Author Archives: Rae Nudson

(plans for) a home sweet home

I’ve been talking more about my apartment lately, and that’s because I’ve been dressing up less and spending more time at home (blame Hurricane Sandy, I sure do). But I have big plans, you guys. BIG PLANS. Unfortunately, big plans cost big bucks, and I’m just not sure how to work this all into my budget.

Here’s a few shots of my kitchen and living rooms. (My bedroom is still too undone)

Here’s what I’d like to do:

for the living room/kitchen

  • get a cowhide rug for the living room, poking out from under the couch [$199]
  • buy (or make!) some giant, round crocheted round rugs for under the table and desk [$804 for total yarn, hopefully less to buy two rugs]
  • find a cool umbrella stand for next to my front door [?]
  • place a tiny table or shelf on the wall next to my front door, and maybe a home sweet home artwork or something of the sort [?]
  • print this gunslinger-inspired print for above my bookshelf [$30?]
  • buy and paint some crown molding to frame my full length mirrors [$20?]
  • get a chair for my kitchen table [$79.99]
  • and some folding chairs for guests [$67.96]
  • get more magnets to keep putting photo on my fridge/front door [$10]

for the bedroom

  • this handy craft to make a jewelry holder (i already have the frame) [free]
  • I’ve fallen in love with this duvet cover [$129]
  • paint screens to use as a headboard [maybe free, maybe about $30]
  • yet another round rug for next to the bed [?]

So, for my dream apartment so far, the grand total of things I still would like to get would be $1,369.95. Not including tax. Without the $800 rugs I am obviously not getting but including an estimate for real rugs, it is $765.95.

Oof. This will take some time. In the meantime, I’d like to make some purchases and keep shopping around. I’ll keep you posted.

art

I am trying to do a lot of things for my home this weekend, since I found out my office will be closed for a while and I’ll be working from home A LOT. (Sandy flooded my office, you guys. womp womp.)

I will share more apartment pictures soon so I can show you what it looks like now and the things I’d still like to do. But I have some wall space above a bookshelf where I put my TV, and I know I’d like to fill it up with a large piece of art. And I’d like to make that art, have it printed really large somewhere, and hang it up. Easy enough, right? (In theory.)

These two are my favorite designs so far, both simple, colorful, and based on books that have taken up a lot of my love and imagination. The first is based on the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. This refrain is repeated throughout the books, and the ka-tet group of friends travel through many of the worlds. The hat on the “r” is for the Gunslinger, one of the coolest men I’ve had the pleasure of reading about.

And this guy, I think you know.

I like these designs even if I don’t end up putting them on my wall, and I think I’ll play around with some more to see what else I can do.

What do you think?

sandy, of course

I’m losing my mind.

New York, I love you, and we’re struggling. It’s a mess out there. Half the city has no lights, people are desperately trying to get back to work and back to normal, and we can’t. It’s impossible.

I have it way way way better than most. I’ve got electricity, and my health, and my cat. We’re all good. And I’m still about to lose it. Work is a mess–we’re working from home the best we can, but systems are down, employees have no power, and our building was flooded. Plus, what train would take me to the city to work? I’m so thankful I have a job where I can work from home, and that my income doesn’t depend on a three-hour commute on a crowded bus. I’m very worried for people who need to get do a doctor, or refill a prescription. I’m just about out of food, and I’m a little afraid to enter the supermarket scene.

My friends are scattered. I’ve never felt this far away from them. We used to be separated by a quick train ride through a tunnel and now it feels like oceans. Might as well be. My friends downtown are still in the dark.

And what about those who lost their homes, and their loved ones? How do you even begin to pick up the pieces?

It’s gonna be a long road, New York. But what else can we do? You can see it on people’s faces: the exasperation, the tiredness. And also the kindness. My neighborhood bar isn’t able to have their usual menu, so they ordered everyone pizza. The coffee shop is crowded with people chatting, trying to get out of their house, get their life back together. Sandy is the only topic of conversation.

The worst might be over. But I am exhausted.

hurricane what? (also, screen printing)

It’s impossible to write/think/breathe without first talking about Hurricane Sandy. I can’t stop looking at pictures of flooded streets and damaged houses, and I really hope people are getting the shelter and help they need. I am one of the few who is doing well at home, with the power on. I am very grateful, and very lucky.

Last week, before I even started thinking about hurricanes, I took this really fun class on low-tech screen printing at Brooklyn Brainery.

 

 

Obvs, I printed an ampersand. It’s a bold simple design and you know I love type (and I already made a stencil of it for another project.)

Low-tech screen printing was VERY low tech. Which is great! I can def do it at home with just a few more cheap tools. We used:

  • Mesh fabric
  • An embroidery hoop
  • Clear plastic overhead paper to make a stencil
  • Something to cut out your stencil
  • Ink

And that was it! To get started we made a design onto our sheet of plastic (there is an official name for it, but I forget what it is).

After we cut it out, we stretched our mess fabric over our embroidery hoop to make a screen. Then, we taped our stencil to the screen. Using cardboard for a squeegee, we smoothed ink over our stencil and printed our design! That’s all it takes. Super fun, and now that I have a stencil I can make all the ampersand prints I want.

I did some tests on printer paper, and then printed on a tote bag. I can’t wait to try more designs! And if I’m stuck in my house for the next few days, which it looks like I will be, I can think of a TON of designs to try. Got any suggestions?

Also, if you, too, are stuck in Brooklyn, let me know. Let’s hang out. And if you need a shower and some internet, please let me know and come on over.

 

 

polka dots

I love polka dots.

 

Like a lot. So much so that I wore two kinds of polka dots at the same time. Whatchu think? I think it can be difficult to take a playful pattern and make it seem grown up. And I think the key is structure and fabric type.  A structured blazer looks like work, and a silk dress seems more adult than cotton.

Please excuse the wonky picture taking. I’m still working on things like having a tripod.

in my white tee

I was planning on writing about something else today, but it turns out I still can’t get The Casual Vacancy out of my head.

Or out of my fantasy closet.

I try to find inspiration in what I’m reading, and there is a lot to be found in this book. Even on how to dress. When Samantha Mollison gives into a crush on a boy band member and buys tickets to take her daughter to see the band perform, she dons a band T shirt, jeans, and heels.

T shirts are so great. They are so simple, and I love how they can add a fun, casual vibe to any outfit, even if you’re dressing up for a big night, like Samantha. With the help of Polyvore, see how I’d like to wear a T shirt for several occasions.

 

 

I’m going to try to have some real-life closet examples in the coming weeks. Do you turn to T shirts as a wardrobe staple? Or do you leave them for the gym?

the casual vacancy

I finished this book with a glass of wine and a box of tissues. My tears fell for the characters in  the book, and their injustices, their pain, and the knowledge that real-life people are going through the same, and worse.

This isn’t the first time J.K. Rowling has made me cry. Her themes of respect, friendship, and death are as apparent in The Casual Vacancy as they were in Harry Potter. The Casual Vacancy opens with the death of Barry Fairbrother, a member of the town council in Pagford. Just like with Harry’s mother, Lily Evans, we learn about Barry mostly through the way people speak of him. He is kind, perhaps to a fault. He is generous. He is smart, works hard, and cares for people less fortunate than him. People like Krystal Weedon, a high school student from the poor side of town who Barry takes under his wing.

The tale that follows Barry’s death is full of gossip in a small town, and how it affects the city council election for Barry’s now open spot. There’s gossip, bullying, drinking, drugs, affairs, and sex. But also HOW that gossip, bullying, drinking, drugs, affairs, and sex affect the people involved. Through Rowling’s beautifully crafted characters, you learn about the bully and bullied. You see both sides, and Rowling poses no judgement. She leaves that to you.

My favorite thing about this book, and the Harry Potter series, is how Rowling illustrates respect. Harry respects living creatures, no matter how small or insignificant. He sees what’s in their hearts and not the purity of their blood. In The Casual Vacancy, almost everyone does bad things. But who is a bad person? Is it a drug addict prostitute mother? Is it a man who cheats on his wife? Is it a teenager with every privilege who harasses people for sport? Rowling finds humanity in all of them, and in doing so, she reminds her readers to do the same.

I have a lot more thoughts about this book. Want to talk about it with me? Lemme know. Email me at raesdays [at] gmail.com, leave a comment, or hit me up on twitter @rclnudson. (And if you’re my sister, Dad said you were reading it–let’s talk soon!) See what else I’m reading on Goodreads.

still messy

Ok you guys, honestly, I think I’m still recovering from moving. How long do I get to use that as an excuse for my house being a mess?

Anyway, I’ve got an Ikea trip planned and I’m having a housewarming soon, so I am trying to get thing into shape before then. Here’s a sneak peek, please forgive the clutter.

I got a couch. And someone realllllly likes it.

And now I’m off to coffee and furniture shopping! And later I have a date with Jay Z. Happy Saturday.

 

yellow

Necklace and bag from H&M. Shoes from Zara. T shirt from Topshop. Skirt from JC Penneys.

It’s been fantastic fall weather in New York the past few days (except for that crazy wind and rain yesterday, which quite literally blew me away), so I turned to some fall colors. Mainly a deep yellow. (I wouldn’t quite call it mustard. Suggestions are welcome.)

I paired this not-quite-mustard yellow skirt with one of my favorite T shirts. I love gray. It’s a soft, comfortable color and it goes with everything. And because I dressed it up with a necklace and skirt, I totally got away with wearing a T shirt to work. When it got chilly, I threw on a black pashmina. All that was missing from my fall ensemble was a pumpkin spice latte. Or a pumpkin beer.

Other ways I wore this skirt here and here.

gone girl

Have you read Gone Girl yet? It’s pretty great. A quick read–easy to get into with twists and turns all over the place. Nick and Amy are a sweet couple (or are they?) who live in New York and relocate to Nick’s hometown in Missouri to take care of family (or do they?). And on their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy disappears under mysterious circumstances. I don’t want to give anything away, but I’d recommend reading it and then we can talk about it all we want! Until then, here’s what I picture Nick and Amy wearing.

Amy is blond, beautiful, and a pretty cool girl. And in the fall in Missouri, I bet she holds on to her New York style but still looks her put-together best.

Nick is gorgeous (of course) and laid back. He runs a bar with his twin sister Margo, and sometimes teaches college classes on journalism. He could easily go from his office to the bar without breaking a sweat.

Have you read it? Let me know what you think!