gettin crafty

For the past several years, I've put myself on a ridiculous craft moratorium with the lame excuse of "I'm too busy with school to have extra hobbies" (besides the ones essential to life: cooking, baking, running).

Well, I have decided that is a bullshit idea and have set my creative instincts free, because (unfortunately) life is not going to be less crazy once I'm done with school. 

So-- I am obsessed with scarves, and decided to start making my own since I am, after all, still a poor grad student and would rather not shell out $15 a pop to expand my accessory collection.  

It turns out that one yard of fabric from the fabric store is WAY more than an actual square yard, and provides you with plenty of material to chop and hem into a scarf.

It also turns out that JoAnn Fabrics has fabulous sales on material ALL THE TIME and basically rocks. This magical place also sucks away my money into spur of the inspirational moment impulse buys- yikes!

I picked out a few silky prints that were around $5/yard.

This one is my favorite. I kind of want to go back and buy the whole bolt, and make a dress out of it. Or...futon cover??

Let's not get overambitious too soon, Anna.

I dragged my fun little sewing machine out of its hiding place where it has been hanging out ever since I moved into this apartment and started playing.  

The first attempt:

 

I accidentally cut it a little too small (oops!) but I was so impressed with what I could do with the different kinds of stitches on my sewing machine that I don't really care. 

[Please note that I feel SUPER AWKWARD and dorky taking pictures of myself to post on my blog. I don't know how everybody does it!!!]

 Attempt numero dos. For this one I didn't even try to cut the fabric, I just hemmed two of the long edges and left the finished edges as is.

Yes, you have to wear cupcake boxers to complete the look.

Aaaand I am really pushing myself to finish the last scarf, since I have a horrible habit of letting little projects drag on. and on. (What's this under my bed, an unfinished cross stitch from 2000?? A box of scrapbook guts from my trip to Germany sophomore year of high school?)

Well, my inner Project Runway self is officially unleashed. I am kind of scared to see where it goes from here (!) but also feel like I have returned a part of me to myself-- I definitely need to have creative outlet to feel complete. 

p.s. completely unrelated but...since when is Hilary Duff married ?!?!?!???!!

seasons

 My favorite parts of the forest are the stands of glowy yellow trees

 Least fave part: the hills of loose rock. Unavoidable on PA trails.

 [campus...can you tell where I go?]

The trees are definitely peaking here. Last Sunday I was going to go to the gym, but then came to my senses and went for a hike/trail jog in the gorgeous weather instead. 

I don't know if fall or spring is my favorite season, honestly. I guess my favorite is the one that I am currently in (unless it is winter or summer). 

Are the trees changing where you live?

I used to hate cold weather, but I love it more and more every year. I don't know if I could ever be happy living in a place that doesn't have all four seasons, at least for a short time.

Also, just downloaded the new Arcade Fire, and part of Far East Movement. 

Completely honest, I just couldn't live another moment without being able to hear Like a G6 on demand.

Movie Review: Man on Wire

[photo]

Since I am too poor for cable 

(confession: I missed out on the digital revolution thing and haven't even had basic tv for 2 years)

I have been SUPER excited about the Netflix subscription that Ben and I finally bit the bullet and ordered.

Now we are among the millions of Americans who are contributing to the demise of the neighborhood movie store, sucked into the race to see how fast we can turn movies around to maximize the nine dollars that are being sucked out of my account each month. (hmm when you put it like that....)

One of the perks of Netflix is the (usually weird, old, or obscure) movies that you can stream for free online anytime. Or while waiting for the next movie on your queue to be shipped. BTW, I love how I am apparently so fluent in the language of Netflix. 

Last night we watched the documentary "Man on Wire," and it was kind of strange but very interesting. So I am going to review it!

This documentary is about the 1970's saga of Phillipe Petit, a crazy French self-taught wirewalker, and his life-consuming OBSESSION to walk between the Twin Towers. 

Yes that's right: string a tightrope between (what was then) the tallest buildings in the WORLD.  And he did it!  And survived to make a documentary! I honestly don't know why I had never heard of this before.

All of the major players in this "coup" tell the complete story through their interviews. It was insane. They spent years trying to figure out how to make this happen, since it was obviously illegal so the whole thing had the feel of a legit high-profile heist. Plus they were in France, and the WTC was being built in New York, so Phillipe had to somehow travel back and forth to scope out the location and take copious notes for his models.  They didn't even know if it was going to work until they tried.  

A fascinating part of the movie (what probably made the whole thing) is actual footage of the construction of the towers in the 70's and Phillipe and his friends hanging out and scheming the whole thing back in France.  There is very little of the cheesy Lifetime-movie-esque reenactments with fake actors.

(Unfortunately, the little bits of reenactments ARE cheesy. The reenactments that Phillipe does during his actual interviews are hilarious though.)

Man on Wire is a story about one man's dream, as crazy and psychotic as it was, and an artistic performance that captivated the world at the time.  It will give you chills, especially if you are afraid of heights!  It's definitely worth a watch.

Autumn

[picture via weheartit]

I am so happy that the seasons are shifting into fall. For some reason I am loving the cooler weather extra-much this year. Even though it has been dreary and rainy lately...

These things have been making me excited about life:

• Chai tea
• New rainboots
• Snuggle weather
• Honeycrisp apples from the farmers market
• Scarves and jackets
• Homemade soup in Panera breadbowls
• Oatmeal with allll the toppings
• Ordering new cookbooks online
• Seeing Ben everyday (it never gets old!)

I have yet to find the elusive canned pumpkin in the grocery store, but I also can't wait for pumpkin cornbread and scones.