2015 Finish Along: Q2 Finishes and Q3 Goals

I did terribly with my Q2 goals, only finishing 1 out of 6. Here's a recap:
1. Finish the Nest Black jacket
I'm never gonna finish this, I've decided and am taking it off my lists for the year. 
2. Finish piecing, baste, quilt, bind, and label Quilt for Grandma Doris.
I did make quilt a bit of progress with this one, so it will continue to my Q3 list. 
3. Quilt, bind, and label the Scrappy Heart Quilt. 
Done! The only project I finished. Find the blog entry here.  
4. Finish quilting the Fat Little Cross block and make it into a pillow cover. 
Another project I didn't touch. This one goes to the UFO pile possibly never to be seen again. 
5. Finish piecing, baste, bind, quilt and label a quilt to trade for a tattoo.  
I worked on this a tiny bit in the beginning of Q2, but not since. Too much going on for a tattoo, so it's on hold. I think I'll put it on Q3.
6. Finish piecing, baste, bind, quilt and label a Beach Blanket.  
Another one I didn't even touch. This one I will put on Q3, but I'm not holding my breath. 

OK. On to the Q3 List: I put six things on this list, like last list. Although that didn't work out well last quarter, I hope to do better! I rolled over three projects this quarter. 

1. Finish quilting, bind, and label Quilt for Grandma Doris. 

I have this one started, but I am quilting it pretty heavily, and it is July and hot now, so it might take a little while. I plan to have this one ready to gift in Nov as that is her Bday. If not then, there's always xmas....

2. Finish quilting and making, stuff and use, PIllow #1 for a New Secret Project. 

This one is a wee part of a larger project. Bits and pieces of this project might show up for a while. But for Q3, I just want to finishing the start, if you know what I mean! I have the top of the pillow pieced and basted and I started quilting. Need to finish and build the rest in order to stuff. This is a new goal for Q3.

3. Piece, baste, quilt, bind, and label Beach Blanket Quilt.

I haven't even touched this quilt since I put it on Q2, so this is pretty ambitious. But I'd be happy to just work on it a little. A more apt goal might just be to get the top done. I do hope to have this one ready for next Summer, tho. This is rolled over from Q2.

4. Finish piecing, baste, quilt, and bind and gift Tattoo Trade Quilt.  

This is another project that has a Nov giveaway deadline in my mind. But there's a lot of work before we get there. I have quite a bit more fiddly piecing to do, must decide on a final size, and how I want to quilt it. Also ambitious. This goal is rolled over from Q2. 

5. Piece, baste, bind, and label Bright Triangles Quilt. 

This is another new goal. A fresh project that has been my go to work when I'm taking the train (which I had been doing a lot in June). The beginnings came together pretty quickly, so I hope this one moves right along. It also occurred to me who might like this quilt as I typed this, so that might be good motivation!!

6.  Start, piece, baste, quilt, bind and label OC/GC Baby Quilt. 

This one is just an idea and a fabric pull and not due (no pun intended) to be gifted until next year, so I have some time.... But if the mood strikes me, it might happen in Q3. It would also make a really good travel project if #5 gets pieced in a timely manner.  

I love lists!

It's so fun to see these goals written down each quarter! I have a lot of big projects in the next three months, but I really hope to see some of these quilting goals completed by the start of Q4. And I'm already thinking of Q5 aka Q1 2016!

Famous Potatoes

One of my goals for 2015 is to read more.  Check out the first book I read this year here and the second here. 

The third book I've read this year is Famous Potatoes by Joe Cottonwood. I picked this book up off a stoop, a lovely and common occurrence in Brooklyn.  

 I had Famous Potatoes for a while before I actually started reading it. As well as trying to read more this year, I'm also trying to read books that I already have in the house. Since I get books from stoops and book sales pretty often, I now have a large collection at home to choose from! Everyone loves a good book stash. When I saw this book on a stoop in South Slope, I was immediately drawn to it's clearly 1970s jacket design. And when I saw it had an author's recommendation from Tom Robbins, I was hooked. 

Follow Willy Carusoe's (nee Middlebrook) misadventures around our sometimes glorious, sometimes sad and dangerous, sometimes downright sexy, wide open country as he mingles with the locals, gets in with gangs and gamblers, and tries to do right by the love of his life. Famous Potatoes is a love story at heart, but you're not sure if the love interest is Willy's wife, women in general, or America it's self.

This novel has a great seventies vibe, and a meandering style, part prose, part stream of consciousness. I really enjoyed being transported back in time, but also seeing the themes and issues that are still common today. Willy is s bumbling but endearing character and you find yourself wishing him the best (but not sure that's what he'll end up getting). 
I'd recommend this book to fans of 70s authors, beat culture, road trip or hitch-hiking stories, and good sexy fun. 

Have you read this book? Or can you recommend other 1970s novels? Found anything good on a stoop or at a Little Free Library? Leave a comment below!

June in Review

The year is half over. Can you believe it? June went by so fast. 
For about half of June I felt like I was saying "hang on, wait up!" and for the rest of it, I felt like I was just hanging on, myself. 
There were certain events happening that I felt like speeding up, but I would never have wanted to skip all the great weather, beautiful days, visits with friends, festivities, and temperate Summer-ness that June had to offer. 

Love note from Brooklyn. 

Although work was a little crazy this month, I tried to take some time for family, friends, travel and projects. 

1) North Side, Asbury Park, on a foggy day. 2) Sitting in the park waiting for music and Fireworks. 3) Lacey evening walks. 4) Grand openings and grey skies. 

In June, I participated in Jersey Collective, an artist take over of their instagram feed. It was a wonderful experience (read my interview here) and I can't wait until my next go in Dec 2016. It meant that we had to spend the better part of a week in NJ and we combined that with Father's Day, and my mom's student's graduation. 

At home, we tried to see friends for concerts in the park and pride among other things. We saw art in the city, and stumbled on it at home, too. 

1) Lazy Summer creatures. 2) Lake side walks. 3) Fun times and fast cars (and action figures, of course). 4) Spotting of a different kind. 

Watcher spotting was at an all time high in June, and a favorite past time for my commute. 

Sewing, on the other hand, was on the downswing, but picked up towards the end of the month. I'm hoping the coming months see more productivity. 

Blogging, too, took a down turn. It's such a time consuming effort! But worth it in the end, so I plan to rally!

1) All perfect symmetry. 2) All wide eyes. 3) All high and mighty. 4) All no nose. 

June certainly wasn't slow, but it was delicious in all it's candy colored Summer glory. Put on your sunglasses, I think July is gonna be bright! 

Another Serra in Chelsea

Things have been hectic here, to say the least. June has been non stop work and little play, and even less quilting. It will all weigh out in the end, I'm sure. But for now it feels like a whirlwind. So, the other day, it was nice to take a break and walk around the Chelsea area of Manhattan in the blustery drizzle. 

We knew there were some Richard Serra's up at the David Zwirner Gallery, so we headed there first. 

We try to see Serra's work when ever we can. More posts to read more and see more here and here. We also saw his work in Dia:Beacon. The pieces there are monumental,  so I would suggest going!

This piece was not like anything I'd seen from him before. 

We walked around and found some other interesting works, but as usual, I didn't write down the names of any of the artists or galleries. 

It was a treat to see some interesting art, people watch, eat good food, and spend the whole day together. 

Have you seen any interesting art lately? Recommend a museum or gallery if you have!

Jersey Collective

This week I'm spending a lot of time on Instagram. 
I've taken over the feed @jerseycollective. This is a very cool project, where each week a different Jersey photographer posts photos to show their New Jersey.  It's been going on for a little over a year and growing momentum. They just had their first gallery show, and the feed is booked far into 2016. 

Being a Brooklynite more than a New Jersey-an, I was really thrilled that I could still participate. There's an interview with me up on the website. 

If you live in NJ, or visit often as I do, you should think about joining up for a week! I have found it's been a great way to reconnect with my Jersey roots and to show people what NJ is really like. And it's only Thursday! I've already booked another week in the Winter of 2016. 

If you start following them now, you can still catch the end of my week, and of course all the amazing photographers going forward (and back)! Follow my instagram for outtakes as well! 

Flowers for Eleni Updates

I'm sure a lot of you are following along with Rachel and Eleni's trials and triumphs. Recently there's been a lot of updates. Stitched in Color received the quilts that Jodi from Tales of Cloth made for them. 

Here's two pics from Tales of Cloth's instagram.  

That blue flower peeking out at the top is mine!

I'm pretty sure that that bottom yellow with birds is the one I fussy cut, but on a new background. excellent. 

I spotted my flowers in some of the photos! I feel proud and happy to be able to have participated, and when I see my sewing being part of something that can bring someone comfort and joy.

New Block: Four Bear Paws

Well, really this is an older block as I made it quite a few month ago, now.
I was inspired my Maureen Cracknell's Bear Paw block. 

One day, I will iron all my blocks. Perhaps I'm waiting for a proper ironing board. Or even a table ... Right now we iron everything on a towel on the floor. 

I've been lacking inspiration and motivation in my sewing lately, so I thought I'd go thru some of the WIPs I have. I'm at a stage in much of my ongoing quilts where they require a large block of time and space, and I just haven't had that recently. I'm hesitant to work on the projects that are more new and less done, bc that just means my pile of unfinished grows and grows. 

I need a vacation just for quilting! Who's with me?

I'm linking this block up with Slow Sunday Stitching by Kathy's Quilts. 

Wardrobe Project: Who Needs This Many T-Shirts?

Or, My Spring Wardrobe. 

When I went to change over my Winter wardrobe over to Spring, I carefully set aside all the Winter clothes I wouldn't need. It was a lot of clothes. Two full clear recycling bags full. (I put them in clear bags, to be boxed up at a later date, and to prevent them becoming cat beds). I also made a pile of giveaway/throw away items. Items that I didn't wear, didn't want, or realized I didn't like during the Winter season. 
Next I went to get out my Spring and Summer clothes that were stored at the top of my closet. 

But I couldn't do it. 

I pulled out the first big storage bin... I couldn't bear to go thru it. SO many clothes. I felt totally overwhelmed with what was already out. Removing my Winter clothes felt like it barely made a dent.

I decided I really only needed to keep what was already out for Spring. There were some pants and jeans, a few skirts and dresses, some tanks I used for layering in the Winter, plenty of clothes for work, and so many t shirts. So. Many.  

Maybe when it gets really hot, I will reassess. I realize that I will have to go thru those Spring/Summer clothes eventually. But for now, even what I have out feels impossibly large. 

Is anyone else struggling with their Spring or Summer wardrobe?

May in Review

Can you believe we are fast approaching the year's half way point? I barely can. But on the other hand, so much has already happened this year!

May seemed to decided to skip the end of Spring and shoot right into Summer.  We had some rather warm days (to put it mildly) and it has us wondering how hot will Summer really be? As a way to beat the heat, and save the Spring, I tried to see friends and family this month, enjoy cocktails and meals, flower spying and watcher spot as much as possible. 

We traveled Down the Shore, for leisure and for secret projects. We worked, we played and we even saw a hot dog car! 

Quilting was a little slow, as I had more paper work than paper piecing in my life in May. I managed to finish one of my goals for Q2 of the 2015 Finish Along. I have another month to catch up... which I may never do if I keep starting new projects!

I took an unexpected break from blogging at the end of May, but am back on it now, and here's how to find me all over the internets. 

So while Brooklyn bloomed, May sped on. Now June, can't you slow us down?

New Block: The Letter B

I'm back from an unexpected break with the letter B. 

Are you tired of wrinkled blocks yet?

I've had a letter quilt rattling around in my head for a while now... So I rolled up my sleeves and made a B. I liked my fabric choices, but they weren't right for what I have in mind, so I changed directions on this quilt. I'm happy with how it's turning out and think it'll be a great new idea. 

Tom is "helping"!

I feel successful with my first letter block and can't wait to do the rest of the alphabet!

Linking up with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching. 

Brooklyn in the Pink

The end of April and beginning of May are often a good time to be in Brooklyn. Everything is blooming and the people are down to just t shirts and jeans after a long Winter. Street fairs and festivals are starting and dogs are happy as can be. Spring may be brief here, but it sure is magical!

Maybe it's just me, but this was a particularly good year for Brooklyn blooms, and it seemed the whole city was in the pink!

As I was getting this post, a favorite blogger of mine was posting something along the same lines. So I'm not the only Brooklynite who noticed!! Check out Reading My Tea Leaves post about the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's cherry blossoms, here!

The pink might be off the trees already, but we went to our first street fair on Sunday and I had my first watermelon of the season. I can't wait for Summer when I eat it every night for dinner! Pink never goes out of style in Brooklyn. 

New Block: Unknown Block

Here we have an aztec-y, chevron-y type block. I'm not sure if this is an actual block or just a variation of a sawtooth star. It's funny how simply changing the color pattern of a block changes the look so drastically.   
Over at Gen X Quilters, AnneMarie, has been exploring this in her Patchwork Audition Series. It's really neat to see how much changing the colors can seemly change the layout.
I chose very old batik-y, tie dye-like precut squares and neutral white on whites, or cream on cream, squares for this block and I love how it all comes together.   

Pre ironed.

I made this block and a brother to it, with the idea that I would make pillow covers. I have never made pillow covers, but I dig the idea of trying. But some how before completing the brother block, I lost one of the strips. These are things that happen when you don't have a sewing room. And have four cats. 

I'm still hoping to find all the pieces and put these blocks together on day! Linking up with Kathy (a little late) for Slow Stitching Sunday! Drop me a line if you know the name of this block!

The Soc

Oh, the internet!
People love it. 

Here are some places you can find Mad Cat Quilts (and what you can expect when you do):

madcatquilts.com
You're already here! Blog, quilts, links, contact. Follow this blog on Bloglovin!

Mad Cat Quilts Big Cartel Shop
My main shop were you can buy Mad Cat quilts and other items. You can also purchase Library Card items here. Needs an update, badly...!

Madcat1 on Instagram
This is where I spend a lot of my time! Home life, cats, quilt progress shots. Blog and shop updates posted here, as well as giveaways and special offers (someday!). 

@madcatquilts On Twitter
Mostly a dream journal. Also another place to find my instagrams, blog & shop updates, and special offers.  

Ana Mo Shoshin on Pinterest
Find boards/inspiration for things I like here; tattoos, cats, plants, quilts... etc... And find more info on blog topics like Recently Researching, Wardrobe Project, quilt labels, quilt blocks, etc....

Mad Cat General Store on Etsy Coming soon!
Another place to find my wares, as well as Library Card and other artisans. This shop also contains some vintage goods and seconds.  

Mad Cat Quilts is all over the virtual universe, so take a look, follow along, and reach out to say "Hi". I'm looking forward to it! 

Scrappy Little Hearts: A Finished Quilt

This little strangely shaped quilt started out when I saw Cluck Cluck Sew's heart block pattern. I know a lot of people fell in love with this block this year. I didn't really have a plan after I made the blocks. 

But after I made them, I couldn't let them rest.  I had other projects I was working on but the little hearts called to me. 

I knew I also wanted to scrap bust this year, so I pulled a ton of green scraps and started to create wonky courthouse steps around the hearts. I linked it all together with some 9 patches in purples, mimicking the checks in the hearts. The quilt was looking a little crazy at this point so I added some calming solid boarders. 

I used the last heart block, and most crooked and crazy, for the back, as well as more solids. I sandwiched top and back together with some scrappy batting.  I used purple pearl cotton to go around each heart on the top and each 9 patch. Then used light green cotton thread to densely quilt the rest of the top. I embellished the boarders and back heart. 

I made a thin rolled boarder to finish it all off. Bc of the improv piecing, this quilt is a crazy shape and all crooked. It kinda averages at 37" x 37" but is measures as wide as 39" in some places. 

Pit was the biggest helper on this little quilt. He knows it would make a cute baby quilt, or play mat, or wall hanging. 

I washed this quilt and it got nice and crinkly. I was a little worried about how it would wash bc I used a bunch of different fabrics for the top. Mostly cotton but also some velveteen, and wool, as well as blends. This quilt doesn't have a label yet. 

This is my first finish of Q2 of the 2015 Finish Along. I have a feeling I'm not gonna get as much done this quarter, but I'm happy with this little finish!

Zoo at home, zoo abroad: Nashville Zoo

Some people think it's odd, but I'm a huge fan of zoos. Where ever I go, I try to see a zoo, aquarium, nature museum, bug exhibit, farm, petting zoo, etc...  A visit is always in any trip I plan. Or several if there's time. I know many have mixed feelings on seeing animals caged, and I do as well. I try to focus on the conservational and educational aspects of these establishments.  I can't help but be amazed and delighted by seeing strange, interesting, and exotic creatures. 

While we were in Tennessee in December 2013 we went to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. I never posted about it way back then, but I've been thinking about that trip recently and thought it was time to share. 

The Nashville Zoo is vastly different from our little zoo at home in Prospect Park. It sits on a huge piece of land with bamboo paths winding throughout. Most of the exhibits are outdoors. We went in the dead of Winter, so many of the animals were not on view. We even managed to go quite late in the day and miss some of the ones that were out. Even with our poor timing we got to see some great animals.

Tigers!! Wow!

The Nashville Zoo has both a white tiger and an orange one! These were incredible to see, but it was very clear that these great beasts are not supposed to be caged. 

This zoo had so many large and wild cats! Perfect for cat lovers like ourselves! 

Despite the cold, the animals were very active! We got to see many close up, only a few feet away. Like a cougar drinking from the "stream".

This leopard seemed to be observing us as much as we were him. 

As everything we visited in Nashville on that trip, the Zoo was deserted. It was great!! We had the whole place to ourselves. With no one else checking out each habitat, the animals really seemed to take notice of us. But I also suspect they knew it was closing/feeding time. 

These goats were all lined up, waiting to go inside for the night. 

Overall, it was a wonderful trip, and I can't wait to go back in the Spring or Summer!  It will be wonderful to see more animals, even if that means more people, too. 

We try to get to zoos pretty often so I hope to make my animal observations a semi regular post. I could write 10 posts about our local zoo alone! Do you have a favorite zoo or aquarium? Have you been to the Nashville Zoo? Care to comment?

3 Days in Cape May

Last week we headed Down the Shore for 3 days. It wasn't stress free, or entirely restful as vacation days go.  But it was an almost perfect Spring weekend spent in our favorite beach towns.  These pictures capture some of those perfect moments. I thought I would share them.
I hope everyone is having a lovely year, so far!

New Block: Crown of Thorns

When I saw this block on the Tales of Cloth blog, as part of her Red Sky at Night QAL, I knew I wanted to try it. 

Ever wrinkly.

I decided to make a really over sized block. I picked out some tiny calicoes and then decided it needed a plain border, or part of one... I'm not sure what I'll do with this big block. Any ideas?

Also, at Tales of Cloth, Jodi revealed the top and bottom for the Flowers for Eleni quilt. It's amazing quilt and it was an amazing experience to be a part of. 

Picture by Tales of Cloth. Pure photoshop skills by me. 

I can even see one the of the flowers I made in the pic! I think they changed the backing fabric, which is super nice of them, as I think I cut mine too small. 
Thanks so much to Jodi and her helpers for allowing us to share our grief and joy and hope in this way. 

I'm sharing all this with Slow Stitching Sunday. As always, check out Kathy's blog!

April in Review

Phew, April went fast! 
This month really felt like Spring to me, with daffodils making their debut and trees flowering like mad all over Brooklyn. We began to take more regular trips Down The Shore in April, which definitely heralds the warmer weather. 

1) Trees blooming in Park Slope... 2) and Kensington. 3) There were a few grey days and April showers. 4) And some spectacular sunsets. 

Work geared up for the family this month, what with warm days and the start of baseball season. But it felt good to get our hands dirty and change up our routine. Although we were worn out from the end of March, when it was still cold, family members fell ill, and we were generally tired and stressed, having the upswing at our day jobs cemented the start and change of Spring. 

1) Giant eggs for Easter. 2) My black metal album cover. 3) High contrast in Prospect Park Zoo... 4) and in Asbury Park. 

The month started off with great focus on our work at home as well. Quilting, blogging, and sewing were all chugging along in the beginning, but petered out a little towards the end of the month. I'm diligently trying to stick to the blog schedule (more on this soon) I have been working on since end of March, and doing well IMHO. I made my Finish Along list for Q2 and got working right away at the beginning of April, but at it's end I have no finishes to show for it. Other goals have been achieved tho! We got back into the house hunt, as well. Which is both invigorating and stressful. 

1) Olin Street, Ocean Grove, NJ. 2) West Cape May, NJ. 3) 8th Street, Park Slope. 4) 8th Ave, Park Slope. 

1) Serious Tavis. 2) Pensive Pallas. 2) Pondering Pit. 4) Bippi and a sun beam.

We were able to travel a few times this month, hitting some of our favorite spots, seeing family (although briefly), and watcher spotting out of town! We were able to walk some towns, some zoos, and some beaches .
At home, we watcher spotted, visited with friends, cat sat, made some food and ate out, went to the zoo, read books in bars, and general enjoyed the heck out of Brooklyn. 

1) I kept calling everything at the zoo "zebras" for some reason. 2) Finally back to beach combing. 3) Classic coffee. 4) Tavis refuses to DJ. 

So, happily and easily,  April budded into a beautiful bloom! It's Spring growth felt like it was propelling us with leafy tendrils into something new. We shot forward thru the month and now we can only wonder what May has in mind for us... 

Recently Researching: 2015 Goal House Plant Edition. Part One.

I wasn't sure where to put this blog topic... I could put it under 2015 goals bc taking care of my house and plants is a big goal for me this year. Or I could put it under Recently Researching bc, well, it's something I've been researching lately... So I kinda did a mash up of the two! I couldn't think of a super catchy name for it, tho. 

I think every house should strive to have three things: cats, musical instruments, and plants. Luckily, I've got all three covered. 

In effort to take better care of the plants I have (and therefore feel justified in getting more!), I've been researching my house plants. This is something that seems like a no brainer, but I've never actually done it before. I always claim to have no green thumb and maybe this is partly why. 

Here's a rundown of some of the plants I have, as well as some facts, and care for each. 

Aloe - This guy's a succulent, but I often forget that. That means that this soothing medicinal plant should be watered well, then let to dry completely before watering again. Aloe should be kept in bright light and a small pot, as it enjoys being root bound. Aloe's healing properties are well known, but I can never bring myself to break the leaves when I need to treat a burn or scrape. I keep a bottle Aloe Gel in the house for that instead.  Did you know that Aloe actually refers to a whole genus, so the typical plant we see is sometimes called "true" aloe. 
I've had a few different aloe plants, and I think my problem is that I over eater them. I moved my current plant to  the brightest window, and am trying to make it flourish, but at the moment, it's kind of languishing. 

Schefflera/Umbrella Tree - Again we have a plant that is commonly called by it's genus, but the big type we see in pots are usually the Schefflera actinophylla. This plant can grow quite large and full and flower when in the right environment. It can live in medium indirect sun, but prefers bright light. This plant should be watered well, then it's upper soil should be let to dry before watering again. If it's leaves turn yellow and fall off, it's under watered. If they turn black and fall off it's been over watered. (Mine tends to have the former problem). 
When we moved to Park Slope and into a larger apartment, I searched Craigslist for some larger plant and found the schefflera I currently have. We had a harrowing but memorable drive thru the neighborhood with it propped in the back of our truck. I call it our "bedroom tree" (every bedroom should have a tree!) and it's about 7 feet tall. The family we got it from said it was about 8 - 10 years old, then, so now it must be about 12 years old or older! We repotted it once, and it's not living it's best life. Sometimes it grows the cutest little baby new leaves, but mostly it just hangs around looking droopy. I've been trying to water this guy more regularly and I think it'll benefit when we open the windows so it can get fresh air and more light. 

Pothos Epipremnum Aureum - This is the most commonly seen Pothos, which has shiny light green, or variegated light and dark green leaves. The standard pothos grows well in low light, and is super easy to maintain, needing water only when it's soil is about 50% dry, or even dryer. Leave will yellow and fall if left too dry for too long. These plants prefer warm climates and will die if left to get too cold. Pothos prefer to be root bound, sending out long tendrils which can be pruned, or coiled to keep the plant bushy. These easy houseplants keep the air clean, so are good to have on hand, but can be poisonous to cats and dogs, so keep in a safe place!
I have quite a few of these guys, and most do really well. One was left by an open window, got too cold and is on it's last legs. One has some sort of white mildew which my schefflera also gets. I've found that giving it more sun after gently wiping away the white powdery substance usually solves the problem. Sometimes I forget to water them until I see the leaves start to droop. I'm trying to avoid this, but haven't had any dies like this. I've tried to propagate cuttings from some of my Pothos with mixed results. Some start growing roots right away and live long lives, but others fail completely. Growing new plants from cutting is a goal for me with these. My cats don't bother these plants much, so I don't worry about them, but I do try to keep them in higher places, if possible. 

Rubber Plant - This plant (ficus elastica) used to be grown for the rubber that could be made from it's latex which is like sap, but separate. Now it's mostly a decorative plant and it's cousin the Para Rubber Tree is grown to make the rubber we use today. These two trees actually have a different genus and the house plant is more closely related to the fig tree. It likes indirect light and does well in low, medium or bright as long as it's not direct. They don't need too much water and prefer it a little dryer in cooler climates. The leaves can yellow from being over or under watered but usually fall off if overly saturated. Rubber trees can grow quite large and get nice think trunks. This plant prefers warm temperatures and will die in cold weather, but overall I've found them to be quite hardy!
My rubber trees are my longest lived plants and I always have to stop myself from getting more and more of them. They are so easy to care for and lovely to have around. I do need to tie them up better as their branched can start to get wild and out of control. And I need to dust their leaves more often (or ever) bc it's better for them to be dust free. 

I've learned a lot about how to care for the house plants I currently have. And this is only the first installment. By my count, I have 9 or 10 more varieties to learn about! I feel that when I am better able to take care of my plants, I will be ready to get more. Hopefully by that time, we will be living in a more light soaked home and one where my plants can spend some summer days outside. Even house plants like a field trip!

Do you have an tricks or tips for these house plants? If so, I'd love to hear them in the comments! 

Check out my pinterest page for more on these and previous Recently Researching topics. 

Wardrobe Project: Some Little Things

At the beginning of 2015 I started what I'm calling my Wardrobe Project. My closets were full to the point of overflowing, but I could never find anything to wear. I started reading about minimalist wardrobes and decided it was time for a change. I'm not sure I'm aiming for a minimalist wardrobe, but I am aiming for less clothes in general, and I want those to be clothes I love and clothes that fit me well. 

Right away I could tell that this project would take some time. You can read about my first steps in this post. I don't feel rushed or stressed to finish this project, bc even when I get my closet manageable, which I know will take a long time, I still see this as an ongoing task. Maybe it never will be finished.  But everyday I try to chip away a little. 

Some little things I try to work on every day when I get dressed are the little things:

Warm winter socks to get packed away. Including the cat hair. 

Socks 
I never have enough pairs of socks, do you? But for now they are one of the little ways I'm pairing down my wardrobe. I used to save socks with holes in them or that were worn down and threadbare bc I didn't want to mismatch a pair. Here's what lessons I've learned so far:
Throw away your holey socks! I've come to embrace mismatched socks bc I can wear them under boots, or as a second pair in the Winter.
When wearing mismatched socks, pair the ones that make sense. Like colors, weights and textures work best. 
Don't save the sock with the hole in the heel bc you might use it in a craft project! You won't.
Never return a holey sock to your sock drawer. When you find the unfortunate mate, throw it away immediately!  
Pair the remaining sock with it's mismatched friend ASAP. 
These few little steps have greatly reduced my lame sock stock and made it easier for me to find socks to wear each day. Socks are one of the few items I thought I would have to buy this year but so far, I haven't bought a single pair!

Underwear/Bras
Again, this may seem like a silly not-need-to-be-said thing, but I'm getting rid of undergarments that don't fit, don't feel good, have holes or old elastic, or I just don't like. If, when getting dressed, I find something like that, I get rid of it right away!
No more underwires. This is a decision I have come to. I hate them, they are not comfortable and really don't do that much for me, looks wise. Thankfully, I have this luxury.  Only soft and comfy boulder holders from now on. 
These items are also on my May Have to Buy list. But it hasn't happened yet.  

All types of knickers. 

Bags, Belts, Hats, Scarves, etc...
So, I haven't actually tackled any of these things since starting the Wardrobe Project. But I plan to!  Through the years, I've already tried to pair these items down.
I only have a few purses that I've kept around, but it's time to go thru those again and make some cuts. I'm guilty of having a lot of tote bags, but I'm gonna go thru these bc I know some have holes, rips, are too dirty to be saved, etc... I plan to save some totes for "wearing" bags, and designate the rest "working" bags. With working bags, I plan to only keep those that are useful and needed. 
I think I have about 5 belts. All fabric and all comfy. But I don't need 5 out at a time. Next time I go thru my clothes to store for the season (it's coming up!), I plan to put some of these away. 
Hats are something that I need for work, but that I mostly don't enjoy wearing (with the exception of a good Winter knit). I plan to get rid of any that are lingering that I don't wear, pack away all the Winter ones, and find a place to store the few I need for work. A good new Winter hat is on my Need to Buy for next year, tho... Something to look forward to.  
I do love scarves. But here, too, I realize I only need a few each season. All Winter wear is getting put away and I'll also pack some favorites up for another time. 
Same goes for mittens, gloves, and other odds and ends. 

These ideas might seem like no-brainers to most, but they have really helped me both in practice and in mindset! When paring down my clothing,  I find every little bit helps.