Knitting Projects

As many of you know, over the past 12 months, I have become an avid needlepointer. It started as a hobby during COVID lock-down, and now I can’t stop. I love the process (well, actually, sometimes I hate it, but can’t stop) as well as having something tangible when I’m done. It is no surprise that I have the tendency to love creating something with textiles, as my mother has been knitting my entire life. She taught herself during college, and since then, she has a million projects at a time. Mother like daughter, she never sits without a project, and is constantly knitting. She is always running late because she can’t put her knitting down, and I now fully understand why. As a proud daughter, I wanted to share with you all her most recent projects because they are SO different. They are not a sweater or a hat or a scarf, rather they are PILLOWS and a BLANKET. Yes, she knitted pillows! And a blanket!

 

The pillows! Aren’t they divine???

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Homemade Coasters

Recently, I have been on a needlepoint kick. I can’t stop! I can sit there for hours, just needlepointing. It is relaxing, at the same time as being stressful. But in the end, I love the enjoyment of creating something from scratch. In the past two months, I have thoroughly enjoyed making a series of “duds” and “dudes,” and then making them in to coasters. I made each bit of them by hand — they look it, too — but I secretly love the organic, roughness of it. You can tell that someone made them, and I love that part of it. So now, we have fun and wacky new coasters for our home — I just need to have a party (thanks, COVID!)

 

This is my little nook, where I spent a big portion of the day…..

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Kas Maria Shorts

Thanks to Instagram, I tend to find random and small lines of clothing that I fall madly in love with. The most recent discovery is a pair of shorts from Kas Maria. She has no website, no email, I just DM’d her saying I loved the shorts and voila, transaction. Kassandra (Kas Maria) sews her own designs and I love everything about them. These vibrant, colorful, ever so joyful bright floral shorts made me smile the minute I saw them on Instagram and I love them even more in person.

 

Patchwork floral shorts — a different fabric on each side of the shorts. Drawstring and high waisted. Comfortable and oh so cute.

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Sabyasachi Indian Designer

While in India for a friend’s wedding, I had the privilege of wearing the most beautiful Sabyasachi sari. Before our trip, a friend lent it to me saying that it was by “the biggest Indian designer” and that everyone would know what it was one when they saw it. TRUTH! As soon as I was dressed for the night of the ceremony, everyone approached me asking how an ignorant white American girl got her hands on one. Literally, everyone knew.

 

The sari is a three piece ordeal: a top (bra like), a skirt, and then the wrap over it all.

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African Printed Overalls – Royal Native

My only purchase of the summer has been not *one* but *two* pairs of African printed overalls from Royal Native. They are so fun, vibrant, unique, and different.  I ordered one pair and loved them so much, that I immediately ordered a second. If they weren’t all currently sold out, I would order a third pair (a girl can’t have too many crazy pairs of overalls, can she?)

 

The yellow overalls. They are described as "THE SEXY TOMBOY piece de resistance in your wardrobe," and I couldn't agree more.

The yellow overalls. They are described as “THE SEXY TOMBOY piece de resistance in your wardrobe,” and I couldn’t agree more.

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Costalots Glasses

My college best friend, Midge, is a cartoon character.; goofy, cooky, adorable, fun, funny, and colorful. Her look and aesthetic matches perfectly with her bubbly, outgoing personality, and her new glasses match her hipster vibe 100% (Note: she doesn’t just dress like a hipster, she *is* a hipster, I mean, she participates in Trivia every Monday, does things like “1/4 of a marathon on a treadmill race” and has salsa competition parties). Her glasses, Costalots, made by her good friend, Matt Costa, are the perfect accessory to round out her Oakland look. She has both everyday Costalots glasses and sunglasses (she was always the one the past 15 years that wears her sunglasses OVER her everyday glasses — quite the look). Costalots prides itself on quality and simplicity, and are the definition of hip.

 

It's like her bitmoji came alive.....spot on for the most perfect bitmoji EVER to exist.

It’s like her bitmoji came alive…..spot on for the most perfect bitmoji EVER to exist.

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The Green Sheep – Custom Quilts

I must confess that I am very #blessed; I have a mother that knits the most incredible and divine sweaters and spoils us with her creations, and a mother-in-law that is Queen of Fashion and Taste, and generously gifts us an obscene amount of clothing for the children, especially cashmere sweaters.  (YUP, totally #spoiled, my babies both had more cashmere than I have ever had in my entire lifetime). I never knew what to do with all the old cashmere, until I found on social media (thanks again, Facebook), that a friend had a custom quilt made from all of her kid’s leftover cashmere.  GENIUS. So, since 2012, I have saved every sweater with the plan of eventually having a quilt. After 4+ years of collecting, I sent everything last spring to Joan of The Green Sheep so she could make a quilt for each child. I got them this past weekend, and holy smokes, they are beyond beautiful. I am so so so so in love with the beautiful pieces of art that Joan created and am in total awe of her artistic and thoughtful viewpoint. Take a look. And start saving your kids’ sweaters!

 

Luxurious blankets!

Luxurious blankets!

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Jaffa Dolls

Thank you for supporting Jaffa Dolls!

 

As a member of the tribe, it is with great excitement that I introduce Jaffa Dolls, a company based in Israel in which Jewish and Arab women come together to make dolls by hand.  Especially during a time when politics are getting OUT OF CONTROL, it is the perfect time to introduce a product that supports co-existence and unity, not discrimination and racism.  Jaffa Dolls support WOMEN and PEACE between two ethnic groups. Peace and women — double your pleasure, double your fun. And to top it off, the dolls are unique, cute, and happy. I had the privilege of sitting down with good friend, Laura Newmark (also the wife of $2 bill Matt), who is the US Distributor of Jaffa Dolls.  Read on to find out about this new venture. Thanks, Laura!

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Will Leather Goods Beaded Belt

I love (1) anything beaded, (2) companies based in Eugene, and (3) monograms. So the combination of all three is a definite winner. This Umpqua beaded belt from Will Leather Goods, a Eugene company, is my definition of heaven. Smooth, colorful, unique, and subtle with a hidden monogram.

 

Beaded belt perfection.

Beaded belt perfection.

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Short Stack Cookbooks

One of my besties is someone whose style and taste is impeccable. Everything she wears, owns, makes, likes and buys is top quality and perfect. She offers great outfit advice, gift options, and decor styling. This is in addition to being the most loyal, fun, funny, beautiful and loving friend. I am lucky to have her in my life. I am also incredibly lucky that she gifted me these hip and up-and-coming short stack cookbooks. Check them out!

 

short stack

short stack

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Electric Love Dream Catcher

Again, full effect

 

Call me an urban hippie, but I can’t help falling in love with anything bohemian, hippie, ethnic, and colorful. The past few years, I have been on the hunt for a dream catcher for our bedroom as they are beautiful and carry meaning. Nothing seemed quite right, until I found Electric Love dream catchers….and they blew me away. It was hard to pick one, as these handmade pieces of art are unlike any other.

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Camp Wolf

Denim + Pendelton = DREAM COME TRUE.

Camp Wolf

Born in Portland, Oregon, as of September 2013 (brand stinking new!) Camp Wolf was inspired by a love for Pacific Northwestern life and a passion for making cool clothes for cool kids. Everything is hand sewn and one-of-a-kind — recycled vests with Pendleton fabric — to create a cheery, hip, and stylish look for kids ranging from newborn to 5 years old. Original and unique!

The backs of two jackets.

The backs of two jackets.

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Indian Quilts

Probably the best 80 dollars (times 2, so 160 total) I have spent recently were on these handmade Indian coverlets for twin beds. Thanks to Etsy and Rajasthan Royals, we now are proud owners of two vibrant, colorful, 100% cotton covers for two twin beds.

etsy

Obsessed with Etsy.

etsy

Rajasthan Royals creates by hand these beautiful and unique masterpieces. They have a large assortment of beautiful quilts to choose from, or you can even custom ordert. There are quilts, baby quilts, different size bedding, and pillow shams — all are traditional Indian and gorgeous.

Options of bed spreads.

So many options to choose from, but you can’t go wrong as they are all colorful, special, and add a splash of pizazz to any room!

Bright green with flowers.

Bright green with flowers.

Back of quilt.

Back of quilt.

Magenta!

Magenta!

Back striped.

Back striped.

Our two quilts for the twin beds.

Our two quilts for the twin beds.

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