The Sunday after Thanksgiving, we went and got our tree. I find I look forward to this more and more each year...it's one of my favorite activities during Christmas time. The last several years we have been going out into the forest (I use that loosely, as we aren’t all that far away from a paved road, and still had cell service in the right spots), and hunting for the perfect tree. The permits are only $5, which saves me a lot of money for buying more cashmere...or Christmas gifts. ;) it’s a fun adventure and we get to bring the dogs - they run around, freely smelling and bounding about while we look for the perfect tree. Since it is the forest, the trees are unkempt, and end up to be giant ...so I usually end up cutting one in half to fit our 9 foot ceilings. That ends up working out perfectly, because then I can use the bottom half for the beautiful branches, and make big bowls of greens for center pieces, garland and to use in arrangements. The trees are so light, airy and lofty, they look entirely different from trees from the farms. A more abstract/rustic feeling, which I personally love!!
Well anyways, it was a gorgeous day, a light frost was on the ground, but it was warm in the sun. Winston was running around and jumping over logs without a care in the world. I took in a deep breath of crisp air, skipped down a couple steps, and then tripped and fell down a small mound. Just what I was hoping would happen...NOT!! I scrapped up my hands, hurt my shoulder, and got my knee pretty good. Ripped my most recent and new favorite pair of jeans (the C of H Anges in Euclid)!!! I was so sad, I didn't even realize I was also bleeding, and my husband was picking rocks (okay, pebbles) out of my knee. Gah!! We got the tree, finished the frolicking, and headed home.
Now I had to face reality...call the store and ask them to hold another pair of jeans to replace these? Or count it as a loss, and take time to grieve? I got home and threw them in the corner of my closet, unsure of what my next move was going to be. The next day it hit me!! I will add even more distressing, and transform them into ripped jeans (which I have been wanting)!! So yesterday, I took the plunge, gathering a blade and sandpaper, and went to town.
I did watch a ton of YouTube videos first to figure out a good technique and feel like I had done my research, and wasn't just winging it. I am really happy with how they turned out, and think that over time they will just get better and better. I found this video super helpful http://blog.freepeople.com/2013/07/video-distress-denim/ (although I would recommend trying the jeans on and marking the area you want the hole to be - a line to mark the above and below. Not everyone's knees are right in the middle of the leg. ;) ). Now I am looking at all my imperfect jeans in a new light!! Oh the things I could do to them. :)
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