embrace simplicity

Lately, I've been happy. 

I've been writing, stocking the freezer, making things, and connecting with the blogging community. I've been attempting to keep things simple, while still pushing myself. 

I've been attempting to follow the plan.

Thus the newfound love for simple outfits, light fabrics and summer colors. 

It doesn't have to have been hard to think of to be great style.

Clothes: thrifted. (The dress is Oscar de la Renta! And it may have been $3.50. Maybe.) Necklace by me.

Let's here it for totally randomly polka dot shoes!

Enjoy the simple things.

peace&love,

Jill

heart garland *tutorial*

I made these garlands to go on our tables at our wedding and they were a big hit! 

Wanna make your own? Here's how:

You'll need some paper (I used pages out of an old French language workbook), twine, scissors and glue.

First of all cut out a heart to use as a pattern for all the other hearts so that they match. 

Next fold your paper in half the long way. I did a few pages at a time.

Then fold the pages in half the other way and wrap the control heart around that fold so that the top of the rounded parts of the heart are on the first fold you made. It is important that you don't cut through that part.

Cut around the heart, leaving the top folded over like I just mentioned.

Which is hard to take a picture of.

When you unfold everything it should look like this.

Next, fold the heart over a piece of twine and put a line of glue around the inside of it to hold it together. I kept some space free from glue at the top so I could slide the hearts on the twine to adjust the  space between them.

There you go! Just repeat until you have the length you want!

peace&love,

Jill

on a break

In the last 5 months, John and I successfully watched all 10 seasons of Friends. For everyone that was at my wedding, those flowers you took home were made through a heartfelt mixture of paint, patience, and some great 90s TV.

So in honor of Ross and Rachel, I am on a break from thrifting. Actually from buying clothing at all, but let's be real - that mostly consists of thrifting. But, before the great break began, I went on one last colossal thrifting run. Here are the spoils, photos courtesy of the project I posted about yesterday...

One pair of leggings and 2 yoga pants not included. Very happy with my goodies!

peace&love,

Jill

the phantom tollbooth

I'm not regularly a re-reader. I figure I only live once, so why not read all the books I can with the time I have? But my philosophy is slowly but surely starting to change due to a little book called the The Phantom Tollbooth. Do yourself a favor and reread your favorite childhood book. 

You won't regret it and it'll make you feel like a kid again - full of wonder.

 A Wrinkle in Time is in progress as we speak... What's your pick?

This colorblocking is courtesy of spending all day in the AC and Everybody, Everywear. 

If you haven't checked it out, it's cool and you should.

Clothes, shoes and purse: all thrifted, earrings by me, similar are available here.

Go read a book.

peace&love,

Jill

so I started this project...

I decided I wanted to take pictures of my clothes. As in every piece of clothing. Individually.

So over the course of recent days I have been doing just that, and now I only have pants and accessories left to do. It has been so much fun, and I am excited to have a visual catalog of my wardrobe, especially since I plan on going on a bit of a shopping hiatus - more on that later. And for anyone that has seen my jewelry displays, I'm all about the rainbow. 

So here's a sample of my rainbow of dresses.

I'm excited to share more of these pictures with you guys as well as use them in some great new projects and remixing adventures.

peace&love,

Jill

the scottish girl wears yellow

Yes, my ancestry is mostly Scottish, and yes, I am very pale. But bucking the caution of my younger days, which would not allow yellow to enter my closet, much less touch my skin in daylight, 

I decided to don some yellow today in honor of my newfound artistic freedom... 

because I AM NOT AT WORK TODAY! 

Beautiful flowers courtesy of the farmer's market and my lovely mother-in-law who brought them to our reception for our friends here in OK yesterday. 

Clothes: all thrifted. Earrings: made using this tutorial.

And speaking of the reception, John and I had a chance to snap this picture in the chapel where we got engaged, exactly one year ago today. We're just adorable and on top of things like that.

And yes, I'm wearing my wedding dress. You don't wear a dress that amazing only once!

peace&love,

Jill

the plan

Today is a new day, part of a new beginning. Friday was my last day at my job and though I will miss the people I worked with, I am very excited and nervous about what is to come, mostly because it involves a lot more writing, making, and wearing clothes I like than the last few months have.

But change is scary. I am artistic but practical, and part of me is terrified that I will not grab this chance my the horns and wrestle every last drop of potential out of it. I'm afraid of fear taking over. Pretty ironic, isn't it?

The night before I spoke to my boss about my plans to leave I couldn't sleep, so I got up and made myself a schedule for my days without office hours to plan around. Then after the schedule I wrote myself something else, a mental plan, if you will. Here it is, for your enjoyment, edification, and reflection. I know that every stage of my life could use an extra dose of this kind of outlook.

" Cultivate silence, trust, prayer, and peace. Humble yourself before the Lord’s plans and be realistic and fair with yourself. In all moments of disquiet, bring yourself back to center with God. Lay your moments as well as your hours before him in reverence and in humility and trust His Voice, wherever it reaches you. Bless the Lord with your actions, your art, and your attempts. Strive only to serve Him, and live in accord with your vocation.

 And when the bad days happen, as they surely will, have the grace to cry deeply and freely, offer it up, and move on. Our trials water the gardens of our souls in such a way that gives them flavor unmatched by easier times.

Focus on embracing your gifts, flexing your abilities, sacrificing your security for the sake of growth, and judging yourself more gently. Begin to trust others to do the same. Look for the lovable in all things. Become the lantern all artists are called to be, even when the divine spark is so close to consuming itself. Will and pray for the light to radiate, for we are often darkest to ourselves when our light touches others most deeply. Seek the approval only of God and listen also to your husband, whom God has given to you to help sanctify and in turn helps to sanctify and lead you. Allow yourself to see your soul though their eyes.

Respect your limitations as well as your strengths. Push yourself, but remember that life is given just as much to be enjoyed as it is to be struggled through. Give yourself permission to stop working and be. Focus. Learn to be where you are and nowhere else. Love."

That's the plan.

peace&love,

Jill