home sweet home.

yay! it's the holidays!

and now it's really feeling like it. i arrived back home to indiana yesterday and got to spend it with my dad in his new magistrate's office. it was so nice seeing him in his new position and loving it!

my parents waited for me to get here to help out with a bunch of the decorations so i'll be starting to work on them today. putting up our boxes and boxes of ornaments is my favorite part of every christmas and i can't wait to get them going. i'll be taking some pictures, knitting, and doing some scrapping out of my mom's ginormous stash so i'll share more soon...

till then enjoy the ones you love!

love.

anthro top 5. gifts.

even though i'm no longer part of the anthroplogie team i still get their catalogs and am in love with the stores and product. so i thought it would be fun to still include a couple of top 5's each month. and since this month is christmas i decided to share my current top 5 gifts from the december catalog! (hint hint, lol)

1. clothbound penguin classics



these are so gorgeous. Jane Eyre, Sense and Sensibility, Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, and a ton more.

2. felted soaps

these smell so good! make great stocking stuffers!

3. watch-my-drink coasters

too cute.

4. monsters of the household variety


this book is huge, expensive, but so amazing. each page is beautifully illustrated, stitched, beaded. it's actually in the november catalog but we got one into the store before i left and i had to share it because it's just so great!

5. tree trunk mugs

love these too.

there was another decoration i was searching for but couldn't find online. they are these amazing reindeer made with multi-colored rope. i think they are one-of-a-kind's so you'll have to check out a store to see them. maybe if i head into a store before i leave for home i'll get a shot of them to share.

that's all for now. have a great sunday!

cozy and warm.

happy friday!

love making these. and they are so quick! i have just about all of them done for christmas presents. these are mine. can't show you the other colors i made or i'll ruin the surprise...

the pattern is on lion brand's website but literally it's just a knit stitch (a.k.a. garter stitch) 15 stictches per row for about 8.5/9 inches. you can go longer too if you want them higher up your arm. after binding off leave about a 9 inch tail of extra yarn... then use a large blunt needle to stitch them up leaving a hole for the thumb. i found it easiest to literally close them up around my hand to make sure the thumb hole was comfy... and luckily all of the girls i'm giving them too have about the same size hands as me so i know they'll fit. after they are closed hide the remaining tail in the knit (if you need to shorten it up you can, i just like to make sure i have enuogh tail to work with.)

turn them inside out and you have a comfy and cozy cuff!

my materials:

lion brand wool-ease thick & quick yarn
US 13 (9mm) knitting needles
large blunt yarn needle

now i just need to get on my christmas cards. i want them out by the 15th since i leave for indiana on the 16th. yay! only 5 days until i'm home with my favorites!

love.

one last late night etsy love.

thinking about all of the amazing vendors at last years brooklyn renegade craft fair reminded me of a little gifty i've been meaning to get for myself! for my birthday last month i bought a gorgeous 1962 royal safari typewriter. it's really quite amazing if i do say so myself... once i get my new shelves up in the stufio you'll see just how gorgeous it is. anyway.

last year i saw this company called final approach at renegade and i SO BADLY wanted to buy one of their unique luggage pieces but for some reason i just didn't. well everything happens for a reason and when my typewriter came the only thing that wasn't perfect was the case. just a little scratched and ucky but PERFECT for a custom piece!

after christmas i'll be buying an alchemy project from them and sending my case off to get beautified... check out some of their awesome work!






{final approach etsy shop}

now i just need to figure out my theme.

ok. bedtime.
sweet dreams.

my creative 2010.

so i've been meaning to post the layout i did for my 27 before 28. i cannot believe that in 2010 i will be turning 28 & becoming a mommy. totally crazy and exciting! i haven't photographed the layout yet but i thought i'd share some of the inspiration for the more creative items on my list....

so here we go!

knit a menagerie. these are by hansigurami. the book is called amigurami knits. i'm really hoping she re-opens her etsy shop and starts putting out new patterns too because i'd love to make these gorgeous crazies for the baby's room.

p.s. what i love about these is that they are knitted, not crocheted and it seems like the only amigurami out there is for crocheters... grr.



sew/create my own nursery decor. love these sets as inspiration. modern, clean, organic, and beautiful. {source}


knit a trophy head. {source}

i SO want one of these this year and it may take me all year as i've only ever seen crocheted heads which means i'll have to write my own pattern. it's for sure an extreme goal. but wouldn't like a knitted moose head with big antlers just be amazing.... *dreams*

other goals inclue:

giving at least ten handmade gifts in 2010.
making organic dog beds. (and attempt to make crystal use it instead of squeeze between us.)
getting my owl & toadstool tattoo.
making baby clothes & knitting an organic baby blanket like this one....

{source + pattern}

so yeah see any themes? this year is going to be all baby all knitting all the time. with my usual scrapbooking and other projects thrown in the mix. i also want to start a crafting clique with my nyc/nj girls. (well and a poker night... with some of the same company, lol.)

oh and miss elsie reminded me (via her blog) to check for next year's renegade craft fair dates. brooklyn's aren't up yet but last year the show was the 6th and 7th of june. if it's close to the same that means there will be a new little taylor just in time to come visit AND shop baby renegade style. get ready biotches!

ok. or i will be very very pregnant walking around buying too much stuff. lol.

love.

it's snowing!

yay! first snow!

joey and i took a trip to seacaucus/clifton today to do a little shopping. i finally got my butt into a michaels to get some supplies for these babies....


they are a really simple pattern from lion brand.

hopefully once i master this one i'll be able to graduate to these...
joey bought a couple new books... the road (which he's been dying to read) and let the right one in, which i think is his attempt to understand my love for vampire stories. we were supposed to pick up our christmas tree tonight but the weather just got too wet. we are going to try again first thing in the morning so that we have all day to decorate and hang out together. i love weekends!

time to get into my pink flannel pj's and get into a project!

love.

new craft.

yes i can happily say that i am a knitter now! this is a craft i've been wanting to learn for so long. my grandma was a crocheter and kind of tried to teach me a little when i was younger but it never really stuck. i've had dreams of making scarves, blankets, fingerless gloves.... and now those dreams are stitch by stich and purl by purl coming into reality. almost done with my first really simple garter scarf that i made as part of a class. the two tones of grey in there are for a little tougher scarf i'll be starting this weekend for joey. i'm hoping to hit up the craft store this weekend to pick up some more goodies and some circular needles to start my glove projects. one of my 27 before 28 (which i'll post another day) is to give 10 handmade gifts this year and this is the craft that is going to get me there.

oh and check out one of my favorite new additions to the house behind my knitting basket. it's a pillow from urban outfitters that has a german shepherd cross-stitched on the front. looks exactly like my bad roxy!

fresh start.

time to get back into doing everything that i love and one of the things that i genuinely love is this blog. more than a broadcast out to the world... this blog is for me. it's my way to really look back and document everything i've accomplished, how things in my life have changed, what inspires me.

over the past year i feel i lost a lot of myself. with working and stressing about work non-stop i left no time or energy to focus into my outlets that truly make me really happy and fulfilled. and, then i lost sight of my goals.

but now i'm happy to say i'm feeling bits and pieces of my passion and creativity coming back to me and i'm so excited for what the future holds. i'm ready to create with absolutely no pressure. make what i want to make, do what i want to do, and in the process bring a new little life into this world to re-experience all of what living really has to offer. my big goals are starting to resurface in my head and more importantly i'm regaining the confidence to believe that i can really accomplish anything i set my mind to....

like writing a self help book.

ha! kidding, just started sounding a little preachy there and needed to break it up.

so. long story still long, i'm making shit again and it feels amazing. i have a million and one projects in my book and head for the coming year and i'm sure i'll at least get a few of them done. i've started off by FINALLY making a daily december book which is something i've been meaning to do for years. the holidays always seem to get away from me and i end up wanting to spend the time experiencing rather than documenting it, but then later i get frustrated with the lack of photos and momentos. it's not quite done but i wanted to share the first bits...




the pages are just about done. so i'll share day by day as i actually complete journaling, photos, whatever. it's mostly BG's Eskimo Kisses, with a few Hambly pieces, Love Elsie, and other things mixed in. of course i ran out of adhesive which is why there are some paperclips still holding a few things together but that will be fixed today since i went on a run last night.

ok so there are more pics i took today of some things but the natives are getting restless (the pups). time for a walk.

love.

news. and back for real.

so...

right about when i blogged last i found out some pretty amazing news. i'm pregnant!

joey and i are so excited to be welcoming our first little taylor into the world next june! i'm 11 weeks and feeling great. (didn't feel so hot at first but things seem to be getting better in the tummy department... lol). needless to say things have been bustling around here with the holidays coming up and this spectacular new blessing in our lives. i'm finishing up another re-design of the apartment to make room for the nursery and am happy to announce that come next spring i'll be a happy crafty stay at home mommy!

unfortunately i have no new pics or anything to share but more will come and i'm working on putting together my preggo journal to fill up as i experience this totally new journey! so stay tuned and i promise i'll be a good blogger again very very soon!

love.

omg.

it's been a really, really, really long time since i logged into this bad boy blog. not sure if anyone even reads anymore (besides you mom!! love you!) but i had an urge all of a sudden to start blogging and tumbl'ing again so, why not.

still blonde. still in jersey, pretending to be a new yorker. ha. love it. still at anthropologie soho making pretty things look pretty so you'll buy them. still making art, when i'm not totally exhausted from work. hope to do a lot more of the latter now that we've settled down after lots of summer traveling and visiting and experiencing.

i feel like a million things have changed since i last gave you my anthro top 5 in july but really, it hasn't. my best friend got married to an amazing guy and it was a blast. it was kinda freaky to be on the other side of the camera though as a bridesmaid, while joe took video.

so... i'm going to keep doing the anthro lists... keep sharing stuff i make. maybe i'll link up my tumblr a bit. if you do follow me and haven't gotten into the tumblr thing yet you have to. why? because you get to see random beautiful things like this....


and i'll just leave it at that.....

love.

anthro top 5: july catalog

the new anthro catalog was waiting in my mailbox on saturday and although i'd already snagged one at work there's nothing better than getting YOUR copy!

so here is my top 5 from the july catalog!

1.
i love this whole outfit... blushing ruffle skirt, sketchwork tee, + sweeping sleeve cardi i'm getting into a skirts and tees phase! and i love the asymmetry of the skirt (can't wait to get it in!)

2. brigitta dresser

i want i need.... only $800 bones, no problem, lol!

3. BOOTIES!!
i wasn't much into booties last fall but this year i am! (especially with all the cute one's my friend katie wears to work...) of these my favorites are the framework booties, ruched booties, gathered booties, and not pictured here are my other faves the frilled heels (i'm not sure i would buy those b/c they aren't totally my style but i love them anyway!)

4. windfall dress

5. and my FAVORITE....
the inverness trench. i saw this first because i flipped thorugh the catalog at work from the back and i totally started gushing over it. it's the cutest trench and i hope it fits me as cute as it fits her!

if you don't get the catalog but want to browse you can here: shop the catalog

anyone have any favorites i missed? the anthro catalogs are always so inspiring!!

love.

hello girl.

been a long time.
sorry about that.

i'm still around. doing my thing.
focusing a lot on work +
trying to get back the energy and drive to do more on my own again.

good things happening at 16a. joe's new job is amazing and he's really happy (which is a major relief for me! i like seeing him inspired!!)...


his company is 321launch. check them out, they are a animation/compositing studio and that makes test commercials. their spots are great and most of the time look like they could go straight to broadcast... and they are only for test audiences! joe just finished some coke spots that i wish i could show you but not yet.

things at anthro soho are good. gearing up for our fall concepts which is always an exciting. i love changes of scenery. i am always eager to see what our art department comes up with for the new displays. i just got the july catalog so i'll follow up later with my top 5 again (sorry it's been so long!!)

it finally feels like summer here... june had crazy rain. not cool. but this past weekend was sunny and warm and so far this week has been too. we've started hearing the firecrackers in the evening which is exciting. i love 4th of july! ooo, now i want to make cupcakes with my leftover stars + stripes cups, lol. still easily distracted, lol. this year we'll be able to see nyc's and jc's fireworks from liberty state park... maybe i'll take a little video to share.

basides all the normal catch up stuff i have...


new hair! it was done at arrojo studio and i'm for sure loving + rocking out the blonde.

i could go on forever but instead here are the 10 best things about this spring/summer so far...

1. finally being able to spend more time out with these ladies...


2. hot-lantic city with my parents and joey...


3. photog + sushi city dates with my steady...





4. spending lots and lots of time with this bitch...

5. the dudley weekend.


although it was super sad to say goodbuy it was awesome meeting this lovely girl...


6. baking... cookies, cupcakes, brownies


7.

8. new phone!!
yeah kinda lame that my new phone is in the top ten but i'm totally addicted to my new pet... it has a camera and takes awesome video, great quality, and i can finally be online whenever i want to be (hence the increased volume of tweets!)

9. reconnecting with this face...

love you bry!

10. pride 2009.


it was a great pride... watch the march with dawn + kristi (who marched for the first time!!) and then followed up with a rooftop ph party at the dream hotel in midtown...







our group for sure wanted to celebrate the life of mj, we maybe got a little too into thriller... or at least i did...


anthro july top 5 coming tonight!!
love.