February 27

Another doorstop for the gift boutique.

February 26

I did a largish collage last night, and this morning decided to cut it into strips and make some of the interesting bits into bookmarks. I think I'll give this set to a reading friend on an upcoming birthday.

February 25

It's "High School Stereotype Day" at Josh's school, so he went dressed as .... Josh, circa 1974.

February 23

I haven't done anything more on the quilt, but I did make a large floor cushion out of some of the leftover corduroy.

February 21

My sweet sister has opened her birthday gift early, so I can now safely post a pic. She writes:
"Darling sister,
I’ve come home early to get ready for my coast trip. I stopped in via the PO and, with delight, collected a parcel from you. Now, of course, I could not possibly wait until next Wednesday to open it. And….. I love it, love it, love THEM. A beautiful knitting bag (complete with feet and bendy opening thing) and the sweet little knitting markers (is there nothing you cannot do??), in a gorgeous knit-y box. And I love the paper, and I love the card, and I love the NY envelope. And I adore my lovely pin cushion, my week 1 prize (I was secretly coveting one of these when I saw your friends with their pin cushion gifts). And of course, it will go very nicely with my brand new sewing machine (in which you held a conspiring role!!).
Oh, dearest sister. I feel so elated. And I feel pretty loved, too, after reading the birthday notes from all the Meltzerz.
I love you very very much.
sister"

Gave me the warm fuzzies, it did.

February 15

In a rare turn of events, Ian (nearly 17) was actually home on a Friday night. While I made my end-of-the-week curry (yes, this week it's curry, not chili) he hung out with me in the kitchen, playing Janis Joplin, Cat Stevens, and the Beatles, while we both sang along with gusto.

I had no idea, when I married Josh nearly four years ago, that I was also getting a son who would spend an hour or two in my kitchen on a Friday night rocking out with me to classic oldies music at loud volume.

How lucky am I?

February 13

We found ourselves unexpectedly child-free last night, so I decided to give Josh his Valentine's gift early. I think he loved it, though I'm not sure ... he didn't keep it on for long.

February 9

Evie and I again went exploring the stairways of our city, this time in West Silver Lake. This particular set of steps was immortalized in the 1932 Laurel and Hardy short film shown here. Suzanne kindly brought this to my attention. The surroundings have changed somewhat in the past 76 years, have they not? I would never have recognised the stairs if it wasn't for the plaque and signpost. You can see the rest of the photos from our walk here.

February 5

I picked up this remnant the other day for 50 cents, and tonight turned it into a little shoulder bag, just large enough for my essentials: wallet, keys, phone, glasses (reading and sun), pen, tissue holder, spare shopping bag (I get soooo much use out of this), business card holder and dental floss. What are YOUR essentials?

February 3

I've been buying corduroy clothes off the dollar rack for a while, with the aim of making a winter quilt for our bed. While I still love the bedding we bought two years ago, when it gets chilly (er ... that means 50°F/10°C) I yearn for some darker colours. With nap. (Only a sewist will get that pun.)

Anyway, today the planets aligned (males absent at Superbowl parties, daughter occupied with visiting friend, enough corduroy accumulated, weekend therefore little guilt about not doing "real" work) and I commenced The Quilt.

But now, Evie, I really need your advice. I have never made a quilt bigger than baby size, and this is huge. 75" x 95" (190 x 240 cm). How on earth do I feed this through my sewing machine?? (Damn, I knew I should have paid the extra $100 for the quilting attachments ....)

February 2

This morning Evie and I explored the hidden staircases of Franklin Hills, nestled between Los Feliz and Silver Lake. We are still walking our way through "Walking L.A.," and continuing to expand our knowledge and appreciation of the many, varied, delightful neighbourhoods in this amazing city.

And how can one possibly complain about a sky this blue in the middle of winter? I talk with my friends who are knee deep in snow, and know why the traffic is so bad on our freeways. It's the price we pay for our winter weather. Mmmm.
(Click on the pic to enlarge. That's the Griffith Observatory and Hollywood sign in the background.) More photos here.