lovely linen

Anna Maria Horner is one of my favorite fabric designers. I love the colors and patterns she uses, and I especially appreciate the quality of the fabrics that carry her beautiful designs.

Field Study linen line from AMH's website

Just this week, she came out with a line of linen fabrics from her Field Study line. I can't wait to try them out! The linen/cotton blend seems like a great medium for small crafts, pillow covers, and dreamy blouses for spring and summer. AMH's blog is full of ideas and inspiration, and this week she's going to be doing some posts about how she loves to use these linens.

cookies for breakfast?

I pinned this recipe a few months ago and was compelled to immediately give it a whirl.

B and I have been eating these for breakfast now for weeks on end, and with a few variations here and there, have yet to tire of them. I like to make them on Sundays and have them for the week. When there are friends around, sometimes I'll make a double batch to share. They're hearty and stick with you through the morning thanks to their good coconut oil fats and whole grain oats.

spring forward

I seem to catch the sewing bug mostly in spring, which coincides well with my tendency to have my knitting needles out more in the winter months. This spring, I'm envisioning a watercolor flowered dress for Easter, a bright tunic for the beach (or the pool? hopefully at least a pool), and some new pillow cases to freshen up the basement abode.

A recent, albeit brief, visit from my parents afforded my mom and I an afternoon of cutting, planning, and sewing together. She helped my pick out a lining for my dress, find the best fit for the dress bodice, and taught my how to sew in pattern markings. We even had a little time to go drool over the Berninas at G Street.

There's an Easter dress in the works, people. And we are t-16 days.

sewn: midi skirt

Inspired by this lovely lady, I whipped up a little midi skirt about a month ago.  And I have been wearing it nonstop.  It's very comfortable, but I'm not worried about it dragging on the ground or tripping my on the stairs like I am in a longer, maxi dress.

The fabric is from a little shop in Wichita called Needle Nook.  It was a total steal-of-a-find in the knit remnants section.

snapped: two Augusts ago

afternoon snacks and beers, dreamy

Two years ago in August, we enjoyed Austin, TX with B's parents and aunt and uncle.  I have very fond memories of the trip that are made more vivid by a few film shots we have from those sweet vacation days. 

Shot (inexpertly) with a Canon AE-1 with Fujifilm Superia 400

Black's bbq 

bad timing at the Hotel San Jose

Aunt T-bone

bathroom shot

packing

flying south on Southwest

birthdays and beers

Happy belated Birthday to the man I love!

Even though I had to work both days last weekend, we celebrated his 28th year of life over the course of a few days last week.

Late last week, when my dad was in town, we celebrated with family by going out to dinner and enjoying some german chocolate birthday cake afterwards at our house. The recipe was from my trusty America's Test Kitchen Baking Book, which never seems to fail in delivering successful and delicious confections of all shapes and sizes to our kitchen.

ATK German Chocolate cake, birthday style

out to dinner with the man of the hour

family to help celebrate!

I also tracked down some Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat, which just recently started being distributed in the DC area.  To find some near you, check out their awesome interactive beer finder.

blue and gold

new dress!

I've been sneaking in a little sewing here and there on these warm days.  The morning of the 4th, I pieced together the dress I wore that night.  More than anything else I've made, this blue and gold full skirted number fits me almost perfectly and doesn't have so much of a homemade feel.  The fabric is African block printed woven cotton from G Street Fabrics. The pattern is Cynthia Rowley for Simplicity 2497.

My adjustments: I widened the waistband by 1" and increased the skirt width by 8" total around.  I also cut the dress top front and back two sizes smaller than the size that fit my measurements in order to get a more fitted look from the loose fitting intentions of the pattern.  All adjustments worked out great for me.