Sketch roundup

As I've mentioned, I've recently decided to start sketching again and I'll probably share a few from time to time. I've been experimenting with watercolor pencils and have been enjoying them thoroughly. They force you to loosen up on the hard lines you draw -- something that's analogous to me right now.

Malaise-y

Shoes: Minnetonka; Blouse: Thrifted; 

Sweater: Found at summer camp years ago; 

Pants: J. McLaughlin, salvaged from Aunt P.; Necklace: Forever 21.  

There once was a girl who tried to take photos. Who loved the outdoors so much, even though her alarm clock and sleep rhythms told her otherwise. Whose beloved sweater, with its nubby, warm cotton threads, was supposed to act as a barrier to all things cold. I defy you, winter! It seemed to say. If sweaters could talk.

And ... no. The girl then promptly went back inside because it was so cold her tripod froze on her. No joke. The legs got stuck and would not close. And then she had to awkwardly carry a four-foot-tall tripod through the park, scaring small dogs and people who passed her on the trails.

Sigh. At least the lake was pretty.

Lately: Nature's inkblot test

Maybe it's because I studied psychology in undergrad, but I found it amusing to flip a couple of these photos to resemble Rorschach tests.

Eagle wings

 Dress: J. Crew, Plaid shirt: Gap; Green blouse: LEI; Boots, tights: Target; 

Belt: from camp years ago; Eagle necklace: vintage; Ring: Gift from mom;

 Bag: thrift find; Coat: H&M, thrifted.

It's a bit eerie going to the park during winter mornings because it's so, so quiet. Occasionally, I'll hear a twig snap or some rustling in the distance and I always fear that I'll turn around and get ambushed by someone's dogs. No egrets or ducks this morning, though I know they've been around this winter.

I celebrated my return to picture-taking by doing one of my favorite things: matching my surroundings. The blouse and accessories are new, and were enough to help reinvigorate this old dress. I've never worn this dress with this yellow plaid blouse because it seemed to be too match-y, but I like them with the buffer of the green blouse.

Off to another week! Mine will be spent writing reports, analyzing  movies (for class), and studying up on Oscar trivia...

Refresh, refresh

I have tried writing this post three different times this week and every time I've stopped short. I've no doubt been really quiet on the blog the last couple weeks, and there have been several small reasons why -- school started back up, and my birthday came up, and generally everything schedule-wise has been very chaotic.

And there's been one bigger reason why too, I suppose. My longtime professor and mentor passed away a couple weeks ago, and it's been really difficult losing the person who's helped guide me through my career and graduate school ambitions. And I'm not the only one. In his long, long career, my professor affected thousands of students as a trusted teacher, mentor, friend (and to some, a surrogate father), and it has not been easy to walk by his office and know that he'll never be in there again. He was a true gentleman, and a person of deep consequence.

I suppose with everything that's happened the last couple weeks, I've been especially pensive about what I write, and whether I've been doing it effectively, and well. Of course that is all up to how I define those terms, and for a while I didn't think I was going anywhere with this blog, and wasn't sure where to continue, or if I should. I had this weird impulse to make things with my hands, and so I've spent the last week painting sketchpads and fixing broken things around the house. 

It's been deeply satisfying. And doing those things have made me realize how much I do enjoy having this creative space, and how I want to get back into the blogging grind.  I'll be back here, slowly and surely, and I may expand the things I post here beyond outfits -- drawings, art, more photography, etc. 

So I guess what I am saying is thank you for your emails and comments around here and on twitter. They've meant the world to me, and have made me feel very lucky and grateful to be a part of this community. It's good to be back.

*photo from my cruise -- somewhere around Mexico.

Back to school, ring the bell

 Sweater: Target; Silk blouse: Jones New York, thrifted; Skinny jeans: Kohls; 

Black shoes: Ipanema, thrifted; Scarf, bag: thrifted.

Yesterday was a day of firsts: first day of school, first day of outfit photography after a three-week hiatus, and the first time I've ever worn skinny jeans. I haven't given up on my beloved dresses, but with a new season it seemed like a great time to shake up my style a little bit. With some leftover holiday money, I've added a few more blouses and pants to my closet to spice things up. There's already a waiting list of blouses to be paired with these jeans.

I'm looking forward to my new schedule, though it's a full plate: four classes, work and a panel session every week. As for my photography, I'm hoping I'll be back in rhythm with the park soon once I adjust to a new sleep pattern. This night owl is morphing into an early bird.

Goodbye, vacation

 Dress: Liz Claiborne, thrifted; Shoes: Born Crown; Belt: Loft. 

Today's the last day before winter vacation ends and graduate school resumes, so it seemed appropriate to wrap up the warm-weather outfit photos. It's been a busy winter, but I feel invigorated for school and whatever comes in the next few months. Spring semester, bring it.

The Yucatan peninsula

Dress Target; Shoes: Born Crown; Hair wreath: Self-made; Bag: Thrifted.

During our cruise, we explored a good bit of the Yucatan peninsula. On the first day, we went to Progreso and Merida, Mexico. Jeremiah's family hosted an exchange student from Mexico several years ago, so we met up with her and she showed us around her town. We visited Dzibilchaltun, and walked through the ancient Mayan ruins and cooled off in the cenote, a natural sinkhole for swimming. On the second day, Jeremiah and I explored Cozumel on our own and hung out at Ocean Beach for a few hours. My favorite part of the beach? Finding beautiful shells and rocks for my collection at home.

2011 in outfits

January

February

March

April

May

 

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Déjà vu

Dress: Connected Apparel; 

Watch: c/o The Trendy Boutique; Shoes: Born Crown. 

I took a long break from blogging, but I'm back now regularly. Jeremiah and I headed out of town before Christmas to go on a cruise with his family to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. His family liked the idea of our Thanksgiving cruise so much, they invited us on their winter break one. Jeremiah and I never go on vacation so frequently, so we felt pretty lucky and very, very spoiled to spend December on the high seas so soon.

These photos were from around the ship we were on. I'll be sharing some photos from this trip, and catching up on my regular posts from around Georgia here soon. Can't wait to see what 2012 brings in!