Yard Last Summer: Before and After

As I prepare for the season of gardening ahead, I realized that I did not write a single post about my new yard last summer, probably because I was too busy working in it to write about it. It's a grassy 70 by 20 feet, which is big for New York standards and gives us a good amount of space to work with. Unfortunately, the lush and shady trees make gardening a challenge. I also think the patio is awkwardly small - something we're trying to improve this year. It's a constant experiment and work in progress.

Before: the first time we saw the yard last June

After: In Late August, after cleaning, planting and decorating

We moved in to the new apartment in late July, and the apartment had been vacant since April or May, so the first step was just to clean up the overzealous weeds and trim the grass, which my boyfriend did using a scythe and a pushmower. I also dug out lots of weed roots using a trowel.

Under the weeds, I found the remnants of an old raised bed. However, without knowing the provenance of the soil and it being in a shady spot, I chose to plant ornamental plants rather than vegetables in the bed. I did a lot of digging to put impatiens in the ground and decided that I'm never again planting annuals in the ground as starters - only as seeds. Perennial starters - like the hostas and dusty miller - on the other hand are worth it, since they will come back again this year.

I planted an assortment of flowers and herbs in pots, which did fine, and fall vegetables from seeds, which didn't grow (post to come). In the back of the yard we keep a compost bin made out of a trash can (which also deserves its own post). While we trimmed back a lot of weeds, we left the lovely ivy already growing and expanding along the fences on both sides.

Evan's parents gave us a bistro table set, which is perfect for dinners for two. They also gave us the chiminea which extends the use of the yard into cooler mosquito-free fall and spring times. It's technically illegal to have open fires outside in New York City, but the chiminea is much safer than a firepit, and it's only an issue if neighbors complain to the fire department, and so far, so good. 

For entertaining, we made a big table by putting an old door on top of sawhorses. We found several wooden folding chairs on craigslist, that we keep stashed away inside and pull out for extra seating for dinner parties or backyard gatherings. My images of actually having outdoor dinner parties around this table, however, were quashed by tropics-level mosquitos (someday I'll write about that too).

It may still be snowing, but this year, I'm already scheming up what are probably over-optimistic plans of more flowers, more vegetables and fewer mosquitos.

Sugar Magnolia

A tree grows in Brooklyn - a pretty magnolia tree in my backyard that blooms for but a short time, so I captured portraits from the blossoms' lifecyle in photographs. Click to see larger images. Enjoy and happy weekend!

Brooklyn Flea

I've never made it to the outdoor versions of the Brooklyn Flea, but last weekend I checked out the new indoor Flea at the recently restored One Hanson Place, aka Williamsburgh Savings Bank clocktower in Fort Greene. It is a beautiful space, which they have made great use of by sticking vendors in all its nooks and crannies.

It was mad crowded, which I expected since it was opening weekend and normally I would have avoided it for that reason, but I really needed an excuse to get out of the apartment.


I am not that big on shopping because I don't like to part ways with my money for stuff, even if it is vintage stuff. So I kind of went more to check out the infamous food vendors than for the vintage and artisan wares. The food court is located inside the old vault in the basement. Look how thick that vault door is!




The Red Hook Lobster Pound lobster roll is just as good as they say. At $14 it is pricy for vendor food but cheaper than lobster rolls sold in most NYC restaurants. Bun was deliciously lightly toasted in butter. I only wish there had been more of it to savor.


With the crowds, it was hard to take too close of a look at anything, so I didn't think I'd actually buy anything. But surprisingly, something caught my eye: a pair of wooden Danish mid-century modern candlesticks for $15. Which have been on my "to buy someday" list for a while so I gave into temptation. Now I just need to get long beeswax candles from the farmers market. And officially have way too many candles in my home considering that I always forget to light them.

My First Etsy Purchases

I've been an occasional browser of etsy and I see lots of pretty things on there, but I am what you might call an anti-shopaholic, so it requires a lot of deliberating and motivation for me to take the plunge and buy something. Which is why I'd never bought anything from etsy before until now - because I finally had the perfect reason.


After my friend Elaine's wedding, I really wanted to give her something handcrafted for her home, something made with love that would last a long time and be an heirloom in the making. She requested a wooden fruit bowl, considering her "current lack of fruit display options" so I scoured etsy for something just right and finally decided on this bowl, turned from reclaimed Georgia wood and finished with natural tung oil by MyTurningShop.


I wanted to give her a little something else too, and when I spotted this adorable lovebirdie vase, I knew I had to get it, since Elaine's invitations featured birds. The redhotpottery shop has some really awesome ceramics for sale, including heart-shaped ramekins, so check it out!

Art from Art

During my car-free weekend upstate, I also spent a rainy day at the Dia Beacon, a contemporary art museum. It wasn't really my kind of thing. Lots of minimalist artwork that doesn't look like art (think geometric shapes with simple variations) and lots of handouts so full of pretentious gobbledygook that all I could do was scoff at them; the museum's words didn't help me understand any better how this stuff could be art.


But I DID like the huge Richard Serra metal sculptures because of their interactivity as you walk through, in, and around them.



Also, my boyfriend is obsessed with using his iThing apps, especially Photo Booth, to take cool pictures that turn art into meta-art.

Handmade Paper Invitations

My friend Gina is fascinated by paper making, so when I saw these handmade paper invitations featured on Homespun Weddings I thought I'd put them up here as a little inspiration to her. Theartofmegan and her hubby made these lovely invitations from scratch for their wedding and even included a tutorial for making your own paper. Enjoy!

PS. Gina started a blog with lots of pretty photos of her new adventures in the wilds of Colorado. Check it out!

New Secondhand Clothes

I try not to buy clothing brand-new. I usually check out thrift and consignment stores first to see if I can find what I need. I also don't really like shopping (trying on clothes that never fit - sounds like fun!), which helps keep me from buying too much. Inspired by Josyln's Things I bought Thursdays over at Simple Lovely, here are the "new" clothes I've gotten since April when the spending hiatus ended:

Boots from Sweet Virginia, a darling little boutique recommended by a friend that sells used, vintage, and reworked attire. However, the store is so little that, because I was the only one in there and I took my time looking at things, I felt awkward like I needed to buy something. Hate that. So it was a mistake to get these boots because they're too big and the bottoms are too smooth, making them slippery and dangerous in snow and rain.


These shoes from Buffalo Exchange, the consignment store in my neighborhood fit all my qualifications: comfy, nice enough to wear to work, black goes with anything for everyday wear, and sandal-like for hot summer temps


Tie dye dress stolen from my sister. She never wore it, but all it needed was some stitches to make the slit up the back less risque.


Hippie dress from Buffalo. Can't wait to wear this and the tie dye one to the bluegrass festival this weekend!


The cutest red halter dress, again from Buffalo. It was the perfect hostess dress for my Memorial Day BBQ and for my friend's upstate winery wedding last weekend.


As well as a spluge on one "new" item:
Multipurpose Teva sandals I had my eye on for a year before I made the purchase last week. Sustainable cork, eco-friendly company, waterproof uppers, nice enough to wear to work, comfortable enough for every day wear and long walks, sturdy enough for easy hikes. Worth the cost! A friend of mine liked them so much she went out and bought them this week too!



Still on the lookout for a dressier dress for other weddings coming up this year.

Green Home

I saw Michelle Kaufmann's beautiful green homes featured on design sponge a while ago, and I think her "modern farmhouse" is my favorite. I love all the eco-friendly design elements, as well as the intentional community concept she's working at - changing the suburban/urban model to something that really brings the people who live in a neighborhood together more as a community. Plus some of her homes remind me of the wonderful Marcel Breuer building at my alma mater.

I still think I'd prefer to find an old house with stories hidden in its solid walls when I'm ready to buy someday, but I'm happy there are architects out there setting such high green standards for what new construction can be.

Productive

I had a very productive weeekend, shopping-wise. I normally avoid shopping like the plague, but time was drawing nigh. I needed to stop limping around in the snow on broken boots.

I checked out one of my favorite consignment stores first. The problem with thrift and consignment stores is that things don't come in multiple sizes, so it's hit or miss to find anything that fits. Alas, I did not leave with any shoes, but I did find this great deal: a leather Lucky Brand bag, which retails for over $200, for just $43. I am in love with it. It's pretty and it looks vintage, and it should last a long time so someday it will be kinda vintage. And it's big enough to fit all the crap I bring to work, replacing my stodgy plain black bag.

I ended up finding boots at Nine West, which is having a sale. My goal was to find boots for under $100, and these were $90, so not too shabby. Previously I would balk at spending so much - my shoes have mostly been from Payless, and they last me about 2-3 years. But lately I'm seeing the value in buying good quality stuff that should last even longer. So I really hope these last for three years and then even longer after getting them resoled, to make it worth the extra cost and the environmental impact of buying new shoes.


I do feel guilty about buying shoes newlymade in a factory in China, but I didn't have the inclination to research for better brands or scour thrift stores for weeks in search of shoes that I needed yesterday. But next time around I'm going to try to do some research first. If anyone has any tips on "green" shoe brands that involve recycled materials or independent ethical craftsmanship, I would appreciate it, because I'm going to look for new flats next month!

Table skirt

Over vacation, I finally got around to checking one thing off my "Operation Homestyle" to do list - making a skirt for this little coffee table. Because this is NYC and my kitchen is less than 60 square feet, my food processor, blender, and other large appliances are stored under this table in the living room. To hide them, I cut an old fitted sheet in half and nailed it to the table. No sewing involved because I was too lazy for that. Ta da. I left the elastic trim on because I liked the ruffled shape and it hides the uneven cut.


But then today I see this table skirt on Design Sponge and immediately wish mine was as cool as that. Nice clean lines, and she handprinted the fabric with carrots! Now I'm worried mine looks too much like a bed ruffle. Oh well, I'm lazy, and I think this shabby country chic table skirt still looks better than it did before.

The New Depression

I'm loving these two posters from Readymade - "ReadyMade asks five artists to reimagine the populist poster art of the first Great Depression." Not only are these messages that I believe in strongly, but I think these darling posters are pretty enough to hang on a wall. I'm running out of wall space in my apartment, but I have entertained the idea of starting a series of kitschy art hanging in my entrance stairwell.

Operation Homestyle: Sneak Peak

I've been away for too long. This week my excuse is that the internet's been spotty. Last week it was because I was busy with "operation homestyle," which involved multiple trips to ikea and a lot of making lists of future improvements while the resident handyman assembled the ikea furniture.


So there's a sneak peak, for now, at the kitchen. The microwave and toaster have been relegated to the living room (so New York City-cramped-apartment-style of us!) and now, look at that pretty shiny new dish drying rack, and glorious counter space with a wondeful big wooden cutting board that allows me to chop and knead bread right there in the actual kitchen next to the stove, instead of ferrying ingredients back and forth from the living room (I never use that darn microwave anyway).


Also in this little nook of a kitchen is this red sweetheart chair, which doubles as a stool for hard-to-reach cabinets, and is one of a set that have "sweetened" with age as layers of multicolored paint have chipped away.


I'm really happy with this cute red tray I picked up at a garage sale in Brooklyn. It's a nice decorative item that enhances the red accents in the room, but it's also handy for serving up one of my greatest loves that is also my greatest downfall - aka whiskey, along with other drinks. Yes, that measuring cup is what suffices for measuring out shots until I find a new shot glass. Like I said, more improvements to come.

No-Sew Napkins

Here's a great idea I came across yesterday on a backyard wedding. She made napkins for her wedding by finding sheets from thrift stores and cutting them into size with pinking shears. I love the use of pinking shears, which hide the lack of stitched seams with fun angles. Not only does this DIY method save money, but it's also eco-friendly to repurpose old cloth instead of buying new, and it adds a nice personal touch to an event, whether it's a wedding or a dinner party. Or in my case, I keep meaning to make cloth napkins for my slobby boyfriend so he'll stop destroying the planet with his bazillion crumpled paper napkins.


from a backyard wedding

As promised

Thanks to Luke for this fab picture of me pretending I'm drinking with the bigwigs at a work gala, while really we were just having a blast imbibing wine and taking photos of each other behind the scenes. Another great night with my lovely coworkers :-)

Cheap Wine Glasses

Why are wine glasses so easy to break? I just broke another one tonight to add to many broken past glasses - while mildly washing a champagne flute with with an angry drunken disposition - leaving me with a bloody finger, and just one red wine glass, one white wine glass, and one champagne flute in my kitchen cabinet. Can someone in design please do something about that?

I'm really into design and decor and hairpieces lately. Like oh my deer's gorgeous hairpieces below. She has more for sale on her etsy. Can I just say I finally get etsy? It's filled with tons of pretty handmade one-of-a-kind things - jewelry, clothes, aprons, crafty things galore - the kind of things that I think, oh I could make something like that myself - or I could let these talented people do a better job for me, and they don't tend to charge that much either.


Appropriately enough, a picture of me with a flower in my hair at the event that caused aforesaid drunkenness is forthcoming.

Reworked Skirt

I had a pair of comfy stretchy jeans since sometime in college (or maybe longer?), but last year the crotch ripped, so I hid it away into my dresser with plans to transform it into a new creation at some point. I had cut off the legs and tried to reuse them as rags, but the "rags" crumbled and bled when put to work, so those were tossed. Two weekends ago I finally had the free time to finish hand sewing this into a skirt, painstakingly cutting, arranging the pieces, pinnng, trying on and repinning again and again until it looked right, and sewing with good old needle and thread.

Ta da! My new favorite skirt. The length and fit feels just right, although it is too tight to wear on my bike. The great thing is that I hand sewed a loose stitch, because I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to sewing, but it still looks like one of those store-bought faux-faded-and-torn skirts. Too bad I can't wear it to work because no jeans are allowed :-( I am worried about how it will fray when I try to wash it, and tearing over time. But since I sewed it, I hope I can patch it up if need be (??)

This is now the second jeans-turned-skirt I own - the first one wasn't made by me or anyone I know, it was just a skirt my sister found at her college free table, and then gave to me. She gets the best clothes from that free table!

I can't help but think, how very "Fix" of me! It feels great to turn an old favorite into a new favorite, to have pride in something I created, and to recycle fabric instead of buying new, which is better for the environment and my wallet.