodspace and need to go- without sacrificing my safety. Clever urbanite.






After a sponging down and trip to Ace, I applied the first coat of Spring Green. As it dries I've noticed a deepening in its shade to a more minty green, giving it a vintage effect without being distracting. Tomorrow morning I'll do the flipside then by nightfall the new and improved security blanket will be in place. If any burglars are reading this blog, I have a pair of Fiskars scissors and pointy needles on my bedside table, come and get it.
From dianadorable

From dianadorable
Piercecat spent the late afternoon watching the progress of my pinwheel quilt blocks that I intend to make into throw pillows. 



From dianadorable 
I've seven more to assemble, then to make these 16 inchers a thing of beauty I will be adding embroidery and button embellishment. That's his pout look with the crossed paws for spending so much time on the floor in the dining area with smelly oil pant.

Then to add to my sewing momentum, I received my order from Quilthome.com and, boyo, is it the good stuff.
From dianadorable
For the moment I'm going to abstain from posting pictures of each lovely bit and will let them come out of their box as I use them. Many thanks to Joel Dewberry, Patty Young, and Heather Ross for their inspirational collections of gorgeous fabrics.
To whatever you are celebrating this day, cheers!