Outfit Along 2014 : Bright Star Camera Flash!

I did it! Just barely but I did it!  3 broken zippers and one almost completely frogged sweater later I am done! 2014 Outfit along is done and dusted. I love the idea of the outfit along and I am so happy with the results. It makes me really inspired to craft more outfits with knitted and sewn items!  I had planed on doing the official sweater pattern but ended up frogging it after some really large armhole issues. I ended up making the Bright Star cardiagn. It's knit out of Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage in Button Jar Blue. I have made a few shawls with this yarn over the years. I forget about it then fall right back in love with it every time I use it. I love the drape of this sweater. 

All those pretty retro cameras! 

The dress is my favorite summer go to dress, the Hazel by Colette Patterns.   I really do love this quirky camera dress. I made the skirt a little fuller and longer. to balance out the cropped cardigan. Instead of the traditional straps I made tie straps out of black ribbon. I always have such a hard time with straps that I thought this could be perfect solution. (it was) The Fabric is Michael Miller's Camera in the Retro Colorway. 

Seriously squirrel we are gonna have issue if you drop something on my head. 

Thanks so much to Andi and Lauren who organized a super fun bi-crafting along. I can't wait to this again! 

Julep Summer Brights Welcoming Box

Hey everybody above is my video about the Julep Welcoming Box.  (Yes, that is Macintosh photobombing my video with his nap.)  I am excited to be a julep maven again. Below I took some photos of when the box first arrived.  The Maven window just opened for next months box and I am excited for that to show up!  Do you belong to a subscription box? If so what one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments. 

Pick Up and Purl Episode 15 : Negative knitting and heat waves

Hey dolls and gents, Sorry this week's episode is up late.  It was just far to warm in the house before I got my new fan. Don't forget to subscribe and I'll see you all soon on my other channel for a new beauty review video!!!

What I worked on this week 

Mavae by Carrie Bostick Hoge in Cascade 220 in white 

Love and Lemons by Melanie Burg 

Fizz by Andi Satterlund in Cascade 220 Sport in Olive Oil and Lake Chalan Heather 

Hortencia by Andi Satterlund in Cascade 220 in robin egg blue 

Outfit A Long 

Bright Star by Cathy Carron

Sit... Stay... Good doxie : Embellished Scout Tee

Ever Since this beautiful Kaufman interweave chambray came into my life I have been dreaming of all white embroidery on it. First I thought I'd make a more floral and mexican inspired top out of it. Then I found this Sublime Stitching pattern in my stash.  I knew I needed a nice open space with no darts to make this top work. so I went with the Grainline Studios Scout Tee! 

Outfit Details Shirt Handmade Scout Tea Skirt Simply Vera by Vera Wang (a million years old) 

Since i made this top last week, I've worn it quite a bit. (you may have seen it in my June Favorites video!) If anyone want a tutorial of how I choose and transfer embroidery for clothing leave a comment! hope everyone had a nice 4th of July weekend. (obviously I am still into the red white and blue theme) 

June Favorites

My June Favorites are now up on my You Tube Channel be sure to subscribe and check the description box for all the links. 

Pick Up and Purl Episode 14

Hey dolls, here is the show notes for this week. 

Projects I worked on this week 

Myrna in Madelinetosh Vintage in button Jar Blue 

Color Affection in Bumblebirch Wellspring in Ranunculus and Succulent 

Maeve in Cascade 220 in white 

That's it! Long hot week not a lot of knitting see you next week!! 

Pick Up and Purl episode 13

Hi welcome back to pick up and purl! here is this weeks show notes. 

On the needles

Myrna by Andi Sattlund  for the Outfit- A- Long check out Lauren of Lladybird for the sewing portion. 

Maeve by Carrie Bostick Hoge 

Traveling socks

UpperCross by Heatherly Walker  

Viajante by Martina Behm 

Bees to Honey by Amy Miller 

be sure to subscribe to the you tube channel! 

Mid-summer Sewing Goals

Where oh were has June gone. It seems just last week that the summer was slowly creeping in and now it's almost July.  Today I'd love to talk about my mid-summer sewing plan! I love sewing dresses, but this summer I would like to branch out in to shorts. So let's start there. 

These beautiful shorts have such interesting pleats I would love to make a pair of view A. I love the beautiful pleats down the front of them, 

Top Left - Premiere Prints Twill,  Top Right - Premiere Print Twill, Bottom Left - Essex Yarn Dyed, Bottom Right -premere prints 

I know for sure that I will make a pair out the lovely essex yarn dyed. I have a washi dress and a  skirt made out of it and I cannot wait to have a pair of shorts (or 2) out of that fabric as well. I love the linen/cotton blend. I would like to make patterned pair as well, but it's just so hard to choose between the ikat and the polka dot. 

Bianca Top 

Yesterday I shared with you the Bianca Dress I made. I simple love this neckline and would love to make a few blouse to go with shorts or jeans come fall. 

Top left - Interweave Chambray in lake Top Right Busy Bee in Yellow  Bottom Left Triangle Token Bottom Right hapi voile

This prints just scream make me into a top.  I love the Triangle and think it could be fun to style in the depth of winter as well! The lake Chambray is currently sitting on my dining room table waiting to be cut into. I think I may do a little white floral embroidery around the opening of the neckline. 

Winifred Dress 

This is a dress I recently stumbled across and has been showing up in my dreams ( please tell me I'm not the only one who dreams about dresses i want to sew) I love the collar and the short sleeves. But those two front pleats sealed the deal I don't have many dresses with pleats. I can see this dress in all kinds of fabrics but for this summer I am dreaming of very vintage florals and whimsical novelty prints . 

Top Left Dress Floral in Willow Top Right Cracking Code in Petal Bottom Left Wallflower Waltz in Clementine Bottom Right Kitten Play in blue

I am in love with the kitten fabric. Seriously it's the perfect shade of blue and who doesn't want a cat dress? I also love the cracking code fabric the photo doesn't do the shade of pink justice. It is perfect for when you have just a bit of a tan. 

Well this should keep me busy for the next few weeks. What are your sewing or even outfit goals for summer? 

Summer Plaid Bianca

Hello everyone! 

I hope you all have had a nice start to your summer. It's been hotter than usually. I usually equate portland june's to gloom and rain but we've had more than our fair share of sunny 81 degree days. Thankfully my house doesn't get super hot.  So enough about the beautiful weather, lets dish on this beautiful dress. 

A few months back the very talented Rae from Made by Rae released a beautiful new pattern called Bianca. The moment i saw it I knew it would become another dress I am obsessed about. It is I already made another, have another dress and blouse cut waiting to be sewn. The pattern is unfussy and simple and the perfect pattern to let awesome prints and textures shine. However I went to bolt with solid shot cotton in my mind. I wanted a nice bright blue dress or red dress. But when i got there I found this lovely light cotton plaid. I knew the instant I saw this it had to be a Bianca. I think the thing I love most about this dress is that it can be dressed up with a statement necklace and some wedges or thrown on with some saltwater sandals and a ponytail for a quick jaunt to the store. Can't wait to fill my closet with even more of these beautiful dresses! 

Outfit Details 

Dress- Handmade Bianca Dress 
Glasses - Lookmatic Payton 

Time for a knit and sew along

Hello lovelies. 

This years Me Made may was mostly successful.  I've gone a few days with out wearing handmade items and a whole lot more days without photographing the ones I was wearing. My failed challenges is not why I am here today. I am here to tell you about this awesome knit & sew along from two of my favorite bloggers Andi of Untangling Knots and Lauren of lladybird are hosting an outfit along. They have selected a sewing pattern and Andi has released a new cardigan pattern. The beauty of this sew/knit along is you don't have to use these patterns, just as long as you sew a garment and knit a garment then you are good to go! So for my version of this sew along. I am going to make a hazel dress. Only this time I am gonna make a sightly longer fuller skirt. I also plan on making the lovely Myrna cardigan. I am going to be making it out of the always delicious Madelintosh Tosh Vintage in Button Jar Blue. (I am currently obsessed with colorway as i am using it in a shawl too) I thought this combo (with an orange petticoat if i can swing it in time) would be killer with my adorable new Jeffery Campbell Flats. I cannot wait to get started on Sunday!  If you are participating in this Outfit along leave a link to your blog or instagram in the comments. I can't wait to see what other people are making! 

Me Made May Days 3, 4 and 5

Me Made May Day 3 

Handmade dress- Darling Ranges dress in moda print 

Me Made May Day 4 

Handmade Dress: Peplum Party Dress in Tula Pink meteor shower 

Cardigan Target 

Lipstick Revlon matte lip balm in standout

Me Made May Day 5 

Handmade Dress - Macaron out of Catnap fabrics! 

This was Collin's first weekend home. I couldn't seem to find to blog about the photos I had taken. Monday's seem to be the longest day of the week now. On a plus side I finally got my sewing desk freed from being blocked in by bikes. I am planning on sitting down and sewing up a dress tonight. That is always realizing and fun. 

Me Made May 2014 Day 2

Today's Me Made May is the second skirt I made when I picked sewing back up two years ago. Just after getting my bike i realized that some elastic waisted skirts would be awesome for bike ride. So I made a cute blue and white gingham (that was ruined in my bike crash) and this one. I know the cotton is Japanese. I know I got it at bolt on sale but beyond that I have no clue. I think I may have to make a few more of these skirts this year!

Outfit Details: 

Shirt - Gap (old) 

Skirt - Handmade no pattern 

Glasses: Pinup Couture 

Lipstick : revlon colorburst lipbalm in Sweetheart 

Me Made May 2014: Day 1

So Portland welcomed Me Made May 2014 with a 88 degree day! It seemed like a perfect day for bright Orange lipstick and my Ruby Dress. I love this pattern, I don't know why I don't have more of them. It's super cute. I think that I may have to make a few more before summer come I also love this lovely Joel Dewberry fabric. it so fun and happy!  

Outfit Details 

Dress Ruby Dress 

Glasses: Pinup Couture 

Belt: Target (old) 

Lipstick : Revlon in Carnival Spirt

A Tale of Two Cities

As you all know Collin and I have been moving. What has been less widely publicized (on my end) is that Collin and I have also been looking for, finding and setting up a place in SF. (We lucked out and found a full furnished place in Inner Sunset.)   

As of late Saturday night, Collin is living in SF and jetting home to Portland on the weekends.  The weenies and I will be headed to San Fransisco in a few weeks to see him. To get the lay of the landscape. We are going bi-city for awhile.

So life in Portland is now counting down days till the weekend, FaceTime and planning 12hr drives to and from SF. Im sure it will all feel normal in a few weeks. In the mean time I’ve been wearing my Golden Gate Bridge cuff everyday having an icon of the city wrapped around my wrist makes me feel more connected to it. 

Me Made May 2014

Hey everyone moving is totally eating up my life, but good news is that I will be free and clear for one of my favorite internet challenges of the year! Me Made May! So with out further ado my pledge 

I, Spencer of www.12ozbeehouse.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '14. I endeavour to wear a handmade outfit each day for the duration of May 2014. 

See you all soon! 

Goodbye Woodlawn, Hello Kenton.

I don't know what is about moving but every time I do even if it is just across town I get very emotional about the whole thing. Maybe it's has to do with touching all of my possessions or finding things that have been tucked away for safe keeping. I'm sure that it has to do with the fact we all reflect on the time we've spent there, re-living the good and bad. 

Collin on the day we picked up our keys August 2011

Abalard checking out the fireplace for the first time 

Izze and Mooby explore the living room 

Abalard enjoying looking out the front door window 

Macintosh's first day home 

Daisy and Hal 

Riding our bikes to the farmers market. 

Recovering from 

So much in my life has changed in this little townhouse. We brought home macintosh to this house, We got into biking.  I spent a summer waiting for my bones to knit back together after a  bad bike wreck. We said goodbye to both of Collin's Guinea Pigs in this house. I learned so much about sewing and knitting and vegan cooking. I beat some pretty nasty health issues here. I also spent the last days of my twenties in this house.  For a terribly laid out townhouse, with stupid flooring and poor use of space, this place has been my home and my favorite home at that, filled with all the people and dogs that I love.  Today we pick up the keys to our new place and begin moving everything over. I can't wait for what lies ahead. 

What's in My Makeup Bag: RV edition.

While daydreaming about our next RVing trip. I thought today would be a great day to show you what I keep in my makeup bag so I look cute and stylish while out and about. 

I love this tokyomilk hand cream for traveling. The metal tube is durable and it has a fairly silm profile. Plus is light scent lasts long enough for me to skip perfume. 

Almost every eye look i do uses liquid or kohl black liner. For the RV I chose one of my favorite revlon ones. I like that it smudges then dries to stay put. 

I cannot rave enough about this amazing powder foundation from Too Faced. It is my go to summer foundation. (sometimes I use a bit of their Beauty Balm first) This foundation goes on smooth is easy to apply with just the compact in the mirror. It also is killer at keeping the shine at bay. 

This tarte eyeshadow pallet is one of my favorites for all kinds of travel, 4 great shades super small footprint and you can make a great day or night eye from it. 

EOS lip balm. I love this stuff. Keeps my lips soft and is super cute. I think I have one of these in almost every makeup bag I have. 

This is the one thing that will be replaced. I am so over having to struggle to get all the bits of lash blast off my lashes. That little annoying bit aside it does a good job of making your lashes look great, but when I am trying to use just wipes to take off my makeup at night this is the wrong mascara to bring. 

I love this revlon lipstick. They have discontinued it but I suggest finding a similar rosy shade. I use it for lipstick and as blush. I have this an another tube left but I am gonna be super sad when I need to find a replacement. 

Somedays you just need bright red lips to carry on. I love this matte balm from Revlon it stays put and it also doesn't dry out my lips or need a lip liner. 

eyeshadow brushes are a must. At home I have about a million. For the road  I recommend these three shapes (flat and fluffy, domed, angled and fluffy) I can do everything i need to do with these three brushes.  

I hope you enjoyed a peek into my makeup bag. What is your go to make up item? Let me know in the comments. 

Maragoid's Latest Adventure.

I am not the greatest at riding in cars under the best of circumstances. So, I am thankful that I was safe and sound in Portland for Margold's latest adventure. It was a pretty heart pounding week.  One of the last text you want to receive from your boyfriend on his first solo RV trip is "I just blew a tire!"

You can read all about it on Fisherman's Porch's new blog. Fisherman's Porch is my boyfriend Collin's new music project. While you are over there be sure to check out some of the songs he's been recording.  If you live in the Portland area, be sure to come say Hi on May 5th from 7-8pm at Three Friend's Coffeehouse in SE Portland. 

Suspended Animation

March was in like a lamb and out like a lion. for me The last few days of the month have been a whirlwind of emotion. It's been Excitingt, Daring, Heartbreaking all at breakneck speeds. I've lost all desire to knit. I have sewn but only very short burst. It's like every drop of creativity has been zapped out of me.  Most days I would prefer to stay in bed with my weenies and hide with big cups of tea and my kindle. I want nothing more than to be done with this funk. As big of a pain in the ass that moving has become I am glad that it is happening. I think our cute new little home will be a welcome change. I managed last weekend to break thru my funk if only for a few hours and make a new spring bag. 

Ramona Rose's The Awesome Bag Pattern is amazing. I can't wait to make a few more of these cute things.  I bought all the fabric for this one from Bolt.  I'm not quite sure who made the amazing record fabric, but it is a heaver weight fabric perfect for this bag. 

The lining fabric is this charming Leah Duncan fabric from her new Meadow collection. Everytime I used Art Gallery Fabric I am so impressed.  I really looking forward to making a dress out of one of their up coming collections. 

I'm usually pretty good about making lemons into lemonade, right now I feel like I'm all out of sugar.  Until it passes I guess it's good books and music and tea... I guess that isn't so bad either. 

What do you do to pull yourself out of a funk? Any good books I need to read? 

Silver Falls State Park

Last Friday Night, we packed up the weens and drove south to Sliver Falls State Park. After talking about an RV for over a year we weren't keen on the idea of waiting on her maiden voyage. While we forgot a bunch of things (matches, pillows, soy milk and a can opener) We did remember things like Stella's and chili. Saturday we went on a tiny hike with the dogs. We sipped coffee from our silly Sarah Utter mugs. Collin Played me songs on his guitar and by the time sunday morning rolled around I was completely in love with that little RV. The little L shaped couch were Macintosh can look out the window while I read or knit. The tiny loft bed covered in our Pendleton blanket. The way you almost burn your thumb lighting the burners for coffee.   As far as campgrounds go Silver Falls was a bit foreign to any state park that Collin or I had been to. There was no real clear direction on check in so we just winged it and hoped for the best. It also lacks a Camp Store. There is a mini mart about 7 miles from the campgrounds in Silverton. Our little camping plot (22B)  was great, we plugged into electric and water and had a cute little creek that ran down one side and a foot trail that led to the bathrooms on the other.  I'm sure that another trip to Sliver Falls is in our future, seeing as we didn't see one water fall while we were there. Do you have a favorite State Park in PNW? What are your favorite things to cook while camping?