Yarnivore

turbines

2012-01-03T18:26:00.000-08:00

Turbines, a cowl, draped

Turbines, a cowl, folded

Turbines, a cowl, folding

I bought some yarn, enough I thought for a vest. My calculations, sadly, were a bit off in the negative direction. I love the yarn, Rowan Cashsoft Dk in a wonderful smokey gray so I decided to knit up a cowl of my own design. As of late I have become enamored with the stitch pattern of YO, K2tog and the opposite, K2tog, YO. This makes what to me looks like a trellis or a turbine. Using these patterns in a circular fashion with the dark gray yarn it just looks so industrial, Steam Punk even. I love it. So I wrote down the pattern and it is available here, on ravelry as a free PDF download.
Gray turbines to warm your neck, delicious.

oh look! shiney!

2011-12-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

toe up sock on magic loop

toe up sock, yarn colorway: Zombie Barbeque

I must admit that I am easily distracted. (this is an understatement). I do so adore things like the internet because I can click and hop from place to place, from blog to blog and image to image. There are always new things I want to do, items to make, things to knit and objects to buy. It is quite a feat for me to commit to knitting a garment, much less an entire pair of socks (you mean I have to make a second one that looks just like the first one that I just finished? Really? really, Really?). Because of this I have what is termed in the knitting world as SSS, or Second Sock Syndrome. Alas there is no cure aside from intestinal fortitude to press on to make the second sock and complete the project or to actually knit two socks at one time,. I have attempted this but along with my Attention Deficit Disorder comes a touch - well, maybe a bit more than a touch - of Dyslexia. This poses a unique issue for the 'two at a time' concept wherein I became quite fouled up with the endeavor and many curse words were flung about. As you can see in the photos above there are socks, an actual pair of socks and another on the way, I have found my sock mojo and it is called 'The Magic Loop'. It is a process where the knitter uses one long circular needle instead of two circulars or 5 double pointed needles. I am enamored with the 'toe up' option and see many more pairs of hand knit socks in my future, there may just be a few new sock bombs to come! That is a yummy idea.

yarnivore bites, snowflakes Scratch

2011-12-05T22:12:00.001-08:00

detail of snowflake bombs

crocheted snowflake bombs

It has been cold and windy here in Long Beach California, actually dipping down into the 40's at night (I hear the frozen snickers from readers in more northern climes). It is December, so befitting of the weather and the season I crocheted some lovely little snowflake bombs. They were set out tonight, three hanging from the now infamous 'fork' bike rack at 4th and Termino in Belmont Heights. Two hang on the door handle of the amazing and tasty Scratch Bakery and one on the awning. As I left the scene I saw them dancing in the cold late night breeze, so white, so frosty and oh so delicious.

hair bites

2011-12-02T08:03:00.001-08:00


keeping hair tidy with a yarn bomb.

Yarnivore likes biting bike racks. Long Beach California has so many to choose from in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. My most recent target is the bike rack that looks like a ...wait for it....person riding a bike! (how novel). Now the 'person' riding this bike (rack) has hair that is blowing back in the imaginary wind. Well this just won't do. Yarnivore needs to tidy that up a bit so I knitted some lovely little triangle head scarves to help them out. There are many of these but my main target bike rack is on PCH (Pacific Coast Hwy) and Loynes Drive near the 'Local Spot' coffee house.
One bright Friday morning the scarf was applied and off to work I went. It lasted two days. Not the quickest removal of one of my yarn bombs, but pretty quick I will say. I plan to re-bomb it today. I thought it looked adorable...and delicious.
Photo credit, Judy Kilpatrick/Alamitos Bay Yarn Company

biting twigs and willows

2011-10-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

twig and willow bomb

There is a lovely little store called 'twig and willow' on 4th street in Long Beach California right next to a terrific eatery, The Coffee Cup Cafe. Out side of this pleasant boutique are two red bike racks shaped like hearts, how quaint. They need to be bitten, so I crocheted up some orange-y cherry blossom shapes with bright green centers, attached together with a brown twig like chain stitch to bite them with. I will be bombing in the morning....delicious.

yarnivore bites VK Live!

2011-10-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Oh the glory of a knitting convention! Classes, tutorials, yarn, needles, bags, yarn, patterns, demonstrations and more yarn! a-mazing. Alamitos Bay Yarn Company had a booth at Vogue Knitting Live Los Angeles and I was able to work the show and shop the show and do demonstrations at the show and sell yarn at the show and buy yarn at the show and Yarn Bomb the show. I was gobsmacked to see that I was the only bomber to grace the Hyatt Regency in Century City with some yarny goodness. Fun was had by all and I can hardly wait for next year, maybe, just maybe we will see a call to knitterly arms with more yarny decorations...delicious.

granny guerrilla

2011-08-21T01:10:00.000-07:00

granny bombs

granny bomb hanging

granny seat bomb

toast bomb

toast bomb installed on 'fork'

granny bombs installed above Egg Heaven door

a cozy granny bomb installed

Granny guerrilla's bombs hit 4th and Ximeno tonight, late, hoping to catch the eyes of early morning patrons of Egg Heaven in Long Beach. Granny is hoping to make those waiting for a seat in this popular eatery more comfortable, cozy and yarn aware. This place has terrific food and a hippy atmosphere from the early '70's. Egg heaven is a little bit of breakfast heaven on 4th street, a true local's choice.
My citrus slices are long gone from the 'fork' in front of the now named 'Scratch' baked goods bakery (not open as of yet) and have been replaced by ... toast! C'mon, who doesn't like toast? Toast, all warm and buttery, yeah, toast rocks.
Yarnivore + toast = happy face. Tasty!

citrus guerrilla

2011-08-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

guerrilla citrus

citrus yarn bomb

'fork' bike rack with slices

handle slice

granny bench cozy

Ah, successful citrus! The slices went up with ease as did the delightful granny square bench warmer. The slice of orange door handle addition lead me to an interesting find. My lettuce leaf yarn bomb disarmed, abducted and now being held in solitary confinement inside the still undone 'bakery' shop. As I installed the door handle slice I looked into the building and there she was, just lying there on a bench, limp, next to a roll of blue painters tape and drywall dust. Perhaps they are saving her, holding her for later use as 'fork' decoration, one can hope.
Citrus yarn bombs...juicy!

lettuce leaf, disarmed

no more cookies

2011-08-07T20:05:00.000-07:00

several summer citrus slices for the fork

citrus yarn bomb

slices...for a fork/bike rack

an adorable, non threatening granny square yarn bomb.

the cookies are gone, the fork stands bare once again. I will remove the dangling cupcake that is worse for the wear of hanging on the still unoccupied establishment door handle, to be replaced with a luscious orange citrus slice.
there is a nearby (just doors down) business with a lovely green bench out front. a granny square bomb will soon grace it's seat if all goes well.

all to be installed on the morrow.

yarnivore bites cookies!

2011-07-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

cookies down the fork

string of cookies

cookie cluster

cookie cluster too

a string of cookies now adorn the fork/bike rack on Termino and 4th street in Long Beach California. A little bitty cupcake with pink frosting and a 'cherry' on top is dangling from the front door of the soon to be bakery there. these little cookies just went so well on the fork. this yarn guerrilla has sunk her teeth into some delicious crocheted cookies....mmmmm, tasty!

cookie bomb cookie

2011-07-17T22:58:00.000-07:00

guerrilla's like cookies, don't they? this guerrilla does.....yarn cookies that is! my leafy green is gone (stolen? tossed? removed? wilted? never the less, no longer there) so the soon-to-be bakery needs a little sweetening up. yarnivore will string cookies to grace the fork/bike rack on her way to work tomorrow. gggrrrrr.....cookies, yum.

yarnivore bites....asteraceae

2011-07-11T17:34:00.000-07:00

fork/bike rack sans salad.

ah, salad.

salad, up close.

lettuce on fork/bike rack...street view.

Romaine? Butter? Green leaf? Iceberg? It's all salad. The fork/bike rack on 4th & Termino now sports a large leaf of asteraceae, you choose the order. I used several greens to produce this fresh forkful. An easy installation on my way to work. I remembered to bring scissors and a tapestry needle to secure the leaf. Hopefully this fare will stay crisp for many to view. mmmmm...mmmmm...tasty.

hungry guerrilla

2011-07-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

the guerrilla is hungry and the yarnivore is ready to bite. the linguini is gone, eaten up by some passerby so the the fork stands bare again. last time I served up a pasta dish, this time it will be salad...a lovely piece of leafy green has been crocheted and is waiting to be served up on the street corner 'al fresco'.
I will 'plate' the large leaf on my way to work, so check back to see what the yarnivore bites.

yarnivore bites! guerrilla linguini

2011-07-05T23:13:00.000-07:00

Fork as bicycle rack, sans unlawful decoration.

Fork as bicycle rack, complete with unlawful decoration.

I saw this 'fork' several days ago. A new installation on dear little 4th street. I had to look at it twice to figure out what it was...fork as bike rack. Here in Long Beach, deep in the SoCal artsy beach scene, the city has created bike racks to reflect the businesses in front of which they stand. Cups of coffee in front of Viento y Agua or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Slices of pizza in front of Olives and flowers in front of Kava Yoga. A lovely little Greek deli recently moved out and now the sign sweetly beckons me with the word 'Bakery' in large buttery letters. Out side of this soon to be den of waist enhancing joy is said fork/bicycle rack. So lonely, so bare, it needed...something...something starchy...something yummy...something pasta!
Here we have it, linguini as 'unlawful decoration' (thank you Sara for this new description).
I now have a 'fork' to decorate....big piece of crocheted lettuce perhaps? Crochet bacon? An egg? The comestible ideas are endless.
Dropping this bomb on my way to work just made my day that much more....delicious.

yarnivore bites! linguini...

2011-07-04T22:09:00.000-07:00

who doesn't like pasta? this guerrilla does.
I dropped a pasta yarn bomb on my way to work. A giant fork marks the delicious spot.
Photos to come...after work.

yarnivore bites!

2011-06-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

The yarnivore bites 2nd street, Belmont Shore in Long Beach CA, June 11th, 2011.
It was misting in the sleepy beach town at 5:00 a.m. when she arrived with yarn b*mbs in hand/trunk to spread yarny goodness to all who may notice. Jamba Juice employees just showing up for work and a few pups being taken for early morning walks were her only company. This was a lonely venture for the yarnivore, after days of solo crocheting, it was time. The day had arrived, International Yarn B*mbing Day, 2011! Hurrah!
Several parking meters offered up their stems to be covered in crochet as one crosswalk button and a street sweeping sign became yarn graffiti targets.
Where will the yarnivore bite next?
Veni, Vedi, Acubus Texui.

parking meter bitten by the yarnivore

a flowery yarnivore bite

yarnivore bites the street sweeper sign

a pink yarnivore bite left for a hair salon

yarnivore sharpens her guerriila teeth on a crochet hook

2011-06-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

Looks like crochet....really a yarn b*mb.

crochet graffiti

crochet hook responsible

okay, deep breath....here we go. I am going to do this. I promised myself and I am going to do this. Saturday, June 11th 2011 is the first International Yarn B*mbing Day (it is also Knit In Public Day). I am going to do it. yes, yes I am. I plan on getting to 2nd street in Belmont Shore around 5:00 am and covering some parking meters. I have several long rectangular pieces of crochet and a few flowers....my hands are getting sweaty just thinking about it. Should I include a card? a website? this one by chance? knittaplease, yarnb*mbing, I just don't know. and time, what about time? I have to work all day today....I have been crocheting furiously for the last day as I have been so busy. eeegads. So I will take photos of the guerrilla installation....and post them here for all my little yarnivorites. The yarnivore is getting ready to bite!

velvet grape leaves

2011-06-04T17:27:00.000-07:00

Saroyan is a small shawl. Saroyan is a scarf. Saroyan is a shawlette. Saroyan has leaves on one side. Saroyan is delightful to knit. Saroyan sits comfortably around the neck, layered or not and is mesmerizing me at the moment. I had just finished 'Summer Flies' when I found Saroyan. How fortunate for me.
It is supposed to be knit in a worsted weight yarn, but true to my form I am using sock though still with the size 8 needle suggested for the worsted. Malabrigo sock to be specific, color? Velvet Grapes. ohhhh, ahhhh. Malabrigo and Velvet in the same project. delicious.

may bites

2011-05-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

Logan (second from left) at regatta in Sacramento.

Same boat, same race, same son., fourth from left.

Baby sweater started on bus.

Baby sweater finished.

Citron Circe

Summer Flies.

What a whirlwind my life has been this month. Beginning with my son at a rowing race in Sacramento, with the obligatory bus trip, hotel stay and bevy of teen boys. Their favorite toy on this trip was zip ties! "Mrs. Carter, someone zip tied my wrist to the back of the bus seat when I was asleep." Thank goodness I brought my pink mini Leatherman tool, it made me Super Chaperone!
I was able to knit a baby sweater on the bus, yes, yes I did. For a friend of mine who has a 2 year old daughter and is expecting a second in September. Unfortunately her husband passed away (in May) suddenly, after a long battle with depression, he took his own life.
I was stopped at a stoplight when the person behind me decided it was a good day to pay attention to something other than what was in front of her and rear ended me. That was a drag. I am currently driving rental, Kia Soul. The one with the hamster commercial? It does have a great sound system. I now have chronic 'head bob' syndrome from the rockin' stereo system and Sirius radio.
All of this plus work, end of the school year teen stuff, their grades, one's broken wrist (lacrosse) and the hilarity that ensues.
It is no wonder why the call of yarn beckons me with it's soft, silky, merino wool voice. Patterns that promise with only a size 6 needle and one skein of sock yarn I can have a sweet little fashion accessory to toss around my neck, oh so enticing and semi-circular. I fell for it and started two of them! The ever popular 'Citron' from knitty.com and an easy, flirty pattern called 'Summer Flies'. Madeline Tosh was kind enough to create the lace weight yarn for my 'Citron' in 'Norway Spruce'. A dark and stormy teal green that reminds me of the poisoned sea of Circe fame. There was a Lacy Baktus of Prism sock yarn in my knitting bag that I had decided was ugly, I frogged it, now it will become 'Summer Flies'.
June is around the corner, and I have knitting to do, life is good...and delicious.

in my perfect world....

2011-04-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

In my perfect world there would be free knitting for everyone. This is my delicious, yarny, dream....

on the hair isle

2011-04-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Fair Isle style ear warmer...black

Fair isle style head band.. blue.

Fair isle style hair band... beige.

Every quarter at Alamitos Bay Yarn Company (where I work on Fridays) we must come up with a class to teach. I wanted to teach a Fair isle technique class but did not want anything with steeks, or dpns (double pointed knitting needles). So I came up with a Fair isle style head band, hair band, ear warmer, whatever you call it or however you spell it. It goes around your head and keeps your ears warm, that's for darn sure. The one I will be teaching only has two colors, green and white. The ones pictured here are the product of my Fair isle fueled binge. I will come clean here, I admit it, my name is Sandra D and I am addicted to Fair isle style knitting.
I don't know exactly what it is, the tidy little charts, the sharp cornered squares, the subtle blending of colors or the opportunity to stash bust like there is not tomorrow. Whatever it may be, Fair isle hits me square in the pleasure center of my brain. Every thing just falls away around me as I follow the chart with a color in each hand...two stitches blue, three stitches green, one stitch blue, four stitches green....I just want to be left alone with my yarn and my chart, ah fair Fair isle, I do so adore you.
So if life is getting a little crazy for you, and drinking or drugs are just not convenient (or socially acceptable) try my drug...Fair Isle....its delicious.

space, oars and lip balm

2011-03-06T16:39:00.000-08:00

Space Girl, in progress....

the most wonderful lip balm, ever.

Long Beach Jr. Crew coming in second in the NorCal race.

I have had this sweater in my ravelry queue forever it seems. I have told myself to finish what I have already started, or make something smaller that I can finish in an evening. No, this sweater has appealed to me from the git-go. 'Space Girl'. yeah, I'm there. So....after volunteering to chaperon some 100+ teenagers on a rowing meet, assisting with feeding, corralling and lastly, a bus trip of up and back from Long Beach to Oakland California. Yes folks, driving to and from Oakland. Let's see, just how far is that? 370 miles. ahem, 370 miles in a bus,with 32 teen aged boys (boys), twice, that is up to Oakland and then back to Long Beach in less than 48 hours. Tah-dah! it is confirmed that I am out-of-my-mind.
On this little trip I figured I would need some lip balm as the kids would be rowing, on the water. I would be helping in the 'hospitality tent' ~~shoveling food at them~~ making sure they were well fed and hydrated. I found this wonderful balm called 'Labello'. oh, I do so adore it. Firstly, it is pink, it smells like roses and it comes in frosted! I bought two tubes, one with frosting and one without. It now lives in my pocket to be applied often during the day. I actually hate lip balm. I have never understood how people could wear it all day, it was just too weird feeling on my lips. Not so with Lobello, it is not sticky, heavy or waxy. It is just right! I am now a faithful Lobello consumer.
Oh yeah, the sweater. Well when I signed up for this gig I really only heard '8 hour bus ride each way' and imagined all of the knitting I could do with so much time in a seat. I started the sweater before getting on the bus (smart gal as I am) and settled in to knit as we got underway. I soon realized that riding a big, bouncy, bus with 32 jacked up teen aged boys watching "Anchor Man: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" is not like sitting with my knitting group chatting and sipping a flavored coffee beverage of my choice (smart gal as I am).
I did not get as much sweater knitted as I had planned, but wow, I've got hydrated lips.
Space girl sweater? Delicious.
Bus ride to Oakland? Not so delicious.
Labello Lip Balm? Absolutely Delicious.

seeing clearly

2011-02-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

I suppose I have reached that magic age where little things get blurry and your arms get too short. Words that used to be crystal clear are now fuzzy. I used to have amazing eyesight, I could see anything and with clarity. Now the writing on a bottle of Ibuprofen looks like so much dark blur. Menus in low lit restaurants where people go who are old enough to appreciate and afford it are beyond my range. I now know why women say, 'Oh, just order for me', or 'I'll have what she is having'. I have discovered that at some stores there are little magnifying cards hanging near the shelves by bottles of remedies. I have availed myself of them after realizing I had better not chance poisoning.

So I found a pair of reading glasses at Whole Foods, non the less. They are black, cat eye glasses with little white polka dots on a green background inside. "They look great on you mom". My 15 year old son said, "They're cute." So on the advice of my youngest son I made the purchase. To ease the sting I crocheted my latest life stage augment a little case in Liberty wool (a new favorite) by Classic Elite, with a matching 'eye'-cord strap. I don't feel much better about the glasses, but being able to add knitting sugar made it go down easier.
Not so bitter.

boysenberries

2011-02-05T17:40:00.000-08:00

     Ah, now that's better. I finally got my new photo editing software onto my new computer...and am having a time relearning how to edit photos. Not to mention trying to find my old photo files and just getting all comfortable again. It is amazing how our bitty brains get used to a certain way of doing things and then, Kapow! We must relearn, rethink and retool ourselves, reboot if you will, just to get back on track. Sometimes I feel like I am swimming as fast as I can with technology. Now I adore it mind you, and would have every new gadget available if I had the funds to acquire them. I dream of an ipad, an iphone, an ibrain and an icar that runs on compressed air (there is such a thing you know). For now I settle for my desktop, my slide phone and my Subaru (which I adore, it has heated seats!) knitting and my pug.
      So, here we have photos of both. Some new knitting and a handsome portrait of the pug himself, Professor Q. Grubleton Esq. looking rather regal. Trees is a pattern from ravelry for a lovely cowl or scarf depending on how you wear it. I had already made one with Madeline Tosh pure tussah silk lace yarn. It was delicious. A friend also thought so and off my needles to her neck it went, lucky gal. So I started a new one, for me, in boysenberry Madeline Tosh lace yarn....oh yes, quite yummy. Also a new light sweater in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. I chose brown. I am trying some new colors this year, brown, gray and dark blue. We'll see how that works for me. My usual clothing color of choice is black, not usually, always.
     I do love that boysenberry color, it reminds me of the way Knott's Berry Farm used to be when I was little. They had burro rides, cowboys, saloons and seals that you could feed. I even remember the little waxed paper bags the fish would come in. There were big windows you could look through and see ladies making lollipops, boysenberry lollipops. You could smell the pies baking, boysenberry pies that stained your fingers and lips. No big roller coasters or fancy rides, just animals, trains, cowboys and ....boysenberries, delicious.

bacon

2011-01-17T21:56:00.000-08:00

this is not my dog, but it is close.

deep teal Classic Elite Liberty wool. I want some, no, I take that back. I want lots.

I am actually a vegetarian, my dog on the other hand, is not. Since getting a new computer and printer I recently realized that many of the transferred files from the old computer do not read/work on my new one, drat. Aside from document files coming up in Cyrillic I have not had a working photo program, double drat. Now this causes me concern because I cannot post projects to my raverly account. I cannot add new items to my etsy shop and I have no way to post new photos here, on my blog. So I am resorting to other peoples photos. Here we have a hat that I purchased from this etsy shop for my pup. It rocks. I am also trying to decide on tags for him from this shop and this shop. I am excited about a new yarn by Classic Elite called Liberty Wool. It is a washable worsted that feels good and knits up like a dream. I reeeeeealy want lots of it in teal to make a sweater jacket. I would be delicious.

When it rains it pours

2010-12-30T18:01:00.000-08:00

Ah, I do so adore the rain. Solstice has come and gone, with a lunar eclipse to add to the magic. I took the week off from work for the Solstice and my youngest son's birthday December 24th. All of my jobs have been very busy, so many projects, responsibilities and things to do so I was excited to have some time. Oh the Universe has it's ways of making us relax...well sort of. My printer went out, two days later my motherboard fried. I was computer-less for the holidays. With that, the rain, a bit of a cold and much knitting to do I proceeded to take to the couch and be still. My pup thought this was the best thing ever and decided to join me. Now with new computer and printer up and running, me back to work and life beginning to ramp up once again I am happy to have had a few days of forced down time. I did get much knitting done though I still have quite a bit to do. I really like that thought.....yum, knitting and puppies, warm and delicious.

yarn is my drug

2010-11-30T22:06:00.000-08:00

I have known about this show for months. I have thought about it, lost sleep over it and gnashed my teeth for it. I figured I would just use one of my already done felted sculptures and put a witty name on it to fit the show title 'soft'. But it was not to be. I had to make something new, something else, something 'soft'. So at the eleventh hour I decided to start crocheting. I needed an excuse to crochet like a mad woman, a reason to say to those around me, 'not right now, I'm working on a piece that is due in two days' so I could just crochet and crochet and crochet. I could ask for tea to be brought, the dog to be fed and the channel changed on the t.v. I had an excuse to just crochet. The title of my piece for the 'soft' show at the Future Gallery in Los Angeles is 'hard drugs'. This show is to explore the meaning of 'soft'. I made 14 crocheted 'pills' of varying size and color combinations that look like capsules. I like them very much and they will be very easy to hang. I just may make a few to sell in my etsy shop, I just may make a few for gifts or even to keep for myself. Yarn is my drug, and it is delicious.

yarnafitti? knittafitti?, yarnifitti? yarnefitti?

2010-10-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

I have so much free time (this is an untrue statement) that I have decided to take up a hobby....'yarn bombing'. Now, I need to make some decisions here regarding this endeavor. Firstly, what to call it. I was thinking 'Yarnifitti' to go along with the Yarnivore theme, 'knitfitti' is in the Urban Dictionary here. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Nextly, I need to think about if I want to put a 'card' on each piece with the yarnivore/yarniffiti blog address so people can tell me if they like/do not like it. If they took it, which would be okay too. If they have any suggestions as to where/what they might like to see yarnifitti-ed next and so on. Or am I asking for legal trouble, as in being fined/arrested for defacing property, but since it is easily removable it may not be covered under 'defacing'?
I could make a statement, be passive aggressive, political or social, I am open to all sorts of ideas.
Also, just in case you might be interested in a new hobby.....that involves yarn, knitting, and possibly 'defacing' public property, send me an email and we will talk.
Here are a few images so you can be inspired too....delicious.

flying fish

2010-10-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

So I have a school of fish hanging in LAX, the Los Angeles airport in the Southwest airline terminal. There are 60 little wooden minnows flying high and wearing hand knit sweaters....yes, I knitted little fish sweaters. The show is a group show and is titled "Unwearable". I have other fishies in sweaters as well, they are all trout. One with a cable sweater, one with a fair isle sweater, another with a granny square sweater....you get the idea. I just love those little minnows! I do not yet have a photo of the show, but here are a few pics of the fish on land...the little ones look like candy...yummy.

cozy tp

2010-05-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

Oh boy! New etsy items. I think we all need a bit of cozy in the bathroom so here are some updated toilet paper covers for your watercloset. I thought about campy, the poodle or doll dress but finally I chose to create my own contemporary toilet paper roll covers. They are simple and sweet, feminine or masculine. I can create them to match any bathroom colors...yup, I am amazing that way. So with my crochet hooks flying and my etsy shop humming I present; mid-century decor for the 21st century, toilet paper roll covers! Get yours today....sweet.

Ch-Ch-Changes and Art

2010-04-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

Oh, does life just move along. So many things have happened in my life recently I am just spinning. Still losing weight...yes! My poor old doggie, Mr. McFee passed away, I am working on a series for an art show at LAX. Anne's (my best friend) father passed away, I turned 50 (I am now officially a crone and had a 'croning' ceremony), had to pay taxes, had several medical issues to contend with...am okay now. A big decision about my garden plot with the Long Beach Community Garden Associati on, I need to let it go. I just do not have enough time, working so many jobs (5), my teenagers, art, running, blogging, my etsy shop. I am overwhelmed, the camel's back is breaking. This last Vernal Equinox (March 22nd) was a tough one. It brought strong changes to many of us, perhaps you have noticed it.
Recently, in Feb. I participated in a wonderful art show at Barnsdall Park in Hollywood CA. It was much fun and the venue was fantastic. I knitted with my giant needles (8ft.long) and joined several other artists in a participatory art experience! It was curated by a dear woman, Edith Abayta. Here are a few shots of the show. The giant needles, Amber knitting on the needles, the longest potholder, which was being made even longer at the event. A knitted forest frolic, that was amazing to see and touch! Oh life, can be so delicious.

couch to 5K

2010-02-12T10:53:00.000-08:00

Oh dear, where have I been? Here and here. I am now a runner, it's official. I got a tread mill, pictured, and have been quite faithful to it. Got some new shoes too! cool eh? I found out that I am a 'barefoot' runner. Shoes and I do not play nice. I am a clog wearer and cannot stand anything too tight around my toes, hate high heels and even have difficulty with things against my Achilles tendon. picky?, true, lovable?, why yes, yes I am! So now 27 pounds lighter I finally post. Oh, and one more tidbit....type 2 diabetes. Oh there was an impetus behind the treadmill and weight loss and nifty new shoes...don't let the 'lets get physical' thing be a new years resolution idea. It is for my health. I am now committed to being healthy, eating healthy and exercise. Life, it can bite you in the butt when you aren't paying attention. That was a big bite, no comment on the size of the butt, though it is smaller than it was when it was bitten, at least. So, on with my life, delicious it is.

little feet, big city

2009-12-31T19:00:00.001-08:00

Brooklyn New York has a new place to shop... Sunday Love ..... and Sunday Love has some cute new shoes, little baby booties to be exact! I have already knitted up two batches. New York is eating them up... delicious.

i want this icar

2009-12-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles car show has past, but my dreams still wander back to this little darling, a Mitsubishi. The iMiev. It is little, cute and has the most adorable 'face'. The headlights and tail lights are round and clustered like bubbles. The antena has a light on it and is positioned like the lure on top of an angler fish. It runs on electricity and cuteness! Here are some photos of it on the runway. Her head and tail lights, her from a side view and one of her smile. Sweet and yummy!

garden art

2009-11-07T09:24:00.000-08:00

It is the end of the summer growing season here and time to pull up all of the beans, squash and peppers from the garden. The summer sun and our plot of earth gave us many beautiful green beans, wonderful little yellow tomatoes and a few Japanese pumpkin. My favorite summer vegetable is the trombone squash, so I left her for last. My dear trombone squash gave me a wonderful surprise. A squash sculpture! Here are some photos of her creation. She worked so hard this season and gave us many delicious dinners, now she will decorate our fall table. Thank you Lady Trombone Squash!

Long, lean and bright green, it has a buttery flavor and is much more mild than other summer squashes. It has a long growing season, takes up quite a bit of room and is a prolific producer. Usually the fruit is long or curved a bit so you just cut off the bulb at the end and slice up the neck, steam, butter and lightly salt.....absolutely delicious.

don't you just love sunday?

2009-10-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

Sunday Love, a new shop opening in New York will be carrying some of my work! Coasters and baby booties do ya know. Sunday Love is an artists workshop and store located in an up and coming area of Brooklyn, NY. Green items galore and fun to be had at it's grand opening celebration on October 10th. Their address is 624 Grand st. Brooklyn, NY, so if you are 'in' NY this weekend....be sure to stop by and say Hello to Greer, have a look around and buy things, lots of things, delicious things from Sunday Love, yummy.

pigs toes

2009-09-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

My dearest friend moved. Sad but true. She is not in another state, though California is a pretty big state. She also chose to move up a mountain. Up a mountain*. Not a hill, or a rise, but a mountain, like the Sierras kind of (actually) mountain. She did though, leave me her pigs toes. Not a real pig silly! A plant pig, well not a pig a lithop. Lithops are also known as living stones as they do indeed look like stones. Here are some photos of the ones I now care for. I have in my care about four different kinds of lithops. Some small, some smaller and some smaller still. Yes, they do look like rocks...or even little pigs toes. Sweet.

*I have a horrid fear of driving up mountains. I have done it mind you, though with much hair pulling and gnashing of teeth. I really need to be unconscious for it not to be a bother to the driver (read...yellling, screaming, grabbing the wheel and otherwise a bit of a discraction). This is why my friend moving up into the SIERRAS is an issue.

a bowl of yarn

2009-08-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

How fantastic is this, a yarn bowl. How long have I waited for this object. How amazing that this potter, Fred Parker, has created it. It is beautiful and perfect. I adore bowls, I adore yarn, what could be better? Yes, few things in life to be sure. I will be acquiring one of these beauties before the year is up. That is if he makes more. They sell so fast and I can see why. Perhaps a special one is in my future, one that has yet to be imagined. The clay still waiting, the idea still in it's egg. Oh yes Mr. Fred Parker, I will own one of your splendid yarn bowls...so delicious.

It's a Clean, Clean Summer...

2009-08-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

New in the etsy shop, little make-up remover pads! Eco-friendly, save money, save the planet and save face at the same time...what could be better. They are hand crocheted from 100% cotton yarn, toss in the washer, tumble in the dryer...or... better yet, go one step further and set them out in the summer sun to dry - Hooray for solar power. I have them ready to ship in white and green, don't be shy if you want a custom color just send me a note through etsy and we can chat. Bonus, you can also get washcloths to match, oh so many delicous choices.

like potato chips....

2009-07-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Ah, here we are again with the Noro. Striped scarf that is. I just could not resist this color combo. I realize that it is the dead center of summer, but the hypnotizing stripes of Noro could not be denied. So, looking forward (as I am, summer is not my favorite) to fall I chose these colors. Not as dramatic as I had hoped, but yummy just the same.

Fish

2009-07-04T23:46:00.001-07:00

Here is a fun little game to play. Feed the fish! I am also including it on my side bar so you can play it whenever you want. Fish, food, fun...delicious!

donuts...cars...fathers...sons

2009-06-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

Well, it was that time again, Father's Day. We decided to venture out on a cold and rainy morning (yes, it was cold and rainy in June in Southern California) to join the throngs at Donut Derelicts in Huntington Beach CA. Every Saturday morning from 6:30 to 8:30 you can find all sizes and shapes of cars. Big cars, little cars, cars that run on steam. New cars, old cars, cars that make men dream. I was excited about the donuts, few things can drag me out of bed on a Saturday morning at 5:30 am that do not include yarn. We did have a good time (I had a 'porcupine'...yummy) and I was able to take a few fun photos of hood ornaments. The car I liked the best, an Isabella, left before I was able to photograph it. There was a Stanley Steamer and a Kaiser, that is the ornament with the clear acrylic piece. It is amazing what cars there are, and the people who love them. I did very much enjoy listening to the stories and learning some history. Fun and delicious!

'these are not the 'droids you are looking for...'

2009-05-30T15:42:00.001-07:00

Old Ben would be proud to wear this amazing jacket. I just finished my 'Kenobi Jacket' from Interweave Knits. This was a wonderful knit, easy, fun and engaging. The stitch patterns change to keep it from becoming tedious and look great. I used Cashsoft dk in the color 'poison', a dark purple/maroon. I almost always wear black so I stepped outside of my color box for this one! It does not fit me in the length as much as it does the model (maybe because I look quite different from the model) but it still fits quite well. I did not put buttons on it, I am planning on either leaving it open or using a shawl pin to keep it closed. This yarn is so snuggly that it feels like a soft blanket....yummy!

modeling for class

2009-05-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

As an employee of a yarn shop (1 day a week), knitting for the shop can take up a large chunk of my knitting time. I will be teaching this vest as a class this summer at ABYC. Actually this is a wonderful experience as I knit things that I NEVER would knit otherwise. Take this adorable 'vine lace vest' for example. It knits up super quick and is a fun and easy lace pattern. The yarn/bamboo tape is wonderfully soft, though it needs to be untwisted after a few rows, I am liking it. 1st; I would never wear this, 2nd; it does not come in my size, 3rd; seafoam green is not my color and forth; it is not my style. So, if not for needing a class model I would never have had this knitting experience. I do just love knitting...it is so....yummy.

far away in a faire isle....

2009-05-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

I have been working and knitting and knitting and working. I have finished my placed cable aran, and am very happy with it (that is not me in the photo, it is from the magazine...silly). I am also almost finished with my Kenobi Jacket, just need to add the collar. My current projects are these wonderful faire isle Norwegian hats from Bea Ellis Knitwear.
They come in a kit and are so much fun to knit up! I am almost finished with my first one and have one other kit to make, which I shall upon finishing my first one, as one knows you cannot eat just one when they are so delicious!

Happy Vernal Equinox!

2009-03-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, today is the Vernal Equinox. Daytime and nighttime are equal today and it is the first day of Spring. Today is also the only day (supposedly) that you can stand an egg up on its end. So we did! Here is a photo of said egg on my kitchen table, which is made of wood. The flower is a sweet pea from my garden as a colorful addition to this spring celebration. This is not a trick, there is nothing under the egg holding it up, it is just balancing there. We were able to stand several up in a row but I was too late with the camera as my son decided to stand up 'just one more' and they all tumbled down like dominoes and omelets were on the menu for breakfast. Delicious!

fonts, fonts, sing the praises of fonts....

2009-03-05T17:57:00.001-08:00

Okay.....like I know you don't have anything better to do than play this game, but it sure is fun!
I'm hooked.

button, button, who's got the button?

2009-02-07T08:33:00.000-08:00

Buttons are big, some really are big. Doing good things for the environment is big, crafting is big, found objects are big. Here we have some found wood buttons. They are all quite big and command a special spot on a purse, shawl, wrap or sweater. Alamitos Bay Yarn Company just got them in and I had to take a little photo of them. They really are beautiful. So if you need some big buttons.....here is the place to feed that need!

if everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?

2009-01-25T12:13:00.000-08:00

'Everyone' is making this scarf. Well, I guess everyone was except me! So, I had to do it. 4 skiens of Noro silk garden and a pair of size 7 needles later.... I present to you the Noro Striped Scarf. Wow was it fun! I can see why so many people are making this scarf. I am ready to make another, just for the fun of it. They way Noro is dyed it stripes in such amazing ways, and in this pattern it really shows. I kept knitting (well into the wee hours of the morning) just because I wanted to see what color would come next. It was very exciting. The pattern is by Elizabeth Zimmerman but Brooklyn Tweed really made this pattern rock. The pattern goes like this: first you get 2 balls of Noro Silk Garden in a 'light' color, then you get 2 balls of Noro Silk Garden in a 'dark' color and a pair of size 7 needles. It really has to be size 7 otherwise it just does not look right. Then you cast on 39 stitches. Work in knit one, purl one rib throught....slipping the first and last stitch of every even numbered row purlwise. This make that amazing edge and lets the scarf lay super flat. So 'if everyone jumped off the Noro bridge, would you?' Make this scarf...it's delicious.

Duck....Duck....

2009-01-16T17:37:00.000-08:00

On my way to the yarn shop, I drive around a wildlife sanctuary, across the street is a Fire Station. The firemen love to feed the ducks and the ducks love to be fed. The issue here is the street separating the two. The answer is; a Duck Crossing! Here is the sign (which I am certain the ducks are blissfully unaware) and ...the ducks...tah dah! I did have to wait in a line of cars for the ducks to cross the street in single file and was able to snap this photo through my car window. I got some wonderful yarn, Noro silk garden, to make a scarf. I will post photos of it shortly....sweeeet.

Melba's Close Up

2009-01-02T08:45:00.000-08:00

Welcome 2009, and the year of the Ox. I am a rat. 2008 was the year of the Rat. Having it be your year is not all that it is cracked up to be. I have been writing 2009 on things since last February... odd.
Here is my guinea pig Miss Melba Toast, as you can see she is very excited about her close up. She wishes you all a healthy, happy and prosperous (which could mean 'full of carrots and fresh romaine') New Year, and so do I. A Happy and Delicious New Year to You!

Southern California Holiday Postcard

2008-12-25T16:21:00.000-08:00

How fast time flies when one is busy, and how quickly the holidays come to fore. It was just Thanksgiving and now Yule is past and it is on to the New Year. My gift to you, my dear reader is this 'picture postcard' view of the canals in Naples California viewed from a Duffy boat (piloted by me). We took a two hour cruise around the bay and canals here in Long Beach, California in an adorable little electric Duffy boat on Christmas Eve, December 24th. The skies were a bit gray and there were a few raindrops but all in all it was a lovely day. A large bull seal followed us on our entire trip, he popped up from time to time next to our boat and gave us a smile each time. I never knew when he would show so I was unable to capture him on film. I understand now how hard it must be to get a photo of the Loch Ness Monster or Champ!
Warm and Yummy Wishes for the Season!

2009 in my pocket

2008-11-23T17:14:00.000-08:00

2009 is looming on the horizon and I realized that I needed a new pocket organizer. Every year I go through this agonizing process. What kind do I want? How big do I need it to be? What style? What color? What do I want to look at for an entire year? Well, this year I decided to go handmade. Etsy to the rescue! I found just what I needed at Christina's Etsy shop . She has wonderful planners and many other items too. I love her fabric colors and choices. Her sewing is impeccable and my planner is just lovely. I have already put things in it...my favorite things first, like my knitting night out every week with my SnB friends! Thank you Christine for making my new 2009 pocket planner....it is delicious!

2008-11-18T16:56:00.000-08:00

I adore shopping at the Japanese 98 cents store. I go there all the time! Now.... I am sad, because they are closing. I slumped about for weeks, I even shed a few tears. I went there one last time and bought up so much stuff!
In my sorrow I turned to the internet ... and low and behold, what do I find?
An online store that has all I could ever want and more! It is Ichiban Kan.

I am happy now...yipee, life can go on and I have a new supply of bento boxes and bento ... stuff.
sigh...delicious sigh.

cute monster.....

2008-11-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

just having some blogging fun. it is monday, it is a holiday, no work today. hhhmmmm, what shall i do, i say to myself. well, free time is web surfing time and look what i found... a 'cute monster' test. i couldn't say no.

What Your Cute Monster Says About You

You are a deep, thoughtful, down to earth person. You don't put much stock in appearances.
You are never superficial or flippant. You take time in life to study, learn, and get to know people well.
You inner demon is laziness. You can get so caught up in your own world that you neglect everything around you.
People think you're cute because you're intelligent. Your wit and wisdom are charming.

The Cute Monster Test

i say it is pretty close. i do get caught up in things and forget to do .... stuff.
try it, it's cute and it's sweeeeet.

movie, Japanese, knitting.....

2008-11-06T18:38:00.000-08:00

Here is my next movie purchase... wool 100%. An amazingly visual treat filled with wool, knitting, Japan, and deep metaphors on life and the female experience. I must be off to find this treasure, it looks delicious!

where have I been?

2008-10-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

Oh the joys of computer ownership, the swift advance of technology and how quickly a beloved machine can become a boat anchor. I have been limping along my internet journey dragging behind me an 8 year old dinosaur...namely my computer, for some time now. I knew it's days were numbered though each day as I set out onto the internet highway it would still rouse itself from it's own internal dialog (it ran almost continuously) to follow me on my world wide web quests. Slowly my journey would go, gently and with much leisure. It would be so gracious as to allow me enough time to make a pot of tea while it loaded a file. Eventually I had enough time to cook an entire meal, until....the screen went black. Thank goodness that I live across the street from a fire department, they heard my screams and rushed right over with a tranquilizer gun and a net.
Fast forward to the next day. The dinosaur agreed to wake up, if not connected to the internet, long enough for me to download all of my photos and important files (knitting patterns) to an external hard drive...my family was spared, Huzzah!
I went into the computer store, got an employee and said "I have $600.00 and I need a computer, what is the best deal for that price?" I left with a new, highly evolved computer life-form, now all is well and we can sleep soundly once again. fin.
Here we have two photos, one of the dinosaur and one of the new godlike black box that tethers me to all that is good and wonderful. Oh the joys of computer ownership....sweeeet.

a cloche

2008-10-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

I don't really even know how to pronounce this word, but I made one! A cloche. A green cloche. A green cloche with a flower. A green cloche with a big purple flower. Crocheted. I like it quite a bit, though I will never wear it. Hats like this one just don't work in Southern California, especially right now, it is so hot! October is a strange weather month here. We have had such a mild summer that this late season heat is difficult for me to handle. I don't have air conditioning in my house, it was built in 1921 and at that time there were few homes here so the breeze from the ocean did not have to work so hard! I hope to get this little cloche up on my etsy site soon. Look for more of these darling toppers as I plan on making many of them, they are just yummy!

A Car That Runs On AIR!

2008-09-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

You better believe it! It will soon be coming to America if all goes well. There is a car that runs on compressed air. Really, compressed AIR. It is called the 'CityCAT'. The only cost in gathering the fuel (air) is getting it into a compressed state. The air shoots out of the tank and runs the engine. Yup, air. The current version sold in India just won't cut it by America's safety standards so it is being modified for our roads. This modification (read; won't crumple into numerous fragments including occupants on impact) will create a heavier car so it will run on a hybrid mixture of air and gas, like our current electric/gas hybrids. The good new is it only takes about 8gal. of gas to go as far as an entire tank takes you now! Check out the website linked for more info on this amazing vehicle! ....a tasty treat for out streets.

2008-09-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

So I had to make a holiday gift item for the yarn shop I work at (only a day a week, and then teach a few classes in the eves). I thought and thought, hhhmmmm, what will I do? So many things came to mind, not to mention that I had just made a pair of wrist warmers for a double pointed knitting needle class that I am teaching this fall. So I took a look around the shop for color inspiration...then it hit me! Minnow Knits Merino, a new yarn that is very soft and comes in these outrageous candy colors. I decided to go with a Swedish theme and came up with this little (not really little) cowl/neck warmer! Isn't it adorable! You could use it as a childs skirt too I suppose. The drawstring keeps it from crumpling down so you can admire the lovely striped pattern. Speaking of the stripes....I used this stripe generator to help me out. I just love it! I can hardly wait to use it again. Oh goodness, my secret is out now, all of you getting knitted gifts from me this Yule be warned, they will be striped! Gotta love those candy stripes...eat em up!

A Visit To The Queen

2008-08-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, August 25th, 2008, I went on a field trip with the day program that I teach at. We went to the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I have been there on several occasions, though not recently. We were able to take a guided tour and I actually learned a few things about the old Queen that I did not know. First, that she is TWICE the size of the Titanic....surprising! Also, that Winston Churchill had is own suite on board. She is indeed a glorious ship and I could just imagine the ocean wind on my face as she steamed across the Atlantic. They have done quite a few modifications to her that saddened me, closing in the covered decks on her starboard side, it took away some of her charm. The students loved the day out and we had lunch by the water watching the harbor cruise boats and pelicans come and go. Here are two photos, I forgot my camera but Vera Toth, another teacher at the program remembered hers (thanks Vera!). One is of the Queen Mary as you board and the other is a photo of the Long Beach skyline from the Queen's deck. It was a grand day with a Grand Lady and the views were....sweet.

tamara twirls

2008-08-17T16:58:00.001-07:00

My dear friend Tamara, originally from California but now lives in an artists' collective in New York, NY, came for a visit. Tamara's visits are not usually just visits. They may be brief but she likes to add some spark to her arrival. One thing she is wont to do is performance art. Here we see dear Tamara doing her 'Pocket Lady' performance at the Long Beach Second Saturday Art Walk. She made her pocket skirt and tucked into each pocket a little work of her own art, some beads, beans, corn or who knows what in a bitty baggy and tied the pocket shut. She then approaches bystanders and asks if they want to make a wish. She tells them to think of a wish as she twirls around in front of them. They tell her when to stop and then choose a pocket to untie. They take their treasure and keep it to help them make their wishes come true. People just eat it up!

my summer job

2008-08-11T00:13:00.000-07:00

So,
things were a little slow at my day job, teaching at Hope University. We had so many students taking
time off for the summer that I got to take off an extra day too! I decided to get a 'summer job' working in a yarn shop! Not just any yarn shop but a beautiful shop right on Alamitos Bay. Yes, cool ocean breezes, beautiful views of sailboats on the water and happy customers enjoying our Wednesday 'Knit & Cruise' boat trips. Here are a few photos of the shop and surrounding area. If you are ever in Long Beach you should stop in, the water is fine! Sunshine, ocean views and yarn...mmmmm, delicious!

habuuuuuu

2008-08-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

Ah habu. I have again fallen under your spell. For over a year I have thought about this scarf. Looked longingly into my closet imagining it hanging there. On cool rainy days my hands have drifted to my neck in search of it. Summer day dreams wander to knit at it.
Now I have you! On my needles is that scarf. Oh joy! Oh bliss! My habu scarf is appearing as I merrily knit away. Stainless steel, silk and merino wool ...... ooooooh yes. delicious habu.

just a note.....

2008-07-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

Oh look, I added a widget! If you have never been to etsy before, now is the time to go. Gas prices are high, time is at a premium, it's 1:00 a.m. and you are up so what the heck! Why take the time to drive all around town looking for that perfect gift. Not a gift card (impersonal), not from a big chain store (droll), but a one of a kind, handmade item. Now that's special! You can find something to fit just about any hobby or interest...yes you can...just use the 'search' feature, you will be amazed! Here are some of my sewing note cards. Send to someone who sews or use as a clever pun! (You can be very clever). Etsy....yummy!

and the winner is......

2008-07-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

DAO! at wwww.bluepupae.com/blog/
Dear Dao won the contest and guessed the mystery vegetable. It is a kohlrabi! Big and split, but a kohlrabi non the less. If you visit her blog you will see that she is indeed a seasoned (hehehe) foodie. Her photos and descriptions of gastronomical delights are beautiful and luscious, you should check it out. I know she has a rockin' camera to take those great food shots and photos of the amazing things she knits. Oh, and her art....that is another story. Yes, Dao is an all around fantastic gal. So...what did she win you ask? Here are some photos of her prize. It is a 'key cozy'. Great for keeping keys and memory sticks, well, cozy! It is fun too, you pull up on the ball and the items go up into the bell. Pull them down and out they come! amazing you say? I want one too you say? You too can own one of these fantastic little items without having to deal with a vegetables identity crisis. Just hop on over to my etsy shop www.blackgingham.etsy.com and get one of your very own! Go on...grab a snack and go shopping on etsy. Fun, easy and delicious.

'Spare' Time Fun

2008-06-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

Oh, I had nothing much to do today...okay, that is not entirely true, there are many things I could be doing, laundry, washing dishes, cleaning out spare bedrooms, but instead I decided to fool around with my scanner. So I did! I made some line drawings, scanned them into my computer paint program and voila', I figured out how to color them in! I am so proud. Here are two of my learning projects. I guess I like the color of butter today. Now I need to find projects in which to use this wonderful new (to me) creative outlet. This is just delicious.

Name That Veg!

2008-06-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

My summer garden is growing strong. I have Japanese cucumbers, spaghetti squash, acorn squash, butternut squash, tomatoes, basil and beets. But in amongst this bounty of summer lurked a last vestige of my winter garden....behold the Monster Vegetable! Left to grow to unencumbered by my watchful eye and hungry family it became a creature unto itself.
Now, if you can guess what vegetable it is, and are the first person to leave a comment with the correct answer ..... You Will Win A Prize! (a little taste from the buffet of my etsy shop, blackgingham.etsy.com)
So send in your guesses today and you could be the next big winner of.... "Name That Veg!"
eat that up...

Bags

2008-06-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

Well I am already planning my holiday (yes December/Yule) gifts. I have decided to provide everyone on my list with a environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bags. I am hoping that if I get a jump on it now that by December I will be done and free of that last minute rush I so hate. I bought lots of fat quarters in patterns that I like (makes sewing more fun) and coordinating solids for the bottom half of the bag. I am hoping to add a little felt addition to the plain bottom to jazz it up a little. The book 'simple sewing' by Lotta Jansdotter (see photo) is beautiful. The bags (see photo) are the ones I plan to make. Now I have simple poly/cotton material, not the wonderful canvas and wools that she uses, as my pocket book is not that deep. I am hoping that the fabric will win the design over. I love this book! She has included many things for the kitchen, three totes, a sun/bucket style hat, a backpack and even a check book cover. So when I get some of my totes done I will show them to you. Oh, if you are on my Yule gift list...don't peek, and forget you read this post. Sewing! fun and delicious.

Bento Break!

2008-06-06T16:28:00.000-07:00

It is becoming summer here in Southern California so I looked to Japan for summer lunch ideas. Here we have....somen. Wonderful noodles, thin, light, easy, served cold and fast to cook (really, two minutes in boiling water!) I sprinkled them with some black sesame, sliced radish, a cherry blossom cucumber and chopped scallions. The little bottle holds ponzu, a soy type sauce with citrus flavors, just right for the somen. There is a tea dyed egg, little tomatoes, tangerine slices, snow peas, baby carrots, blueberries and more cucumber. This bento is not very big but it really holds a lot of food, all fresh, all delicious! eat it up!

promised pieces

2008-05-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Here they are....tah-dah! Baby sweater and booties to match. I love this color blue, not quite light blue, not quite baby blue, sort of a silvery blue hue. Add the nice white touches and it just looks so clean....yum!

babies...

2008-05-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

babies, babies, babies. I have knitted and crocheted 6 baby hats, 3 baby jackets, 4 pairs of booties, and one blanket. I still need to make more. There are so many people in my life having babies! Now don't get me wrong, I love babies! (especially with a bit of confectioners sugar and a spoon...kidding, really, though I have been known to nibble on a toe or cheek) But I am plum amazed at the current baby boom in my little universe. So here are some of the hats and soon to post sweaters and booties. If you covet them....hop on over to www.blackgingham.etsy.com and get one, or two! Babies are just plain yummy!

Aqualink!

2008-04-04T21:24:00.000-07:00

Here in Long Beach California you can find boats on the transit system. I just love that. My favorite is the Aqualink. I park my car at Alamitos Bay Landing (where there is a wonderful local yarn shop) and board the Aqualink. I then take it down the Long Beach coastline, one stop at the Queen Mary and then on to the Aquarium. Here you see my ocean buddy Mr. Malacari the giant squid looking at the Aqualink and it's Capitan. Next he is riding high on the bow and then looking out over the water, he likes to look at water but he is 'spot clean only'. I went with my two sons on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I did take my knitting but I must admit, I just cannot resist just staring at the ocean. It was delicious.

Oh My Lucky Shamrocks!

2008-03-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

What would St. Patrick's day be without a bit o' the green.....especially if it's on a KILT! (check out that badger) I spent a weekend at the Irish Festival in Pomona and saw many a kilt. I share two with you. There was green beer, green hair, green tee-shirts and green ice cream. They even had green water in the fountains. Any Leprechaun would have felt right at home. So I say wish for you, a grand St.Patrick's day to 'ya all.....delicious.

Time For Spring I Say!

2008-03-05T23:23:00.000-08:00

Oh spring! Fresh peas, beets and carrots. Crisp sunshine and still cool days. My favorite flower is blooming, grape hyacinth, looking like little cuttlefish all bunched up on a stem. Here is a photo of one that I have growing on my porch. There is also a cute little face, and it is a pin! Amazing! This little springtime friend is available in my etsy shop, www.blackgingham.etsy.com and would look dandy on any vest, shirt or lapel to celebrate spring. Take a walk on a sunny spring day, greet the flower faie and munch a crunchy carrot....eat it up!

The Spice is the Cabinet,The Cabinet is the Spice

2008-02-18T18:29:00.000-08:00

True to my New Year's resolution I have continued to de-clutter the little corners of my life. Here is my spice cabinet....after de-cluttering. It was a journey back in time to Thanksgivings, Yule celebrations and birthdays past. Ancient spices purchased to create that 'perfect' meal 10 years ago. Candles in single digit shapes, sprinkles in a preschoolers favorite colors and long hardened cinnamon/sugar still with small buttery fingerprints on the jar. Spices that were my mother's favorites, used only to re-create a long gone cherished meal. I took out each bottle and tin, reaching far back in the past and let them go, some with a smile and some with a tear.
Now my spice cabinet is organized and clean, the spices fresh and new. I step into the future, remembering the past. Spicy and Delicious!

A Bowl of Sunshine

2008-02-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

Not exactly a bowl of cherries, here in California in the middle of February you can walk out to a tree and pick a bowl of sunshine. These amazing (and giant) kumquats are off a tree in the orchard by the Long Beach Community Gardens. I have a plot there that is my little 20'x4o' rectangle of paradise. These beauties are sitting in a white bowl in my kitchen and make me smile every time I look at them.... delicious.

Doodle Brain

2008-02-02T08:48:00.001-08:00

Oh the days are getting longer (slightly) and February is here. That means...dun-dun-duuunnn...Valentine's day approacheth. My birthday is the day before so I hold a special place in my heart (heart, get it?) for this particular holiday. So on that note, (goodness, not another pun) I made some notes! Doodle notes actually. You see I cannot draw, that is fine as I cannot sing either, but what I can do is doodle. Here you see the fruits of my doodling labor. These lovely, simple little note cards are my doodle creations. 'Love' with a long stem and little hearts-in-a-box. Now I can knit, I can sculpt, I can weave (if someone helps me warp my loom) I can cook and I can win a verbal argument, but I have always wanted to be able to draw. So now I am pretty proud of myself, I feel like a real two dimensional (not personality wise, but in 'art-speak') artist.
These little gems are available in my etsy store www.blackgingham.etsy.com, and I have sold several sets and that feels delicious! eat them up.

Oh Bento!

2008-01-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

I will forever be true to fiber, knitting, crochet, naalbinding and weaving but....I have a new little squeeze on the side, called BENTO. Bento boxes, bento lunches, bento bags, bento bottles, bento, Bento, Oh BENTO! Here are two photos of my first bento attempts and the lid of one (yes, one) of my bento boxes that a friend brought me from Japan. My life has been consumed by bento. Now a new aisle at Marukai has opened up for me, the bento aisle! sigh....There are entire Flickr groups dedicated to bento. There are bento blogs, bento competitions, bento yahoo groups. These little boxes are so cute, and they really speak to my organized side. Though they look small, you can fit quite a bit of food into them. A bento should hold at least 5 different colors of food (yipeee!) and every little bit of it should be filled (double yipeee!). My first bento pictured has rice with furikake, a sliced Mornigstar Farms chick patty, hardboiled egg, assorted vegi's and fruit and some hummus. The second one has cabbage, a sliced jack cheese and chili tamale, spinach, assorted vegi's and fruit......delicious!

It's About The Process....

2008-01-20T15:48:00.000-08:00

So I am taking this weaving class... Some time ago, yes years, I became enamored with the rigid heddle loom and had to have one. Being a fiber-ey type it appealed to my fiber-ey nature, being a knitter it appealed to my love of creating fabric. When knitting you cast on and then you are off, knitting away watching your project grow with every row. How difficult could weaving be? It is an ancient process done with stones, string and wood, I could do this! Weaving is fun, easy and relaxing. Yarn wrapped around a stick, shuttling back and forth between warp threads, the soft beating of the heddle pressing the warp into place...ah yes, this I like. So why has my beautiful Kromski Harp loom sat static for years? In a word....warp....Gads this part is tough! I have tried to do this on my own with no avail. My first (and only) two projects completed on this loom were done after a class in which we warped my loom. So now I embark on another warping journey with the help of an amazing weaver, Carol. Here are two photos of my heddle in the process of being 'slayed' or threaded. This is the third step in the process, the first being...math...the second figuring where to put the pegs on the warping board to wind the warp (warping board, sounds like a torture device and felt like one to me) and tying them just right so they don't make a tangled mess when you get them to the heddle and slay it. Whew!
This is quite a process, so my little knitter brain is learning fiber patience and a great appreciation for those women who wove the fabric of our past..... sweet.

Hot Mitts!

2008-01-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

The weather is cool and crisp....the perfect time for cooking up comfort food and baking something sweet. So when the cobbler is done or you need to lift the lid and check on that simmering soup I have just the thing to keep your little fingers from frying.... 'Lid Lifters' mini hot mitts. Available now in my 'etsy' shop. www.blackgingham.etsy.com
Now go and make something delicious and eat it up!

Peace

2008-01-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

I wish for peace. Peace in my home, Peace in my heart, Peace in my life and Peace in the world. I wish all of this for all of you.

This year I start my peaceful journey by waking up my personal spaces. I have decided to bring visual peace to those small and taken for granted places in my daily routine, beginning with my corner of the bathroom. I had been keeping my hair clips, combs and often worn earrings on and in a basket. Said basket had been my faithful servant for many years and was weary of the task. A trip to Marukai for inspiration and I found bowls. Lovely blue and white bowls, a large one for my hair claws, a smaller one for my hair combs and my hook earrings. I also have three small platters for post earrings and thus&such. I am so pleased. Every morning when I look in my corner I see peace, clarity and order....ah, delicious.

Right Outside My LYS

2007-12-30T17:49:00.000-08:00

You can see snow on the mountain top in the distance and a man on his boat in shorts. Yes, it is December here in Southern California. Crisp air, blue skies, palm trees and the view just steps from my local yarn shop's front door. Ah, paradise....yum.

bump (a neck warmer)

2007-12-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

The wonderful yarn I was given at my SnB holiday party has already become my new favorite winter accessory. A neck warmer! And boy does it work. I had often thought a scarf was the only way to keep me warm but I was sorely mistaken. Just two balls of Merino have me toasty cozy. I have plans (and yarn) to make more of these snuggly treats, just for me. Here is the pattern so you too can chase the chill with a delicious neck confection. Yummy!

bump (a neck warmer)

You choose the yarn and circular needles...
CO a multiple of 3 onto your circular needles, PM.
Row 1 - Knit
Row 2 - Purl
Row 3 - Knit
Row 4 - Purl
Row 5 - K1 - YO - K2tog, continue to end of row.
Row 6 - K2 - YO - K2tog, *K1, YO, K2tog, continue from * to last 2 sts, knit these.
Rows 7, 8, 9, - Knit.
Repeat rows 5 through 9 until 1" from desired length ... then
Purl one row
Knit one row
Purl one row
Knit one row
BO, weave in ends and be warm!

My Fiber Tribe

2007-12-13T20:26:00.000-08:00

This Wednesday evening past was my knitting groups first (and hopefully annual) holiday party. Replete with potluck to die for, secret Santa's and the honor of being surrounded by my amazing knitsibs. When we lived in small towns or villages we had women around us, older and younger women. Women who taught us and women who learned from us. Women to who we could turn when we needed advice and others to show us the way on this women's journey. I so often remark on how as we become embroiled in life it becomes more and more difficult to make new friends and find those women. I have found them, they are my tribe, the tribe of fiber. Huzzah! to all of you wonderful ladies.

I have a special thank you to my secret Santa Carol for my lovely gift of luscious merino....so beautifully served up in a sundae glass! I was so excited about the yarn that I took it all apart before photographing it. I felt bad about missing that photo op so I set up these, Yarn Portraits! Could this be a new niche market? I must say that this merino sat well for me and followed direction well. hhhmmmm.....a thought....yarn portraits...delicious.

Spiders Gift

2007-12-11T20:06:00.000-08:00

Work had been a bear, preparing for our annual holiday show. Rehearsals, endless Christmas carols, students trying to hold it together and a stressed out staff. The week at home was rattling, shocking cell phone bills ( the boys no longer have the ability to text ) and (not so good) grade progress reports all hit at the same time. Then, one lovely gray and misty morning as I was leaving for work, I found this. An amazing ocean fog beaded spider web above my car. Ah, the Great Mother was speaking to me and I listened. Thank you little spider for bringing it all back into focus. Life is sweet, and I am grateful, eat it up.

Yarn Longing To Be A Sweater

2007-11-26T22:33:00.000-08:00

"Knit me.....knit meeeeeeee......kkkkknnnnnit me!" I can hear them, stuffed in their little plastic bag all huddled up together. I can hear the three of them calling, taunting, breathing out whispers "knit me" they say. I am trying to ignore them, picking up other current distractions, my sweater vest, coat hanger covers, even sewing (gads, did the habu hear me say 'sewing'?) Yule gifts looming large, my day job for heaven's sake! Not to mention the kids, the dishes, the chocolate.... I can hear them now, three cones and a Japanese pattern, maybe if I just put them in a knitting bag with a pair of needles they will quiet for a bit thinking I should be to them soon, I'll tuck them in with a "hush little habu" and buy myself some time....delicious time.

Top 20!

2007-11-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

I am an official finalist of the 'Craft My Ride' competition! Oh yeah, I rock! Here is one of my little dashboard critters giving some attitude about being a top 20 winner. I had to send the entire cover in to the Scion committee for final judging, that was hard to mail off my little dashboard buddies, I was so used to having them all over my dinning room table, looking so amazingly cute! So watch out world, this could be the 'it' item on everyone's hip list! Eat it up!

Hang it Up

2007-11-18T12:30:00.000-08:00

The birthday party for my boss was at work the next day. I had only one night to make the perfect gift. I had very little time and even less cash (it was the day before payday) and I needed inspiration...In a brilliant flash of desperation it came to me "Hanger Covers!" Doesn't everyone woman need some sweet covered hangers to grace the dark interiors of her closet? Yes, that would be it. So off I went, fortune had recently smiled upon me as I have been asking everyone I know if they have seen simple wooden hangers for sale anywhere. A friend of mine found them at Longs Drug store, and had just dropped them by. I was saved. Here they are in peach and white, with contrasting/matching crochet flowers. I tied the two of them together with satin ribbon. I think these just might start showing up at my etsy shop.
Here is how I made them:
Chose yarn. Make a swatch, (this can be sewn up like a little bag, add a crochet chain like a handle and hang it around the hook of the hanger for a sachet). Measure your hanger length wis and cast on appropriate number of stitches, leaving a long tail. I cast on a few less so it would fit snuggly. Knit in whichever stitch you choose ( I used seed) for about 2 - 1/2 inches, (be sure your bind off will be opposite your beginning 'tail' end) bind off leaving a long tail. Find center by folding in half length and width ways and slip hook through knitting. With long tails left from CO and BO, sew up ends and along bottom of hanger/CO & BO edges to meet in the middle, I made a little knot and then weave in ends. I made 4 crochet flowers of chain 5, slip st. into first chain to make a circle and made 5 petals of chain 3, and 3 dc's with a slip stitch after each petal and tied them on. Quick, easy and .... delicious!

Fickle Fiber Flitting

2007-11-10T18:05:00.000-08:00

Oh, I was so in love with you

Habu....you must know that you fill a sweet picot edged pocket in my heart. I must though confess to a new fiber of the moment that has caught my wandering eye. It all started with a shipment of knitting books from Japan. I ordered them from www.yesasia.com, as I cannot read Japanese I took a chance and judged these books by their covers. One, a thin, tan book with just the beckoning hint of a sweater on it's cover wooed me. In this Asian treasure I found my new loves. Yes I plan to spend time with a few of these delicious darlings, trying one after the other until I am sweater-ed out. The first piece I have already begun. A vest in a velvety Noro and cashmire blend. So lovely Habu, I here post your picture as a finished object ready to be taken out, draped deliciously over my shoulder, for a splendid sushi lunch. yum, ademame!

You're Not The Boss a' Me!

2007-11-03T19:47:00.000-07:00

This is my new computer wallpaper. It just makes me chuckle every time I look at it...Oh you have just got to love Bossy Bear! www.bossybear.com. And don't tell me that one day goes by that you don't want to be just like him! Hey, let go of that donut(ball of yarn, BMW, Prada bag), it's mine! eatitup.

I Crafted Their Ride

2007-10-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

So there was this competition put on by Scion called 'Craft My Ride'. I submitted my entry late last night...whew! The idea was for you to make a car accessory for the Scion XD. First prize is a new XD for the lucky crafter! I have been keeping this a super secret, but now that the deadline is past I can finally share. My submission is this: A dashboard cover with inter-change-able items, such as pouches, cargo nets, stuffed critters/pets, a crochet photo holder and crochet bowls all with magnet clasps that attach to the dashboard cover. Here is one view of the cover and close ups of two of the 'pets'. I am very excited about my project...how can you resist those cute little faces?! Yipppeee! Looks like a winner to me....eat it up (and drive it off the lot!)

Habu, Habu, I Love You...

2007-10-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

Oh the glorious joys of knitting with Habu Textiles yarns. Their amazing texture and easy to follow Japanese pattern writing. Yes, I do adore Habu. Here are the two yarns, linen and silk, that I am using to knit a purse. I bought the kit at the Habu trunk show at Wildfiber in Santa Monica. I also bought a kit for a jacket....oooh, how decadent...photos will be forthcoming on that item. The bright green yarn is just a provisional cast on to be removed when the strap is connected. I will keep you apprised on the purses progress, I am in love with knitting this Habu bag.....delicious.

My New Toy, Weavette!

2007-09-27T21:47:00.001-07:00

Here is my new toy, the Weavette! I saw it last year at the Fabulous Fiber Fest and have dreamed of them all year. So this Fiberfest was my chance and I bought 2! One rectangle and one square. They are very easy to use, it takes just a bit of yarn and very little time to create a piece. I made the cell phone case on the rectangle and am making squares for a baby blanket with the (you guessed it) square one. Each piece is light and delicate, they feel so different in hand than knit or crochet. I am having much fun with my Weavettes and can say that they are a terrific addition to my fiber menu, oh so light and yummy!

Meet Tiffany!

2007-09-15T13:47:00.001-07:00

Introducing....Tiffany! My new model. I needed some way to photograph the head scarves that I make and sell on etsy (www.blackgingham.etsy.com) and I was unable to talk any of my family members (all male) into modeling them for me. So... I went to ebay and found...tah dah! Tiffany. She is always happy and ready for a photo shoot, she does not eat much, she is a terrific listener and never complains. She even has pierced ears so we can share earrings! Tiffany and I have been having much fun taking photos, here you can see her in a pink toile triangle head scarf and also in a 1940's style tied head band. Both of which, and more are available in my 'etsy' shop....check it out!

$1.50!

2007-09-01T22:53:00.001-07:00

I went to Marukai today! The Japanese dollar store in Cerritos. I thought the top of my head was going to fly off at all of the wonderful cute-ness I found. I could have bought five hundred dollars worth of Japanese fun. I restrained myself on this trip and took many photos instead. Here are some of my favorites:
The adorable animal headed soy sauce bottles (these are quite tiny, like miniature anime canopic jars). Next is part of the 'little things to put in a child's bento box lunch' section. This takes almost an entire aisle! After that is the stationary section....and I

do so adore paper! The teddy bear family notebook, the round apple-y hamster notes and....mushroom letter paper! Gads! It was all just so yummy. I bought a few things, snacks, chopsticks with their own little carry case to keep at work, a few paper things, a notepad and some tea.
Delicious! Gotta go to Marukai!

Alpaca Fiber Eye

2007-08-24T22:01:00.000-07:00

In Santa Monica this weekend was the 'Fabulous Fiber Fest'. A field trip for the Long Beach SnB'ers. At the fest I was zapped by the mystical 'alpaca fiber eye'. I will now and forever be obsessed with....fiber. Fabric, beads, fiber animals, SCA demonstrations (with beautiful Renata), they had spinning and spinners, weavers, clothing, books and some yarn. Yup, some yarn, sadly lacking in this tasty treat. This years fiberfest was much less filling than in the past. So the Long Beach SnB'ers trekked over a few blocks to the wonderful eatery....'Swingers' Oh yeah, that was delicious! A best day ever
Friends, food and fiber....Life is good.....and tasty!

Cupcakes and Babies

2007-08-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

A chocolate cupcake with pink swirly frosting.
That is all I could think about as I crocheted this baby blanket. I can just imagine a little fussy nubbin nuzzling her yarn confection and settling down to a much needed nap. Years later to crave chocolate covered cherries and not know why.
I can hardly wait to whip up another batch!
oh yummy....

Getty Up!

2007-08-01T14:28:00.001-07:00

We, the day program I teach at, went to the Getty! You can see several of my students in the first photo. The second photo is the Uberorgan by Tim Hawkinson. It plays 'music' on every hour. We did not have much time there but had much fun. Tim Hawkinson also had work in one of the galleries...very cool. I had never been to the Getty and I recommend it. Take a day and some cash. The views, the art the gift shops and the food! eat it up.

I Went On A Little Trip

2007-07-19T23:39:00.001-07:00

I was in Alaska. Yes, I took these photos. I cannot put into words how beautiful the land is there, or how sweet the air smelled or how magical the landscapes are. I can tell you it was so beautiful that I wept, that I could breathe deep the exhales of the trees and that I slept there better than I have since I was a child. I do believe that when you visit Alaska ,part of you never leaves.