learn to cross stitch

In order to celebrate the season the best way I know how, I'll be posting the 12 Days of DIY December here. Check back every day for something new to make, bake, or create to get ready for Christmas!

I have a secret to tell you about cross stitching. The only two things you really need are a pattern and patience. That's it!

Cross stitching is a great craft to try out because of the low entry cost. No expensive supplies or special machines - just get yourself a hoop, some fabric, a needle, and some embroidery floss and go. There are tons of lovely patterns available for purchase, and plenty that are shared for free too!

Patterns: Wigglytuff, Tattoo font, Joker & Harley

 These are some of the cross stitch projects I've done. They look pretty good to me, and I really just jumped in a total beginner. It's been a lot of fun, though as a word of warning, recognize that a more complex pattern might take longer than you expect. I almost squinted my eyeballs out of my head to get that Wigglytuff done in time for the birthday!

When looking for a pattern, it's best to find one that's marked suitable for a beginner, though if you can get a look at it and see what kind of stitches it requires, you should be okay. If it's all the basic full stitch, no matter how complex it looks, just keep making Xs and you're good to go! Just take your time and keep a close eye on the pattern. I'm partial to this one for sale on Etsy, but there are also a lot of great free patterns collected on this Pinterest board. A lot of cross stitch patterns easily available are a little more old-fashioned/country-style than my personal tastes run to, but just keep looking! There's a great community of crafters who have created patterns suitable to all tastes.

Pick out a pattern today and start today - a cross stitch is a great decoration and a great gift.

i heart etsy: iris + lily

Hello, virtual citizens! I have now officially worked a full week at my new job, which makes this my first official weekend as a gainfully employed person (I worked my final retail shift last Saturday, so that weekend didn't count). So far, I'm really enjoying the job; I get to do a lot of writing, which is awesome, and also a lot of working on websites and researching things on the internet, which are other things that I love to do (obviously). Also, I get to eat lunch in a cafe that's on the 36th floor! I can see my car from there!

But I don't spend a lot of time staring at my car anymore (though I do look out on the lake a lot), because (fanfare!):



Is it a book? A notepad?



It's a new home for my tablet! (and hey, check out my fabulous Sock Dreams sticker) As those of you who follow me on twitter know (and you can head over to the sidebar to do that, if you don't already), I bought a tablet in January. It's an Acer Iconia A100, and up until now, I honestly hadn't gotten much use out of it. When I'm in the house, I tend to be on my laptop, for obvious reasons, and without a case, there was no way I was taking my new baby out and about. I poked around Best Buy and Target, but I couldn't find a case I really loved. Also, since my tablet isn't a Nook, Kindle, or iPad, the pickin's were pretty slim.

But now! Oh, now, he has a beautiful case from Iris + Lily of Etsy. When I was shopping for a case on Etsy, I mostly found zippered pouches, which were great, but I really wanted something that opened up like a book for more security. The cases from Iris and Lily immediately caught my eye. They're gorgeous and custom made to the exact dimensions of your tablet/ereader. The fabrics are beyond fabulous (browsing through their store just now, I'm finding even more that I want. Guess I better get myself some more devices!) and I'm extremely impressed with the quality of the finished piece. I would never guess that this case was handmade; it's professional, gorgeous, and sturdy. Plus, it closes with a discreet hidden magnet, so I don't have to worry about it flopping open in my bag and damaging the screen.

The only downside to this case is that I'd have to remove the tablet to use the back-facing camera, but I knew that going in and don't plan to use it as a camera all that often (though I might eat my words once Instagram for Android comes out!). It did take a little longer to receive than I expected (they quote 2-3 weeks), but when I contacted Diane & Kate, who own the store, they were very friendly and very communicative. My case shipped the next day! (A note on communication: I had actually picked out a case from a different seller, but had a question regarding customization. I messaged them to inquire about it, and after two weeks with no word, received "Oh, didn't I respond to this?" I said that they hadn't, and...they never responded. Not impressed, and I decided to take my business elsewhere.)

In summation, I highly recommend Iris + Lily for all your case needs, if you're looking for something a little glam but still ultra functional. They also make journals and photo albums that look just as lovely.

Now I can hang out and lunch and try miserably to solve crosswords! A great success all around.

in search of: jewelry storage

What I'm going to do with my jewelry has been an issue I've been considering for a long time. I have pretty much two modes of "storage" for my jewelry; either it all lays out and makes a mess or it's packed away into terribly unstylish plastic tubs. I really want a storage solution that's also stylish, so I can show my pieces off, have easy access to it, and take advantage of the touch of color and sparkle I could have, using jewelry I already own as a piece of art!

I own a lot of long necklaces, so a jewelry tree/stand, as cute as they may be, just isn't going to cut it. I'm open to buying a piece, though working a little DIY magic is tempting. Here's a spread, from ready-made to DIY, that I've been pinning to my "Room Inspiration" board.

Source: etsy.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: designspongeonline.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: pixieinpumps.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: mamamekko.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: urbanoutfitters.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: simplyphoto.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: styleyourlifeblog.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: becauseimaddicted.net via Jennifer on Pinterest

Okay, so I snuck a stand in there, but c'mon, keys! How cute is that? And I could use a little stand for my earrings and rings. As much as I'm in love with those printer's trays, right now, I'm thinking about repainting a coatrack that I liberated from my last apartment. With some spray paint, it could add a funky edge to my room while still sticking with my kind of...airy outdoors-inspired theme. (That's a dumb way to describe a theme, I should work on that.)

How do you store your jewelry? Do you keep it tucked in a jewelry box or do you try to use it as a decoration? I'm just excited to stop keeping my pretties inside a tupperware!

i heart etsy: spoonfulofchocolate

This time on i heart etsy, I'd like to spotlight an Etsy seller that I've actually ordered from! Spoonfulofchocolate primarily creates awesome things from books; since I'm obviously an internet warrior, you might be surprised, but I love books. I have every since I was but a baby blogger playing Science Shop With Munker (a fabulous game on 6 floppy disks). The popularity of book crafts both thrills and horrifies me; I can't help but be struck to the very heart at the idea of cutting up poor books, but I would love to display my bookish nerdy side through some fabulous accessories. Luckily, spoonfulofchocolate's creations can be enjoyed without worry: only the covers are used, and the rest of in-tact book is donated to a local refugee center.


Retro Pink Cookbook Handbag

How darling is that? Perfect for fans of retro or cooking or books or purses (ooh, me!). I love the pink especially because a lot of the time I feel too Barbie wearing full pieces in pink, but I love the freshness and youth of the color--awesome for accessories!


World Atlas Briefcase Handbag

While the first one was bright and very wink-wink-nudge-nudge bookworm-chic, the best thing about this one (to me) is that it's not obviously a book at first glance. It looks very sleek and professional, but there's that neat twist when you look closer and see it's made from an atlas!

The store also has very sneaky passport holders, shelves made from books, other nifty things, and--something I find really neat--PDF tutorials in case you want to DIY any of her projects. You shouldn't need to DIY, though, because custom orders are totally workable. I wanted a custom passport holder for a Christmas present, and she was immensely friendly, helpful, and responsive. It was something of a rush job, and despite difficulty finding a workable copy of one of the books I wanted, the gift arrived on time (which was very important, since the friend in question was jetting off the far abroad mere days later). The craftsmanship was excellent as well--I heartily recommend spoonfulofchocolate for all your book handicraft needs!

Are you a bookworm? Do you think books-as-accessories is fabulous or sacrilegious?

i heart etsy: untamed menagerie

Etsy is such a darling of the fashion blogosphere (and internet at large) that it seems like a foregone conclusion, but every time I mention it I find new people who have never been there. So I feel it's part of my solemn duty to mention it as often as possible so everyone can go buy adorable accessories, outfits, crafty things, and gifts of all types. I buy gifts almost exclusively from Etsy; it's the only place I can find something individual and quirky for all of my friends that won't break the budget. Plus, supporting independent creators is always awesome. I secretly dream of opening my own Etsy shop to sell all of the beautiful yet quirky handcrafts I make in my big airy studio (with a dressform in it), skipping around thrift stores and flea markets in a cute vintage jumper dress to collect bits and pieces to twist into wonderful things. Unfortunately, I don't make...anything, really. And I don't have a studio...or a jumper. All tragedies that will one day be corrected, I'm sure. But for now, I'll have to support other fabulous Etsians.

I first found UntamedMenagerie last Christmas in my search for Psychology-themed jewelry. I didn't end up purchasing the inkblot necklace I found there, but I kept it in my favorites and stumbled back to it today. In the half a year since I viewed the shop, it's either gotten even more awesome or I forgot how awesome it was to begin with in order to preserve the "buy things for other people" spirit of the holidays.

Needless to say, I'm in love.


Carpe Noctem

It's a girl with a bat on a leash. How is that not amazing? Look at those pigtails!


Marine Antoinette

Seriously. Who in their right mind would not want to wear these zany, beautiful things around their neck?


Perched

...or on their finger? It's a bird!

The designs are either stainless steel or black acrylic, as far as I can see, and make sure you read the listing carefully to see whether the pendant you're ordering comes with a chain or not (chains are also available for purchase in the shop). These are gorgeous, strange, and insanely well-priced; I suspect one or two will end up en route to my school mailbox not too far in the future.