Valentines

My Valentine's Day this year was spent in my apartment working on an assignment that is due later today. 9 hours straight staring at the computer screen (and listening/glancing at the Olympics coverage!) makes for a long day. Fortunately my awesome and crafty friend Heather had sent me a fantastic Valentine's Day card with some wise words of advice:



Besides that school is SO busy I don't have time for ANY crafting besides what I make out of paper, plastic, and PVC for my assignments!!



PS I am paying close attention to my fellow Parkites in the Olympics. GO JULIA MANCUSO, TED LIGETY, SPEEDY PETERSON, AND STEVE HOLCOMB. AND GREAT JOB NATE ROBERTS!!

Survived!

So I made it through the end of my first semester of school. I am pretty sure I've never had to work so hard as I did over the past 3 months. Architecture school is serious business. I like it, but I am a little sad that I don't have time to enjoy the primary reasons I stayed in Chicago: my friends. There isn't much I can do about it, I try to emerge from my Architecture world as often as I can to meet up with them, but even when I do I'm really out of the loop and out of place. Oh well.

Since Monday I have spent time with my cousin who was visiting and then today I spent all day at home. Lazy? Maybe. But I did almost 75% of the things I said I wanted to do when I had time during break!! I sorted and filed my important documents, wrapped some presents, and made a cover for my all important Moleskine notebook. The first sewing I've been able to do in 3 months, it was a really quick and simple project and so so so enjoyable!! I used the tutorial here by Mr. Monkeysuit and some Floragraphix fabric I've had for almost a year for both the cover and lining. I really like how it turned out. My other to-do is to craft more over the next month of my Christmas break and tell you allll about it!!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

As you may be able to tell, I have been too busy to do much of anything except schoolwork. I love architecture, but architecture school is hard!! My friend Alex put it best, "it looks like this is one of those situations that what doesn't kill you is going to make you stronger." Fortunately I have a lot of people who are supporting me in the wings, I don't know what I would do if they weren't at the end of the phone line when I needed them! (thanks!) With about 7.5 days until the end of the first semester I thought I would take a small break from my Theory Final to post some pics of what I managed to finish craft-wise BEFORE I was too busy! This is the quilt I made for my friends now 4-month old, Helen. She is the most adorable, mellow, awesome baby and this quilt is perfect for her (if i do say so myself). I finally gave it to them on Thanksgiving (since I stayed in Chicago they invited me over) and even Helen's dad said "I love it! Grey and green is AWESOME!" = SUCCESS!!!

I'm going to make an identical one for myself over break and I can't wait to get back on the sewing machine ;)

Zig-Zag Quilt from CrazyMom Quilt tutorial, Erin McMorris Wildwood and Kona Cotton Solids

A long Time

Since I posted last almost two months ago things around here have been SUPER busy. First of all I had my last day of work, then headed off visit my grandparents and uncle, and cousin in Sacramento, then I moved to a gorgeous HUGE new apartment (WITHOUT a moving truck and only a little zip car, well and a few large guys to help), took another trip, this time with a few friends, up to the beautiful Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and finally, I started Architecture School!! Im now in week 5 as an architecture student and I'm exhausted!! I can't tell if I "like" it yet, mainly because my brain is going to be adjusting to the college life and architecture in general for awhile. I've spent several 10+ hour days in the studio, but its a good feeling to be busy and to be doing something that few have done before me, and even fewer have done well. Here are some pics of things I've seen and done in the past few weeks. Enjoy!!!

Love, Jenny
Sacramento, CA
Chicago, IL on the Chicago Architecture Boat Tour (amazing a must do in Chi)
Odessa Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
New Baby quilt in the work for a dear friend and baby Helen!!

Been Gone So Long....

I know I know, I'm such a bad friend. I just leave for a month without even a good bye or a reason why. If anyone happened to notice, I am SO sorry!! Things have been pretty busy around here. I finished two quilts (see below), went to an AMAZING wedding in St. Louis, made a dress to wear (also see below), lost an apartment and a roommate, and finally today found a new apartment!! If you scroll to the bottom you will see some brand new arm candy I just got.

Me with the beautiful bride and my amazing teal dress (favorite color by the way) :-)
And finally......

Amazing fantastic new watch by NIXON. My most favorite-ist watch company ever.

Architecture Tour Chicago

I see buildings I love (and hate) around whenever I'm traveling and of course walking the streets of my city of Chicago. Now that I'm headed off to architecture school in the fall I've decided to start photographing and keeping a record of these notable structures. Today I went on a walk (because it was FINALLY sunny and warm!) and made a point to go by this amazing home on Burling Street in Lincoln Park. I need to look up who the architect is (uhm, internship please??) but in the meantime I will share what I like about it. First and foremost is the beautiful woodwork paneling going up the facade. The wood is placed horizontally which perfectly opposes the strong linear vertical-ity of the rest of the facade. The dark color next to the greenish tint of the large windows gives it a very "natural" feeling, like a forest and stream. The concrete finishes the look for me. I love it. I want to live there.

Oh and I really dislike this one. I don't think you all need me to explain the reasons why...

Stay Tuned

Gilbert Lake, Wisconsin

I'm currently at the end of a "semester" which I know only included one class, but I still have some final term work to finish up. On top of that I started ANOTHER class which is requiring time and effort away from my more crafty endeavors. PLUS, work is taking me down to Indianapolis in the midst of all this, so I haven't been doing much else. Please look at my older posts and I will be back before too long with a dress (made by ME!), completed wedding quilt, and maybe a peek at my new amazing apartment (with my new amazing roommate/friend Lauren) in the West Loop. Like I says, stay tuned!!!
Love, Jenny