Map Message Board

This is a cute gift idea for someone who lives far away- or for yourself! Instead of framing fabric to make a dry erase board, I framed a Madison map to make a message board for my boyfriend, who lives in Chicago.

Or maybe I'll keep it for myself. ;)

What I Wore Wednesday

I finally replaced my trusty pair of plain black flats this last weekend. I bought my old black flats over a year ago for a dollar at a rummage sale, and they started to fall apart pretty significantly in the past few weeks. I wear them often, and I walk a lot, so it's amazing they lasted as long as they did.

This time I actually followed my boyfriend's shoe-buying advice and bought a new pair of shoes (on sale) in his favorite brand- Born. They are more sensible than cute, which is an obvious sign of a middle-aged librarian (along with cardigans and pencil skirts, probably), but he assured me they still look good. And they're extremely comfortable.

While my new shoes cost more than the rest of my outfit combined (which usually doesn't happen, unless we're talking running shoes), the rest of this outfit was very thrifty.  Linked up to The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.

I'm wearing:

Black Cardigan: Kohls, $5

White scoopneck shirt: Kohls, $4

Red Skirt: Goodwill, $3

Black belt: Borrowed from another dress in my closet

Shoes: DSW, $38

Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie

A few weeks ago I was at an ice cream place that sold oatmeal smoothies, and I was floored! Why hadn't I thought of this before? I love having a smoothie for breakfast, but I need more than that or I'm hungry in a half hour. My mom always said that a person needs food that will "stick to your ribs," and oatmeal is great for that. I'm pleased to report that an oatmeal smoothie gets me straight through till lunch!

Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie "Recipe"

(Measurements are vague approximations, at best)

Blend:

1-2 cups oatmeal (I used quick cooking and prepared it in the microwave beforehand)

1-2 bananas, to taste

3/4 cup milk

5-6 ice cubes

Large dollop of peanut butter, to taste

This makes quite a lot, enough for two large smoothies. I expect that chocolate would also be delicious. The last time I made this I also added a cup of coffee. I couldn't even taste it, but it did add a little caffeine kick, making this less healthy, but even more convenient for a quick morning breakfast.

Awesome Thrift Finds

I normally don't consider shopping for white pants. But Everybody Everywear: Colored Pants was this September, and while I didn't partake, this post inspired me to thrift a pair of white jeans and try my hand at dying them.

That didn't happen (although I'd still love to try). I checked out my local Goodwill and didn't find any white jeans in my size. I DID find a pair of white dress trousers from Express- brand new and with the tags still on. Originally, these were $60. I picked them up for $4.

 They fit me absolutely perfectly. I won't be dying these any time soon, but can I still wear them? We're nearing October, after all...

What good thrifting finds have you had lately?

Infinity/Circle Scarf

Depending on where you do your shopping, scarves can get expensive! My boyfriend always teases me because I often get frustrated and say, "But I could just make this!" when we're out shopping.

And this time it's definitely true- this is one of those projects that anyone can do. I was inspired by this tutorial to make an infinity scarf from a skirt hem- since I had several inches of fabric that I cut off the bottom of a too-long dress. Any long rectangular piece of fabric will do though; just sew up the long sides, right sides together, turn right side out, and sew the ends together to create either an infinity or circle-style scarf.

That's all it is! I like to wear mine double looped, but the choice is yours.

Blanket Forts

via Lissy Elle

When I lived in a college dorm, my roommates and I would occasionally make blanket forts between our lofts for game nights or movie nights- just for kicks. Tonight I came across a few super cute ones on Pinterest (yes, I joined- today- and yes, it has the potential to be addictive) and now I want to make forts and sit in them and watch movies and read books all day long.

When was the last time you made a blanket fort? I hope it was more recently than your seventh birthday!

Butterick 5353

I'm trying my hand at another dress pattern- this time one that's just a bit more structured. Last night my aunt and I went to Joann's and I picked up some brown cotton sateen to make Butterick B5353. I'll be cutting it out just as soon as it comes out of the dryer!

Top Blogs

If you follow blogs with Google Reader, you can find out some interesting stats about which blogs you follow the most (just click on "Trends" in the sidebar). I'm subscribed to WAY more blogs than I should be, and I admit it- I don't read them all, especially as my crafting/sewing/fashion/eating/DIY/etc interests have changed since I started blogging.

Here's a few of the blogs I read the most in the last month:

Sewing

Sew Retro

The Sew Weekly

Collete Patterns

Fashion

Blue Paper Lanterns

Classic Noise

Clothed Much

Esme and the Laneway

Design/DIY/Other

Young House Love

Dornob

ManMade DIY

What am I missing? Which blogs do you recommend?

Chicago & the Renegade Craft Fair

My boyfriend and I are lucky enough to each live in a super-fun city- I'm in Madison, which is a large town pretending to be a big city, and he lives in Chicago which is, well, Chicago. We're both grad students, so usually we take it easy, avoiding pricey tourist traps and saving our money for occasional sushi dinners and bus tickets to see each other.

Last weekend was a spontaneous adventure in Chicago for us- I unexpectedly got tickets to see Allison Krauss at the Chicago Theater, and it just happened to be the weekend of the Renegade Craft Fair in Wicker Park! I didn't buy anything, but I did grab a ton of business cards, and tried to take as many pictures as I could despite the huge crowd.

Adorable plushes by The Wind & The Sail 

Steffbomb's awesome life-size plush banjo seemed all too appropriate after seeing Allison Krauss & Union Station the night before.

I love cute paper crafts and stationary and Circle Street had a super adorable tent. Plus, creator Lindy Adams is from Appleton, Wisconsin, just a couple miles from my own hometown.

These Sweater Toys are a perfect upcycled project

Geoff was a terribly good sport for taking me to a craft fair, but there were some cool crafts for guys there, too. We found wooden watches by Mistura Timepieces, and wooden ties by Wood Thumb.

We had a whirlwind short weekend, also stumbling upon the Lakeview Art Fair (where we bought nothing except a big pretzel for me), eating ice cream at Just Indulge, and burgers and giant salads at J. Wellingtons, and taking advantage of this less-busy part of the semester- it will be harder to be spontaneous later.

Have you been to the Renegade Craft Fair? Favorite seller? If not, favorite Etsy shop?

Spray Paint Transformations

I always forget that one of the easiest ways to transform something is just to paint it.

Well, and add some little brass feet- making a cheese grater into a clever earring holder.

via Curbly

I might need to do this to my plain old boring fan and turn it red. Or maybe that teal up above? I'll let you know.

via Starr Family Blog

What spray paint transformations or simple projects have you done?

Unmentionable Tutorials

Do you guys make your own unmentionables? This post is all about featuring underwear and unmentionable-related tutorials. I hope you're not too shocked!

T-strap Bra Tutorial via Love Aesthetics

Panty Tutorial via Come and See the Seitz

Strapless Bra to Bustier Tutorial

Half Slip Pattern from Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing (via Grosgrain)

WIWW: Back to School!

I wore this for my last-ever first day of school. Besides the spring semester, that is. But the first day of school is all about fall anyway, isn't it? I wish I had access to some of the photo albums at my parents house so I could scan in some of those olden-days first day of school pics- with the cutsie dress, lacy socks and brand new backpack.

I'm a huge fan of Sorren at Classic Noise. I love how she dresses pieces up and down (like this black and white dress, similar to mine) for work, going out, or hanging out, something I've been known to do as well. I originally got my black and white dress for my graduation from Ripon College, and have otherwise only worn it for dressy occasions like weddings. What do you think? Have I succeeded in dressing it down enough for daily wear today?

Linking up to The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday

I'm Wearing:
Black old-man sweater: Kohls, a few years ago, ???
Black and White Dress: Kohls, $30
Red Skinny Belt: Goodwill, $1
Black flats: Rummage Sale, $1
Bag: Urban Outfitters, $20

Felt Sandwich Bag

I often feel sorry for the boyfriends of craft bloggers. All too often, they end up modeling hand-knitted projects,  accused in the disappearance of plush octopuses, or, perhaps most common of all, they become the recipients of sentimental handmade gifts.

I'm not saying that's a bad thing. After all, what guy in his early twenties DOESN'T want a crocheted video game character to sit on his shelf? Basically, the point of this story is that I made my boyfriend a cute felt sandwich bag, because of a phrase he often says.

This was a super easy project that would be fun for kids. I whipped it up while waiting for him to arrive in Madison- without measuring or thinking twice,  but if I had, here's a couple of things I'd do differently:

1. Line the inside with something wipe-clean-able. This all-felt sandwich bag needs an additional bag inside.
2. Applique the top layers and the letters on so the stitches aren't visible
3. Measure and make things symmetrical.

The gift came with a PBJ inside, so it was also utilitarian. You jelly?

UPDATE: Due to a request by the recipient, I added a "u" so the pouch now reads "U Jelly?"

Broccoli Treehouse

This is really cute. That's all!

via Brock Davis

Lincoln Park Conservatory

A few weeks ago I was in Chicago visiting my boyfriend, Geoff, and we went to the the free Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory.  Just wanted to share some of the lovely flower photos!

I thought the orchid room was just beautiful, but then we went in a room just full of flowers we can grow in our very own Midwestern backyards, and that was even better. Snapdragons are my favorite- no pictures, sadly, but we have scores of those in the backyard back home.