Shop Update

Introducing the cotton jersey series. In order to shake things up and try out some new (warm weather appropriate) materials, I've started working with cotton jersey yarn to make new necklaces and bracelets for the shop.

To start each piece in this series, I first generate the cotton jersey yarn from a repurposed old t-shirt. The yarn is then knit or braided (still using my crochet hook in most cases ;) into a unique style and sometimes mixed with industrial nuts, spacers, or couplers (i've been raiding the local hardware stores). The end result is a completely novel and one of a kind piece. So if you like it, make sure you snap it up! Because once it's gone it's gone. Each piece will be numbered and listed shortly after it's made.

Last night I got 8 new items listed and there are more coming today and over the weeks to come. hope you guys enjoy ;)

friday!

thank goodness it is friday! cannot wait for the weekend :)

and i cannot wait to go see the new Jane Eyre adaptation on sunday with my sister. it's both of our favorite novel and i'm such a sucker for any costume drama with british accents.



look for a shop update sunday! can't wait to post all the new stuff i've been working on.

what are you up to this weekend?

i love this right now. (from bark decor)

little bit of this and that.

marielle crewneck // lulu pullover

1. so i pretty much need to own this entire line: Cardigan by Lynne Hiriak
(this model also really makes me want to keep growing my hair out)

2. these muffins might not turn out too pretty, but man they taste good (and they're vegan!). cranberry citrus burst muffins @vegetarian times

3. the fabulous beekman boys are back! and they are coming to terrain next month ;)

4. i watched Waiting for Superman this weekend and i'm still thinking about! highly recommend.

5. i'm sort of in love with these beaded beauties by a lovely, little shop. chelsea is both awesome and throwing a sale (enter FLORAL15 at checkout to save 15%)!

natural mystic // three little birds

recycled jersey necklaces

i got a little crafty today and decided to repurpose an old college t-shirt into yarn and make one of my laurel necklaces out of it. it was a lot of fun, even though bits of cotton jersey are all over my office now. i'm thinking this will be a nice way to slowly cut down on the boy's obscene t-shirt collection (seriously, why do boys have soo many t-shirts? and why won't they part with them?!).

undecided if i'm going to list this first charcoal grey creation in the shop yet. i'm sort of smitten ;)

(and yes i wear that ridiculous brightly printed sweatshirt all the time right now ;)

scenes from sunday.

enjoying a nice lazy sunday watching tv and petting the cat. the boy brought home some beautiful lilies the other day and they smell lovely today ;)

hope you all are enjoying the end of the weekend. i'll be making up some new stuff all day and hopefully post by tonight!

helping japan.

i've been hesitant to mention Japan here on the blog. it is such a devastating situation and my heart has been breaking for all affected all week (i've been listening to npr non-stop), i just really don't know what to say.

deciding to donate is a totally personal decision but i decided i would point out a few nice ways to get involved today ;)

>>> Forever21 is donating 100% of all online sales today (purchases made before 1159pm EST)

>>> you can purchase the above bracelet from Upper Metal Class on etsy and 100% will be donated to the Animal Refuge Kansai, a very worth cause

>>> donations can be made directly to the Red Cross by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999. a $10 donation will be made and will appear on your next phone bill.

all the best lovelies. have a wonderful weekend ;)

spring cleaning SALE!

there is just waaaay too much yarn crowding up my apartment these days! in honor of spring treat yourself to 15% OFF everything over at the oh.just.jess etsy store ;) just enter MARCH15 at the checkout.

i've also been really inspired lately so look out for new jewelry coming soon. i'm excited to work with yarn in new ways and i think you'll like what's on the way!

what i want right now...

1. isosceles necklace by stone&honey
2. geometric triangle necklace by a spoonful of mint
3. syno necklace by tree & kimball
4. silver flag necklace by edor
5. herringbone bracelet by bario-neal

some historical inspiration

absolutely love this daily schedule from Benjamin Franklin.
wouldn't be a bad way to refocus and prioritize during a stressful week ;)

printed in his Autobiography and Other Writings
via SwissMiss

happy π day!

Pi is Infinitely Tasty card by the frantic meerkat

1. how to turn π into music
2. nothing beats traditional apple pie
3. except for maybe irish car bomb whoopie pies

Portlandia & Happy Weekend

Happy weekend! Today has been glorious already with beautiful weather, an amazing brunch out with my cousins (and there adorable baby), and then discovering Portlandia on demand. This show is HiLARIOUS. It's sketch comedy from Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein that skewers the Portland hipster culture, see above for laughter.

yoga (for less)

i love yoga (specifically bikram yoga - the hot one) but i'm the first to admit it's not the cheapest workout (classes near where i work are $14 a piece!). and yet i still pay for 90 minutes of glorious beneficial torture multiple times a week. it really is the best thing i do for myself.

so i thought i would share my tips for being a stylish and frugal yogi:

1. did you know that Forever 21 sells active wear? i got both of these adorable sports bras recently for a steal! they are ideal for a low impact sport like yoga and are so cute i get excited to head over to the studio to show them off.

2. sure you could head to lululemon and spend a lot on a great yoga mat. or you could head over to TJ Maxx or Marshalls (US bargain stores) for a steal on the same quality mat. i recently scored a great new mat with a carrying strap for $10!

3. for hot/bikram yoga i find that a great pair of moisture wicking shorts are essential. for as much as you sweat you really want to avoid absorbent cotton at all costs. these styles are available from athleta (for $34!) and lululemon. i scored some great shorts at an Aerie outlet for $2.50 each (NO JOKE), but it appears they have recently discontinued their line of activewear :(

4. fabric headbands are a lifesaver! i usually wear one during class and then throw a nice dry one on for the walk home. these great bright colors are from scunci and can be picked up at your local drug store for $5 a set.

5. hydration is key before and during class. to add a little something extra to my ice water, i always mix in a splash of Ceres passion fruit juice. SO REFRESHING. this juice is from south africa and can be found at most grocery stores for around $4.

wedding planning.

customized wedding cake topper by lollipop workshop.

so i am to be wed this upcoming october and i have to admit that i am a bit of a reluctant bride. don't take this the wrong way, i am marrying the absolute dream man and my best friend and after 6+ years together it is about time ;) i suppose i just find the whole big wedding ordeal a little silly and a lot stressful (try telling your future mother in law to trim down her friends list by about 20 people, eek!) but i do really love the tiny fun details and so i'm going to start sharing some of my planning here on my blog.

the best place to start then is with one of the first purchases that i made after getting engaged: a personalized cake topper. now this might seem ridiculous, but i was so excited about it! and then it came and was beyond my expectations. i just love my boy's red beard and the little fall leaf accents ;) it will be even better a top our wedding cake that will be furnished by my cousin's wife, a very talented cake artist and baker ;)

the fashion tuban.

1. Babooska Boutique / 2. gotta ask ashley / 3. thefutureoffrances / 4. Urban Outfitters

Heavily debating this style. I like it but don't know if I could actually pull it off... any thoughts?

weekend casual.

i LOVE the weekend. there's nothing better than sleeping in, enjoying a leisurely brunch, and going food shopping (i LOVE food shopping) on a lazy saturday. these are my current picks for a steller saturday and sunday.

1. valiant tote bag by fabric & handle. this bold purple tote has such a cute adjustable strap and would be perfect for weekend errands.

2. urchin lace sweatshirt by sealmadien. this sweatshirt looks beyond comfy and the screenprinted drawing is perfectly suited to the shirt.

3. deco shell earrings by upper metal class. these earrings would add a little something to any casual outfit. i just love this seller and have been dying to order again from them ;)

4. toms in grey stone-washed twill. so i know these are not very elegant or fashionable shoes, but i don't care when they are as comfy as they are. they are the perfect shoes to slip on after yoga and would look great in this washed out grey.

the boy and i enjoyed the lovely weather this past saturday and went to the zoo! even though they are slightly sad, i really do love going and seeing all the animals (and learning all about them ;) it is slightly hilarious though to be the only people there without children, but i am probably just as amazed over a gorilla as a three year old.

oh and they had a BABY ORANGUTAN. cutest. animal. ever.

also there was this interesting piece on NPR yesterday about flamingos mysteriously falling from the sky in Siberia (seriously!). check it out! (i heart npr ;)

shake off the mondays.

just what i needed to get out of my monday funk. LOVE this. shake it yorke.

showing off my martenitsa

i shot some new pics of the Ellsworth cowl in citron yellow today since i have been wearing it non-stop in yellow and wanted to show off its versatility as a perfect accessory for the spring transition ;) and i also get to show off my martenitsa.

and what the heck is this you might ask. my lovely bulgarian co-worker shared her country's tradition of welcoming the spring and hoping for a fruitful harvest by wearing these lovely red and white bracelets. i'm supposed to now wear this bracelet until i see a stork (?) and then tie it to a blooming tree. not sure if there are storks in the tri-state area, but i figure that my friend is having a baby in 4 weeks, so that should count ;)

hooray for march!

SKY BLUE.

I recently completed a custom order for a mildred necklace in lovely sky blue. the color was so great and perfect for spring, so i had to add to the shop. sadly it was not so spring-like early this morning when i had a little freezing cold photo shoot.

in other news, i just enrolled in my first art class in years! i am really excited. so this spring every week i will be attending silkscreening classes at the art center around the corner from my apartment ;) maybe this will lead to new creations for my shop, who knows. it will just be fun to have time set aside to create and learn a new skill.

tweeting!

ok so i have no idea what this whole thing is about, but i am now on twitter! i'm currently following like 5 people, but one of these is charlie sheen, so it's awesome already.

follow me, i'll try and be clever ;)
ohjustjess@twitter

also i have like 10 amazing followers but i would love to do a giveaway!
any suggestions on what it should be for?

Tennis - the band, not the sport

i'm seriously in love with this song Marathon by Tennis

they are playing in philly on friday at a small venue and i'm pretty psyched :)

also i've been working on bracelets! they are 100% cotton and looking cute. more cottom items are in the works for spring/summer. i've also had some mildred necklace orders this week in custom colors. one in particular is in a sky blue i'm thinking of adding to the shop. photos soon!

march is here!

bright blue vintage romper at zwzzy
oh my, the sun is out and march is here. it's soo sunny here today and its so cruel being trapped inside. and while it isn't super warm out yet (its 45F here), it is getting warmer.

i'd still love a vacation to a beach somewhere. and that romper to wear ;)

a nerdy sidebar.

so during the day i work in a lab. yes, i am a huge scientist nerd. i thought i would share a lovely snapshot i took of a malaria parasite in a red blood cell. in blue you see its DNA and in green you see the lovely protein that i work on tagged with green fluorescent protein and glowing. and yes, i work with blood and parasites and no, i cannot get malaria at work.

experimental research is pretty frustrating at times (when nothing ever works) but i still genuinely love science and hope to one day teach at the college level (and of course continue to crochet and create ;) my new etsy shop has really given me a nice distraction from the long stressful haul of graduate school and served as a wonderful creative outlet.

dreaming of a madewell shopping spree...

pictured: the stripy coco mariniere pullover, the leather sandstorm boot, the park bench fedora, and the scenic route shirtdress

sadly i am a very broke grad student, but if i were to have a real job and real income i would be headed to Madewell for a serious shopping spree this spring! they have pretty amazing shoes and classic styles and even worse a new store located outside of philly ;)

OSCARS!

it's oscar sunday! i'm always a little excited to watch these silly awards shows and see who wins and what they wear. the promos with james franco and anne hathaway have been pretty funny, so i have high hopes for them. i also LOVE reading the Fug Girls live blog the red carpet coverage, it's always hilarious.

Here are my picks:
best picture - the king's speech
best actor - colin firth (swoon)
best actress - natalie portman
supporting actor - christian bale
supporting actress - melissa leo

what were your favorite movies this year?

i just LOVE

Parks and Recreation. seriously this is the funniest thing on tv.
i like to DVR it so i can watch it again while i get ready for work friday morning ;)

and Paula Deen. this woman is insane. i'm pretty sure she's currently drunk on the Today show and she was on Top Chef this week and ate FRIED MAYONNAISE.

HAPPY FRIDAY :)

moving into march.

spring is coming but its still a transition through residual snow fall, windy days, and chilly temps. i'm ready for some warmer weather but i'm also trying to enjoy the remaining days of winter by making lots of soup (white bean and broccoli, yum), drinking tea, and trying to rotate through all my favorite scarves and winter coats.

i'd have to say i would be at a loss without the four seasons ;)

the help.

i'm currently half way through reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett and i'm really enjoying it so far. apparently they are making a movie version with Emma Stone in the lead role. it should be interesting to see her in a more serious role (i seriously love her in Easy A) but this early look of her in character cracks me up (the girl she's playing, Skeeter, is not supposed to be all that attractive).
has anyone else read this book? thoughts?

UPDATE - finished the book this morning (whilst sitting in my car waiting for the shuttle to work :) highly recommend. great characters and it really shies away from contrived cheesy resolutions. hoping the movie version will be as good.

recent etsy buys (and gifts!)

2 Tone Tote in Herringbone by Infusion
i'm such a sucker for tweed and this bag is perfect for everyday use. the construction is great and the material itself is so very soft. luckily i got this one as a recent gift ;)

Charmed Pin by BROOKLYNrehab
i bought this one as a little gift for myself after i got my first sales. it looks great with scarves (and even the "scarf-laces" i make ;) the packaging it came in was also amazing and i highly recommend buying from Andrea.

Prologue Epilogue prints
by Restless Things
i am such a fan of Olivia's work. these prints are beautiful and look excellent framed as a set.

dancing at my desk.

gold motel - safe in LA

i am currently obsessed with this song. every time it comes on the radio i have a little dance party at my desk. makes me super excited for sunny day driving with the windows down.

it's going to be 66 degrees tomorrow in philly ;)

new!

introducing the Laurel crocheted necklace.
clearly nautical inspired ;)

i just love naming new creations! all the names actually come from street names in philadelphia (most in my own neighborhood). i love love this city and like making a little nod to it in my shop :)

it also is hilarious to get up early, dress up, and march out on to my back porch for a self run photo shoot. my neighbors must seriously think i'm crazy. (or as my friend suggested, think i'm working really hard on my online dating profile ;)

more spring-like crocheted creations to come!

feeling fancy.

a few nights ago, the boy and i set up this lovely cheese spread for no reason in particular (well maybe because i had splurged on some wonderful cave aged Gruyere at whole foods ;). it felt nice to feel a little fancy and special on a week night.

also i just love love the Pennsylvania cheese board from AHeirloom. we actually gifted boards to a few friends this christmas and then were lucky to receive one of our own ;)

happy valentine's day :)

I hope that you all have a lovely valentine's day! i've decided to actually put a dress on for work today to celebrate the occasion (seriously, this is ground breaking stuff, haha). sadly my valentine is on call tonight so i'm thinking me and the cat will snuggle up and watch a nice rom com after work ;) i hope you all have more exciting plans than me! (i'm thinking it might have been nice to have back-up this year in the form of boyfriend in a bottle ;)

also i've been working on new crocheted bow belts. still working out the kinks, but i'm going to debut my own with my dress today. hopefully they will get in the shop soon. i'm just finding it hard to navigate custom sizes and i'm still testing out different methods of closure. i think i've settled on and eye and hook, but its hard to make it look somewhat nice ;) sometimes i wish i had a better foundation in sewing! but i knotted the belt itself, which is cute and also allows for some size customization.

also these love stories on the etsy blog today are so sweet!

mmm cake.

cake in a cup!
this weekend i made a trip out to the Whipped bakery in north philadelphia and boy was it worth it! pictured is the most amazing cake in a cup they sell (almond cake bite sized pieces sandwiched with raspberry icing - heaven!). we also got cupcakes (all AMAZING) and brought them over to a friend's for dessert ;) i'm thinking now maybe almond cake with raspberry icing would make a pretty awesome wedding cake combo...

while they don't have the cake in a cup online, you can purchase from Whipped over on their etsy site!

tonight i have a couple orders to complete (seriously?! this is all still amazing) and some serious quality time to spend with my couch.

ahh love!

love ever after by laura fleishman

this photography series is just beautiful and made me cry a little.
forgive me for being a little sentimental, but i'm celebrating 6 wonderful years with the boy today :)
fancy dinner tonight! can't wait to wear heels and lipstick ;)

guilty pleasures.

my current vices.
i just LOVE ciao bella passion fruit sorbet. i seriously need to stop buying it because it keeps disappearing a little too quickly... and while i can't eat it, mango body butter from the body shop seriously smells and feels so divine. thank goodness they had the jumbo size on special yesterday so i could order more ;)

and i will totally admit that i still love gossip girl. who doesn't want to dress like blair?? and the allegro (whole foods brand) green tea with pomegranate has been a life saver while i've been sick. its absolutely delicious with copious amounts of honey (did you know that honey not only soothes a sore throat but has antimicrobial properties?).

ok lovelies, i'm home sick again today but im determined to rest up and feel better! i'm off to grab a wellness tea from the cute shop around the corner. i'm gonna bring my yarn along and work on some new designs :)

cary grant. swoon.

i just adore an old movie (and mr. cary grant :)

North by Northwest really cracks me up with its saucy dialogue and thrilling climax on top of mount rushmore of all places. sigh, they really don't make them the way that they used to ;)

also i would kind of kill for mr. grant's shades...

wedding dreams.

aren't these flowers beautiful?
and they are made of paper! i saw them on Martha Stewart today and couldn't get over how lovely they were. i would love to have such beautiful arrangements on my wedding day. and the best part, they would last forever!

hmm if only i could afford custom floral design from the green vase...

stupid cold :(

Triangles by heatherfuture. (love it)

gross. have a cold and sore throat and my ears really hurt. had full intentions of making it to work then a coughing fit sealed the deal and i'm back in my pjs. i think the cat is happy to have the company :)

ok time to get more sleep, indulge in passion fruit sorbet, and watch some DVR'd law and order svu.

also here's my latest treaury:
clean laundry.

happy sunday :)

mmm food. currently enjoying some eggs for breakfast.

this sunday is all about getting seriously organized, cleaning, and making some food for the week. currently on the menu is black bean and spinach lasagna and lentil soup. i just love freezable dishes, perfect for the overworked ;)

later tonight i'm catching The King's Speech finally with my sister. cannot wait to spend some quality time with mr. firth!

front page!

In the wee hours of the night one my Fitzwater scarves (and brooding fiance) made the front page of etsy! Exciting stuff :) And I also just sent off four lovely packages in the mail!

Heading out of the day job early today to drive down to Baltimore for an overnight (isn't there something strangely romantic about staying away in a hotel?). I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

*update* - same item made another front page appearance last night :)

late night.

up late completing orders :) and catching up on last week's saturday night live with jesse eisenberg. and even though that boy is a good half a foot shorter than me, i totally adore. he's right up my nerdy boy alley.



but anyways, just need to share that i'm staying up late, crocheting, packaging and I'M SO HAPPY :)

*UPDATE - there's a Mr. Wizard sketch. MR WIZARD.
my childhood science hero!
ALSO my very first order just arrived in sunny Cali and i received the nicest conversation from my buyer! this new venture really is exceedingly rewarding and fun :) SWOON, first positive feedback :)

happy groundhog day!

breaking news: PHIL HAS NOT SEEN HIS SHADOW

on this icy gross day, any talk of an early spring is most welcome. well done little buddy.