Cozy Ankles

I make hats for heads. Slippers for feet. Mittens for hands. Sweaters for arms and tummies. But what about the quiet, unassuming ankles? Besides those few mishaps in high school volleyball where they didn't quite show up for me, my ankles have provided me with constant stability (what else can you say that about, really?) It is time those pillars of strength are recognized and honored.

Dearest ankles and lower calves:

I want you to know that you will be overlooked no longer. I hear your voice when you crack on the way up the stairs. What you have to say is important to me. And I will listen.

I'm sorry that I sometimes cut you when I'm shaving. I'd like to say it won't happen again, but you're just so bony and sometimes I'm in a hurry.

Please accept these legwarmers as token of my appreciation for your constant support.

Love always,
Jess

A Hairy Snuggle

I finished this "ripple pattern" scarf made from alpaca yarn I found in Half Moon Bay. If you could reach through the screen and touch this thing, I guarantee you'd want a bodysuit made from this delectable yarn. It feels like a little baby bunny snuggled around my neck.

Unfortunately, it sort of looks like that too--everytime I wear this scarf, my shirt ends up looking like I have a heard of cats at home. I'm not sure what's less icky: walking around covered in the hair of your pet, or walking around covered in the hair of an animal you've never met or seen?

A Feather In My Cap

The recipe for a perfect craft: felt, a barrette, feathers, a rhinestone piece of fanciness and a ton of hot glue. What's not to like about that? My crafty cousin, Kim, taught me how to make these awesome feather hair do-das while I was in Portland recently. They're perfect to put on a fedora or straight onto your noggin like an exotic bird.

Pumpkin Self-Portraits

A Crafty Weekend In Providence

I went to visit my crafty friend, McCall, in Rhode Island last week. She actually has an entire room devoted to crafting (my boyfriend likes to say I do too--it's our entire house). So we took advantage of all the space and made these leather flowers. They are hair-do das/pins/hat decorations/total awesomeness.

































McCall took a quick intermission to try out the rubber stamps we bought that day. They're pretty freakin' awesome. Of course, I splurged on two sets because I didn't feel like I could limit my creative potential to one typeface.

Stitching Up a Storm

Katie just moved into an adorable new apartment in Russian Hill, which gave us the perfect excuse for an crazy ambitious, late night craft project–pillow making. After discussing 3, 506 color/texture/pattern combination at Britex Fabrics (one can't just turn an art director brain off), Katie swiped her credit card, and we were committed.

Despite it being her virgin voyage with her sewing machine (even though she's owned it for four years), Katie and the machine preformed beautifully.





Sew a girl a pillow and she'll sleep well for a night. Teach a girl to sew and she'll sleep well for a lifetime. Or, until she finds new fabric she likes even better.

One-Upping Urban Outfitters

I have a love-hate relationship with Urban Outfitters. When I'm sick of sifting through dirty socks and logo-ed coffee cups at thrift stores, I love that I can go to UO, shell out five times more money and instantly get something that gives me some amount of hipster cred. I hate though, that when I go in there, I almost always also find some made-in-China version of something I've recently spent months making myself. I swear I'm in some secret Urban Outfitters focus group--a focus group that's so secret, I don't even know about it.

But this time, I'm one-upping Urban. I fell in love with this green fabric tapestry there. I backed it with brown cotton and now I'm quilting the hell out of it to create a queen-sized bed spread. Unfortunately, it probably won't be finished by the time UO is stealing my future children's creative ideas.

Bootie-licious

One of many pairs of baby booties I've cranked out lately. Stop reproducing people, I can't keep up!

Homemade Lip Gloss – Not As Charming As It Sounds

When I was home this Christmas, my mom, sisters, aunts and I tried a cranberry honey lip gloss recipe my mom had found in the newspaper.

As good as it looks simmering in that pot, I'm sad to report it didn't quite cut it as lip gloss. If it had been summertime, I'm sure a hummingbird would have tried to make out with my bright red, sugary lips.