Sing Alongs

Today I decided to take a moment to talk about how I can't help but sing every single day. Usually, I can keep it to myself, but on certain days it just comes out without warning and I don't even realize it at all, which actually only really bothers my twin brother (but I mean REALLY), no one else really cares. In fact, when I bought myself a guitar and learned a few chords, sometimes people even asked me to sing! (and to understand the exclamation point, you should know, that in my house that is kind of unheard of)

Anyway, this week is one of those weeks where I'm just breaking out in song left and right. It must be all of the productivity. I've really been on fire- an entire season of Freaks and Geeks in < 2 days, not sleeping all night and then sleeping half of the day, drawing pointless things on about 15 pages in my sketch book, mattress shopping, etc. (and by etc. I mean max. four more things including breathing). I spent a good chunk of time yesterday looking up instrumentals to my favorite singing songs and then, of course, proceeded to actually sing along.

So in honor of yesterday, I thought it would be appropriate to give a shout out to my favorite artists to sing along with, so everyone knows that when they are looking for a song to belt it out to in their alone time (or whenever they feel so inclined), these are your girls, they have never failed me:

Amy Winehouse, I'm still mourning you

Alanis Morisette

Fiona Apple

She & Him

Regina Spektor

also, for some reason, I find Fleet Foxes very sing-along worthy, but they are neither girls nor do I put them on my girly sing along playlists (for long, lonely car rides). But honestly, I find pretty much any song is good to sing too (as long as you know the words, but if I don't that has also never stopped me, it's just a tad bit embarrassing/semi-obnoxious when someone makes it their duty to correct you)

Here's hoping today is just as song filled, but maybe a little more constructive

On my mind

Lately, I've been picturing a few looks in my head...a lot
which basically translates to things I want, so i made a few sets on my secret polyvore account to share what's on my mind and here is the first one:

#1

This actually isn't exactly what I was picturing, but it fits the idea of sleeveless collared shirt, a long textured, slightly fitted skirt, and clunky shoes. I also kind of love these things and even though I can't afford any of it (except possibly the shoes that would come with a lot of guilt for spending more money on shoes) I can still dream.

sidenote: not a fan of how these sets look on this blog page, I was hoping it would just kind of blend (you know, white on white), but it sticks out annoyingly. I wonder if this can be changed...by the time I figure it out, this will have grown on me (as usually everything does)

DIY Gold Doily Pattern Tank

I saw this post on Honestly WTF and felt very inspired to try it. I've been really into gold recently, mostly delicate necklaces or details on clothing, so this was right up my alley. Although I figured a tank top would be a little more wearable compared to jeans. Plus I'm cheap and was worried about ruining my jeans.

So this is how I did it, I took the tank top and put a piece of cardboard inside of it to keep the the paint from leaking through. I laid the big doilies on the shirt and just went crazy with the gold fabric spray paint. 

This is the aforementioned paint. You can also use non-spray paint, I just though this stuff would be easier/more fun.

And this is the final project:

Up close...

And le back.

I was running out of gold fabric spray paint by the end so the back is considerably less exciting than the front, but whatever.

C'est la vie.

Hiking

I'm not much of a hiker, or anything outdoorsy for that matter. I blame it on bad parenting. But it seems as though all my friends are so they always invite me to go on hikes and bike rides and grizzly bear fighting. Usually, I can find a valid enough reason not to go, but yesterday I failed. Plus friend Lexi's boyfriend was in town and I hadn't met him yet, so I would have felt bad about ditching. Maybe. Here are pictures!

And here is friend Lexi with her man, Patrick. Cuteness.

Yes, I was third-wheeling it.

But friend Lexi was nice enough to make me feel included. So kind. 

LOOK HOW FAR I CLIMBED.

I hiked up to this thing too. No, really.

Just call me...

http://edwindsyam.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/grylls.jpg

And then this is me just playing with more cool settings on my camera.

Doesn't this look like Middle-Earth?!

I asked them to pose like hobbits but they would not comply. See what I have to deal with?

Also, I went to the beach the other day and took more pictures that are probably only interesting to me. So that's why I'm posting them. On the internet. For all to see.

No, these aren't my friends. Didn't stop me from taking pictures of them though.

Happy weekend!

5 Deutsch Mark (DIY Coin Necklace)

I have quite an affinity for really long, really slender chains with a biggish pendent. They are basically the only jewelry I wear to be honest. I have to work to get outside their little bubble.

I had wanted to make one from a coin since forever, and when I saw friend/future housemate Caroline wearing one with a quarter sometime last year I got extremely jealous/inspired. Rage inspires me. Obviously.

But annoyingly enough, Caroline had just "found" the coin with a whole in it, she didn't drill it. I'm still skeptical, I think she just wanted all the awesome coin necklaces to herself.

But I prevailed, and managed to find the coolest old coin ever in my mom's desk, along with a drill, and a great chain. Voila!

Check out this sick eagle. POWER.

And look how delicate and perfect the chain is! Oh happy day.

I wear this thing almost everyday, seriously. Plus wearing money makes me pimp, so why wouldn't I?

S.P.A.R.K. (DIY Scrabble Necklace)

I forget where, but some blog or something turned me onto this necklace from ASOS.

http://us.asos.com/ASOS-ASOS-Scrabble-Pieces-Love-Necklace

I almost bought one about ten times before realizing that it wouldn't be all that hard to make on my own with some real scrabble letters. So I bought an old scrabble set from a thrift store  a bit ago and threw this together.

The only issue I'm having with it is that the letters don't really lay properly. I'm thinking I might need a chain with larger links? Not really sure. I like it loads otherwise though.

This is the chain:

It was awfully easy to make, I drilled a small hole through the top of each letter, then put them all on jump rings and connected them to the chain.

I tempted to make more because I have a whole scrabble set sans S, P, A, R, and K. Can't figure out what other small words I'd like though.

Scribbling Away

For a lot of my knitted projects, I make up the patterns, or they are easy enough that I can memorize them without much effort. But for this wool hat, I've actually written down the pattern I'm using, which I'll probably be very thankful for in the long run. Plus, since I'm doing both an open cable and a basic one, it's nice to keep track of where I am on both.

Here are my scribbles:

And this is the hat in progress. I was super paranoid that it was going to be too small, but I took it off the needles earlier today and it fit fine, so I can stop living in fear. I hate gauging. And I consider myself a good gauger, I always make a swatch, but it's just so hard to do when the project is meant to stretch.

Also, here are some earring I made the other day from odds and ends from that thrift store grab bag.