Happy Birthday, Gem!

Dabbling in Painting

I've been away too long! It seems like it has been years since I last logged in and even longer visiting blog friends. I am hoping I would find or make more time to post consistently to my blog and to visit my favorite blogs more often.

I have finally picked up painting again after years. I was never really good but since I enjoy it so much, nonetheless, I picked up my brush and painted one. This would be my first one in the series I am calling it  'Waiting for Letters.'

I titled it 'Waiting for Your Thoughts.'

I hope you have a great weekend!

Welcoming 2011!

The girls went back to school this morning and I am home nursing a cold. As it is the first day of work + school in 2011, I tried to be brave; getting up with gusto, putting on makeup, and realizing that there was no way I could get off the train and walk the 10+ minutes of power walk to my office. So here I am drinking hot tea after tea, loading on citrus, hoping to ward off anything worse that may come my way. I think it's a good time to sort through my mental notes on resolutions. To help myself, I have selected the photo below.

* To celebrate the year of the rabbit, I am working on rabbit plush patterns. The one above is made from a glove. To make more time for new creative adventures like painting with acrylic and watercolor.

* To organize, to organize and to organize better. Include sorting and purging to make more room to breath. Alas, this one appears on my resolutions list every year.

* To relax more, focusing on and enjoying the moment each day. To enjoy the sun coming through the window and concerning less about the dust floating in it. To enjoy Mad's beautiful photos and worrying less about her SAT preparations. To enjoy Gem's beautiful nail creations and worrying less about her Geometry exams.To worry less about things to come or things that might not come at all!

I am sure there are more items struggling to be noticed but the above to dos should keep me busy all year. It amazes me every year how a new calendar makes me think of it as a new canvas to fill. As if every regrettable things and unhappy events and thoughts are cleared off for something better and fantastic.

Happy new year to everyone and good luck with your resolutions!

Merry Christmas!

A several months ago, I found an old Dylan Thomas book at a used book shop. Although throughout my life I had an odd aversion to used things, even books, I have found new found love for things and books with a bit of history. Merry Christmas to you all from me and Dylan Thomas!

Gifts

Christmas is approaching quickly and the last of the gifts are wrapped. As I always do at this time of the year, I think about all the things I wanted to do to make the holidays a bit more special. There seems to be not enough time to accomplish all the things I have meant to do. Again as I always do at this time of the year, I think to myself, "I shall begin holiday preparations much earlier next year." We shall see!

One of the few handmade items I have managed to make: rice hand warmers using Kate's pattern.

I am thankful for my family, friends, all the old friends I have reconnected this year, blog friends, and those who gave kind words to my creations. Love and hugs to you all!

First juried craft fair

I have spent last month busy preparing for my first juried craft fair. The Bauer Drive Community Center holds Holiday Happening Juried Craft Fair annually in December. Although I have gone shopping there before, the "juried" part scared me from submitting my work for the show. Due to communication mix up, I didn't know I was selected until two weeks before the show. So the good part of last month was spent frantically stocking on items I promised to have on my table.

Although I am not cut out to be an outgoing person, the shoppers were quite nice with compliments. I enjoyed oos and ahs expressed over my work!

Chaan of Angels and Anchors had a stall next me and she was quite bubbly, drawing me out of my shell. I have learned a lot from her.  It was fun talking to spouses, usually elderly gentlemen, visiting stalls and giving some advice, coming from decades spent on craft shows, to newbies like me!

Getting ready for holidays...

Creating a bit with a few minutes here and there, sigh, wishing for more time.

Did I tell you I wanted to be an architect as well?

Happy Dots!

Tania of Indobay Inc. had a contest to name her new magnets. And yesterday, she selected the name I have suggested as the winner. It's here on her post. I am so thrilled to name a product for a fellow Etsian! These yummy magnets are "happy dots."

[Indobay, Inc.]

Aren't they adorable? Click on the photo to the link on Etsy. 

Inspired by autumn rain

As if to compensate for the summer drought, the autumn sky is steadily sprinkling rain for us. I took in some creative inspirations from my front yard.

I am sure my garden feels as refreshed as I am thanks to the autumn rain...

Tie Dye for Little Toes

I found an unused tie dye bandana in my stash and thought it would be fun to make a pair of baby shoes.

It seems to go well with a bunny made from Mad's leftover tie-dye shirt. The shirt was too big for her so I ended up with the bottom part for a bunny. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Follow me to a give away!

Ravenhill is hosting a give away at her blog. Her friend, Apol, of La Pomme,  is providing the prize. I love Apol's serene home decor items. Natural fibers and muted colors are simple yet quite lovely. The prize is a choice from two of her pretty items in her fall collection.

Personally, I love her pears. So, let's go and tell her about our favorite fruits for a chance to win one of Apol's fruits!

Weddings...

I have been to a wedding last weekend with Mad. She's at an age when she and her friends are so into going to weddings to see the dresses, decor, and dances. I must say, I love weddings, the festivities and excitement can't be beat. Today I saw cutest wedding cake toppers on Etsy by Red Light Studio's Cynthia Spencer. Sweet, aren't they?

Although it's quite hot still

... summer is winding down. I have been away from blogsphere busy with college visits, getting ready for girls' school, and getting ready for my first Korean school teaching post!

The Times Square commemorating the end of WWII for America with Alfred Eisenstaed's black and white photograph of unidentified sailor kissing nurse Edith Shain...

Stayed overnight in Jersey City, New Jersey before heading out to Rhode Island and Massachusetts...

The Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island...

Looking out from our hotel in Newport...

A very talented gentleman sketching before a statue at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts...

And in the creative department, inspired by tinyhappy's reversible shoes, I made some baby shoes! There is a popular pattern online by Maked along with others sold on Etsy. I started with Maked's pattern but it seem to be small on the heel area. I tried extending the heel pattern and made the front of the shoe a bit more angular. Babies usually have toes that are similar in height making it straight in the front. Had a great fun making them with fabric from my stash!

Do you think I made enough? :)

Getting ready for school...

Yes, it's my favorite time of the year. Of course, I am not talking about the heat and the humidity of the season but the shopping for school supplies time! Even though I am no longer in the school system, I get so excited about school supplies along with my daughters. They think I get more excited about it than they do. And it's probably true! It might be second best shopping chore, next to book buying. Ah, the smell of new books and new notebooks...

Gem and I were at Staples to pick up some binders and I saw these black and white composition notebooks. I got myself all three different designs. I like the flower one while my daughters opted for the checkered one.
We also purchased some extra items for the county public school's school supply drive.

Yearning for the ocean...

Our power went out on Sunday afternoon, due to gusty 70 mph wind that swept across the county. Thinking it would come back as swiftly as it went out, I didn't think much of it. So naive of me, sigh. It came back on Tuesday and we were considered lucky since there are still many without power. Not having air conditioning in this heat, you yearn for the ocean breeze and hope for no summer for a few years to come...

On one of the Metro stops from work, I could see the Discovery Channel building with a shark looking at you.

It made me think of other sea creatures...

Enjoying our garden...

Brilliant sewing ideas!

I was visiting Flossie Teacakes and found really cool sewing tips which just made my day. The first one is using A4 card, marked in 1/4" intervals, as a hemming guide instead of using pins all around the hemming area. I am not sure what the dimensions are for an A4 card. I am thinking an index card would do.

[A photo by Flossie Teacakes]

She also has a tip on top stitching when altering a pair of jeans. Like most petite people, I have to shorten my jeans. I didn't know how to get the factory hemmed look. Florence found out and she kindly posted on her blog. Use top stitching needle and top stitching thread on your regular sewing machine. See her revelations here. You will enjoy her humorous, good writing.

[A photo by Flossie Teacakes]

Black cats, anyone?

Mad bought a black T-shirt that is too long for her. In her innovative endeavor, Mad cut her T-shirt short and modified it to fit her better. I was thrilled to have her remnant. But what to do with it? Black cats!
In the shop...

Goodies from tinyhappy!

I have been admiring works of Melissa of tinyhappy for years now. I couldn't resist ordering a pair of baby shoes before her move to a new house. I know, my daughters are way too big for them but when the pair came and needless to say we all loved it. She included a card made of her watercolor drawing and some mending threads. Sigh, they are all lovely!

Happy Birthday, Gem!

We celebrated Gem's birthday today! She didn't want a huge party but a smaller one with the family. She selected her flowers and came up with a menu. A menu of Korean food to be prepared by her mom - me! It took yesterday afternoon through the evening to all day of cooking today. Sigh, achy body... I am only posting her favorite dish, gimbap, here.

Happy Birthday, Gem!