LaLaLovelies: DIY for Social Change

Yummy Homemade Tortilla Soup

2010-07-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

I just ate another bowl of the awesomely delicious chicken tortilla soup I made the other day and thought I might share it. I am very proud of myself, as I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. Enjoy!

LaLa's Homemade Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:
olive oil
chicken breasts
chicken stock (I usually use the boxed, free range/organic kind, which equals out to about six cups)
water
minced garlic
chopped calabacitas (yellow and green)
chopped tomatoes
chopped onion
chopped carrots
kidney beans
chopped hot green chile & green chile sauce (505 brand is the best!)
blue corn tortilla strips/chips
salt and pepper to taste

** quantities vary according to how many folks you'll serve (plus I'm pretty free form when it comes to quantities when cooking my own stuff, otherwise I follow recipes to a “t”)

How to:
1. Sauté the garlic in olive oil until lightly browned, add the chopped onions and sauté until translucent.

2. Add the carrots and calabacitas and cook until they begin to soften (roughly 7 mins)

3. Add the tomatoes and kidney beans, cook a bit longer (about 3-4 more minutes), stirring frequently

4. Add the chicken stock, water, green chile sauce and green chile. Cover and cook on low heat for 20 mins, stirring occasionally. The reason I used the green chile sauce was because: one, I love the flavor of the one 505 makes and two, I was feeling somewhat lazy and didn’t want to make my own slurry – which I sometimes muck up because I’m too impatient to let it develop before I add more to whatever soup I’m cooking. The sauce gave the soup the perfect consistency and it was super easy! I added some chopped hot green chile just add a bit more to the “heft” of the soup and some additional flavor.

5. Put in the fridge over night. Letting almost any soup sit over night really helps to develop the flavors, I've found. It never tastes quite as good as it does the next day, or the next.

6. When you’re ready to heat up the soup for dinner, prep your bowl by crushing some blue or yellow corn tortilla chips in the bottom of the bowl (you can fry/bake your own tortilla strips, but I was running out of time preparing for my guests). Top with a heaping portion of soup and lots and lots of cheese on top!

7. Enjoy with a Mexican beer!!

Yummy Moroccan Vegetable Tajine

2010-01-20T21:00:00.000-08:00

We are having a good friend over for dinner tomorrow night, so I thought I'd pull out one of the best recipes I've ever made - Moroccan Stew!! Enjoy!

Moroccan Vegetable Tajine

1 ½ cups of chopped onions

3 garlic cloves

1/3 cup of olive oil

1 tsp dried thyme

3 cups cubed potatoes

1 cup chopped green beans

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 cups cubed fresh tomatoes

3 cups of vegetable stock (I substitute chicken stock because it usually makes it taste so much better)

13 ounce can of (marinated - tastes better, trust me!) artichoke hearts

½ cup of pitted black olives, halved

Pinch of saffron

¼ cup of lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

*************************

1. Sautee the onions and the garlic in the olive oil until the onions are translucent;

2. Add the thyme, potatoes, green beans, bell pepper, and tomatoes on high heat for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally;

3. Add the stock and brine from the artichokes and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes until the veggies are tender;

4. Add black olives and artichoke hearts and cook for another 10 minutes;

5. Remove from heat, add salt and pepper to taste and the juice of half a lemon.

And, voila! I find that the best to enjoy the stew is to make it the night before, refrigerate it and then heat it up right before serving.

I love to serve this stew with a warm, fresh loaf of olive bread and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir.

*Thanks to Moosewood Cookbook for this kick ass recipe! And a special thanks to Big Al for gifting me with the cookbook years ago. I had just gotten back from a visit to the Bay Area and had eaten at Masawa on Haight Street and came home absolutely in love with Ethiopian food. After hearing me rant and rave, Alyson gave me the cookbook to encourage my new passion for cooking and for African food in general. Thanks, Big Al!

Presenting the 2009 Solstice Crew

2009-11-08T19:29:00.001-08:00

SHOW YOU: Meet the 2009 Solstice Crew!

I am moving back home this year, right smack dab in the middle of the winter holiday season, so I thought I'd get a jump on making some new additions to the Solstice Tree decorations.

Over the last couple of years, I have been making an effort to add some hand made decorations to the tree every year. And while posting this, I began to think of the very first Solstice Tree I ever put up in an apartment I lived in since being an adult living away from my mom... and remembered buying ornaments for a tree with my roommate, Jaime.

(Pic: Solstice Owl)

We were dirt poor, but both of us had a penchant for nostalgia and decided we'd find some ornaments and get a tree, that would dress up the basement apartment we lived in. We went to the dollar store and stocked up on Santa heads and glitter balls, etc. I still have the glitter balls and some of the Santa heads and they remind me of what it's like to be out on your own, trying to reconnect with those feelings of warmth, love and celebration that being with your family gives you, particularly during the holidays.

And what that then reminds me of is the kind of life I've led so far in my 33 years. During my childhood, we moved a lot because of my mom's job. I guess that sort of stuck when I struck out on my own, because I've lived in quite a few states and numerous apartments. And while the separation from those I love is really hard, particularly because they are now spread out across the country, I have come to realize that the greatest gift my mom has bestowed on me is the ability to find family wherever I am.

(Pic: Solstice Puss)

I have an expanded view of what it means to family. I don't think it really has much to do with biology, at its very core, although that's a very interesting part of what makes us related. But what I find more indicative of familial ties is the love that binds people together, no matter what race we are, what our backgrounds are, what our hobbies are - if we love each other that's enough to make us family. At least that's enough for me. (Pic: Solstice Birdie)

So this holiday season, while I am deeply saddened that I don't get to be around my biological family, I do get to be around other members of my family. I am going to sing the loudest, most heartfelt praises to the Goddess for blessing me with the most beautiful, amazing family one person could ever hope for. You know who you are! Blessed be! (Pic: Solstice Tortuga)

(Pic: Solstice Ristra)

Crafting for the Climate!

2009-10-24T13:49:00.001-07:00

Today is the International Day of Climate Action!

People in 181 countries are coming together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. At over 5,200 events around the world, people gathered to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis.

For all those haters out there who claim that climate change is a hoax, a lie perpetrated by liberal radicals, I have a question for you - even if climate change isn't due entirely to human impact, what would it hurt to use less energy? To buy food and other goods locally to reduce our carbon footprint and rise in rates of asthma of communities that live near our transportation channels? To give some more thought to development projects that harm ecosystems and the biodiversity that makes life on this planet such that it is today? To continue to harness the innovative human spirit to develop cleaner, smarter technologies? What would any of that harm? Why are you so afraid of moving forward?

I'm personally working to increase awareness and reduce our impact on the planet, not because I believe in some naive notion of "simpler times," but because I believe that we can move forward in ways that will ensure that the absolute awesomeness of this planet is preserved. That we can do this while simultaneously evolving the way of life of all species in positive and profoundly meaningful ways. I am doing this for the children I will someday have. They need a safe place to live, and as their parent, I am going to work hard to ensure that's possible. I am doing this for the children of ally communities. I'm doing it because I care.

Check out 350.org for more information! Be active in your community, even if it's only in small ways. Every action has an impact. Make sure yours is positive and life affirming!

Love Birds and Upcycled Sweater

2009-10-17T17:14:00.001-07:00

SHOW YOU: Love Birds Thread Painting & Upcycled Angora Sweater

Love Birds for Sarah and Stan's wedding, 9/26/09

I've known Sarah and Stan for about four years now, befriending them when we all worked together at Rainforest Action Network. They weren't together when we all first met, but soon realized they were a match made in heaven, and now they're married! I thought I'd continue my exploration of thread painting on artist canvas. I found both of the elements separately (birds and branch), but used a light box to trace them onto the artist canvas (you can buy sheets of it in a notebook from the art store, super cheap!) with pencil. Reflecting back, I will probably use colored pencil to trace the next image I use because the pencil smudged really easily, although it was nice to be able to erase a line if I wanted to change it mid-embroidering. Something to think about...

After completing the embroidery, I custom-made the inside mat with some beautiful card stock I have, then added the red mat and framed it. I normally don't put glass over my work because I enjoy the depth and dimension not putting art behind glass adds. But artist canvas gets dirty so easily, I decided to use the glass to protect the surface for a longer period of time. I think it turned out very well!

Upcycled Angora Sweater for Weezie's Birthday, 10/8/09

I've known Weezie since we were in high school at Cibola in Albuquerque. I love her so very much and count her as one of my best friends. She is one of those rare friends, that love and encourages you to be exactly who are, no apologies. I appreciate and love her friendship and count it as one of the core blessings of my life.

So for her birthday this year, I decided to upcycle an amazing thrift store find, an angora sweater in a beautiful soft grey. I'd unintentionally felted (accidentally put it into the washer, without even thinking!?!) it on the first wash. Instead of throwing it away, I used the neck of the turtleneck for a neck warmer project I did about a year ago. Then, I decided to upcycle the sweater's main body. I used a blanket stitch to frame the sweater's opening and neck. This was an easy and quick project and I love it. Even though it shrunk during the accidental felting, Louisa has a small frame, so it fits her like a glove and it's still so incredibly soft - perfect!!!

I love crafting! Especially, for my friends. Simply put, it makes me so happy!!

Fall Blossoms

2009-10-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

HOW TO: Wool Flower Pins

Wanna show-and-tell you about a quick and easy project I did last weekend, Wool Flower Pins.

All you need to do this super easy project is:
- beautiful buttons (I used some sorta pricey buttons I bought from Britex Fabrics in SF ages ago but never used; they are stained wood); it helps if the buttons have a shape reminiscent of petals, but not necessary.
- wool yarn
- crochet needle, size 5.50 for chunkier stitches
- felt
- needle and thread of similar color to your wool yarn
- glue gun
- pin

Here's how to make them:
1. Crochet a very simple and basic chain stitch, leaving about two inches of yarn at the beginning of your stitch; stitch about 8 inches; knot off and leave about two inches of yarn hanging off of the end.

2. Using your needle and thread, start to layer your crocheted stitch on top of itself and sew together; you can either go in a circle as I've done with one of the periwinkle flower pins, or you can do a more chaotic, random layering as I've done with the other two pictured above; make sure you end the layering by threading the end of the chain stitch down through the middle of the flower, so that you end up with the two extra ends hanging below your flower, next to one another (sort of like the stems of the flower).

3. Insert the two "stems" of the flower through the button holes and tie a firm knot, clip the ends of the yarn off so that you have two small pieces left.

4. Heat up your glue gun. In the meantime, cut a piece of felt that will cover the yarn knot on the back of the button, but not extend beyond the edge of the button. Additionally, cut out a small heart or other shape to glue over the pin backing; I do this so that it's prettier on the back of the pin and you don't have to see ugly glue poking through the holes on the pin.

5. Once the glue gun is ready, spread glue on the larger piece of felt and place over the knot, pressing firmly for a couple of seconds to ensure all corners are securely stuck to the button. Next, spread glue on the back of the pin, place on the felt tab, press firmly. Once the pin is secure, but before the glue cools, press the smaller, cover piece of felt on it and press firmly to secure.

6. Let your pin dry for about 12 hours to ensure that it's definitely secure. And enjoy!

Thread Painting on Card Stock

2009-09-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

SHOW YOU: Thread Painting on Card Stock

For a while now I have been interested in embroidering on things other than fabric, so I took a short adventure into the world of thread painting (aka embroidery) on paper. Turned out great, but I don't think overall I love this medium for my art. I prefer something with a little give, with some more texture and flexibility when it comes to mounting/displaying it. But here are a few things I created with card stock and embroidery thread, and other things....

I love this Father's Day card I made for my papi this year. The image is hand drawn by me and the binding for the card is a twig I found while walking through the lovely neighborhood I work in down near Berkeley's 4th Street area.

This second image is a card I made for my Grandma Dot (full image and close up). Her 86th birthday was this year and she is still spunky, beautiful and full of life! The image is also hand drawn by me.

Finally, this is a very special gift I made for one of my favorite redheads, Sarah O. I love her so much, we've been friends for so long and I thought I'd try something new as a birthday gift this year. The image is hand drawn by me, on card stock. The frame is stained and adorned with twigs from a deconstructed wreath I bought at the craft store a while ago. I also tried something new, by coloring in the some of the "white space" with colored pencils, which I thought added a little bit more substance to the image. I finished it with a hand carved message on the frame.

Even though the paper was fun and although I don't love using it, what I did enjoy through the experience of doing these three projects was the exploration of making something with so many different variables. I liked mixing up the elements, making it 3D and including natural elements. I've since moved on to embroidering on artist's canvas and it is my favorite medium by far. A little sneak peak of a project I'm working on right now...

Bad Ass Babe!

2009-09-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

SHOW YOU: Bad Ass Babe Thread Painting

This won't be a how-to post, but instead a quickie show-you post. I have been so busy, and involved with killing bird mites that got into our house about two months ago, so I've been unable to really craft the way I would like to. But I am finally again working on some great projects, which are of course presents for people, so I can't post updates on them until they are received.

This project was a quickie I made for my bestie, Jason. He's been doing drag for many years now and only ripens, gets sweeter and more glamorous with every passing year. He does drag as a form of art and he is magnificent at it. He is, hands down, one of the most beautiful drag queens I know of and I am so proud to support his creativity.

Anyway, Jason, aka Veronica Fake when in drag, had a really kick ass wig a long time ago that was dark hair with bangs and this image reminded me of that wig. And I LOVED when Veronica wore that hair, particularly because of her Hispanic background, the dark hair just frames her face and skin beautifully. So, when I purchased Sublime Stitching's Mitch O'Connell series, I knew I had to make something for Jason in honor of Veronica.

It started as an idea to make it into a little clutch Veronica could carry when she went out at night. But then time passed, two years in fact, and I finally realized I just needed to get it out of storage and finally gift Jason with it. So, this year for his birthday I finally framed the image. I love it!

Easy Like Sunday Morning - One Hour Crocheted Necklace

2009-08-02T15:57:00.000-07:00

HOW TO: Silky Soft Crochet Necklace

I love to crochet. I think it's way easier than knitting. Although I will say, I'm not a master at either, gaining just enough knowledge of both to do the basics, which I then use as additions to other projects. So, you see, I'm not a Sweater Knitter or anything that awesomely complex. I'm more a of a Scarf Knitter/Crocheter - row after simple row after simple row... I enjoy the less complicated, straight-forward act of knitting and crocheting, more as a practice of meditation and stress relief.

So, using the most basic skills necessary for crocheting, I created a necklace that took me about one hour (a little less 'cause I'm pretty fast at crocheting and sewing). Here's how...

One Hour Crocheted Necklace

Materials:
Super soft yarn
3.75 MM crochet needle
Scissors
Buttons
Large sewing needle (with a large eye)

Time:
1 hour or less

1. Chain stitch a single row, about 20 inches long (or however long you'd like your necklace). Make this number of stitches divisible by three (you'll see why at the end).

2. Begin chain stitching the second row, stitching only four stitches. This is going to be the little scallop on the necklace, so if you want them to be bigger, stitch a few more.

3. Count over three stitches on your first row and stitch the little loop into the third stitch. You made a little scalloped loop!

4. Stitch four more stitches, count three on the first row, stitch into the third one. Repeat until you reach the end of the necklace. Because you stitched your first row a number divisible by 3, you should reach the end with no excess stitches left over.

5. Tie off the ends. Now you should have a naked, scalloped necklace!

6. Next you're going to add the buttons. Thread your large-eyed needle with some of the yarn and sew on buttons wherever you would like embellishment. I love these beautiful abalone buttons!

7. It just so happens that I found this deep mauve-colored button in my button drawer that was a perfect match with the yarn and the perfect size to slip into the scallop loops. I secured this one to the end of the necklace. This button fits perfectly into the last scallop loop on the opposite end, serving as the necklace clasp.

You could use beads also, if you don't want to use buttons, anything you can secure to the necklace using needle and thread.

Enjoy!

Reclaimed Angora Neck Warmer

2009-07-28T22:08:00.001-07:00

HOW TO: Reclaimed Angora Neck Warmer

The San Francisco Bay Area is unseasonably cold during the summer months - instead basking in warmth during the Spring and Fall seasons. So, because of the chilly weather of late, I thought about a project I did a while ago that I love, but have yet to share.

I bought the most beautiful Angora wool turtle neck sweater last year at the thrift store and wouldn't you know it, the very first time I washed it (before I wore it) I shrunk it!?! I was so upset, even though I had only spent $7.00 on it. I have never been able to afford real Angora before and this sweater was so nice, so I was heart broken. But I was determined to not let it be a total waste. I decided it was perfect for turning into a cozy neck warmer!

I've made a few of these in the past, but they've always been knitted and crocheted, and always gifts for friends and loved ones.

I figured since it was Angora wool and I had effectively "felted" the material by washing it, so it wasn't going to un-wind if I cut it. So, here goes....

Super Easy, Up-cycled Angora Neck Warmer

Materials:
-old turtleneck sweater made of wool, already shrunk or pre-shrunk
-scissors
-crochet needle
-yarn
-needle and thread
- buttons

Time: Depending on how quickly you crochet and sew, this can be an hour long project.

1. If you have an old, unwearable wool sweater and it's not yet shrunken, wash it in the hottest water setting possible on your washing machine. Make sure to utilize the energy and water you're using running a hot wash cycle by throwing in some other things that would BENEFIT from the hot wash - effectively killing two birds with one stone.

2. Once the sweater is dry, very carefully cut the neck off of the sweater, keeping as close to the seam as possible. Then, cut the turtle neck in half, top to bottom, creating the "seam" you'll use for the opening of the neck warmer.

3. Chain stitch your yarn, checking regularly to make sure it is the length of the entire border of the turtleneck. Be sure to chain stitch some extra length for your button loops.

4. Use a large-eyed needle to sew the chain stitched yarn onto the entire outside border of the turtleneck, using the same yarn, which effectively "hides" these stitches. When you get to the front of the opening, where you'll eventually sew on buttons, sew loops into your border that will fit over your buttons.

5. Sew the buttons on to the opposite side of the opening that you stitched the loops on to. Make sure to line up the buttons to the loops so they are even when you are wearing your neck warmer.

6. You're done! Enjoy the coziness!

You didn't think I was going to waste the rest of the sweater did you? ;) Stay tuned, I'm either going to create a trim for that and turn it into a sweater for one of my toothpick-thin friends (hee hee) or I'll make it into the softest pillow ever adorned with crewl work, which I've always wanted to learn how to do.

Home Made, Recycled-Content Cat Toy

2009-07-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

HOW TO: Recycled-Content Cat Toy
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am OBSESSED with my cats. I love them. I am 33 and don't have children yet, so all of my motherly-instinctive love goes to my two furballs, Shea and Kalyana-mitta.

While I don't like to throw things away, I am a huge proponent of giving things to Goodwill that are no longer useful in my house - one person's trash is another person's treasure (as the old adage goes). BUT, before I give anything away, I always keep it a bit and ponder what might be done with it, what useful thing could I make it into.... not all of these endeavors to turn "trash into treasure" are successful, but this project takes the cake for longevity and enjoyment!

Here's directions for making a Home Made Catnip Toy for your pussy!

Materials:
-used plastic bags
-umbrella cover or an old sock (you know, that one missing a mate, stolen by that wily Laundry Monster we all run into on occassion)
-copious amounts of catnip
-needle and thread
Time: Depending on how quickly you sew, this could take you anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes.

1. Take that weird umbrella sleeve-thingy you get with a new umbrella that you never use (!), or an old sock. If you're using the sock, cut the sock just above the ankle (where it curves as it leads into the foot area of the sock), essentially cutting the sock in half. You'll be using the leg portion of the sock, not the foot.

2. Cut the used plastic bags in half. I used about two plastic bags for the toy I made using the umbrella sleeve. I used one used plastic bag for an old sock.

3. If using a sock, sew up one end of the sock with the needle and thread. This isn't a beauty contest, so just sew it so that it's a tight, straight stitch and the catnip can't wiggle its way out.

4. Pour some cat nip into the umbrella sleeve or sewn-up-sock.

5. Krinkle the plastic bag and stuff it into the umbrella sleeve or sewn-up-sock.

6. Add more catnip, then plastic bag, and so on, until the sleeve or sock is stuffed full of both.

7. Sew up the open end of the sleeve or sock and, viola, you've got yourself a recycled-content, home made cat nip toy!

8. Tease your cat with it and watch them work themselves into a cat nip coma!

Enjoy!*

*These will eventually become covered in drool and dirt (if they play with them on the floor), so they will need to eventually be thrown out and you'll need to make a new one. The black-with-multi-colored-circles toy pictured above is about 4 years old. The cats still love it and because of the material (umbrella sleeve) it's far outlasted the old socks. But the socks hold their own as well, lasting at least a year or more.

2009-07-22T21:02:00.001-07:00

It's been a long time and I won't go on about that.... except to say that I have been working really hard for the past two years for a non-profit in all of my spare time, plus another job. I've been too busy to really blog about all of the work that I've done on my crafting. As well as getting married to my partner of 11 years (this year in August) last year. But now I'm feeling some real space to record and talk about the work that I'm doing of late.

I'm a typical Gemini in that I get bored pretty quickly with just one style of crafting, so I'm usually into multiple projects at one time, including aromatherapy and embroidery, or embroidery and knitting, or embroidery and cooking(!), embroidery and stitching, etc. And as I play with each form of creative expression, I continually seek to change it up, to keep it interesting. So, I'm back in the game and I'm going to be updating the blog more to share my passion as expressed through crafts.

So to start us off... here's some mixed media projects I've completed recently. In particular, I was fascinated with the idea of embroidering on canvas, but realized the potential problems with that process, so I came up with an idea of embroidering on fabric, glue it to canvas and then disguising it somehow. The results....

This was a gift for friends for their wedding. It is a hand-drawn pattern embroidered on fabric, stretched canvas, oil paint, dried flowers and a deconstructed-wicker wreath.

This is my gift to my amazing mother. Again, a hand-drawn pattern embroidered on fabric, stretched canvas, acrylic paint, dried lavender and violets. I love my mom!

Kalyana has the secret to life...

2007-11-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

I'm not even gonna go there on how long it's been since I blogged last. I did that in my last post and sadly, it's the same situation this time. I have been so busy I can't even believe it. And it's not even the good kind of busy, my friend. It's the kind where life is going by way too fast. It's the kind of busy where I'm trying to open new doors and simultaneously close old ones. It's the kind of busy where I'm so excited about the things that are surely in store for me, but still deeply entrenched in the things I currently have committed to- waiting anxiously for them to end.

I really wish I had Kalyana-mitta's attitude; if I did, life might seem a bit more do-able right now. (Could she be any cuter!?!?!?!)

All the while, I'm trying to remain centered and focused on the things that are meaningful to me. Unfortunately two of my favorite things have had to take a back seat to this mania I find myself mired in- crafting (gasp! I know!!??!!) and working out. Although, somehow I have managed to make a few things, yet all of my bigger projects have been put on hold (Sarah-bug and Jay, I haven't forgotten about your presents, I swear!). Recently, I got to thank the universe that two people humped years ago and, voila! Louisa was brought into the world and eventually into my life! I love her so much and happily made her a couple of things for her birthday - a shirt I found in a garage sale that I added a beautiful melon-colored lavender-esque flower to and a bookmark of 'shrooms. I like both things and think they turned out perfectly for one of my very best friends. Happy birthday, Weezie, I couldn't do this thing called life without you in it, sister!

I think this blogging thing is also going to remain one of the unfortunate victims of the pace of my life for the next couple of months, but I'm gonna try to minimize the trauma as much as I can. I really do enjoy this blog and the fact that it lets me share the things I love to do. I'll be sure to post regular updates on the closing doors and newly opened ones as they happen...

2007-09-09T14:16:00.001-07:00

OMG, it's been so long since I've blogged!!! I can't believe how time flies and how much I'm doing right now - or at least attempting to do! :) It's been crazy! I started a two week long paid vacation in mid-August and in the middle of that, Chris and I left for 'Burque for a week long visit with friends and family. Ever since we got back, life's been flying by! A little too fast if you ask me.

But I have lots to share today! Check it out, a little photo montage of the past couple weeks:

The big beautiful Nuevo Mexico sky! I love it! This shot is of the mesa on the drive up to Durango from 'Burque, where we went to visit Chris' parents.

We spent the evening after dinner sitting outside on Chris' parents property enjoying the gorgeous Durango sunset. Later, the stars came out and it was amazingly beautiful. I don't think I've seen the Milky Way so clearly, it was breathtaking.

The whole time we were back in 'Burque, we spent every single minute with our friends, sipping cocktails on patios, catching up, meeting new babies, visiting with growing children and planning for the future. It was so perfect! (This is me & one of my loves, Drew!)

Chris' dad finally gave us a treasure I've been waiting for for so long - pictures of the family. This one is one of my favorites. It's Chris' paternal grandmother, when they lived in Cyprus (where Chris' dad was born). I think it's lovely. I wish I could have met her.

Then my mom came to visit! She spoiled me rotten! :) It was so nice to see her and hang out. This shot is from the day we climbed the Filbert steps to see the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower. The climb is steep but so beautiful, and if you are ever in SF, it's so worth the effort!

Shortly after I got home, I got a great box full of presents from India and Thailand from one of my bff's, Sarah-bug! She recently returned to the States after being abroad for two years, teaching English in Hiroshima, Japan and traveling around India and Thailand's beaches. These are the cute little wooden sandals she got me. I strung them with pretty black ribbon and now they are hanging on my wall. I love them!

Sarah-bug also made sure I felt like an Indian princess by outfitting me with an arm full of beautiful bracelets! I love the tinkling sound they make! Although, in all honesty, I don't really wear them all at the same time, it's too intense!

I love scarves, they are one of my very favorite accessories. So I was delighted to find a beautiful red scarf in Sarah-bug's treasures, along with the coolest gift of all - a bindi kit. The little metal things are stamps, you dip them in vaseline and then in whatever color powder and stamp them on your forehead. I love rocking bindis and so to have a traditional kit is freakin' awesome! Plus the colors are great!

Then, Bug got me this cute beaded belt!

Lastly, I found that bug had gifted me with the cutest little lunch set I've ever seen! It's an Asian tupperware set, so it's super styley and it even comes with an adorable set of chop sticks. The bag's inside is lined with insulation so your food either stays cold or warm. Cute!

Despite all of my craziness the past couple of weeks, I have actually done some crafting (although definitely not as much as I would have liked!). I know you've seen this Kurt Halsey embroidery on a jacket I've done before, but I saw this shirt in my closet and knew it needed a little something to jazz it up. Since it's so filmy and soft, I couldn't imagine anything else on it but Kurt's adorable angel and bird. I love it and have worn the shirt more now than ever before!

I've also got some birthday presents in the works (Seriously, I feel like I'm destined to be forever working on birthday gifts!?!?), but obviously I can't show those for the time being. They'll make their debut soon! Keep checking back!

Last thing for today, I hope that everyone is enjoying the weather changes that the fall brings. And I hope your summers were relaxing and refreshed your energy for the coming fall and winter months ahead. I know I'm looking forward to them! :)

Sindee mania!!!!!

2007-08-05T22:12:00.001-07:00

It was my sister's birthday on July 23rd, and yet again, I am late sending out her birthday presents. For me this year, it's been a real test of endurance to get presents out on time. I guess it's a worthwhile problem to have - (too!?!) many people I love enough to make something special for. This year I went all out for my sister though, making four things I thought she could use and would love.

A dish towel proclaiming the goodness of veggies, because she has started cooking more frequently in the last year or so.

A make up bag out of cool oil cloth I found a while back (and knew one day would have a great project to use it). The picture it's sitting next to is one that she painted a couple of years ago for me for the holidays.

A felt bookmark, because she is one of my favorite sweetie chickens and also loves to read. I love it and want to make myself one now! (The book underneath the bookmark is Zadie Smith's On Beauty; I especially love her book, White Teeth. Hands down, one of the funniest books I've ever read!)

And finally, I made another felt mascot. But a cutesy little squirrel or some other benign little animal wouldn't do for my sister. So I thought a skunk would be more fitting. And I love her! She's so cute, and yet could unleash a stink on you you wouldn't soon forget! :) I love it and I really hope my sister loves her too!

My sister and I have a pretty unique relationship. We are actually cousins. My aunt adopted me when I was really young and so my cousin and I grew up together as sisters. We are pretty much the same age, only one month separates our birthdays. So yeah, pretty much twins. Mom even dressed us like twins often. Growing up with a sibling the same age was a blessing and a challenge. It was great to have someone to navigate puberty and the trials of figuring out who you are with, but it could also be a great challenge to figure all that out with someone else right next to you also fighting to figure all that stuff out with. But we are at a stage that I really love now, we are close and love one another more than each could ever explain. I know she is there for me no matter what. And as we move through life, I know that we will always have one another and that makes me feel incredibly secure, loved and truly blessed. She is one of my best friends in the whole world and I cherish every memory of our childhood and look forward to the milestones we will cross together! (Love you, seestar!)

Before I go - today is my 9 year anniversary!!!! I am thrilled! I've been telling everyone today, I'm shameless, I know! We spent all day together, nothing out of the ordinary, but it was bliss. I am more in love today that I have ever been. I am so blessed to have Chris in my life and hope our next 9 years are as exciting, loving and full of joy as the past 9 have been. I love you, Chris!

Fandango!

2007-07-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been too long since I've blogged - I've been thinking about it everyday, but haven't been able to put my latest stuff up because all of it has been made for people's birthdays and other celebrations. Which of course, because I've been so busy and sort of backed up on presents, means that I make them late, then have to wait until I've sent them to be able to post them and talk about them. But finally, I can show off my latest endeavor with embroidery.

My most recent gift was inspired by a beautiful art piece Chris and I got for our friends Jesse and Anita for their wedding present last year. It was a metal piece made in Latin America (I can't remember exactly where) of the joyous fandango image. I love the idea of that image as a celebratory symbol of a marriage and the hope that a wedding inspires in it's participants. One of my oldest friends from high school, Katie, who I love very much got married earlier this year and unfortunately because of time and too much on my plate, I never got to make her a gift for her wedding. But I had always had it in my mind that I would get around to doing something for her. So I found one of my Sublime Stitching patterns of the fandango wedding image and made Katie and John's present. I hope they like it and I hope it blesses their home and marriage so that they are "together forever!"

But I don't just want to talk about my work here. I also want to use this blog as a place where I can share the craftiness of my friends too. So, to that end....

My neighbor, Darlene is amazing at knitting and crocheting and recently finished this piece that she made for her mother's birthday. It is such delicate work and I am absolutely in awe of her patience and skill. I especially love the feelings it inspires in me to look at this piece. I don't know many people who had really crafty women in their families. Growing up I knew plenty of people whose families were "artists," but not "crafters." But my family is chock full of them.

When I was young and was living with my grandparents for a time, my grandmother had a sewing room in the basement and my grandfather had a workshop in the garage. Grandpa would cut out wood squares and rectangles for me to glue together to make birdhouses while he worked and Grandma was always either sewing something or painting something. Eventually they moved to Florida, built another home from the ground up and started a small business called Our Place, which were beautifully crafted wood pieces, including puzzles, clocks, toys and boxes. They toured around craft fairs throughout the South and did pretty well.

Anyway, the women in my grandmother's family were all crafters of some kind or anther: knitting, crocheting, tatting, embroidery, etc. My mom inherited a huge store of great and great, great grandmothers' and aunts' doilies. I have inherited a bunch of them and really see them as art pieces to be cherished.

I think the women in my family were so talented and I am incredibly thankful that I got whatever gene is responsible for love of crafting, which I am sure I inherited from all of them. To see the care and love that Darlene put into her mother's doily make my heart sing because of the craft, but also because it invokes nostalgic feelings and feelings of pride in women who do this kind of art, like the women in my family. And Darlene, who I am so lucky to live next to. She's such a wonderful woman, not only because of her craftiness, but because of who she is as a person. I just adore her, simply put.

Sweetie Chicken!

2007-07-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

So, I'm well known for the nickname that I have for most everyone that I come into contact with - chicken. And for those that I especially love and adore, the term transforms into Sweetie Chicken.

I'm afraid to say that Sweetie Chicken is not a creation of my own, rather it was something Lori used to say all of the time. Lori is the amazing woman that I used to nanny for in high school. I adored watching her love her pets, just as I have always loved mine. We are kindred spirits that way. She is from New York and has the thick accent to prove it, and is a knock out beauty. Wearing lipstick never stopped her from planting big, fat smooches on all of her pets - which of course meant there was ALWAYS evidence of Lori loving everyone that lived in the house, including husband, child, pets and the babysitter! Anyway, I could go on about her (I simply adore her more than I could ever really convey with words), but to the point - she used to have a beautiful Siamese kitty named Davey and I will never forget watching her love him in particular, saying "There you are Davey, my little sweetie chicken! Come here you, sweetie chicken, you!" and then she would plaster the top of his little kitty head with lipstick kisses. And he loved every minute of it. It was a joy to watch.

Eventually I moved away and was no longer an active part of the family anymore, but I suppose something unconscious in me wanted to keep Lori and my love for her family alive by adopting the "Sweetie Chicken" term and it's stuck ever since... we have since reunited and now Lori and her family have met my partner and are absolutely in love with him, as we both are with them. Their daughter I used to nanny has grown into a beautiful young woman and I am so excited to see the things she will do in this world. They are, hands down, some of our favorite people in the world.

Which brings me to the point of this post, which is, I call lots of people Chicken at work and many folks, even after working with me for so long, still don't get it - but some do. And one of those people is Jocelyn. I adore her. She's great. I love how level headed and calm she is and she has the loveliest smile and contagious laugh. Her birthday passed recently and I wanted to make her something, but I wanted it to be something that she would use.
So...

I thought I would delve into the world of eyeglass cases. It's the first one I've ever made. It was made in honor of her being one of my favorite Sweetie Chickens in my life right now. I like how it turned out, I hope she gets lots of miles out of it. I might have to experiment with these some more...

And I should mention that the book the case is sitting on is something I asked for, for Christmas this year, Craftivity: 40 Projects for the DIY Lifestyle. It's an awesome book full of kick ass projects. I held craft night at my house earlier this spring and had a bunch of women from work come over. I picked bleach stencil shirts from Craftivity for the night's project. I tried it out first and found that the directions didn't work for me, rather using a Clorox bleach pen was a lot easier and allowed me to improvise whatever design I initially had in mind once I started to "draw" on the shirt. The picture below is of one of my best girlfriends, Jodie, and her design from that night.

Foggy San Fran crafting

2007-07-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

So, it's the summer here in San Francisco, which means a strange blend of winter weather and passive sweaty heat (meaning if you walk outside, you should wear a sweater or light jacket, but expect to sweat your ass off while being chilly - which annoyingly happens to me a lot since I walk everywhere!?!). This is the view of our beautiful back yard from our living room window. Beyond the building to the right of the window, you can usually see Sutro Tower atop Twin Peaks, just behind Buena Vista Park. The back yard view makes up for the fact that we live on very busy Fell Street. We are so lucky to live in the back of the building with such a lovely backyard serving as our regular view. I love laying on the couch and just staring out of the windows, so relaxing...

I wanted to share my latest endeavor, an embroidered jacket. I bought a very plain, blindingly white used Forever 21 jacket at Crossroads Trading Co. on Haight Street the other day and thought there must be the perfect embroidery pattern out there waiting to embellish and perk up this blase jacket. All I have to say is believe in the cliche "Ask and you shall receive!" because a couple of days later I received an email from my favorite embroidery queen, Jenny Hart at Sublime Stitching, announcing the arrival of new patterns, including an artist series featuring Kurt Halsey. I was instantly enamored for a couple of reasons: 1. his art is kick ass and cute, and 2. he is a dude! I love chicks but am so excited to see a male presence in the predominantly femme world of craft (although his art is not exclusively made for crafting, I love that he is lending his talents to the craft world).

So check it out! I love it and can't wait to wear it tomorrow!

A brand new space for a brand new start

2007-07-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

I know I promised myself I would do all kinds of projects this weekend, but I got a bit distracted... and am so glad I did! On Saturday morning I decided that I needed to revamp my crafting space in order to maximize my potential and creativity, so I hit up ZipCar to reserve a ride for the trek across the Bay Bridge to IKEA. I got a great organizing box with 9 drawers for stashing stuff. The very best thing about the box is that it is unfinished wood, so not only does it provide great organizing, it's also a project in itself! Anyway, with a few other goodies I couldn't resist at IKEA, we headed back home to the city and I dove into organizing and rearranging my space.

I love it now! It's so wonderful and I feel so good sitting at it. The best part is that it's a mixed space - part altar, part craft center. Perfect! I can feel it now - many a wonderful thing will be crafted here!

During the process of pouring through all of my craft supplies, I came upon all of my business cards I used to get when I subscribed to Marie Kare's The Sampler (which I need to start doing again!). And this started me thinking how my obsession with crafting came to be...

When we first moved to the Bay Area, we knew lots of people, but we were getting used to being somewhere new and this promoted a bit of a nesting phenomenon, which lead to me trying to figure out how best to use my time at home. I started making purses. I can't believe I had never done it before that moment, but that was really the beginning of the serious crafting (while I was in college, I was so into my studies that I never really gave crafting the time it deserved so it never developed fully.) The purses eventually gave way to felt pins. I found out about a craft fair going on in Oakland and I thought, what would it hurt if I rented a table and tried to sell some of my pins? The craft fair was being sponsored by Rock Paper Scissors Collective. When I got there, before I even finished putting up all of my pins on my display board, I was mauled by a bunch of women ooo-ing and ahhh-ing over my stuff! It blew my mind! One of the women was Marie Kare, who had a small boutique called Mini Mart on Telegraph Ave, right down the street from UC Berkeley. She asked me if I wanted to sell my stuff there and I said sure, having no idea what I was in for! It was great, I spent a summer making stuff to sell at the store and all usually sold out immediately. Marie encouraged me to raise my prices a bit, and the woman who owned the larger store Mini Mart was located in wanted me to make things for her new store she was opening up... but the pressure got to me and I dropped out of the loop....BUT NOW I'M BACK! And I'm so excited!

So, moral of this story is, okay, well it's a couple of things: 1. do what you love and if it continues to offer doors to open, open the friggin' doors, sister! Don't run! 2. Marie rocks and Mini Mart turned into The Sampler, which kicks ass! and 3. Rock Paper Scissors is amazing and is the kind of model that all craft people should be uniting under to create healthy communities. I love them and want to get more involved with them. Check both of these projects out, you won't be disappointed, I promise!

Felt mascots and button pendants!

2007-07-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

So with my surge of energy for crafting back in full swing (wow, I feel more like me again, amazing!) I did a tiny bit of shopping on Haight Street last weekend and picked up a few supplies I knew I needed, but also found some new treasures. I picked up two books and an embroidery stitch guide. One of the books is by Aranzi Aronzo books called The Cute Book. It's really.... cute! And it's got great ideas for making little felt mascots. It's great because of all of my experience with making felt pins; I never thought to make the things I did into 3D creations and since getting this book my brain's been brewing some new ideas beyond what's in the book. I've already tried my hand at one of their ideas, the squirrel, and then I re-made one of my old favorites into a mascot, the blue whale. I love them!If you have any suggestions, you should pass them along!

I also saw in another book (which I didn't buy this time) the idea of putting small embroidered designs onto buttons. So, I gave that project a whirl too. I don't know how I feel about them.... they are cute, but there's something missing with these. I'll have to think more on them to give them that extra "something" that will make them too cute!
This weekend, I'm looking forward to going to Ikea to get a few things to make my crafty corner a bit more easy to deal with, settling in to learn some new embroidery stitches, crafty up a sweater I bought the other day and make an apron! Putting that all out there makes me so glad it's Friday! Just one day closer to heaven!

Remember, send me your ideas for mascots! I want to hear your thoughts!

Crafty cooking!

2007-07-07T16:46:00.001-07:00

I first started cooking 'like an adult' when I was in college and living in the second place where I lived alone. I loved my apartment, the complex was known as the Gay Melrose Place of Albuquerque - and being there lived up to that reputation every day! At the time, I had a second job at Wild Oats and got a great discount, so grocery shopping became really fun while I worked there. I was usually so excited about pay day so that I could shop and finally purchase the things I had been eye-ing for weeks. I did a lot of exploration during that time. My friend, Big Al, bought me the Moosewood Cookbook and then it was really on! My favorite meal to cook was Moroccan Stew (vegetable tagine), which I would cook while drinking a beer and listening to Moroccan music. Ah, the joys of living alone... that was a little bit of heaven for me.

Since December I've been getting Real Simple magazine; it was a Christmas present from my friend Weezie. I wasn't really sure what to expect from this magazine, because I had never had a subscription to it. But I have been so pleasantly surprised. I especially love the recipes. And I love the change the recipes have had on my life, as well as the effect they have had on Chris and my life as a couple.

As an individual, I've used the recipes as a chance to take a breather and basically meditate in the middle of my day. My routine has now become: come home after work, turn on NPR (I love Fresh Air with Terry Gross, Counter Spin, As It Happens and the Tavis Smiley Show), open the recipe book and decide which one I'm going to make that night. What I love about cooking is that sense that this is the one time in my life when I don't have to make the decisions - yeah, I'm that kind of cook. I'm not creative, I don't taste something and think, 'that needs...' like Chris can. My creativity and courage doesn't infiltrate my cooking. I love the idea of letting the recipe guide me, tell me when to put what in the bowl, saute it for only x minutes, mix it with such and such at this moment, etc. I love it. I get to listen to the news and zone out a bit for a while during my day. I especially love prepping vegetables. I love cutting them into equally proportioned pieces and putting them in bowls with their partners in crime.

As a couple, I love that I've thoughtfully created a meal and Chris and I get a chance to sit down and enjoy a great meal together with a glass of wine. And laugh. We do a lot of that. Especially over dinner, we have a good time together. But for some reason, dinners are especially fun for us.

(One more thing that's been a boon with my cooking fever is that our pantry has shrunk down and the refrigerator is usually packed with FRESH food. We greatly decreased the amount of processed and packaged food we eat now.)

Anyway, my renewed interest in cooking has also come at a time when I have a renewed vigor for my crafting and my purpose in life (that'll come later - thanks Sarah-bug!). All of the cooking has required that I wear an apron and I luckily inherited my Grammie's old apron, which I love SO much! It reminds me of being really young, living with her, and sitting on the kitchen floor while she cooked. I love her. So, I treasure her apron. But the very best thing about her apron is, not only does it look totally cute, it's so utilitarian - it comes with a little pocket and a built in towel for wiping your hands! Genius!

So, I got some of my scrap and gifted fabric down from storage and am inspired to make some aprons! This is the only way I know how to lend creativity to my cooking - for me, the meditation method is my saving grace in this hectic life I'm living in San Francisco, so making fabulous accessories will serve as the creative outlet. I'm going to sell some of them, but I will definitely have to make myself AT LEAST one! I'm excited and I'll post pics as soon as some are done!

A quick look back as a start...

2007-07-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

This past Winter Solstice/holiday, I decided to embroider all of my gifts - I've always made all of my holiday gifts - but this year was a new endeavor with embroidery. I love it! I am so addicted to Sublime Stitching by Jenny Hart and am interested in creating some of my own patterns soon (I'll keep you posted). Embroidery is like painting with thread and I am simply hooked!

So, anyway, this is one of my favorite pieces that I made for a holiday gift. It was for my best friend, Sarah-bug, who was living in Japan teaching English. I wanted to send her not just a holiday package, but a I-love-and-miss-you-terribly care package. I used a shirt that I bought from Gelugpa monks when they were visiting New Mexico (where I lived for many years), even the buttons from the shirt were put to use in this project!

I am so excited for the upcoming projects I've got planned and will definitely be posting them as they happen! That's it for now, I don't want to start babbling, as I'm still getting used to this blogging thing...