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

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

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

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

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.....

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......

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

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!

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

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!

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

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...

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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

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!

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!