sunday crafting

i spent the better part of sunday afternoon working on this little project. it was cold and drizzly outside, and i was glad to have something to keep my hands busy while my mind sorted through some heavy thoughts that have been looming lately (my 25th birthday is right around the corner, and like clockwork, i've been having a bit of a quarter-life crisis). painting these brightly-colored wooden spoons cheered me right up! another thing that eased my twenty-something existential woes? watching the latest episodes from season two of girls.

four years

i've been experimenting with watercoloring and hand-lettering my own cards. they always end up a little bit messy and imperfect, but ultimately, they're unique and a labor of love. just like relationships.

happy four years, drew! words (or a card) can't express how much i love you.

spicy margarita kit

being at home is the best. i'm having way too much fun with family and friends and finally have time to get a little crafty. here's a semi-homemade gift idea for the holiday season!

spicy margarita kit

i filled a quart-sized ball jar with tequila and added two chopped and de-seeded jalapeno peppers. after letting the peppers infuse for two days, i strained them and tied an extra jalapeno to the outside of the jar. in a basket lined with tissue paper, i placed the infused tequila, limes, triple sec and two little glasses found at anthropologie. wrapped with baker's twine around the basket handle, i added this recipe card with simple instructions for spicy margaritas.

halloween

to say i haven't given any thought to halloween this year would be an understatement. this halloween weekend we'll be moving to the studio, celebrating our third anniversary, and drew's dad will be visiting! i still have no clue what i'm dressing up as.

that's why, when i found this little "craft" on real simple, i decided that i had to make it. it was such an easy and adorable way to decorate for halloween without exerting too much effort or thought, which i'll need a lot of when i'm costume brainstorming at the last minute!

not just for summer camp

when i think of woven friendship bracelets, two words come to mind: summer camp. buying the different colors of string used to be the highlight of my visits to the camp store. afterward, i'd sit around with my friends for hours and churn out bracelet after bracelet.

so imagine my surprise when i started to see these colorful blasts from past on the wrists of models in fashion editorials! soon after, retail stores began selling them (for a rip-off price), so i decided to make my own. the little summer camper in me squealed with delight as i found myself in a craft store buying string once again. i'm not sure how these bracelets made their way back to being relevant, but i'm sure glad they did. 

make your own stationery

not being able to go to work this week (or leave the house in general) is driving me a little bit insane. i'm waiting on some test results, but the doctors are now almost positive that i ingested a parasite from the local tap water. a parasite! for the girl who is the world's #1 germaphobe + who has nightmares about the show monsters inside me. eating has been a disaster (as a result, i've lost an unhealthy amount of weight in the last week and have zero energy). naturally, i've been trying to stay busy and keep my spirits up. crafts + mad men marathons have certainly helped.

i first got the idea to make my own stationery when i saw a cute vintage typewriter stamp in a store. i bought the stamp, some alphabet stamps, ink, card stock and matching envelopes. buying cards is always expensive + handmade items have so much charm that i think people appreciate and enjoy. on the front, i stamped the card stock with the typewriter and included the words "just writing to say..." and the back is reserved for whatever the occasion (happy birthday, get well soon, thank you, hello). the whole project cost me around $12. i think my first one will go to my parasite: just writing to say... get the hell out of my intestines.

scenes from the weekend

this post should actually be titled, "scenes (of food and booze) from the weekend". browsing through my pictures today, i realized that all i did this weekend was eat and drink. not that i'm complaining, i'm just feeling a little guilty because i should have been saving my (nonexistent) money for this upcoming week. my dear friend kerry will be visiting from wednesday to monday and we have so much eating, drinking + shopping ahead of us!

1. tequila, fresh lime juice + grapefruit soda.
2. cute back patio of new (vegan!) bar, the sweet hereafter.
3. falafel with grilled eggplant, carmelized onions + greens from wolf and bear's.
4. park lounging with jill.
5. loot from the local farm stand.
6. matching grapefruit + champagne cocktails at gold dust with mary.
7. tofu, egg white, brown rice, black bean + broccoli brunch at isabel pearl. 
8. lovely sign.
9. my adorable fur child taking a snooze.
10. homemade granola bars for drew (recipe to come).

handkerchiefs

yesterday's walk home from work was perfect. what had started out as a drizzly + chilly morning turned into a warm + sunny late afternoon. i tucked my raincoat into my bag, rolled up my pant legs + walked with a big smile across my face. every day, i've been in the habit of listening to the beirut station on pandora. all of the songs make me feel like i'm walking to some incredible destination. like i'm on an exciting adventure. when really, i'm walking somewhere quite boring like my apartment. or in yesterday's case, the local hardware store.

i picked up some supplies for a little project that i had in mind. i also stopped by the farm stand near my apartment to purchase some veggies for dinner. it's sad that i forget that this place exists until i literally walk right by it. every time i do go in and see the beautiful produce, i kick myself for not visiting more often. 

but, back to my project. remember these lovely handkerchiefs? i had a vision of what i wanted to do with them since my grandmother gave them to me, and i finally got around to it last night. as always, it sounded like an easy idea in my head, but i struggled a little with the execution of it. after a few frustrating attempts to measure the string (difficult with a playful cat around) + accidentally hammering my thumb instead of the nail, i got this:

it's hanging over our kitchen table. i'm not sure my two male roommates dig the girly floral patterns as much as i do, but it certainly brightens up the room a bit.

in just a few minutes, drew's mom will be here! visitors are fun because we get to act like tourists all over again, rediscovering things we love + discovering new things to love.

vintage charm

i made this today.

 

i'm attracted to all things vintage and floral, hence my love for anthropologie. i picked up the necessary items yesterday at a thrift shop, and voila! today i have a little jewelry stand.

i plan on making a few more of these for some special women in my life, namely, my grandmother. she sells antiques and vintage clothing, and i know she would adore one.