holiday hangover

Wow. I woke up this morning and checked my email to find a comment from the lovely Philo mentioning that I had been featured on Whip Up! I’m just... blown away (is that too exaggerated?)! Really. I honestly didn’t think my little paint chip pieces were that fab, but I’m glad other people are enjoying them! Thanks, Whip Up!

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! It was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Sunday morning was fabulous--I wore my vintage dress and got a ton of compliments on it (its such a beautiful, nearly pristine, dress that it just loves compliments! lol!), including a couple people saying I needed to get professional pictures taken in it! Like an idiot though, I totally forgot to take pictures of me in it!!! No matter though, I plan on wearing it again this Sunday since it’s New Year’s Eve. Sunday evening was a little rocky: I managed to pinch my right eyeball while taking my contacts out causing some bleeding and a little discomfort! Ouch is right! I was very afraid I’d have to spend Christmas morning in the emergency room, but thankfully it seems to have cleared up (though it still looks ugly). I just have been wearing my old glasses for a couple days to prevent any undue strain. But, needless to say I was not a happy girl as of late Sunday evening.



Christmas morning itself was lovely though. We took our time getting around to opening presents; I was able to read a few chapters in Elegance (more about that later) and tea was made before we all settled in front of the tree for exchanging gifts. I had spent the previous three days working my fingers to the bones on a pair of green fingerless mitts (using the Fetching pattern from Knitty) for my sister. She had requested them back in August, forgotten about them, and was utterly delighted when she opened them! They’re perfect for those late nights in the chilly house hunched in front of her computer using her new tablet. ;) I think the best part of Christmas is giving to others, rather than what I get, so I’m going to avoid undue bragging here. Except to say that Santa did bring me a new Olympus digital camera! This baby is a piece of technological beauty; over 14 preset modes for specific photography situations (indoors, fireworks, candlelight, self-portrait, behind glass, museum, etc.), macro and super-macro, a nice bright flash... so much more than my well-used Fuji FinePix (a good first camera, but it was several years old, not to mention limping after a run-in with a ceramic floor). I’ve been having fun playing with it! Its going to be fun to document that bangle tutorial I promised with this (which is on my agenda for today)!



A few days ago I noticed a post on my Live Journal friends list mentioning in passing the book Elegance by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, published in 1964 and billed as "A Complete Guide for Every Woman Who Wants to be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions". I had picked it up over the summer at a used book sale for next to nothing, being intrigued by the title, subject (clothes! fashion! style! what more could a girl want?!), and the vintage publishing date. I hadn’t picked it up until now though, and have been having a delightfully good time reading it. It deals with topics of "elegance" from a-to-z (age to zippers!) and is quite charming. Some of the advice still rings very true (see "Fashion"), some is quite dated (1960s ideas about women in the workplace, foundation garments), and yet some is just plain silly (see "Eccentricity")! Its a fun, light read and look back at the fashion ideas of the age it was written in. Reading it, I realize how lucky I am to live in a time where fashion is so much less conformist and predicated on owning expensive garments to look chic. Online communities like Wardrobe Remix have really highlighted the free-for-all mentality that modern fashion has taken and I think is far more interesting (not to mention encouraging creative expression of self, worldview and lifestyle through clothes).

So, I have had a ton going on and it looks like it isn’t going to slow down right up to the start of the new semester! But, I am looking forward to making some time for further crafting (like finishing the ladybird and apple bags...) in the coming days and weeks. What, I haven’t a clue yet. Anyway, I need to do some serious catch up with all my friend’s blogs--I tried very hard last week as I was finishing those mitts to keep myself from getting distracted! lol. In the next day or two look for that bangle tutorial! :)