Tutorial: Fabric Sampler Wall Hanging

I love this project. If you are looking for something quick to put up on the wall or have been saving a few precious bits of some vintage cotton prints, this is the project for you! I got the idea to do this when I was thrifting with Diandra, the needlework frames were calling to me and I found a bunch that were the same size, so I figured I would just grab them. Diandra cleverly suggested that I make up a sampler. Adding a few stitches would make these fabric samplers too sweet for words. Feel free to embellish them with stitches, rick-rack, or a piece of a tape measure. My tape measure had been used so much that you can barely read any numbers before 8". Now that's well used!

You will need:

3 needlework frames, any size or shape

3 pieces of 1/4" foam (cut to ~1" larger than frames) -optional

3 pieces of cotton fabric (cut to ~1" larger than frames)

scissors

vinyl measuring tape -optional

thread and needle (or sewing machine) -optional

ruler

hammer

3 finishing nails

Look for frames that are in good condition, and have fasteners that you like. I think the ones with rings on top would be cute too! Grab some next time you are thrifting. They are relatively easy to find at the thrift shops that have old people's stuff. I got my frames at just such a thrift store for $.50 each.

Cut the cotton fabric pieces to size, approximately 1" larger around the edges.

Iron the fabric pieces.

If using, cut the foam to the same size as the fabric. Set both aside.

Carefully take the vinyl tape measure apart. you may have to cut it a little to start the peeling or find a spot that has already begun to separate on its own.

Sew the tape measure onto the fabric piece, securing at both ends. If you don't mind stitches showing, simply stitch down the centre or edges of the tape.

Assemble the samplers by opening up the needlework frames by separating the pieces, lay the fabric and foam over the inner frame piece, place the larger frame piece over, and push down, closing the fastenener, squashing the fabric in between the frame pieces. Make sure that the fasteners are facing the same way.

Trim the extra fabric and foam so that the back edges are flush with the frame.

Lay out the frames on a table top or other flat surface and figure out the arrangement and distance between the frames that you prefer. My frames were 6 inches apart.

Start by hammering your nail for the first frame into the wall. Then measure the distance from the last step immediately down from the first nail. Hammer in your second nail. Repeat this for the third nail.

Hang your fabric samples on the wall. Take a step back and admire your work. Do a quick clean up and you are done!

Commuter Mitts

Today is the first day of Bike to Work Week in B.C.!

My kid and I packed up the tag-along bike and headed off to the Celebration Station at City Hall for breakfast. What a fun way to start the day. Then it was off to the library and then work at the yarn shop. Ahh, I love biking!

I love biking so much that I designed these biking mitts to give away at the Friday Celebration Station at my partner's real estate office. If you are registered in P.G. make sure to stop by for your chance to win one of two pairs! I've saved the third pair to GIVEAWAY here! Leave a comment about why/how/when you like to bike and be entered in the draw. Just for fun, post your Bike to Work Week kilometers if you participated.

The draw will be closed Sunday at 24:00:00 PST.

Commuter Fingerless Mitts, a knitting pattern by Laura Sapergia

Biking will save the world!

The Commuter Mitts are a big huge thank-you to all the commuters who are out there biking their way to work or school everyday. Sometimes it is harder/colder/wetter to commute but you do it anyways, here is a pair of mitts to keep your hands a little warmer for those rides that are just a bit uncomfortable. They’ll keep you stylish and warm while you dodge traffic, leap across intersections, and stop criminals in their tracks.

Thanks for making the world a safer and better place, you are a superhero!

You can find the Ravelry page here. The downloadable pattern pdf is here.

Eating In: Hummus Bros Banana Bread French Toast

One of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday morning is going for brunch. The only problem is that the meal I made today was so fabulous that it would beat the pants off any brunch in town. The Banana Bread French Toast served at Hummus Bros in Prince George, B.C. is decadence with a capital D, it comes in as a close second. It is served with vanilla ice cream and fresh fruit, yowza! Their dark molasses banana bread is so fantastic, the best in town.

I love banana breads because each one is different. I don't think any other sweet bread has as many variations; molasses, chocolate, nuts, caramel bits, straight-up, coconut, and more! Almost everyone has a favorite banana bread recipe that they use. What is yours like? Do you like a moist bread or a dryer bread? Do you use sour cream? What are your thoughts on additions, or are you a purist?

Yesterday I was gifted a dark molasses banana bread by a co-worker. Wow, a lovely dense bread it is so spongy and moist. Today I went to a small gathering and a friend brought a light, sweet banana bread, served with blueberry jam.

Oh yum! Generally I don't go for tropicals, unless I'm somewhere tropical, but sometimes I like to make exceptions. I'll save the reasons for another day, today isn't the day to get into it. Today is a day for brunch in the garden!

So this morning instead of heading out to brunch somewhere, I gathered my family and we had this lovely Banana Bread French Toast out in the yard. We spread out a table cloth under the birch tree with coffee, fresh whipped cream, and strawberries. It is simple and fantastic. If I have any leftovers, I'd like to try substituting the banana bread for bread in a pudding. Thanks for the idea, Deanna!

Banana Bread French Toast

We all know that banana bread never lasts long enough to go stale, so next time you are making up your favorite banana bread recipe, make a double batch and freeze a loaf. Or, squirrel away half the loaf and plan to use it for French Toast as soon as possible. Today, I used local eggs, cow's milk, cow's cream, and organic cane sugar but you can use any milk or yoghurt, any sugar (solid, liquid) that you fancy. I suggest not to add any sugar or flavour to the custard because the banana bread will have tons of flavour on its own, so skip using the vanilla soy milk for this one. Banana bread is also generally sweet, so very little extra sugar is necessary. You can also use your favorite frying fat or oil too, I prefer using butter or coconut oil.

Ingredients:

6 slices Banana Bread (about 2 per person)

3 eggs (1 per person)

2 Tbsp milk of your choice

1 tsp fat/oil of your choice

1 cup whipping cream

1 Tbsp sugar

1 lb strawberries, sliced

Directions:

1) Slice bread into 1" thick slices.

2) Custard: In a flat bottomed bowl or casserole dish (choosing on the same size as your bread slices helps), mix eggs and milk.

3) Whipped Cream: whip/blend/process until thick, add sugar and whip until it reaches the desired thickness.

3) French Toast: In a fry pan, melt butter on medium low heat.

4) Dip bread slices one at a time into custard, turn and place in fry pan. Cook slices until golden brown.

5) Serve topped with whipped cream and strawberries.

Community: Bike To Work Week May 30th-June 5th

Bike Forever! Obi Belt from Smoking Lily (thanks amy!).

Biking is awesome!

Biking can bring your community together. It can be as simple as a few kids getting together for a ride around the neighborhood, some friends gathering for a sunday ride, attending a Critical Mass, or participating in Bike To Work Week!

Bikers love to ride, right? It feels good, it is healthy, you are outside, you are getting somewhere on your own steam, and it is great for the environment. It feels awesome when you see another biker, right? Like you've been affirmed, you've been witnessed doing a good thing. You probably can't even remember learning to ride because it was so long ago (unless you are Robyn) and whether you are getting around on an old bike that you fixed up (Cam), a new road bike (Mark), a hybrid mountain/commuter bike (Me), or the same bike you've had since Grade 10 (Bobbi), it just feels good to get out there and ride.

Jillian loves squished face pictures, this is one of her from a past project.

I'm on the Bike to Work Week PG committee this year. It is pretty great. Jillian has been heading up Bike to Work Week in PG for the last three years, and this year should prove to be the biggest. 2009 was great, the local groups got funding from the provincial group. Then last year, there was no funding from the provincial group. So, Jill pretty much carried the whole thing. Why? because it is something she believes in. She was and still is willing to put in hours (HOURS!) of her own volunteer time to make sure that this comes together. I love that, it's so great.

The City of Prince George had their media guy Paul put together

some videos about BTWW in PG.

This year there has been a ton of interest from new sponsors, the City is on board in a major way, and there are many other interest groups sitting on the committee. Everyone is doing their part. There are 18 events planned in PG: Farmer's Market table this Saturday, Kick-off breakfast at City Hall on Monday, Celebration Stations for every day sponsored by community organizations and businesses, and a week-end BBQ at the Farmer's Market on June 4th and MORE! Check out the Facebook event page here. The City of Prince George website is here. Link to the BTWW BC page here.

I'm pretty excited about BTWW in PG this year, I've been a part of a lot of (big deal) initiatives in PG over the last few years and it really seems like things are changing here. Of course, it may just seem that way because I'm involved (Jill said a while ago that I'm a poster girl for "What's fun and awesome in PG" and I don't totally disagree!) but I don't think I would have it any other way. I've even picked up some work from my volunteering; I've been referred a bunch of catering, support, and contracted work. I was invited to participate on the committee as a community member (i.e. I no longer work for an representative/stakeholder-type organization) and have been asked for input in other initiatives simply because of my reputation a healthy, active, and community-focused person. Aren't I awesome?

A random video from Robyn's time here going to 'Everything all the time'

No, but really, being involved in your community has so many benefits. Robyn used to say that she wanted "to be at everything all the time". Well, it worked for her, people knew who she was in a new city very quickly. If this 'everything all the time' idea seems too big, maybe picking one issue, a couple concerns you have, or a few changes you would like to see in your community is a better start. Want to be involved in municipal decision making? Get informed, go to council meetings. Want to meet some like-minded people in town? Start a ________ group and get going. Would you like to get a better/different job? Start volunteering and networking, NOW. It can take time, but is worth it. You can change your community, you just need to be willing to work for change, it doesn't happen on its own.

Just one of the many prizes at BTWW PG celebration stations.

This year, Top Drawer and I are donating three pairs of these Commuter Mitts to be given away at Celebration Stations next week here in PG. psst! I'll also be giving a dip-dyed pair away here on Home Sweet Home sometime next week. So check back!

THE NEXT CRITICAL MASS IS THIS FRIDAY!

For more information about BTWW and to register your workplace in B.C., go to the provincial website.

FYI: you will need to create an account and then register in the event. You do not need the names of the participants when you register. Simply register your workplace and then find riders. All size groups are welcome!

WIP Wednesday

See Bunting Flag Necklace and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

Craft: My Cut Out + Keep debut! I need to add another jump ring before wearing it tomorrow. I made it out of coloured leather scraps, but the tutorial I followed used leather that was painted with crafter's acrylic.

Community: I'm getting geared up (pun INtended!) for Bike to Work Week. I'm on the committee that is organizing the events here in PG. We've got over 18 events associated with Bike to Work Week this year. The whole thing kicks off with a noon-hour Bike Safety info session at the 3rd avenue Collective (find out more about PG BTWW here). There will be tables at the Farmer's Market, celebration stations everyday of the week, and a week-end BBQ for participants! (I'm hoping for some good weather!)

Craft: I'm working on a cotton/kapok shrug for a co-worker who requested one that would be suitable for spring and summer. Kapok is a plant fiber that is hollow, so it is insulating. It comes from far away. So does coffee. I'm over it.

Marketed for baby knits, it should be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We'll see. I like it so far, I think I'll make something for myself next. It is knitting up really nicely, I'm amazed at how light it is. It has little to no stretch, so is like cotton in that way, any suggestions?

Craft: Toe-up socks using Poems Sock. This is my project for a class that I taught last week at Top Drawer. The class was Toe-up with the option to learn Magic Loop or two circulars. Most of the class opted for Magic Loop, and though I prefer double points (all the way!), it was great to teach others the merits of both methods.

Craft: Tuesday Tutorial Spoiler! So sorry, but I'm so excited about the project for next Tuesday, yippee! This one is so easy and fast. Really satisfying. A great way to fill up some wall space quickly and add a little personality to your space.

Career: Still plugging away on my course, I'm about 3/4 of the way through the course material. It's been going well, but time is running out. My practicum is in September and I'm got a lot of work to do before then! I've enlisted Mark to help me stay focused on my program. Phew!

Tutorial Tuesday - SMILEBOOTH!

Seth's friends play with my home made moustaches!

DIY smilebooth at my son's birthday!

For my kid's first birthday we had a hipster extravaganza! We made homemade Japadogs, which were a huge hit. There was also lots of chips and my momma made a cake. But the best part was obviously the DIY Smilebooth I made! Have you heard of Smilebooth? It's this really cool and hip "photobooth" you can rent with props and backdrops. Everyone who steps in front of it undoubtedly looks a gazillion hipper than they actually are and I wanted to make my own so we could take pictures of Seth's first birthday without it being too same-old-same-old. The whole shebang cost me $14 and I borrowed some things and had others lying around the house, but here's what you'll need!

A tripod
A 35mm camera OR cheap-ish digital camera, preferably with a delayed shutter and a hole on the bottom to screw into said tripod (make sure the camera has a FULL battery!)
4 pieces of poster board
Streamers and birthday themed decorations

What I did was centre the four poster boards in the middle of the wall and pin them to the wall. They went as low as mid-thigh on a relatively sized adult (haha). Using crepe paper I then taped down the right side and carried it across the width and then cut it, twisted it about 6 times, and taped the end down. I repeated this with all the crepe paper I had (and I ran out!) in lines going horizontally across the back drop. I then taped on the birthday themed garland and the HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner and literally, I was finished. I also made some mustache props by drawing mustaches on thick cardstock with a black marker and filling them in. then I taped them to the narrow end of chopsticks. It's that easy!

I then set the tripod up with it facing the smile booth perfectly and showed a few people how to use my digital camera. The kids got full reign of the camera and took some amazing shots! You could also use a funky curtain or table cloth as a back drop (or even a sheet of plywood anchored to the wall). And you could get a tickle trunk of masks and clothes and funny hats for your guests to wear! If you try to keep it to a theme, though, your pictures will look a bit more cohesive and planned (if that's what you want).

Lastly, I want to talk about exposure/flash. I had my camera on automatic flash for all the pictures, turned on the bright overhead light, and opened the window wide (it was a bright day). If it's a bit darker, or night time, you could attach some spot lights or even those clip on desk lamps to the tripod facing your guests at chest level so there's no really weird shadows. Well, unless you want to highlight someone's double chin?!

Happy Smileboothing!!

Home Tour: Carpe Diem Acreage

I'm pleased to bring you a Home Tour from Uta at Carpe Diem Acreage. Uta is an acquaintance of mine who found Home Sweet Home by following a friend's link online. She rarely misses a post here, and the same goes for me, I love seeing what is new at Carpe Diem (goslings!). Uta's family lives on a nearby acreage and started blogging to document their daily experiences on the acreage. She has since found that her blog is a great way for family abroad to keep tabs on their household. It isn't hard to see why the response from the online community has been great, Uta's blog is unpretentious, fun, and full of real life.

Welcome to Carpe Diem Acreage! We designed and built our own home three years ago on four acres in the country. This painting was hanging in a local store and I coveted it for at least a year and half before I finally purchased it, and it now hangs on the wall just as you enter our front door.

We designed the kitchen to be extra large with a seating area and gas fireplace. I figure everyone sits in the kitchen anyway so we may as well make them comfortable. To sit beside the fireplace with a good book on a cold snowy day is super cozy! Lots of counter space makes it easy to cook, and especially during canning season.

My small collection of vintage recipe boxes sitting at my kitchen window. They don't hold recipes, but are a great catch all for small things to remain hidden. I should probably collect a few more. Our home consists mainly of contemporary items with a good dose of vintage thrown in.

The livingroom with garden doors leading to a covered back deck. On the shelves you can see part of my vintage Boxer collection, working oil lamps (used several times during power outages), vintage basket sitting next to antique table piled with organic farming books and a Jamie Oliver cookbook.

Ahhh, the best place in the house - the master bathroom looking out into the back yard. No window coverings? No problem! We live in the country so privacy isn't an issue. Sitting in the bathtub you can look out onto the back lawn, flower gardens, fruit trees, veggie gardens and greenhouses (I know there is snow in the photo so you have to use your imagination a little) We can view our chickens and ducks freeranging and also the occasional moose and fox. Just to make sure all is peaceful, we have a little zen corner next to the tub as well.

Here is last year's vegetable garden as we look towards the back of the house. In addition to this garden we also have a berry patch, a squash garden and an herb garden, plus two greenhouses.

This is Cockzilla and he currently lives in our garage. He is recovering from a beating from our other rooster and we so have to keep them separated. He shares the garage with newly hatched chicks and goslings. Our incubator contains more chicken and duck eggs so in a few weeks Cockzilla will have even more company.

http://carpediemacreage.blogspot.com

Building Community: KICKSTARTER

I love the incredible community-building sites that the internet comes up with (like Homegrown or Ravelry). It's like all the ideas in my head can't even compete with some of the genius that Kick Starter has created space for. Kick Starter is a site that encourages YOU to fund up and coming creative projects. You pledge whatever amount you want and most of the time there's a bit of a kick back for you based on the amount you fund. It's a great idea for those with a big idea who need to get their hands on $$ to complete the project (or even get it started in the first place). And, while you need to be funded to your request amount (e.g. $5000) to get your "pay out", you can also be funded over the amount that's being requested AND only take the money if you need it. What I've really liked about Kick Starter is that even though I have only ever been a position to fund a small amount, I felt like I made a genuine contribution to something other than just tweeting about it or adding it to my favourites.

Speaking of favourites, here's my favourite kick starter projects, including some all time highs!

Vere Sandal Company


Vere is a company that saw the waste and bad environmental policies of overseas sandal making and decided they wanted to bring the manufacturing back the US and make good sandals as sustainably as possible. They utilized Kick Starter to raise the 12K they needed to fulfill their initial orders (and gave supporters things like custom sandals) and ended up raising over 56K! Incredible!

Becoming Visible

This series of portraits of homeless transgendered teens in NY is quite inspiring, but also an interesting project for opening the dialogue on youth and sexual orientation and some of the barriers they face when choosing to be who they identify as their true selves when their worlds and families deny that in them.

The Shape of Design by Frank Chimero

This book is one of the projects that I've helped "kick start". It's a compilation book that looks at design. now. It's a super exciting project and I was more than honoured to take part! Frank also met his fundraising goal by 415% !! Incredible!

WIP Wednesday!

It's the end of the day! Here's what I've been working on this week.

My Rikke Hat

KITCHEN: My life has been lax in the kitchen this week. We were out of town Sunday-Tuesday and we've eaten out so much. And then last night we had these 2 inch steaks (which were SO delicious, but I have yet to poo.. hmmm). I roasted some carrots to go with it and made a quick pasta, but the steaks. to. die. for. My friend Nick brought them over for the baby's birthday and he continuously poked each of them, on both sides, with a fork, really really fast. I was concerned the fork would go through his hand. And then he rubbed a bit of salt and pepper on them and drizzled on some Braggs and then they met the BBQ and then my MOUTH. so good. All that to say tonight we ate out b/c I was lazy (it's so expensive! I have to stop eating at restaurants!), and I have no idea what to make tomorrow. Suggestions? Something vegetarian please!

COMMUNITY: On Monday I was in Vancouver for work at a celebration and strategic planning of our program (it's got a provincial scope, but I'm working at the Port Alberni site). Anyway, a few things happened for me that day and things are starting to make more sense for me about the importance of culture (I always knew it was important to have, but now I really KNOW, you know?) in the work we do, but also that the most important way to make your community work succeed in a community is to build relationships. If that means I identify a difficult relationship for my project then I have to work extra hard to make sure that in two years I'm having Christmas Dinner with that person who resisted and had a difficult time with the project or letting us in. It means I do things for them, get to know people around them, get to know them beyond work, and honestly and sincerely appreciate a lot of things they do and support their work in our community. If I can build trust and a relationship with that person then they will support my project. Next time you're at work or in the community, chat someone up about something you know nothing about them. Invite them out for coffee. Or ask them if you can help them put together X for X event. Relationships (good ones at that) are key.

CRAFT: There's a new knitting store in town (!! yay !!) and today on my lunch break I went to their daytime stitch n bitch. It was so nice to see some faces I know and meet some new ones! I cast on a new hat (Rikke Hat) with some Noro yarn I picked up there a few weeks back when the shop opened. So nice to have a knitting group to go to!

Plastic Sucks (plus Homemade Yoghurt and Granola)

I hate plastic. In fact, I try to minimize the amount of plastic in my life. If you are concerned with your health and the environment, it is a good idea to do the same. It can be as simple as avoiding over-packaged food and household goods, single use shopping bags, and plastic water bottles. It just feels good to avoid the stuff. The recent scare over BPA prompted by the Canadian Government declaring it a toxic substance (did you know that MEC pulled all all the Nalgene bottles from their shelves?). The gov't has since stated that consumers aren't at risk, but has gone ahead and made it illegal to use BPA plastics for baby bottles. Hmm.

The introduction of low-cost plastic into households of the 50's is slightly scary. They used to think that plastic was inert (unable to change it's chemical makeup, no matter what), the perfect substance for, well, everything. We now know this not be the case, plastic changes over time, when heated, and if overused. The public is now cautioned not to heat plastic, though food and other plastic products that require heating are still available for purchase. Think microwave dinners and frozen portioned veggies in a bag, reheat and enjoy (cancer).

(yes, my cooler is plastic and i do get the irony)

Have you ever wondered why the top of your store-bought yoghurt looks perfect? It's because it wasn't just scooped in there in the factory. The hot yoghurt culture and milk was poured into that thin plastic container and then let to sit to cool before being put into the fridge and shipped to your local grocer's shelf.

If plastic freaks you out, try making yoghurt at home! Everyone will be surprised that you made yoghurt in your kitchen, but really, it's pretty easy. Most of the time making it is spent waiting for the bacterial culture to do it's work.

The yoghurt, if made with really fresh milk will last a crazy long time. Make this Granola and store it for eating all week long, though it'll last much longer than a week. Eat them together and have a great start to every day this week. Yum! Accompanied with a quart of homemade yoghurt the granola makes an awesome last minute gift for hosts, friends, and family.

Homemade Yoghurt

1. Pour milk into your jars, then into a large pot. This makes sure that you'll know exactly how much yoghurt you'll get in the end. Make sure to keep a tally of the amount of milk you are using, you'll need to know this when you measure out the culture you need. I prefer jars with wide mouths that seal well and can take high heat. Canning jars are perfect, though my favorites are Adams Peanut Butter jars.

Grab a few extra jars, maybe with smaller mouths, please use canning jars, these will hold boiling water.

2. Scald milk, bringing to 100-160F. A higher heat will pasteurize the milk.

3. Take out 1-2 cups of milk, turn off the heat.

Put on kettle full of water to boil.

Allow the smaller amount to cool to a lukewarm temperature,

4. Stir in the necessary amount of yoghurt culture powder.

The standard directions are to use one package for 1 quart.

5. Pour your boiled water into your jars (use the sink in case of a jar break or spill), place in cooler. Pour milk/yoghurt culture mixture into jars (again use the sink), place in cooler.

6. Do some math. Add about 5-7 hours to the time that you put the jars into the cooler

I like to make myself a note letting me know when it is done. This one says: "made at 2pm, done at 8pm, best at 10pm".

Put your cooler in a place where it won't get bumped. This will disrupt the culture and make your yoghurt suck.

When the time has elapsed, place the jars in the fridge and enjoy when cooled.

Yippie* Granola
regular recipe [less sugar recipe]

Usually granola recipes ask for fruit to be stirred in after cooling, but I find that this can turn dried fruit inedible. Besides, I like to add fresh fruit or berries when in season and I don't always want raisins on there, sometimes it's a fresh-picked-saskatoon-berries-on-my-cereal kind of a day. Also, dried fruit should probably be soaked before eating to give your digestive tract a bit of a break. So, take it easy on your bowels and add your favorite fruit right before eating.

Preheat oven to 350F

1. Mix in a huge bowl:

4 cups large flake oats
1 ¼ cup large flake dried coconut (unsweetened)
1 cup sunflower seeds
¼ cup flax seeds
1 cup hemp hearts

2. Mix in a smaller bowl:
½ cup sunflower oil or melted coconut oil
¼ cup warm water [less sugar recipe increase by 1/4cup]
2/3 cup honey [for less sugar recipe reduce by 1/3 cup]
1 tsp vanilla extract or syrup

3. Add wet mixture to dry mixture, mix well.

4. Split the granola onto two cookie sheets (jellyroll pans-with edges work the best because there is less mess). Checking every 5-10 min. and stirring every 10 min, bake for about 30 min total or until most coconut pieces are browned. Stir the granola after the cooking time is done, leave the works on the counter until cool.

5.Transfer into a huge (4L) glass food jar or smaller quart jars for sharing and gifting.

*Yuppie + Hippie = Yippie

Friday Favourites #9: tights!

My good friend Bryndis is not the kind of girl who wears pants, ever. She has a story about the last pair of pants she probably ever owned or wore (brown corduroys) and day in day out wore nylons and the cutest vintage dresses and skirts. After I had Seth and my body shifted (woo!) and none of my pants fit me like they used to, I decided to follow her lead and throw away all my pants. And I did! And now, day in day out, I too wear tights, and nylons, with skirts and dresses. Being "plus size" (I prefer to say, "a fattie"), there aren't many tights out there that fit me. Here's a round up of my favourite tights (at this moment) in a range of sizes. Right now I'm fantasizing about getting a light grey matte pair of nylons and drawing huge arrows up the front with sharpies... trying to figure out how not to get my legs all blackened with the marker first!

M.I.A. is the QUEEN of wicked tights. You can get some similar ones through here.

 

 

I really love these vertical zig zag tights from We Love Colors too! They come in 50 colours!

Bows on tights from Asos!

I die for Marc Jacobs in general, but these tights are so good.

And these ones! with the boots and long socks! and lace? nice. (courtesy of flickr).

Do you have a collection of bright tights? Or wish you had more tights? or are you an ardent pants wearer? XO