Officially Fall

Rittenhouse Square Park on the first day of fall. 

It is now officially fall according to the calendar and I am very excited about it.  I love the fall, the weather is cool and crisp and you can where jeans and boots and of course sweaters.  I know I've been raving about fall for what seems like all month, but it actually feels like fall is here in Philly!  This may be one of the first Septembers where the city still doesn't feel like its stuck in August.  Our apartment isn't sweltering and we even took the AC unit out of our bedroom window, we even have a blanket on our bed.  I know this may all seem very silly but I can now knit with wool without a fan on me and sweat pouring off my hands.

What does all of this mean?  It means a few things.  Apple season is on its way, so the apartment will be filled with the smell of apple pie, apple sauce and apple butter.  Three of my favorite apple items.  It will also mean the return of the slow cooker, so there will be many meals of chilli, beef stew, mac and cheese, and bread pudding.  On top of that it will be ideal bread making weather.  I will be able to wear some of my favorite sweaters as well as knit a few new lovelies.  It will be cold enough for scarves and fingerless mitts soon, and I can pull my leather jacket out of the closet and hang it by the door.  Ok, I said a few, but maybe it means a lot of things to me.

Grapes at the farmer market. 

Another reason I love the fall is my birthday is in the fall.  October to be exact and while I am creeping closer and closer to 30 I am excited about turning a year older.  I think 28 is going to be a good year for me I can just feel it.  There are a lot of things going on this year in my life and they are all exciting and all really starting in the fall.  For example my new job at TD at Plays and Players really takes off come October and I'm still at Theatre Exile for their second show The English Bride (I love being in Exile).  My parents are also coming to visit me around my birthday.  They haven't been to the city since 2008 when I first moved here.  So I say bring on fall, bring on crisp nights and hardy meals, bring on the colors of the leaves and the smell of cinnamon.  I'm ready. Lets do this.

Fall Surfing

That's right I'm off surfing today.  Simon and I both have today off so we took advantage of the warm weather and the fact that the beaches will be less crowded to go catch a few waves.

I have mixed feelings about fall surfing.  Right now I'm totally fine with surfing the water is still warm and the air temp hasn't dropped too much.  But in a few brief weeks the water temp will cool and so will the air temp.  The water will be warm than the air and getting out of the surf will be difficult.  The waves however will be getting better and better.  The winter is peak season, but we don't own winter wet suits (which I've read have a lining of merino wool in the).  So as soon as the water temp gets down below 54 F, and I can't get warm when I get out of the water I hang my surf board up on the wall till Spring.  Does this mean I'm less core than other surfers? Probably.  Does it concern me? Not really.  I surf because I enjoy it and I have a sneaking suspicion that I would not enjoy winter surfing up here on the Jersey Shore.

30 Before 30: August 2012 Update & Look Ahead

August is drawing to a close, which means that summer is coming to it's last days.  I haven't progress very much on my 30 before 30, but I'm still plugging away.  I am still trying to learn to duck dive, but soon that will have to wait till we travel to Oz.  There is a huge possibility that I will have health insurance soon.  Our apartment is becoming less and less cluttered at we purge the things we don't needs and find better solutions to storing what we do have.  I have been canning all summer and plan on continuing into the fall with tomatoes, peach butter, and apple butter.  My summer adventures will draw to a close with one last bang, a Bruce Springsteen concert in Philly.  

What I find truly exciting isn't accomplishing my list or even my first summer in Philly; tt is my return to working in theatre.  Has is been easy, no.  Has it been busy, yes.  Is it what I've been missing, yes.  In looking to the fall I expect to be busy, I expect to have long days, but I expect to be in my element and happy about those long hours.  This fall will be my trial by fire, a test I intend to pass.  It only took six years out of college for me to realize that I had made the right decision at 18 picking Theatre Arts as my major.  This is where I should be, and I expect there to be even more, even better things to come.  

Looking to the Fall

It's still summer, but have you been noticing all the "back to school" items and sales and commercials that have started popping up now that it's August?  This means that fall is right around the corner.  I find fall an exciting time of year, I always have.  Growing up fall meant the start to a new school year, fresh notebooks, new jeans, and sweaters.  Now my adult self sees fall as the start the theatre season, new jobs, fresh apples, and of course sweaters.

Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite season is I usually can't decided, but in growing older I think I have come to favor fall.  Not only is my birthday in October but I see fall as a time of newness.  My theory is  because we start a new school year in the fall I have been conditioned in my 16 years of schooling to think that fall is exactly the right time of year to start something fresh.  I am all for this.  I feel that sweater weather is the perfect time to pull on your favorite pullover and start a new project; that could be a new knitting project, a new job, a new skill you want to acquire, really anything that gets you excited.

I maybe getting ahead of myself.  It is only half way through August; there is still plenty of nice warm summery weather still left in the next few weeks.  But I love looking ahead to the fall.  I do every year.  In the spirit of "back to school" and all that junk I am planing some new sewing projects for the fall and maybe a new sweater or two.  

I have been obsessed with lace, especially in the form of a dress and in bright jewel tones.

Green Dress and White Dress, Burda Style

Teal Dress, ModCloth

I found this awesome lace for just such a project:

Anda Burda Style

Lately I've been looking at the Anda again, and thinking that I want to make one or two in a more flowing fabric than the lavender one I made this spring.

This beautiful gold rayon blend that I found in the dollar bin at my favorite fabric store will make a gorgeous Anda, or even this deep red rayon blend that is in my stash.  Maybe I will make two.

Anita Jeans

I want to make another pair of jeans for the fall, maybe in a darker wash.  These jeans fit so well I can't justify buying any unless it's from the thrift store and they are to wear while building or painting.

I am also planing another two sorbettos. One in white with a high low hemline and one in a sheer tomato red.  Thankfully a lot of the fabric I need for these sewing projects is in my fabric stash.

Now on to the knitting.

Carnaby Skirt, Knitty.com 

I know, I know I've sworn off skirts, but I just have to knit this warm wool skirt.  Something is compelling me to knit this.  I plan on knitting it in a dark heather grey so that I can get a lot of use out of it.  It will be perfect for the fall and the winter and the early spring, so I will have no real excuse not to wear the darn thing.  

Elbow Patch Cardigan, A. Butta

I am also considering this cute cable and elbow patch cardigan.  I think it would be a great piece to have for the winter along with my knit hoddie that is in progress as I type.  

Aidez, Cirilia Rose

I've also had my eye on this sweater for awhile, but I'm not sure I want to commit to a project like this until all of my gift knitting is completed.  It is however knit with bulky yarn on size US 10 1/2 needles.  This could be a quick knit.  

Abalone, Beata Jezek

If anything elas I will knit myself another abalone out of some yummy wool blend yarn to wear all winter.  Ambitious plans for someone who will have less time to sew than usual, but I think I'll be able to make what I want.  I still have my Sundays to myself.  The perfect sewing project day.  

Fall Knitting

Yesterday I told everyone about my summer plans and goals and today I am going to talk about the future.  I have started my designs for the fall.  Wait!? What? I have cast on and started knitting one of two fall patterns.  My hope is that I will be able to complete both garments by August and then find a few testers who would like to knit said garments.  The plan is to then have the patterns ready for September and October.  This is my first time looking this far ahead for my own designs and I like how it feels.  I planed this back in April and figured as soon as I was done with my spring designs I would release one or two free patterns on the blog in June and July and use the summer to focus on the fall.  My hope is to one day be about six months ahead.

This summer I am also working on a collection of patterns.  Here are all the swatches.  I am so excited about my fall projects.  Now all I have to do is find a nice air conditioned spot to knit in this summer.

October Link Love

Why don't we start out the love with a little fall inspiration over at Delightfully Tacky, Fall Inspiration: Pumpkins.

Next how about one of my favorite things combined with learning a new skill, Wild Olive has Coffee Embroidery Patterns. 

Over on the Etsy blog they had a fun project and how to on Building a Bat House, a great twist on the old bird house project.

Offbeat Home had two great DIYs, the first one was a recipe and a how to on Making State Fair Style Corn Dogs (one of my favorite fried things on a stick), and the second was two different how tos on making a Hanging Garden.

While we're exploring home tips and decorating options I love Upcountry Vintage's Ultra Affordable Bathroom Art Solution.

This last link has saved my butt a few times and I am now in love with Bias Binding.  Over on Coletterie there is a great tutorial on Bias binding as a Facing or Detail.

Welcoming Fall

I am excited to be back and officially blogging again, I am also excited for fall to roll in. Cool days and chilly nights, warm cozy knits and large mugs of warm drinks. To celebrate the coming of fall I went to my favorite coffee house the other day, ordered a latte and sat in the front by the shops large glass window. They already had a pumpkin sitting on the counter.

Look how pretty my latte looked.

Here is what I am working on, a beanie that my husband approves of. Once it is finished and the pattern is complete I may let him keep it. Which reminds me next week I will have a new pattern out in the world. I have a lot of plans for the fall, some new patterns, some fun tutorials, and maybe a recipe or two. On the blog I am planning some new Technique Tuesday posts, along with new stitch pattern posts, a Fiber Friday and even a resurrection of Vintage Finds Friday.

The fun starts tomorrow with Technique Tuesday.

New Banner

I made a new banner for my etsy shop today and I think it might be my best one yet. Go check it out if you get a chance. It's raining here and All I plan on doing is curling up on the couch and knitting, and maybe drinking some tea and defiantly watch some Pride & Prejudice.

The evenings here are starting to feel a bit cooler and you can smell fall in the air. I am hoping this fall actually feels like fall. The past year fall has been just as warm as the summer to only plummet us in to the freezing depth of winter come December and we really had no spring here in Philly one day it was cold and the next was a heat wave were one was worried that the humidity would suffocate you.

This weather gets me geared up for fall and I'm contemplating new project for the cooler months along with new patterns, but I love to revisit my previous patterns. One of my favorite is the Fall of the Leaf Fingerless Mitts, I may have to make a pair in red or maybe orange.

What does the fall hold in store for you?

The Return of Vintage Finds: Fall Days

Fall, one of my favorite times of the year. It marked the beginning of a new school year, a return to friends, the promise of cool weather and cozy sweaters and apple cider.

vintage 1970's eggplant wrap dress

By Thrush


1970s vintage DEXTER OXBLOOD campus boots 5.5

By allencompanyinc

Vintage SILK Knit ARGYLE CARDIGAN

By NestEggVintage


Vintage Oversized Chunky Irish Cable Knit Cardigan Sweater Jacket, S, M, L

By TWIGVINTAGE

Vintage Owl Necklace

By CatchTheEye

Take me Home Country Roads - Men's Vintage Blue Gingham Cowboy Shirt

By moonshinejunkyard

Vintage wool blazer Small

By PrettyRaccoon


Lumberjack Plaid Wool Pullover

By sweetcrocodile

Hot in the City

Happy first of the month!
I welcome September every year with the hope of cooler days and chill evenings, but I tend to be sadly disappointed by heat wave that we always seem to have in Philly.
I want to wear my boots and sweaters and my new skinny jeans.
That's right I have succumbed to the trend and am ok with my decision to wear skinny jeans. I happen to like the way my bum looks in my new skinny jeans.
(and the apt is too hot to do anything in)

So, please heat wave leave, I am ready for the fall.

Fall?

The leafs have just started to turn here in Philly, and there is a glimmer of golden yellow and bursts of orange here and there around the city. Unlike my home town which I'm sure is bursting with color right about now Philly tends to take a little longer ushering in the fall colors and temps. With September coming to a close I am ready for October and the for the fall to finally be here.