Ready, Set, Sew: Race Day Tank Top

I have to admit that I'm not always the most enthusiastic runner. My motivation has a lot more to do with the clothes than the many other benefits of running. So I decided, after my first tank top turned out pretty well, I needed to try out Spoonflower's Performance Pique fabric to make a running tank for the Pikes Peek 10K race this past weekend.

I again used an existing tank top (with a racer back) as the pattern, which worked out pretty well, but I tried another method for the binding and ended up with straps that were slightly different sizes (oops!). I also wish I had made it a little bit longer, but overall it fit pretty well.

I really loved the fabric. It was light and surprisingly great quality. I think it will hold up really well over time. I picked my Block Print Blossom pattern in Hydrangea for the task. 

Here's a pic at the finish line! I'm always the happiest when its all over. Photobombed by the Geico Gecko of course. 

It was really cold at the start so I wore my jacket through the first few miles, but was delighted when the sun came out! Good thing I remembered my sunscreen ;o)

Anyways, after all my crazy fabric design projects of late, I decided to try something a little different. Here's a sneak peek... more to come!

End of Summer

I don't like to admit that summer is really really over. This weekend will usher in October and I can't even pretend that's summer like I can September. We spent this past weekend with our lovely friends at the Dogfish Dash in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware.

During the weekend when we weren't running or sampling the fine craft brews, we spent our time meandering up and down the boardwalk and kicking sand around on the beach. The weather was sort of foggy and chilly, but it was still really relaxing and beautiful.

On our last morning we took a walk on the sand to chase birds, survey GIANT dead horseshoe crabs (no joke, one was as large as a dinner plate), and say goodbye to summer.

Thanks for the excellent weekend Team :o) Now I'm working on catching up with the Declaration of You, my grad school project and some bird footprint-inspired doodles for later this week. 

T-shirts for Race Day

I have to admit, I love wearing matching t-shirts while in a group. Not on like... every occasion... but it is certainly fun. So next weekend we're running in the Dogfish Dash 5K (Kevin is running the 10K because he's a "more serious" runner, ie, he doesn't just run for the clothes) in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware and what could be more fun than t-shirts!?

Kevin designed this logo for his home-brewery, Battery Brewing, and hand-painted the screen. We've been spending time today printing the 8-9 t-shirts for the team. The majority of us live on Battery Lane (it's like Friends, but not), hence "Battery Brewing." I'm pretty sure we're going to look awesome!

Here are some of the t-shirts drying in the dining/craft room. We're going to print "Battery Brewing" on the backs as well. I can't wait to get a picture of all the neighborly matchy-matchiness!

From Field to Oven: An Epic Tale in Three Parts

It all started yesterday when my poor, innocent brother and boyfriend were duped into accompanying me to nearby Homestead Farms to pick sour cherries. Sour cherries have a very short season and an even shorter shelf life so I get this inexplicable sense of urgency to pick, pick, PPPIIICCCKK! To the left is my brother picking away with thoughts of cherry pies, cherry cobblers and various other delicious baked items distracting him from the millions of random twigs scratching the heck out of his arms and legs. 

Then, if you thought the scratches were bad, the next step is even worse! (dunh dunh dunh) Next we pitted every single cherry. Since we picked about 11 pounds... it took a while, but not as long as last year when we had about 20 pounds. Don't ask me. The cherries are so juicy that it doesn't take long before your hands get all gross and pruny. You really have to work for those cherries.

Finaaallly, once I've made the boys do all the hard work, the fun part is next! I've been practicing for about 2-ish years now on my cherry-pie-lattice-crust technique solely in order to have beautiful pictures to share with people... oh and I guess pie to share, too... sometimes. Please note that I am displaying two of my hobbies in this picture: baking and running clothes (please don't confuse that with running though we actually did go running prior to my baking frenzy). I have to say that in the end, this was not my most attractive pie ever but I'm pretty sure that its going to taste pretty awesome because with fresh-picked sour cherries... you just can't go wrong. 

P.S. In case you are interested in such things, I used Martha Stewart's Pate' Brisee (sounds fancier than it is) recipe from her Baking Handbook and her Sour Cherry Pie recipe from her Pies & Tarts books. Yes, I need both of those books. I can't find the exact recipe online but it's basically 4 cups of cherries, 1 cup sugar, 1 Tb. flour, 3 Tb. corn starch. Easy peasy. 

Portlandia Work-cation

It's been a bit of a crazy week. I'm smack dab in the middle of a two-week work trip along the West Coast. Every work trip has its stressful moments and fun highlights, but we'll skip the part that had me stressing out.

We are spending our weekend in lovely Portland, Oregon. I was here last year with my boyfriend for a wedding and it's pretty much exactly as I remember it... weirdness and all. The best parts: an afternoon in Oregon wine country, delicious dinner at Peruvian restaurant Andina and a lucky pass to the Nike Employee Store (everything is fifty percent off OMG unessecary running clothes).

I also re-visited the Portland Saturday Artist's Market and picked a cool print for my office (or somewhere). I stopped by Peet's Coffee to get a latte and the barista made a heart in my foam. I'm so glad that my coffee (and Portland) loves me as much as I love it. We'll be hitting San Francisco and Orange County this coming week, though there won't be as much time for fun activities since we'll actually be working. Gotta love a fun work-cation.