Thursday, December 31, 2009

Bye 2009:: Hello 2010!

I wish you a happy new year! I am also hoping for a bit more love, peace, and general contentedness for the world around me. From my family to yours, abundant health and happiness...

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Snow covered East Coast II

It's been snowing since last night and hasn't stopped yet. Although we have made some attempt to shovel the snow, the wind kept blowing it back to the shoveled area. We gave up the fun and stayed inside watching the snow fall...
There was a small bird looking for shelter in our back yard. It scurried from bottom of one tree to another. There was also a bird dodging under our back neighbor's deck. That made me wonder; where do birds go for shelter when the leaves are all gone?

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Inspiration:: Delftware

I have always loved blue and white color combinations. Especially in housewares.
I have Spode Blue Italian collection and have always loved the Delftware, the blue and white tiles. Unfortunately, I don't own any Delft tiles...

Roy Kirkham Bone China pitcher and small blue and white egg, bought at the Sugarloaf Craft Festival... Thinking about blue and white Delft tiles inspired me to make embroidered felt pins with Dutch motifs. Now at the shop.

Monday, December 14, 2009

An old card catalog

After fixing the legs [with dad!] and cleaning for hours [with mom!], a rescued old card catalog is reborn as our treasure holder. The pencils, erasers, bookmark collection etc. I remember the college days when I actually used the cards held in one of these catalogs. I didn't see one when I visited my alma mater. Sigh, I wish somethings stay the same forever...


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

A feature!

I have been too harried to mention that Corra of the Mayberry Sparrow featured my small red bird ornaments! Considering how excited I was having it included in her beautiful layout with other selected items, I couldn't let it go unmentioned... thank you Corra!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Cotton Time Bunny

Thanks to my sister-in-law in Korea, I have several issues of Cotton Time magazine. And yet I never got around to making one project out of it until now. Although there are so many tempting projects, without any knowledge of Japanese and good skills, it wasn't easy to even attempt to start one. I thought bunny on the cover of this issue was too cute to pass it by.
The gloves - courtesy of my dad who went to Super Q Mart get some for me -weren't as white as the ones in the Cotton Time. I think it's unbleached cotton.
I had to reposition the bunny several times to get it to sit. Mad, who doesn't know Japanese either, looked at the directions and said that it may need plastic pellets for weight. I think she may be right. I'd have to make some more to test it out.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Crafting mood...

Spending long nights crafting away...
hoping for clear skies...
do chase away the moon covering clouds...

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

Taking a break from cooking to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
After preparing vegetables for today's cooking, I made a brooch late into the night.
Although I cherish autumn days, I must be anticipating a snowy winter.
Have a good one!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Holidng on to the fall

Walking around the neighborhood, to my delight, I noticed remnants of autumn still lingering.
Took some photos with Mad and was inspired to make a holiday garland for the shop.















Saturday, October 31, 2009

Busy autumn days...

The past couple of months have been busy with the beginning of school year for Mad and Gem. The days were spent at work, with so much to do! The nights were spent at schools for back to school nights and PTA meetings! For the fun part, I was invited to participate at the South Silver Spring Block Party as one of the artist vendors. When I first saw "artist" invite with phrases like "cutting edge," I was tickled pink. Then since I didn't check my email until two weeks before, it was pretty intense trying to create enough things for a table! Here are some samplings...

Friday, September 18, 2009

Umbrella Pines:: Galleria Borghese Park

Although Rome's known for many beautiful things, I was taken away by its beautiful umbrella pine trees. One of the first things I've notice as the taxi pulled out from the airport into the city and one of the last things I longed to get the last glimpse of as the taxi returned to the airport to bring me back home.















Sunday, August 16, 2009

Sesame mill!

I've been wanting buy a sesame mill I saw at Chocolate & Zucchini. I surfed the web to see if I could order one. The online shops with the sesame mills were mainly for restaurants; you have buy 12-16 at a time. I only needed one. I was at Super Q Mart in Maryland and found it there. Indeed, simple things and finds make me quite happy.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

I am back... with homemade ice cream!



It has been really busy [work + home + travel] in the last couple of months. I am hoping I'd have more time to create fun things, to paint some [picked up some acrylic paint awhile ago], and to organize!

To celebrate summer, we made some homemade ice cream today. I have gifted my young chef, Gem, with Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker in red for her birthday. She opted for strawberry ice cream and it turned out so delicious! Even though we used slightly less sugar than the manufacturer's mini recipe book recommendation, we could have used lot less. Still yummy!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

A walk around the house...

Azalea by the dining room window...


An oak tree on the front lawn...


An Asian pear tree in the back yard...


Next to a persimmon tree... harvested 7 two
autumns ago and 5 last autumn.


Spring onion flowers... reminds me of Korean
vegetable gardens.


A pine tree from a sapling Gem received from school
when she was in 3rd grade...

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Small Gift Packages

Before April is over, I thought I'd post a couple of gift packages I made for my nephew and niece last month. It seems like it's been so long... when did the months of March and April go by?

A chick and a pencil cup decorated with pretty cupcake cotton fabric...
A hedge hog and a pencil cup with denim cover plus button magnets...
Had a wonderful time selecting the fabrics and making them. If I just had some more time...
However, I cleaned out my closets [well, just the ones in my room] after moving the furniture around in my room for a more streamlined looked. I feel very accomplished considering how I run out of time for everything...

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Spring Cleaning

It's been too long since I updated my blog last. I have been quite busy with many tasks at work and home. In many ways, it's a good thing. It's been awhile since I have felt rejuvenated and motivated at work. I actually love what I do at work! My, did I say that?

Of course, this is all good but there are many projects and to dos I want to accomplish along the way as well. I have been meaning to take some time to organize my thoughts and my home to create environment to put some order in my hectic, energized life. So what do I do?

I watched a movie, Twilight, with Mad, keeping up with the sort of "FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE" bonding time. It all began with Casablanca, which apparently was mentioned in one of Gilmore Girls episodes. Mad had to watch it with me and loved it. I enjoy watching movies with her because she loves to make witty and silly comments about the scenes, sets, costume etc. Ever since the movie came out, we had discussions, even though I haven't seen the movie yet. Rob Patterson? What were they thinking? Edward Cullen supposed to be devastatingly beautiful in a very elegant way. What happened here etc. Hm. I must admit I have to take back some negative things I have thought. He does have very nice voice. Many times, a person's voice could either repel or attract despite everything else.

Now, here I am before my laptop, close to 2:00 in the morning, thinking: how to organize, sort, weed, and organize again my thoughts, work, creative projects, and home. Spring is here, finally, and it is a fine time to do all those things. And of course, get the dust bunnies out as well. I am going to give myself about two months to put some order all around me. Sigh. Now to bed. Good night...

Monday, March 23, 2009

Lost flowers



I took these photos before a deer came by and wanted to play with them...with her hooves...

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Lonely one...


Mad took a picture of this lost mitten on the Metro...
We saw the guy leaving it behind but it was too late to alert him.
We looked at it all the way home. Looks lonely, doesn't it?