cutenesses & quilting

I prefer to think I have simple tastes. Refusing to buy new clothes on ethical (feeling too guilty about sweatshops) and financial (you want HOW MUCH for that shoddy junk?!) grounds, I end up with basically whatever I can find. Luckily, a lot of those finds are interesting-- like old dresses and skirts, or weird enormous t-shirts which I alter into something weird and my size. I don't usually spend money on non-thrifted extras like jewelry or purses, and if I do, I try to get something that will match a lot of what I have; something simple and maybe even a little timeless (or at the very least, timeless in my own hodgepodge, out of date wardrobe).

But every now and then I come across something on etsy that makes me want to abandon all my visions of quaint vintage finery and go sugary, sweet, jaw droppingly CUTE. I mean, toothache-inducing sweet. Things that make me want to dye my hair cotton candy pink, paint my walls bright aqua, and throw on some petticoats, a la FRUiTS fashion:

If I were brave enough, or bold enough, to dress to the nines, these would be my accomplices:

Kup Kup's etsy shop.


wallet by the very rad Tinymeat.


Mister Cumulus brooch by etsy's adorable Smeeta.



As for me, I am currently engaged in making non-cute but very addictive projects. My class final is a quilt. That's right: a quilt. I am in love with this fiber-based painting class I'm in, and sad it's ending. I chose to make two quilts, out of my hand-dyed and printed fabrics, one for each of my little sisters. It would be nice to have some family heirlooms, and I don't think my great grandma's quilts are ever going to see the light of day again. They have a permanent residence in the uppermost region of my mom's closet. The quilting process, although time-consuming, is extremely pleasant when coupled with internet streams of This American Life or iTunes' bluegrass radio station (makes me feel in touch with my roots-- I imagine it's the 1930s, and I'm sitting out on the porch, listening to my pappy and brothers play bluegrass tunes as I alternately gaze down at my hand-needled quilt or across the soft slopes of distant mountains). Especially if I am lucky enough to be alone in the studio. Just a girl and her quilt and her imaginings of an ancestral past.


one of several printed cloths that I am quilting.

Labels: about me, art by others, craft

posted by Samantha @ 11:10 PM Comments: 0

new goods + sunday morning comin' down

I spent my sunday doing this...

and this.

The bag is in the shop.

I also went to the symphony, courtesy of my school. Hate to say it, but I fell asleep for a minute... what a cretin.

Labels: about me, craft, etsy, foods, grayanimal

posted by Samantha @ 9:49 PM Comments: 1

There may be hope for me yet...

I want to be vegetarian. I've tried to be vegetarian throughout my entire life, sometimes succeeding for months at a time. I've solicited advice from friends, family, and strangers. But, there are certain bird-related meals that I really really enjoy. Such as a nice turkey sandwich.

But a few days ago, my professor brought in her chicken for the class to draw. And as I stared into their beady little eyes, I wished I didn't eat their kind.

So back to the turkey sandwich. Well, I invented a better sandwich, and it is absolutely turkey free. It goes like this:

Whole wheat pita
Spicy 3-pepper hummus
thinly sliced cucumbers
chopped kalamata olives
muenster cheese
broccoli sprouts
shredded carrots
drizzled with balsamic vinegar and sprinkled with salt & pepper

oh, mercy, it's good.

If I can keep coming up with yummy veggie stuff that I actually enjoy, and forgo my chicken wing habit, well, I may just make it to veggiedom after all.

On the subject of veggieism, I wonder if this mom would adopt me, or at least pack my lunch... Vegan Lunchbox

Labels: about me, foods

posted by Samantha @ 4:42 PM Comments: 1