New York, New York

Sometimes you really do get what you want. Last weekend, the girl got what she had been dreaming of for years ... a trip to New York.

After my business was done, it was all about what she wanted to do. Broadway (Billy Elliot -- fabulous!), Juilliard (she has aspirations!), Radio City Music Hall (the Stage Door Tour is really cool, do it!), 5th Ave stores (yawn), Central Park, Times Square, Lady Liberty. Sadly, there was little time for my preferences (art museums, fabric shopping) but I did get to walk the High Line for the first time.

Rowing in Central Park was fun. The weather was glorious. She got blisters from the oars, but persevered anyway. I like that about her.

After seeing Billy Elliot, we came upon an impromptu dance party in the subway. The Meetles were playing old Beatles classics. A couple of people started dancing. I was maybe the fifth to join in. Soon 20 or 30 of us were dancing, while a crowd sang and clapped and filmed. Lauren refused to dance, but she pulled out the camera. It was kinda fabulous.

You can tell from this photo she is way too mature and classy for spontaneous expressions of dance in subways. Even though she is, allegedly, a dancer. Oh well, I had fun :-)

March 14

Lauren + me + Lola + Lynne (Lo/Ly) spent the day at Dana Point, enjoying a sunny spring day by the ocean.

First we christened the picnic blanket I made Lo/Ly for Christmas, then Lauren and I went out whale watching while the others slumbered on the beach.


We saw California Grey Whales and a Fin Whale and a large pod of dolphins. We felt bad about chasing after the whales, as they were obviously trying to avoid the paparazzi. But the dolphins -- well, they seem to love the attention. What fabulous creatures!

I'm so happy that we went. Whale watching has been on my list for years.

Now I'm thinking ahead to my birthday early next month, and wondering what else I might do off my list that day (and the following weekend). I'll be home alone, so my options are wide open.

March 1

A big box of baby love is on its way to a new mama-to-be.

February 28

I've been fighting a cold; sadly, the cold is winning. It's therapeutic to sit and quietly hand stitch in between sneezes. Yes, I will wash the blanket before gifting it.

February 21

Today's baby thought: nappy (diaper) bag.

This is Anna Maria Horner's Multi-Tasker Tote; it's a fabulous pattern. I made one for myself a while ago, and I find it really useful. I take it to work; it holds my regular handbag, my lunch bag, my kindle bag, my knitting bag, and anything else I load into it. I can always find my phone, iPod and keys because they're in the outside pockets. It occurred to me that this would make a wonderful nappy bag, so I created one today specifically for that purpose.

I actually have a spare copy of this pattern. When I ordered it, they accidentally sent two. I offered to return one, but Anna Maria said to give it away to a friend. Who would like it?

Thinking about babies

The last few years have seen a population explosion in our family.

This cutie was born in 2007,

this pretty miss in 2008,

this cherub appeared three months early in 2009, and is now doing great ... and Baby Boy 2010 is currently incubating.

Hmm ... I might have to make three more of these.

February 20

A morning all alone. Slowly cleaned the kitchen, roasted vegetables, listened to This American Life, and recaptured my soul.

It was just what I needed.

February 11

My feet are imprinted with my sister's knitted socks. I hoped the podiatrist would ask, but he didn't. Instead, he x-rayed my ankle and gave me a cortisone shot. Hopefully my 'chronic joint inflammation' will now heal.

Nearly V-Day

After 14 years in the US, I still am not on board with the American idea of giving Valentines to your parents, children, friends and classmates. To me, Valentines are reserved for *lovers*. But flowers are welcome any day, so it was very lovely to come home to this early V-Day surprise from Lauren, paid for from her allowance. What a sweetie-pie.

New Stove

Last weekend I emailed our lovely landlords, saying: "Something is wrong with our oven. It's always taken a long time to pre-heat, but now it's getting ridunkulous ... just now it took an hour to reach 325°. It's become impractical to use it unless I have a lot of time. Could you possibly get someone to look at it?" No problem, they said ... we'll replace it. And while we're at it, would you like one with two ovens?

Are you kidding me? The ability to roast vegetables and bake a pie simultaneously? Um .. yes please! Yesterday it arrived, and to celebrate I made *perfect* pizza in an oven that heated to 550°F in only 15 minutes.

:::happy dance:::

February 7

It's been five weeks since I put on the cape of single-motherhood, and the thing that has suffered the most has been my creativity. I just haven't had the mental space to be creative. I don't know how mothers of toddlers do it; how they snatch ten minutes in which to design and make. I need time and silence, to allow ideas to percolate. Right now I have Lauren and her friend at my back, waiting for the computer so they can shoot a music video, and I'm typing fast to get this posted then I'll abandon my studio again, to retreat to my bedroom with a sketchbook. No wonder I've been knitting; it hasn't required any thought. But I really miss the act of creation; I have to carve myself the space for it. Waiting till the end of April when Josh returns simply isn't going to cut it.

Mary Ellen Mark

Today Mary Ellen Mark came to our workplace to meet with the art buyers. A quiet invitation was sent to the print producers to come over and view her latest portfolio if we were interested. I am not easily starstruck, but I honestly felt it a privilege to hold her photos in my hands and speak with her. What an artist. I actually had to stop browsing after a while, because her images were just too heartbreaking. Back at my desk, I read an article about the Damm family and felt doubly privileged. I am so, so lucky.

Double wine bag tutorial

It's easy to dress up a wine bottle with a ready-made wine bag, but what if you want to tote (or gift) two bottles of wine?

I had just this situation earlier in the week. I suddenly became the recipient of my friend's boyfriend's 100-yr-old grandmother's entire fabric stash; one bottle of wine just wasn't enough for a thank you. So I designed and made a handy dandy double wine bag, which I hereby offer to you as a PDF tutorial.

Enjoy!

Snow visit

We drove up to Wrightwood to scope out camp sites for possible summer camping, and got back down the mountain ahead of the storm.

Mudcloth

Since seeing this project in the Fall 2009 issue of Stitch, I've been wanting to lay my hands on some mudcloth. I looked online, but didn't want to pay what seemed like a lot of money when I couldn't see and feel what I was getting. But today I was taking Lauren to a dance academy near Leimert Park Village, home of many African American businesses, and it occurred to me to see what textiles were for sale there.
I hit the motherlode. After some good-natured haggling, I came away with three pieces of mudcloth (52" x 34", 43" x 26" and 63" x 25") for a total of $50. Actually, $50 and a hug. I threw that in to sweeten the deal. Yet another reason why I love living in a large, cosmopolitan city. Happy (African) dance!

Savasana

January 14

I should never complain

January 12

Front view in the rear view

Caught him again this morning.

Everywhere

Message for Josh

Hippie Running Man

Click to enlarge.

For years I have seen Hippie Running Man nearly every morning. He is unlike any other running man I've ever seen. He's pretty dirty, with unkempt hair and a full beard. He looks homeless, but he obviously lives in Topanga Canyon somewhere. He wears the same or similar sweatsuit in all weather. He runs down the canyon to Pacific Coast Hwy and along the beachside road for several miles, with his pink pack bouncing away on his back. I've seen him in the evenings walking ~ never running ~ the reverse route in the darkness. Where does he go every day? Why does he run? What is his story? Hippie Running Man, I want to know more about you.

January 6

Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.

January 5

January 3

I've needed a new bag in the worst way for quite some time, but have been stymied by looking for the perfect pattern and fabric. Last night I just couldn't take my old ratty one out with me, so whipped up this one based on a design in Amanda Soule Blake's book. I absolutely love it. It's slouchy and soft but not too limp, and the straps are just the right length. Sure, it has no pockets, and it's not big enough for all my crap, but it works! And, did I mention, I love it! A timely reminder to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Then, this morning, still on a Soulemama roll, I made a couple of mouse pads. I'm going back to work tomorrow, and taking this one with me. It is a vast improvement over the sad and dirty piece of neoprene that currently sits on my desk.

The new year's shaping up pretty damn fine!

January 2

Lauren and I went for a hike in the Simi hills. We saw lots of wildlife, including

a dinosaur baby,

a bear,

a turtle,

a lion,

and a shark.

There were also a few superhero moments. Fun.

January 1

Tonight we said good-bye to the big guy, who has gone off to slay vampires in Atlanta for four months. We are so going to miss him.

He spent his last day here helping me re-do my studio. I should have taken before shots. Those of you who know my studio will be very impressed by this after shot, anyway.

(WTF? The p key isn't working. The only way I can get a p is to paste it. Ack.)

(Gratuitous sunset shot. Because we don't often get retty sunsets here. pretty. grrr.)