Pulling out all the stops

Where we live here in California, it gets quite warm in the late spring and summer. It isn't a far drive to Lake Tahoe though for some good clean fun in the snow.

I pulled out every last hat, glove, scarf, and other random knitted item that I made my family over the last couple of years and dressed them up in it all.

"It ITCHES, Mommy!" was the refrain of the weekend. They were overall pretty good about it though and in the end, wearing a silly beanie that your mom made you is still better than a cold head.

Maybe I'll knit some lighter weight something up for this summer. Meanwhile, I'm thinking about the summer deadline to enter quilts into PIQF and wondering if I could finish something in time.

And if you're looking for some cool photos from Yoko Saito's recent class in Norway, check out Emily's blog Ravenhill and Una's blog Samsy for some beautiful photos of the purse class they took from her. Sigh...wishing I was there with you both!

Gifts from afar - Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival 2010 and Yoko Saito

The other day, I went to my mailbox to pick up a package sent to me by Foong Ming.

She is a quilter, a reader of my blog, and happened to also be going to the Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival last January.

Inside of the package were two books that she got there for me.

The first one is a catalog of all the winning quilts at the Tokyo quilt show. This publication is amazing and beautiful. Each of the quilts is a work of art and the photos are just stunning. I have always wanted to attend this show, and now I feel like I have been there. So very cool.

The second book is by Yoko Saito, called "Daily Quilt" - ISBN978-4-529-04780-7.

I was looking through this book, drooling all over the amazing taupe quilted item patterns. If you don't have this book it really is worth adding to your library.

While I was reading, thinking how sweet Foong Ming was to send these to me, I saw the first page of the book.

She had it SIGNED and ADDRESSED TO ME!!! by none other than the famous YOKO SAITO!!!

At this point I almost fainted, ran and showed it to my husband, and I'm now calling this book my favorite book in my entire collection.

Thanks again Foong Ming. You rock! Sending a virtual hug your way...all the way from California to Singapore.

The wearing of the green

Did the food scientists who developed Mac n Cheese think of it as a St. Patrick's day food?

Well, perhaps not, but with a generous amount of green food coloring, any dish can become an Irish feast.

I wore my green shirt today, and celebrated St. Patrick's day by spending an evening with a couple of my best girlfriends for knit nite.

They are creating some awesome things, and I'm still learning how to use my drop spindle and trying to make yarn.

In my next post, I'll be telling you this amazing story of what I got in the mail yesterday. It includes not only taupe fabric, but also Yoko Saito (in a very special way), and the Tokyo Internation Quilt Festival, as well as friendship from Singapore.

I know, it's hard to wait, but it's too late to tell that story tonight and I want to do it right.

For now, kiss an Irish friend, and raise a glass - Slainte.

Great....that's just great.

I'm still plugging away on my signature quilt. It's been slow going since the baby has been sick on and off again.

I ended up missing my monthly quilt group over it (horrors!) but a worthy cause to comfort a sick little soul. He's finally better so we're all thrilled to get back to a more normal routine.

Last night our 4 yr old was acting up, so I told him he was going to bed without storybook time as punishment. Usually when I punish him he cries, or ask me to forgive him. Last night he looked right back at me and said, "Great...that's just great, Mommy" and stomped off to his bed.

My husband and I looked at each other in awe, wondering if teenagehood has set in 10 years too early. Yikes. Are they supposed to do that at 4?!

This weekend I'm off to take a spinning wheel class at The Verb, so looking forward to that and cannot wait to see my spinning girlfriend Marianne again.

In photographic news - I ran across the photography of Brigitte Carnochan. She has some nude work but I find that her Handpainted Flowers and Still Life Gallery is a very unique take on macro photos and quite beautiful.

Using a drop spindle with kids

Answer to my brain teaser is that I made bracelets!

After teaching my son's class how to use a drop spindle, I gave them each little bracelets made out of the hand spun yarn with a wool felt bead.

My son helped each of the kids pick out the color felt bead they wanted and I tied them on. They loved it and it was a nice take home item for them to show to their parents and explain how they learned about wool, felt, and how to make yarn. We used dental floss threaders to get the beads on to the yarn. Pretty simple.

Meanwhile, my cold is getting better which is the good news.

Maybe the bad news is that our baby is an overachiever and has already starting acting like a two year old. Tantrums galore.

I'm the star entertainment of each restaurant we visit - holding and attempting in vain to comfort my little fireball - while wondering why I ever decided to leave the house in the first place. Oh the beauty and the heartache of being two.

If you're looking for the next greatest blog since sliced bread, head over to visit my sister's fresh new blog. It's devoted to scrapbooking. I'm sure she'd love a little hello from you.

Brain Teaser: What is this cool kid project?

In the last week I have been:

- Snowed on (which would not be a big deal to a lot of people, but since I live in a pretty warm climate it was pretty cool to see it)

- Taught to make 'HookEm' horns

- Spoiled while trying to shake off a nasty head cold by not only my incredible husband but also by my beloved sister

- Kissed by all my favorite kids on the planet

- Amazed that at 17 months old anybody could be smart enough to count to the number 9

Hope your life is going at least this well. Even with a cold getting me down, I still feel like the luckiest girl just by being around my loving family.

The above project I made to share with my son's class of 4 yr old kids.

What could it be? Is it a science project? Abstract art? Got any ideas? Usually some of you get my brain teasers spot on.

Meanwhile, have an awesome weekend. I'm thinking a healthy thought for you, me, and the rest of the folks who could use one.

Olympic-a-holic: a 12 step program is in order

Perhaps I should be stopped from watching the Olympics, but gosh they are pretty cool. Speed skating is by far my favorite.

In the 'going for the gold theme' that I started in my last post, above are some of the wedding signature blocks that I created with 1850's reproduction 'Chrome' colored fabric.

This project is slow, but I'm still plugging along at it. I think this new yellow is giving the overall quilt a much needed sparkle.

I recently discovered Peanut Free Planet who sells chocolate chips that are nut free so we are back to being able to making choc chip cookies.

Have you seen the trip around the world variation quilt over at Decaf, please? So stunning. I love working with solids and I love Amish style quilts. This is a quilt that falls into both of those buckets, so enjoy the photos. What a work of art.

Going for the Gold

While the winter Olympics has me glued to the couch like a serious couch potato, all that flashy gold made me think of this gold sweater that I made over Christmas for the baby.

It's the Child's Placket Neck Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.

I learned a lot knitting it, and had a really great time. I used Manos de Uruguay yarn and it only took 2 balls of it. Now the 4 yr old wants a sweater too. Do I have to make one? He's HUGE in comparison. Is fair only fair?

Oh, and I signed up to take a spinning class using a real spinning wheel next month at A Verb for Keeping Warm. Marianne, if you are reading this I think you should keep me company.

Now on to the 'gold' quilt blocks. I'm breaking out my 1850's 'Chrome' fabric to add to the signature quilt. Chrome is one of those antique colors that just isn't popular for use in today's color pallet.

Maybe it's too over the top? I have a bunch of blocks done. I'll photograph them for you.

Any gold creeping into your quilts these days?

Wedding Signature Quilt - just in time for Valentine's Day

Thanks for the comments on the Catherine Wheel Scarf.

In case one measly photo wasn't enough of it for your personal taste, perhaps you want to look at 56 more of them in my newly created flickr set...or maybe a slide show of scarf photos is in order?

I'm also working hard (again!) on my wedding signature quilt. All those signature blocks collected 6 years ago at our wedding are still waiting to become a quilt.

Each of them is so tiny that it takes me ages to make only a small set of 10 or so, but each night I'm making small amounts of progress and enjoying the process as well.

Things to fall in love with:

This Sunshine Day Baby Afgan by Posie Gets Cozy, OMG beautiful.

The Archipod: posted by design milk blog. Could I move my sewing room into the back yard? Unclear if this thing would hold my fabric collection. Oh and not to mention the yarn. Oh yeah and the fiber. Eek.

This new collection on the way from Liberty of London, as posted at True Up blog. Like I need more Liberty.

Last but not least, this awesome post about Orange County, California. Although I have spent a lot of time there, not sure I have hit everything on their recommended list. Some new ideas here. Cool.

Catherine Wheel Scarf and Zauberball

After looking at Alex of Moonstitches' rhubarb scarf a billion zillion times, and after some of my knit night friends gave me a little nudge (yarn from Sharon and crochet lessons from Dorothy) I created a Catherine Wheel scarf.

Elle of Ellemeno P Blog put a really nice pattern together inspired by the scarf that Alex made, and was generous enough to share it with all.

I used Zauberball yarn which is out of this world beautiful.

I'm thinking of putting up a flickr set with more photos of it. Interested in seeing more?

I was also thinking that if you are looking through the horizontal arm of your sewing machine in order to see your computer monitor in order to do a blog post about quilting, perhaps you are in need of a 12 step program for quilt addicts or something.

Anybody else out there done that before? Am I alone? Have a gone too far?

Dear Hannah Quilt Block in Japanese Taupe Fabric

Another little Dear Hannah taupe block is complete and my collection of them continues to grow.

I used Japanese taupe fabric and the freezer paper applique method. It came together pretty quickly. It takes me longer to cut out the fabric and iron it than to actually applique the pieces down. This block is B-2.

Behind my block is the new book my darling sister got me for Christmas. "I Heart Patchwork" by Rashida Coleman-Hale.

Rashida's blog I Heart Linen is of course very famous, and her work is so very Japanese and perfect in every way. I'm sure you read her blog already, but if you don't perhaps you want to start.

Twins' Garden Style Blog is another place to stop if you're looking for a fresh blog with some beautiful photos and inspiration.

One question for you - Has anybody out there used MagCloud to self publish a magazine? I'm thinking it sounds like a really interesting way to get a collection of your photos out there.

Oh, and finally, the baby is at last feeling better so thank you all for your words of encouragement. He is finally back to his bouncy giggling self. Whew!

Send a healthy thought our way

This week has been so very less than stellar.

Our little one has a bad cold with high fever. We got our flu shots with hopes to avoid all of this, but sigh...not so.

Send a healthy thought our way, hopefully this germ will leave our house soon.

My mom will probably tell me that this too shall pass. Are you listening to her germs??!!

To cheer up sometimes I make my family tell me one good thing that happened to them that day.

Maybe you have one you can share with me...for now, I'm so thankful to have Tylenol.

A Verb for Keeping Warm

Today I took a yarn making class at this super cool shop in Berkeley, California called A Verb for Keeping Warm.

Owner Kristine Vejar (show above) was there dying away, making more one of a kind yarn for folks to make into beautiful knitted items. I was so very tempted to buy tons of yarn, but I resisted. Ok ok, I bought a bunch of roving instead.

My class was taught by this really awesome teacher who goes by WonderMike on ravelry, and even has his own podcast (I think that makes him famous!) called Fiber Beat. He's super passionate about fiber, spinning, and knitting, so I'm already looking forward to next week and thinking I'd better start downloading his podcast.

We learned all about how to use a drop spindle, and I even made a really tiny amount of seriously funky looking yarn.

A drop spindle is tiny and according to some, all you really need in order to make yarn.

I decided to try a really basic drop spindle - the Hi-Low version by Schacht.

So what's next? Well, a bit of homework, to spin some yarn so we can make a 2 ply next time.

Oh yeah, and squeeze some quilting in too. Guess it will be another busy week.

Have any short term project goals in plan for your coming week?

Christmas in January

Christmas in July is so expected. That is when folks start their big projects for the upcoming holiday.

Christmas in January...now that's thinking outside of the box!

Truth be told, I made this above Christmas ornament for my darling niece back in December and forgot to show it off then. Cannot resist posting a picture of it for you to enjoy.

I used Jinny Beyer's book on patchwork puzzle balls and it was super easy.

Does anybody out there have Jinny's new book yet - Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns? I really REALLY want this book BAD.

And speaking of new books....Yoko Saito has just released a new book on basket quilt blocks. It is called Basket Made From Cloth.

Meanwhile, I'm still feverishly working on the crochet scarf that I mentioned in my last post. I will confess to you that I'm secretly really looking forward to wearing it.

Zauberball Yarn with inspiration from Moonstitches

A very long time ago, the lovely and talented Alex of Moonstitches made a scarf she called the rhubarb scarf.

I decided to do something similar, but am using this German yarn called the Zauberball.
Check out these socks made from it over at Simply Fabulous Cari
.
Translated it means the "magic ball".

It has every color in the rainbow and is quite the traffic stopping scarf.

For my taste, it certainly has a lot of color, but I think I'm getting used to it and if worn with something simple, I think it will look pretty cool.

Do you think it's OK, or too wild?

Well, over lunch, or if you have some spare cycles tomorrow if you have the day off for MLK, enjoy the first flickr set of the Tokyo Dome show 2010 that I have seen - graciously posted by Jennifer of Moving Hands.

Well worth a look - as is all her work! Thank you so much for sharing so quickly! Someday I will be there, and will post my photos for you.

Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival 2010

Raise your hand if you're going to the Tokyo Dome quilt show this year!

Ok, so I'm not raising my hand.

Not for lack of interest, but with a baby in the house, travel to Japan is not in the cards for me this year. (tear rolls down cheek)

What is one to do with no ticket to Tokyo?

Sit around the house and cry all weekend? Dream of all those awesome taupe quilts and handmade quilts that I won't get to see in person? Start eating boxes of chocolate in a fit of sorrow while contemplating missing a chance to meet Yoko Saito in person? Invite all my quilting friends over to feel bad for me?

No, no no no no! We shall have none of that.

Lucky for me (and you, if you aren't going either) there are a small handful of extremely generous quilters who visit the show and post their photos online.

Both Jennifer of Moving Hands blog and Alex of Moonstitches have posted some of the best photo collections I could find in past years.

Looks like Jennifer is going this year. Please check out her amazing blog Moving Hands, it is really one of the most beautiful out there. I have said it before, but her hand quilting is amazing and her color pallet is beautiful.

If you plan to go to the Tokyo Dome and share photos with us, pls do leave a comment so I can pass along links to the rest of the folks.

Oh, and the book in the last post that I did is Quilt Party - Yoko Saito's catalog of student work from 2008. It contains 81 pages of full color, full length photos of her student's taupe quilts. Some would call this sort of publication 'quilt porn'. I call it a little slice of heaven.

Shakin' it up

In case you don't live in California, and didn't feel all the earthquakes we've had in the last 24 hours, I'll just say that they keep us on our toes here.

No damage thank goodness, but sheesh! Enough already!

I am always falling in love again and again with incredible toy companies, and Rubbabu is no exception. Their products are not only super fun and functional, but beautiful as well.

I gave them to my boys for Little Christmas, which was yesterday. I always try to give my boys a little something to close out the season each year on Little Christmas.

I have been making more Dear Hannah blocks as you can tell from the above.

What may you ask is the awesome book laying underneath this beautiful block?

Any guesses?

Is it so pretty that it's distracting you from looking at my block?! Better not be!

2010 WOTY

WOTY, or Word of the Year as some call it, is the single word that you hope to live by in the new year.

Happy New Year, by the way.

Some of my friends have chosen their word of the year for 2010 already.

Family. Perseverance. Growth. Genuine. Simplify.

My husband and I decided to be cutesy and match each other. He's taking Rest and I'm taking Relaxation.

What's your WOTY for 2010?

The above photo is from our afternoon visit to the De Young Museum. We could not help but visit the Amish Abstraction quilt exhibit again. It was even better the 2nd time around.

Wow what a holiday

I remember being younger and playing all day on Christmas.

Now that my husband and I are the hosts...it's hardly a day of rest for us. The prime rib was excellent this year, so it was definitely worth the elbow grease.

What was your favorite gift this year?

Mine was this.

It actually was not for me, it was from me for my husband.

We discovered padron peppers in our CSA this past year, and we are hooked. You fry them up in a bit of oil, throw some salt on them, and eat them like potato chips. If you have not had these, maybe you'll want to start growing them in your garden next year too.

Hope your holiday was filled with family and joy, as mine was.

Sometimes you feel like a nut, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T

To shake things up this holiday, we discovered quite by accident that our little one is highly allergic to nuts.

You can imagine how much fun we had in the ER with him and what a huge scare that was.

Come to find out that nuts are pretty much everywhere. So now what? Learning about how to find food that doesn't contain nuts, nut products, or food produced on equipment also used to process nuts.

Good times. Never a dull moment.

Ah, but so much to be thankful for this holiday season.

Having some time off work with my family is my #1 thing to be thankful this year, but having the kind of friends that will meet you in the emergency room, rescue your 4 yr old from having to hang out with the crazy folks in there so both you and your husband can stay there with the sick baby, and having those same friends bring you dinner later makes me realize how good we have it.

In other news, my friend Sharon gave me this totally insane and beautiful yarn ball for Christmas. I'm feeling a scarf coming on in the new year.