Experiments, books and too much starch!

It's January 22 and as of today, my resolutions have held themselves to be fairly doable- that is, everything except making more frequent blog posts. But honestly, (and I hope not to make an empty promise here) I will try to make it a higher priority (:  The past few weeks, I've been in a reading/bread making/ fabric dying phase. I can't seem to quench any of these parched thirsts yet. And so, to save y'all from suffering through a million projects, I think I'll space them out throughout this week. Still to come- finished wall hanging, crazy pants, revamped scarves, kitchen experimentations, ponderings, recipes, and a whole week filled with jubilation- because high school midterms mean half days here!

A favorite Christmas present so far. If ever in need of a basic pattern making book, sprint (or maybe just drive..) to your library and digest the mass amount of helpful guiding for the basic steps of drafting clothing patterns.

Dyed canvas shoes- after two failures (a vomit yellow and speckled, bloody color) I am content to stop messing with the color of these shoes. Another thrift store find for 2$- definitely worth the experimental undertaking of testing and playing with dyes.

As mentioned, here's just one of the many bread batches I've made since Christmas. I'll be posting some links to  several blog recipes that are simple, doable, and not finicky- great for those of us just learning the art of making bread.

Anne of Green Gables= my latest exploration of classic, timeless literature- a series I plan to pace myself through, to actually savor the enjoyment and enthrallment of Montgomery's writing style. ...Need a new book?

A friend from church gave me two bags of beautifully soft and malleable llama wool- a deep chocolate and pale ivory- both of which I plan on spinning to make some cowls and skeins to revamp my winter wardrobe.                           

Excuse my heroic stance... (it's a work in progress, what can I say) but this technicolor scarf made from my dear Pennsylvania friend matches near everything I have! The skirt is one of the more recent creations altered from some man's old shirt. I absolutely love the simplicity and adaptability of  thrift store finds- especially because they don't hurt the budget!


Until tomorrow (hopefully) enjoy a few of the websites and blogs I've been perusing!:

How to match plaids

Basic pleated clutch

Infinity dress tutorial

Skirt ideas/inspiration and tutorials

P.S. The Giants are going to the Superbowl!!

 

It's not the end of the world

       As the year comes to a close, I've found myself thinking about where I was a year ago. I was living in Pennsylvania, had a bit less wisdom, was stressed about college, and didn't spend near the amount of time I craved with either God or my hobbies (though I am still fairly stressed about college decisions..) My 2011 goals were reached- read more, get closer to God, branch out and be uncomfortable, move to New Jersey with my sanity in tact...Those are just the ones I've met. I've learned that I set too many goals for myself, and get bummed out when I can't reach the unrealistic, impractical self-set standards.
        So, with that in mind, my resolutions for 2012 are (hopefully) more obtainable and focused than they have been in the past. As with every year, I want to become more well-rounded and grow in my faith and relationship with Christ. But aside from the yearlies.. 1) Learn the basics of American Sign Language 2) Go to college  3)  Learn Cable and Brioche Knitting  4) Blog more  5) Read the New Testament 6) Make a bed quilt 7) Draft and make a hope chest.... I think that's fairly plausible.
         And as Thanksgiving is still aboard my train of thoughts, I'm creating a conglomeration of thankfulness. So far on my list:  my Pennsylvania friends- even though I'm an hour and a half away, I'm only an hour and a half away (:  My parents- their never ceasing love and patience with my quirkiness and unusual interests (thanks for putting up with me dying fabrics in our porcelain sink!) My brothers/sister-in-law- their loving honesty and admirable maturity and thriftiness. My new church family for their continuing support of my family through all of the adjustments and the deepening roots of budding friendships. There's always more, but that gives a fairly okay birds' eye view.
        I'll be posting pictures hopefully soon of what I've been up to. Now that Christmas is over, I can throw in some of the Christmas gifts that are still obtainable for pictures. But blogging hasn't become an obsession yet... though it is nice to keep record of what I'm doing- sometimes I get destination disease, and forget to let myself see my accomplishments. With that said, I wish ya'll a safe (and dare I say sober?) New Years Eve- stay safe Owen J.
   

Technological Advancements

Wohoo! I feel as though I have gone through a rite of passage- posting pictures on my blog. 

I am incredibly technologically illiterate, so it took me a while, but here's what I have been up to the past month. My room is wallpapered, spackled, primed painted a sky blue, and the plan is to make it as natural as possible. I've found a few thrifted wood baskets that are great for destroying the dreaded messes that often accompanies creativity as well as other storage necessities (at the old house, I didn't have as much sewing space as I do now). Seeing as I couldn't post pictures before, this is a fairly accurate conglomeration of events and projects. Feel free to skip the captions- my mind is anticipating sleep, not intellect.

My room post wallpaper removal. Imagine it painted nicely, with a few outlet covers, new carpet, and fresh paint (A picture to follow in a later post- once the room has a bit more organization)

The new sun room is pretty sweet for plant propagation

 

A scarf from over the summer- now it's finally cold enough to wear it

My first quilt! A wall hanging for my bedroom (now I just need to finish the binding)

Second wall hanging- a Christmas present with darker browns (also still have to bind)

My first binding results- all I have to do is finish sewing the miters and take out the plethora of pins

The commencement of my first bed quilt- colors will match my curtains and room (if all goes swell)

My Louet love (the bribe for moving)

Hand-spun wool cowl neck in progress

Before...

...After.... a grand sized bag for my spinning wheel extras

$ 2 Thrift store dress- shortened and taken in

 So that about raps it up for today. I'm learning that everything's a work in progress, and that life is a whole lot easier leaning on Christ. Happy [belated] Thanksgiving!

    

P.S. New Jersey does have farms <3

Growing Pains

         It's said that in order to grow as a person, you must first be willing to grow. I disagree. I was quite against the idea of change, yet it still happened. I have grown, sometimes against my will, to become someone greater than the person I was yesterday, or even last month. Right now, I'm reading a book titled What Happened to Lani Garver and as of now, being half way through the book, I must confess that it has hit my top five favorites. It's the kind of book that makes you ponder deep into the words of the page, swimming in controversial themes such as eating disorders, teen homelessness, homosexuality... For at least the next twenty four hours (if I can make it last that long!) this book will be a haven to me, an intriguing escape from the newness here in Jersey; something that stretches, grows and challenges the wanderings of my soul.
   
   As a shout out to some incredibly sweet people at church, I have officially acquired ten or so trash bags full of raw wool. Though slightly tempted to drift towards this option instead of attending school, I have resisted the perpetual desires to card, spin, ply and knit the plethora of sheep's wool. With Winter (or atleast the hoped end of this Indian Summer) coming soon, out come the bags of wool, hand-spun yarns and crochet hooks. Oh, how I truly love the joyous frigidity of Fall and Winter- forcing families together (for better or worse) to stay inside for months, bringing the commencement of puzzles, fireplaces and snowmen.
   
        On a different note, a girl from my old school was in a severe car accident this week and died just hours after the crash. As the school mourns the loss of such an amazing girl, I pray that God would comfort everyone- for a death of a student never affects just the closest of friends. Her death is like that of a rock thrown into a pond, sending ripples across the surface and into the depths of the thousands who knew her. Just months ago, my previous high school lost another student, a senior, and I know that many are still in mourning of his sudden, unsuspected death.. Gabby Vogel, a five year old girl also from my old town, died two weeks ago after battling brain cancer for only a few short months. I personally have no answer for why young people die. It's illogical, against the natural grain of death. It's not natural for kids to die first; parents shouldn't have to mourn the death of a child.

        But as I'm learning (oftentimes in the less than easy path) God has a reason for even the hardest of circumstances, even the deaths and changes, struggles and turmoils we face. All we need is to trust that the pain of growing, of changing, will bring about a better person in the end.

And in the Beginning...

     The theory of moving for my senior year seemed, several months ago, to be one of the more worse happenings in my life. Like most teenagers, I have, and deal with, struggles for me and others to accept who I am. It took a fair amount of time for me to meet my amazing Pennsylvania friends, and the thought of leaving them provided an image of mourning. I was tempted to find a bridge to sleep under, or live in a box for a year, so as not to leave everything I had become familiar with. However, I decided against it; I sort of enjoy warm showers and the comforts of homemade curries with my brother. Thus leading me to a new high school, new friends, new house... new many things. But I nearly forgot that my spinning wheel, sewing machine, and knitting needles would make the journey with me (at least I have three inanimate objects that may possibly understand my quirks and features).
    With school starting in a week or so, I have decided that I need to get back into some sort of life routine- (Maybe getting to bed before 2am? Or commencing to study some Spanish verbular tenses? Actually, nevermind. I'll save that for a week from now.) Thankfully, one of my grandest concerns and prayer ponderings was the varied expectations and qualifications to graduate from this new and very different senior high. Prayers answered, I need only three classes to graduate from here (Wohoo for my old school's high standards!) and with one of them being English, the other wood/metal shop, and the third gym/health, I think this will unfold into a delightful year. I also yearned to dabble in some German and Spanish, still leaving me with several study halls a day, and the possibilities to quilt and have an acute case of Senioritis in the meantime. New Jersey, so far, has lived up to my preconceived notions (both good an bad), and I have been given the chance to renew and begin again.
   With the joyously unexpected visit from one of my brothers, I gained a greater appreciation for family, especially my family. Sometimes, we can put our families under microscopic lenses, pointing out only the negatives, the annoyances, and the bickerings. Often only when a family spends time apart do they truly begin to miss the good things, the goofy things, the things that you'd never realize you'd miss. My two brothers are honestly awesome. They are friends I'll never be out of contact with, friends I'll never lose no matter what state I live in; they are a priceless rarity or unrecognized commodity. My middle brother, Adam, is one of my best, and closest friends. And in thankfulness of his latest visit, here is a starter thought recipe for one of our curries (though remember to try your curry's taste often to adjust ingredients- just let the tastes seep gently into one another, and consider bumming around with your family while making this vegan supper)...

   Simply delicious Curry

     Essentials:  Oil, Onions, Other Vegetables, One container of Tofu (firm), One bag of Spinach, Small container of Honey or Vanilla Greek Yogurt or Canned Coconut Milk, Turmeric, Curry Powder, Cumin, Sugar to taste

       1. In a wok, throw two or three chopped onions in olive, sesame, or grape seed oil. Let them soften to your taste bud's desire.

       2. In the meantime, start dicing any vegetables you have on hand (sweet/fingerling potatoes, carrots, asparagus...) and cooking any grains/lentils you have in your pantry (quinoa, cous-cous, brown rice...) in another pot.

       3. Finely chop up some spinach, and set it aside for now.

       4. With the onions, throw in a can or two of chick peas and your tofu , and add either a half can of coconut milk or a several heaping tablespoons of Greek Yogurt. Let this simmer 3-5 minutes.

  ** Make sure you smell your spices first. You might not like the smell, and this could save you from eating (or not eating) something you don't enjoy. 

       5. Add in as many or as few spices as you desire. I usually add in the essentials from up top + a bit of Cayenne pepper or Sriracha sauce, Savory, Cardamom and Marjoram.

       6. If it seems too liquidy, let it simmer a bit longer. Add in your spinach, and give your meal a few more minutes. Keep in mind that the spinach absorbs a decent amount of the sauce.

     On a bed of grains or lentils, lay your curried tofu and vegetables.

If anyone tries it, I'd love to hear how it turns out. With curries and less familiar foods in general, you become more comfortable the more you cook with it, so even if your first go isn't amazing, don't give up on this quick and healthy meal (: 

The Gift of Change

Life is a rolling ocean, crashing yet peaceful in the midst of change and opportunity.

     I'm moving, and in two weeks, I will reside in New Jersey. It's exciting, change. All of my sewing, spinning, knitting and plants will be packed away, in the anticipation of unpacking, redecorating and being inspired by the newness. Several days ago, I got my first spinning wheel (a bribe for moving graciously and respectfully for my senior year of high school) and have an incredibly grand interest in it . I love the history residing within it, the way it makes and produces, while easing a blanket of calm over me.
     Since I was a little kid, I have loved art. I was, and am, a sponge captivated by anything artsy, but specifically arts that are fiber and textile oriented. Feeling the linens, corduroys, silks drip through my fingers and into the beauty of dreamed sketches. Gently twisting the greased wool into an imperfect perfection. I love the simplicity and complexity, the paradoxical joys of creativity that grows and is spurred from my surroundings and God-given interests.
     I am a seventeen year old knitter, crocheter, spinner, book-reader, seamstress and artist, with a hope to someday be a seasoned and experienced sharer of these interests. Knowing that I am unlike most kids my age, I trust that God will provide people along the way this year, as well as in the future, to let me grow and learn from, as well as become friends with.  I am ready to wander through unknown lands of exploration, of newness and creativity, of depth and expansion. Whispering towards my passion of art, this blog will become a sketchbook of creation, exploration, fascination..