bloomington handmade market

painting by a quartzy life

print by sally harless

whale brooch by cordial kitten

today i went to the bloomington handmade market, and it was so great. i bought the three things you see above, and wanted to buy much more, but i had to hold myself back. however i picked up business cards to give as hints to my parents.
now i'm thinking of making a special trip to go here.
i enjoy the feeling of buying handmade & supporting local artists very much.

yes readers, my new dress came, and i enjoy dancing around in it very much.
as a sidenote:
i promised myself i wouldn't blog about the holidays (and subsequently how excited i am for them to come) this early on in the season, but how can i help myself when people make & share cute things like this?

the purl bee

small stump

smile and wave

bugs and fishes by lupin
there is much more holiday goodness to come now that i have gotten started, i assure you.

i'll eat you up i love you so

a few nights ago i was fortunate enough to finally see where the wild things are.
this movie is so great, and i love max records (i told you i'd say it again!). that kid has got a tremendously bright future ahead of him! i am so excited for him. he is very natural.
i feel like a childlike sense of wonder has been restored in me!

and on an unrelated note, i LOVE these thanksgiving invitations spotted on oh so beautiful paper! if i had it my way, i would be making paper goods like this every day for eternity.

anthropologie you have done it again

why do you do this to me anthropologie, when you know full well i cannot afford your lovely items?!
i want a knitting basket & a set of bookends just like these.
there has got to be a way to recreate the knitting basket! there just has to be!
any ideas?

my new shoes arrived, and i do in fact love them.
they were perfect for kicking through the crunchy leaves this weekend while the weather was a beautiful 67 degrees and sunny!
i am making a grocery list & listening to this album on repeat, and practicing my knitting today.
i have been to two knitting classes so far, and i am really getting the hang of it!
here are some of the projects i am excited to attempt when i get better:

cute cable knit coffee cozies

chunky grey cardigans

a cute set of mittens

a cozy & pretty cowl

this beautiful piece of knitted goodness
i know some of these are pretty advanced, but when i started knitting, i had projects like these in mind, and i think it's good to have goals!

birthday cakes pt. II & talk of shoes & dresses

i ended up making those cupcakes for my roommate's birthday! they were great!

i also bought myself a few new things:




hopefully i love them both!
i often get into fashion ruts. jeans & sweaters, jeans & sweaters. i am trying desperately to change this. these two posts have really helped push me in the right direction! now i'd really like to own a blazer! and a pair of nice boots.
recommendations readers?

birthday cakes

my roommate's birthday is this weekend, and i have been searching high and low to find the perfect cake (or cupcakes) to make for her.
i am thinking about these babies!

simple, sweet chocolate peanut butter cupcakes, as she loves this combination together.
what do you think? do you have any incredible cake recipes to share?

lyell in the fall

yes please

etsy goodies

pretty goodies i've found recently on etsy:


bark button cable knit coffee cup cozy


mini notebook collection


colored paper masking tape set


diy planner & calendar


plaid wool blanket

cookies, etc.

i have been a baking machine lately.
last weekend i baked these chocolate chip cookies, and they were incredible.
it's a rainy weekend here, i plan on making soup if i ever get out of bed!
here is that autumnal playlist i was telling you about! i think i might make a couple more for your listening pleasure.
has everyone seen ellen page and maebe (alia shawkat) on the cover of bust? i flipped through the issue in the library a few days ago, and they are so adorable. i bet they would be lovely to hang out with in real life. and a really dorky part of me wants to see whip it. there you go, i said it.