Spirit House Designs

Collaborative Work: Felt Pond Rug

2012-01-21T17:46:00.000-08:00

This year for our school's annual PTA Auction, my 4th grade students made their very own Felted Pond Rug to donate. It is a tradition for each class to create a piece of art to contribute for bidding every winter.

In the process, we all learned all about wool fibers, various methods of felting, and working together. Mrs. Herrera also earned credits towards her advanced degree in Patience.

The result is a 3' X 4' rug. We love it and hope it earns a bazillion dollars for our school.

Here are some close-ups and a slide show of the various stages that I managed to capture during our artsy rumpus. You are lucky there are this many pictures. 4th grade artists really know how to romp and I didn't have much of a chance to stand back and observe.

Sadly, the very best pictures feature my students and cannot be included here. You can imagine, though!

last day at the davis art center

2011-12-04T08:07:00.000-08:00

Helpful (and very tired) husband hiding in the back

pretty as a picture

2011-11-29T14:10:00.000-08:00

I can't get over these little soaps that are lining every flat surface in the studio right now.

best. gift. ever.

2011-11-26T14:40:00.000-08:00

If you teach elementary school, you are used to kid-gifts. You know, apple earrings, #1 Teacher mugs, etc.

There is nothing like the moment when they present you with their gift, that look in their faces saying, "Do you like it? Do you like me?"

The answer is always an overblown and over-dramatic "Yes!" I have been know to tear up.

So, imagine my glee when presented last Friday with this, out of the blue, during the last minutes of class. Best. Gift. Ever.

Necklace made entirely of former students. That I ate.

Honestly, I don't think I will ever get over it. I didn't overthink it, wonder why. I immediately donned it, wore it on the drive home, and then for the rest of the weekend. It made me feel like Kali.

Just switch out that head for a glass of wine and you get the picture.

And, frankly, I also felt a little bit like this. Wouldn't you? I think it was because I was on my way out the door for Thanksgiving vacation.

Mrs. Herrera's Felted Soap Kit

2011-11-25T10:46:00.000-08:00

OK, I am really excited about this!

There was enough clamoring about the felted soaps that I decided it was high time that I made a kit, so that everyone who wants to have a felting experience can give it a go.

I put my teacher hat on and created a kit that I dare say anyone, child (with minimal supervision) to adult (you know you want to) can use. Here it is!

Lookin' for adventure.

Inside you will find everything you need to create felted soaps that you can enjoy, or can be given as gifts. Here is a peek inside the box:

$25 each

two 4-oz. pieces of eco-friendly soap

wool roving

mini blue-bubble washboard

full color written instructions*

secret links to my very own video tutorials

In case you decide to go wild and create your own gifts this year for a lot of folks, I also have extra wool that I will be selling in bags, too. I think you (or someone you know) will have a great experience with these supplies.

$10 for enough wool to keep on going and going...

When you are done, you will have made your own unique gifts that look like this:

In case you just want the end result!

They will be available at both the Davis Art Center next weekend and at the MME PTA Gift Mart on the 10th of December (see details at left). You may pre-order and pick them up there, if you wish, and have the option of having your very own scents/colors hand-selected. Every cent of profit goes towards supporting the art center, the PTA and our adoption fund.

And it will be fun. Promise. I can't wait to see your creations and share the joy of making these little gifty guys. Hooray!

*Those are my husbands forearms in the photos. I do NOT have such hairy wrists. Come on!

whirlwind

2011-11-20T20:08:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone for coming out to the open studio! It was overwhelming to have so many well-wishers and shoppers in the backyard. The day was spent visiting and, in the end, Brad and I were left exhausted and deeply grateful.

I was reminded of how the little things we do in the world with our money and our time collectively add up. What a wonderful community we have.

Our little tree changed the night before and decided to really show off just for the guests. The sky was clear all day.

Showoff

The wind and rain kicked up after it was all over and the night left the street littered with leaves. Next stop, Davis Art Center Holiday Sale in December!


80 year-old trees don't mess around, either.

holiday huipiles

2011-11-18T11:37:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help myself and made (a few) repurposed huipil cushions. To me, they look like they fit right in with the holiday season and work as throw pillows or floor cushions to accommodate all of the extra folks who come over during this time of year.


These cushions also have great backsides!

A huipil is a Guatemalan tunic. Every Mayan village has its own weaving and embroidery tradition. You can often tell someones origins by their clothes if you go to the Guatemalan countryside.

Although women in particular enjoy trading and wearing patterns from neighboring villages, the origin of the designs are distinct.

An intact huipil.

A couple of years ago, I took a boat across the Lake Atitlan and visited several villages, soaking in the colors and rhythm of the different patterns. I was able to ask all of my questions as I collected samples.

Backstrap loom work

A typical huipil takes months to complete. One woman explained that her village had both weavers and embroiderers. The piece of cloth is first woven from fibers. Then, the embroiderer steps in. The additional embroidery can take months. Everything by hand. It is incredible.

$100 each, 10% off on the 19th!

The value of a huipil does not necessarily decrease with time. Patterns evolve over and vintage huipiles displaying long-forgotten patterns are highly prized.

Because they are made by hand, huipiles have all kinds of character right from the start. When they have too many holes, they are cut into smaller pieces and repurposed into all kinds of patchy things. Loved until the bitter end.

These huipil cushions are 25" X25", have invisible zippers, are fully lined, and have a dusky character that you just can't buy new at the mall. I can tell you each one's history! I only made seven this year and they will be made available at the open studio on November 19th.

an update and a giveaway

2011-11-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

So, back by popular demand...The (2011) Annual Adoption Update:

I get asked some of the same questions a lot. By "a lot" I mean several times a week, mainly because I work in a school setting and am surrounded by kids, and people who love kids, everyday.

These are questions from folks who mean well, but, well... answering some of these well-meaning questions can be painful. Something about having to look into their kind faces, who only want what we want and say, "No, sorry, no news yet" and feel like I am disappointing.
So, while I love talking about adoption in general... here are the answers to the questions that I don't enjoy talking about every week...

"How long have you been waiting? Why is it taking so long?"

As of this moment, we have been waiting for 27 months for a match.

We are at the “top” of the list, but adoption agency lists are not exactly chronological.

In addition to being up there, we also have to me the right match for the referrals that are sent to our agency each month. We are approved to adopt someone between the ages of 0-3. If a referral comes in for a 7-year-old who needs a family or who otherwise doesn't seem like a good match for us, we are passed.

Just keep sending positive thoughts our way!

"Wait! Are you adopting from Thailand or Taiwan?"

Taiwan.

Thailand experienced some major slowdowns within our program and we had to redo our paperwork and reapply elsewhere. We invested 15 months in Thailand and had to let it go.

Luckily, while we were sad and disappointed as a deep fear was realized, we knew what we wanted to do. We were able to reorganize quickly.

We are now in our agency's Taiwan program and it is a stable one. We have read many a book on Taiwan since that time, and have had a great time building background knowledge before we go.

"How much does it cost? Are you buying a baby?"

With all of the childcare, social workers, forms, and legal fees, I actually can't see how anyone is making much of a profit. Yet, $35,000 is not something your average public school teacher has sitting around the house.

So in summary, adoption is expensive and heart-wrenching! The bright news is that our friends, who are just a bit ahead of us in line, just went to Taiwan to pick up their daughter. And she is wonderful. Just seeing this little girl has given us the emotional boost we need to get out there and keep at it one more time.

I will be selling textiles again this holiday season in a variety of locations and there is also a giveaway going on- leave a comment here or at a recent interview on TGBTS and you will be automatically entered to win the giveaway scarf on November 19th. See TGBTS for details. Maybe by the next time you see me, I will have some great news to share.

But perhaps don’t ask again and again about it…just wait for my lead. I will tell you as soon as there is something to tell!

Oh, and, for fun, here was the 2010 update. Time is flying.. and also somehow standing still. Thanks for all of your support. I don't know how we would keep our chins up without you!

craftily undermining the man

2011-11-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

A co-worker showed me a holiday catalogue that had oodles of felted garlands and asked if I thought I could recreate one in particular.

Yep!

Love it when someone chooses handmade and local over the big guys.

lightning bug

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

I saw my first lightning bug in Myanmar.*

I was by myself, sleeping in a kuti, at a monastery about an hour outside Yangon. About halfway through a meditation retreat, I was feeling very alone.**

Seeing that little glowing light bounce through the open window was just wonderful. There is no other way to put it.

I think that if fireflies could meet these sweet flowers, they would become good friends, too.

These are for you, little lightning bugs!

A wild flash in the hair, or at your neck?

A little zip pinned to your handbag?

These flowers will be saved for those who come out on the 19th!

You can see other examples at www.aliciaherrera.com

All flower hairpins and brooches run about $25

* I now know that lightning bugs thrill pretty much the same wherever one is in the world. Isn't that nice?

** And, lest you get too noble an image, by "very alone" I mean that I was wide awake in the middle of the night, probably jittering at every jungle-y sound, wearing more than the recommended amount of DEET on my head, cowering under a mosquito net. Most likely clutching the tattered remnants of a contraband Snickers bar.

Just staying honest!

bookish distraction

2011-11-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

I saw an idea on how to repurpose old books and thought I would try it out. I also happened to have a smaller class size this year and thought I would use the extra space to make a cozy classroom library for this year's class.

I used every bit of an old picture dictionary from the 50’s to make a book cover for my teacher planner as well as lanterns for my new library.

The book came from a garage sale and was falling apart but still have many good pages inside. I used an extra-large hole punch to cut circles form those pages and then used Modge Podge to adhere them to regular paper lanterns.

For the book cover, I followed a version of this tutorial. You can find a tutorial on how to decorate lanterns here. It was all easy. Here are the results!

The materials.

Much more agreeable than my planer last year.

Finished product!

We've been using the lights to add ambiance.

Much-improved library.

c'mon, we're all doing it...

2011-11-03T05:19:00.000-07:00

Anyone can do The Pretzel Tie, don't be shy!

crushed

2011-11-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

My new favorite scarves are these silk lovelies:


Yum!

I wanted to create a luxurious scarf that could be worn all year long. Here it is. Silk is just an amazing fiber, as far as I am concerned.

The scarf is very light, has lots of texture, and many possibilities: wear it as a skinny scarf during the day or as a shawl during the night. It is extra-long so options abound.

Hand-painted with an artist brush and dye, the colors came out just stunning. The thermal-set pleats add dimension to the silk's natural sheen. These babies could be very elegant scarf/wraps yet also very funky, depending on how you wear them.

Paired with a flower pin.

A collection of silk scarves will be available at the open studio in November (see event details at left) and online, too. 100% of the profits will go toward the adoption fund. Hooray!


$50 (includes gift-wrapping and tax)

bluster

2011-11-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

Wowee!

I don't know about anyone else, but windy days like today make me want to pull a "Marilyn" once or twice. Or thrice.

funky

2011-10-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

on finally doing that thing

2011-10-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

I have always had a soft spot for accordion music.

So, I finally took up the accordion this summer. And by took up, I mean that I fell headfirst in love. I named my accordion. I open the case and even loved the smell wafting up at me. I missed my accordion when I went to work. I took my accordion on vacation with me.

You get the idea.

These last few months have also been a fascinating self-study of the learning process. As a teacher, I pulled out all of the old scaffolding tricks to try and get myself from Point A (not able to play the accordion) to Point B (make pleasing sounds come out of the thing).

I experienced the frustrations of reaching my limit and feeling the expanse between what I wanted to make myself do and what I actually could produce.

Humbled, my heart opened for my own 4^th grade students, who are expected to actively learn every day, regardless of their interest level and aptitude for any given subject.

As adults, we forget how hard this kind of work is. We get to build on solid foundational knowledge. We can cope. We can easily escape new experiences by being busy with all the things that Must Be Done.

Which is a big bummer because we cheat ourselves out of so much joy this way.

After falling in love, my next rational thought really was: Why did I wait so long to do this?!

Here is to lifelong learning and being brave enough to let 'er rip:

Here is how amazing La Noyee "should" sound:

All I can say is: I don’t care! This is so much fun!

All I can (kindly) ask is: What have you been holding out on?

down and dirty

2011-10-24T18:28:00.001-07:00

Just finished reading the best book!

The Dirt On Clean: An Unsanitized History, by Katherine Ashenburd, tells the story of baths and bathrooms through the centuries. It answered all of those historic hygiene questions that you wondered, but were afraid to ask.

The subject of clean has come up quite a bit in our house this season because I have been spending more than a few hours up to my elbows in hot water, crafting felted soaps for this season’s holiday-shopping madness.

Here is the visual:

Stocking stuffer? Better than a lump of coal!

These hand-made, cold-process soaps have been felted in wool. A kind of soap-and-washcloth-in-one.

The Upside of the Situation:

Wool has natural antifungal properties that will freshen and extend the life of the soap inside.

After the soap has been used, the casing can be repurposed as a pin cushion or slit open to insert a new soap.

Creamy lather and gentle exfoliation.

They are cute, inexpensive, and gifty.

Our whole house smells SO GOOD!

The Downside:

I only had enough time to make 150 soaps to felt this summer. Limited supply!

Even though they are only the size of a round bar of soap, they still take a lot of work to get them into their initial shape. I have the most muscle-y wrists I have ever had.
I spent so much time in the kitchen listening to the radio that I ran out of This American Life archives to stream. I now have to wait for them as they come each week. Boo!

adventures in felting

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

This summer, I did the math on how much wool I would need for this year. And I realized I would need a lot.

So, I started to look around for domestic, friendly farm sheep that sold their wool online and found a gentleman who was happy to facilitate such a thing. I love the internet!

Which led to the purchase of a 29-pound ball of wool. Yes, you heard that right. A big’un.

I felt absolutely giddy and filled with wonder at the idea of it. I mean, how big is that? How would it arrive? I had visions of sasquatchian fairies dancing in my head.

When I was a kid, an adult close to me would always talk about spending one’s money on frivolity as “blowing it all on gumballs.”

I knew that I would be making things to sell for our adoption fund with the wool, but still, getting to utter the words, “Yes…the 29-pounder,” gave me the gumball feeling.

When the ball arrived, it was smaller and more compact than I thought, but still thrilling.

I took him out to show off every time a guest came over, but for some reason, I neglected to take his picture until I had already started chipping away at him. I did, at least, remember to immediately write a thank-you note to the sheep.

Here he is, chillin’ on the couch with a bottle of delicious wine, for scale. At the time of this photo, he had already lost about 10 pounds, but you get the idea.


The elephant in the room.

I cannot wait for the holiday season to start!

If you are looking for a way to support the handmade movement (or adoption), then be sure to come over to the open studio on November 19th. Snacks and friendly souls await you. You can visit what is left of this guy!

facing forward

2011-07-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

For most of the world, holiday preparations happen, well, during the holiday season.

But alas, applications for art sales and holiday festivals are due during the summertime. This week was one of photo shoots, online portfolios, and anticipation of the months to come.

We are hoping to earn enough this go around to pay for the trip to pick up our baby. Two tickets over and three on the way back. And then there is the small matter of one more $9,000 payment. Keep your fingers crossed for "the call" that could be coming any month now that will match us with our child.

In the meantime, behold this beauty:

Flower hair ornaments coming soon! Well, soon enough.

the new website

2011-03-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

Two handbags are posted at www.aliciaherrera.com. I am still working on the site, but it is ready to be "functional." You can see my latest work, and if available, pay by PayPal and have your piece shipped to you. Hurray!

This is a huge step for someone who has been slow to take up technology every step of the way. I mean, I have never even sent a text message before. I still listen to cassette tapes. And I like it.

Come on over, these two cuties are waiting for you:

Flower Power- SOLD! Thanks S.V.!

Bamboo Gold $65

and the winner is...

2011-03-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

I was a bit slow to post the winner this time around. I can honestly say that concern over the current events in Japan, not to mention various aspects of my life, have kicked me back a couple of days. And rightfully so.*

Conrgats, Sharon! I cannot wait to see a picture of you with your new bag. I will be sending you an email with your handbag options. Have your pick and I will mail it right to your door.

In case you feel you've missed out, the rest will be put up on www.aliciaherrera.com for sale immediately after.

Thank you so much for the "friend"ing, the "like" ing, the pictures, and the emails, everyone. I appreciate you support!

* And stay tuned for an earful about the other things, too. It's coming your way.

sharing the love

2011-02-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

One of the unexpected thrills of selling textile creations this season has been seeing them around after the fact.

I have spotted people looking beautiful wearing their nuno felted scarves, flowers, and toting their handbags. I have also seen the occasional blog post or facebook picture with an item in it as well.

So, in an effort to capture some of those images, I have having a giveaway.

I would like to use some of this beautiful stuff to help build the new website www.aliciaherrera.com and the new Spirit House Designs facebook page.

5 ways to enter:

1. Become a "friend" of Spirit House Designs facebook page.

2. Send a photo to spirithousedesigns@gmail.com of you with a creation that I may post.

3. Tag a photo of yourself in facebook wearing a creation.

4. Become an official follower of this blog.

5. Share a written thought about your creation on the Spirit House Designs facebook page.

Enter as many times as you want, shameless people, I will count them all!

On March 12th, I will draw an entry and send the winner a handbag of their choosing from Spirit House Designs stock.

Still need some motivation? See Exhibit A. The Crazy Daisy is made from a 1950's fabric exterior, has a magnetic clasp closure and is fully lined with a pocket and internal key fob. This cutie could be yours!


The Crazy Daisy

cozy repurpose

2011-02-25T11:52:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I was able to finally get to a waiting project. With the current rain, this sunny afternoon sewing project is already a sweet memory.

Inspired by the idea to repurpose vintage linens, or at least find them at the thrift store, I have been collecting flat sheets that fit our duvet and match our bedroom for weeks.

I have a few fun vintage flat sheets and the idea is to make a closet-full of duvet covers by sewing them together to snugly fit over a comforter and have enough left over for pillowcases.

I finished the first one and am happy with the outcome. It was the easiest thing. Here is the step-by step:

First, find a sheet for both sides. In my case, I had an old, avocado duvet cover just waiting to be paired up with a cute sheet.

I separated the avocado "bottom" from the top and then found a thrift store sheet from Sears and Roebuck Co.

The width matched up perfectly and with a little seam-ripping outside in the winter sun, I had enough fabric for two pillowcases, too.

A little pinning, a little ironing, and it was ready to sew. Remember to put "right sides" together if this is your first project in a while!

Here is the final product, all stuffed and adorable.

Now I get to repeat this process with other fun sheets. The only bit of caution I have about this beginner's project is this: Be careful who you take with you when you select your sheets.

Let's just say I have one or two duvet covers in the works that I have mixed feeling about.

Yeah, yeah, I know what some of you are thinking. I guess I am lucky that I will get to cozy up with Han Solo.

But focus, people! It also means I have to snuggle up to Jabba the Hut. And that creepy little laughing guy, too.

(cue some creepy, rueful laughter here).

unlikely heartthrob

2011-02-13T16:28:00.000-08:00

Heartthrob: A pulsation of the heart; a heartbeat. 2. a. Sentimental or tender emotion. b. Infatuation. 3. a. A sweetheart. b. The object of one's infatuation.

Check. Check. And check. This weekend I happened upon the Weavers' Guild Open House at McKinley Park. Lucky I did!

There was weaving, yarn spinning and dyeing going on, and you could soak it all up for free.

Pulling people off the streets left and right. Everyone loves free.

There was all manner of stuff a happenin' in there.

Learn to make witchy, magical color out of common natural plants.

I signed up for a workshop on how to better understand natural dyes.

I got information on how to teach my 4th graders how to make a hand-woven basket called "The Wild Thing" and saw the tiniest Navajo rug ever.

Somewhere to rest your weary....toes?

There were spinners spinning all kinds of fibers and offering all and sundry a chance to try it out. This really interested me because I wrote a successful grant this year for the 4th grade to experience spinning wool on handmade drop spindles. I believe everyone should feel the power of creating thread and yarn. There is something about realizing what goes into the making of the fabric that we take for granted each day! It is both empowering and humbling.

Spinning is great fun. Birkenstocks not required.

...and I was (re) introduced to an old flame.

We first met one fine spring day in 1994 in Bodega Bay. It was the annual Fisherman's Festival in Bodega Bay. I was out with my family, strolling along the water when our eyes first met. He was sitting next the the spinning lady and she was spinning yarn directly from his fur to the wheel. I think I squealed. My life was changed.

Let me explain that I do not, nor ever have, considered myself a "cutesy" kind of gal. No offense, I just don't swing that way. But something about that dang rabbit motivated me to beg for a spinning wheel for Christmas. It was just amazing.

Are you ready for the visual? Let me explain that you are looking at what is a picture of a picture of a picture. I had to do this so your eyes won't bleed for the cuteness. I am trying to protect you.

A picture of a picture of a picture.

Think you are tough enough to handle it, immune to this crazy cuteness? So did I. Try this:

Proof that you don't need sight for love at first sight.

This gentleman couldn't take it and just grabbed a rabbit and got to work.

Whatever you do, don't Google "angora rabbit images". I am just saying, you could loose hours of your life you won't get back. Like, say, Saturday night from 9 PM to roughly midnight. I know. It is time for counseling.

I am having fantasies of owning a rabbit just so I can have one as a class pet during our spinning lessons. A class pet that I would *have* to bring home on weekends and vacations. That I would have to groom. And squeeze.

My husband says no. I think he is just jealous.

cheesy bastard

2011-01-23T20:21:00.000-08:00

This weekend's theme was rejuvenation ("self-care" as an admirable yoga teacher might say). I started out by going to a cheese class put on by neighborhood Taylor's Market. It was a holiday present, redeemable in cheesy French goodness.

The other thing happening in the Spirit House is also pretty cheesy. We are making a ruckus.

I applied for a recorder grant for the 4th grade and it was granted. So, a bit of time has been spent re-learning how to play this elementary school staple. It is a lot harder than I remember!

Although I am learning songs of historical importance for school ("Clementine", "I've Been Working on the Railroad", etc.), I will not stop before I master such classics as Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" and Madonna's "Like A Virgin". I find the thought of this hilarious.

I did say "we" are making a ruckus, didn't I? Look what the husband got for his birthday:

He has also been playing his heart out. I have been tinkering on it, too, and am midway through learning a simple version of a Monty Python tune. I am not saying which! I stumbled across the first few chords by accident and now am on my way. It is perfect for the ukulele.

The things we (all) do behind closed doors, huh? It helps with the adoption waiting game and also with the weather. What kinds of activities get YOU through the dark winter?

kotatsu!

2011-01-20T20:28:00.000-08:00

My husband and I lived in Japan from 2004-2006. One of our favorite things from our life during that time was the discovery of the kotatsu.

A kotatsu is essentially a coffee table with a heater under it. Yes, I wrote that correctly. It sits in the living room in front of a TV or by a sofa. The tabletop comes off in the winter and a luscious quilt can be placed under the top to trap the heat. It is like a combination of a bed and a table. Genius!

You can enjoy tangerines and sake while you watch sumo wresting matches. And reruns of The Brady Bunch. Dubbed in Japanese, no less.

When we first planned our move to Japan and were told of the kotatsu waiting for us in our furnished apartment, we could not understand why it even existed. Big whoop. A few months later, when the humid cold pushed through our flimsy, paper-like walls, we figured it out.

We learned fast that sleeping on the floor under the kotatsu sometimes is preferable to seeing your breath on the futon in the next room. We got sloppy and slept hours under there. Here is photographic evidence:

Shameless Kotatsu nap in progress, circa 2005

So, naturally, when we were packing up to move to California, we wanted to bring the thing on home, as impractical as the notion was. That thing had kept us alive.

Brad searched found the heater unit at a local home store and mailed it ahead to meet us in California. One of the first things we did during our first winter back home was convert a regular coffee table into our very own kotatsu.

You can deduce that we are pretty passionate about the subject. So, imagine our delight when we found a miniature dollhouse kotatsu in our local Japanese grocery store today. It even came with miniature tangerines. What are the chances!?

In the warmer months, just take the quilt off. See box.

Super-kawaii!

We brought it home for some hot kotatsu-on-kotatsu action. Does it get any better than this?!

Kotatsu-on-kotatsu. What were you expecting?

heading for the hills

2011-01-10T05:51:00.000-08:00

Where to next?

We love the north coast. My husband's family hails from Fort Bragg and we go up there a few times a year to visit. No complaints here!

This holiday season, we thought we would just keep on adrivin' and take a northern California road trip and enjoy Humboldt County. I wanted to walk on paths through the Avenue of the Redwoods and stay in Arcata for a spell. We both felt the need to stop at all of the cheesy roadside attractions we could, which in this case means The Legend of Bigfoot and Confusion Hill.

How could you not stop?

Wild beastie

We got drunk on natural beauty. Silly on slapdash Americana. It was refreshing.

A sense of scale for you

After we had our fill of Arcata's Community Forest, we turned right back around and drove down the coast to Jenner for a New Year celebration with friends in a little cabin nestled in the hillside. Friends and food and sheer heaven.

Look! The Stairway to Heaven!

Yes, it was wet and cold, but is was also so peaceful. Walking through those woods really is to walk in a holy place. The northern California coast is a great place to absorb beauty and inspiration and await a new year.

nobody puts baby in a corner

2011-01-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

OK, someone did. And it was fine.

I was in the very back room, in the very back of the Davis Art Center at the sale. You had to follow the sign that said "more vendors" and fight your way through a line-up of kids scratching to go into the kid's Secret Store. If you made it past this bottleneck and wandered to the back of the room (by the emergency exit) you would find Spirit House Designs.

It was my first time doing their Holiday Sale and I had the feeling when I arrived and saw my space that I just might be in the place where all of the newbies have to work at least once.

That said, people found me and it went really well! Brad was my helper throughout the whole thing and was able to hide comfortably behind a wall of scarves, doing the books.

Thank you to all who came out to support the arts and to buy handmade for the holidays! As a somewhat timid person, it was moving to see your faces emerge from the crowd. What a relief you were!

After all is said and done, I love the Davis Art Center that much more. The community is inspiring and special. I learned from the act of sharing stories about my work, and actually selling it and what that all means. I was glad to have the support of the artists at the center.

As for the event, the most thrilling part of it all was to see how beautiful people looked when they tried on the scarves. In the following weeks, I have seen people in the blogosphere and in real life (in multiple cities!) wearing my work. Even people I do not know. *gasp*

I didn't take many pictures of the event because I was so overwhelmed with the activity of it all. If you have a picture of yourself wearing a purse of a scarf, dust it off. Stay tuned for the next scarf giveaway. I am looking for pictures or comments from happy people to add to the blog later this week!

open studio

2011-01-08T17:10:00.000-08:00

Forgive me for the month-long break from blogging, please. After the presale, there was the actual holiday season and the Davis Art Center Holiday Sale. I was busier than I have ever been this year.

So, here is the presale, for those of you who missed it and wish to see a bit of the scene. It was the first time I have opened my studio like this and it was both amazing and overwhelming to have people from all areas of my life come over all at once and enjoy the art space.

I am so thankful for the turnout of neighbors and friends that came over for the first time. The weather was terrible that week and the sale fell during a few hours of reprieve. Divine intervention? I can't say, but it was divine. One of the trees was glowing with pleasure.

Here's that tree. He was really givin' it!

When it was all said and done, I had a good week to create some new pieces to "fill in the gaps" at the Davis Art Center Holiday Sale. I will definitely consider having an open studio sometime in 2011. It was too much fun!

thanksgiving hindsight

2010-11-30T09:10:00.000-08:00

I forgot about this Thanksgiving link. (Just click it!)

Still perfect for the upcoming holidays, I say. This letter comes to you straight from the beloved website Awkward Family Photos, which celebrates all manner of photographic and literary family awkwardness.

I've lost hours laughing and looking at photos on the site. Like you, I have had my fair share of family madness, and get a huge kick out of reading about some other poor soul's holiday stress.

Enjoy!!!

no time like the

2010-11-29T21:00:00.000-08:00

After realizing how flustered we got wrapping gifts at the presale, we have been experimenting with simpler wrapping options in preparation for the Davis Art Center Holiday Sale this weekend.

Brad ended up creating the best solution for a crowded craft fair with limited wrapping space. He used some antique Indonesian fabric block printers on brown bags that fit both the scarves and flowers perfectly. I love how they look. Right on, Brad!

After that, we took tiny swatches of Guatemalan huipiles and affixed them to rustic handmade paper cards. They will go well with any gift at the stall. I think they could be framed in a cute cluster together somewhere that needs a little bit of cheer. At least that is what I would do.

I will be at the sale allllll weekend. By all means come by, if only just to visit. I would love to see you!

wakame

2010-11-22T22:07:00.000-08:00

In Japan, I learned to love wakame. A particularly pretty green "vegetable of the sea" that is also delish in a steaming bowl of noodle soup.

In my hunger and admiration, I made some open, felted scarves that bear a bit of resemblance. I think they are playful and romantic. A forest in the ocean.

Do they make you think of this? I think the open design is fun and will lend a bit of art to a plain sweater. Brad says they make him think of Captain Cutler.

presale fun

2010-11-20T21:21:00.000-08:00

We have a winner! Thank you all for coming over (in dicey weather, no less) to the presale! Next stop, Davis Art Center Holiday Sale.

choices

2010-11-20T14:30:00.000-08:00

For breakfast, you can choose what we call in the Spirit House a Banana Milk.

Frozen banana, 1 cup of nonfat milk, and touch of homemade vanilla extract... all frothy and blended. About 200 calories and seriously good.

Or... you can choose this. Happy vacation everyone!

currents

2010-11-15T05:57:00.000-08:00

seasonal

2010-11-14T10:48:00.000-08:00

turn around

2010-11-13T21:57:00.000-08:00

...you have something on your back.

She thinks he is full of it.

He speaks the truth.

Apparently, too much felting is going on.

sweet little things

2010-11-13T10:37:00.000-08:00

These flowers are my own little labors of love from start to finish.

Made of hand dyed habotai silk and the softest merino wool, these artsy flowers then are nuno-felted, beaded, and needle-felted. Each flower comes with a brooch pin sewn to the back, but I think someone, somewhere should be wearing one of these in her hair.

Did I mention they are made with lots of love? Well, they are. Mwah!

some flirty fun

2010-11-11T01:20:00.000-08:00

Couldn't sleep and decided to sew. A lot.

Here are two new handbags, each partially made from some feminine fabric from the 1950's. The remainder of both handbags are classy charcoal wool. Both have internal pockets, magnetic clasps, and key fobs.

Oodles of Poodles

Purses range from $50-70 at the Davis Art Center

The inner hosts a shock of poodles. Surprise!

Crazy Daisy

Crazy Daisy has a charcoal wool inner and three crisp pleats.

Also, I have been making some nuno-felted flowers recently. Hand dyed, hand felted, and some are beaded. They can be used as brooches, hairpins, scarf pins, and look sweet on these new handbags, too.

Available at the Studio Presale on November 20th (just shoot me an email and I can pass on the address) and the Davis Art Center Holiday Sale, December 3rd-5th .
You can enter a drawing to win a scarf at the presale by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. And this one.

head over heels for huipiles

2010-11-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

Guatemala

Mayan textiles have drawn me back to Guatemala several times over the span of 15 years. We initially thought we would adopt from Guatemala because we love the people and traditions so dearly, but it was a connection not meant to be. Guatemala is currently closed to international adoptions while the system reorganizes in an attempt to meet Hague Convention requirements.

My love affair with Mayan textiles began with the huipil (whee-peel) .

A Huipil from Joyabaj.

This is what happened. While studying abroad in Costa Rica, I decided to use Guatemala for my visa run in the spring. I needed a place to explore for at least 72 hours in order to obtain my next 90-day stint and continue my studies until the end of the term. The flight was cheap and I was feeling gutsy. At 19, the thought of flying to a new place of my own volition was mind-blowing.

Anyway, this is how a lot of good things have started in my life. Openness holds hands with Risk and together they start egging me on.

I read I, Rigoberta Menchu, booked a flight, and went on to travel the typical tourist circuit. I walked the cobblestone streets of Antigua and the romance of the place virtually slapped me across the face.

There is nothing like the smell of all of that cold, dusty stone in the early morning. Hidden gardens slowly reclaim their heritage behind high stucco walls as vines climb up to the light, their weight crumbling anything in its way.

The small Mayan villages sprinkled around Lake Atitlan began the huipil affair. Every Mayan village has its own weaving and embroidery tradition. You can often tell a person’s origins by their clothes. Although women in particular enjoy trading and wearing patterns from neighboring villages, the origin of design is distinct. I took a boat across the lake and visited several villages, soaking in the colors and rhythm of the different patterns. Asking questions and collecting samples.

I learned that a typical huipil takes months to complete. One woman explained that her village had both weavers and embroiderers. The piece of cloth is first woven from hand-spun fibers. If it is a plain weave, it is often because an embroiderer will then step in. The additional embroidery can take months. Everything is done by hand. It is incredible.

A huipil is usually worn for a very long time. Decades, if possible. When an article of clothing is created with such care, it is not meant to fade out of fashion. Weavers were keen to show me the construction of the back strap loom, the abstract anthropomorphic designs, and, finally, the place where ladies swap and sell their old duds behind the main market.

Collectors of huipiles know that huipiles do not lose value with time, sometimes quite the opposite. Certain patterns are replaced in villages and then never seen again. Rediscovering an older pattern is a joy. When I think of what is essential a year’s works of weaving and embroidering on a relatively small piece of fabric, I get misty.

I went home with a few antique huipiles from that first trip and my head spinning with color. I was forever changed.

You can purchase floor cushions and handbags repurposed from precious huipiles at the Spirit House Designs Presale on November 20^th (please email me for details) for 10% off Holiday Sale prices and, of course, at the Davis Art Center Holiday Sale. $40 for the small ones up to $130 for the largest, most elaborate cushions. The big guys are fully lined, complete with invisible zipper for easy washing, as well as a plump pillow insert for artsy lounging.

I will gladly share the story of their former lives and just might shed a fond tear of farewell, should you be enthralled enough to take one home.

Remember that it is not too late to enter the drawing for a nuno felted scarf. You are automatically entered for leaving a comment here. You can also enter by leaving a comment here or here. Three comments equals three entries. Winner will be named to the November 20th Presale. You need not be present to win but I would love to see you there!

where did this teacher get her start? ( + a giveaway)

2010-10-31T19:24:00.000-07:00

I spend my days in a 4th grade classroom. Teaching, to me, is helping others learn and grow. Of course, what I bring to the profession is always influenced by my spiritual well-being and my artistic sensibility. I have always wanted to nurture. And boss people around. I was a bossy older sister.

Because of the bossiness, I misguidedly relished a goofy idea of teaching from a young age. I think at some point I developed what I call an Early Superhero Misunderstanding and this misunderstanding has (luckily) led to a career that I enjoy.

My parents were proponents of the kind of unstructured, creative play that just doesn’t happen enough nowadays. A thousand self-directed art projects. Also, PBS was the station on the tube, if television was to be watched at all.

MTV? They didn’t spring for cable television until after I left for college. For these reasons, my exposure to current pop culture was more limited than my peers.

My first kiddo record collection consisted of several Mr. Rogers soundtracks, the Mary Poppins Movie soundtrack, and the Slim Goodbody soundtrack (a PBS “superhero” who promoted sound nutrition and hygiene and such hits as “Big Boss Brain” and “Food is the Fuel”).

Beautiful on the inside, too.

I was given a Mr. Microphone and stereo speakers and left free to play with my younger brother in our living room for hours. We made radio shows. Some reader’s theater, but usually we played D.J. as we introduced one hit after another from our collection. Lots of dancing, costumes, and jumping on the sofa.

My big-time childhood superhero cast consisted of Mary Poppins, Mr. Rogers, Mother Teresa, Ghandi, and Maria from The Sound of Music. I know. I don’t think I was very fun at birthday parties.

I still think that if I wear sweaters like Fred Rogers, that I will be somehow "cool".

I remember when I first began to notice this Superhero Misunderstanding. Engaged in imaginative play in the street, neighborhood children would hiss, “’I’m Batman,” and pretend to drive away in the Batmobile, or “I’m Luke Skywalker,” and fight to the death with a willing Darth Vader.

I would holler, “I’m Mary Poppins,” give a teacherly nod of the chin and hold high my imaginary black umbrella.

As I floated away with said umbrella, I would wonder why they all didn’t find me sexy and impressively powerful. I was flying away to find children in need of a dose of whimsy, inspiration, and creativity. What was better than that?!

A total badass.

I have admired those who work with children since I was a child. Sharing the daylight hours with my students, learning and growing together, is something that challenges me to keep my heart soft with love. And they even pay me for this work, too.

Come on over and visit Teacher Goes Back To School. I am the featured teacher interview for November (Interview Part 1, Interview Part 2)!

If you leave a comment at the bottom of her interview or at the bottom of this blog post, you are automatically entered to win a nuno felted scarflette at the Spirit House Designs Presale on November 20th. You need not be present to win, but it would be great to see you!

You can also catch me at the Davis Art Center Holiday Sale on December 3-5th as well. Come by and visit!

curtain call

2010-10-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

Repurposing vintage textiles connects you with the past. Take the Curtain Handbag Series from Spirit House Designs. All are made from pristine curtain material from the early 1960's. These are drapes from roughly 60 years ago, folks!*

It is sometimes tough to know what to do with a piece of fabric after it has survived so long, but these curtain samples, still crisp and organized, were easy. I looked for inspiration where I could find it:

Scarlett knew a bit about ingenuity.

Maria pushed it to the limit. I mean, she really did.

I would just about die for a handful of that damask.

I made the first handbag, Vintage Wallflower, this summer and was hooked. I think you might find the fabric fascinating, too. Each is one of a kind, has internal pockets, a key fob, and a magnetic clasp. Each one is a little slice of sass from the past. Who knows what could happen with one of these purses at your side?

All will be available at the Davis Art Center's Holiday Sale and at the Spirit House Designs Presale on November 20th at the studio. Follow links for times and directions to Davis. Send a quick note and I will quietly pass on the details about the presale, where you can get the first peek as well as save 10% off holiday prices, which in the case of the Curtain Handbag Series range from 50-70 dollars at the DAC.

* Crass jokes about whether the drapes match the carpet will not be tolerated. Okay, yes they will.

oh, sweet sweatshop

2010-10-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

I know my sense of humor is a bit warped. I often joke with colleagues about turning my 4th grade class into a sweatshop when our annual weaving lesson rolls around. There is something just so thrilling about seeing the output when a room full of people, filled with energy, are channeled into a single textile task.

Well, the bossy-teacher-would-be sweatshop-manager got a version of her wish last weekend. And no children were harmed in the making of these scarves.

Several family and friend volunteered to join me in a 3-day Scarf-a-thon. There is a stage in the creation of the felted scarves called "agitation" where each scarf is rolled about 1,500 times. It is tiring and anyone can do it and my loved ones showed up to do just that. I was able to stick to the business of designing without having my arms fall off.

Some of the guys tried interesting innovations.

I know, it actually worked, sorta (tutorial to come)!

I was able to create and enjoy the company of some funny, generous people that I am fortunate to have in my life. It was silly and left me feeling more grateful than any Thanksgiving, let me tell you. Thank you, my Scarflettes!

And, in all of the suds, sweat, and fumbling, I could have sworn I heard one of the Scarflettes call another an "ascot".

Indeed.

scarf season, already?

2010-10-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

the (real) update

2010-09-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

It has been over a year since we started the official adoption process. Here we are on the day, last August, when we realized we were going to go for it. For reals. Yikes, ham sandwich picture!

Naturally, as I returned from summer break, drove the cobwebs out of my classroom, and prepared for the new school year, my coworkers began asking for updates. After all, we hadn't seen each other all summer so it was worth a check-in.

Others out there must be feeling time weighing on them, too, because we have had at least a dozen questions that fall into the "update" category in the last month or so from well-meaning people in our lives.

So here it is, The Official Update:

Nothing, officially. As a friend in the adoption community put it, we are just finishing our first trimester of this paper pregnancy. That's right. Our home study, fingerprints, and U.S Customs and Homeland Security documents will expire soon (good for one year) and we will have to refresh the lot. Not as much work as the first time, but still effort and expense.

And then we will wait some more. We may have to refresh them one more time before this thing is seen through. So brace and pace yourselves, folks. International adoption is not for the faint of heart, nor for those seeking instant gratification. We will have a longer gestation period than an elephant.

The cost of adoption is still a concern. Ultimately, it costs about one annual teacher take-home salary to do this. Not easy!

Now, what I call The Real Update:

We have made friends, with people that we really like, who are also in the adoption community. They make the waiting easier. Some will be bringing home their child a bit before us and we are looking forward to creating a supportive community with them for our families.

We have read books, lots of books. So far, my personal favorite has been Toddler Adoption: The Weaver's Craft by Mary Hopkins-Best. Out of the library of books on the subject, this one struck just the right tone for me. Honest and reasonably optimistic. And it didn't hurt that she used the imagery of weaving throughout the book to represent the creation of family (fabric) out of many differing elements (fibers).

I am learning how to blog. About art, life, and adoption. I am reading about other people's adoption experiences on their blogs as well.

We both have kicked our creativity into high gear and are more awake in our daily lives than ever.

Finally, as we went through the first year of this experience, we were surrounded and supported by family and friends who have offered to help us with their time, their words, and their money to push us on our way. It has been one of the most touching experiences of our lives.

Anyway, those our our two updates. I know that many people are very interested in the Official Update, but I, for one, am absolutely astounded by the Real Update.

seeing it through

2010-09-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

A sneek peek at some new nuno-felted scarves, coming soon to an art center holiday sale near you. These are truly handmade. They began as bits of white fluffs of wool roving and white habotai silk. Excuse the lighting!

on the line

2010-09-27T19:57:00.000-07:00

Just a preview of what sometimes happens in the backyard. By sometimes, I mean twice. But more to come, as this is really only the first step in nuno felting:

Here she is, all pleased. "What shall I make with all of these pretty, pretty things...?" she wonders.

All the while, of course, not knowing that she has given herself a steam burn from hot vinegar, in the shape of these g** d*** goggles. Live and learn!

4 hops forward, 1 hop back

2010-09-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

This has been quite the summer for shoe thrifting. 5 "new" pairs of shoes!

I used to think that finding vintage shoes in my (larger) size was a rarity. Now, I am just starting to take it for granted. This has been back-to school shopping at its sweetest. Behold, the 4 pairs of comfortable, vintage shoe majesty, walking your way:

And then there is this pair. The boots I am starting to regret just a bit. They are a size too large, but since I wanted a boot in a style (kind of) like this, I convinced myself that I can just wear 2 pairs of socks and go ahead with them. Methinks I was deluding myself.

Not to mention, someone pointed out to me that these are probably men's boots. Shoot. They say "Made in Brazil size 10 1/2" in the neck. I am sliding around quite a bit in here. They might be 3-sockers, if there even is such a thing. I may need to pass these babies on to a larger-footed friend. A man friend. What do you think?

poll by twiigs.com

oh, happy day!

2010-09-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th, Bradley Bear! On this day 4 years ago, we had just committed to move home from Japan and to a marriage to each other. Already it has been quite an adventure. I am so glad we get to share this wild life.

shock wave

2010-09-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

This is the device on which I listen to music. No, I am not being ironic or living in a retro dreamworld. I am the original owner of this Shock Wave and was never quite convinced that moving on to CDs would be worth it. Would this new trend last? How would you stop and listen to that one line you like over and over and over again without replaying the whole dang song? How long before the next big thing, anyway? Was it a passing fancy? Oh, surely it will break some day and that will be the sign to move on...

My students have no idea what cassette tapes even are. Good thing my husband feels otherwise about keeping up with technology or I would have missed out on quite a bit of good, new music.

Excuse me, I'm going out for a walk and to listen to some Peter Gabriel, he's busy Shaking the Tree.

etsy and regretsy

2010-09-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

Back up a few years. The idea came to me in the shower, as all the best ideas do. Everyone had been wearing breezy summer dresses over blue jeans. The look was bohemian and funky and I wanted in. This look suited my inner style.

I was on the “husky” side, however, and layering a dress over jeans would cause a host of related problems. First, when trying out this combo at home, the dresses were suddenly on the tight side (in conjunction with the jeans) and would then ride up as I walked. I was left constantly fighting my own skirt. Second was the general bulk issue. My middle was less than flattered by wearing both a dress and jeans. Let's face it, the Michelin Tire Man came to mind. Third, well, do you need a third?

So, as I shampooed, the idea of making the legwarmers came to me, mid scrub. Eureka! I could cut off a pair of jeans and just wear the legs along with a dress. Find some way to keep them up other than garter belts or duct tape. Pure genius.

I could make them cute, too. I would sew little corsets on the backs to keep them aloft and put fun trims on the hems, or even dangling balls down the side, sort of mariachi-style. I wouldn’t hide the fact that they were legwarmers, in other words. I could be creative and have a similar look, only no bulk and I would be inspiration for all of my crafty friends, too.

So, I set to work and made about 10 pairs of these things. Totally unique, no two alike. And then....well, I never wore them in public. My first audience (said crafty friends) came over and saw my creations. They smiled a bit too wide and I just knew. My big idea had taken me down a goofy, gawd-awful path. These babies would never see the light of day.

Creativity takes courage. Sometimes it is the idea itself, sometimes the doing, sometimes it is the living with what has been created. You can find all manner of creativity on the website etsy.com. Take a gander and get inspired. Visit my little shop, while you are at it.

You can also visit the often hilarious, sometimes just plain gross blog regretsy.com and see what maybe should never have seen the light of day. This blogger pulls items that are for sale off of etsy.com and offers a bit of commentary. Most people who enjoy making things can relate to regretsy's tagline "what happens when DIY meets WTF..."

Enjoy!

taking it back a step

2010-09-05T11:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend was Stage I for a new project. I enjoy nuno felting and have, until now, have had help with the initial dyeing of the pieces of silk. I would start with pre-dyed blank pieces of silk and go on from there. You can find a 4-part tutorial on how to get started here. It will at least give you an idea of how these scarves come about. The final pieces look something like this:

I’ve wanted to claim the initial dyeing part of the process for myself for some time and have been reading all about dyeing silk and wool fibers. I highly recommend this book as a place to start.

This desire led to the purchase of 22 yards of white silk, both gauze and habotai. White silk that needed to be washed and dried before it was dyed.

Let me tell you, 22 yards is really long! Just the washing and drying was quite a task.

Next weekend, I will dye all of this silk and let you know how it turns out... the preparation of 44 yards was quite enough for now. Oh, and if I ever tell you that I plan to start raising silkworms in the backyard to take the process all the way back, please do an intervention.

an inkling

2010-08-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

Brad was digging a trench yesterday for some new sprinklers and struck something. It wasn’t a pipe, either.

It was an old ink bottle, c. 1915-1930, from the Higgins Ink Company, Brooklyn, N.Y. The dropper was broken by the shovel, but the rest was fine. Can you believe it?

We had to do a bit of internet research to learn all about antique ink bottles. There actually is quite a bit to learn out there. We were especially curious about this bottle, as our neighborhood has a long and diverse past.

Our house was built in 1926, but the oldest homes in this part of town started going up around 1904. Before this time, our neighborhood was the trash dump for what was then downtown Sacramento, c. 1849-1900-ish. For this reason, we specifically wanted to know if we had found a bottle that was owned by an early settler or some such character.

See how fun?! After our research, I have an inkling that one of the first owners of this home somehow buried the bottle in the backyard or otherwise forgot about it.

What a sweet treasure!

gettin' schooled

2010-08-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

Due to persistent and loving blog readers, the etsy shop is now out of "vacation mode" and running again for the few items available.

That said, I am going back to school tomorrow and feel a bit bruised from the preparation. Nothing new is up at the shop, but more will be coming soon, both online and at an upcoming holiday sale in Davis.

Good luck, all of you noble teachers out there. I am thinking of you all tonight.

64th annual japanese food and cultural bazaar

2010-08-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year! For those of you who haven't lived in Japan, here is the equation:

Summer+Japan = Street Festivals

The traditional attire in Japan involves wearing a yukata and geta but you can always come as you are and enjoy family, lanterns, parades and food just the same.

Yukata, for those of you who are in this for the textiles, are just like kimono, but made of lightweight cotton, meant for the sticky-hot summer months.

When Brad and I were about a year-and-a-half into our stay in Japan, we got engaged. When it came time to wed, summer festivals were in full swing and we already had the get-ups, so we wed summer festival-style in our yukata and geta and enjoyed warm weather and outdoor eating with all who attended.

Now that we live in Sacramento, we look forward to the 64th Annual Japanese Buddhist Church Bazaar, which is amazingly only walking distance from our home. Convenient, right? It is this weekend, too! We get to have our Japan summer festival fix and reminisce. You are welcome to join us (and a gazillion other festival-goers) tomorrow.

The Japanese Buddhist Church in Sacramento has a fascinating place in US history, by the way, as many members have had family that spent time in internment camps in WWII. This is a resilient, enduring part of our community that we all have the opportunity to appreciate.

Brad and I feel so so fortunate that we happened to move back to the States from Japan so close to a location where we can foster relationships and continue investing in good global vibes. We feel at home here in part because of this community!

Think, people: paper fans, taiko drumming, sweating, yakisoba, gyoza.....ooooh, can't wait!

See you there!

in honor of groovy crochet

2010-08-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

When I first began learning crochet, I stumbled upon a website called Groovy Crochet. It was a testament to the 60's and 70's and had printable patterns for just about everything that was crochet-able from that time period. It was some individual's little love child, a site made for fun that sold absolutely nothing. It just shared patterns and celebrated an era.

You could find images and inspiration for making everything. Likely things, like afghans. Unlikely things, like swimsuits that could not possibly offer any nipple coverage. And pantsuits with titles like "The Gypsy Crochet Thing." Needless to say, I had an absolute blast on the site, downloading patterns and discovering how to crochet in a vintage way. I felt as if I was a bit of living history while I worked.

The first thing that I make was this. It was really easy!

The discovery of this site was what initially got me onto the internet. Before Groovy Crochet, I didn't use email or even have a cell phone. I think now that it was a bit odd how I was ushered into the age of technology by a website about the 60s.

Anyway, one day I visited to find a banner stretched across the home page: "Groovy Crochet has been hacked by porn! We will try to remedy the problem and resume as soon as possible." And that was the end of that. Perhaps it was too upsetting, perhaps the hacking was too tricky to remove for the site manager. The site closed.

Now, obviously there is nothing funny about ruining someone's website, but even though I was very sad that the website died, every time I checked back to to see if the site had reopened (it never fully did as far as I know, just as archives, semi-functional) I would chuckle at the announcement.

It just looked funny to me in print. How gawd-awful to open up your crochet website and see anything but. And what an unlikely marriage. I never saw the offending photos so maybe that makes it sound sillier than it actually was.

So, in the spirit of Groovy Crochet and the free textile lovin' (not unwelcome dirty pictures), I would like to share what I can of what is left of Groovy Crochet. It seems to be existing, just partially active. But for those of you who crochet, the patterns are oldies, printable, and free.

Happy hooking!

past baggage

2010-08-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

Picked up this lovely couple at Thrift Town and they have been merry-making in our kitchen all summer.

Methinks they look like they may have developed a bit of a drinking problem, though this might be nothing new. Maybe they came with their habits in the first place.

It is hard to say. Old things come with a past. Who am I to judge?

It could just be all about the company they keep. They have to sit next to these guys, night and day. Mariachi music does tend to encourage.

blushing

2010-08-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

We were pretty dang busy this spring and didn't get our tomatoes in on time. The weather in California was also unusually cool and so I thought (hoped) that I wouldn't have really lost much time...if I planted Early Girls a month or so late. That would work out, right?

Well, they grew sky high this year and so far have been over-loaded with green tomatoes. Green torture for weeks. I think this is the first summer where I ever regretted a smidge of a break from the triple-digit heat that is pervasive in our valley at this time of the year. That's what I get for trying to force Mother Nature to do anything unnatural. For shame.

Finally, the first of our girls are starting to blush. Maybe I won't have to find 1001 fried green tomato recipes after all.

when I grew up...

2010-07-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

...I wanted to be a Solid Gold Dancer. Do you remember that TV show, "Solid Gold", with the sexy dancers in spandex?

I think this photo was from my dad's birthday party. Clearly, the 80's. Look at the pink flamingo, the "Your Name Here" font on the t-shirt, and there were obviously birthday balloons happening. Because I was no Dolly Parton in 3rd grade.

Anyway, I recently discovered a website called Awkward Family Photos and I have been happily losing whole hours of my life cruising around it this summer. It is an entire site (and book) devoted to photos like this one, with captions that make me laugh out loud.

If you need an uplift, visit here.... or you can always just stuff some balloons down your leotard.

Enjoy!

true colors

2010-07-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

The color of something greatly influences my state of mind. Purchasing choices like home décor and clothing are affected by this mood. I want to feel cozy and warm in my home so I have a lot of spice colors; saffron, burnt sienna, paprika, nutmeg, and mustard abound. I tend to wear colors in clothing that fall into the this color palette when I have the choice.

I remember when I was a girl, my mother and I got into this argument about color one time in the car on the way home from shopping for jr. high back-to-school clothes at Ross. I wanted to know if blue or red looked better on me, as I was trying to figure out what my look was going to be for the upcoming school year and create a coordinated wardrobe. I asked. She said, “It depends on what kind of blue and what kind of red.” This pretty much sent me over my 12-year-old edge. Preteen tears ensued, I felt so misunderstood. What in the world did she mean, anyway?

Well, we were not able to talk about it anymore that day, but she picked up a copy of the 1980's bestseller Color Me Beautiful, by Carole Jackson, soon after and slipped it under my bedroom door. I don’t remember, but most likely I was just on the other side of that door, sitting on a towel, secretly trying to figure out how to use Nair. I read that book cover to cover. Inside were four “seasons” of colors and, depending on a person’s skin tone, eye, and hair color, different palettes suited best. Right on.

Really, when a girl is between the ages of 11-14, just slip the book under the door and walk away. There is no talking to this girl. Mom knew it, got the last word, and I read an entire book about color. Sweet move, mom.

So, as I sew away all day for myself and others, I wonder: What are your colors? Leave a comment and let me know!

yet, i'm not feeling this "circle" thing

2010-07-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning to the sound of our car alarm wailing. It took a while to sink in...was it really ours?

I mean, we have only flinched at every car alarm we ever have heard in the last decade, our ears perking up like spoiled lapdogs. Each time we would wonder if it was our car making that awful noise, peek out at the street through the curtains, only to find out that it was someone else's. Then we would proceed to go from worried to annoyed in about a half a second.

Anyway, our time had finally come. Rushed outside in or PJ's to discover that our window was smashed and someone had broken in. Had the opportunity to experience that confusion when you wonder what the sequence of responses should be in such a situation. You know, police report, take pictures, insurance claim, repair shop, and do we still own that Dustbuster, anyway? This kind of thinking.

Of course the repairs will cost just pennies below our deductible.

Of course, I had to climb a densely-branched phone tree for 45 minutes to discover this fact.

Of course, I got to listen to plenty of muzak, interrupted by 30-second commercials for the insurance company that I already use.

This gave me much time to ponder the effectiveness of my insurance company's various advertising campaigns. One commercial actually made me laugh out loud. Bit o' feedback for you, company: The "Circle of Dependability of Car Repair Shops" campaign isn't going to take off.

It is not that "....the Circle of Dependability is not available in all States....". It is that all I could think about was that scene in the movie Meet the Parents where Robert DeNiro tells Ben Stiller that he is now entering the family's "Circle of Trust" as he draws an imaginary circle with his index fingers in the air before them.

I don't need a circle of anything, just a window, please! And maybe a mental scrub brush to clean my head out so I have brain space for some good vibes and creativity today. Nothing like starting off the day feeling like some middle-class peon stuck in some ~~cycle of insurance samsara~~ circle of dependability to get the juices flowing...

meet hannah

2010-07-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

A knowing friend of mine introduced me to Hannah. She is a textile artist and creative spirit. She designs silk-screened clothing and prints. Her skirts are my favorite.

I love her style and sense of visual humor. It is not exactly my own, but I can sure identify with her crazed thriftiness. And her shack wackiness. And those mushrooms. Does this kitsch inspire you to follow your unique creative impulses, too?