Octoberland

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October, October where did you go? It's barely November and I already miss you so. I close my eyes and I dream of a land that I call Octoberland and it is a place where October exists 12 months of the year!

In Octoberland the days are cool and crisp, it is just cold enough to wear your favorite sweater and scarf. Perfect weather to drink hot apple cider and eat pumpkin bread. And did you know? Apples and pumpkins grow all year long. The leaves are always a bright shade of red, yellow, orange, and brown and leaf piles are so fun to jump in!

What is there to do in Octoberland? I am so glad you asked! Well, Halloween (the best holiday ever!) comes at the end of ever month and everything related to Halloween is done in a big way. There are the best hayrides, and scariest haunted houses, the spookiest storytelling, huge pumpkin carving contests and trick or treating that goes on for hours. There is a Halloween parade around the entire town and at the end there is a costume contest. And the prize for the best costume you ask? A trip around the world exploring haunted places!!! First stop, the Queen Mary!

I really wish I could take Octoberland out of my head and turn it into something real. It is a place I long to be. How about you?

Stuck in a Hole

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It seems like forever since I last posted. I have been going through a hard time and when the shit hits the fan I get quiet. It's just the way I deal with stress, I hate to complain. But I feel like I have to get this off my chest because I think a lot of artists deal with the same thing. I can't afford to support myself solely by my artwork so I work a day job. My day job has nothing to do with art or anything creative. Those kinds of jobs are few and far between in Boston. So I work corporate America for a mutual fund giant, I have been there for four years. Four years of hating every minute. I am stuck in front of a computer all day while sitting in a cubical. I set up meetings, manage calendars, answer phones, set up travel and do expense reports among other things and it crushes my spirit. It isn't what I was born to do, it doesn't make my heart sing. I come home exhausted from just trying to make it through the day. So exhausted that trying to do anything creative after work seems impossible, it just doesn't flow. But in order to live and pay my rent I have to do it. I am looking for another job and working on my portfolio but with the job market the way it is right now it doesn't look like a change for the better is going to happen soon. But I refuse to be totally hopeless- I have started playing the lottery. I know, I know but dreams sometimes come true, right? I realize that I can't depend on winning the lottery, I know the statistics. So I will have to push myself and get as much artwork done whether I am exhausted or not. I can't let this job eat me alive. What do you do to make the most of a job you don't like?

P.S. Thanks for listening to me vent.

Treasure Hunting- Boomerang's Edition

This weekend at Boomerang's we had to clean out our bins of all the stuff we have put aside and purchase what we wanted. I had a ton of stuff in my bin but I was really strict and didn't allow myself to bring home anything that would turn into a project. Nothing that needed stains removed, any altering or repairs. It whittled down my pile considerably. What came home with me? A vintage sheath dress with matching jacket, a wool coat, a peach satin bed jacket, and a brand new pair of shoes. A nice haul if you ask me. More next week, see you then!

Treasure Hunting

{sorry for the dark photo}

Sadly, I didn't get to the yard sale at Curtis Hall this weekend. I had to go and spend two hours at the hair salon getting my hair done. Not something I wanted to do on a beautiful Saturday. Especially since I saw a million yard sale flyers- it tore my heart out. But my hair turned out looking great so it isn't all bad.

Thankfully, I have last week's treasures waiting to be documented. All treasures came from Boomerangs, some from the West Roxbury store where I work and some from the Jamaica Plain store. I got a 1950's white lambswool sweater with embroidered flowers, a cloth belt with a mother of pearl buckle, a tweed wool coat with black crochet lace, a 1950/60's brocade dress, and a red vinyl ottoman that didn't make it into the photo. I am happy with all my purchases except the wool coat. It is super cute but I ended up ruining it by soaking it in oxyclean. I have always had great success giving my vintage clothing a good soak in a weak dilution of oxyclean but the coat was lined in some weird fabric that obviously wasn't color fast. It bleed all over the coat and now it is covered dark colored splotches. I am really disappointed but I know how to sew so I will remake the coat using it as a pattern and I think I can salvage the lace. I never like when a treasure becomes a huge project but sometimes it just turns out that way.

I have decided that I am going to turn my treasure hunting into a weekly feature here on my blog. I usually go searching on Saturdays so I will post my treasures on Sunday. Be sure to check back next Sunday!

Vintage Bicycle Lust

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I saw a woman at the farmer's market a couple of weeks ago with the most beautiful vintage bike. I don't remember the make but it was burgundy with a leather Brook's seat and a wicker bike basket. Since then I have wanted to get a vintage bike of my own. I researched where I could get one in Boston and found this place. I think I want a black Raleigh or Triumph. I can't wait to go and check out their inventory to see if I can find my dream bike.

Accessorizing would come next. I found this adorable bike helmet (and this one too) and this pannier, of course the Brook's saddle and I love these braided leather handle bar wraps. And I can't forget a bicycle basket!

The only problem is that I am afraid to ride a bike in Boston traffic and there aren't bike lanes here. I thought it was illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk in Boston but a quick look into the bike laws and I was proved wrong. Hooray, bike shopping here I come!

Some Dinosaur Love

I took the day off today and what better way to start the day than with dinosaur pancakes. It was my first time using the molds so it took some getting used to. Some of the dinos ended up with no tails, some with no legs. But armed with my recipe for the best pancakes ever, they were delicious despite the lack of appendages.

The Best Pancakes Ever

1 cup sifted all purpose flour

2 tbsp. baking powder

2 tbsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 beaten egg

1 cup milk

2 tbsp vegetable oil

Preheat griddle to 400 degrees F. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside. Mix together liquid ingredients. Add dry ingredients to liquid and beat smooth. Bake pancakes on griddle, turn when sides are bubbly. Makes eight 4-inch pancakes.

I recommend making a double batch so you have leftovers because you will want to eat them for dinner too!

Treasure Hunting

Last Saturday I went to a yard sale at Curtis Hall. They have one with a few dealers every other Saturday. I try to go to each one even if I don't have any money to spend (torture!) I mostly buy from a dealer named Kat. She always has wonderful vintage, whether it be clothes, jewelry, accessories, or sewing items. I have been buying from her for a while now and she is always very good to me. The weather was miserable this particular Saturday, 90+ degrees and the sun was scorching. But I made off with a few treasures. A velvet cape, fabric, two pairs of earrings, and a small purse- all of it vintage!

Then I walked down to the Jamaica Plain Boomerangs thrift store (I work at the West Roxbury location every other Saturday) There were more vintage treasures to be had!

{sorry for the bad pic I was having issues with the flash}

An angora sweater, a sewing/knitting book from 1956, and a coat pattern. Vintage goodies are my favorite! Looking forward to the next treasure hunt. Stay tuned!

Go Away Summer

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Dear Summer,

Please don't think I don't appreciate you, I have enjoyed your warm days filled with sun but now I would like you to go away. I am sick of your heat waves and scorching sun. You make me sweat and drain my energy. I know in February I will be asking you to come back but please don't hate me for being a fair-weather friend.

xo

Heather

Mittens and a Spritzer

The weather in Boston has been oppressively hot and humid. It has zapped my energy, fried my brain, and my creativity has gone out the window, hence the shortage of posts. I have been trying to stay as cool as best as I can which brings me to a question, how do you stay cool during a heatwave? I have been locking myself away in my air conditioned bedroom as much as I can, drinking pomegranate spritzers, and knitting mittens. Yes, I said mittens. I constantly have to keep my hands busy and I have been trying to use up some leftover yarn before I buy anything new. The mittens will go with the slouchy beret style hats I knit in the early spring and never got a chance to wear. I can't wait for the brisk air in October. Autumn where are you?

Pomegranate Lime Spritzer

1/4 Pomegranate juice

3/4 lime sparkling water (orange works well too)

twist of lime

ice

The Vintage Motherload

Every other Saturday I work at a thrift store called Boomerangs. I work in the warehouse where all the donations come in and get sorted. My job is solely to sort through bags upon bags of clothes. As I have stated in past posts I am in love with vintage, especially vintage clothes. The benefit of working in the warehouse is that if there is anything that strikes your fancy you can put it aside and buy it at the end of your shift. As if that wasn't a good enough benefit, employees get 50% off of clothes and 30% off of hard goods. This weekend I struck the motherload of vintage though I just photographed my very favorites.

The Sketchbook Project

It arrived! The moleskine sketchbook for the sketchbook project 2011 arrived in my mailbox this week. I don't really draw, that's why I became a photographer, though I used be able to when I was in grade school and junior high. I even won a poster contest when I was in the third grade! I am not sure what happened but by the time I was in high school I was having a lot of difficulty drawing. When I was in my freshman year of art school I failed my life drawing class and had to repeat it over the summer. Learning to photograph helped me "see" again and my perspective was much better. By the end of school I was able to draw again but it never came back as naturally as it did when I was younger.

I haven't tried to draw since art school. I keep trying to get myself to sit down and try but much anxiety prevents me from doing so. I feel like I will be back in my life drawing class and won't be able to draw-- I don't want fail again. I was recently very inspired and this is such a cool project, I feel that it will be good for me to get out of my comfort zone and grow as an artist. And hopefully prove to myself that I CAN draw! I don't know how my sketchbook will turn out but I will post my progress as I go along. Please check back often.

Another Man's Trash

I must confess, I have been known to pick things out of the trash. I am actually a third generation trash picker. My grandpa is the first generation and he was mostly after scrap metal to use for welding. My father is the second generation and the best picker out of all of us. The things he finds are incredible. I don't have a car so sadly I have limitations but just look at what I found last week on trash day. I think the suitcase is from the forties and is in incredible shape except for a broken latch. Considering the age I think it has faired well.

I have a collection of old suitcases that I started collecting when I was in high school. I love to decorate with them. They have an eclectic look and they are great storage when closet space is limited.

A Haunting

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Ghosts haunt me while I slumber. In dreams they make me float in beautiful ethereal gowns and I sing enchanted songs under my breath. I float higher and higher until I hit the ceiling like a lost balloon. When the ghosts dissipate I come crashing to the ground and awaken. I believe.

The Dentist

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I just came back from the dentist, I had to have two cavities filled. And I have more to get filled next month. I blame this all on my sweet tooth or in my case my sweet teeth! I love candy, ice cream, and pie. I am also partial to cookies, brownies and any other sweet confection you can come up with. Damn you, Sugar I am in love with you but why do you have to make my teeth hurt?!

While I was in the dentist's chair getting my face injected with novocaine and my teeth drilled to oblivion Bill Cosby kept running through my head. I will leave you with his very funny and very true interpretation of a visit to the dentist.

A Tub for Two

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I take lots of baths. LOTS of them. On the weekends if I don't have much going on I can take up to three long baths a day. I soak in the tub until my fingers and toes look like little wrinkled apricots.

Being a renter I have to make do with the tub that comes the apartment but one of these days when I have a house of my own and I will finally have the tub of my dreams. Since I am in love with older homes with vintage details the tub I dream of is a big clawfoot tub. I want the fixtures, complete with shower head, to be placed in the middle of the tub rather than at the end. In my little fantasy the tub is big enough for two. Calgon take me away.

Many hats

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Being an artist is hardly straight and narrow. When I got out of photography school I wasn't able to get a job in my field in Boston and I wasn't ready to move to a bigger city at the time. So I realized I had to make a sacrifice - I needed to work outside my field of expertise (way out) and put my creative side on hold. I told myself it was temporary and as soon as I made a little money I would try again and get a creative job. It is now ten years later and I have quite the list of past occupations.

1. Veterinary Receptionist/Veterinary Technician

2. Bio-Pharma (I don't want to talk about. It's hard enough to admit to)

3. Police Dispatcher

4. Receptionist at a doctor's office

5. Receptionist at a cell phone tower company

6. Senior Administrative Assistant at a mutual fund company (current job)

I don't regret working at as a veterinary technician because it has made me a better and well educated pet owner. Being a police dispatcher taught me so much about myself and the world around me. And in both jobs I was helping people-- it was for the greater good. But I have wasted too much time working in offices shuffling papers and having my spirit crushed. I vow to finally free myself and find that creative job. I don't know exactly what I want to do but I want to go to happy place every day and create art. I am hoping that place does exist. Here marks the start of my journey.

Pb&j, a study in wool

I love peanut butter! Combine it with jelly and it's the perfect meal. My dad is the best peanut butter and jelly maker on this planet- always the perfect ratio of peanut butter to jelly.

When father's day rolled around a few years ago I wracked my brain as to what to get him. My dad isn't an extravagant guy, he's not into electronics or gadgets and he certainly didn't need any more ties or tools. To make matters worse I didn't have much money to put towards a gift. I was stumped but had to get creative. Then it came to me- pb&j. I had a theme but wasn't sure how to execute it, I wracked my brain some more. Then as I was cleaning out my closet I came across a white wool sweater that had a stain, I wasn't sure why I hung onto it since it was un-wearable but I guess in the back of my mind I knew I could do something with it. Suddenly an epiphany- a wool felt pb&j! I made the pattern and had all the materials on hand, it is all hand-stitched and it took me approximately 20 hours to make. I wrapped up the pb&j in sandwich paper and put it in a brown paper bag complete with my dad's name. It was a big hit! I had just enough materials to make one for myself. It makes my happy every time I see it. Hooray for pb&j's!

A Photographer Without a Camera

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I love photography. It's what I majored in while I was in art school and I loved it so much I went on to a photography school to study for two more years. When I went to school digital photography was just on the cusp which leads to a bit of a conundrum-- I am a photographer without a camera. Well, sort of. I still don't have a decent digital camera, just a crappy little digital point and shoot and my beloved film camera. I am saving up for this camera and lenses but I a truly a starving artist these days so it will likely take me forever to afford it. Why are cameras so darn expensive? For years I thought I couldn't take photos because I didn't have a fancy digital camera like everyone else but it is truly the photographer that makes the photo and not the camera that makes the photographer. Here is to making do in the meantime!

In a nutshell

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So I thought I would formally introduce myself as I am stickler about manners and etiquette. My name is Heather and I currently reside in Boston, Massachusetts though I hope to take the leap in the near future to the left coast-- California to be exact. The only thing holding me back is money- too little of it. In the meantime I am creating art and dreaming of the future.

I was born to creative parents and raised in an antique store. I am a lover of all things vintage especially clothes. I even work part-time at a thrift store to support my habit. I'm a self-proclaimed geek, with a deep love for photography and design. Sewing and knitting are my favorite ways to keep my hands busy these days and much of my free time is spent eating peanut butter and taking baths.

I am lucky enough to live with Kai, the most beautiful German Short-Haired Pointer in the world. She is more than my dog but a best friend, child of sorts, and keeper of secrets. She says hi.

So there you go, my life neatly tucked in a nutshell.

Under Construction

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Welcome to my blog. Please bear with me as I learn all about designing a blog. I am sure it will be under construction for quite a while as I am not the most computer saavy person. But I am trying. I hope to bring you lots of fun things to see in the future and document my creative life. I can't wait for you to join me.