Blissful Treats

Back with a Celebration

2011-06-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

I've been inspired lately.
Inspired by my daughter.

Inspired by my friends

And lured back to share by A Fanciful Twist!

Making time for reading ~ for once

2011-01-06T10:42:00.000-08:00

I've been slowly reading this book, not for lack of interest but for my lack of my dedication to reading. But that's going to be a thing of the past. I haven't been denying myself the luxury of new books, like I should be. The piles stacking up along the already stuffed bookshelves prove that. And although I had a book already chosen after I finished this first book in the new year, I went out for more! {But that will soon follow ~ I'm making time for that now!}

"The Sharper the Knife the Less You Cry" was a beautiful way to express what happens when you just do it - when you're done with wondering - when you follow your dreams.

I loved how the author incorporated just a taste of Paris through her daily life in the city and with the delicious recipes after each chapter. While most recipes were just lovely to read through what ingredients are needed and with how they are to be cooked, some I am definitely going to include in my weekly menus {I'm sure my Family will welcome the change!}

I came across this title in a bookswap in goodreads, and now I'm off to do one of my New Year's Resolutions ~ make time for another ol' favorite; mailing a thank you note to the person who sent this book to me!

A Gift for Reema

2009-10-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

I shared this idea with Breana while she was wrapping Reema's Birthday gift. I thought something besides a card should accompany a necklace that she took time to make for her friend. Long ago in another world & time in my life, my friends & I use to send letters - beautifully chosen, thoughtfully written & lovingly sent letters/cards...do you remember those? Ah, I have a bundle from one particular friend tucked away in an antique train case. I dream of savoring each sentence & reminiscing of another time, but not just yet. That time, albiet almost 30 years ago [I said *almost*], still is very clear in my mind. I'm waiting for that day when someone in the house stumbles upon the leather train case and begs me to share them - begs. And that moment, after closing my eyes & squinting as if needing to consider sharing, I will caress the pages once more.

Until then, I told Breana of how my sister, Tisha, & I would come up with clever & fun ideas to send a letter. My favorite was the balloon. You temporarily blow up the balloon, write using a felt-tip pen [ballpoint pens require a harder writing surface which may result to popping the balloon while writing], and thoroughly dry before deflating.

Once deflated your writing then becomes minature and quite dainty. The letters look bubbled and as if were placed on top of the surface. Breana's balloon was more of a card so once deflated was sufficient enough in size to read as is. It was adorable.

If you write a longer letter the balloon will need to blown up in order for it to be read! Consider not sharing anything too private because the round surface is hard to cover while reading. That's shared from experience!

Hmmm, now I can read Breana's balloon-card from here and I'm reminded of something we have left unfinished for Reema...

Postcards from my past

2009-01-19T13:36:00.000-08:00

Quite some time ago I pulled my collection of postcards out from a box in my Parents' garage to a basket in my house. The basket was on a bottom shelf so one would have to be looking with intent to find them. The other day I decided to move the lot to a crystal vase and display them on top of a table for all to see and look through. Once I started to cram the postcards into the vase I realized that I needed to down-size.

Out of the 359 postcards {oh my!} these were in my 'discard' pile:

I can only guess that we either stayed at these motels on a family road trip or when accompanying my Dad on business trips.

This one struck me as funny.

Laramie, Wyoming.

From what I saw on other postcards, those are my initials so the postcard is definitely...mine.

I should ask my Parents.

Did I swim in these pools?

Update on Woodland Hills:

I googled this Holiday Inn and it looks exactly the same! When I further examined the postcard a window is circled so we had to have stayed there. Maybe during our trip to Universal Studios? So is this one a keeper? Does it have less value because the memories are lost and gone? Is there a difference between a postcard that was in storage for over 30 years and a postcard that has been discarded into the recycling bin?

Twilight

2008-11-22T00:06:00.001-08:00

"Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer.

Wrapping it up

2008-11-12T09:32:00.000-08:00

I did it again...was in a hurry. I took a picture of my finished project at the last minute which resulted to blurry pics in bad lighting. My model (i.e oldest daughter) was fidgety and strongly adamant that she was not to be in the photo...so I complied - after all she wasn't the focus of my attention, the neckwarmer was!!!

But the main idea is to document that I actually am working on projects and finishing them!

I'll soon get over the embarrassment of these pictures...

It's my favorite simple pattern -

CO the amount of stitches of your preference.

Row 1: k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat until end.

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: k2, *slip 1 wyif repeat from* to the end.

Row 4: Purl

Repeat these 4 rows until you reach the desired length.

Towards the end I made 2 button holes.

I have an incredible desire for short wraps around my neck. It's a turtleneck that can not only cover the bottoms of your ears but one you can unbutton and open up as well.

It's small enough to roll into your bag or when worn under a jacket can be like an unbutton collar. It's also my way to splash some color into my usual black attaire.

I set out to hunt for 2 unique buttons so while the girls were at soccer practice I ditched my walk/run around the park and slipped into CostPlus to peruse the earrings - and voila, beautiful round ornate earrings - now buttons!

I wanted to surprise this co-worker. She's my lunch partner so I rolled the neckwarmer into a pastry bag to make it look like a yummy pastry and set it on her desk.

I have just enough yarn to make myself a little somethin'-somethin'. It's the same yarn I used for my other co-worker and since the 3 of us share an office it'll be a symbolic gesture of department unification - ok, ok, ok an adult friendship bracelet, if you will - yeesh!

Next!

P.S What's next?

2008-10-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

I had a few days to knit a project for a birthday present. It's the last-minute-Betty act that I play often. I always have good intentions in the beginning but somehow, somewhere, somewhy, things slip through the cracks and I'm scrambling.
When we were out of town for a soccer game, my girls & I went out for lunch and fell upon a yarn store - yeah! Thick yarn, big needles and I was 2/3 the way there!I knew I wanted to knit a scarf and I knew I wanted to knit a checkered pattern. How many to cast-on stumped me and sent me through a few trial & errors until I felt it was right.

I knitted late at night while watching "Brother & Sisters" on the computer...

and while under a shade of an old tree while waiting for my girls.

I never took a great picture of the final product or even while I was knitting the project - time was awasteing!

But I did it - I finished a project! For those of you who know me, yes, I tried it on and, yes, I contemplated keeping it [I know, that's bad] but, instead, I rolled the scarf, tied it with a wide hot pink lace and left it on my co-workers desk.

BTW, she loved the scarf and adored the color - a wonderful green that mimics the color that illuminates from sun-soaked leaves! We appreciated the color for the same reason! In fact, she laid it on her couch and is now wondering about a knitted blanket...hmmm...how many episodes will that take?!

For this one I CO 15 stitches and knitted & purled for 5 stitches and 5 rows. I tried casting on 20 stitches but that was too wide for me. I even tried casting on an even number...so much put into a wee scarf!

When this quick project was completed - when I binded off that last stitch - I was reminded how it feels to have needles in hand and yarn by my side.

Next!

A Twist to Life!

2008-09-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

I think I need a party - a celebration - a reason to let my hair down and frolic. I remembering frolicing, I don't frolic anymore. I remember walking down the street with an up-beat outrageous song in my head, like in "Ally McBeal".

Lately I have been feeling so "over" people. I have been so impatient, grumpy & crabby.

Lately I have been void of that laughter that only resonates when friends are enjoying each others company - with or without a cocktail in hand.

Lately I have been missing my friends.

I've been slowly entering back to blogland. I've been catching up on my favorite blogs, A Fanciful Twist never fails to make me giggle. She never fails to remind me to wonder again.

So I have a month to dig about my vintage clothing and my storage of costumes. A mere month to step out with my zanyest of shoes and glitterest of jewels...all in A Fanciful Twist kind of way.

I'm getting out of this crazy funk I've been in.

I'm going to have fun!

Join us!

Knitting projects to consider

2008-09-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

I get so silly excited when I find a project I want to knit...but, you know me, will I finish it? Eeep, with all the unfinished projects I have laying around?!! Do I dare even think of starting a project?

But look at this sweater!
I think I've had dreams about wearing a sweater like this!
I even took snap shots of the pattern!

Gasp! There's another one!
I'm going insane here!

I have to gain composure! I have to priorities! I have to be realistic!

I need to finish the 2 baby sweaters and the 2, no - 3, knitted bags first, right?!

2008-09-23T02:36:00.000-07:00

I have just finished Stephenie Meyer's 3rd book, "Eclipse". As soon as I completed the Epilogue I walked toward Kaitlin & Breana's bookshelf to grab the 4th book, "Breaking Dawn" completely convinced that the first 3 books could have been condensed to one nicely impact book - same amount of pages - but just one...not three...one.

Now that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the books. I did get lost in some of the writing and appreciated the content, too...but the neediness and lack of life outside of one's boyfriend was a bore to me - although I know, I know, their relationship was what the book pivoted around. It was frightening, too. I would not want any of the young Ladies in my life to live their lives like a lost puppy who needed to be rescued and then never left alone for fear - even if it were just a few hours or even just for the evening - to be abandoned [oh dear!] But because I was told by my 14 old niece and 13 yr old daughter that I must not skip any parts - no matter what - I read through pages of goo-gooing & gaa-gaaing from cover to cover. It was melodramaticness at its best!

It was a perfect catalyst to talk to my girls about unnecessary "wanting" and "needing" and the strong desire to be self-reliant and being self-confidant.

I do appreciate many facets of the books. One in particular is Edward. I especially appreciate his cavalier and gentlemanly attributes - that is most appealing to me.

I started "Breaking Dawn" in the evening but left it at the dining table for the morning. I'm actually curious about that book so intend on finishing right away. Kaitlin tells me it's the best of the four.

So there, "Breaking Dawn" comes highly recommended!

Stepping forward

2008-09-22T02:22:00.001-07:00

It's embarassing how I haven't kept up with this blog. Embarrassing because I've created holes in this Journal due to partial neglect and partial lack of creativity. I have started many projects but somehow get side-tracked and have ended up with baskets upon baskets upon bags of unfinished projects - needles still attached...and I often wonder where all my needles have gone!

My creative space is still stocked high with stuff and still can only be called nothing more than a storage space - wasted space, it is...it is such a shame.

I'm trying to motivate myself to start 2009 with finished projects and a true art studio. How wonderful that would be!

I challenge myself to pull it together. Enough wishing - enough talking about it - enough, enough, enough!

Once I've accomplish that, I can reap the rewards, right?

Blissfulness

2008-07-19T00:48:00.000-07:00

I have lists of finished books under my belt and full days to try to recount but now one completed project to share.

I have started knitting two sweaters for 2 babies intended for their Showers but now they're 2 months old...hopefully I decided to knit sweaters for 6-9 months and not 3-6 months!

I have an unfinished knitted bag from last spring break begging to be finished...

I also have many knitting patterns that I'm drooling over and piles of unwanted clothes but desired material waiting to be recycled...

but for now, I'll focus on this family of mine and this glorious summer...

"Witch Catcher"

2008-04-29T02:28:00.000-07:00

Breana turned me on to "Witch Catcher" by Mary Downing Hahn. She borrowed it from the library and brought it along on our Spring Break trip. It's a fun fantasy adventure. We so happen to have a glass round ornament made from an old coke bottle that resembles a witch catcher. This glass ball hangs at the kitchen sink window. It doesn't have a cork at the end but we pretend it's a 'witch' catcher :)

"The Giver"

2008-04-28T02:04:00.000-07:00

My niece, Kylie, is a voracious reader (quite common in my family). I comb through her stacks of books often to see what's up in the teen-world. She highly recommended "The Giver" so when I found myself without a book and a few hours of sitting & waiting, I grabbed the book and fell in...to the point of no return. 5 hours later, under the shade of the side of the house amidst the spring blooms, I finished and was intrigued. Definitely a must-read. Now remember I am still caught up in reading books alongside my Middle School aged daughters and am finding it worthwhile. It's nice to be able to 'bookclub' it with these wonderful young ones in my life.

My recent experience around my home somewhat correlated with the book - in the sense of being in a controlled atmosphere of sameness and daring to seek beyond...but the book dives in deeper into this concept of sameness and controlling, much deeper.

I've found myself including the backyard into my daily 'grind' - I'm reading outside more, cutting flowers more (which leads to dead-heading...) and putzing around outside during lunch. I've been absorbed in the colors that are blossoming all over and breathing in the freshness & newness of it all.

I've vowed to not let myself fall into the routine of letting the yard be Dan's thing and being only concerned with the interior of the house. I've been opening all my senses and committing the sights all to memory!

I've vowed not to be trapped inside now knowing what's going on in my own backyard! I've discovered that I tend to enjoy the yard only when Dan calls me outside! I've found that I pull into the garage and close the door behind me which inhibits me from inhaling the goodness of our front yard! While I open up window & sliders, I've been enjoying the outside from the comforts of the inside!

I've vowed not to get sucked into the 'sameness' where it seems safe yet so harmful in many way. Touch! Smell! So vital in life!

Blogging break

2008-03-10T02:40:00.001-07:00

I've slipped away from blogland for a bit which doesn't mean I haven't been creating & plotting & completing projects! I just haven't been posting...my life has changed technologically which has relagated me back to the time of my life when the computer wasn't on 24/7...remember those times?!!! While it has been quite peaceful here and my time spent more wisely, it has set me back in keeping track of my creative life. Soon I'll return and boy, oh, boy will I have much to report!

Charming to be 13!

2008-01-29T13:07:00.000-08:00

Kaitlin & Breana's dear friend, Julia, celebrated her 13th birthday last week. We pulled out our pearls & beads and took a moment to feast our eyes on all the open cases. Thankfully when you have a certain purpose or a special person in mind the creative process flows easily. Kaitlin designed the necklace above and I knotted the silk thread between each pearl. I hadn't knotted pearl necklaces in quite some time which made me a bit clumsy in the beginning but once I got started I got into a smooth rhythmn and the necklace was finished in no time. We made the necklace 17" so that it will sit right above a crew neck. I wanted this jewelry to be a piece that Julia could wear for years to come. I even added a bigger sterling silver ring at the clasp to help make it easier to put on.
The necklace is truly Julia ~ sweet & classic.

Breana chose beads from her own collection [she has quite the array of beads!] She made a single charm that hung from clear elastic. I suggested hemp yarn or colored yarn but Breana wanted the piece to be sweet & simple, "like Julia" she said. If you don't know Julia you were just given a solid glimpse of her by the 2 necklaces that Kaitlin & Breana made for her. For the 'clasp', I double-knotted the ends and glued them into a red bead.
The girls also wanted to add a Harajuku bag that we found the afternoon before her party. I was a bit embarrassed that I didn't know what a Harajuku Lover bag was {I was told by my 12 & 11 yr olds that everyone knows what harajuku is!} - I googled 'harajuko' and came up with the website above...how adorable! Ah, to be 13!

Constantly creating...

2007-12-17T00:46:00.000-08:00

Years ago I made the sock advent garland inspired by Martha Stewart's garland in 2003. In the beginning I took my time finding socks which I would store in a box. I wanted the socks to be unique, kitschy, vintage & fun - but the project was taking too long! Along with the socks, finding 25 zany, significant and sweet ornaments was becoming a headache in disguise! I wanted each day to have an ornament that was special to my girls & to our family - an ornament that represented us as individuals and as a family - an ornament that would bring back memories. Trying to keep with the spirit of Christmas I knew I had to keep it all in perspective - my daughters were going to love this Advent garland. After finding 25 ornaments I fell upon 2 minature fake trees and I knew that my project was over!

So far every morning in December my girls take turns pulling an ornament from a sock and hang it up on their tree. Every morning in December they pull out an ornament and remember it from last year, sometimes a story ~ a memory ~ is remembered and shared.

Some ornaments are unique to our family and make us laugh at its significance to us. Some ornaments just have the beautiful aspect of sweet adoration to it. Some are simple, plain, and perhaps were snatched up to bring my total close to 25, but somehow have grown on us and become special in its own right as the years pass.

It's all about creating memories then sitting back and reminiscing.

No snow days here - just sick days :P

2007-12-13T09:10:00.000-08:00

My girls & I have been under the weather the last few days. The first day we had sore throats so we were sitting up around the Christmas Tree playing games and getting some knitting done.

As years go by, and as our girls grow older, we have been able to focus on what Christmas truly means to our family ~ it's celebrating the Holiness of Christmas and acknowledging our blessings. Our gifts concentrate on creating memories and are full of sharing our love for one another with our hands & from our hearts.
That first night into the next 2 days we were miserable :( the most we could do was lay on the couch, watch movies and fall in & out of naps. We caught up on "The Hills" and "Project Runway" - it was as if the little man in our tv knew we were home! {he communicates with the man in our CD disk changer, we know he does!} ;)
Thankfully our foggy brains have cleared up this morning - the girls went to school and I can finally spend my day upright!

Afternoon delight

2007-12-03T01:11:00.000-08:00

On the last few days of November while I was changing the beddings & laundering the sheets, I was thinking of how I looked forward to spring & summer when I hung my linen outside to dry...then it dawned on me...why not during Autumn? Why not?! The sun has been out, the sky has been blue - the nights cold and scarves are worn - but the sun still felt warm on our cheeks. So out the linen went on the line. I felt like I was defying rules of the household...but it felt good!
In no time, the sheets were dry and smelled fresh. Autumn-air fresh!
On my needles is my third hat - Christmas is coming - shhhhhh!

Weekend busy-ness

2007-11-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

I steal pockets of moments to read, "All Passions Spent" - suggested by Cornflower - between
knitting a few Christmas gifts
and working on our sunroom.

Grateful for...

2007-11-23T02:25:00.000-08:00

Grateful for open doors to a warm house full of laughter, the buzzing of chatter flitting about and the clang of pots & plates in preparation for dinner...
It was in this house that I floated about carefree and longingly gazed up at the stars.
Very grateful.

It's as blurry as my memory...

2007-11-17T21:35:00.000-08:00

I use to make a lot of jewelry. In fact, 8 years ago my two sisters & I started a children's jewelry line, "Three Little Wishes" - getting the idea from what our parents refer to us as, 'their 3 gems', which is from our birthstones - saphire, ruby & diamond. When the granddaughters were babies and going through baptisms and family parties, my Mother couldn't find fine jewelry to match the affair or outfit so she found beautiful pearls from a gem & stone show and set us to work. Soon we perfected knotting silk thread in a timely manner and each granddaughter had a necklace and matching bracelet. {Oh where, oh where, are those pictures?}

Our Classic/Heirloom line consisted of gray, pink or white pearls for a 4 year-old to a premie. The line was delicate in style, sweet, simple & high quality = Classic. We were filling special orders and making all our gifts until life got busy with our little ones, we lived 1 1/2 hours from each other at the time (oppose to 1 1/2 blocks as we do now) and our enthusiasm & energy dwindled.

The inventory is in my studio which my daughters & I use to create our own jewelry and gifts from. My studio right now is a complete joke - ahem, use to be an art studio but now is storage - ahemahem, screaming to be an art studio again! Everytime I get created I have to shimmy between & climb over stacked boxes and feel my way around praying that my fingers don't meet a spider by accident!

Somewhere in the studio I also have a bowl of buttons. I call these my 'MunkiMunki' buttons because they were used on that adorable MunkiMunki children's clothing line back in the day when my girls wore sweet dresses w/ bows in their hair - sigh...

With the pearls & MunkiMunki buttons mixed in with thrifted buttons and wire, I made the above bracelet. There's even a button (the one facing the opposite direction) that came from a favorite old thrifted men's blazer from way back in the day when a thrifted men's blazer was from the 1950's and sold for $2-$3 tops.

I originally made this for a friend but it had such sentimental value that I had to keep it. I did make her another bracelet that I put just as much as love into but filled it with stories that she could carry around as her own.

Oddly enough this bracelet kept following off this particular day (ok, maybe another reason why I didn't give it as a gift - this bracelet, in a sense, was my tester. After this one I had a better idea on how my clasps should be - bracelets made after this one were much more secure and non-MacGyver looking.) This day whenever the clasp would come undown I'd feel the bracelet slip off my wrist except at the end of the day while I was walking away from my daughter a cute bracelet caught my eye in her backpack - hmmm...how adorable - looks familiar...hey!!!

Good Read

2007-11-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

Never mind that Chuck Feeney is a dear friend of my in-laws dating back from Cornell. Never mind that we have been recipients of his generosity. This is a wonderful book. I spent one day laying around reading this book. Oh, I cleared the kitchen from the morning chaos first, of course. But for the entire day I laid around, in my pjs, absorbed in this book. I didn't intend to - just a chapter here & there. I couldn't help myself. It's well-written, interesting from a business angle and from a humanity level and inspiring. No matter how deep/shallow your pockets are, give without expectations of accolades but give and be fulfilled by the fullness of your heart. We can all lead by example and give our time, money, and other resources to the things that really matter.

"I had one idea that never changed in my mind -- that you should use your wealth to help people," Feeney said.

"Chuck Feeney is what Donald Trump would be if he led his entire existence backwards," Jim Dwyer (NY Daily News)

"What is a friend? A Single Soul dwelling in two bodies." ~ Aristotle

2007-11-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

It'll never be the same.
Time spent so freely and unplanned - those quick chats from passing cars while picking up & dropping off kids - all living our lives on the same time schedule - that all changes when the kids get older and move on to other schools so now us Moms have to create pockets of time for each other in our new schedules.

It took some time after my girls started school for me to feel comfortable with a group of Moms. Investing time on a friendship, revealing pieces of yourself, opening up your soul, building trusts - all takes time. Recalling back to being a teenager when the term 'best friend' was used freely and randomly, while attaching to it all the responsibilties of being a 'best friend', sometimes fell on weak shoulders but then I grew to realize that it was an endearing term to place upon special people. "Best Friend" = "Dear Friend" = "my friend".

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." - Anais Nin

(picture by Dorene)

It's special people that you plan a weekend tucked away in the wine country with. It's special people that you surround yourself with when you don't want to run away but just retreat to rejuvenate and celebrate. It's special people who you sit with as your are and they hold it dear to their hearts.

Finding time when there are 13 kids and 3 husbands between Dorene, Lisa & I was no easy task but we were determined to not let this moment pass. To be honest, as we got closer to the weekend I held my breath - I feared email, answering machine blinking lights and text messages...worse a sick child...but the weekend went off without a hitch as if it was as common as night fall.
(a special reserve bottle of Grenach only to be shared with those you love.)
And as the weekend came to an end and we headed home to fall back to our own daily regimes I was reminded;

"Those truly linked don't need correspondence. When they meet again after many years apart, Their friendship is as true as ever." - Deng Ming-Dao

and I know that the warmth of the laughter and words shared will always be there.

(Aug 10 - 12, 2007)

You know what that weekend reminds me of? That chapter book about the 3 girls; Carsella, Catherina & that one - Reny Deeny Wop Bam Beeny!

Halloween goodness

2007-11-01T02:22:00.002-07:00

Originally I was going to ask Tisha to make her famous chili but as we got closer to this day this evening called for "Sweet Potato and Sausage Soup".

Makes 8 servings.

* 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (evoo), divided
* 1 10-11-ounce fully cooked sausage (the recipe called for Portuguese linguica sausage or chorizo sausage. I put Polish beef kielbasa), cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices
* 2 medium onions, chopped
* 2 large garlic cloves, minced
* 2 pounds of red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams, about 2 large), peeled, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise
*6 cups low-salt chicken broth
* 1 9-ounce fresh spinach

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage, cook until brown, stirring often, about 8 minutes.
Transfer sausage to paper towels to drain.
Add onions and garlic to pot and cook until translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
Add all potatoes and cook until beginning to soften, stirring often, about 12 minutes.
Add broth; bring to boil, scraping up browned bits.
Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until potatoes are soft, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
Using potato masher, mash some of the pototoes in pot.
Add browned sausages to soup.
Stir in spinach and simmer just until wilted, abotu 5 minutes.
Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
Season with salt & pepper.
Serve.

The soup definitely warms the soul. The kids loved it (discluding the nephew but I am not offended) - most everyone went for seconds (I doubled the recipe but cooked it in two different pots.)
I was asked to make this soup again this weekend - can't wait!

Possible projects ahead!

2007-10-30T18:47:00.001-07:00

I'm over it now - that whole sock ordeal...for the time being. For now I'm consumed with ideas for Christmas gifts.
My side of the bed is littered with books and lists (ok, I'm ocassionally distracted by a crossword puzzle.)
I'm copying patterns from library books (that section in the library is starting to look pretty sparse, too) and going through my basket of yarn. I'm matching the project to the yarn and trying to make do with what I already own. It's time for me to get organized and creative.

This should be, as the book above says -"simple" - it's a menagerie of knitting & purling mixed in with a December deadline and picking the right project for the right person.

This is going to be fun!

Sock 101

2007-10-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

I have failed Sock 101...not once but twice. The first time the first 6 inches worked out fabulously. How can I go wrong with knit 2, purl 2 on circular needles? My friend got me started and sent me away with my homework assignment. Good enough - I was born to Ace Sock 101. In elementary school my teachers always told my parents that I was a bright student, a bit chatty, but definitely the potential to excel.
How can this be different?
So the next lesson was a disaster. I did what I was told but always had more stitches on my needle than I should so we...cheated...we'd put one stitch here & one stitch there then knit 2 together here and purled two together there to try to get back to the pattern...what happened?!!! I was going through the motions but wasn't quite grasping the concept. I wanted to finish the one sock but was afraid I wouldn't be able to knit the pair on my own. If only I had a wand. I'd conjure up a spell similar to what Mrs. Weasley would...if only.
So for a year this - that "sock" above - sat in a knitting bag.
Say farewell - I started over.
I had to.
Sorry dear friend - oh Professor of Sockology.
I 'enrolled' in her Sock 101 again but to learn the toe-up procedure.
She converted and hasn't turned back since. She has numerous toe-up socks under her belt - er, on her feet.

I have absolutely no progress to report...my brain won't retain the information.
Maybe I should take notes.
Maybe I need to record our sessions together.
Maybe I was not made to knit socks.
Maybe that's why there are stores like "Sockshop".

Baking for Equinox

2007-10-09T22:18:00.000-07:00

For our Après-Dîner Equinox Party I baked for 2 days. Boy did my feet ache at the end of each day! My sampling here & there through the course of 2 days helped ease the pain though ;)

I baked 3 dozen carrot cupcakes from Martha Stewart's 2003 'Everyday Food' magazine - issue #3. I used my palm peeler on the vibrant-caution-neon carrots and sliced into our freshly picked oranges. The aroma was irresistable! I made some cupcakes bite-size and some a-heaping-cupcake size. The coconut sprinkles added texture - a little 'crunch' to it.

I also baked Mochiko - a Filipino cake using mochiko flour. My Mother's recipe is slightly different than the recipie I found here. We haven't added sour cream and only on a few occasions has my Mom added coconut milk. I prefer just sugar, eggs, butter & milk. The absolute piece de resistance or the matamis part of Mochiko is...wait, that's revealing my secrets ;)

That morning, with just enough eggs, I decided to make Leche Flan (my recipe is similar.) So matamis & smooth! Yum! My Mom gave me all of her copper molds and yet I rely on just one. This one mold has never failed me. Since I was a young teenager, it has helped me create a beautiful leche flan.

For a few days after our Equniox Party we had un-frosted carrot cupcakes for breakfast (ok, so a few of mine had frosting) and I snacked on Mochiko while Dan & the girls were gone during the day. :)

2007-10-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

2007-10-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

2007-10-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

MacGyver at work

2007-09-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

Embarrasingly enough, months ago (dare I saw how many?) I gathered my scraps of yarn that I had a fondness for and started knitting a scarf for myself - a simple knitted scarf - nothing fancy.
I c/o 212 stitches on dpn. I was going to make it so I could wrap it around my neck twice without unneccessary length to it. I just wanted a little 'somethin-somethin' for color on a cold day.
Once summer hit I set aside the project because I just couldn't fathom wrapping my neck while I was wearing tank tops & sundresses! Toward the end of summer soccer filled our weekends up and the time came for me to look for simple knitting projects. Easy, I have a basket full of unfinished projects. Better yet, I had 2-3 projects that didn't require a pattern (i.e no thinking involved).
When I finally bo - feeling quite grandiose for finally finishing a project - a cold front blew in. I grabbed the scarf, threw it around my neck, stood back to admire it in the mirror and that's when I saw it......a dropped stitch.
No matter how I wrapped it, the dropped stitch was front & center. Time was running out, I needed to pick up my girls from school - and I wanted to wear the scarf!
I rustled through my jewelry box trying to be the MacGyver my friend use to call me...

Voila! Problem solved. I was given this barrette for attending a jewelry party 4 years ago and hadn't used it once. It paid off for me to keep it all those years! It clipped on perfectly, holding the dropped stitch in place - and no matter how I wrapped it, there it was!

Again years ago (a reoccuring theme) I was given a pattern for a tank top that I was admiring at a local yarn store. From time to time I'll look over the pattern and consider starting it. I'd immediately get intimidated and pull out another project. This time I did it! I chose yarn from my slowly depleting basket and started...

I've jotted down a Christmas list so maybe this is for someone on that list...or not...you never know!

Some evenings I find myself in a midst of clutter but I'll chose this project instead. I'll plop my pattern down and kick a few piles under the table and knit away. Once I got to one of the straps I took the project to a soccer game and knit/purled away. I am determined to finish this project!

Maybe 2007 will be the year I finish projects - just maybe!

Enjoying a flick or two

2007-09-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

I watched the movie, "I Capture the Castle", while I was making pork loin with garlic & sage, baked cauliflower w/ lemon garlic sauce and creamy mash potatoes for dinner. Dan & the girls were at soccer practice which means they'll come home famished. During soccer season, monday is a guaranteed weekday day that the 4 of us share dinner together. It's the day that the family comes home and dinner is at the table. If timed just right, they come home to a warm dinner, we eat together as a family then they jump into the shower. We've tried having dinner after their showers but they can't make it - too hungry!
I enjoyed this movie - the scenery, the clothes, the eccentric characters and the humor. I probably should borrow it from the library again and watch while sitting down to fully appreciate the expressions on the actors faces while delivering their lines! And of course to re-examine the set, which I often do with movies. I watch it once to 'watch' the movie and second time to enjoy the set & scenery behind the actors - and third & fourth, etc...if it's a thoroughly enjoyable movie (like "One Fine Day" and "Spanglish".)

"The Regency House Party" was another movie I enjoyed this summer. Much like the premise of The 1900 House, Frontier House & Colonial House, this involved modern-day adults living in the Regency Era for 9 weeks.

I have a thing for reality tv - no violence, no over-the-top physical or mental harm - and, for the most part intelligent & insightful recounts of the participants experiences.

Again I was mesmerized by the decor of the manor, life in England during the Romance Period and, of course, the costumes...which reminds me of Tim Gunn and his comment about "the slobification of America"...ah, so true.
Enjoyed the experiences and the details of this movie w/ the girls.

Gotta love PBS and the library!

"Talking with My Mouth Full"

2007-09-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

This book accompanied me to the beach - it kept me laughing, intrigued...and salivating!
Recipies galore preceeded by memories of Bonny Wolf's childhood, stories of and heard at her dinner parties where the particular recipies were first discovered or helped make a moment memorable.

Recipies like Chocolate Pistachio Cake, Grand Aioli to Roast Pork with prunes & port.

"I was back in Minneapolis for the funeral of my friend Kate's Mother. After her death, Kate went through her mother's heavy locked jewelry box. In the top tray were the pearls and dinner rings she rarely wore. Beneath was a locked drawer where Kate assumed her mom kept her most important possessions. She unlocked the drawer, pulled out the tray, and found her mother's handwritten recipe for Huckleberry Dessert. That meant more to Kate than jewels."

Lucky book spent it's summer at the beach transported by this snazzy birthday bag - thanks to a wonderful friend, Sharon.

"the b mag"

2007-08-29T16:33:00.000-07:00

Made by Kaitlin for Breana - June 2007

More summer days

2007-08-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

Watercolour has always been a favorite past-time for Kaitlin & Breana. However, due to their obligations during the school year, free time is few & far between. This summer it was absolutely important for us to slow it down and retreat back to these other interests. I wanted this summer to be about us, the family - about being still and enjoying each moment - savoring & giving thanks. The school year is full of fleeting moments - beautiful, alive & full moments - but fleeting.

Our game table in our front room with its wonderful natural light makes a perfect spot for painting. I believe watching "Miss Potter" encouraged Breana to bring her box of painting tools & art supplies in from the studio.
(Yes, yes, yes, the studio would have been the best spot for a project like this - stay tuned - I may surprise you {and Dan} just yet!)
Day in & day out this is where they sat making the most of the glorious light coming in through the lace curtains. There were a couple of trips to our locally owned art store with paint under their nails to enhance their supplies. And, yes, there were trips outside to feel the sun on our cheeks. And, no, the watercolours never made their way outside. But now a trip to the frame store is a must!

Surprises at the library

2007-08-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

One of our trips to the library surprised me with a plethora of knitting books. It's normally not like this. Usually there are out-dated knitting books on a feeble shelf, however, when you look in the library system the lists of newly published books are abundant but all checked-out and probably renewed again and again to its max! Today, oh ho, I hit the mother lode! Shelves & shelves & shelves...I didn't know where to start!
I narrowed it down to these 5. I am getting all excited about the possible projects ahead.

I believe it's time to start working on Christmas presents!

Where do I start?!!!!

To knit with one another

2007-08-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

Despite all the new/haven't-been-read-books in their own library, Breana wanted to go to the Public Library. Now, I love the library - I love bookstores...but there are fall-backs to borrowing from the library. (1- late fees and 2- simple: you don't own the book!)
But how do you say no to a visit to the library?
Last month Breana did go through her bookshelves. Much to my dismay, she took out her animal story books and Pony Club books to sell at their Yard Sale. I reassured her that it was okay to keep them (you know, to remember her childhood!) but she reassured me that it wasn't necessary to keep them. (Is she my child?) I should have taken that as a sign of change. Oh she still loves animals, especially horses, she can watch Animal Planet on tv all day if she was allowed...just wasn't necessary to keep the books. A stack of the animals books went to a good home; our neighbor across the street bought them for her granddaughter who's room Kaitlin & Breana now call their own - cute, huh?
So off to the library we went. It was a good morning, there was one parking spot available under the shade of a tree in the 10 slot free parking in the back of the library. Gotta love free parking!
Breana scoured and examined books. She, like me, judges by the cover & spine of books :} so she'd slide a book off the shelf, run her hand across the cover, read the title, test to see if the cover pleased her and either moved on or returned the book back to its place and sigh. This went on for awhile until she had a stack of 4 books (as did her cousin, Kylie.) Merely, appetizers for a few days.
On our way out I took a spin around the low table displaying the new books and spied this one.

The cover was very pleasing to my eye and the title reminded me of the year my friends & I gathered once a week - my stagnant year, I call it. As soon as we got home, we retreated to corners in the front room and read. Time wasn't on our side - Breana had to get to soccer practice. She read while getting dressed, she read in the car on the way to the soccer field, she even read until the Coach pulled up in his truck - she wasn't a bit tempted to go out and juggle/pass with her teammates. I felt bad for her when she had to put her book down, for a little bit...I stayed since I was parked in the shade and read for 2 hours. Sweet luxury!

What a beautifully written book.

I walked away from the book with manymany thoughts & emotions.

One was appreciating the kindness & pure existence of my friends.

The other was what I hope to be teaching my children and even what I still have to remind myself from time to time: we all have our own stories. When I come across a nasty-hateful person on the street or a rude Cashier/disinterested Sales Clerk, I take a deep breath and say a quick prayer for that person. I pray that their troubles will be resolved and that they'll seek comfort & peace in all that is good. I pray that their pain & agony will subside so that they can go through their day in happiness. I think of the months I spent with chronic back pain where I couldn't muster a thank you or a smile - where all I needed to do was get quickly from point A to point B and everything in between that crossed my path either intentionally or just happenstance received a glare to remove their existence from my sight. Deep down inside where pain did not exist, I would hope that they would understand that I was not my usual self, that I was in excrutiating pain and did not hate the world.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle" - Plato

Be kind, be gentle, be sympathetic - don't react to what people say or do that hurts or bothers you. Remember that they're fighting their own battles and what is really needed is the kindness & understanding of others.

If we all were a group of friends "knitting" together, we'd have the comfort of a smile from across the room and the promise of a beautiful project in the end.

While "The Knitting Circle" touches beyond what I walked away from, this is what I took from it. I'll return the book before it's due, I will, really I will. I have to, I borrowed it on Breana's library card!

Poo Poo on Practicality

2007-07-31T21:02:00.000-07:00

For my birthday, my friends gave me a gift certificate in the amount of $1 per year of my age. As she hugged me, Marijoy said, "Buy magazines!" - "M Magazine!" Randolf chipped in. I took that as a challenge to be frivolous not practical as us Moms tend to be.
So I went to Borders 3 times in the course of one week. Each visit I concentrated on one section - no, it wasn't the magazine section, although it was near it. It was the "Craft/Sewing" section. I found incredible books. There were books on many ways to cut a t-shirt, books on sewing skirts, books on embroidery patterns, books on how to reconstruct your wardrobe, books on bags ...Most books I could only see myself partaking in a few activities -most books were pure eye-candy - aha, frivolity! But each visit I left empty-handed. I was finding it difficult to be frivolous. At one point I found myself by the 'sale' tables where my eyes seized upon book after book where buying 2 from that table granted me a third! Ah, the possibilties! The savings!
Is this what turning 40 is about?!
I went home to think about some of the books that I pulled off the shelves and debated upon. One evening I decided on 1 possibly 2 craft books - the titles I couldn't think of but the pictures & the projects, oh! - but the very next morning, the 6 shelves were organized and alphabetized so where I remember placing the books were no longer where I could find them :(
Again I walked out empty-handed.
Too much thought was going into this - this was a simple challenge, a mere task, a drop in the bucket - one book...thank goodness I wasn't turning 100!
Then it occurred to me...frivolous not only meant "lacking a serious purpose" it meant "pleasure-loving"...

What timing...
and I still have $$$ left in the gift certificate to purchase August issue magazines! :)

Don't fight the obvious

2007-07-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

I insisted on having a purple bathroom. My sister showed me this spray product that allows you to paint tile. With that I was going to transform the accented tile into Kelly Moore Wine Blush. I never got to that point because the process seemed daunting to me (or maybe deep down inside I really liked the color of the tile.) But for years I fought it. All our towels, accessories & flowers were purple. On it's own, the wall was a beautiful shade of Kelly Moore Vellarium Plum.Often I would change the decor of the bathroom whether it be seasonally or on a whim. But as time slowly passed turning days into weeks, I started to see & feel the change of the tide. Blues & greens were starting to seep their way into this purple bathroom. It was plain as day - I could no longer fight it.
There are various degrees of color in the accent tile. Some more deep in color than others. Some suggesting greens while other blue.
I brought in a lot of swatches into the bathroom. I taped them up. I stood them up. One day I would be persuaded towards one shade but then the light will change or I'll see a photo in a magazine or even just cocked my head another direction and I'll change my mind. Dan wanted me to chose a color and go for it...just chose a color...it wasn't that easy. Then one day I went out the door, went into the paint store, took a deep breath, handed the swatch over, grabbed a paint brush and headed back home. To me, the hard part was over.

No one knew what my intentions were for the day. It was 1:00pm - Dan was to be home in 6 hours. In order for this transformation to be a grand surprise, I had to get the entire bathroom done. Unfortunately, of all the sunny & warm summer days, today was the day the morning fog lingered into the afternoon. I knew the paint wasn't going to dry as quickly so I would not be able to put things back on the wall...but I was going to try.

5 hours later I was finished. Initially a bit more minty than planned. I knew it needed a second coat to mute it down a bit - in some areas that only me & my daughters can tell, if you stick your nose up to the wall, blink twice and hold your breath, you can still see the Vallerium Plum. Dan doesn't want us to point out where because, for now, he doesn't see it.

Once I moved things back in the bathroom the walls no longer fought with the tiles. All was harmonious.

That's what friends are for

2007-07-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

One day at my front stoop I found a package. Now I have fantasys of finding a brown paper bag like this full of loot - honestly, I do. I keep my eye out for them on the side of the road. When I spot one I get excited with just the idea! Never mind it being someone's tossed garbage, remnants of their lunch. Go for the thrill - just what if???!
Oh, but this was better - yes, better...

Homemade ollaliberry muffins! I can smell them through their wrappers! I was in heaven! I had been diligently concentrating on a huge project and had worked through lunch and a few snacks...I needed this. My energy level was getting tapped dry. I don't know where I was mustering all my will from.
So sweet! So moist! So Tasty! Incredibly yummy! Almost slobbered all over myself! (Notice no self-portrait?!) For the photo-op I took dainty bites. I tried to be a Lady - oh, how I tried! But I couldn't help myself! Before I knew it not a single crumb was left. Evidence of their existence were gone!

She is such a thoughtful friend - she finds joy in leaving lovely surprises at someone's door. She also read my mind and knew I needed sustenance.
Later that day Dan & I came home to this at our front stoop...must be from one of his friends!

Washing dishes with pretty things

2007-07-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

I wanted a "mindless" project - meaning a project I could do while either a passenger in the car or while sitting in a parking lot waiting for the kids...or even while watching tv (there was a week where a lot of good movies were being shown back to back!)
Nancy had given me 3 skeins of 100% cotton Roma yarn for Christmas. You see, I've been talking a lot about knitting dishcloths.

I chose a simple pattern. I fittingly enough co 40 stitches and bo when I felt it was big enough. I wanted it to be the right size. I wanted it small enough so that I could grab it and have it fit in my hand but big enough to wash dinner plates and pots/pans. Once I felt I had that size, it was ready for a test run! Which was easy to do because I can't seem to keep the kitchen counter & sink empty & dry!
It worked just as I hoped and dried faster than I imagined. Even though I have a drawer under my sink for sponges, if I chose to leave it hanging on the faucet it will look like a pretty piece on display. Best of all it's not disposable like sponges.

Scarf me!

2007-06-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

A lot of time has been spent laying on the couch which means a lot of knitting has been happening.

I love Kaitlin's stitch-saver, a piece of yarn from the project I finished for Cynthia. That marked her half-way mark. She wanted this scarf to have a lot of length.
Once they get healthy and are out & about (they have missed a week of tennis clinic and soccer training starts next week), projects like this will just be a figment of our imagination - a glimpse of the past - a distant memory.
I'm sure we used up all our creative juices in these past few days to last us the entire summer!

Caught the knitting ball - er' knitting bug

2007-06-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

Years ago sister-in-law, Cynthia, found these 2 sleeves at a yard sale and thought of me. I didn't dedicate time to unravel the sleeves, instead I would pick at it from time to time until I had unraveled one sleeve down to the cuff.
Yesterday was Cynthia's birthday. I took the yarn from the sleeve and combined it with yarn purchased a few years ago from the mother lode Yard Sale and created a fun, eclectic scarf.
CO 6 stitches. Knit 3 rows, then knit w/ 4 over for 1 row.
Every 1/4 of the way I would add another yarn and BO the other then ended w/ 3 rows of the cream.
It was that giver's remorse situation all over again with me. I wanted to keep the scarf! I checked the watch and did the math. It took me 3 hours to knit the scarf (while taking care of 2 sick kids) and I started at 2:30pm. Dan left work at 6:00pm and would pick me up at 6:30 to head over to Cynthia's Birthday Party. I still needed to get dressed and set-up dinner for the girls. 3 divided by 6:00 multiplied by 1 carry-over the ridiculous equals not enough time.

I wrapped up the scarf , handed it over...lovingly...and Cynthia loved it. At least it went to a good home, right? :)

Nubbles - ultra blues

2007-06-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

Kaitlin & Breana have not been feeling well lately :( with their fevers & sore throats they have been laying around staring at the tv. After a whole entire day of that, I declared a new rule: if you must watch tv (gosh, what else are they suppose to do in between their naps while bed-ridden?!) you must be working on a project. Kaitlin went through my baskets of yarn - found this blue/purple/green 'nubbles' - and got to work.
Her first attempt she co 12 stitches and came up with a short scarf (which have been my favorite lately). She called me while I was buying soup at the grocery store to ask if I could run to the yarn store to buy another skein. I had to think about that one - that would entail driving across town, getting tangled into crawling traffic with the possibilty of that color of 'nubbles' to be out of stock. So I suggested she start over, co 6 stitches and see what happens. I offered that if the result is still not what she was hoping for then we'd call the store and I would head out there for her.
It turned out the exact length that she wanted!

Beading

2007-06-28T11:21:00.001-07:00

Breana received this as a birthday gift, I hate to admit, last year. It waited patiently in the studio for this day...
the day where Breana had a moment to sit and dedicate herself to creative projects. Sitting still without looming deadlines and activities to get to became our reality once school let out.

She worked meticulously on this beaded design off & on for 3 days - patiently applying the beads one-by-one to create this design using tweezers.
We haven't decided what we're going to use it for or where we're going to put it. For now it's on display on the dining table

This is just the beginning!

Finally a completed project!

2007-06-19T12:33:00.000-07:00

Last year Kaitlin & her friend, Aria, starting sketching clothing designs so I took them to Hart's fabrics to expand their creative juices by looking at all the different types of fabrics, colors and prints. Seeing bolts of fabric is like viewing shelves of yarn for me - although I don't need any new pieces at home I'm salivating! Gotta have it! I have a thing for MunkiMunki/Lightning Bugs (orange upper-right) having a dear friend be Heather's sister, my girls were spoiled with the whimsical line of children's clothing.I also am a hoarder/collector (?) of dresses I adored on my daughters that are too precious to pass on because they are connected to so many memories, so I have let them stack up. Some I've cut into squares for a quilt (some day), some I'll leave as is to pass onto my Granddaughters and some I am hoping to find uses for them. I dream of how I can reuse the sweet material but putting the scissors to fabric is a hard thing for me.
Then one day Breana inspired me: I pushed aside my books, my ever-pending knitting, even a load of laundry and got to work.

Uh huh...

Yes I did! :D

Now remember both of my sewing machines are in need of attention so Breana & I have been working with a simple needle & thread. I was fortunate to be given all of Grandma Felisa's sewing baskets & sewing machine after she passed away. My Grandmother (both actually) was a gifted seamstress. She tried to sit tomboy me down to learn stitching. Unfortunately I didn't have the ability to see myself 30 years down the road so I grumbled my way through our sewing lessons and bolted out the door once they were through. Yes, I completely denied myself of learning the tricks of the trade from the Master Herself.

With Grandma's needles and the little knowledge that was bestowed on me, this is what I did...

a completed piece - continued

2007-06-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

This dress was handed down by Kylie. It's the first dress that I've cut in to. It was easier than I thought - I took a deep breath, opened up the scissors and made the first cut. After that first snip the rest of the fabric didn't have a chance!
More salvaging:
Someone tried to hand a pair of cotton/linen pants down to me. The pants never fit me but I kept it for it's fabric. A few years ago I did cut one leg up to use for lavender/rose geranium satchets for Christmas gifts. For this bag, my sister, Tisha, suggested I line it. I considered using the fabric that I started out with but changed my mind, I didn't want it to be that busy. This time I chuckled when I cut a piece out. Do you see it?

Here's a closer look: Yes, a pocket for my cellphone, lipstick & keys - no digging around in this bag!
I even added a gusset to give the bag more shape.
The finished product - finally a finished piece!

This bag took me a total of 3 1/2 days. Time-wise it only took me 4-5 hours.

A perfect summer bag!

Work in progress

2007-06-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

Embarrassingly enough, four years ago I started a project for a birthday present for my oldest daughter. I fell upon this book, "Simple Knits With A Twist" that uses the most interesting materials to knit wonderful projects. I purchased 1/2 a yard of light blue netting and knit a little bag. Unfortunately the bag fell into the depths of a basket full of "WIPs" and was completely forgotton. Four years later I am determined to complete all those projects and mark them off as 'done'. I've changed the bag considerably from the pattern in the book and am now working on knitting a long strap.
Stay tuned!

"Student Award" Projects

2007-06-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

One of the last projects Kaitlin & Breana had in school was to make an award for a fellow student. After they randomly chose names the assignment was to create an award describing what is special and unique about the person. They were to include something specific about the person's personality, talents & hobbies as well as include a specific memory from the school year, etc. This project was treated like every assignment given in school; with thought, planning & deep concentration. Kaitlin & Breana were to present an award to students they both have known since kindergarten, Charlie & Jacki, respectively. I brought out a huge box of pictures from the depths of my studio that took us way back at least 12 years. The next step was to jot down a few things the girls felt were special about Charlie & Jacki. Armed with that list, we went to the scrapbooking section of the local craft store where we took an hour going through stickers & craft decorations that helped represent each student. We had to streamline a bit before we went up to the register, it's amazing how much you can spend on a handful of stickers!
With poster boards, stickers, craft paper, pictures, their own scissors & glue-tape, they each went to their own corners of the house and spread their goods out. Once everything was laid out on their boards, the air was clear of chatter and replaced by scissors snipping and glue-tape being snapped into place.
This project involved reflecting on good times and concentrating on what we appreciate in each other. They each took 7 years of their lives spent with these kids, sharing, learning & growing together and laid it out on one board - moments of time frozen.

Student Awards cont'd

2007-06-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

This student totally got Breana. Just the picture of the horse alone made Breana happy!
Like Sally Fields once said when accepting her award, "You like me! You really really like me!"

Student Awards cont'd

2007-06-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

It's meaningful as a Parent when others appreciates your child's talents and acknowledges her for who she is. These students get each other.

Breana's Work In Progress

2007-06-02T18:33:00.000-07:00

Breana started off by cutting 9 3x3 squares out of fabric she picked out at Hart's Fabrics.
While my sewing machines are out of commission (from broken needles to tension problems) she is sewing this one by hand. After sewing 6 squares she had to put this project aside to tend to other activites (i.e book reports, Year-long Community Service Write-up, soccer try-outs...yeah know, 5th grade stuff!)

Mother-Daughter time ~ Chicklets

2007-05-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

The chicklets gathered on a Sunday afternoon.
It was one of those situations where you're running here & there trying to squeeze everything in but then so glad that you did. It was the calm after the storm. Breana & I zoomed up to the mountains amidst the redwood trees to make time for the Chicklets.Our first project was to make Mother-Daughter flip flops. Breana chose an orange sequin ribbon. I've never had such fancy flip-flops before! (I've also never had tacky glue work so well before!)
For the next project, the girls decorated white t-shirts. Breana drew little black flip-flops on the bottom corner of her t-shirt decorated with the remnants of the orange sequins to resemble her flip-flops. Such concentration was around the table sprinkled with chitter-chatter from the Moms.

Decorating the aprons for us Moms really stumped me. No one skipped a beat while I couldn't think of how I wanted to decorate mine! I couldn't even narrow down what color(s) I'd like to use! I watched each Mom pick their fabric paint colors. I saw swirls & dots. I watched flowers being made with each Chicklet's name on each petal. I saw chicks drawn with various colors - cute, huh? Chicks for the Chicklets! So sweet! But me? Well, I opted to turn my brain off, enjoy the chatter, smile at the creativeness around me and be grateful for moments like this.

Sitting pretty until 'L' day

2007-05-22T01:35:00.000-07:00

During the day when the house is still and the mice are in school, I've been taking advantage of these gloriously sunny days by hanging the laundry outside. I have a system. I put one load into the washer machine first thing in the morning for by the time everyone is out the door, the load is finished and ready to be hung. I attach my retractable line from my detached studio to the farthest fence and lay my basket of wet clothes alongside my bowl of clothespins. I also have with me a basket of hangars because I tend to hang specific items of clothing...sounds strange, I know...but that's the way I am. There are only so many things I get to do 'my way' in this house and so many things I have to compromise or 'give into' due to sharing my living space with others (i.e family) - but the laundry is my domain. (Hey, I'll take what I can get!)

So from here I hang away. Clothes are to be inside out (mine, all mine, remember?), shirts & blouses on hangars (still all mine) and laundry to be checked frequently - no crispy clothing on my watch! When I get into a groove and the sun is working with me, I can get 3 loads up & out on that one long line before I pick the girls up from school.
It is satisfying work. I love seeing clothes hanging from a line.

One of my favorite sights is the clotheslines outside of apartments in San Francisco's Chinatown. One of my favorite paintings is one my brother-in-law did of a sister-in-law's clothesline in Kauai. And one of my favorite chores, please don't let the husband see this, is doing the laundry. Now, get this straight, I don't look forward to doing the laundry nor do I favor going through others' dirty clothing but I get this strange satisfaction in separating the clothes into my 'anal'-specific piles (goes way back to childhood), drying them to perfection (either the natural way or conventional way) so that the integrity of the clothes are maintained (limited wrinkles and no shrinkage) and folding/hanging them.
While the dirty linen is much like the kitchen sink, never empty, just the sight of nearly empty baskets deems a job well done.

I usually have one day that's dedicated to laundry. It's a strategically placed day during the week. Hate to admit it but it revolves around soccer. Which means I have a few more days until it's laundry day!

Shoes, shoes, beautiful shoes!

2007-05-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

I love my new shoes - my beautiful Mary Jane crocs!
I fell upon them in Yosemite.
What started off as innocently 'window shopping' turned out to be me giggling over this cute style of crocs!
I tried on the light green and the brown crocs as well!
I asked for my families opinion...
Play it safe with brown?
Me who always gravitates towards black shoes.
Or have fun with color?
Have fun?
Which color?
Oh my, choices!
I am overly thrilled - beyond thrilled - over my new Mary Jane crocs.
Happy Mother's Day! Yeah!

Music to my ears

2007-05-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

The Piano Technician came back with the 8 keys that he took to his workshop. My girls had managed to compose songs around those 8 missing keys and asked if the piano could remain open. I agree it was fun watching the reaction of each mechanism as you struck a key, however, the piano looked so unnaturally exposed!

I worked in the opposite side of the house getting ready for our weekend to Yosemite as the Piano Technician worked his magic. I remember the many times our piano was being tuned as a child. The 'bong', 'bongs' of each key until the pitch was in tune until all 88 keys were manipulated and set to satifaction were a familiar sound. My fondest memory was watching a seeing impaired technician tune our piano. His hands moved about the piano with such ease & grace. My sisters & I would watch him in complete awe of his ability to conduct such a task.

This time I gave the piano tuner space. I would stop to watch the tuning process occassionally for I still marvel at the complexitiy of it all and his swiftness of handling such an instrument. However, this time, I could just as easily appreciate his job from afar - my task at hand was to get us packed for camping!

Once the piano was in tune, he tested his job by playing the piano.

I watched & listened off in the corner. For one split second I considered grabbing the video camera but just as quickly, changed my mind. I chalked this one up as a private concert for one. I was so emotionally taken by his graceful playing, by the way the notes lingered in the air and by the way the music flowed from song back to testing certain keys for their correct pitch. I felt so blessed to have front row seats to such a performance.

A total of 3 hours later, the job was done.

Bravo! Bravo!

Deep inside

2007-05-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

A treasure in my home is getting
special attention right now.
Deep within its case are its
intricate pieces that make it whole.
I anticipate when the work is complete.
I even watch the clock.
"When are you to be done?" I want to ask
the master.
But patience is requested...nothing but silence
comes from me as He skillfully works away.

Made with love...and laughter

2007-05-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to make a special bracelet for my friend. I wanted it to symbolize the 6 years we dedicated to this Violin Program and mark the end of our relationship as Violin Teacher & Piano Accompanist. Days would go by without a single bead out of its case as we got closer & closer to the day I should give it to her. You know how it goes, the creative desire has to be in your blood. The chosing of beads and materials have to come naturally, not forced. I had to get into that space in my head where the creative juices were flowing...
It wasn't until the night before, of course.
Breana's G & A string needed to be changed on her violin. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to changing violin strings; everything needs to be pointing in the same direction, the strings need to be wound so that it's spiraling around the peg not overlapping each other, etc...it's a meticulous task but not only helps the notes ring perfectly but makes the violin look, you got it, pretty.
So I'm changing the strings when it occurs to me...bing...I should make bracelets out of the string! I chose the A string because of the two it's smaller so I thought it would be easier to string beads on. The first bracelet was quick & easy. I let the color of the Dominant A String be part of the bracelet and I went from there - quite simple. For the second bracelet I attempted to use the rest of the A string but hit a few snags of unraveling string which didn't leave me enough to for a second bracelet. So I frantically started looking for the other string.
"Breana! Where's the G string? I can't find the G string!" is what Dan walked into.
His look was priceless. I didn't know he could raise his eyebrow!
"In your dresser drawer?" he cautiously but facetiously answered. :)
The second bracelet made with the VIOLIN G string (mind you) was made using letters simulating old typewriter keys from Michael's to spell out "Violin". It fit so nicely I was tempted to keep it! It's that same old thing with me - I wanna keep everything I make.

When I gave the bracelets to Lisa I shared the "G String" story with her. We had a grand laugh. Funny, we never ever thought of that string in that way and never will I ever ever be able to go to the music store and say "I'd like to buy a G string, please" without a little smirk! ;)

2007-05-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

We spent the afternoon at Cayuga Vault so that the kids could record the song that they wrote with singer Keith Greeninger for their classroom play last year.

We were surrounded by pieces of soothing & mesmerizing art by artist Erica Steiner

while the kids sang & thoroughly enjoyed themselves on stage!

Time to rejuvenate

2007-05-08T04:02:00.000-07:00

Spent the day in San Francisco Chinatown with my girls and their class. It was a gloriously bright sunny day. We drove through the city to soak in the clear day. From Twin Peaks we saw all the way through the Golden Gate Bridge to the headlands...
...down Chinatown to well past the Bay Bridge.

It was a day to stop, enjoy my surroundings and appreciate what you find when you turn down into an alley to make a stop at the fortune cookie factory.

Grateful for:

~ having a chance to learn about the history of the San Francisco Chinatown.

~ being in San Francisco during such a beautiful day.

~ the lunch shared with Breana, 6 students & a friend.

~ the group around the table sharing the pangs of hunger and diving in all together.

~ seeing a part of the world with 10 - 12 year olds.

Meandering about

2007-05-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

I spent yesterday meandering about by myself. I drove over-the-hill with Dan, dropped him off at work and set out with my yahoo maps directions to various places. I went to the big stores first; Bed, Bath & Beyond and the Container Store to pick up the little necessities. I found myself putting things in my cart to turn around 15 mins later to return them. "Necessity or Impulse" I'd ask myself. Yes, it's nice to have another frame holder for books & pictures but a towel rack & shelf for our outdoor solar shower is what's needed. As much as these stores are fun to visit from time to time, they give me a headache. I was in need of a different speed. So off to a thrift store!
Last few times (years ago mind you) my friend & I would stay for a long time and walk out with glorious finds. This time? Where was my friend?! There was huge potential for breaking out in hysterics, slapstick one-liners and raised eyebrows! Since I couldn't do that all alone without being seen as being mental and escorted out, I left empty-handed and quite squashed.
For a pick-me-up I headed over to Commknitty (their website doesn't do them justice, but peek anyway). It was like coming home to those that understand your 'needling way'. It's tranquil, clean (sigh, my poor house) & welcoming. It's open & spacious yet filled with beautiful skeins in tantalizing colors & textures. As I proceed to walk to the end of the store I was stopped by the sight of all the books - and I was invited to sit at the table or lounge on the couches - to read or knit! Oh my! Even though I was a good girl and didn't purchase a thing, I walked away rejuvenated and motivated.
"Down the street is a used book store that you have to go to!" my dear friend says...ok, twist my arm. Ohmigoodness! Stacks & stacks of piles & piles of books 2 rows deep on each shelf in a small store. I walked down each aisle running my fingers on the books stopping occassionally to pick one up and flip through the pages and smile at the prices! Oh my! I did walk around with a few books with the intentions of taking them home, but I changed my mind. Like the yarn store, I stuck to my guns that I have manymany unread books at home. This place was saved in my memory archives (another, 'oh my') for that one day when the yarn supply is down and the words of all those unread books have been savored.
After a few more big stores that I don't have in my beach town, I finally went to the whole reason why I came over-the-hill - to accompany 5 violin students (post & pics to come after this weekend!)
A late dinner with Dan, picked up the girls at my parents' and 'home again, home again, jiggidy-jig'.

Putting aside one for the other...

2007-04-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

I've been putting all my focus on one thing lately which has resulted in neglecting my knitting .

Any & all chances I have I'm here...

caressing, banging, sliding, crashing & escalating...

to master this piece in order to accompany Breana. Our Violin Concert is around the corner, will I make it? For a breather, I practice the other recital pieces I'll be accompanying. I dive into the crescendos, I float with the sweet melody, I crash during a mistake and I gush when my heart strings sing w/ the notes.

I slip into my 'happy place'. I get sucked into the song, the conversation, the idle chit-chat, the dance, the angst and the release. I let the notes linger in the air and float up to the heavens. My ears ache when the notes crash to the ground with a boom and I'm left empty. To refill I work on those measures over & over & over again in order to gain satisfaction.

I enjoy spending time with my Hardman, my beloved piano that I favored when I was younger. And that's where I will spend the rest of my morning!

Reasons to love our beach town...

2007-04-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Turning temporary pedestrian walkways into galleries displaying young local artist's work...
that make you stop & ponder...
or allow you to keep on walking with a smile on your face...

Epitome of 'blissful treats'

2007-04-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

A friend, Elena, is always so thoughtful, especially during Easter. We love our knitted Easter bunnies! Elena took the time to knit bunnies and give them out to numerous people - in the meantime she was renovating one home, packing up another and taking care of her two children, 2 goats and 2 dogs while letting our Violin program consume her life & property one day a week. She is kind, giving & sweet!

She also spoiled me with these delectable petits fours! I brought them camping with us - well, I didn't know they were so beautiful and delicious! I selflessly shared them amongst the 7 of us while secretly & deeply wishing that I had left them home for my own private consumption. How could I have known that they would be so adorable and so soft & moist!
But it's good to share, right?
I did the right thing, no?

Blissful treats - yes!

Yarn & Friendship

2007-04-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

A few years back a handful of friends & I gathered once a week in the morning at each other's homes. The kids were at school, the husbands at work and the homes empty. We'd knit, chat & eat wonderful morning treats. However, we discovered that one can only knit scarves at such a gathering. Working with a pattern was too involved and caused you to either mess up the pattern because you were trying to follow & contribute to a conversation or resulted in you shutting yourself off from everyone so that you can concentrate. In other words, a lot of scarves were made that year!
Sometimes I miss the gatherings - the chats around beautiful baskets filled with colorful skeins - the clanking of the needles beneath the chatter - the yummy treats straight out of the oven - the wonderful women to share a morning with.
It was a morning where nothing was more important than the needles in your hands and the friends sitting by your side. A morning where the dishes stayed stacked in the sink, the dust settled and the beds remained unmade.
Good times...

Hurry - the suns out!

2007-04-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

Blue/green day because the sun was out and when the sun is out I start to think about the ocean, smell the seaweed, hear the crashing waves and squint because of the powerfully bright sun!
And I move far away from black days...

when it's too cold, too windy & too wet to hang laundry outside.

There's something theraputic about hanging laundry outside - the whole ordeal of starting early in the morning so the clothes won't get scorched, the walking the basket of wet laundry outside, the meticulous hanging of the items, the seeing the clothes billow in the breeze from the corner of my eyes, the taking down of the laundry just as it becomes dry and soft not dried to a crisp and the folding of the laundry that smells like the sun.

Simple
Requires patience
Soaks up the sun's goodness

Bag in progress

2007-04-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Driving on Highway 1 my knitting bag was at my feet w/ skeins & skeins of yarn looking up at me. For days this bag sat at my feet and was moved from one end to the other but I was too consumed with being in the moment until...
all of a sudden I got in the mood. We settled down for our last night away and my needles started clicking away. Below me was this scene and every so often I'd look up to this view
at Bullfrog Pond Campground.
*
Deep breath,
Click click click,
Soak in all that is good & pure,
Change yarn,
Deep breath...
Click click click...

Chosen project

2007-04-07T03:20:00.000-07:00

I've decided that it is too complicated to bring a sewing project while camping. I am going to take with me a project that for the most part will allow me to do while driving, while soaking in the view, while watching my girls explore and while holding a conversation with my husband. This project has been sitting in a bag for 6 months! The book was renewed from the library the maximum amount of times allowed and has since been returned. It hasn't been available to borrow since!

She's back in the saddle again...

2007-04-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't thrifted in a long time (aside from costumes) because I have been trying to be good. My studio is still in disaray, remember?
But when I drop off books at the library I always have to peruse through their sale tables - this time I found these...
We already have my childhood copy of Konigsburg's book. I like having more than 1 copy laying around so I can read (or re-read) books alongside my girls. I remember liking that book when I was younger and reading it over & over again.
Can't beat 50 cents - $1.00 books! (Yeah!)

After breakfast of poached eggs on toast and a white mocha w/ a dear friend we popped into our favorite thrift store and found this cute tic-tac-toe game! 3 dimensional! If you lose one way, you can win another! It's a lose-win situation!
($2.50! That's a win-win!)
Then after poking our heads into the art studio where Mackerilla bags are made and after taking a peek at Alicia's blog. I got excited!
No, I didn't purchase these today. I found them in the fabric pile in my studio. I don't think I'll be knitting this spring break...

...underneath all my fabric I found this top!

Where have you been my whole life?!!!! How did you get mixed up into the abyss of fabric and treated like an outcast?!

Getting excited about being creative

2007-04-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

I'm getting real excited about new projects!

A few years ago I embroidered on tablecloths - crisp white, delicate & simple tablecloths purchased in San Francisco Chinatown. I made my own patterns and embroidered tiny tips and forget-me-nots. Then out of nowhere, I stopped.

I'm thinking it's time to revamp my white dishcloths...and others...Saw this book today. Included with the sweet pictures were patterns. I didn't purchase the book, I walked away...I'm going to sit back and dream of what will soon be!

Sonoma Art & Wine Faire

2007-04-02T16:41:00.000-07:00

The warm weather & bright sun we have been surrounded with the last couple of days has me dreaming about how I'll spend the lazy dazy days of summer.
So, I'm back tracking a little bit to last summer......Bay Area Artist

Costumes

2007-03-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

The phases (this one & that one) all blurred together with the final product being a huge success on stage.
I had a vision, collaborated with each student, came up with individual lists of what each student needed to hunt down and bring in to bring their idea to life, had to frequent thrift stores to find pieces and worked alongside creative & imaginative parents. There were a lot of trips to Beverly Fabrics, a lot of loose thread about the house, a lot of consulting with the students, a lot of laughs, a lot of gasps & shreaks of glee and did I menton, a lot of laughs?!!!!

When I sat down with the two Step-Sisters we were so giddy because we shared the same vision! The problems were they didn't know where to start and I didn't have the sewing talent to bring the vision to life. For me the easy part was starting them off. For the two Step-Sisters, I found 5-6 dresses at a fun thrift store for under $50! (Sorry, can't reveal, it's a secret!) I divided the dresses up, we modified their costume sketches & consulted my costume binder of ideas and I sent them on their way. Luck have it, both girls' mothers are brilliant seamstresses! Another Mom sewed the Mice & Horse costumes. Laura coordinated the "boy" mice costumes with the "girl" mice costumes, much like in the Disney version - real fun and added an authenticity to the Fairy Tale we grew up with. (When I saw Laura's costumes it brought my favorite "Cinderella" line to mind, "Breakfast! Breakfast! Everybody up! Hurry! Hurry!" Don't know, just is.)

Brunhilda & the Prince (I just absolutely lovelovelove Yasi's petticoat!)Another Mom in the class helped me embellish costumes. For the Majordomos, we took wool vests and turned them inside out to reveal the silk lining. Sharon added sequins & tassels.

I decked the Royal Family out in royal blue & gold. Agustin was such a distinguished King and Michaela a regal Queen (her Mom sewed her dress - just divine!) I hand-sewed sequins individually over gold trim & blue ribbon on Grant's (Prince) own quality jacket & slacks. Lightly sewed in order to bring the suit back to its normal state when the play was all said & done...I have a feeling Grant will leave his suit as is! :) I'm touched, blushing in fact.

Just can't get enough of the Royals!

(Yes, that's Dorothy...you had to have been there to fully appreciate!)

We went through tons of skirts & aprons and had conversation upon conversation over her not using her tshirt as part of the costume. Her mother had found this skirt that she had sewn years ago - perfect and Brigette & I picked the apron from a stack I found...and the tshirt? I spent a lot of time thinking about that tshirt and a lot of time 'debating' its usage on stage. I didn't want anything modern-day on stage but it finally dawned on me that it's solid color & simple line was so plain & 'drab' it fit Cinderella's simpleness...forget the fact that Brigette was soooo insistent :) She was right, it worked on stage beautifully - plainly beautiful!

Doing costumes for school plays is my ultimate favorite. I get to dip into each student's creative side, I get to spend time with each student on a one-to-one basis and thus get to know them quite well and everyday I am constantly approached by hoardes of students who are sooo excited about their costumes - they want to talk about the progress, they want to see the transformaton of the pieces and they want to try them on- oh boy do they! Could possibly be the last school play I coordinate the costumes for. (IF I have one more to put under my belt, I hope Sharon is at my side again!)

This experience was truly a memorable one.

photos taken during their last dress rehearsal

(will include pics of my costume binder)

Breana's Creative Work

2007-03-27T01:50:00.000-07:00

Breana's handmade card for her violin teacher.

Felt 'love'

2007-03-27T01:49:00.001-07:00

My girls miss all the crafting we use to do. When they were younger I always had them working on something. This day Breana mentioned that she wished we weren't soo busy to do something creative. That was my cue. I pushed aside the costumes for the play, retrieved materials from the studio and got the girls started on a felt project.

I won't spoil the surprise. All you need to know is they've been snipping & sewing & creating...just like 'ol times.

Finding the 'love' in putting aside what was important on my list to do something important on theirs.

Getting inspired

2007-03-20T02:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon we spent some time in one of our favorite bookstores. While Dan was looking for gifts, Kaitlin was hunting to spend her gift cards and Breana was scoping out the stationary section, I was getting inspired in the craft section.

I'm thinking after the school play and cleaning out the studio, this could be a great project for me - just in time for summer, too!

clay sculpting

2007-03-07T01:50:00.001-08:00

See family post.

scarves all mine!

2007-03-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

co 125 - knit

Elaine by Schaeffer Yarns - color: Mary Pickford

Delicious hand painted luxury fibers.

phase 2 of costumes

2007-03-05T08:15:00.000-08:00

The more I work on these costumes the more I'm irritated that I didn't clean out my studio last year. "Something always gets in the way" - well, I always let things get in the way...something always becomes more important. I used the dining table, the ironing board AND the the side-buffet table this weekend as my work space for a few costumes. I started by laying out pieces for the King, Queen & Prince as well as the pieces for my own daughters. I needed to priorities my plan of attack by those that can be done quicker - it was friday, which is a short day for the girls and a long violin/piano day for me.
Breana's Fairy costume looks simple, seems easy - yet I get intimidated by cutting fabric, therefore, get easily frightened by the whole procedure. We all know, no cuttey the fabric, no doey the project!

So I decided to start with the Royal Sashes. I found this gorgeous royal blue & gold brocade fabric the week before. I divided the fabric into threes, took a deep breath, grabbed a hold of the scissors and made the first snip. Am I the only one who gets nervous of cutting fabric? Once started, though, the rest started to flow naturally. I pleated the fabric and started sewing sequins - this is in my blood. My late-Grandmother Q made gorgeous wedding gowns that she hand beaded herself - they weighed a 'ton' and were breathtaking.

Thank goodness it's a stage performance so I'm able to baste the fabric and sew the sequins without worrying about details like the color of the thread. Sewing moved faster due to that.

By the end of the weekend, I had 2 1/2 sashes complete with their royal sparkly glory!

2 1/2 down, dare I look at my list?

checkered patterns

2007-03-01T16:20:00.000-08:00

My sister's Mother-in-Law called her after raiding a yard sale - excuse me, let me be more specific, 'a yarn sale' yard sale - that we had to go see! Just had to! We didn't have the exact address but somehow our noses knew the way. The front of the house was decieving with chairs & books and odds & ends but we were given heads up that the goods were in the back.

The Yarn Sale was in a 2 room studio that was packed from floor-to-ceiling (in drawers, under tables, behind doors, in boxes) of stacks&stacks&stacks with skeins&skeins&skeins of yarn. I walked out with 2 bags jam-packed with skeins & skeins of yarn & needles. I coveted my treasures. No project was good enough for them.

It's taken some time but I'm finally 'over' hoarding the yarn. I'm sharing the wealth now.

However, I was finding myself 'looking' for certain pieces as I was getting dressed and realized that I didn't have any of my own knitted creations - not a single scarf.

This piece is one that I made specifically for myself. It's made from a wonderful orange (color: 543 Porphyr, dye lot: 4641 to be more specific) 100 % wool Britania, Shetland Type Yarn.

My pattern is co 25 stitches, knit 5, purl 5 for 5 rows, alternating the pattern every 5 rows - similar to this. I didn't knit it too long. Right now, I prefer much shorter scarves - almost neck warmers - where I tie it once or wrap it once and it's all there right under my neck.

creative minds

2007-03-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

In our front room there is a "game table" used for games & puzzles. These games or puzzles can be left there undisturbed until a new game is brought out or the puzzle is completed. Being separate from our dining table it allows play & leisure time to occur when one has time on their hands or when one is passing by. I often switch the games out while the girls are at school and when they're home I find them tinkering around the table exploring the possibilites on their own. A few weeks ago it was 'Scrabble', last week it was 'Backgammon', this week it's 'Boggle' - next week? Hmmm, it's between 'Trivial Pursuit - the 20th Anniversary Edition' or 'Dominos'...you'll have to visit to see which!

Because my studio is in disarry (ugh), my girls & I must bring the creative necessities into the house and use that table in the front room.

'Boggle' was put aside and bowls of buttons were set out.
When she had a moment to spare, Breana made herself a necklace.

We dubbed this the 'MunkiMunki' necklace. My friend, Christie, let me gobble up handfuls of buttons she & her sister used for their 'MunkiMunki' kid's clothing line. (If Breana could still fit into those 'MunkiMunki' dresses & jackets, she'd match perfectly!)

The buttons have since been moved back to the studio and 'Boggle' resumed its place. This morning I found Kaitlin stopping to find some words while she was enroute to feed Tiger. She might have been distracted for a little bit, but I don't mind. I like this little table that we have to walk by to get from one end of the house to the other. If you stop and linger over it for awhile that's fine - it's the spot where you're reminded to take a deep breath & enjoy.

too sweet for words

2007-02-27T19:09:00.000-08:00

My friend, Christie, was generous with her MunkiMunki fabric that her sister designed. I have a stash of great prints. I even have a box of MunkiMunki dresses & jackets that my daughters have outgrown that I cannot give away! So what happens when I get new fabric?
Yes, it first becomes a tablecloth so that I can touch it & oogle it! It wasn't big enough for our dining table but perfect for the buffet.

Because we have a Vanagon we've thought of making 2 pillow cases for camping. I might just be so uncreative as cut it into 2 pieces and use the fabric as 2 tablecloths for dining while camping.

Would look too cute, huh?!

What have I been up to?!

2007-02-12T03:18:00.000-08:00

Now that my family blog is launched and has found its rhythmn, I need to pick this blog back up and start documenting my crafts.
I don't have pictures of the Christmas knitting I did - neck warmers, wrist warmers, bags, hats, scarves...but boy did I knit like crazy! I started in the summer. I was determined to get to the bottom of my knitting basket (well, at least one of them!) by the new year.
My girls & I also made a lot of book markers with wire & beads...again completely determined to use all my beads and ribbons and wires and baubles and charms, etc...
From here on out, I will make a point to take pictures of the creations that my girls & I create.

These were made in 1 night each and sold in a Classroom fundaiser. My first hat - I'm hooked! Wished I looked good in hats, though...my girls do, but how many hats does one need?

Mayhem

2006-07-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

I can't figure out how to rotate my pictures - Help! What's worse the picture on its side or the state of my studio?
So this is it...How does one get into a creative mode in this? I thought this would be the perfect time to start my blog. One day I'll look back at my postings and be in disbelief that I once had a space that looked like that!!!

What will become of this?

2006-06-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

I'm learning how to navigate around here so that I may personalize this space of mine. I dream of finishing knitting projects, getting back into beading, rekindling my excitement for glass bead making and unleashing that inner creativeness that I've locked away. Life has been full of music, sports & trying to keep the house clean...now if I can add more crafts! My knitting group never reconvened after school started last fall. We all took to more active ways of spending our days - back to running, tennis...and some back to the work-force. I'd love to have my life at a perfect balance...or just a balance, I'll take just a balance!
Off to a sister-in-law's bday party!

June 27, 2006 - My new venture

2006-06-27T03:08:00.000-07:00

My first entry. Call me crazy, but the last time I wrote in my journal was in 2002...4 years ago! It still sits there on my bedside table - dusty and untouched. Will this one last?