One more for the road?

Sorry about the post overload...lots to share! I just wanted to say good bye for now to all the readers and especially to Chloe. This is going to be a very busy summer for me and I will not be able to post for about a month (maybe more!) because of various camps and obligations. I will miss everyone that (I imagine) reads these posts and especially you, Chloe. See you all in July.

-Katie

It's Festival Season!

'Tis the season and there's a whole other reason for festivities. It's summertime and that means summer festivals. A few great reasons to attend local music and art festivals:
1) Supporting local art!
2)Gorgeous weather!
3) Free Free Free!
4) Meeting new people!
5) Something to do that isn't homework or laziness!

Recently, I attended Elkfest, a free music festival, where I saw Space Opera 77, a great Spokane band, and Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, a Seattle band that lives up to their crazy name. Both were great shows that also demonstrated the Unknown Band Phenomenon (my theory that the more unknown the band, the better their live show). Artfest accompanied Elkfest and I regret that I missed a lot of it by coming late, but I did get a lovely wooden ring from a jewelry stand...for $2! (I'm telling you, people, local stuff is the way to go if you're broke and cultured).

I also attended Bobfest (there's a post about last year's show as well....). Bobfest was a great opportunity to see what local teen bands are doing and is really quite impressive. All of the bands I saw put on a great show and, for many, their last show.


What festivals are you attending this summer?

-Katie

Blitzen Trapper and Moondoggies

Who wouldn't like a band with this instrument?


So, 9 days ago I saw Blitzen Trapper and the Moondoggies in concert. It was a fantastic experience. Both are folksy-rock bands with varying influences that made for a really unique and enjoyable experience. I'm not really a music writer and I know that people don't really want to read long descriptions about things they didn't get to actually see, but I really do have to strongly reccomend...no...BEG that you check out these bands.
The Moondoggies

I've found that lesser-known acts have much better live shows than more popular acts because they are playing for the entertainment of their audience. Both of these bands were prime examples of this phenomenon. There was so much passion in both of their shows that, as an audience member,I really felt like I was a part of the show.

If you like unique sounds that aren't too far-off or foreign while still bringing something new to the table, check out the Moondoggies and Blitzen Trapper (whose new album, Destroyer of the Void, just dropped and is AMAZING).


Any good shows you've seen recently? Leave a post about it!

Rainy Pacific Northwest Playlist for those Rainy Pacific Northwest days

I love the Pacific Northwest. This quadfecta of states (it's a word!); Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon; has the best music, best people, best views, best EVERYTHNG. Now, I may be biased, but I have a theory. Part of my intoxication with the Northwest is the simply intoxicating scenery combined with the amazing music that seems to teem from these four states. It's been rainy recently - beautiful Northwestern Rain- so I put together a little mix of Northwesterny tunes together with various pictures from around the Northwest.

1. Furr- Blitzen Trapper: Portland, Oregon




2. No One's Gonna Love You - Band of Horses: Seattle, Washington

3. Pink Bullets- The Shins: Okay, this is cheating, because they formed in New Mexico...But they're based in Portland now!



4. Float On- Modest Mouse: Issaquah, Washington

5. Sixteen Military Wives- The Decemberists Portland, Oregon

6. Pop Song- Starfucker: Also known as Pyramiddd. From Portland, Oregon


7.Now We Can See- The Thermals Portland, Oregon

8. Throwin' Shapes - Minus the Bear Seattle, Washington

9.Albatross, Albatross, Albatross- Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band Seattle, Washington

10.Space Opera 77 Spokane, Washington (sorry for the quality...it's live)


Enjoy this small selection from a vast sea of wonderful music. What are your favorite Northwest bands?

-Katie

A little inspiration.

Here's a few awesome DIY/fashion/awesome websites that I get some of my inspiration from!

1) Threadbangers - This site has easy videos, a sweet blog, helpful forums and everything is so cool and interesting. It was definitely my catalyst for joining (if still slowly) the DIY movement.
2) Adventures in Dressmaking- This blog is...ADORABLE. Suzannah (is it weird that I call her by her first name...?) comes up with awesome ways to replicate expensive tees, tanks, dresses, skirts and more. This summer I will be definitely trying out some of her tutorials. So amazing.
3)Ravelry- Ravelry's a knitting website that's a worldwide community of knitters (ok, crocheters too!). It brings together patterns from all over and it shows what happened when other people tried the same patterns. It's search filters make it really easy to find the pattern you want and is really my go-to when I start knitting. If you're a knitter (where my stitches at?!) then you will love this site and if you've never picked up a pair of needles, go to your local craft store, pick up a pair, and find an easy pattern on Ravelry to try. I honestly can't rave enough.
4) Alisa Burke's Blog- Alisa Burke has a cool combination of tutorials, inspirational photos, daily musings and more that provide a good amount of inspiration. My favorites from her include a refashioned vest and a cute petticoat. Her style is fun, colorful, and a little bit messy which I totally love.

That's about it for now. What are your DIY inspirational go-to sites?

-Katie

soon to be a senior...

Katie is so inspiring - seriously! I've absolutely LOVED every single thing she's posted, (especially those hats, below, that I've been gushing over!), that I've been thus motivated to finally kick it into gear and POST AGAIN! :)   

I've finally decided what I'm going to plan for a bit of my Senior Project. You know those projects; the 'Final Culmination' projects that take weeks - months - to finish but are needed to grant you THE diploma.  Nick chose a 'Music/Inspiration' theme, but I'm going to go the more media-orientated route; a lookbook.

As you can tell from my other blog project, flower pony*, I've been obsessed with sewing recycled clothes, piecing together outfits, and taking photos like a fiend. What better way to use some of my photos than to piece them into a lookbook? I'm so excited to get started...here are a few shots I know I'll use:...

(shots from prom, of course...)

(handmade and self-altered tiedye)

(vintage pearls and handmade skirt)

(vintage denim shirt)

I can tell already that this project is going to take a LOT of time at the Kodak Printing Station...:)

Hats!

Ooooo....Hats! So I finally braved looped knitting needles and *drumroll* they weren't that scary! It's just like knitting, but faster...and easier. So less scary. My first project was a super cool slouchy beret, a pattern of which I picked up over at Ravelry, one of my new favorite project sites (but more on that later...). Anyways, the pattern can be found here BUT I have a few adjustments.
1) I used Thick and Quick Lion's Brand to get the gauge right and to knit these up thick...and quick...ok..self-explanatory.
2) I cast on between 55 and 65 stitches according to head size. I guessed and checked with some fixing at the ends so I don't have exact measurements...sorry!
3) Other than that I sort of used this pattern as a guide. I made a brim of about 7-10 rows (based on request by hat recipient) and I knitted the body until it looked about right, stopping with about 4 inches to go for the decrease.

Other than that, it was a really great pattern. It took me between 2 and 3 hours to do each hat and they were super cute. The fit is slouchy, fits on the back of the head and is perfect for gross hair days. I am selling them to friends for about $10 even! It was a quick and easy project that I HIGHLY reccomend for new knitters. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment!




Knit on!
-Katie