Wish List

These pretty, pretty books.

All of these, from Antro, of course...
(I can't find any of these on the anthropologie website. I think a lot of them are on clearance already!)











And last, but most wantedly, a beautiful Dutch bike. Add-ons would include a baby seat and a basket. :)

Other Peoples' Crafts

My dad bought this vintage motorcycle when I was just a baby. In October, he finally finished restoring it to it's full 1967-y glory. John made this little mini movie to commemorate the occasion.

You can also see some of the beautiful-ness of the little Northern Utah valley where I spent the first 20 years of my life. Love those mountains...

1967 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson Restoration from John Stephens on Vimeo.

Music by Kidnap Kings -- a new fav-favorite!

I'm having a hard time coming up with blog content since all of my projects at the moment are gift-related! I do have a couple of things to show you, just as soon as I manage to get some pics taken!

Go Buy This Music

It's been a long time coming but the day has finally arrived!
John's band's EP was just released today on iTunes! Please go check it out, throw down the mere $2.99 for 3 songs + a video, tell your friends and write a review.
The band's official website can be found here.

Thank you for your support!!!

One More Baby Afghan...

And here is the third crocheted afghan I've made in the past month and a half. Phew! Yet another Vanna pattern (though I ended up doing something wrong and it looks nothing like the pattern, oops!) with Vanna yarn. I have so much of this yarn around now that I have plans for about 5 other projects just to use up all these left-overs!


This one is for my friend-since-9th-grade Christie who is due at the end of the year. I'm really hoping that the baby comes while I'm still in town at Christmas so I can meet him before I have to come back home. Make it happen, baby!

Cozy x 3

I just finished my first commissioned order! My good friend Erin asked me to make a couple of these drink cozies/sleeves to give as Christmas gifts. I was so excited! These little guys are really fun to make. Erin only asked for two, but I just had to throw in one for her, as well.


While driving a few days ago I was struck with a new idea to do a crocheted ripple along the edge. I was so excited to get home and try it that I could barely drive! I'm so happy with the way it looks. Punching the holes, and crocheting with the world's smallest crochet hook takes a bit more time but I think it's so worth it.


I have another project in my head using felt and this crocheted edge that I'm soooo eager to make. It'll be my reward after I finish the Christmas gift I'm currently working on. Can't wait!!!

Pink Elephant

My friend Adelyn asked me to make this sweet elephant for her daughter. It was fun and pretty fast to make and I even learned a couple new things. It's far from perfect but I hope it's ok! I get so nervous when I make anything for anyone.



The pattern can be found here.

Preikestolen

Ch-ch-check it out!

Overwhelmed? Me?

I just finished making a list of the projects that I'm currently working on and ones that need to be started and finished. The number is 30. 30 projects. Sewing, knitting, crocheting, designing, printing, assembling. And those are just for Christmas! There is an entirely different list of projects that need to get done in the not-too-distant future: Norway Trip blog, printing, framing, painting, photo albums, hanging, thrifting. Phew.

Today is going to be all-projects all-day. I'm not even going to bother getting dressed. I think it's going to be a very good day.

Here is my favorite song right now. It's officially my new running song -- the one I switch to when I need a burst of energy to keep me going. Enjoy!

A Tale of Two Mittens

Once upon a time (last Christmas), a Brother asked a Sister to make him some mittens like hers. "Of course," said Sister and she promptly began to knit them.


She knit and knit, trying to finish them before leaving Brother's town for Her town. Soon it became obvious that the mittens were going to be much too small for Brother. They were too small for Sister, who was just a medium-sized girl. There was no way they would fit a large-sized Brother.


Sister got bummed out and put the mittens away. She worked on them on and off (mostly off) for many months. Then, Sister decided to finish them. After all, Sister-in-Law was a small-sized girl -- surely they will fit her!

And so now they are finally finished. And everyone will be happy. Well, except for Brother, who will still not have any mittens.



Pattern by Hello Yarn .
This is my 3rd pair of these mittens I've made and I really love them. They were my first experience doing color work and were a great introduction! Plus, cute as cute and free pattern! Why this pair turned out so much smaller than the others is still a mystery.

Manly Granny

I told you I was addicted to these granny squares, right?


This afghan is essentially the same as the previous one (same stitch, etc) but in different colors and with a scalloped border.


Lisa's baby shower was today -- this afghan is for her little boy due around Christmas. We are very excited to have another boy in our little group of friends so Will has some buddies. :)

Finished Granny

I loooove how this blanket turned out! The colors kill me and it was so fun and easy to make. It ended up being gifted to my friend Christy for her baby girl who will be born in just a few weeks! Can't wait to meet the little one!


I might be a little bit hooked (get it?) on granny squares now. I'm working on another one plus have ideas for some pot holders (so 70s!) and/or wall art. Oh yeah.

Hot Drinks

A last minute birthday gift for a fun friend. I think this is my favorite drink cozy I've made so far!

We're Slow

But we finally got Day 2 of our trip posted! Go here to read all about it.

And stayed tuned on this blog for some actual crafts, coming soon!

Granny

John has the fancy camera with him at an out-of-town shoot so I'm left with the PowerShot. Adorable kid though, right?
Here's a peak at another blanket I'm crocheting. It's just one big granny square and I love it. I had tried granny squares several years ago and they were always failures but somehow it clicked this time -- yay! This pattern and yarn are both Vanna again, and I can't get over how cute the colors are. I think I'm about half-way done and then I've got to figure out which of the five babies due in the next few months to give it to. Please tell me, does it look unisex? Or does the purple make it too girly? Hmm...

A Lazy Day

"I'm walking to Norway, Mama!"
Today is a lazy day. The weather is beautiful and fall-ish. The house is cozy and smells delicious. We're in lounge-y clothes making cookies and watching Beatles movies. Blogging the Norway trip and making plans.

John left for a shoot last night and won't be back until tomorrow night. We miss him.

My mama will be here on Saturday night and we are very excited. William's birthday is next Wednesday and we have lots of fun plans for the week.

We went for a wonderful walk this morning. Kickboxing tonight. Maybe another walk after dinner. More working on the trip blog (I promise more is coming!) -- I didn't keep a journal while we were there so I've got to get it down before I forget things.

I should be mopping the floors and cleaning the shower. Washing the windows. Vacuuming.

I think I'll continue to enjoy this lazy, comfy day and worry about the cleaning tomorrow. Hanging out with my best little buddy "cooking hot french fries" and "walking/flying/driving to Norway" is the best way to spend today.

Trip Blog!

Head on over here to check out our trip blog! So far I've only got one day up, but it's better than nothing right? More to follow soon (I hope!)

Off On a Grand New Adventure!

Well kids, the time has finally come! By the time you read this we will be off to begin a 21 day adventure all over Norway (and I do mean ALL over), Svalbard, Finland, Sweden and Denmark. Oh yeah, we are totally rocking the entirity of Scandinavia. Woot!

I'll definitely be posting a few pics and updates from the road. Arctic regions here we come!

Carry On

Just got (off etsy) this vintage carry-on piece -- the newest member of my vintage luggage family (and they're all Samsonite!) Woot!


And, inspired by Elsie at A Beautiful Mess (one of my very favorites!) who was inspired by Orla Kiely (j'adore!), I added some hand-embroidery. It's just 6 strands of floss, doubled (Elsie used yarn). My fingers are a bit blistered now but it was totally worth it in my book. :)


This cutie will be serving as my carry-on for Scandinavia. It's packed to the brim with goodies to keep a 2 year old and a mama entertained and comfortable (?) for a 14-hour flight. We're only four days out now! Eek!

Frosted

In July, while my sis Lex was here visiting, we took upon ourselves the task of finding the most delicious cupcakes in the land. And it all started with the happy occurrence of parking in front of Frosted Cupcakery in Long Beach.



We searched high and low during the month that Alexa was here and our conclusion was unanimous -- Frosted took the cake! (Oh wow! See that pun there!?)


If you're ever in the Long Beach area, get ye hence to Frosted and partake. I would recommend the carrot. Alexa would recommend the lemon and John's favorite is the white coconut. But they are all good. All good.



P.S. Now, anytime anyone flies down to visit, we have them come into Long Beach airport so that we have an excuse to drive down there and get cupcakes. They are so worth the extra miles. And calories.

WJS

There's a new William in town (in fact, he has the exact same initials as my William, which means they'll probably be bros-for-life) and we spent most of last week visiting that sweet baby and our great friends.



I threw this quilt together at the last minute (ah, procrastination) the night and morning before driving out to our friends' house. It's made with scraps of a few of my favorite boy fabrics that I've used in other projects (here and here). Easy 6" squares pieced together in rows and machine quilted with organic bamboo batting inside. Yum.


Also yum, this sweet sweet new baby:

Hello September!!

Hold on a second there. Not so fast. September? How?! What? I can't believe it but I'm so happy it is here again already.



To celebrate the first day of my favorite month a fall-type drink was in order. I wish that I could have bust out a scarf to go along, but alas, it's going to be 100 degrees today again. The pine cone earrings did make an appearance though so that made me feel a bit more fall-ish.

This month is going to be crazy! Not only do we celebrate both mine and John's birthdays, we also have a wedding anniversary and we'll be spending 3 weeks in Norway and all over Scandinavia! It's a very exciting way to spend my favorite month of the year (also, escaping the heat will be nice!).

I've finished a few fun projects over the past couple of months since I last checked-in and am looking forward to starting some new things. I'm feeling motivated and super inspired! I love the coming season! Happy Sept everyone!

Holy. Mother.

I want to be this couple. Both of them. I was just killed by cuteness in the extreme. I reeeeaaaalllly need to get married again. Or, just get a video made anyway.

Watch all the Iris and Light videos here

Jana + Billy Engagement from IRIS AND LIGHT on Vimeo.

Nap Time

Baseball + Chinatown

A couple of weeks ago we went with friends to a Dodger Game (my first -- and I loved it, weirdly enough) and then to China town. The weather was perfectly cool and it was a super fun day. John got some incredible pics!