Ambiguous Utpoia with Bert & Ernie

These crazies make me giggle. They shoot in the loveliest of Portland places.

"Who are they? Are they going out? Are they friends?"

"Its very much about our friendship. Its a way for us to hang out that seemed normal. Because we weren't in a romantic relationship but we were flying all over the country for each other. And so, if you're not, like, romancing someone, you better be working on a project, otherwise its really wierd for them to just show up at your house"

Where it all began...

http://www.thunderant.com/

Modge Podge it

Purchased a new journal, and its ugly cover is sparking a new crafty venture. My extremely talented friend, Jenny from San Fran gifted me a cigar box with sea animals modge podged to every surface. This was in high school so naturally, the box has drifted from my immediate possession.

Can you guess what I've picked for a theme? Yoga Journal illustrations! Its the one magazine I have held onto when all others hit the recycle bin. Now its time for spring cleaning, magazine cutting and crafty, sunny afternoons.

We seeded the backyard lawns and asked the chickens to keep their poop and claws out of the yard and patio. They refused, so we locked them away in their ridiculously spacious coop. No wonder they don't try to escape! If we ever move out of this house, I'd love to plant an herb garden in the space vacated by the chickens. With the straw mulch and their constant digging, pecking, and fertilizing, it should be quite a fertile spot for a thyme creeper. Which also means more bricks! I want to create permeable pathways all over the yard, to enhance the minimal growing season we have under the shady apple tree.

Indoor herb garden idea... Modge Podge Outdoor. (Pretty much I just discovered I've spelled it all wrong. But I'll I like my name for it!)

employment

 {giancarlo rado}

Oh dear, such a fun, sunny weekend, and now a dreary busy work week. Monday's commute was particularly soggy... essentially like riding through a grounded cloud.

I took many pictures of the magical wonderland that is Horning's Hideout, but have yet to even touch my camera for uploads. This upcoming weekend is another yoga teacher training (with Paul Grilley!!!), which means late hours at work to cover my Friday all day workshop, and yoga homework which is always left to the last minute.

Travis began his new job of hunting for jobs this week. I can't help but envy his "mini vacation" at home, but soon we'll both be super busy, as I plan to take on more yoga teaching as his schedule fills up with bike and food related shifts.

Check out this extremely practical pattern! I love our hardwood floors, it helps me keep the cat fur in check, rather than embedded into carpet. But sometimes it is overwhelming how fast the dust bunnies return!

{greener knitting by the yarn panda}

indoor/outdoor

I have several old wooden pieces of furniture that would love a makeover! Thrift and garage sale finds, nice construction but no colorful love. Although the drawers by the front door do have some paint drippings splattered about. I start getting creative urgings when the sun stays out all day, weekends just scream "Spring is here! Lets get outside and sandblast some shn!t!"

image from decor8 via griege

sakura

"If you don't think that Cherry Blossoms aren't the best thing ever, then I don't want to know you!"

I adore this set on bunbunlife's flickr, not just because of her above quote!
That being said. Yes, I do want to know you. No judgements here!

Well I missed my chance to frolic under the Portland Waterfront's Akebono cherry blossoms. However, all is not lost. April is just around the corner, and let me tell you what that means my friends.... Apple Blossoms!

{source}

I foresee tea parties under our ancient flowering apple

as well as bbqs, hammock naps, and candlelit wine-drinking layabouts. This also makes me want to go shopping for new spring outfits to photograph. But truly, I have plenty of dresses and frilly things, so I can just focus on some sweet accessories. Pink lacy handwarmers perhaps.

I just realized I don't have any pictures from last year's apple tree blooming! To be fair, we didn't actually live in the house yet, but we had signed the lease.. and spent a few afternoons there imagining life in this amazing beautiful house.

However. Don't give up on me yet. I did capture some pics under a lovely blossoming tree downtown last week, featuring some handmade fibers.


I suppose if I am going to insist on taking these pictures of myself and my ingenious wardrobe, then I should learn to pose! I always want to put my hands behind my back... hiding their fidgety nature.

boots - etsy

leg warmers - buffalo exchange 

tights - buffalo exchange 

dress - target

belt - buffalo exchange

circle scarf - handmade by me! (yarn - twisted pdx)

*can you tell I work practically next door to buffalo exchange??

me and my sweet

Okay, funny story. Clearly this is one glove. If I had knit two, you'd definitely be seeing both, artfully arranged for your viewing pleasure. As Travis and I drove up the Pacific coast, seeking Vancouver and his one-year old niece's party, I furiously finished knitting the second! Excitedly, I tried it on before darning in the loose ends... only to then realize it was the left hand. Another. Left. Hand. Glove.
Couple this funny story with a not so funny story of Travis and Alice arriving to Mt Vernon, resting on Ma & Pa Puckett's couch and realizing... no passports were packed in the leaving of this trip. Yes. Double doozy. Although both had nifty solutions.

Solution #1 - have roomate FAX copy of passport & birth certificate. Discover border patrol actually understand that sometimes, when you are going to a birthday party, things get left behind.

Solution #2 - buy more yarn! So this means I have two sets of beautiful gloves. And since the first pair is for my sissy (shhh!) we get to have matching magical gloves! Yayyy

And that is the end of this tale. Thanks for reading loves.

fuzzy friends

A very special little lady is turning 1 year old this weekend, and I found a book on knitting toys for babies just in time at the library! However, my enthusiasm waned after I cast off several rows too early. (no head for that bunny...) I have since observed cute little friends in the crafty commmunity, and Swedish artist Camilla Engman has caught my imagination.

The use of color and dimension is perfect!

quite a friendly bunch

best fwends

{clicking images will take you to the Source}

So for now, I appeased my over-gifting self with an adorable Liberty of London baby girl dress, and will have something whipped up by the time we visit next! Shopping for babies is so fun!

yarn bombing

{roses and pearls}

Found a sweet group on flickr called urban knitting. I encountered my first yarn bomb walking in the Pearl last week, and I look forward to participating someday! My roommate Eric bought a book for his crafy brother all about yarn bombing. It has many great tips about knitting the piece, and designing for quick installation! Perfect summertime sunshine project when its too hot to wear all my darling hats.

{likethegoddess}

buttons!!

{kwiatkowa}

wowwwww... what a happy tree!

{grrl+dog}

and... I just saw AVATAR so I totally want to make 2 of these

{grrl+dog}

cute as a button

buttons are the best. any size, and shape. all colors. they make a hat complete. a sweater stay snug. a sleeve fasten to block out that january wind. when I learned to make crochet flowers, my favorite ones had a perfect little button sewn into the center. i need to take some pics of these for you! stay tuned...



Ceramist Lenneke Wispelwey is also a stylist, working out of her own studio in Arnhem.

She lists a few of her favorite things... "things that are so ugly they become beautiful again" 

She loves working with ceramics, but also works with other materials. She feels
her work should make people smile. This is what she also tries to accomplish in her styling work.

"the sweet surprise buttons"

Lenneke Wispelwey studied at The Arnhem Institute for the Arts, Product Design. In 2008 she graduated with a collection porcelain called "de zoete inval". One month later she started her own studio in Arnhem.

{link}

craft and love

In the Christmas rush..., originally uploaded by kristenaderrick. via: smile and wave

Crafty fun! I wish I had more time to make big messes and play with colors, textures, fibers and scissors!

One day... I will have a craft room. Shelves of brightly hued yard stacked tall, mounds of bobbles and string, paper and glue everywhere!

One day... I will make so many knitted and crochet goods that I will open an etsy store!

One day... is today!

In yoga class the other night, we were instructed to finish the following sentence:

I am so grateful and happy that....

the only thought that crossed my mind was "I AM" "here"

The present is so full of potential, and for us to tap into that infinite possibility every moment is so glorious... just knowing that I am on the path brings me joy in the smallest moments of my day.

As the heartbreakingly emotional Colt McCoy said last night after the Texas loss... "I never question why things happen the way they do... I know God is in control of my life"

may your god, goddess, spirit, light shine in your life!

Love Rose Love Flower

Learning to crochet flowers tonight! Best day ever!