Back from Camp, New Project

Just got home from summer camp yesterday, and I'm TIRED. Of course I have to work today, though, which kinda sucks but at least I'm making alot of money from my ultra-tiring job. Anyways, camp was awesome, but no real pics to show from it- I brought my camera, but I ended up being too occupied with having fun to remember to take pics. It's a shame, because the camp is beautiful. Sitting on a huge lake, surrounded by thick woods, we're talking picturesque stuff. It rained alot while we were there, but luckily it was always sunny during our four hours of free time a day, when we swam in the lake, played on the Blob (huge lake inflatables), went tubing, climbed on ropes courses, and explored a cave. So... yeah. What did I accomplish when I wasn't being outdoorsy? I started a new scarf.

This pic is with flash- it's not this bright, and in real life it's not shiny. This yarn is super non-fancy, it's like acrylic and some other synthetic, because my, umm, teenage budget didn't allow for wool? Okay, that's a lie, I had just spent my money on other things. Anyway. I almost feel guilty working on a knitted project for myself, because I have a literal waiting list of people who want one. It's crazy. But I really wanted to make this, so that's okay.. .right?

This photo's kinda blurry, but more true to the color.

Detail shot!

The scarf will be in stripes in these colors. They won't be small stripes; I will keep knitting in each color until I run out of that yarn, then switch to a new color. Big, fat, chunky blocks of color. That's the plan. Oh, and also, if you want this scarf pattern, it can be found here.

Generous Gifts

Today we went to see alot of my family in a town I'll refer to as Middle of Nowhereland, Oklahoma. We went to my great grandma's house. She's lived in this small town all of her life, worked at the school there, had kids there, and she was also an avid seamstress the whole time. She's made literally hundreds of quilts in her life; everyone in town has at least one, I kid you not. She's older now, 94, and she can't do things like that anymore. She is finishing up what she plans to be her last quilt. So she asked me if I wanted any of her fabric... She told me I could have whatever I wanted, although most of it was in very small scraps. Everything shown below was in large enough pieces to make at LEAST one garment, although some of the pieces have at least 3 yards. I'm so grateful right now.

This is actually super shiny in real life... Don't know what I could possibly use it for, but it's pretty awesome.

This is a very small piece, but I loved it and its vintage-y look.

This is the first piece I plan on using; I'm gonna make it into a high-waisted skirt with a tie belt and pockets. Perfect with a plain white V-neck, right? It's also a bit shiny.

I envision this sweet old floral as a soft button down with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of old jeans. Just like a Gap ad.

This big, beautiful floral reminds me of the Golden Girls. right?

May make this one into a skirt for my little sis, she LOVES it and the colors look great with her skin tone.

This lace was the smallest piece, I will probably use it for more crafty things instead of garment making. But, no plans yet, it was just too pretty to leave behind.

Maybe my favorite. I believe this piece is from the 50's, and I'm in love with the print- birds and baskets? Cool!

Honestly, I have 3 yards of this crazily awesome and doubt it can be made into clothing. At least, clothing appropriate for me to wear. However, I took it for purely sentimental reasons. A quilt my great grandma made me has this same fabric in it, and I remember a long time ago when I was at her house she gave me a scrap of this, and I made it into a little dress for a clothespin doll. I thought it was so beautiful then, and I still like it....

I have alot of projects ahead of me now. It's a good thing I love prints. I need to learn how to mix them better in my outfits, or else I'll run out of things to wear....

In the Garden

This skirt used to be almost floor length- I bought it at Goodwill in some wierd state of mind that I would look good in a skirt skimming my ankles. Well, it sat in my closet (of course), and I suddenly had this mental image of what it would look like with  a peplum- so I chopped off the bottom nine inches, hemmed it, and re-sewed the extra fabric onto the top. It's only in the front, though- there wasn't enough to do it all the way around. Whole project took about an hour.

I didn't even wear this today. Working 5-6 days a week means I'm normally in my Sonic atire, because when I get home from work I normally watch movies with my friends at home. No attractive outfits reqired. I actually made this skirt a couple of weeks ago, just didn't get around to posting it.

My little sister has a garden- she's growing peas, zucchini, beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, and some other stuff I forgot.

That's her checking something out. I absolutely can't wait to have some fresh produce to cook with....

A duck watching over tomatoes.

Mint growing in our stock tank- it's taken over really fast. I don't actually know what to do with it....

Unripe zucchini.

Unripe tomatoes.

Zucchini blossoms. Summer's so beautiful...

In Praise of Vibrams

(Me and my Dad, the Narrows at Zion National Park)

So, these are pretty much the best shoes I've ever owned. Well, not even pretty much. They ARE the best. They cost almost $100, depending on the style, but that ended up being completely reasonable. These guys are so comfortable, and they're healthy for you. They exsercise your toes, and also whole new mucles you didn't even realize you had in your calves. I go jogging in them, and it's great. My legs hurt for DAYS, guys. I mean, in a good way.

(The Virgin River, Zion National Park)

The best part is that you can't even feel that you're wearing them, once you get over the initial awkward feeling of jamming each individual toe into its tiny respective slot. It feels like you forgot shoes, and you've just been running around barefoot- the way we originally did. Sounds cheesy, but it's a great feeling. You can feel the textures of the ground beneath you- when you're walking on grass, versus tile, versus carpet, pebbles, or pavement. You can feel the cracks in tiles through these guys.

(My feet at an outdoor concert)

Basically, I love taking pics of my feet in them. They're awesome. I hiked the Grand Canyon and Zion national park in them, and it was way better than any tennis shoe or hiking boot I could have worn. They're grippy yet lightweight, and they offer protection without taking away the feeling of the terrain.

(Same concert, now henna'd up)

I know they're far from fashionable, and to be honest, I don't wear them out much when I'm not excercising. But they have a special place in my heart, and when I'm going on an adventure, they're what I immediately slip on. With a little bit of toe effort, of course.

(Note: About Eclipse: I hate to admit, but I really enjoyed the movie, although the farther the films go the more I hate Edward. Really, girls, why DO you like him? He's clingy, overprotective, jealous, obsessive.... His face leaves alot to be desired too. And it really seemed like everyone in this movie was determined to be, well, pissy. I just want Bella to legitimately smile, even once, and look like she means it. Too much to ask? Maybe. Anyways, liked the movie but mostly liked Charlie. And the Harry Potter trailer.)

Street Style

I want to start off by saying, we are currenly experiencing weather in the 90's-100's, with at LEAST 50% humidity every day. So, any climate that can currently wear layers.. well, I'm experiencing extreme envy. Fall/ winter is MY SEASON, guys. It's when dressing gets really fun again.

I am in such admiration of these girls. I feel like I'm slowly finding my own style, and it's ultra-feminine. I love florals, full skirts, layers.. These pictures just make me wish the weather would drop out of the 90's.

Fabulous winter coats.... Summer clothes all layered up underneath. Perfection.

And finally, LOVE this jumper, but I feel for the girl because what if she has to use the bathroom....? It'll take her at least 10 minutes to get out of all of that!

Anyway, that's all for today. Going to the Eclipse premier tonight... No outfit post at the moment since I'm in a robe and my old AP Lang shirt.

(Images from Hel Looks)

Little Bit of Free Time

Got a job at Sonic, and they have scheduled me for about 30 hours a week- basically, too much. I'm carhopping, though, which actually makes good money because of the tips.  Never mind the fact that my pocket full of $1s makes me look kinda like a stripper at the end of the day... The hairstyle I've got going here is the perfect working hair because it's all out of my face, but it looks cute and keeps my hair neat. Customers keep complimenting me, and then they tip me! Hey, just sayin', it pays to look put-together. I learned how to do it from this tutorial, on the awesome Blog for Better Sewing.

So anyway, this is me a couple of hours before work. The romper, sunglasses and shoes are all from Wal-mart- craziness, right? I don't know. I love all of it. The cardigan's Target, and the purse is vintage. Cheap clothes are appealing to me lately, but at the moment I'm saving up for a big purchase: a pair of floral Doc Martins. I need winter boots, and to be honest, I can't think of a pair better suited for me than those shoes. Now that I'm a working girl, I'd like to think I can justify buying them- right? View here.

I like how you can see all the haphazard bobby pins hangin' out up there in this pic.

I love this purse, but am in constant fear that the strap will break. That happened with the last beaded, vintage purse I loved...  I try and treat it with caution, but it goes with everything so it definately gets alot of use.

Delicious

Mmmmmmm.

I realize most people don't like it, but I recently realized I love licorice. It's delicious, it tastes like big kid candy. Maybe it's one of those things you have to learn to love.

I like the pink best.