'Pressed

So are you ready to hear about my awesome weekend? I drove with my horseshoe cousin (is that even a real term? She's my cousin's cousin.) to eastern Washington where I stayed with her family and learned to letterpress!

We were talking about it beforehand and decided we wanted to do postcards so we designed some the week before and sent them off to be turned into printing plates! Here are some of my favorites:

We chose and mixed the colors for the first two--and I will say that ink is surprisingly stickier than you would imagine. We did a plain line on the back to mark where the postage and address goes. I learned about how paper has a grain, just like fabric--and just like sewing most of the work is in the setup. Once we had all the plates in place it was pretty easy to crank out stacks of postcards.

I also loved being out in the country for the weekend; in a place where I didn't have any cellphone reception and downtown has two traffic lights. We ate at this diner called Top Notch that had a sign advertising "The world's greatest burger outside. It reminded me of elf, but my burger was pretty good as well as the moose track shake we shared! And apparently Bill Gates had eaten there! I was sorely disappointed that the thrift store called "Classically Trendy" was closed. I guess that means I have to go back, which is good since a part of me wanted to stay in the country forever.

PS. I am getting my hair cut tomorrow and I have no idea what I'm going to do!

Kirsten's Secret

I got these coupons in the mail from Victoria's Secret a couple days ago, and thought I would finally cash in on them last night. My little sister Martha saw these coupons when they first came in the mail and started asking me, "Are you going to go get your THONG?" very loudly whenever we were in the same room.

So, I went to the VS in one mall and was immediately surrounded by a gaggle of pre-teen girls with their moms all brandishing the exact same coupon.

I left soon thereafter, head bowed in shame.

But don't worry, I just went to another less busy VS--because really how can you have too much underwear?

Names

Today at work I discovered my new favorite name: Mortimer

Isn't that a great name? Say it out loud...Mort i merrr. Doesn't that just roll off your tongue?


Also, when I googled "Mortimer" I found this picture of Sir John Mortimer.

{oh thanks Gaurdian}

I think next thing I have the power to name will be named Mortimer, be it plant or fish, or tiny child.

Any other name suggestions?

New

I think I'm going to need a whole slew of new belts for fall so I can belt all my sweaters and jackets. But really who am I kidding? I could wear this now! (Those who have been in Portland in recent months know why--right now it looks like November outside.)

Margaret Howell has a definitive mastery of belting that you can see in many of her collections, but I am especially loving her F/W '11 looks.

{Photo via Honey Kennedy}

Also, I am so excited about my weekend plans that I am having a hard time focusing and it's only Tuesday!

A Beautiful Day

For reading Marshall McLuhan and eating a pear out on Marquam Hill.

Happy Friday!

You can celebrate by reading my newest interview on Colette pattern with Swedish designer Ida Sjostedt, here!
And if you have been eyeing any Colette patterns lately, but haven't worked yourself up to actually buying it I have good news for you. Fill out a quick survey (the link is here, or you can find it on the blog) and you will get a coupon for 20% off!

Hopefully I will spend the weekend catching up on some of my sewing--although I doubt it since I have a full docket attending this, this, this, and taking care of this furry friend.

"The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them."

Maya Angelou

Let's Talk About Food.

This Weekend my dear old roommate Michelle came to visit me and we went and tried out brunch at Tasty N Sons on N Williams. I took it as a good sign that there was a wait at 9am on a Saturday. They do only take reservations for groups of 6 or more, but just for the two of us the wait wasn't long at all.

Michelle had granola with strawberries and yogurt--I think that was milk in the cute little pitcher. She also had french toast with rhubarb syrup that was delicious.

I of course had to try the chocolate potato donut in creme anglaise--which was so fresh it was still steaming! I also got this delicious fritatta with feta, confit green beans, asparagus, caramelized onion, and feta. That fried thing on top was a feta ball, the fritatta obsession continues...and I would definitely recommend breakfast at Tasty N Sons.

Food Food Food Food.

Litte Bird

For my Birthday dinner this week I went with my parents to Little Bird (or Petit Ouiseau as it says on the door). This bistro is the younger sibling to Le Pigeon, another great Portland restaurant. And while Little bird might be newer, it is definitely bigger, and I just love the interior. This actually doesn't give the best view of all the decor, but it shows one of my favorite things--the fitted metal ceiling! I also love the robins egg blue paint.

For an appetizer I wanted something adventurous so we had the marrow bones. It felt kind of barbaric, eating marrow--we had a very animated waiter who when we asked what marrow was like described how the bones are cooked and then you scrape the marrow out with a spoon. Sounds appetizing, right?
For my entree I had duck confit (this time the waiter vividly described the way the duck thigh was soaked in duck fat) and it was moist and delicious. Definite mouth pleasures, as my mom would say. My mom had a delicious pork chop, and my dad had the best gnocchi I have ever tasted!

For dessert I had the ice cream/sorbet sample which I loved! Oh, and you can see my birthday candle. They used a ceramic egg carton to put the scoops in, but they are half eaten in this picture. I think my favorites were rhubarb sorbet and lemon rosemary sorbet--I may need to try making them at home.
The check comes with mini macaroons for everyone, these were hazelnut flavored (macaroons are another thing I would like to try making). Overall I would say the only thing I didn't like about Little Bird is that it feels bigger. At Le Pigeon the kitchen is out in the restaurant for everyone to see and the restaurant is physically smaller so it can't accommodate as many people. This is definitely just my opinion, but I like restaurants that feel small and cozy. However, if I were going with a large group I would definitely choose Little bird!

And are you tired of all these pictures from my phone yet? I mean don't get me wrong, I appreciate you dear cellular device. You do right by me, but your picture quality leaves something to be desired. perhaps there will be a new camera in my future...

Phone Home

Just cleaning out my phone and thought I would share a couple pictures...

1. Out on my walk with the big fluffy teddy bear of an English sheepdog I was dog sitting a couple weeks ago. I am pretty sure he shared my love of house-watching on our walks, and we found some great ones.

2. I love days when I come home to this in the fridge. The first time this happened I didn't get a picture but the milk had "POISON" written in huge letters with a skull-and-crossbones. My little sister Bridget has decided that this is the best way to inform the rest of the family that our other sister Martha has been drinking straight out of the jug. Let's just say I don' t drink as much milk as I used to.

Violet

Sarai, the Colette Pattern proprietress just posted these versions of one of our newest patterns made by the ladies of Fancy Tiger Crafts in Denver, CO. I have my pattern all cut out; I just need fabric and these patterns are definitely inspiring!

(Hopefully you can enlarge this because the pattern on the fabric on the left is so great. It's Liberty of London, which is $$$ so I think I will do something basic first. But I sure hope there is some LoL in my future!)
And I love this shade of yellow. Stay tuned for a version by me...

The Asian Year is Over

Today I told my dad that I am one year closer to death--or to people not thinking I am still in high school I hope. Can it really be that a year has already passed me by? Scary. So, Scary. It seems like it was just yesterday I was celebrating my "Asian birthday"?

I guess my hair has grown about six inches since then so it might be true. And I guess I should be grateful that time seems to be passing so quickly since I have been telling my mom I want to be Rip Van Winkle, but is still seems strange.

Also, I have been getting all these wicked birthday discounts, and even though I know they are ploys to make me spend my hard earned $$$, it is kind of working. I mean how can I not justify buying this talon candlestick from Catbird, especially when I have a discount?

And if I bought this Axel three-seater chair from Anthro, I could save $404.70!! Haha ok, that one was a joke, because I only have a 15% discount--have you calculated how much the chair is yet?

But really, the Catbird candlestick.

Best Thing I Saw Last Friday

Although when I saw the house the balloons were actually in the chimney, and I don't think this photo really gives you a good perspective, but the photo is from this Oregon live article. I should have taken a picture, but I was not fast enough with my phone, and today it looks like most of the balloons are deflated. But oh hey, here's a video clip about it!

Okay, it wouldn't work so here's the link!

Salt & Straw

{Via EaterPDX}

Trying out a new ice cream place every Saturday night is a tradition I could get used too. Last Saturday night we at Scoop organic ice cream, and this week we tried out the Salt & Straw cart on NE Alberta & 18th. There was a line when we arrived, but our scooper was so nice and when I told her it was our first time she encouraged us to try as many samples as we needed. I sampled the balsamic honey strawberry with cracked pepper, bleu cheese and pear, sea salt with Carmel ribbons, and the lemon basil sorbet. They didn't have every flavor in their little cart but I'm excited to try more when they open up the shop in August.

I ended up going with the lemon basil sherbet, and it really hit the spot. I also thought the pear & bleu cheese was surprisingly good, but I think Scoop has a better salt to Carmel ratio in their salted Carmel ice cream. The honey balsamic was pretty good, I'm not a big balsamic vinegar fan, but I definitely appreciate Sat & Straw's unique pairings.

This melon sherbet with slices of Olympic Provisions coppa wasn't at the cart on Saturday, but I think I will have to go back and try it in the shop!

{Via Portland Monthly}

A chair of a different color

This is a chair that has been sitting naked in my room for many months--how embarrassing! I love it and have been planning on making cushions, but one problem is that I cannot commit to a color!

The four colors I've been considering lately are: a mustardy-golden yellow, a lighter apple green, burgundy, or grey. I don't know! I want it to look good in my room, but I also want it to be versatile so that if I change my room or put it somewhere else it will look good. So please, tell me what you think before my indecisiveness consumed me.

Recollection

Today my interview with Sandra Murphy about her line Recollection went up on the Colette patterns blog, you can read it here. Her clothes are gorgeous, and the styling makes me yearn for more Mad Men!

Carting

Food carting that is of course. It was actually while Lauren and I were out shopping that we discovered one of my new favorites: Scoop ice cream! I especially love their salted Carmel ice cream, but I am excited to try every flavor. We went back last weekend and now my dad is addicted too.

I also tried the pies at the D-street nosh pod food cart the Pie Spot. I love their cute little pie holes, and I want to try making some myself! I also want to try out more of the new carts about town.