The Most Wonderful TIme of the Year....

Thanksgiving is under our belts (literally) and, at The Works, that means Christmas is in full swing.

I've got gifts to buy and candy to make, but first, this Saturday is the 3rd Ward Holiday Craft Fair. I'll be there this year with Little Bunny so come by and say hello from 12-6pm. And maybe buy a little somethin'.

Thankfulness and Another Project

And so I painted one of my kitchen walls black. I kind of love it. In fact, I love it a lot. A lot.

And it is. indeed, a chalkboard wall. My friend, L, says that it "creeps her out" but I love looking at it next to my awesome wall paper.

Then, next to the fridge, I installed a bottle opener. It also makes me happy. So there you have it.

Tomorrow I head to NJ to spend Thanksgiving with my family. I have a lot to be thankful for and, before dinner, we all go around the table and say what that is. I know it's not a unique tradition, but we do it every year and every year I get a little nervous when my turn comes.

I'm counting all the ways (that I'm thankful) and I hope you are, too. And I wish you the happiest day filled with your favorite people.

Apartment Project- kitchen

In the last 4 weeks, I've painted my bedroom and living room, hung curtains, and painted my kitchen table and chairs. What I did not do was take any before and after pictures for you.

I did, however, put up some awesome temporary wallpaper in my kitchen, of which I have photos. The kitchen is black and white and the walls just seemed sooooooo white. I had intended the wallpaper for the entry way, but none of the walls proved a likely candidate.

So I started out in the top, left corner and it wasn't quite flush against the corner. So I stopped and called my mom. It seems, that this is not how one hangs wallpaper.

It appears that one has to first hang a plumb line. A plumb line, apparently, is useful for "determining center of gravity of an irregular shape". I improvised one with some yarn and a bunch of belt buckles.

So you have to hang the first strip a little away from your corner and follow the plumb line. Then you go back later and patch in the corner. This ensures that your pattern is straight across the ceiling.

This is the point where my first roll of paper ran out. This is also the point where I realized that everything - EVERYTHING - that I would need for my apartment would cost between $100-150.

And, ta-DA! The finished product (project). You can also see the table and chairs that I painted. They were a hand me down from my parents and about 25 years old. I love the new paint color. I was going to go with black, but decided to go really, really dark teal instead.

The kitchen has taken on a life of it's own at this point. It's gone a little glam, which I'm thrilled with.

More pictures soon!

You Be the Judge

Which table and chairs cost $900? And which one cost $550?

I'm trying to find a reasonable option for a dining table. If I can hardly tell the difference, is it worth the extra $350?

Fretful Knitting

In the stress-filled weeks before I moved, I occasionally had the spare moment to knit. The management had my application for 2 weeks (2!) before they set the ball rolling. I had pretty much stopped looking at other places, because this was The One and I had nothing but time on my hands.

In those weeks, I would come home, pack a box or two in the name of positive thinking, and then settle in to watch a little TV before fretting myself to sleep. I needed something to keep my hands busy, but nothing too taxing on the brain.

My very cool friends who live in Paris, just had their second child. The first baby, I actually got to visit in person and he was the recipient of a little pea coat and knitted hat. L said that he wore the hat all winter until the nanny lost it. Well, I couldn't let N's new little brother go hat-less and of course he had to have a new one (to replace the one the nanny lost!).

I can't tell you how I made these. I think I Googled "child head circumference" and then cast on accordingly. As a result, they are a little on the big side. But, it's good to have hand knits to grow in to, right?

The yarn is Spud and Chloe worsted superwash. I really, really love it and will be using it for many more hand knits for all the babies being born around me these days.

Oh, and I included a I *heart* NY onezie and a tee, so the boys will know where their cool friend from the states lives. I can never resist a plug for good ol' NYC.

Wants and Desires

Ever since moving into the new place, all I can do is daydream and surf the net for stuff to fill my apartment. Oh, wait, I did that before. Don't tell my boss.

campaign table, for next to the love seat

Jonathan Adler bedding, I've been looking everywhere for this color!

This rug, for the living room, to balance the bold walls and curtains (pictures to follow).

Or this one, 'cause I love it. So help me.