Favorite New Website

Vimeo

The website itself is not new, just new to me. I cant really tell you how I happened upon it, links online are endless. But there is some very amazing creative people on this website, some professional some not. This is is my favorite that I have come across so far. The music and imagery are so beautiful.


The Ballad of Lettice Finding and Oscar Cutlet from Eric Power on Vimeo.

If You Have Not Already Heard!

H&M is going to have a home line, sold only online, starting early 2009!

Here is the link to the press release and some photos. Look very fun and hopeful!

Now when will they have clothing available online to the US?

P.S.

For the amount of time that I had from being informed I needed costume, work, and Thanksgiving. I think it turned out pretty good! After all I made it the morning of while trying to bake the biscuits, and the biscuits took a bigger sacrifice!

Thanksgiving was a great success and so were my dishes! I know how to cook but I am always a bit nervous when I am making things for the first time! Cross your fingers and bake!

I love Thanksgiving! How happy do you get just thinking about all the things you are thankful for?!

Salute to Navy

If economic times were not causing me to pinch pennies for the time being this would be my winter into spring color of the year. It is so classic and I would wear it over black any day!

NAVY

More then half this stuff is from Stell McCartney, its just such wonderful design, they always actually look ready to wear to me.

Pilgrims and Indians

I logged into my email today only to see one of the most exciting emails I have gotten in a long time. It informed me that a costume had pretty much become mandatory at my Thanksgiving Day gathering... I have been looking for an excuse to wear feathers and this is my chance!

(image by kat heyes)

Ok I know, I know, but his head dress really is awesome! (apparently the guy next to him is a pilgrim... he could have at least had a collar!)

(image from digitalmeatloaf.com, yes really)

I forgot to mention when I was at the flea market last Saturday I got a framed (what it says is) steel engraved etching of the Mayflower for $3.00! Its lovely and I picked it because I love images of old colonial looking ships, I did not realize it was the Mayflower till later.

Tis the season!

People

I am really realizing about myself that I am strongly influenced in life by the people that I am surrounded with. Weather it be in style of clothing, life decisions, or how I feel about myself, they play an enormous part. They are a big part of influencing what I love in my life.

Heather is someone who has had one of the biggest impacts on my life. Her years of wisdom vastly exceed my mere 23. She never tells me that I am doing the wrong thing or that I should have done it differently, mainly that I should be strong in my decisions and what I feel and go with my instincts. I have really learned over the last year plus since I have know her that instincts are a great thing, they are confidence in yourself. So she is influencing me again and I am stealing her 100 list idea, that she got from this.

Ill be interested myself to see what is on this list.

100 things in the world I love: (In no particular order)

1. letters
2. yellow
3. books
4. friends' music
5. movies
6. photography
7. Heather's and my texts
8. being pampered
9. seasons
10. memories of life in other cities
11. mistakes
12. Blueberry Tea
13. King's bloody mary

14. beaches
15. decorating bedrooms
16. silhouettes
17. children
18. dresses
19. light
20. fire place warmth
21. Scotty's phone calls
22. yoga
23. bathing suits
24. notebooks
25. the subway
26. NYC
27. tattoos
28. beards

29. pecan pie
30. record players
31. coffee
32. tradition
33. costume parties
34. lists
35. mementos from childhood
36. walking
37. tea
38. blogs
39. lipstick
40. my bed
41. fresh baked cookies
42. visiting grandparents
43. other cultures
44. crepes
45. painting walls
46. flea markets/vintage stores
47. Dad's cooking
48. owls
49. high waisted pants
50. museums
51. parks
52. bowling
53. 1521 26th Ave.
54. J.G. Melons hamburger and fries
55. riding the JMZ into Manhattan

56. annual New Years dress
57. Ballard weekends
58. kisses
59. dinner with friends
60. red wine
61. dates
62. pencils
63. Japanese food
64. feathers
65. smiles
66. weekend trips
67. taxidermy
68. Diane Arbus
69. red, white, and blue
70. my job
71. old trucks
72. smooth legs
73. blankets
74. heals
75. Hazelwood
76. hydrangeas
77. country side

78. falling houses in feilds
79. showers
80. garlic
81. backyard bbqs
82. my rain boots
83. fairs
84. hammocks
85. amber
86. grapefruit
87. lotion
88. gold
89. impressionist painting room at the MET
90. sausage
91. shrek sandwhich
92. cardigans
93. magazines
94. large floral prints
95. colonial styled ships
96. Josie's lasagna

97. TV shows on DVD
98. zebra rugs
99. bubble gum cigars
100. chandeliers

Silhouettes

I almost forgot I started a project last week drawing silhouettes, it is in its beginning stages but is quite fun to do. Most of the first ones I did were birds... this was my favorite, hung it on my wall.

I am trying to figure out what shorts of images work as silhouettes, then I can start making them look more final. I love this one also. Its from a photo I took this summer of my dear friend Josie creating a human sprinkler to cool himself off. Makes me smile!

Do not be surprised if you come to visit and I want to trace and take pictures of your lovely head!

Bird Talk

One thing that I have noticed since I moved to NY is that I hardly ever see birds other then pigeons anymore. Along with that realization has come a fondness for items that do have birds on them. This dress made me squirm with excitement and I feel normally it would not be something that would catch my eye.

Midnight Migration Sheath from Anthropologie

Then at the flea market this weekend I saw these two framed water color images and without a thought decided that I needed to buy them for my parents for Christmas. ( I can talk about this because my parents do not read my blog.) I love them so much! Really beautifully frame and they were so inexpensive!

I have been wanting to make some feather necklaces recently and then I saw this amazing image and now I cant find the feathers I am looking for fast enough!

It is by an artist named Kat Heyes. She takes some amazing photographs and does some great illustration work.

Last night I had a dream about this dress I saw online a long time ago and wanted so bad. But in this dream I was surrounded by owls in a dark mold covered forest and my hair was long... dreams.

I have always loved certain pieces by Tsumori Chisato, this one especially.

As I mentioned in my last blog I have been on a search for a black swan print, did not find it last weekend but maybe a switch of flea market location will help this next weekend. Not sure what all this bird talk means but I like it.

YES WE CAN

In theme of the new direction that our country is going in, I am changing the direction of my blog. Being in NY now I am way more inspired by things then I have ever been. I figure it would be more entertaining for you, and beneficial to me to blog about these such things that inspire me.

Lately my focus has been what I am going to do with my room. It is a small space, as most NY spaces are, but since I moved in with people who were already living in the apartment it is the only space that is truely mine in the apartment. I figure room decoration will be a great project for the quickly approaching winter.

#1: I have a problem with white walls most of the time, so I think the first step is painting. I am beginning to head in a slightly different direction of taste recently so my simple brown/yellow/white pallet is no longer going to work. Plan is just more color, in rich tones. But the walls in a small space like this is a very important decision and I had been struggling, until I saw the page color of the Smythson company.

This company is amazingly classic. I will have to stick to the Moleskine for the time being due to cost, so starting with Smythson inspired wall paint will have to do!

#2: Bedding. I will keep the white sheets. With sheets I love the look and feel of the crisp white. The comforter is yellow which will stay but I need a throw that is much more rich in blues and maroons. I am continually inspired by the feel of Anthropologie but they still never have quite what I am looking for. I have been visiting the Chelsae flee market and thrift shop after thrift shop in search. It will show up soon I know.

What I am visualizing would look great with these pillows from Anthropologie.

#3: The biggest part of this whole process, that will definitely be an ongoing project. Wall decorations. I was taken into this shop recently in the Upper East Side called Marckle Myers. It is amazing and I could and have and will continue to be lost in this shop. The lady has owned the place for 16 years and is extremely knowledgeable on the subject. What started out as an endeavor to please her mother turned into a life long hobby. While most are extremely rare and expensive she has been kind enough to include a $25 dollar section of her store. Inspired by Weston $25 print, $10 mat cut, less then $20 frame from the flee market = and beautiful piece for the wall in about $50. My goal however is a black swan, she has one, but it is not quite what I am looking for.
#4: This inspired me greatly! Not that there is one place that I eat at all the time but that I love food and trying new places! So I decided that I would find my own Manhattan/Brooklyn map and start marking places I have eaten and loved to help me keep track. Although I have a note book that gets taken with me everywhere to write things down eventually that notebook gets full and a new one arrives or notes get lost in other notes.

This image is from an awesome website called thesleby.com. All sorts of inpiration to be had there.

#5: Of course I will have my normal inspirational wall section where I tack up images from current magazines I love, etc.

#6: My room is small but I need some sort of small desk area. Just a little dark brown table that will sit flush against the wall with a little chair to match. Simple and small. Something great like a long thin old cutting board.

#7: I put new lightbulbs in my room so it would look like summer! I love light and with winter approaching it need it, but I might have gone overboard! Now I want to get some amazing vintage light fixtures.

#8: The last project is a head board. Being who I am I will be determined to make it on my own. I want it to all be wood I think dark wood. I saw something similar to what I am thinking once in a Greenpoint loft space, the girl did her whole wall. I need to brainstorm this one I have been searching for inspirational photos all day and not finding.

It is a good thing I am headed to the flee market tomorrow. Maybe i can find some of these things I am looking for and bargain for them!

City Lady

My firend Weston Wells took some great photos of me... I thought I would share them with you all. Dont forget to check out his website. westonwells.com







Ash was here, I will have to post a Halloween photo this weekend.

Chapter 23

Wow how the chapters turn in life. I like that they keep moving but sometimes I want them to go on for a few more pages. New ones beginning. Miss Dorr will be here in a few days. I can't wait for a little home to come to me in NY! We have Halloween extravaganza, a concert, and much shopping to do!

I just finished my last day of antibiotics! I am hoping I am better, I can't handle being sick any longer! It's time to get down to business here.

I live here.

Obama is everywhere... don't forget to vote please!
(For whoever you want!)


Banksy

And then there is Mika

America

I need to stop reading books about American History. I am on my second in a row and with the addition of the elections... I might move to some tropical place and cook other people food for the rest of my life, while doing their laundry on the side and whatever else to live comfortably and be tan.


Very good book, kind of exciting actually at parts with the battle descriptions. But what I have more then realized is that it once again glamorized history. It is always more gruesome.

Now I am on to this much loved and equaled hated novel:

This one is trying to cover all the gruesome details! I know that America is not the only country built by people with a desire to rule at any life's expense, must countries were built this way, but it still makes it hard to be proud.

P.S.

I am still sick and headed for the doctor again tomorrow. Yes a different doctor then the last one. I developed a sinus infection for sure over the last few days, so I am thinking I will call the last doctor and yell into the phone, "Asthma my ass!!" I want my money back.

On a lighter note I backed oatmeal raisin cookies for my roommate, after being her for over five years she has yet to master american baking... but I am more then happy to make the treats for her. While I was at it I made a vegetable soup from scratch with no recipe! Its tastes great!

Good night.

Daily Oatmeal with Dark Brown Sugar

Routines are setting in as the one month mark approaches. I am at that point where somethings are becoming very normal but other things still remain foreign and confusing.

I am really enjoying my apartment. My roommates are both from Istanbul and very sweet people. We were blessed with the positive side of craigslist. Thanks goodness. Its big place and well worth what I pay especially since usually not only is your room small but so is the rest of your place. I have a smaller room but not that small and the rest of the place is very nice and open.

(There is a hallway to the right of this image that leads to the front door and stairs to the bedrooms.)

I have discovered my new coffee shop. I am not totally convinced it is the most convenient for on the way to work, its a few stops past the subway, but it is so far the best americano and biscotte combination I have come across in this city. It is a little place called El Beit. Very cute little place with bar seating at the front that opens to the street and a courtyard in the back with plenty of space. I must admit there is a coffee shop across the street from my place I have yet to try (it more of a cafe) because it is not open when I leave for work and by the time I get home it is so packed with boys that stare and try and make eye contact I am afraid to go in!

(Image taken form someone elses blog... everytime I have been in it has been to crowded. Also I must compliment the wide angle used. It makes the place look way larger then it is.)

Williamsburg is turning out to be more then I could have asked for. Especially the location that I live. I was so sick when I looked at places I did not realize everything I was getting! Also it is so close to the subway to Manhattan I can easily head there for the favorite I found while living in the East Village. Everyone know I am a lover of food and that my day usually relies upon pampering my tummy. There are so many places to go here it is crazy, I have yet to discover some things I will really love I think, until then here are the top:

1. El Beit
2. Wild Ginger (Vegan Pan-Asian)
3. Potato Cafe (This plac is out of this world great!)
4. Gellato (this is Japanese I swear! I could not find it online but it was great!)
5. Baci & Abbracci (Inexpensive wood fired pizza, yeah! Even the good pizza is inexpensive here!)
6. Crooked Tree (I want to eat here every day.)
7. Penny Licks (my oh my sweets galore)

Ok thats all for now! I shall continue my search on freewilliamsburg.com for more lovely eats.

jessicasoga.com

YES! So jessicasoga.com officially no longer says "coming someday". Its here! There is not much on it at the moment have a few things that are not internet ready yet but will make it soon, but it is a great start.

Thank you, thank you Alex for all your help!

Note: If you have tired to look at it before and when it loads it still say "coming someday" hit the refresh button, cookies get in the way.

NYC Update

1. I have been really sick since I got here.
2. I have somehow through this found a room to rent in an awesome loft in an awesome location in Williamsburg. I move in tomorrow.
3. I had an awesome interview for some freelance work today. Looks very promising.
4. Been doing a bit of babysitting to keep busy while I make solid connections. Baby chocked a bit today and I realized I forgot how to do baby CPR, homework time.
5. Got seriously lost in scary Brooklyn a few days in and cried.
6. Have grown up and figured out my way around, no longer feel lost, will no longer cry.
7. Discovered awesome $6 manicures.
8. Miss everyone so so much but must be honest, and do not be jealous I have made some friends.
9. Got to see Chris play at an awesome venue, seriously cool.
10. Found amazing vintage shopping. Seattle has some good stuff but this place... WOW! (Thanks Chris)
11. Cant for the life of me figure out what to be for Halloween.... help? But Ashley will be here and that will be amazing.
12. Scotty comes to visit in November!!!!
13. I am most likely coming home for a few days around Christmas!
14. Did I say I miss everyone so much?

Love
Jessica

oh wait:
15. I have yet to have a good cup of coffee... there are lots of places but they are not good. New goal to find one within a few blocks of my new place for easy on the way to work pickup when it is freezing in February.


Oh wait this also!!
16. New haircut.

New Life, Missing Bits of The Old

I am sad to say I have been totally horrible about keeping up on this blog. But to my defense when lots of great things are happening I just do not think to blog, although there is lots to blog about.

I have made the move to NYC about a week and a half ago. Heather wrote a bit about my going away party and posted some pictures. Thank you so much to everyone that came to say good bye to me. It was an extremely fun night and much appreciated!

I had a wonderful last job in Seattle, although it was actually in San Diego. Lots of fun... little bits of work. I will miss the Cutter & Buck crew and my rap buddy buddy sing-a-longs.

I have finally begun to adjust to this immensely large city. Does not help that I appear to have some sort of respiratory sickness (bronchitis?) and have spent much of my time passed out sick in bed! But I did manage to somehow find myself an apartment in an amazing loft with some complete strangers who seem quite nice! All very exciting.

I made my way up to the Guggenheim Museum today to see the Louise Bourgeois exhibit, which was very inspiring and beautiful. I love going to art exhibits for the main reason that when you go you usually see something that you do not like. I am not sure why but there is something inspiring about art that I visually dislike being displayed at the Guggenheim. Maybe you will like her though, check it out: Catherine Opie I could not find an official website for her but most of those images were on display. However I really did like her freeway series but they were completely different then the rest of the exhibit.

Guggenheim Favorites of the day: (Images not from the actual exhibit)

Louise Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois


Louise Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois

Catherine Opie: freeways series

Woman Ironing, Picasso
(From the Guggenheim's personal collection)

I am adjusting but missing Seattle. I got to live with Scotty before I left and I cant express how great our time together was. Looking forward to people visiting but trying to focus on adjusting completely here. Oh yes and having no car is awesome!

August over?

Almost and I do not know what happen to it.  I promised myself months ago that I would not work this month.  I would spend time with friends, relax and pack my apartment for the move.  However, like it the past when time has been taken off it only lasts so long.  I worked all month however Friday did mark the last day till September.  I have learned about myself that I need work, like it, feel crazy without it.  So on that note it leaves me one week to pack up my life and ship out!  Well not totally.  Ill be homeless though but still around till the 16th of September.

Today is my birthday and I am feeling awesome about what the next year holds for me.  I know it help that it is always nice out on my birthday and that it is a Saturday.  But I am honestly so pumped for what 23 has in store for me, whatever that may be.

So I do not think that people should celebrate their birth"day" all week.  But this year I broke my rule.  Scotty and I went to dinner at my parents last Sunday and out came the cards, gifts, and cake.  All very yummy (thanks to the bbq my parents have inherited from me due to my move!).  Then Tuesday Scotty took me to an amazing restaurant across the street from my apartment called Harvest Vine.  It was the best date I have ever been on, I adore him and he amazes me more everyday.  

Last night was Widower show and a little bit of dancing.  One was mellow on was intense... sensory overload and almost to much to drink.  But it was an entertaining way to ring in 23!  On my way out the door for dinner with the girls (well most of them) then mod disco night with all.  I am so excited for this evening and this year!

Lovely July: Photo Essay