Octoberland

{source}

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

{source}

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

{source}

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!