The Vortex

Once upon a time I had a chest for my sewing projects. It was a white chest with a cushion on top. I used it as a bench, and to hold my projects.

Then,

I added a desk. This desk had deep drawers. The chest became "fabric for specific projects" and the desk drawers were used for projects "in progress."

Then,

I got a couple of storage containers. One container held the pieces for a future quilt, the other held placemats that needed the trim completed. One was full (too full) of scraps for my rag rug. The drawers started to contain "things that should be used for specific purposes" and the chest started to contain "pretty fabrics I don't know what to do with."

Then, I moved.

I have a craft room, now, which is also my office. It has become "the room of things which must get done." Into the room travel torn clothing, things missing buttons, unfinished letters, my diary, the novel I'm reading (!), an unfinished crossword.... bills, things that need ironing, the bra I took off in the middle of a workday, notes for work projects, countless vintage sewing patters, a lamp missing a shade....

This room has become a place I avoid when the work is done.

It has become a vortex of unfinished things. I told Brad he isn't allowed to put projects in here anymore, because they get sucked into the vortex. He put something needing a 10 minute repair in my craft area once, and it was there for a year.



Beware the vortex.

Fall Thirfting Goals

Buy one without the thrift: Beadspreads, Shirtdresses, Sweater, Shirt, Tea Kettle, Boots


I wanted to share what I'm keeping my eyes open for while thrifting, currently. Over the years, I've learned that it's good to have both some vague goals (like forest green, or an awesome tea kettle) to help you scan the store, and more specific goals (like the navy blue ginham shirt), which you know are must-buys if you spot them.

Things I really like and make me want to have them

I'm with the whole internet, I think, in loving peter pan collars, but, more specifically, when I am feeling sickeningly-sugary-sweet I like:

Tiny Collars

buy

Paint

Here's a quick one:

Will and I went to the bins and found a canvas sometime in August or September or something. Now it is a painting also painted by both Will and I that lives in our dining room:

The colors are a bit off (that wall is much closer to white) but there it is. If you want to see it in its proper shades, come over for dinner!

fortmaking

In a lot of ways, I live my life as if a child. I collect and arrange pretty rocks, talk to my pets, have dreams of epic tea parties, and delight in all things whimsical (if they're old). 

Today is no exception. After buying an item that came in a very large box, I have decided to do what any sensible person would, and make a cardboard castle.

However, my version of making a castle, in this case, simply consisted of getting inside the box. Since I am a princess, it must now be a castle. Overall I think it went pretty well.

Dining.

We now have, much to my joy, a set of dining room chairs.

Brad and I found this set of four at House of Vintage on Hawthorne for $80.

Double (triple?) outfit post! AKA I need a photographer or a correctly positioned table if I'm ever going to do this again.

Another thing I do in my life is wear clothes. I love to wear them because they keep me warm in cold climates, are soft, and sometimes they are also pretty. Wearing clothes also gives me a great excuse to frequent thrift stores, as they are abundant in the stuff for cheaps.

I also work from home, which is not as exciting as one would think. One great/lame thing about working from home is I don't ever have to wear shoes. I really like being barefoot. The only trouble is, I also really like shoes. They are such satisfying objects AND I can find shoes that fit me well (I tend to shop in the little boys department for clothes -- this is probably why they do not fit me).

Here is me wearing some clothes without shoes, though you can't tell because I couldn't get a picture of myself from far enough away:

Sweater/shirt: H&M sale rack

Awesome green velvet belt: thrifted (Hospice Thrift Store in Longview, WA)

Chiffon midi skirt: thrifted (Hospice Thrift Store in Longview, WA)

This reminds me that "thrifted" should enter the dictionary already. 

Canning and Kittens

This weekend I went up to my dad's house in Washington for a visit. Brad made an attempt at fishing, which was ultimately unsuccessful, BUT! in consolation, my dad sent us home with the fish he caught the day before.

This fish.

Was huge.

So, we did what any sensible folk would do, and canned it.

Yum! The recipe is pretty simple, but requires a pressure cooker. It was pretty much just fish, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a little salt. I'd look up the canning directions, though, since thats what counts. We did 10lbs for over 100 minutes I believe. Brad is the canner, for real, though.

My dad also gave us the biggest plant ever, and we had to go to Ikea to get a big pot for it.

Vashti was pretty happy about everything that happened this weekend, especially the giant fish getting blood all over the counter but finally resulting in tastiness:

That is her favorite chair.

I hope everyone (I guess just Kristyn?) made it through the Oregon heat okay. I am a big wimp and Saturday was CRAZY. Basically I've been inside for the whole thing. I'm pretty excited for fall coming around, though. Time to break out all my socks, sweaters, and tea!

House Tour

So that was a silly idea, starting a blog in the middle of moving. Regardless. I am moved.

Things are --- nearly---- in place.

Our new home is a thing of joy. There's space for ALL of our creative endeavors.

 

Here's the whole living room basically as it looks from the couch -- still need to hang up the pictures, but I'm pretty freaking happy with it. Note: fireplace, vintage nat geos, and my dear plants.

I Made a Banner

I finally finished making my banner -- what I've been working on instead of posting, lately. Originally I had intended to make a physical paper banner and scan it in, but I decided to scan the pieces for the sake of variability. It allowed me to make a matching thumbnail for my future etsy shop, as well as a simple version of the banner for later use in other projects.

In the process, I created a few extra images I'd like to share with whoever would like to use them:

Inspiration: Grace Kelly's Hairy Arms

I am a lady. Ladies come with hair. This is a truth the world (even many women, who think they are mutants) have forgotten.

I love this photo of Grace Kelly -- especially her hairy arms -- she is beautiful and a lady.

Let's all remember this photograph the next time we contemplate desperate measures that make us look like wax dolls.

No Camera.

Skirt: thrifted and shortened

Shirt: thrifted and taken in from an XL

Belt: thrifted

I'm not wearing shoes, of course.

Since I've decided to start this blog, here, I decided it was time to reach back into my past -- my livejournal past -- and resurrect my photo-taking. I found my old camera in a desk drawer, but it no longer works. I decided to buy the same model (from my sophomore year of high school!) from Amazon (used, of course). It will be coming in the mail shortly.

This baby right here:

source:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008L3HY

Hello.

I'm Piper. I live in Portland, Oregon where I am currently spending my days eating blackberries, making dresses, always thrifting, and playing with silly animals.

I'm starting this blog as a way to rant about sewing, my cat, being a lady, and things that inspire me on "the web" and in this fantastic city of mine.

Perhaps it will help me to get my post-college life in order. Perhaps it will languish as another ghost town of the internet where so many souls have been spilled only to be unlinked.

As my blog title suggests, I am a scrounger. I scavenge the city/the world for beautiful things that I can save from landfill deaths.