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

oh darn my arm.

Does anyone else burn themselves when ironing? And I'm talking not just once or twice but on a fairly frequent basis? Hmm...anyone? Well, its not just ironing, I seem to have something with hot metal. Ovens, oven racks, baking sheets, and hot irons (im sure if i had a hair curler that would do it too) all seem to attract my fingers, hands and arms. While I admit that a year ago I got this weird equal sign-looking scar on my arm (cooking pizza) that I think is kinda cool looking (gives me street cred haha), I think I am over this burning thing. In the past week and a half I got a burn on my upper left arm (broiling steak), top of left hand, and wrist of right arm (iron). ow, ow, and ow, im that girl getting neosporin over everything. Also, my doctor looked a little concerned that I have burns and scars all over my arms and hands. Gosh darn.

Meet Me in St. Louis

Phew, I finally got the quilt top done for the wedding I am going to in June. My friend Jessie from Colgate is marrying her lovely fiancee Alex in St. Louis and obviously I couldn't show up with any old gift from the registry. After many months of searching for the right fabric I finally found some to use in the zig-zag quilt pattern shared by Crazy Mom Quilts. I should mention that I really struggled in the middle of this and couldn't seem to get the right squares in the right places. I blame my lack of space to lay the whole quilt out. Anyway, now I need to figure out how to get to Joann's to pick up some backing fabric so I can get this sucker quilted!! Maybe I can sneak away with the car this weekend when my girlfriends Anna and Ruthie are enjoying the sun by Gilbert Lake, WI. ;)