Chain Maille…

……my samples arrived the other day. If anyone needs chain maille supplies, try The Ring Lord. If you're wondering what I'm doing with chain maille samples, stay tuned for updates! Or you can take a wild guess.

Ronald Reagan on modern policy issues

Here's an excerpt from Reagan's speech supporting Barry Goldwater. Reagan addresses big government, high taxation, and the "war on poverty." He also talks about foreign policy issues including the risk of appeasement, "peace through strength," and the Vietnam War.

His speech is still relevant as a statement of modern American conservative philosophy over forty years after it was delivered.

What is inspiration?

the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative

This semester in design school I'm taking three design courses, which is a lot of work. I just thought I'd share a little of what this semester is going to hold for me. First of all, my knits class……I'm learning the exclusive art of knit patterning, and will be designing a three-piece ensemble inspired by graphic art. For my wearable arts class, we are creating a flat piece of fabric that can be draped and fastened on the body to create a 'personality' - not a garment. The theme is embroidery, and the inspiration is Militaria. And lastly, my coats class is an intro to the mysteries of tailoring and is inspired by architecture.

I'm very excited about this semester!! I'll probably be posting pictures of my progress as I go, to keep you updated!

Alternative Methods

Amy tells me that I'll be one of those "Bad Homeschool Mom" types - the one that is always frowned upon by respectable moms because she uses such unorthodox ways to teach her kids.

Recently I have been assisting the twins with their basic addition skills. They somehow outpaced themselves and got all the way to long division while counting on their fingers.

So I decided to take action.

Blackjack, anyone?

Now we play nearly every day, and there is already noticeable improvement in adding speed. Also, it is a good anti-gambling lesson…we use beans for chips, and Jon is already heavily in debt. He insists that there is not the smallest chance that he would ever play with real chips. That is, at least, until he gets really good.

Kate Spade

I am officially in love with Kate Spade's clothing line……bright color combinations, vintage-y details, adorable shoes. What's not to love?! (except maybe the price tag!) Anyways, I just thought I'd share with you!

I love these cardigans - the short sleeve black one would be perfect for Spring and Summer, when it's warm, but the air conditioning gets a little chilly sometimes. And the hot pink and orange sweater is skillfully paired with a toned-down print dress, so the neon hues remain classy.

These coats are just so fun! Classic, but with two different personalities. The brown is a little more earthy, updated with a yellow dress and chartreuse details on the shoes. The black is elegant and chic, made a bit more fun with polka-dot tights and peep-toed shoes with bows.

Wow, color! Who says bright tights are just for little girls? The full skirts are very current, and the pleats keep them from adding too much volume to your waistline. This model reminds me of Audrey Hepburn.

Summery blue hues, paired with silver and orange accessories. I think it's a great combination, and I love the stripes. I am definitely taking styling cues from Kate Spade this Spring and Summer!