Tweaking

This weekend the decorating bug hit. I'd been spending so much time *not* at home, I hadn't been focusing on my own space. I tidied, arranged, replaced the white blinds with bamboo, and switched my dresser knobs to white ceramic (not pictured). I learned from my last Anthropologie hardware purchase to buy knobs that are integrated into the threaded post, rather than glued on. They will break, especially on my ever-expanding and contracting vintage dresser. Everything feels rather brown, so I'm looking for more color in my life. My sofa is screaming for new upholstery, but I want it done well, and that's not in my budget right now. I'm considering painting the frame. And also my bedroom walls. Color suggestions welcome.

I was raised to treat every occasion like a special one. It's our way of showing we care (one way, anyway).

Sunday brunch setting.

Handmade Books

I took a bookmaking class at CIA this term, and here are some of my projects. All of the sort of tie-dyed looking papers are rice papers we dyed in class. We learned only techniques that could be done at home, without any fancy tools or supplies. I don't know how I ever lived without a bone folder.

addicted to carpets...

good thing I can only fit three in my apartment.

MoCA

Last night at MoCA Cleveland, Teresita Fernández: Blind Landscape. She sculpts in graphite, and uses the idea of reflection and surface. Kind of nice. Good people-watching too.

covering some ground

Check out my new carpet! From Aspire Auctions. I think it'll go in my main living area (seeing as it's huge). Cleveland is the place to furnish an apartment on the cheap.

a start

Hello. Here is how far I've gotten this week. The bedroom needs more work. I need rugs! (too poor)

before pictures

Welcome to my new apartment! I got the keys on Friday, and the movers came today. These photos are before all that. I painted the main living space, and have begun to hang and arrange. Tomorrow I'll bring over my clothes and buy food and then I'll officially live there!

I still need to work out a few things (like getting the gas turned on...), lighting, window treatments, and a bigger carpet. But it's getting there.

West Side Market

Listen people, if you visit me, we will eat our way through Cleveland. The West Side Market is super fun (and way more crowded than my photos make it seem). You can sample all kinds of treats, buy great ingredients, and experience a little Cleveland history.

snow!

My mom and I walked around the block after the big storm today. It was so silent! Soooo siiiiilent.

Welcome to Cleveland!

Hello again. It's snowing here, we're expecting up to twenty inches by Tuesday!

Before I even arrived, I'd found a sofa (kind of Frenchy), and I picked up a few things from my grandparents on the way here. I've secured an apartment with a January move-in date. It's big and I'll walk to work when the weather warms up again. There will be tons of things to post about as I work on making the place mine.

In the mean time, I've been doing a little vintage hunting, starting with my parents' basement. I tried on a few of my grandmother's dresses from the 1950s and 1960s. There is a hideous bright floral Adele Simpson (fits, will never wear it), a cute navy 3/4 sleeve number from Lord and Taylor (no other labels, fits), and an amazing black Ceil Chapman cocktail dress (fits, needs a little fixing up before wearing). A few others that don't fit. I also scored this new coat from Craigslist, of all places. I found it almost by accident - I think the listing just said "vintage coat." Well, it turns out that it's a Schiaparelli lamb coat with mink collar, so soft and in great condition! For fifty dollars. Yes, people, believe it. I could hawk this thing in NYC for $500, at least! But I kind of like it...



More about my new job, and life in general, to follow.