Sufjan

Friday night I saw Sufjan Stevens at the Arlene Schnitzer concert hall in Portland. In fact, I bought the very last ticket available at the box office and I'm glad I did! First let's get this out of the way: Sufjan Stevens is extremely attractive. I had never really thought about that before the concert, but afterwards I definitely did. In fact, when I was talking to my dad about going to the concert he looked up Sufjan and commented on how he looked like the "average Joe".

The second thing I learned at the concert is that in his newest album "The Age of Adz", "Adz" is pronounced "odds". If you listen for it in the song of the same name you will here it. Now you too can sound pretentious and confuse other people when you talk about the album.

Third, Sufjan Stevens is really funny, e.g. pulling out a bedazzled visor--putting it on sideways and saying, "I need a special hat for this song, this is a low jam."

I also learned all about his inspiration for the album, here is a video of it if you are interested:

Overall, I think Sufjan's newest work (both "Age of Adz" and "All Delighted People") are genius. Yes, they can take some getting used to, but if give it a change you won't be disappointed. I agree with the review it got on {Stereogum}, which points out how in his latest work he moved from nostalgia and the past to writing songs that are all in the present. I think that is an important paradigm shift to note as you are listening.

I should have written this sooner, when it was fresh on my mind. I've been to a lot of concerts of bands I love and enjoy seeing, but afterwards if they go on tour again I often don't get too upset if I can't go because I've seen them already. Sufjan is different, each one of his tours is an experience like a performance art piece--and if I can help it I am going to see him every time he goes on tour from now on. I am hoping that some of the videos that appeared at the concert surface as music videos so you can see them!

And Red House Painters

are fitting on this overcast Portland day.

The Reluctant Blogger

I don't know why I have felt no desire to blog lately, but I do have a couple things to talk about, so here they are:

Just Kidding, just like {this} song.

Really thing #1:

I am an editorial intern for Colette Patterns!! Based out of Portland, and owned by the super cute Sarai, this company makes a different kind of sewing pattern. The garments themselves are a modern twist on vintage glamour

(All pictures via {Colette}, and this is Sarai modeling her skirt that I have the pattern for and am excited to make!)

But one of the things I love about Colette is the patterns are formatted, I always end up losing the instructions and pieces of patterns I buy, but Colette Patterns come in these neat booklet--so it's nearly impossible to lose! I wish more patterns came like this!

And if you are curious what I am doing as an intern, don't worry I will link everything here because I am going to be writing for the Colette Pattern {blog}, interviewing designers about their work and creative process! I'm really excited to get started--and let me know if you have any designer suggestions!

It is a good thing that I can do everything by computer, because that leads me to thing #2.

Next week I am moving to Seattle to start another internship at 826 Seattle!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with {826}, it is a national nonprofit that provides free writing tutoring, workshops, and one-on-one attention to students, ages 6-18.

One of the many cool things about 826, is that each branch is hidden by a store front--like so:

Each branch has a theme, and they raise money for the organization by selling themed knickknacks. As you can see, 826 Seattle has a space theme. You can check out some of their products {here}. I am also a little envious of 826 Valencia and it's pirate themed {store}, especially this poster of {compensation for missing limbs}-- I may have to get that. does this sound right up my alley or what?

The Seattle store is located on beautiful Greenwood Ave. right across from an antique store that may prove problematic for me and my wallet. I have been researching cool Seattle things and am excited to share them with you.

I would be lying if I didn't say a part of me is worried that this is going to end in colossal failure, but then I read this quote:

"Life is trying things to see if they work."

Ray Bradbury

That's me alright.

Whenever I want you all I Have to do is Dream

Two nights ago I had a dream that I was in Salt Lake and me and my friend Jack were touring a Coca Cola factory.

This is Jack--------------->

We go together like bananas and people who have funny eyebrows.

We are very similar in strange ways, and I attribute many of this last year's good memories to her.

But it was really a HOT DOG factory!!

So we hung out and ate delicious hotdogs.

The second picture that came up when I googled "delicious hotdog"

---------------------------->

I wish I could remember it better because I remember there was a hot dog with a strange ingredient that was so delicious, but now I will never know what it was.

THEN, last night (when I was trying to sleep soundly since I worked today) I had a dream in which a girl who I grew up with from my home ward cut all her hair off, and handed it to me in a ponytail and I had to straighten it for some reason.

Except her hair in real life is pin straight, and the hair in the ponytail was super curly.

Like this! -->

I haven't eaten anything strange right before bed , but maybe it has something to do with me looking at pictures of this dog right before bed.

It's an Irish wolfhound and I really want one. They are really tall (as you can see) but are supposed to be gentle and really loyal!

I've also been listening to "From the Land of Ice and Snow" before bed. It is a Led Zeppelin cover album. My favorite songs are "In the Light" by The Long Winters, "Bron-Yr-Aur" by M. Ward, and "The Ocean" by Laura Veirs--which you can download {here}!

Genius

Here is just a sampling of the many genius things I discovered today:

1. Wanderlust. A vintage shop on wheels.

This shop was inspired by the popular food cart scene in Portland. It's owned by a Portland couple who wondered why people weren't selling anything else from cart. If you are in Portland you can check them out next on Saturday at the Harvest Festival on Fremont from 10am-5pm.

Wanderlust

2. Pies in a mason jar! This woman sells them as "kutie pies" but I want to try making some myself!

mykutiepies

Dear Hair,

Please grow just another inch or two so I can wear my hair in milkmaid braids--every single day.

{via orchidgrey}

Thanks.

...And then, there was popcorn.

One point of distress in the household I have noticed is the loss of our beloved air popper. It had a long life but was very old.

I was especially sad because I don't like microwave popcorn, but I do love popcorn. So then I had a terrible, awful, no-good, amazing idea. I grabbed a paper bag,

filled it with popcorn kernels, put it in the microwave...and then, there was popcorn!

For Miss Jenny

Did you know that Max Records, who plays Max in "Where the Wild Things Are" is from Portland? And that he goes to public school here? And that my sister is friends with his sister? She says that he sounds exactly the same in the movie. And it made me think of you.

And how long it's been since I've watched the movie.

Oregon

(A post about fashion)

I've been a bad, bad girl.

Last night my room smelled like burnt marshmallows. My mom had me helping her can pears. I set the timer when it started steaming like she told me and then went downstairs to watch a movie and so didn't notice the water boiling off and the kitchen filling with smoke. I also cut my finger open on the charred pear juice. The cans of pears all turned out fine though--it's just the pot they were steaming in that's a mess.

But let's back up to earlier this week when I was having a conversation with my Dad and he said something about how he thinks I am adventurous and like to go out and do things, but I like to have (and this was his word not mine) a "compadre". And while we don't always see eye-to-eye, I would have to agree with my Dad on this one.

I was still thinking about this when I heard about first Friday down on East Burnside, with a sample sale going on at a new shop called Haunt, featuring some of my favorite Portland designers such as: Laura Irwin, Kate Towers, Church & State, and Holly Stalder. Haunt is the newest endeavor of Laura Irwin and Holly Stalder, both designers formerly owned Seaplane--which was one of my favorite independent designer boutiques in Portland.

Now this is one of those events that I usually read about and never end up going because I don't have anyone to go with.

But tonight I went. And now I can say something I never thought I would: I am the proud owner of a Church & State garment!

I feel remiss that I haven't talked about Church & State here yet. Church & State is a Portland clothing line created through the collaboration of Nathaniel Crissman and Rachel Turk since 2006. On their website this is how they describe their design:

"If church & state were a day of the week, it would be Sunday.

if it were a baked good, it would be a homemade pie

and if it were a liquor it would be bourbon.

if church & state were a meal it would be home cooked.

and lastly, if church & state were a friend, it would be the best one."

They make gorgeous clothes with beautiful details--that are completely out of my price range! I was hoping to go to Haunt right when it opened to get the first pick of everything, but it didn't work out that way so I was ecstatic to find this hanging in the racks for a fraction of the original price:

The Oregon dress from the Fall '08 collection--one of my favorite collections they've done. It's more beautiful in person, 100% wool and the perfect fall red!

Also I got to chat with Laura Irwin (who was also wearing Church & State!), knitting goddess and author of "Boutique Knits" which I really want to buy.

I'm really glad I went--and excited for many more solo adventures in the future

(unless you want to come?).

Indian Summer

Sometimes, I drive past the cemetery on the hill and see a funeral where everyone is holding balloons. Then I look at some funeral websites, only to discover that doing a balloon release is a thing--like releasing doves.

I think I want that at my funeral, but maybe they shouldn't get released unless they are biodegradable.

Sometimes I go visit my friend in SE and help her pick tomatoes, and her kids insist that i participate in their "fairy parade" by walking around the block with the bowl of tomatoes over my head.

Then I went to the Pendleton Woolen Mills store which I found out about via {modish}. There are a lot of great finds at this warehouse. Pendleton wool is pretty pricey, but you can find discounted remnants and other sewing supplies. There is also a great little museum in the back! And I finally got something I have been wanting for a while:

A blanket carrier. Maybe it's dorky, but I love it; I got a plaid blanket like these ones, but mine is rusty orange and blue.

I also took a look at the remnants and bought some wool fabric to make my own wool skirt a la Opening Ceremony's collaboration with Pendleton wool.

I will post pictures when I'm done! The weather has been so beautiful here in Portland, so I better make the most of this Indian Summer.