tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61477971202147325292012-02-14T15:26:09.799-06:00Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.comBlogger931100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-12254933147066844022012-02-14T12:16:00.000-06:002012-02-14T12:16:33.545-06:00

Once upon a time, I would actually sketch random adorable things. Shocking, I know! Then I would obsess over these little sketches and make them into more involved projects, like this one that went from a dinky little pencil sketch to this illustration: Which then turned into a printed Valentine's Day card I sent to friends and family: Then it turned into a small sculpture using clay, a

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-42735977670470959552012-02-09T13:55:00.000-06:002012-02-12T17:34:04.909-06:00

Fatshion February is in full effect and, if nothing else, I hope you will realize how hopelessly unfashionable I am in my regular day to day work clothes. And that's a good thing! I think bloggers can mislead people into thinking they're all glitz and all glam all of the time, but my experience is quite different and I think it's totally important to show that that isn't always an option for

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-82606942753600899172012-01-31T15:42:00.000-06:002012-01-31T15:42:43.723-06:00

Life is so weird, isn't it? In case you can't squint hard enough to read those tiny letters, the masthead reads Jaimielee Velasquez under ART DIRECTOR. I tweeted about the good news the day I got the promotion and it's going on three whole weeks now! I've been awfully busy and it totally shows on my blog. I miss crafting and sewing and all of the nerdy things I used to write about

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-65694439663630165212012-01-20T20:23:00.000-06:002012-01-20T20:23:05.999-06:00

Yup. If you don't know who Natalie Perkins is, well, you're missing out. She's a fat activist, graphic designer, illustrator and all-around fancy lady who blogs over at Definatalie.com. Last month she held a giveaway featuring some of the fabulous items she sells in her shop Fancy Lady Industries. I immediately entered and guess what? I actually won! I never win things! Fancy Item no.01: Gocco

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-50179057445179720492012-01-01T19:26:00.000-06:002012-01-01T20:13:22.507-06:00

Have you ever heard of the glory that is a surprise ball? I hadn't until I happened upon the blog Oh Happy Day. You could literally spend hours mesmerized by all of the lovely things on that blog, I know I have... But these balls are just magical! My family is quite large so we choose to focus on the kids during the holidays, and I immediately knew surprise balls would be perfect. I had such a

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-62448304657246871592011-12-30T21:16:00.000-06:002011-12-30T21:51:36.830-06:00

Andrew and I went on a little vacation and when we arrived back in Chicago our internet was kaput. I suppose I could have posted from my phone but my fingers can only take so much from tiny keyboards. I hope your holidays were terrific! I'll be posting photos from our trip soon. As well as other awesome things like pizza purple hearts! Love Always, Jaimielee

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-62991386774648146892011-12-08T10:00:00.000-06:002011-12-10T23:10:58.202-06:00

Lion Brand's The Weekly Stitch newsletter included a fucking GEM on Thanksgiving: Glittery Shrug Am I right or am I right? Free crochet patterns are often boring or too boxy but this is quite handsome. I'm excited to start on it but my holiday gifts are currently my top priority. Being the selfish crafter that I am, I went out and bought yarn already! Greystone | Moonstone | Platinum |

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-82543564793239771152011-11-29T22:50:00.000-06:002011-11-30T20:41:48.315-06:00

Our kitchen has been filled with amazing smells over the last few days because I've baked more since Wednesday than I have in m-o-n-t-h-s. This is, in part, thanks to a friend of mine who won a free cooking class after entering a pie-off. He was kind enough to share the delicious recipes with me, plus his top secret award-winning pie recipe! So sit back, relax, maybe grab a napkin for your

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-12142647789376641692011-11-20T16:39:00.001-06:002011-11-22T10:24:01.635-06:00

This weekend I set out to finish what I started because, let's face it, I'm terrible at finishing things. Which unfinished project am I talking about now? Revamping Hippopotamuslee! I first blogged about redesigning things here back in November of last year. Though I didn't switch to WordPress, I've finished my mark and created a proper header! It (she? I?) started out as this pencil sketch and

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-89815495569218945692011-11-12T15:46:00.001-06:002011-11-14T00:23:28.726-06:00

When I first started this blog I was obsessed with swap-bot. Eventually I had to wind down because I couldn't afford all of the postage, and now it's been over a year since I last signed in! To motivate myself to get back on the bandwagon of crafting adorable, small, albeit useless things, I decided to post some of my past creations :) The guys above and the turtle below were all 2" or

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-76430932458097608582011-11-09T17:18:00.000-06:002011-11-10T21:03:25.194-06:00

It also happens to be the first one I've ever made, but that's beside the point! Andrew and I have been eating take-out and super simple meals so often lately, I decided it was time to make something that would require some real effort. What better solution than homemade pie from scratch? It didn't take long for us to choose the kind of pie after a short trip to the Logan Square farmers market (

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-68248255494135411462011-11-06T11:34:00.000-06:002011-11-06T11:37:28.270-06:00

After the tequila wore off (what was I thinking?), I realized how sad I was the night was over. The only unfortunate part was my lack of a camera. Andrew sold his Olympus a couple of weeks ago and his wide angle lens is currently being repaired. There's no way I could have managed to take any good photos with my phone or his telephoto lens (though I regret not trying!), so I had to wait till I

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-30970007057689504252011-10-31T12:00:00.000-05:002011-10-31T13:00:58.057-05:00

This Halloween I had a fun opportunity to stretch my illustration muscle and create a small series of posters. They were used for different activity stations at a client's annual Halloween party; a party that was held at, and I quote, "the most socially prestigious club in Chicago, the Casino." I'll admit to being a nerd but that sounds absolutely ridiculous and awesome. I've obviously never been

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-9434044434386958642011-10-22T20:10:00.000-05:002011-10-24T18:44:11.252-05:00

A friend of mine works at an amazing tattoo studio here in Chicago called Butterfat Studios, which is owned by Esther Garcia (a genius). Genevieve is absolutely fantastic and her work is only getting better. In February she did a small series of awesome paintings for Butterfat Studios' mini-show, Sans-Culotte A Valentine's Show and I fell in love. I dare you to look at them and not giggle! How

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-4928546017683786732011-10-04T23:00:00.000-05:002011-10-04T23:09:44.486-05:00

Tiffany of Fat Shopaholic invited me to take part in a awesome event she's hosting at Beauty Bar at the end of the month: Boom in the Trunk. It's part blogger meetup, part dance party, part fashion show! How exciting does that sound? So, of course, I've been outfit planning. I think I'll even have enough time to make something really special. After vigorously clicking through the catalogs of

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-11010402757424026182011-09-25T21:08:00.000-05:002011-09-25T21:34:33.165-05:00

Guys. I don't think you understand how much I love these glasses. These glasses + the darkest lips in as many shades possible + my new hair in a top knot. GUYS! I discovered my new signature look this weekend while engaging in my fabulous lifestyle. You know, walking the dogs, going to Jo-Ann, picking up batteries, etc... I wore my favorite necklace. Look real close, it's a polaroid of

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-23338549991715651252011-09-23T22:31:00.000-05:002011-09-23T22:32:56.455-05:00

Guess who has new glasses?? I do! I do! These beautiful Barton Perreira frames are now my most prized possession. They're the Sheldon in Fern Gully. Just look at that color: They suit my face perfectly. Honestly, I want to wear them all the time even though I'm not supposed to. Turns out my eyes are pretty healthy and my prescription is low, which is great, but I only need them when I'm

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-4054260548252783662011-09-16T19:27:00.000-05:002011-09-17T10:49:15.484-05:00

Well, technically it is but I don't mean it like that! Andrew and I got married Labor Day weekend, which means our mini honeymoon was spent in Door County courtesy of his friend's parents. This was our third year up there and it was just as fantastic as it has ever been. Here, enjoy some photos: The cabin is so quaint and adorable. There is such a relaxed feeling there, it was perfect for

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-41578551470033590352011-09-11T22:05:00.000-05:002011-09-11T22:05:22.113-05:00

I've posted about having commitment issues with my blog in the past, but my little hiatus is well justified this time. Promise! So, where have I been? Well... ANDREW & I GOT MARRIED! Pretty wild, huh? We've been together for over 4 years and totally love each other to death so logically we went to the courthouse and got married. BECAUSE. I didn't change my name, though, we're kind of

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-5719558348455882562011-08-25T19:44:00.000-05:002011-08-25T19:44:09.943-05:00

Andrew and I are absolute coffee fiends. Our french press broke a few months ago so we've practically been living at one of our local coffee shops. Obviously our little $7/day habit has been adding up and it's become unnecessary. Solution time! Lots of people on this here internet have been passing around a recipe for cold-brewed coffee and it looked delicious. Not so much according to this

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-65932864166281385102011-08-22T22:08:00.000-05:002011-08-23T23:00:14.610-05:00

I'm not the world's busiest person by any means but working typical office hours is just so radically different from my normal routine. So I have to be totally honest, I've been completely unmotivated lately! I started my new job about two weeks ago and waking up at 6am is just plain HARD. My unemployment days were filled with super late nights doing nothing in particular and maybe getting up at

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-71973821664123136692011-08-10T21:23:00.001-05:002011-08-10T21:42:37.341-05:00

JAIMIELEE VELASQUEZ, HIPPOPOTAMUSLEE.BLOGSPOT.COM "Why waste your life trying to conform to other people's standards of what is beautiful or acceptable? Once you can think beyond pleasing others, negative comments and attitudes are just laughable. All bodies are good bodies. It's important to remember that!" Home Chicago, IL No Limits My love of fashion was rekindled when I

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-90019695496382664602011-08-07T16:10:00.003-05:002011-08-08T13:21:58.526-05:00

If you're anything like me, you own more nail polish than would ever be necessary for a single person to own who doesn't do nails professionally. Ever. I've managed to amass over 90 bottles so clearly it's become a bit out of control. I got this adorable shelf for a dollar at a local Salvation Army which was perfect for all of my polishes until, well, it wasn't. It can only hold about 70

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-25048464199799692372011-07-31T20:39:00.004-05:002011-07-31T21:05:03.111-05:00

My totally fabulous and awesome manicure is no more ;( It began to chip away after two weeks but that is a brand new record for me! And with all of the job interviews I had recently I had to go for a more toned down look anyway. Isn't it silly that ten differently painted nails are somehow inappropriate? They're just nails! I chose the brightest red I own then had a little fun with it because

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-9472356876117201842011-07-28T21:50:00.003-05:002011-07-29T14:23:43.042-05:00

I've been really bad at following through on my blog lately but thanks for sticking around. Things have been unusually eventful for me recently and I've been hesitant to talk about it out of fear that I would jinx it. A few weeks ago I came into contact with a creative placement agency and we were so in tune with one another that they lined up a lot of freelance work for me. This was absolutely

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-16038250974886223962011-07-15T12:14:00.001-05:002011-07-15T12:17:49.679-05:00

You have to actually do stuff in order to blog about it... Andrew and I decided we're going to stick it out and renew our lease. We've still got a year left on it, and as embarrassed as I am to admit it, we've been here for a year with a whole mess of unpacked boxes. We lack closet space so a lot of things are just stacked and well, not organized at all. I decided to tackle my studio the

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-64317694662810828832011-07-02T11:21:00.006-05:002011-07-03T01:37:00.600-05:00

See what I did there?? I admittedly got a little distracted during the final stretch. I won't bother breaking each day down like my previous posts because I only worked on one thing after Plaid Day. And that was Lisette's Portfolio Top, which I plan to finish this weekend. Unfortunately I ran into a giant obstacle, like, uh, not paying attention and cutting the wrong size! Of course I didn't

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-33241363002720186622011-06-25T18:39:00.003-05:002011-06-26T23:09:49.370-05:00

My initial plan was to post three roundups but the fine folks at 30DaysofCreativity.com were kind enough to include me on a super sweet deal, so this post is special. I was sent a package of "tools" to aid in my creation for June 23rd: Plaid Day. Today is the 25th so I'm obviously a bit behind, but I did live-tweet my progress. Don't believe me? Go check! Anyway, after a little fighting with UPS,

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-70839139633684534352011-06-22T23:18:00.003-05:002011-07-03T01:42:00.619-05:00

Just a few small projects make up my second roundup. I made Andrew not one, not two, BUT THREE cycling caps! It would be impressive if I hadn't taken so long to finish them... Our weekends are usually hectic once the weather gets nice around here, so that's my excuse (the weather hasn't even been nice). Day 10: Practice HatThe first hat was sewn from some scrap fabric I had so I could make a

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-6432905382723365462011-06-09T22:38:00.002-05:002011-06-09T23:46:10.625-05:00

You may have noticed the little badge at the top right of my blog. It's for 30 Days of Creativity, which describes itself as "a social initiative encouraging people to create stuff (anything) every day for 30 days in June." Simple enough, right? Since I have a laundry list of projects, I figured this would push me to be a little more productive than usual. I decided to break my projects down into

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-29019791898234532132011-05-27T23:26:00.007-05:002011-06-16T04:08:08.778-05:00

The other night I spent a little too much time on NET-A-PORTER.COM drooling over absolutely gorgeous dresses that are well beyond my not-so-deep pockets, as well as sewing ability. So, of course the next logical step was to pick my favorites that seemed doable (whatever that means) and find patterns that resembled them as much as possible (in my would-be seamstress' eyes). THIS IS A WISH LIST. As

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-28884630518808104842011-05-24T06:13:00.000-05:002011-05-24T12:47:14.582-05:00

;\ I know. I don't appreciate the title either! But I'm starting to get all obsessive with project planning again, and it's making me lose my cool.First of all, I don't do online shopping; I don't really do shopping at all to be honest. Being eternally broke helps me maintain this stance, so I'm not up-to-date on stuff (to be as vague as possible). BUT HOLY CRAP!! HAVE YOU SEEN THESE SHORTS?! I

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-81057038876107577542011-05-13T23:27:00.001-05:002011-05-14T01:04:32.138-05:00

Thanks for nothing, Blogger! This should've been posted yesterday because it was Andrew's birthday!! I got him a Devil's Food Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Icing. SO yummy (seriously). It says Adam as a joke because people tend to misspell my name so often, he calls me Jennie-Lynn or Jimmy Larry and I call him Adam; we're nerds. I also made him a simple little lunch bag kit using some fabric

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-71463438992877098432011-05-07T13:48:00.005-05:002011-05-14T09:26:51.893-05:00

A few days ago I decided to start making jewelry again. It takes a certain level of boredom on my part to finally break out my pliers and billions upon billions of beads. That combined with the perfect inspiration, which Anthropologie regularly slaps me in the face with. I have a list of necklaces that I ADORE, but they're all well above my spending limits (which really just means anything over

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-28942878365191857492011-04-24T23:31:00.003-05:002011-04-25T01:52:36.684-05:00

Problem? I suppose if I actually did have a problem then I would have been able to spell it out though, right? My logic is totally sound, I'm sure you agree.Every time I stop in Walgreens for something like q-tips or a KitKat (who am I kidding, it's almost always a KitKat) I end up buying nail polish. The other day I bought seven! Oops? This super ridiculous habit of mine also means that I'm

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-51396052068518436482011-04-17T20:47:00.001-05:002011-04-17T21:02:06.616-05:00

No, really. I am. Want proof? BOOMAndrew and I woke up feeling the need to channel IKEA's Cookbook and Longman & Eagle for one reason or another. I think it worked out in everyone's best interest. Here's the evidence: Crab Cake Bits Garlic Potato Bits Hollandaise Bits Eggs Benedict BitsAnd really, not to toot my own horn, BUT IT WAS FABULOUS. I absolutely love when each element of my meals is

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-61541576904663236502011-03-30T13:39:00.000-05:002011-03-30T13:39:04.675-05:00

Surprisingly enough, my crocodile stitch skirt is super easy to work up! It's just a matter of staying focused long enough to complete it. I'm also pretty sure I'm using the worst possible yarn for my project because who wants to wear a wool skirt in the middle of spring/summer? Hopefully I'll finish it before it gets too warm out, but I'm in Chicago so that's still a ways away. Andrew decided

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-68985265060164778882011-03-20T22:54:00.007-05:002011-03-26T12:58:23.168-05:00

City Chic has an awesome sale going on right now (till 3/21): 60% off everything + Free Shipping and Free Returns for US customers. These kinds of details are the ONLY reason I ever shop online, otherwise I'm not spending a dime. I purchased their High Waist Jeans in a size 16 and their High Waist Shorts in a size 18, both of which are sadly ill-fitting: ...can't...quite...breathe... Check out

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-75256970921862259742011-03-06T11:14:00.002-06:002011-03-20T14:01:53.837-05:00

Although I haven't been particularly busy lately, it's been weeks since I've actually made anything! I suppose I just have to blame my procrasticrafting tendencies... Last night I decided to try out the crocodile stitch after seeing some beautiful photos on Catherine Hirst's blog. AH-MAZING. I'm totally inspired which is great :)After some searching I found a few tutorials on YouTube, including a

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-86518418865603915962011-02-26T19:01:00.004-06:002011-02-27T01:35:12.697-06:00

Part of the promotion for Your Weight in Gold's The Gold & The Beautiful included a feature in Time Out: Chicago. The girls and I were really excited for the exposure and opportunity to reach a larger audience + Andrew got to take the photos for it!Unfortunately the copy they ran totally misrepresented us and our cause. They also printed a lot of misinformation about the name, details, and even

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-43765848718680243732011-02-14T20:18:00.002-06:002011-02-14T20:20:16.501-06:00

Tony! Toni! Toné! does...I woke up a text reading "I love you in a special way" + a link to that video. Andrew is the best (obviously)! We've been together for 4 whole years! I love him to pieces. ♥

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-27675887549244575982011-02-06T22:20:00.000-06:002011-02-06T22:20:56.554-06:00

For those of you who live under a rock, or say, Florida, we've been experiencing some EXTREME weather in the world. Chicago got hit by its third largest blizzard and I loved every minute of it. Thankfully we didn't lose power or anything. Walking the dogs was a bit hellish during the actual storm but the day after was AWESOME. Everyone in Chicago had the day off work because the streets

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-16193898159284850762011-02-01T08:23:00.004-06:002011-02-03T17:25:29.486-06:00

My life has totally become one giant crochet party because of winter. Our neighbor David, also known as Torch, saw Andrew throw his cowl on over his head during an excessively cold day. He proclaimed its likeness to "a squirrel being wrapped around his neck" and asked me to make him one! I loved the way he put it, so of course I tweeted about it (duh!) and the wonderful Lexy at BeautyFash

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-16137027126227252722011-01-24T00:28:00.001-06:002011-01-24T00:29:55.843-06:00

Friday I went to Joann to pick up the Cynthia Rowley pattern, and to my surprise: + All Simplicity patterns were 99¢ till the 22nd. Great. Now it's going to cost me full price ($16.95) whenever they actually have it back in stock! I don't know which part is worse, missing out on the pattern while on sale or the print I chose being sold out till February 25th! So it seems metallic gold check wins

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-15912094442352694812011-01-18T20:22:00.005-06:002011-01-23T23:26:47.881-06:00

To further explain the logo I designed, here is our organization's mission statement: The restrictive and marginalizing beauty ideals in American culture devalue and demoralize women of all shapes and sizes. Fat women, in particular, need a sanctuary from the body-hate rhetoric. Your Weight in Gold Clothing Exchange events foster an environment in which fierce, femme fatshionistas are empowered

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-23512783211376032772011-01-12T18:46:00.003-06:002011-01-24T00:28:58.331-06:00

This year is off to a great start! My productivity level isn't quite where I want it to be, but I've still been pretty busy. Some really fun and exciting things are happening next month and I couldn't be happier about my involvement. I don't want to spoil anything so here's a brief post about a logo I just designed for said surprise event! Mix one part hot fatty One part fun lettering Some

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-28868181112414817072010-12-31T12:12:00.001-06:002011-01-06T03:22:19.705-06:00

...in tree form? Yes, please! This amazing tree topper (those hot pink feathers!!) is from Target, of all places! My mother, Andrew and I went to the Christkindlmarket here in Chicago, and saw this EXACT ornament for 3x the price I paid. Pure insanity, my friends. My love for giraffes & hippos is no secret, so when I saw these guys I freaked out. I bought them a Macy's after-Christmas sale for

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-21093049949803853572010-12-28T11:09:00.002-06:002011-01-05T12:26:06.202-06:00

Well you guys, I'm a terrible blogger. I even lost my first follower! Andrew was in the Philippines for about 2 weeks and he took his Olympus and Canon with him; I was left with my webcam/phone, both of which don't count in my book. So—to make it up to you—are you ready for a Christmas photo explosion?? Our little celebration was really sweet, and filled with a bunch of firsts. Last year the

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-25002426136494611322010-12-11T16:26:00.002-06:002011-02-01T08:30:36.851-06:00

There is a super short, baby post over at CCC I just put up today. Go check it out! Unless this is you:

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-21892408595971191572010-12-09T16:40:00.000-06:002010-12-09T16:40:51.901-06:00

My days have not been jam-packed with busy business, contrary to my absence. You'd think I was out saving the world, but alas, I'm just a procrasticrafter. And broke... I need to finish a bunch of projects but it has been a little difficult. I still haven't gotten the lining, cording or zipper for my Parkahh! I need yarn for some crocheted presents annnd my mom's coming into town on the 21st, so

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-66605480218238027282010-11-29T18:40:00.014-06:002011-02-01T08:30:47.604-06:00

As the Holidays got closer I realized I wouldn't be able to make it to New York this year. It's bittersweet because it has been my only guaranteed trip back home since moving here. But I'm excited to spend my first Christmas in Chicago! I've been planning gifts to send home, and let me tell you, my family is HUGE. I have 7 aunts and uncles, a single set of grandparents, and 7 cousins in New York.

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-54629421292509140572010-11-24T09:25:00.009-06:002011-11-20T16:49:21.410-06:00

When I was younger I absolutely adored hippos with all my heart! To be honest, I adored all animals with all my heart, but hippos and giraffes were at the top of my list. One day my dad made up a pretty elaborate story about "where I came from." The long and short of it was I was adopted from a family of hippos. I know. Kind of weird but just go with it... My dad started calling me

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-90071407735972550122010-11-10T17:28:00.003-06:002010-11-11T13:51:25.815-06:00

I was determined to finish my Acorn Shrug last Wednesday night but I ran out of yarn. When I stopped to pick some more up the next day, the violet yarn was completely sold out! I mean, the world was legitimately trying to sabotage my productivity. Though it began to look more and more like a throw, I pulled through & finished it off with some stripes from my yarn stash. And now for some photos...

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-84326506275131323802010-11-06T16:35:00.001-05:002010-11-06T16:38:27.685-05:00

The minor progress I've made on the Parkahh! has really just been me shopping. I need to get a few more things like cording, cord locks, and a zipper but I did buy some mystery fabric. It may be polyester, so I'm trying to decide how I feel about that… Right now I'm leaning towards "it's pretty cute," though I flip back to "but it's polyester!" every now and then. I picked up muslin for what will

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-34372035131622236112010-11-01T23:02:00.003-05:002010-11-06T13:19:23.428-05:00

Chicago's fairs and markets never cease to bring me joy, especially when pastries are involved! With the cooler weather creeping in, most of them are wrapping up till next year but the few that stick it out during fall/winter are fabulous. Last weekend a great place called Logan Square Kitchen hosted a Halloween Pastry Market with local vendors. Of the few we tried, our favorites were: Salted

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-18790706212742675652010-10-31T15:34:00.001-05:002010-11-06T13:16:20.000-05:00

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-38458003741920868722010-10-24T18:48:00.003-05:002010-10-25T12:51:34.178-05:00

I'm bored with crocheting the acorn shrug! Emily's, from seymour, turned out great so I should probably shut up and finish mine already, but it's just SC for 137sts over and over and overrr. I enjoy patterns that make me think a little so I took yet another break to work on these puppies... ...for my puppies!Nothing super complex but it was a nice change of pace. Princess has the most obnoxiously

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-51338776916297201022010-10-16T11:58:00.000-05:002010-10-16T11:58:34.281-05:00

While crocheting my little heart out, I realized my yarn varies from skein to skein! I know this shouldn't be a big deal but it totally discouraged me. There are varying shades of violet and the weight changes, which is really irritating. I started planning my next project to help me get over it. Andrew wants me to finish the shrug before I move on but I'm only planning! Plus, I can't crochet

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-3186127546192730262010-10-13T22:19:00.006-05:002010-10-16T01:12:38.808-05:00

Not to be all melodramatic and whatnot, but man! What a freakin' week this is turning out to be. Andrew and I ate out Saturday night* and by the time Monday morning rolled around I was DEAD. Between sobs and toilet hugs, I napped and generally hated life. I have never been that sick. Tuesday came and I couldn't have been happier. I'd made it! The day was totally uneventful with the exception of

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-12589673125309318232010-10-02T14:50:00.007-05:002010-10-03T04:36:56.292-05:00

This is what a single 3oz skein of Lion Brand yarn looks like when it's SC in the back loops for 137 Sts with a J hook. It would make a nice super stretchy scarf at this length, something I'll need to remember for Christmas :) I've never crocheted in the back loops before so it took some getting used to but I really like the stripe effect! 42" wide, 7" long & I've got 43" to go!If you're using

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-3192129243932848252010-09-24T11:20:00.012-05:002010-09-24T15:35:05.111-05:00

I've decided to start crocheting again after putting my hooks away a few months ago. My thumb and wrist started giving me serious issues which I attributed to yarn bombing too much? That doesn't seem possible but either way, I'm back on board! I literally spent hours on Crochet Pattern Central between yesterday and today looking at women's clothes; namely cardigans. HAH! Can you believe my

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-44637875127110352582010-09-20T10:00:00.021-05:002010-09-20T13:04:45.283-05:00

I've been going to the Renegade Craft Fair since I moved to Chicago but I missed it this year. I'm a little bummed about it but there's always the Holiday Fair and next year! Hopefully I'll work up the nerve to share a table or maybe even have my own by then. Andrew linked me to this and it made me feel better BECAUSE IT'S TRUE.I was feeling rather craft-deprived so I decided to cross-stitch some

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-61841063297898337282010-09-17T18:09:00.006-05:002010-09-17T18:28:11.100-05:00

Last year, Andrew & I were invited to stay in a cute lil' cottage in Door County. His best friend's family has owned it for something like 17 years or so. It's on Kangaroo Lake, in one of the most picturesque little towns I've been to in the Midwest. I haven't seen much of WI but between Milwaukee and Door County, I could basically move there and be happy for the rest of my life. Seriously.

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-56289542060785907682010-09-09T11:06:00.008-05:002010-09-09T11:47:50.092-05:00

Earlier this summer, I signed up for two awesome sew-alongs. My idea of what was actually possible versus my skill level are, sadly, on two completely different levels. So I've amended my pledge for Self Stitched September to wearing handmade and refashioned items of clothing or accessories/jewelery as much as possible for the duration of September 2010. My plan is to continue working through my

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-28554712904271079922010-08-31T23:39:00.008-05:002011-04-17T20:35:45.214-05:00

It's so strange for me to think I was 14 a whole 10 YEARS AGO. Mostly because I'm still the exact same person I was then. Andrew and I spent the day at Six Flags riding roller coasters and eating funnel cake till we thought we'd puke. The night before we went to Aripo's (the only Venezuelan restaurant in Chicago). The food was delicious and made me think of my childhood and family so I totally

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-40377748978085603792010-08-24T23:00:00.002-05:002010-08-25T04:00:22.071-05:00

Guys, I dropped my tomato plant off my window ledge Sunday. It went crashing down a single story and it broke my heart. I had 5 tomatoes maturing on her! The two babies plopped right off and I had to pick the other three. I'm so sad ;( I'm not sure if she was done for the season, but hopefully her root system isn't in shock. Look at the carnage!Anyway, I have been hoarding bedsheets from my local

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-40494279298554172010-08-16T18:49:00.000-05:002010-08-16T18:49:34.518-05:00

Alright. As silly as this subject matter may be, I'm still excited because I found MAC's In the Groove limited edition lipstick, Go For It! True love, people. It is the most beautiful shade of pale purple with blue undertones, rather than the usual pink or red! I died when I found this color online, then I read further and saw it was sold out! I proceeded to call every single MAC location in

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-20512664372007306412010-08-06T00:34:00.010-05:002010-08-06T01:54:29.960-05:00

Let me just say Pottery Barn is the bane of my existence. I hate that I love so many things they sell there, just like I love/hate Restoration Hardware. However, there's this one table a ton of ladies who enjoy the sewing pine for, me included: Oh! What's up, PERFECTION?It's unfair for PB to style their rooms so brilliantly. Luckily Lowe's sells ClosetMaid 9 Cube organizers which look exactly

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-61711973581942435332010-07-29T15:24:00.001-05:002010-08-06T00:36:01.613-05:00

Well, it appears I've bitten off more than I can chew. My grand ideas of completing shorts, possibly a romper, a skirt, a dress, possibly a t-shirt, a blouse and a tunic alllll before August is obviously not going to happen! With my mom's visit and other stresses, I lost track of time and I cannot believe August is just a few days away! Since I'm still (unfortunately) searching for full-time

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-63611842772287091372010-07-26T18:50:00.001-05:002010-07-26T21:34:47.511-05:00

The Anna Sui wrap dress is in my closet and I didn't die making it! The whole process was so much easier than I originally thought it would be. Granted it did have a million pieces (24), narrow hems everywhere, pleats, ruffles, and is fully lined. Can I also just say chiffon is intense? Without further adieu... I absolutely love this dress!The reason behind my sudden dress making confidence was

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-15825783165770295342010-06-28T13:17:00.000-05:002010-06-28T13:17:35.575-05:00

I really wish my mom would have taught me how to sew when I was a child! I'm so sad about it right now. She went to Parson's. She worked with Calvin Klein straight out of college. She even had her own boutique in Georgetown right before I was born! Yet she never once sat me down and showed me how a sewing machine worked. I remember always thinking to myself "why does her sewing machine look so

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-15172083841956583922010-06-24T18:57:00.003-05:002010-06-24T19:21:38.122-05:00

Andrew and I were borrowing internet from one of our neighbors. At first I felt pretty guilty but we never hogged it enough to where it was a problem... or so I thought! "Cher" has since disappeared from our wireless options and we've been without internet since last week. Kind of sucks, kind of rules? I'm sooo easily sucked into the land of twitter & blogs and before I know it, it's 3 in the

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-85552764568782171712010-06-14T21:50:00.006-05:002010-06-14T23:19:10.665-05:00

My first dress was based on a sew-along I found about a month or so after it ended, so I made it my mission to find some current and upcoming ones to join. I came across two awesome blogs featuring equally awesome sew-alongs that I knew I had to be a part of. Self-Stitched-September is hosted by Zoe who just wrapped up a challenge called Me-Made-May which I missed. She asks you to take the pledge

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-87703340757778340972010-06-10T22:42:00.000-05:002010-06-10T22:42:45.384-05:00

The smell of fresh bread filling the apartment has become addictive. This past weekend I baked two loaves using bread flour and whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose. They were delicious but for some reason no where near the awesomeness of my first loaf. Love the different shades The whole wheat definitely had an earthy taste. I liked it but I think it would have done better with some honey

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-66967347239811307732010-06-09T21:49:00.003-05:002010-06-09T23:20:01.070-05:00

In an attempt to beat the blues of non-stop rain yesterday, I decided to splurge on some McCall's patterns (regardless of their difficulty). I'm sure I just bought myself a world of frustration, annoyance & pain BUT I DON'T CARE! Look at how cute this crap is: M5631M5882M5873M5864M5388M5094M4769M5753I'm definitely using my imagination with some of these but that's ok because it's all about my

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-68117517157607356382010-06-08T17:19:00.004-05:002010-06-08T23:30:52.060-05:00

Andrew did it! He participated in his first track race(s) and came in 3rd in the 5 lap scratch (5 laps & whoever gets to the finish line 1st, 2nd, 3rd wins)! I'm so proud of him. It was so much fun to watch although I spent most of the time he was on the track looking through a viewfinder. Half Acre hosted the event and their announcer was hilarious. The other races were:Win-and-Out first person

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-47692360467090170242010-06-04T08:50:00.017-05:002010-06-04T16:07:27.928-05:00

I've been kind of obsessed with bread this week. I think the sourdough we picked up from Dill Pickle Food Co-op is to blame. It was so amazing, I probably got it in my head that I could and should be making my own. I found an awesome pizza dough recipe that was SO easy I can't believe I hadn't tried it before. I topped it with grated parmesan, fresh mozzarella, shaved asparagus I'd tossed with a

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-26234863945495374482010-06-01T17:31:00.014-05:002011-11-12T10:57:16.015-06:00

A while back I found out about Growing Power, here's an excerpt from their site:"Growing Power is national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. Growing Power implements this mission by providing

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-66967358198544869072010-05-31T23:46:00.025-05:002010-11-16T14:40:48.153-06:00

Today's weather was a bit OOC, no? I couldn't believe it was so dark out that the street lights came on at 11am! Oh thunderstorms, ruining our plans for the day. No velodrome, no trails... at least we rode to the gym. I really wanted to go swimming too ;(After feeling a bit down about my botched Frock by Friday sew-along effort, I decided to make a much easier frock from Presser Foot and it

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-53238750495497104652010-05-27T22:30:00.012-05:002011-11-12T10:53:44.973-06:00

Andrew's been training for the track and it's so exciting/addicting! I keep reminding myself baby steps, Jaimielee, maybe next year... His new road bike isn't helping! It has to be one of the most beautiful frames I've ever seen. If only I had the money… I'm totallyyyy jealous.I need to focus on getting passed 22mph & going further than 22miles in a single ride. Then riding fixed. Baby steps,

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-90372659141009467342010-05-24T17:24:00.007-05:002010-06-04T15:49:01.811-05:00

Whoops. I keep losing track of time and things and projects and so on... I still have a mini quilt to make which I am NOT happy about or even remotely interested in making. So to further procrastinate on that project, I'm joining a sew-along! It's hosted by Grosgrain's Kathleen: A Frock By Friday.It's not 100% my style, so I'm changing the skirt to be a fuller, a-line skirt. I really hope it goes

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-421065008340491462010-05-05T12:59:00.016-05:002010-06-04T16:09:22.057-05:00

Well, not quite, but at least the move is over. I cannot even express the happiness Andrew and I felt Saturday night. We had two movers from U-Haul plus a freight truck! It was literally insane. Packing/moving left us making horrible food decisions and we were really feeling it by the time Monday rolled around, not to mention the sore arms, knees, calves, and feet. A sight that will never be

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-75510478419088761832010-04-25T23:56:00.017-05:002010-06-04T15:10:49.441-05:00

Last night I met up with some girls from a local crochet group and went yarnbombing. I got so excited last week, I ended up crocheting 3 wraps in a day and my stupid wrist and thumb kinda hurt... total bummer ;( Starbucks @ Paulina & DivisionAs soon as Andrew woke up he was dying to make breakfast and seriously, it was delicious. We made an omelette with the spinach, shiitake mushrooms and eggs

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-12057607976329152202010-04-24T18:41:00.010-05:002010-06-04T15:45:34.870-05:00

I was totally dreading waking up before 7am this morning but I'm so glad I did. The Green City Market was awesome. Asparagus 2/$7Spinach $3Fingerling Potatoes $5Rocket $3Mixed Lettuce $5Avondale Truckle Cheddar $8Peach Preserves $5Chipotle Salsa $8Cremini/Shiitake Mushrooms $17 (won't make this mistake again!)Honey Oat/Sourdough Bread $10Eggs $5Spinach Tart $4 Apples $5Spent a total of $85 but we

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-4614243149750030062010-04-20T16:07:00.009-05:002010-06-04T14:54:14.403-05:00

I cannot believe how much packing Andrew and I still have to do. We don't even have movers or a truck scheduled either. Plus, our ridiculous landlord is scheduling showings of this place without telling us and we're the ones who have to drop what we're doing to give the tour. It's so incredibly annoying and rude! I can't wait for May 2nd.

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-69533088127400278662010-04-19T01:29:00.017-05:002010-08-05T03:21:52.318-05:00

I had so much fun this weekend. Andrew and I went shopping for a front rack Saturday but I ended up getting an awesome rear rack instead. I'm proud of my 35lb boat :) I was supposed to meet up with some girls from a crochet group I'm a part of but my hunger got in the way and I missed them ;( So... I went yarnbombing solo! I was immediately hooked, so I did some today too. An old man wanted

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-25744120376397909412010-04-16T22:33:00.002-05:002010-06-04T14:52:03.817-05:00

Whoops! My unintentional absence was for a lot longer than I even realized... We've signed a two year lease at what seems to be a great apartment. I finally get a dedicated office/craftroom which I'm THRILLED about. Andrew finally gets his own bike work station. I'm off to enjoy some delicious beer :)

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-17253191336666624432010-04-08T21:49:00.013-05:002010-06-04T15:44:39.380-05:00

I signed up for so many swaps this month that I ended up dropping quite a few due to this unexpected move! As of right now I'm not too worried, but I need to go put these fingers to good crafting use and knock out at least 3 tonight!As promised, a photo of the asparagus tart:It was so delicious I made a haricot vert version tonight which was no match but still yummy. Andrew made baked salmon and

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-21832958621512324112010-04-07T23:56:00.012-05:002010-06-04T15:38:17.145-05:00

Andrew and I decided it would be best to move, our rent is just outrageous and given the circumstances we want to do it sooner than later. We've seen at least 6 apartments so far and still have 3 more viewings scheduled. We've also been showing this one to help out our current landlord so I haven't really had much time to craft or blog ;( Tonight was the my second web design class, only 5 left.

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-69639599201389582082010-04-05T16:26:00.018-05:002010-06-04T15:37:20.454-05:00

It's official. Written in stone, even. I will live on a farm. I'm so passionate about it, I wish we could just up and leave the city tomorrow morning with our pups and Andrew's car packed to the brim! I even managed to look through craigslist ads for rental farms in Oregon and found the most perfect home.This is all due to Martha Stewart's show on chickens last Friday. I DVR'd it and watched it

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-4848304075095053772010-04-04T23:32:00.009-05:002010-06-04T15:36:16.099-05:00

Mass was pretty awkward and there was a minor puppy incident at Andrew's aunt's house, but I suppose I'm being a bit dramatic. Plus the boys loved their baskets :)I wore this little bib necklace (still in the making) pinned to my shirt today and I thought it was quite cute. Maybe it'll become a brooch instead, not sure yet. What do you think?

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-67452340326016073952010-04-03T16:41:00.008-05:002010-06-04T15:38:59.994-05:00

I'm so excited to give Chase and Jackson their little baskets tomorrow! The only thing missing is a stuffed animal which I considered making but they're 4 year old boys... I feel like they'd rather play with a car over a stuffed bunny, right? Unfortunately today was rather uncrafty but I did manage to squeeze in some stamping for swap related mail. Tomorrow will probably be too busy to get

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147797120214732529.post-24040227861064135122010-04-02T14:23:00.001-05:002010-06-04T14:36:57.098-05:00

I joined over a year ago and finally finished setting up my account today. I've been inspired by many of the people I've found through swap-bot as well as twitter.So here goes...

Hippopotamusleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07575130872136118427noreply@blogger.com0