Lime Street Home

Spring

2011-04-08T09:38:00.004-04:00

As the possibility of snow recedes farther into the distance, my optimism grows. Spring will arrive, someday. And when it does, I will be prepared with this A.P.C. tank.

Poached

2011-03-03T10:24:00.003-05:00

I poached an egg freestyle last night, y'all. Actually, three of them. With the help of this thekitchn post, I managed not to repeat my previous poaching disasters.

The only note I have to add to their article is that when the egg plummets immediately to the bottom of the pot, do not panic. Just leave it be.

Maybe that's more of a personal note.

Optimistic

2011-03-02T13:00:00.004-05:00

A bit chilly for sandals, I know, but I've always had a touch of Pollyanna about me. What do you think?

from Repetto

My jury is out on this one.

LBD

2011-02-23T10:07:00.006-05:00

I'm on the hunt for a little, black dress to wear to a wedding. Here are two contenders:

From Chloe

From Phillip Lim

I already have a black dress that would be perfectly serviceable, but I'm having a good time looking for a dress to go with my kicky, new haircut.

The Old Switcheroo

2010-07-20T12:51:00.003-04:00

After reading this recommendation from Nigella Lawson for Chanel lipstick in Mythic, I visited the nearest Chanel counter to give it a whirl. The salesperson thought it was a hoot that I was accepting make-up advice from a cookbook author, but then proceeded to tell me her husband's recipe for chili.

P.S. - The lipstick is fabulous.

Double Win

2010-07-14T10:40:00.006-04:00

Mr. Lime and I enjoyed a double header of new recipes from The Kitchn last night, Chilled Gazpacho Andaluz

and Zucchini Butter on a split baguette.

I highly recommend both. Two successful, new summer recipes that involve minimal, if any, stove time. Double win.

The Grand Unveiling

2010-07-07T15:55:00.002-04:00

I finished my sweater last night. Which is to say, I finally attached the buttons. Forgive the terrible picture. The heat has apparently affected my eyesight. Or my camera.

Catbird

2010-07-07T15:51:00.004-04:00

I'm a little bit in love with this ring at Catbird.

Also with these stitch markers.

See? I'm not all diamonds and pearls.

Tiny Buttons

2010-07-06T15:18:00.007-04:00

I'm on the hunt for sweet buttons for my little sweater. Here are some contenders from Etsy:

Wooden buttons from Overspill's Shop

Butterflies from Wholeport's shop

Birds from stefaniexu's shop

Or these darlings from appleandeggs shop

Too many cute options! I don't know how I'm going to decide.

More Baby Knits

2010-07-02T14:55:00.004-04:00

I got to do some more work on the sweater over lunch and I just started the placket. I'm really nerding out because I haven't challenged myself knitting-wise in quite a while.

On a knit baby goods note, I'm oddly taken with these two Blabla Kids rattles:

They're named Ukelele and Octavio! Too cute.

Baby Sweater

2010-07-02T09:29:00.003-04:00

I'm knitting my first baby sweater, Purl Soho's Child Placket Sweater, and it's so much easier than I ever thought it would be! The whole process has me scoping out baby clothes sothat I can pick out my next project.

I'm oddly in love with these Bon Point pants. I wish I could wear them myself:

Actually, I wish I could wear the whole ensemble:

Wedding Dress

2010-06-24T16:01:00.005-04:00

I'm told that, at some point during the first year after your wedding, all brides encounter "the dress". The perfect dress. The dress that would have been the one, but didn't exist, or at least didn't exist in your awareness, until it was too late.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present mine:

To be fair, I really enjoyed my actual wedding dress. And, in truth, I'm just not a wedding dress kind of girl. So this is not a big deal at all. I just think it's pretty & wanted to share.

Travel

2010-06-24T13:30:00.004-04:00

It's hard to believe that so much time has passed! Mr. Lime and I have been on the road a lot during the past two months; visiting places that begin with the letter "P".

Like this:

And this:

And this:

And I'm delighted to report that we're also planning a trip here:

Box of Fun

2010-04-29T12:23:00.004-04:00

Got to work on the Cellular Blanket last night and just giving myself those hours of relaxation was enough to bump me out of my grad school funk. I've been working myself ragged and have consequently been losing perspective on the big picture.

BB & I are celebrating his little cousin's first communion this weekend. I'm so excited for her! Because she'll be receiving about 1,000 bibles and crucifixes, we decided to give her something a little less traditional. We've put together a "box of fun" full of erasers that look like hamsters:

Scented pens:

A diary with a lock:

The obligatory savings bond and a host of stickers, garland, etc.

So much fun!

The Booby Prize

2010-04-28T15:03:00.003-04:00

So, I've been accepted into the graduate program that I've applied for. Traditionally, the program accepts four a year, but they've decided to accept me as a fifth. Which means that, if I decide to accept, I will not be offered financial aid. I don't see that there's any way that I can attend given these circumstances. And I suppose I should be flattered that they want me at all, but it does feel like a bit of a booby prize.

Drinking the KoolAid

2010-04-23T15:32:00.002-04:00

I stumbled into the Saks friends and family event today while picking up a replacement bottle of foundation. And could I leave well enough alone and simply enjoy the savings on my foundation? No. Instead, I also picked up a bottle of their Particuliere nail polish, just like hundreds of ladies before me.

Why am I so on the bandwagon? Because the bandwagon is so darn pretty this spring!

Blankets & Visitors

2010-04-22T09:53:00.003-04:00

BB's Mom is coming for a last minute visit and we're so excited. I'm on tidying duty tonight and am mentally assembling menus that I think she'll like. We're lucky because Boston is in bloom and looking particularly pretty. So all we really need in the way of entertainment is to step outside.

I've been hit by the crafting bug again lately and am a mere two rows away from completing the monster, cabled baby blanket that I started well over a year ago. And I already have my next project queued up. Another baby blanket! ( I swear I'm not expecting.) I randomly checked Erika Knight's Natural Nursery Knits out of the library last week and am completely entranced.

It's the Cellular Blanket that caught my eye.

Pax super totum sanguinarium globum

2010-04-19T11:30:00.002-04:00

We survived having the tea party and she-who-must-not-be-named in our fair city, but I must confess that the whole thing has left a bad taste in my mouth. Boston doesn't quite feel the same to me after the madness. Is there any place in this world left where a body can get some peace?

Returns

2010-04-16T10:13:00.004-04:00

Had to return the Steven Alan shirt. I ordered it in Large, because on the hanger all of his shirts look teeny tiny to me. But when it arrived, the large was just too large. (Hooray!) So I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of the shirt in Medium. Let's hope I didn't make a mistake.

I also indulged & ordered a tube of Chanel's Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle, the shade that's been taking the blogosphere by storm:

I'm not generally one to be swept up by a make-up trend, but the mania over Mademoiselle has reached such a fever pitch that I figure there must be something to it. None of the stores in Boston have it in stock, but there were plenty available on the Chanel website. Plus they offer free shipping, so it's much cheaper than going through saks.com or bloomingdales.com.

BB & I are home this weekend and I'm hoping that we'll be able to spend it getting our lives in order. The house is a wreck, we have no food and our library books are all overdue. In short, our life is in tumult. Time to take it back.

Yellow

2010-04-13T12:03:00.002-04:00

I think that all of the daffodils and forsythia have gotten to me. I ordered this yellow plaid shirt from Steven Alan yesterday:

BB has two yellow plaid shirts that I really like, so I'm sort of copying him. We'll just have to make sure we never wear our yellow shirts on the same day.

NYC

2010-04-12T09:20:00.005-04:00

Hey strangers! Our travel marathon is over & the house buying hysteria seems to have passed as well. Phew. BB & I are just back from NY and Boston is feeling mercifully quiet, if a bit small. We saw A Little Night Music on Saturday, which was not as good as I expected for all of the hype, but still very nice.

After the show we enjoyed a very late sushi dinner at Shaburi, which I've been referring to as A Little Night Sushi.

On Sunday, I spent a wonderfully sunny day in Soho and Nolita. I hit Purl just before the big move and finally visited Le Labo.

Gimmicky, but I don't care. I still love their Rose 31 and their Bergamote 22.

And I finally found a well cut pair of military pants! APC is the best, but I never feel comfortable buying anything from them without trying it on first. Their sizing can be so inconsistent.

Possible New Place

2010-03-30T12:47:00.004-04:00

So, unexpectedly, we may be purchasing a condo. It's a long story, which I'll share if it all works out. But for the moment, I'm just going to decorate it in my mind. I'm thinking black and white tiles for the kitchen, just like this:

And maybe the bathroom floors as well. And Marais stools in the kitchen:

And I'll paint the whole darn place white.

Good Mojo

2010-03-25T10:06:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned earlier, BB & I are considering a move. Well, we finally saw an apartment online that looks just about perfect. It has a second room, it's well maintained, in a good location, has character. (I spent last night arranging our furniture in it in my mind . I can really see us there, starting a family.) The difficulty is that the realtor can't show it to us until tomorrow. And, in Boston, apartments have a way of slipping through your fingers. So I'm going ask all of you out there to send some good apartment mojo our way. I would really appreciate it.

The other difficulty is that, regardless of when we move, we're going to have to break our lease. I don't think that we'll have a hard time renting our current apartment becaue the location is great, it's gigantic and the rent is very reasonable. Also we keep it clean and cute, if I do say so myself. But the idea of taking on a new apartment before we've found renters for the old one makes me feel a little ill. (Ok, a lot ill. I'm a worrier.) Does anyone have any advice about breaking a lease? I could certainly use it.

Not Great

2010-03-24T10:58:00.004-04:00

Last night I tried making Ina Garten's Zucchini Pancakes from her Barefoot Contessa At Home book.

They weren't great. They were pretty bland actually. Which surprised me, as her recipes are generally so reliable. I think that, if I make these in the future, I'll add some garlic or maybe some red pepper flakes. I suppose that you could make larger pancakes and then roll them around a mixture of ricotta, feta and mint. Anyway, the lesson is, be prepared to dress this recipe up.

Highsmith

2010-03-23T16:42:00.005-04:00

I've spent the past two weeks devouring Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels. BB has been trying to persuade me for years that I would like them and I resisted. And, true to form, I was wrong to delay and then felt compelled to catch up on a wildly unrealistic time frame.

I've enjoyed them so much that the next book on my agenda is Beautiful Shadow: A Life of Patricia Highsmith.

I need to know more about the woman who created Ripley. (I'm a bit alarmed by how much I enjoy him and his morally bereft wife, Heloise. Their sociopathic tendencies don't bother me a bit.)

Maintaining

2010-03-17T12:41:00.002-04:00

I'm back, cherubs! Sorry for the mini-break. BB & I are looking for a new apartment and I've been really overwhelmed by the whole process. 1) Because all of the apartments available right now are basically student housing and are, consequently, really awful. 2) Because the very thought of moving has made me realize how much crap we have. And I don't want to move it into another apartment. So the apartment and our wardrobes have been undergoing what I refer to as The Purge. Just like on "Lost".

The upside of The Purge is now that I've finally thrown away my tattered and coats and shoes, I get to buy new ones. Hooray! Here's the Club Monaco Nori Trench that is replacing my collection of every spring coat I've had since I was 22:

Believe the Hype, Part 2

2010-03-12T11:27:00.002-05:00

So I picked up the Malin + Goetz Peppermint Shampoo and I have to say that it's worth it's weight in gold.

Between this and the Cilantro Conditioner, my hair is stronger and healthier than I ever believed possible. We're talking Rapunzel strong. And it happened in just matter of days.

When I bought the shampoo, the salesgirl and I chatted a bit about the shocking difference in results between the Malin + Goetz hair products and other schmancier products. (I've used Kerastace for years.) And what she basically told me was that when you use Kerastace, you're paying for the name. It was a solid reminder that price point and brand recognition do not necessarily equal quality.

Fabric Stamping Admiration

2010-03-11T12:18:00.003-05:00

I've spent this morning admiring the heck out of HomeSweet's beautiful hand stamped products.

Her results are truly inspiring. My screen printing has come a long way, but my fabric stamping skills are dreadful. I wish I could be a fly on the wall in her studio and pick up some tips!

Staycation

2010-03-09T23:17:00.005-05:00

Much though I wish I didn't have to use the word "staycation", that's exactly what I had over the past few days. And what I learned is that I'm not so bad at cleaning, chores, etc as I thought I was. I'm actually pretty great at it when I have the time. Unfortunately, I have to take days off to have the time.

So I did the big Spring clean, purged a ton of stuff that we don't use and cooked and crafted my little heart out. For example, I finished making this little mouse:

And found a home foe this Shaker tray:

And finished little Julian's socks:

I even baked muffins and refrigerator pickles (documentation to follow). Sigh. I need more days off.

Feeling Better

2010-03-04T22:28:00.005-05:00

Apologies for the lack of posts. I've had a rotten cold/bug for the last few days and was down for the count. But I'm feeling much better today and am really appreciating the unexpected sunshine Boston is getting.

Sweet BB brought me a peony and some ranunculus (my favorites) on Wednesday to cheer me up.

And during an ill advised bout of cabin fever, I lined the new blanket chest. Probably not the best thing to do when sick, but at least it's done.

Soaking Beans

2010-03-01T22:58:00.006-05:00

So, this may sound a bit silly, but I've never cooked dried beans before. I've had a bag of great northern beans kicking around for a bit, so last night I measured out a cup of them to soak overnight, as an experiment. Except that I forgot about them this morning and skipped off to work without giving them a thought. Here they are last night:

I shudder to think what they'll look like when I get home. Apparently, they're losing their texture and structural integrity due to over soaking. Oh good.

On a brighter note, check out this apple shaped fireware that I picked up this weekend. I'm using it to store my garlic!

Blanket Chest

2010-03-01T22:57:00.006-05:00

As promised, here's a shot of the new blanket chest. I'm still not sure that I like it at the foot of the bed.

Although it doesn't actually lock, it has a little key for a little, non-functional keyhole. I don't care that it's strictly decorative. I just love it.

And here's the little drawer on the bottom. If we keep it in the bedroom, I'll store pillowcases in here. If we ship it off to the dining room, I'll use it for napkin storage.

Pub Crawl Resulting in Antique Purchases

2010-03-01T13:32:00.005-05:00

BB and I survived the James Cameron Pub Crawl on Friday (barely). BB was the Titanic and I went as the Unforgiving Sea. Needless to say, we had a s-l-o-w rest of the weekend. We ate more La Tur, watched the Nova/Syracuse game and strolled around Beacon Hill. We actually wound up picking up an early American blanket chest and litho of Harvard at Upstairs Downstairs Antiques on Charles St. It's a great place, with good product, good prices and a really helpful staff.

I'll post pictures of the blanket chest in its new home tomorrow. I'm trying to decide of it makes the bedroom look too crowded.

Believe the Hype

2010-02-25T10:08:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, I tried two things that have been receiving a lot of attention on the blog-o-sphere lately. Malin+Goetz Cilantro Conditioner and La Tur Cheese. I'd been holding off because I felt that they couldn't possibly live up to the hype. I'm going on record officially as admitting that I was wrong. Brothers and sisters, believe in the conditioner and cheese!

First the conditioner... I only had to use about a quarter of the amount of conditioner that I usually use. (I have long hair.) And I could tell as I was rinsing it out that it had done something to my hair. Even soaking wet it felt noticeably softer and smoother. But my hair dried, I was amazed. My hair is thick, with a fairly rough texture, but this miraculous stuff made my hair feel soft and light as a baby's. I'm going to seek out the Peppermint Shampoo next.

And then the La Tur Cheese... Where to begin? I think that angels may have invented this cheese after humanity did something really, really good. I can come up with no other explanation for how amazing it is. Unfortunately, it probably undid all of my good work at the gym this week. But, honestly, it was worth it.

Socks for Julian

2010-02-24T09:23:00.004-05:00

What's this peculiar looking thing? Why it's only the cutest little baby sock in the world for my friend's new baby, Julian!

Ok, it's probably not the cutest baby sock in the world, but it's the first one I've ever attempted & I'm feeling proud. I'm using the Striped Socks pattern from Debbie Bliss' Cashmerino 2 book, with a few modifications. It knits up super fast on two needles. I knit this up over the course of two hours last night. (Full Disclosure: I knit really slowly and I was watching Lost. I'm sure the pattern actually knits up much more quickly.)

You just sew up the back of the piece to make it sock shaped. Plus, it doesn't have a ton of ends to weave in because you carry the alternating yarn colors up the side. So far, I'm a big fan of two needle baby socks. I'm actually mentally designing a pair right now...

Heather Ross on Spoonflower

2010-02-23T12:40:00.006-05:00

Some of Heather Ross' classic designs are now available for order on Spoonflower! Squee!

The palates have been reworked, so they're not identical to the originals. But I think they're grand! And isn't Spoonflower just about the coolest thing you've ever heard of?

Succulents

2010-02-22T15:20:00.004-05:00

My grad application is in! And to celebrate, I picked up a tiny succulent from Winston Flowers.

They has them displayed in little, square, glass vases and I'm loving the whole look.

I haven't been in a Winston Flowers in years. The last time I was there, I thought their arrangement seemed so forced and formal. Either they've changed or I have. Because their shop today absolutely delighted me.

More Screen Printing

2010-02-22T08:08:00.007-05:00

Here's phase 1 of my next screen. The blue dots are the screen drawing fluid. Once they're dry, I'll coat the screen with screen filler. Then, after that dries, I'll rinse the whole screen off and the blue dots will wash out, leaving a pattern for printing.

As you can tell, the screen printing bloom is still on the rose.

Little Sandwich Cookies

2010-02-22T08:05:00.007-05:00

Lovely, lovely weekend. Spent some serious quality time with friends and finished up my application to the graduate playwriting program. I also indulged in a few of these beautiful little cookies from the Hi-Rise Bread Company.

They're basically a much improved, freshly made version of the Oreo. And, in a polite nod to their lineage, named "the little sandwich cookie".

Granny Squares and the Dresser

2010-02-18T08:21:00.006-05:00

The granny square blanket is looking a bit wishy-washy to me, so I've decided to add a more pronounced border. I'm going to use the two purple tones that I've already used in the squares. Cross your fingers.

Oh and here's a long overdue shot of the new dresser. It needs a picture or something, but I still can't get over how clean it looks (excepting the screen printing materials and loom on the right).

Valentine Cookies

2010-02-16T19:14:00.006-05:00

Final Valentine post, I promise. Here are the cookies con marmelatta that I whipped up for BB.

The recipe made a ton of cookies, so BB also received an accompanying, less photogenic tin full of them. We had friends over after trivia on Sunday, so the cookies from the tin disappeared pretty quickly. So generous, that BB!

Total Eclipse of the Heart

2010-02-16T09:53:00.003-05:00

Why do long weekends always go so fast? This morning, I was convinced that Boston was going to pull off the elusive three day weekend + snow day combo, but no such luck.

On Saturday, BB and I went to the Total Eclipse of the Heart: 80s Love Song Sing-Along at Coolidge Corner. It was amazing. We wore Haul & Oates mustaches and did the Love is a Battlefield Dance.

The highlight of the night for me was Lionel Richie's "Hello", until a couple got engaged during "Total Eclipse of the Heart". How can you top that? Sorry Lionel.

Hermes Drawer Liners

2010-02-12T11:12:00.006-05:00

I decided to go with the Hermes drawer liners. They were the least cutesy and they smell incredible; sophisticated and exotic.

I wish that there were a candle with this exact scent that I could keep in our living room. I've found some contenders, but no exact matches. If there are any scent-savvy folks out there with the candle of my dreams, please let me know.

My contenders (so far) are:

Diptyque Galliano Candle

Malin + Goetz Vetiver Candle

More to follow...

Babies and Grannies

2010-02-11T10:14:00.005-05:00

The granny squares have been assembled! School was let out early yesterday, which gave me an unexpected and lovely pocket of free time to work on Erin's blanket. It's not quite ready for its unveiling yet, as I'm still working on the border.

And in far more exciting news, my friend Brandy had her baby last night! They had a beautiful boy named Julian. And now I'm trying to figure out how to make a butch version of the baby bloomers. I don't know that it's possible.

Here's a little of the baby boy inspiration that I've been perusing while I ponder.

*all beautiful baby gifts above are from Oeuf

Pavilion Gray

2010-02-10T12:17:00.002-05:00

And the new color for our living room is... Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray.

My quest is over.

Bleak House

2010-02-10T10:58:00.004-05:00

In 2008, when I embarked on my mission to reread all of the books that I hated in high school (and was surprised to find that, for the most part, I really enjoyed them), I couldn't quite muster the strength to take on any books by Charles Dickens. For the better part of my life I've been quite convinced that I can't stand his work.

But this weekend, after much hemming and hawing, I picked up Bleak House at the library. And I love it. I'll have to wade deeper into the works of Mr. Dickens. I may even grow to enjoy his lengthy description of fog.

Con Marmellata

2010-02-09T15:59:00.003-05:00

On our honeymoon, BB had at least three biscotti con marmellata every day. So for Valentine's Day, I've decided to bake him some. I'm going to use a modified version of Ina Garten's Jam Thumbprint Cookies, sans coconut.

The ones we had in Italy were usually apricot or citrus, but I think I may go with raspberry. The color seems much more Valentine-appropriate.

I thought I'd put them in an airtight jar with a heart tag. Too cute? Just cute enough? It's so hard to tell.

Granny Square Distraction

2010-02-09T11:20:00.005-05:00

My granny squares have been completed and are laying out, ready for assembly. The assembly will be happening tonight, in theory. But Lost is on and I suspect the evening will have more smoke monster than crocheting.

So here's a little granny square inspiration to keep me on the righteous path.

So pretty. I will crochet tonight. I will only partially pay attention to the smoke monster. I will persevere in the face of explosions, time travel and wild exposition.

Oh, on the granny square front, Alicia Paulson is selling the pattern to her Sunshine Day Baby Afghan. it's absolutely gorgeous and well worth checking out.

Weekend at Looc

2010-02-08T09:45:00.003-05:00

Fabulous, fabulous sale at Looc Boutique this weekend! (I just love this store.)

I braved the winds and plummeting temperature on Saturday to check it out and was rewarded with a lovely Epice scarf:

and a dainty set of Amulette lingerie.

The rest of the weekend was spent eating pho and working on Erin's granny square blanket. Oh, I love weekends.

More Drawer Liners

2010-02-05T10:39:00.002-05:00

On the drawer liner front, I just found out that Sabon also carries them:

I love Sabon's scents and I love their quality, but I can't say that aesthetically I'm loving these liners. It might just be that they don't go with my dresser. They would probably be lovely in something less streamlined.

Tame Those Drawers

2010-02-05T09:25:00.005-05:00

I've been sick the past two days and haven't had a chance to get my new drawers organized yet. So this morning, I'm looking up lingerie/sock drawer tamers. So far here's what I've got:

Tweed Drawer Organizers from the Container Store

Eco Stripe Drawer Organizers from the Container Store

Silk Drawer Organizers from the Container Store

I'm not sure that any of these are exactly what I'm looking for, which is the holy grail of organizers. Something that makes me strive to live up to its organizational perfection. But as I don't think that really exists, any one of these would do quite nicely.

Drawer Liners

2010-02-02T09:50:00.005-05:00

My lovely dresser arrived last night and I spent the evening polishing it up with Murphy's Oil Soap. I just love the smell of that stuff. While I was playing around with how to arrange it, I started thinking about drawer liners. I've never actually used them before. They seem terribly ladylike, but do they shift about if you go digging for a sweater at the bottom of the drawer?

A quick search on drawer liners yielded what I perceive to be the top three brand choices for drawer liners, but no answers to my questions.

Liner choice #1:

Hermes - Classic, discrete and undeniably luxurious

Giana Rose Atelier - Flowery, ladylike and a bit boudoir-ish

Crabtree and Evelyn - Simple cottage charm

What do you think? Line the drawers, yay or nay?

Reside

2010-02-01T09:37:00.001-05:00

BB and I made our first visit to Reside in Huron Village yesterday & I walked away with a new dresser. My old one looked good, but was falling apart and the new one is a really well made piece and was a total steal to boot. Here she is:

As I'm sure you've already read on many other Boston blogs, Reside is amazing, amazing, amazing. Beautiful pieces at beautiful prices. I'll be swinging by there regularly.

And in the meanwhile, I'll be doing a little prep work for my pretty new dresser by weeding out the clothes that are long overdue to be donated.

Bloomer Mania

2010-01-29T09:43:00.003-05:00

Catch it! Far from simply finishing the waistband on my first pair of bloomers, as planned, I started a second pair. And they seemed to be finished in moments. I love little projects like this. Minor commitment, adorable finished product. I think I'll make a third pair in my purple crown fabric and gift Erin a trio of purple bloomers.

Here's the completed first pair:

And pair number two:

All together now:

My bouncing baby brother is coming up this weekend, so it should be bloomer free. But one never knows.

Les Queues de Sardines

2010-01-28T16:25:00.003-05:00

So it seems like these tights have been making the rounds online lately:

They're by Les Queues de Sardines (great name). And although I do agree that their work is very beautiful and cheeky. I think that the golden droplet tights may be a bit too cheeky for my taste. Thoughts?

Bloomers

2010-01-28T08:21:00.004-05:00

I started a test version of the baby bloomers last night on a piece of scrap fabric, so that I could figure out my modifications before cutting into my hand printed stash. Here are some pictures of phase 1 (sans elastic):

I finished the elastic around the legs too late last night to get pictures. But I'll get you a finished product shot by tomorrow. I decided to go with elastic thread around the leg holes, as suggested by Ms. Heather Ross, because it seemed less restrictive for little baby legs. My only issue with it was that the elastic on one leg shrunk beautifully and on the other leg only shrunk a bit. So I'll have to hit it with the iron again tonight and hope for the best. Or find a baby with one fat leg.

He KNEW He Was RIGHT

2010-01-27T12:00:00.004-05:00

Treated myself to a massage last night after realizing that my shoulders had been living up around my ears for the past few weeks. When I got home, I had no ambition at all and wound up watching the entirety of He Knew He Was Right.

It's basically a perfect case study of a BBC movie. The script is compelling, the performances are solid (and delivered by all of the usual suspects) and the niceties, like the title and end credits are hysterical. The title appears hovering over a static shot of red roses, dying. And the important words are capitalized, (He KNEW He Was RIGHT) so that the proper emphasis doesn't elude you.

Far be it from me to criticize BBC adaptations too harshly; I love them with my whole heart. But I do think it's funny and probably a bit telling that so much care is put into the story portion and the intro and outro are just slapped on. I like to picture two old men, in a cramped closet, whose job it is to paste on the introductions.

Man 1: What have we got here? (peers down spectacles) "He Knew He Was Right".

Man 2: What's it about.

Man 1: (inspecting the tape) Dunno. Strong title though. He knew he was right.

Man 2: Probably a fuss about a woman. They all are.

Man 1: So what do we do?

Man 2: (reviewing five shabby looking VHS tapes) Well, we've got footage of roses on a piano, withering roses, a country lane, a woman in a carriage or a lion pouncing on a gazelle.

Man 1: From the nature special, yeah?

Man 2: Right.

Man 1: Well I like the lion and gazelle one.

Man 2: Just used that in "Lion versus Gazelle".

Man 1: Then the country lane.

Man 2: Cranford.

Man 1: The woman in the carriage?

Man 2: Used that one quite a bit lately. Gives one a sense of unease and vulnerability. How'd you feel about the roses?

Man 1: Withery or piano?

Man 2: Withery. I was trying to save the piano ones for the ten years of Austin adaptations they've got in the works. The piano makes 'em seem more genteel.

Man 1: True, true... The piano's a genteel instrument, I've always said. Well, withery it is.

Man 2: Right. Tea then?

And that ladies and gentlemen, is how BBC opening credits get created.

Best Idea Ever

2010-01-26T09:41:00.008-05:00

Seriously. Paper dolls that double as room decor. Brilliant.

Summer Dress Up

Spring Dress Up

Winter Dress Up

And a complete set

Hats off to the lovely ladies of lovemaestore. These are amazing!

The Grass Harp

2010-01-26T09:30:00.004-05:00

I started reading The Grass Harp yesterday and it was exactly what my poor jangled nerves needed. It's such a small, gentle story, beautifully told.

I can already tell that this is a book I'll return to throughout my lifetime.

Now for Breakfast: Dessert

2010-01-25T15:24:00.002-05:00

BB and I picked up this crazy, amazing babka from Hi-Rise yesterday.

It was so good that I had a slice for dessert and then a slice for breakfast this morning. How many foods can you do that with?

I May Be Losing My Mind

2010-01-25T12:51:00.000-05:00

I'm applying towards an MFA program for the fall. I don't know what I'm thinking. Please send positive acceptance-type thoughts my way.

And What Have We Learned Today?

2010-01-22T15:38:00.003-05:00

That bulldogs cannot swim. True story.

P.S. - I learned this from a woman with a bulldog, not via a tragic swimming bulldog incident.

Here's video of a rolly-polly bulldog.

It's been a long day.

Casanova

2010-01-21T10:29:00.003-05:00

Currently reading The Story of My Life by Giacomo Casanova.

I picked it up on our honeymoon. It was one of the only English translations that I could get my hands on that wasn't Dante. Its actually the abridged version, his actual biography is twelve volumes long. If I could find it, I would absolutely read the unabridged version. He's a fascinating narrator and the editors' clunky choices about what to abridge really smother his stories.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the BBC production of Casanova, based on the above work, and written by Russel T. Davies.

Happiness

2010-01-20T15:23:00.005-05:00

I walked out to the South End over lunch and picked up some beautiful napkins (on crazy sale) at Michelle Wiley. Then had the best jasmine tea I've ever had at the South End Buttery.

And on the way back, I dawdled at South End Formaggio and picked up an organic tempranillo and good bread for dinner.

It was such a treat to take a little quiet time to roam about in the sun. And did I mention the dogs? I must have passed at least 50. All ridiculously cute and well behaved. Oh, South End, you have the best dogs...

Suzanne

2010-01-20T10:22:00.003-05:00

Last night while cooking dinner, I found that I was singing "Suzanne" (the Nina Simone version, natch). I looked up the wiki about the song and it's actually quite sad.

I don't know why, but Nina Simone's version always makes me think of marigolds.

Here's a little "Suzanne" for you:

And some marigolds:

Little House Cook Book

2010-01-19T16:31:00.002-05:00

Great post over at the Kitchn about the Little House Cook Book.

I know! Why hadn't I hear of this before?!

Octopus Temptation

2010-01-19T10:20:00.004-05:00

I saw this Octopus Rubber Stamp at Papersource yesterday and think it would make an adorable fabric for a child's room:

It's tough because I really want to create my own patterns for Erin's baby gifts, but this pre-made octopus is really tempting...

BB and I also went to Ittyo at Porter Exchange for lunch yesterday and they had octopus balls just like the ones in Osaka! Talk about octopus temptation...

Also, check out these Pewter Octopus Napkin Rings:

A Single Man

2010-01-18T22:21:00.004-05:00

BB and I saw A Single Man today at the Coolidge Corner Theatre and I'm still trying to make up my mind about it.

It's a lot like a moving magazine spread. Which isn't a bad thing. (It's very beautiful. Very. Especially the water sequences.) But isn't really a good thing either. The script, although it does take a fair number of shortcuts, is solid and sweet and doesn't try to be any larger than the story demands. The performances are excellent. And I am still thinking about it several hours later. But I still don't think it's accurate to say I liked it. I'm going to pick up the book tomorrow. Take that for what it's worth.

Bow Street Flowers

2010-01-16T20:59:00.006-05:00

BB and I had a wonderful, slow day today; full of coffee, the library and a long, long walk through Cambridge/Somerville. On our way back from The Biscuit, we passed the Bow Street Flowers, which I'd never seen before. It's basically the florist shop of my dreams. (And I'm picky, I worked at a florists for years.) The flowers out in front of the counter were basically an exhibit of all of my favorites, fat pink peonies, elegant white anemones, cheerful tulips and cheeky ranunculus. They even had unripe berries to incorporate into their arrangements. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous...

And when BB bought me a peony, they wrapped it as if it was a Hermes scarf; in a sumptuous sheet of pressed paper and thick brown ribbon.

Plus, they have an in-store rabbit named Petal! I don't care how long a walk it is from my house, I'll be back to this shop within the week. Three cheers for Bow Street Flowers! I wish I knew about you before I got married. Our style feels very much in synch. (Although Petali did a really lovely job. They just have their own style going on and you have to dig it or your out of luck.)

Une Rose

2010-01-15T10:02:00.004-05:00

I tried on Edition de Parfums Une Rose by Edouard Flechier yesterday, after trying unsuccessfully to find anyplace in Boston that carries Rose 31.

I'm not generally a rose person, but I'm really into this scent. I think I'd describe it as sophisticated vamp. It's definitely boudoir-y, but with a bit of irony. I can't believe I just described a perfume that way...

Anyway, I foresee a small bottle of this making its way into my life shortly.

Sandals

2010-01-14T12:52:00.005-05:00

I'm loving these new sandals at J. Crew:

Yes, I know it's way too early to be thinking about sandals.

Venice

2010-01-13T22:42:00.006-05:00

I've been dreaming a lot about Venice lately. I think because I'm feeling so hungry for color. Here are some shots of our honeymoon hotel there:

I'd love to open those shutters every morning, then go downstairs to my cappuccino and pastry with nutella.

Sigh. The Boston winter is getting me down.

Brief Reviews of Things I've Seen Lately

2010-01-13T12:22:00.004-05:00

Sherlock Homes - Meh

An Education - Lovely, but abruptly resolved

Gatz, Part 1 - Incredibly painful

Wristcutters, A Love Story - Unexpectedly charming

Return to Cranford, Part 1 - Lacking in plot and structure

Actually, I'd like to share a few more thoughts on Gatz. The actor playing Nick and narrating is arresting to behold. Everything else about the show is exhausting. It's a lot like babysitting. You're watching a bunch of kids trip over each other, vying for your attention and with seemingly no direction and you mostly just want to go home.

In seriousness, the performances (Nick excepted) would be tedious under the best of circumstances. But in this case the source material that they're abusing in their truly lazy attempts to catch your eye is one of the most lovely books in the American canon. It's hard to believe that anyone thought this was a good idea.

I've been told that the second part is significantly better, but am having a hard time mustering the energy to find out. The whole experience has put me back off theater for a bit. Has anyone out there seen Part 2?

Arrows

2010-01-13T12:08:00.008-05:00

So our friend Jeff and Caitlin own Beatles Rock Band and we've been playing it obsessively. I find myself strangely entranced by the arrow set they performed on when they played the Ed Sullivan Show. I'm thinking that my next fabric design will play with the idea of arrows within arrows. Is it strange that two out of three of my first fabric will be Beatles inspired?

I especially like the triple arrow action behind Ringo's platform.

Birthday Ball

2010-01-12T19:30:00.002-05:00

Brooke over at inchmark has a great post about Santa Balls. I think that I might borrow the idea and make a Birthday Ball for Dave's little cousin Kayla. She'll be turning ten and I think the idea of unwrapping layer after layer of crepe paper to uncover hidden gifts will really appeal to her. It's exciting, but not babyish.

I'm wondering if it might be less time consuming to use streamers, rather than cutting tissue paper strips.

Bug

2010-01-12T13:12:00.002-05:00

I've got the travel bug in the worst way. Our trip in October only made it worse.

Here's a shot of the Great Buddha at Hase from my last trip to Japan.

I wish I was there right now.

Bookplate Identity Crisis

2010-01-11T13:15:00.001-05:00

I almost forgot, I also finally took a picture of the bookplates that I picked up in Florence!

I just love them. They remind me a bit of Billy Hazelnuts.

My only issue is that I'm still not sure what name to write on them. I'm still having an identity crisis with regard to which last name to go by. And unfortunately, we still haven't received our certificate of marriage. So I'm actually starting to wonder if we're even legally married.

Pink Prints and Chocolate

2010-01-10T13:35:00.008-05:00

My painted screen worked! I'm still getting a feel for the consistent application of pressure, but I actually really like the variation that resulted.

I'm going to partially screen the edge of the fabric tonight and then heat set the whole thing. I think this is going to become a very simple dress for Erin's baby. And a throw pillow with whatever is left.

While I had the camera out, I thought I'd show you the adorable chocolate clogs that my Mom put in my Christmas stocking.

A friend of my Grandmother's, who they all called Tante, used to bring these to my Mom and her sister whenever she visited. They've become something of a family legend. My Mom always wanted to get they for my brother and I when we were young, but could never find them. So it was such a surprise to see them in my stocking! Mom and I each tried one and she swears they taste exactly like she remembered. Isn't it nice when that happens?

Non-Toxic Bonus

2010-01-08T12:36:00.004-05:00

I just found out that Speedball Screen Drawing Fluid and Screen Filler (for fabric printing) are both non-toxic. Which means that my whole printing set up is actually non-toxic. Honestly, I just grabbed the two smallest bottles of these products available without knowing about their toxicity because I didn't think I would be doing much beyond stencil prints.

But now I find myself quite encouraged. Although I do feel a bit silly for wearing rubber gloves as I worked last night.

Hand Painted Screen

2010-01-08T09:06:00.001-05:00

So what's this pretty thing?

Why just the screen that I made last night using drawing fluid and screen filler, thanks!

I had so much fun doing it. And even though I botched up initially and painted on the wrong side (against a piece of paper no less), it still turned out just fine. It really is like magic.

It had to dry overnight, so I couldn't print with it right away. But I'm going to tonight on a lovely lightweight linen. I'm thinking in pink for more baby gifts. But I think it would also look cool in something neutral like white or navy on linen, for a throw pillow or bag. I'll let you know how printing with a hand painted screen compares to printing with a stencil.

Meditative

2010-01-07T15:25:00.004-05:00

At work today, one of my co-workers had a showing of his graduate film project. And it was such a thoughtful, well written, meditation on style and life that as soon as it ended, I wanted to tell my writing/life mentor, Betsy, about it. The difficulty is that Betsy passed away about three years ago. And, in addition to the much larger fact that the world is really lacking without Betsy in it, I think it's a shame that she didn't get to meet my co-worker. Because they would have gotten along like matches and tinder. I think that she would have seen the writer in him and nurtured it, like she did with me.

Not to be too meditative, but I can't help thinking about all of the people in the world who I would get on with well and will never meet. Which makes me especially grateful for the ones that I did meet. Like Betsy.

Shambles

2010-01-07T09:54:00.002-05:00

I finished the second and third printing passes on my fabric and heat set it all last night. Then I spent an hour scrubbing the ink out of my newly purple tub. And then I was too tired to go out and buy groceries, so I ate beans and toast for dinner. Beans and toast, people.

After dinner, I looked around the apartment and realized what a phenomenal mess it was. And rather than cleaning, I read home design blogs for half an hour, then went to bed.

I remember seeing a throw pillow that I really liked for the living room. But I didn't make a note of it. And for the life of me, I can't remember which site I saw it on.

Dal/Dahl

2010-01-06T12:24:00.008-05:00

Mark Bittman wrote a great piece for the Times today called Dal Five Ways, with five completely delicious looking recipes. I've embarrassed to admit that not only have I never tried dal (or dahl), but before today I didn't know what it was. And as I'm always on the lookout for versatile meatless recipes, I went into research mode and found even more dal recipes. Here are my top contenders:

Ginger and Spice Dahl

Yellow Split Pea Dahl Recipe with Potatoes and Coconut Milk

Thimble Dahl

I'm going to have to choose one of the eight contenders before I hit the grocery store this afternoon. The question is, how?

Print Session #1

2010-01-06T09:04:00.000-05:00

I hunkered down to my first real screen printing last night, with decent fabric. And although I wouldn't call it an astonishing success, I would still call it a success.

I was listening to Abbey Road while I was sketching and the crown stencil was actually inspired by "Her Majesty". So I may need to send a swatch to Paul McCartney as a thank you.

Just kidding. This fabric is going to become bloomers for my friend's baby girl. Sorry, Paul.

The nice part about screening my own fabric is knowing that non-toxic ink has been used on it, so I can feel confident about making baby clothes out of it. The only frustration is having to wait until tomorrow to make a second printing pass. It's funny, knitting makes me unusually patient. But printing makes me want to go, go, go.

Cardamom Pear Crisp

2010-01-05T11:01:00.005-05:00

I just bumped into the Sunday Suppers recipe for Cardamom Pear Crisp and am really excited to try it out.

Cardamom isn't a spice that I've ever paid much attention to. But ever since I tried Crema Cafe's cardamom-currant cookies, I've been intrigued by it.

Coveting

2010-01-05T10:11:00.005-05:00

I feel like I should send a thank you note to Chelsea at frolic for writing about her new sponsor, Favor Jewelry.

Monika's work is absolutely gorgeous, in addition to being environmentally ethical and sustainable.

How fabulous would a big stack of these Golden Wafer Stacking Rings look?

Covet, covet covet. Now, if I only knew what size my right ring finger was.

Tilting at Winmill

2010-01-04T13:49:00.005-05:00

There's a general lack of fabric stores in Boston and I just can't figure out why. We have a host of colleges with fashion or costume design courses. We seem to have the same percentage of crafters as any metropolitan area. But, so far as I can tell, we only have one T-accessible fabric store in Boston, Winmill Fabrics. It's an old school fabric shop in Chinatown, where you can buy the basics. I spent my lunch hour there picking up some cotton and linen for screen sprinting and playing with their awesome fat cat. I wish they had a website that I could direct you towards, but it's not that type of place. If you get a chance, swing by. I'd like them to stick around. They're at 111 Chauncy St.

Be warned, though, you're not going to find any Heather Ross or Kokka or Amy Butler. Oh, speaking of Heather Ross... They're using her mermaid design on a surfboard!

Gatz

2010-01-04T10:30:00.005-05:00

My New Year's Eve Gatsby post made me realize that I forgot to mention Gatz, a two-part reading (and more) of The Great Gatsby. The Nick character apparently does all of the reading. Lucky guy.

In the past, if I'd heard that the A.R.T. was attempting something like this, my eyes would have rolled so far back in my head that I may have been rendered permanently blind. But Diane Paulus has made me believe in good theater (and the A.R.T) again and I'm really excited to see it.

Printing in the New Year

2010-01-04T09:33:00.003-05:00

The new year is off to a good start! I picked up a copy of Lena Corwin's wonderful Printing By Hand on Friday and spent the weekend playing with fabric printing. It's such a treat to just make the fabric that you want for a project, rather than seeking it out.

And the silkscreening! Did I mention the silkscreening? It's a lot like magic. I think I'm in love.

A New Year

2009-12-30T12:44:00.006-05:00

It's snowing! I love how quiet my neighborhood gets when it snows. I padded out to the coffee shop on the corner this morning and found that my typical New Year's Eve reflectiveness had kicked in. Out of nowhere I remembered New Year's Eve 1999/2000, which I spent on Long Island at a party full of monied strangers, feeling a bit like Gatsby. I remembered wandering out to the beach with my friend, Katrina, and wondering what the next ten years would be like. And squealing over the idea of 2010 and where our lives would be. She predicted that she would be married. I didn't know what to expect. I had just returned from San Francisco, with no sense of what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be. The world seemed so big then and I felt so rootless.

Ten years later and the world still feels big. But less prohibitively so. And there are times when I still have no idea what I want to do. But I no longer question who I am. And I've stopped feeling rootless. And Trina is married, with a beautiful little girl, no less!

BB and I are ringing in the year at a small party in Cambridge with close, wonderful friends. There won't be a beach, but it's a relief not to feel like Gatsby.

Have a joyful evening, my lovelies, and a very happy new year!

100 Posts and a Party

2009-12-21T18:42:00.006-05:00

It seems only right to ring in the 100th post by celebrating another small victory. I finally (and I mean finally) threw a Christmas cocktail party. This is something that I've wanted to do since I moved into my first solo apartment. It happened to coincide with our first big snowstorm of the year, but I think that only made it more charming. I tried to do the whole thing Barefoot Contessa style, with a balance of store bought and homemade treats and a lot of atmosphere.

I made a sweets platter on a simple, white cake tray. I picked up some quality peppermint bark, a few clementine, some stollen and baked up a few of the Chez Panisse cookies. And the savory snacks came in the form of a cheese tray, a bowl of marinated olives and a small pyramid of arincini.

I even broke out the old $1 silver platter to use as a cocktail tray.

There were a lot of twinkly lights and no shortage of champagne, but more importantly the company was delightful. I should do this every year!

Wedding Pictures

2009-12-18T10:55:00.004-05:00

I know it's been kind of a wedding free zone here for the past few weeks, but I received my wedding pictures today so please indulge me.

Here's one of my favorites:

It's my flower girl and I right before the ceremony begins. I think she looks like one of Degas' dancers.

In Love with a Scarf

2009-12-17T11:42:00.004-05:00

As I've mentioned previously, my knitting mojo is back. I'm finishing a Christmas hat for BB's Mom's partner. The baby blankets are moving right along. And I know that I need to remain focused to finish these projects up in time. But all I can think about is this:

*photo from The Purl Bee

The Lovely Leaves Scarf (orange) from The Purl Bee. It looks so cozy and beautiful. I want to start making one right away in a fabulous jewel toned yarn. But I know only too well that more than three knitting projects is the path to darkness. Must use will power... Must not start new project...

Truffles and Spice

2009-12-16T10:03:00.007-05:00

Had two hits on my hands this week with Ms. Ina Garten's Tagliarelle with Truffle Butter and the Chez Panisse Gingersnaps that have taken the blogosphere by storm.

*photo from the Kitchn

The beauty of the gingersnaps is that the recipe makes a log of dough that you keep in the freezer. So you can slice off a few cookies to bake whenever you feel like them.

And the tagliarelle with truffles was just ridiculously luxurious. I had a glass of champagne in a tall, elegant flute while I was cooking it and felt like some sort of kitchen celebrity.

Resolution

2009-12-15T15:37:00.004-05:00

I'm not one for New Years resolutions, but I made one last year. 2008 was such a rotten year for me from start to finish that I resolved to drink more champagne in 2009. That way, even if '09 was equally crappy, at least I'd have gotten some champagne out of the deal.

As it turned out, 2009 was a very nice year for me. I married BB, did some traveling, tackled family situations that I never believed I would have the strength to face and was lucky enough to find them resolvable. I think that part of what made 2009 so enjoyable was that I did manage to celebrate small (and large) accomplishments. And I did drink more champagne.

In 2010, I'm going to focus on quality. Which is not to say that it's all about purchasing things of quality, although that is a part of it. I am going to try to focus on the quality of what I'm putting in to my body and mind. I've gotten a bit intellectually lazy and want to challenge myself. I want to try to eat sustainable food of a certain quality. I want my behavior towards others to be of a certain quality. I want the work I produce to be of a high standard of quality.

So you heard it here first, people. Quality is the watchword for 2010. Cheers!

Dictator Cards

2009-12-15T09:50:00.004-05:00

There's a great post in the NYT The Moment today about a grand idea, dictator cards. Get them at Dictator Goods, just in time for Christmas!

Stalin and Nero are my favorite. Words I never thought I'd say...

Disappointing Latkes & an Epic Journey

2009-12-14T10:34:00.003-05:00

BB is back! And to celebrate his return, we visited the Everybody Loves Latkes celebration in Harvard Square. I've waited for three years to go to this darn thing and it was terrible. I waited in the rain and was served a vegetable pakora, which I can have any old time, and a store bought frozen potato pancake. A very weak showing Harvard Square.

After the crushing latke disappointment, I was feeling a bit restless and picked up my copy of Ulysses. Each time I read it is a bit of an undertaking. It's generally not something I do lightly, but perhaps it should be. Because it is a pleasure to read for pleasure. Who knew? "If you treat it like a bubble, it acts like a bubble" proves itself true again.

Day Off

2009-12-11T10:19:00.003-05:00

I have a proper day off today and I'm using it to get myself and the house cute for BB's return tomorrow. I have to confess that while I've been improving the bathroom, the rest of the apartment has fallen by the wayside. It's strewn with Christmas gifts, boxes and books.

My Porthault towels arrived yesterday, and they look absolutely perfect when mixed with my white towels. The add that missing touch of sweetness and humor. I love the single heart pattern so much that I'd like to order a pair of the pillowcases, but I'm not sure how much of that print one small home can take. I was thinking that instead, maybe I should go with these John Robshaw cases and just get one single heart boudoir pillow.

Still too girly? I'm not sure.

J Crew Nails

2009-12-10T11:03:00.004-05:00

While doing some Christmas shopping at J Crew, I picked up a bottle of Essie Eternal Optimist.

It's a bit darker than the picture would have you believe and really clean and natural looking. I had forgotten that J. Crew was getting into the make-up game, but appreciate their doing the vetting for me. As previously mentioned, I'm terrible at picking out cosmetics.

In much more exciting news, BB is returning home several days early! He's been traveling for work and I want to get the apartment looking cozy for his return. I think I'm going to pick up some evergreen boughs and holly on the way home.

Tiny Hearts Aplenty

2009-12-09T11:49:00.004-05:00

No dice on the Nina Campbell bath accessories. Fortunately, I can achieve a similar effect with these oh-so-affordable Porthault Bath Sheets.

They're actually $200 a pop. Yikes! I have to confess that I ordered two of their (less expensive) hand towels in this pattern. Maybe one day when I'm fabulously wealthy, I'll purchase the big boys.