Lately 3.3.14

Lately I have been favoring breakfast.

I've been sorting through old memories.

I've been learning (too gradually), I never thought I'd want homework but I do.

I've injected reminders of loved ones into daily life.

I've torn beautiful dresses and created things I never thought I would.

I've eaten very good pie.

And been awed and inspired by a little girl, her paper dresses and bold spirit.  Talk about God showing me the beauty and strength in softness.

More to come, that's always the good news. :)

Cranberry Tart(an)

This skirt makes me feel my heritage (but puppy fur loves it).  

Mom is moved and settled, I officially have a new sister-in-law, I'm going to be the proud Aunt of a little boy (just found out the gender yesterday!) and I am now actually an apprentice shoemaker!

These are the current joys in my life though the seas have otherwise become stormy of late.  God is still good (always, He is) and has been teaching, molding and building me to be who He designed me to be.  Lately, my main comfort and prompt has been from Proverbs 4:25-27 which is an encouragement to keep my eyes straight ahead, to not be distracted from what is right in front of me.  Personally, that's a huge reminder to get out of my head, and to allow my concerns and cares to rest in the hands of my Creator.  We fret and try to control our existence, but all God ever calls us to deal with is the present.

Easier said than done, certainly.  Good thing I serve a God who has lavished grace on me!

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Details

{skirt} - vintage 70's, inherited

{thermal} - Free People

{hoodie} - ModCloth

{necklace} - gift from Dad

{tights} - ModCloth

{oxfords} - Julianne Hough

Day off Casual

I don't think I ever used to get tired of "dressing up" but now that I work in an office and it's a requirement, my days off look a little more casual than they used to.  I think this also may in part be becuase I can't wear my more casual dresses to work, so I end up wearing them on my days off.  This can be a problem, but I digress.  This outfit is from my day off on Thursday.

Somehow, I've never blogged about these shoes that I made in the fall.  Yeah, I made them.  I have long been interested in leatherworking, grew up making leather bracelets and key chains at summer camp and for a few years have been searching for a way to learn the craft of shoemaking.  At first I tried to become an apprentice to a local cobbler, a 80-some year old man who has been making and mending shoes since stepping off the boat from Greece as a child.  That did not work out (there's a great story there though), but I ended up finding a little place in Ravenswood called The Chicago School of Shoemaking.  I took a two day intensive class, and walked away holding these puppies that I cut, stitched and made by hand.  That was my first exposure to actual shoemaking, and this summer I'm going to attempt to make my second pair (of my own pattern this time)!

And woah, I'm not wearing any vintage in this outfit-- it does happen every now and then! :)