Nothing new here...just popcorn. But this particular popcorn is local + came from our CSA box.  :) Normally, we buy our popcorn kernels in bulk. Our minimalist kitchen doesn't contain a popcorn popper, so I just use my trusty lidded pot + about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat to pop it. A handful or two of kernels can fill the entire pot!

A few of the ways we like to eat popcorn include:
-sprinkled with salt + a melted butter 
-sprinkled with salt, melted butter + nutritional yeast (available in bulk where we live)
-a spoonful (or two) of sugar thrown in with the kernels (just shake the pot periodically during popping to avoid burning) + salt + melted butter (if desired)
-a little cayenne or cinnamon sprinkled in with salt + butter 

All of these make a great, light snack...in the middle of the afternoon or after dinner. What are your favorite popcorn "toppings"?

Love,
Jane

A trip often offers the perfect opportunity to try out dressing with less. I've always preferred to pack lightly. It might come from long camping trips with my family of six growing up. There wasn't room to take a whole lot along...but we always had plenty to do + enough to wear. For some reason, I just never want to have too much to keep track of...and I'd most always prefer a little more space rather than more stuff. 

Anyway...we are planning a trip to California + decided to just take backpacks. For me, it's probably a sort of exercise in minimalism...but it turned out to be less of a challenge than expected. We will be hiking, beach going, museum visiting, sightseeing, pool + balcony sitting, shopping + eating (lots). It will be warmer during the day in the city and cooler by the ocean + in the mornings + evenings.

Here's what I'm taking for 8 days in Los Angeles in October:
-3 breezy blouses- that work well with jeans + jumpsuit
-shorts jumpsuit- works as shorts + swimsuit coverup
-long-sleeved tee
-leggings- for hikes + workout + relaxing
-tank- for sleep + workout 
-soft pants
-sandals
-underwear 
-swimsuit
-purse, sunglasses, keys, wallet
-water bottle + reusable bag
-journal + pen
-phone + charger
-toothbrush, toothpaste, conditioner, comb, hairspray, deodorant, face cream, lip balm, hair ties, vitamins, allergy pills, advil, bandaids
-book + magazine
-all packed in a 12.7 in x 15.6 in x 5 in backpack  :)

I'm wearing my bulkiest clothing which will work well, since it'll be colder here when we leave. I'll be wearing:
-tee
-jeans
-sweater
-trainers

Most of my things can be hand-washed + hung to dry overnight, if necessary. I'll pick up sunscreen + maybe a baseball cap there.

Love,
Jane

When my girls were small, my simple wardrobe consisted most prominently of a pair of soft denim overalls, a pair of natural twill overalls + a selection of fitted tees. My love for overalls hasn't waned, so I decided to make a pair. I've had an idea of what my perfect pair would look like for years, but haven't decided to make them a part of my simple wardrobe until now.

I've made Marilla Walker's Roberts Collection jumpsuit in the past, so I knew that I liked the fit. I had some linen purchased with pants in mind about a year + a half ago. When the fabric arrived, (major pitfall of internet fabric buying) it was thicker than I'd anticipated. It is lovely linen though, + I thought it could make a good, wearable muslin of these overalls. So...pattern + fabric already in hand...it was easy to make thought into reality in one weekend.  :)

I wanted to make a few changes to the pattern, beginning with removing the pleats at the waist...which was an easy alteration once I understood what was happening. In case it might be helpful to anyone else (+ to remind myself for future reference), here's what I did:

A few of the other alterations I made to the pattern were to widen the straps + the corresponding junction at the top of the back piece, make loop ties, leave the side button opening off, shorten the length, widen the pant legs (+ 1 1/2 inches at the bottom outer edge of the pant leg + blended to the hip), + deepen the pockets by 1 1/4 inches. I lined the pockets with some scrap liberty fabric in order to decrease the bulk there.

These overalls have a slightly oversized fit, which I like. I prefer the bib tied up high, which also eliminates a bit of the dropped crotch look. This linen grows a bit with wear, so I like that the straps can be adjusted higher as the day goes on.  :) So happy to be wearing overalls again!

Pattern :: Marilla Walker's Roberts Collection
Fabric :: 2 meters, 55 inch wide natural linen from Lithuania

Love, 
Jane

Materials :: This treasured little stack of block print, batik, ikat, hand-dyed indigo fabric has been used for a few projects before. It mostly consists of leftovers from other sewing projects, but there are also scraps from a holely tea towel + a beloved top. I'm wondering if there might be just enough here to be pieced together into a scrappy quilted coat.

Inspiration :: This type of lovingly, pieced together, cozy coat stops me in my tracks each time I come across one. A statement piece for sure...each one of these beauties tells a story of fiber + stitches.

Pattern :: I bought the Sapporo coat pattern as soon as it came out, + I think that it could be a great shape for this project. The fact that I probably have almost everything to make this idea come together already (from fabric to thread to organic cotton batting) offers appeal...as does the dropping temperatures.  :) I would need quite a lot of pieced together yardage for this version, so I'm still debating...but the pattern is cut + I'm itching for a project...

Photos via links (top one mine).

Love,
​Jane

Curator keeps the makers of their clothing close. All their clothing is made within a ten minute drive of their shop in the Mission District of San Francisco. I love that the process is documented often on Curator's instagram page. I also appreciate that the style of these pieces is a bit different from what has become somewhat standard in ethical fashion lately. Color, texture + fit stand out from the pack, without sacrificing the commitment to natural fibers + fair production. 

All lovely photos via Curator.

Love,
Jane

live, travel, adventure, bless, + don't be sorry
~Jack Kerouac

Today I got to thinking about what the most basic, functional, good clothing would be for me. ("Good" is such an underrated word.) What would those pieces be, if I were to have to start over from scratch (because of a house fire or natural disaster...like so many have)...if I were to be on a very tight budget (which I am)...or if I wanted to just exist in the most basic, functional, good space (which I usually do). What pieces would do their job + make me feel good day to day + all year long?

This may be a good way to start thinking through our wardrobes...whether we are simply doing a clean out...a curation...or a reassessment. Even if we don't want to live with such a small number of basics, this could be a good jumping off point for adding in other pieces + personalized touches. I like the idea of a small wardrobe because it helps me to live within my means, to consume what I need rather than over-consuming, to produce less waste that ends up in the landfill, and to choose fair when I need to consume.

It was surprisingly easy to come up with a sort of system for these pieces. My everyday outfit would consist of: pale, soft jeans + an oversized, oat-colored pullover. In order to help these pieces function in any weather I'd add a long-sleeved tee, sweatshirt, short-sleeved tee, + tank. All of these additional pieces would be white or cream.

My outfit that would function well in the more formal settings I find myself in (but also for everyday) would be: black pants, black silky tank, black pullover + flats. In order to allow these pieces to function in a broader range of circumstances, I'd add a short-sleeved tee, sweatshirt + long-sleeved tee. All of these pieces would be black accept for the shoes.

Lounging would call for black leggings or soft shorts + the above tops. All of the pieces could mix + match. Chosen with care, these pieces could function as athletic wear (leggings + tank) + sleepwear (soft shorts + tank) as well.

My basic, functional, good pieces ::
-pale jeans
-black pants
-leggings
-soft shorts
-pullovers: oat + black
-sweatshirts: cream+ black
-long-sleeved tees: black + white
-short-sleeved tees: black + white
-tanks: black + white
-footwear: flats, trainers, boots, sandals

Add some socks, underwear, a jacket, a tote bag and I imagine that these pieces would see me through most situation year round. I'd need to work up to having all of these pieces, if I were truly starting over. Seasons would spread out purchases + multiples could be put off. In theory, this could work. In practice...my mind + finding exactly what I want could get in the way. 

We are transformed through the renewal of the mind. I'm working at it.  :)

What would your most basic, functional, good pieces be?

Love,
Jane