not enough time for everything

finished & published! -burdastyle book-

2011-11-18T15:49:00.000-08:00

a couple days ago I received an exciting package in the mail.

it was from Burdastyle.

there enclosed my coat & the newly published book.

so happy and excited to see the finished product!!!

here are a few of my favorites from the book that other book contributors made.

blouse alternation by Novita.

dress variations from Jen and Natasha.

kids size from Oliver + S.

bag alternation by Layla.

and,,, here is my coat!

I was also a bit sad that for the most of the members' creations,

there was no detailed photos or write-ups...

I'm sure they(we) spent a lot of time and did a great hard work.

so, seeing only a tiny photo in the book was a bit, errrr, disappointing.
(well, "unfortunate" might be more of an appropriate word! actually)

at the same time, I know if they were to talk about every single person's work,

the book would have been five times thicker, if not more.

so, that is understandable...

anyhow, here are a couple more photos of my coat!

sadly enough, it is not going to fit me this winter

after having had to wait for a year and a half to get my coat back...

my huge belly is peeking out and saying hello to the world out there :I

hehe

it will be awesome if other members also post more photos of their own version,

and how-to on making the variation!

light quilted jacket

2011-11-11T14:24:00.000-08:00

I have been knitting intensively for the past while.

but, decided to make my daughter this jacket while I had some cuts on my fingers,

which made me a bit painful to knit.

all the materials are from my stash bins.

I sorted through them the other weekend,

which reduced four bins into two!

I had LOTS of little scraps that I am probably never going to use,

and some odds/ends from former projects, also random fabric that people had given me.

it made me feel nice to organize some stuff and let go of things I don't need.

clatter is no good.

the pattern is from Sweet Girl Clothes (ほんのりSweet女の子の服) that I grabbed when I was in Japan.

I have tried a couple different patterns from this book

and it has lots of well designed/constructed cute clothes for girls.

highly recommended!

this quilted fabric is thin and light.

good for fall/spring, and also winter if she wears a nice warm sweater underneath.
the lining is so hard to see, but this naniIRO fabric (in white).

I made it in size 100, but should have made in 110 so that she could wear it next winter/spring...

I was also amazed how quickly I finished it, compared to knitting something like that.
(still) took me a few days, because I could only work on it a short chunk of time when she was in bed,
but it's pretty cool to pull something wearable so quickly!

happy halloween!

2011-10-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

finished my almost-three-yr-old's costume a few days ago.

she wanted to be a cat,

specifically one of our cats who has Himalayan like long fur.

this year, I didn't want to make something super "costumy",

and decided to make little parts to make a whole outfit.

I knitted the sweater + mittens,

and used this pullover pattern and this classic mitten pattern.

and made the hat and tutu based on the patterns from Oliver + S book.(pics above)

this way, she can wear each item separately(or together) on different occasions!

and that is much more rewording for me to make something for her :)

Happy Halloween!!

pullover-madness

2011-10-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

for some reason, I don't seem not to be able to fill my head with knitting and knitted items...

my pinterest board is filling up rather quickly with the warm cozy things...

maybe because of the fall air.

yes, fall is here. definitely.

crisp, clear, fall air.

I can't stop thinking about owning a perfect piece of comfortable, warm pullover(or cardigan).

I am not a big fan of a puffy big sweaters, usually, so I don't even own a single pullover.

but I am really digging the ones below.

(pic 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)

if I could afford paying $$$ for a sweater(am sure it's worth the money),

I would love to own a few.

I am also daydreaming about knitting myself one,

and have been searching a perfect pattern on Ravelry,

but I haven't found a single one there.

I am sure it's not too hard to design your own if you know how to knit different kinds of cables and how to knit a basic sweater,

but I am not quite comfortable with designing my own just yet....

well... there is also another thing,,,

I am not going to fit in it for the next while anyway as my belly is already HUGE but only keeps getting bigger...

ha.

what it turned out to be, instead...

2011-10-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

so, I decided to take my very first cardigan for my daughter, which I knitted last march,

and make it into something else.

although it was an emotionally hard decision(sort of),

the cardigan was very baggy around her neck,

and I really wanted her to have something I knitting for this fall.

I purchased this pattern from Ravelry, my first purchase.

and for some reason, it was $1.20 off, which made myself justify buying the pattern

with a promise of making more than one of them- maybe for gifts.

so, here it is!

I think I made the right choice!

it was a super quick project, a piece o' cake.

this vest cardigan is a much better fit on her. I love the color on her, too :)

although I have been in the knitting binge lately and have a bunch of projects lined up,

it started to drive me crazy as of yesterday...

I was excited to open my yarn order, but one of the yarn colors looked different from what I expected

(I'm sure it happens often when you're online shopping),

and I didn't read one of the patterns well enough that I am actually short on the yarn,

AND the yarn I picked for specific projects didn't seem "right" to me any more....

UGH!

maybe too much of one thing isn't good.

time for a little break?

perhaps...

knitting for babies

2011-09-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

a few weeks ago, I knitted the vintage pixie hat and mary jane booties for my newest niece, Sophia.

she was born in July, and I had been wanting to send her something, but didn't decide what up until now...

finally sent them out last weeks and I haven't heard from my sis-in-law that they have received the package yet,

but I think they will be perfect little cozy things to keep little Sophia warm in Winnipeg fall.

hope she sends me some pictures of her wearing these!

and because I still had the leftover yarn from the projects above, decided to knit my little baby something.

little baby booties!

it was probably an appropriate sock project for me as I have never knitted socks before

and to see if I even like knitting socks.

the first one took me a little while to get going,

but the second half went by quickly.

although I kida liked knitting socks, I don’t think I am ready to knit socks for “big” people…

spilling the beans -long over due

2011-09-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

okay, it's way over due to announce this here,

but I am pregnant!

I am not sure how the time went by so quickly this time, but I am almost 21weeks!!

geez!

this is my second pregnancy and it often gets forgotten/ignored when you already have a little one to chase after.

finally, I made a point of taking some photos(first time!) of this pregnancy today.

I need to start documenting it more often since most likely this is going to be my last one.

my almost-three-yr-old girl is very excited to be a big sister,

and she tells me she can't wait to hold the baby when he/she comes out. very cute :)

although we're not going to find out the sex of the baby until the baby comes out, and my little girl thinks it's a BOY,

I couldn't resist this baby sailor dress when I saw it at a local thrift store...

well, it costs only a few bucks!

also I found these awesome kids wooden clogs at the same store!

not sure who makes them. can't find a tag. perhaps handmade?

they are still too big for the little one. she has a few more years to grow into!

while you're waiting...

2011-08-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

sorry for my long absence from the blog...

will be back soon.

while you're waiting, please enjoy this Beirut number covered by Florence and the Machine :)

just beautiful.

perfume adventure

2011-05-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

I am definitely not a type who enjoys wearing perfume all the time.

but when I went to a local market the other day, and had a slice of watermelon samples,

I totally fell in love with the smell of the flesh watermelon.

also as the summer is approaching,

the sent of watermelon(perhaps combined with cucumber) would be perfect, I thought.

so I went on etsy, my usual place to browse and shop, and searched.

I ordered a sampler from Etiquette.

(they came in the cute little box, too!)

although I loved all the scents in the sampler, they weren't quite the smell I am looking for.

so, my perfume adventure continues...

if anyone has a recommendation on watermelon/cucumber perfume,

let me know!

I am looking for something crisp and light, but less floral and sweet...

leather work

2011-05-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

I had been wanting to learn how to work with leather for a little while,

and finally got a chance to!

(well, this class will be done after two more classes)

so far, we made a belt, like below, and a handbag -work-in-progress.

learned cleaning, treating, dyeing and handstitching the leather, as well as the machine sewing of the leather.

my singer has no trouble sewing oil cloth, so I was pretty confident it will take leather with no hustle.

w.r.o.n.g.

she really didn't like sewing the leather.

I had a really thin soft pig swede, which may have something to do with it,

also none of the roller foot the teacher had didn't fit on my machine.

ugh.

I am going to find a roller foot that's made for her, so I can work more with leather in the future!

meanwhile,

I finally got around to what I had been meaning to do for a quite sometime!

finally soled these slippers I knitted/felted last october.

I know I am a procrastinator, but I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing since I had no experience working with leather before.

now, I know how-to, it was a piece-o-cake!

pleased with how it turned out, and it's great having a extra cushion/durability to these!

belated birthday post

2011-05-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

last Wednesday was my 28th birthday.

here goes my belated birthday post.

I tried a new hairdo.

I had tried to do something like this a few times before, but it didn't stay up very well.

so had been wanting to figure out how to make it 'stay'.

got a hint from Kathleen's recent post, and came up with the way to stay up.

unlike the tutorial, this has no hair band going all around the entire head.

my husband came home with a bunch of (one of) my favorite flowers.

it had been way to long since the last time I received flowers from him.

I kept giving him hints for the last five months or so.

and see, this is the result ;)

lastly(but not least, of course!),

I finally came to the realization that birthday isn't really about me.

I came into this world, grew bigger and older so I could stand on my own feet, and am still happy and healthy.

this is all because there are(were) people who loves(ed) me and care(d) about me.

it is a day to thank them all for that and to feel the gratefulness .

I thank all for being a part of my life.
I am one very lucky girl to have you in my life!

loves!

hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend :)

weekend bits

2011-05-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

my mothers day was nothing super spectacular,

but rather a precious ordinary day.

on our way out the door, I received a package(from myself!).

perfect timing, anf nothing like starting a new day with a new pair of shoes.

there we went to a waffle window, down the street from our place.

the place was pretty packed.

i guess everyone was taking their moms out for breakfast/brunch.

I had an hour of me-time, in the afternoon,

and got ourselves these cute tea balls(?).

the saucer is separate from the teacup, so that you can take it out and rest it on the saucer when tea is steep.

hope everyone had a lovely mothers day weekend,

and had a chance to tell your mom how much you love her!

lil baby sling

2011-05-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

a few weeks ago, I purchased this book from Oliver + S.

it was a little gift to myself for,,, erm,,, nothing!

i like treating myself, sometime too much :I

but when I took it to my hand at Powell's,

I decided I HAD TO have it.

it is full of cute little things you can make for your little one,

which are also great gifts!

yes, I had to have it!

the very first thing I wanted to make my daughter was this bear carrier.

since she had been playing with her big carrier so much lately

(in addition to her current obsession -breast feeding her bears),

I though it would be sweet to make one in 'her size'.

fabric used is all scrap from my stash.

it was a quick over-night project,

and she was already playing with it next morning!

I am sure you'll be a great mama!

homemade playdough

2011-04-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

yesterday afternoon, I finally got a chance to make some playdough for my daughter.

I had been wanting to try out a recipe for homemade one.

I googled and checked out a few sites, and tried out a non-cooking one first.

that didn't turn out so well. the salt didn't melt and it was not so smooth as it should be.

then, decided to go with a traditional playdough recipe.

basic, simple, should work!

::INGREDIENTS::

* 1 cup flour

* 1 cup warm water

* 2 teaspoons cream of tartar

* 1 teaspoon oil

* 1/4 cup salt

* food coloring

in addition to the original recipe, I added 1tbs of Alum.

it's supposed to keep the playdough fresh longer.

basically put all the ingredients in a sauce pan and mix it over medium heat until it becomes crumbly.

starts out like a cream sauce.

starts forming some lumps.
don't worry even if the mixture is uneven, and keep mixing.

in the recipe, it's said to heat and mix it it becomes a 'ball',

but I think it doesn't really become like a ball at all.

it's more crumbly/lumpy.

take it out of the pan, and knead it till smooth.

taddaaa :)

my daughter was really digging it.

and she was playing with it for over an hour.

next time, I will try something different and weired, like jello playdough or peanut butter playdough.

has anyone tried them?

trench + stripes

2011-04-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

love the trench & stripes combo!

i know it"s kinda monotone and would be nice to add some accent color(s).

maybe, by wearing a vivid pair of pans, or bright red lipstick & nails??

1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

moved!

2011-04-24T23:02:00.000-07:00

last weekend, we said goodbye to our urban farm house,

and moved into out new place.

it went pretty well and relatively quickly.

and we're already settled in,

well, sort of, with some stuff still in the boxes.

the cats in the painting above are owner's cats.

but, our cats seem to be back inside with us,

considering they had been outside cats for the past several months.

we're loving to have a space for just three of us + our two kitties :)

just a little update on my end.

hope everyone had a nice easter weekend!!

yesterday at the park

2011-04-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

yesterday at the park by lunatepetal featuring skinny pants

this 4yr old girl I saw at the park yesterday inspired me to wear a bright nail polish and dress nicer.

this is basically what she was wearing.

kids nowadays are oh so stylish!

today & tomorrow is our big moving days!!

the entire place is one huge mess and stuff are scattered all around... UGH!

hope you all will have a happy weekend :)!

clenimo

2011-04-12T21:32:00.000-07:00

Honey Kennedy reminded me of posting about Clenimo.

aka Aya Nakagawa, a London based Japanese designer.

love how simple, yet sophisticated and elegant her designs are!

and you gotta love those hats, of course!!

coral spring

2011-04-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

spring is here.

you can tell by the moody weather.

to even light up more of your spring days,

how about coral lips & finger tips?

it's ridiculous how many goat pic I take...

2011-04-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

more baby goats on the urban farm!

a little over a week ago, Cici had her babies.

she likes to do it all by herself without anyone noticing her going in the labor.

Zlateh had her babies last Friday.

I got to see a goat birth second time,

and this time my daughter got to see it as well!

she got a bit scared since Zlateh was a bit loud pushing the third, breech baby out,

but I told her she was just pushing really hard for the baby to come out.

now she tells us the story all the time.

"Zlateh was pushing baby, bumbum!"

buck

can you find all 5 babies?

although this place has been really great for us (especially for the little one),

we've decided to move into a different place.

just so we could have more our own time and space.

we are going to be moving in a couple weeks.

packing/moving time is back!!

ech!

knitting up a storm!

2011-03-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

I have been knitting up a storm since a little bit before Christmas,

although I had not been posting about it(which I probably should, but too lazy).

one of my this year's new years reslutions was to knit my first big project, a sweater.

so, I had started my first sweater project in mid Feb and finished it a couple weeks ago while I was down in Ashland visiting friends.

which means, it took me a whole month to finish a big project.

that isn't that bad for my first sweater project I think!

I used a free pattern I found on Ravelry, and used this superwash yarn in teal.

knitted a swatch first, I started knitting the actual pattern.

after knitting almost the whole back piece, realized it was too big,

and unraveled it and went down one size in the needle.

put all the pieces together using youtube clips as a reference on how to sew them together.

and taddaaa! here it is!! my very first sweater!!!

my friend, Tiffany whom we were visiting when i was finishing up the sweater, kindly offered me to choose buttons from her huge button collection.

and I picked these pretty grayish shell buttons.

it turned out being still TOO BIG for me... :(

so I decided to give it to my mother who used to knit for me when I was little.

My mother is a health nurse, living in Japan,

and she recently told me that she would be sent to the earthquake/tsunami affected area to provide medical/health care and emotional support.

so, I am hoping she would bring this and it will protect her from whatever happening where she is sent to...

also here is another project I finished today for my little girl.

pattern is also a free one from lion brand yarn.

and I used the same yarn as the sweater above since I thought it was a pretty color for her.

finished up with the fabric covered buttons I made previously.

I knitted a T3 size so that she could wear it next winter.

however it turned out so HUGE on her and looks like it is for 5yr old...

ugh. I guess there is so much to learn about gauging and sizing!!

I have another "small" project I wand finish before the warm weather hits here.

it may not be too long for the spring to come say hello, so I will see :)

p.s. oh! if you have a ravelry account, please let me know!
my username is Lunatepetal. add me as a friend, I'd love to check your projects out :)

earthquake in Japan

2011-03-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

as the most, if not all, of us know the huge earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, my home county, almost a week ago.

fortunately, most of my family lives down south in Kyushu, so there was a minimum impact.

my sister had been back in Tokyo from a year stay in London a few days before the earthquake,

and I have a couple of uncles and their families near Tokyo.

they are all fine and safe.

although all of my family members are fine,

it is still devastating and heart wrecking to hear and see what's happening there right now...

the overwhelming sadness and grief...

but there is still a hope.

people are not giving up.

I heard miraculous stories,

a woman giving a birth in the midst of the chaos,

a four month old girl found alive after three days in the rubble,

even the people who are in the roughest condition are caring for others.

I can't do much as a individual to help them out except making a small amount of donation,

considering what the actual damage is...

and I am sending my healing prayer to the people and land of Japan.

if you haven't made any donation, please help, even small amounts count.

you can also do so from may sites, like paypal.

also I have decided to donate 20% of all the sales from my Etsy shop to Jaoanese Red Cross,

starting today for a whole year untill March 11, 2012.

hoping this also encourage people to lead small changes to a big cause.

seven things about me...

2011-03-10T14:31:00.000-08:00

received Stylish Blogger Award from Cecili of Sewing and so on.

upon the acceptance of the award, I am supposed to share SEVEN things about me with you here.

hm, kida hard to come up with seven facts...

let me see...

I used to wear baggy clothes. casual street style, I guess...

now most of those clothes are happily inherited to my husband :)

I am a couscous omnivore, and eat mainly organic.

all the food we consume is sacred whether they have a face and feet or not.

I am grateful and thankful for all the life-force that keeps us sustain.

I used to study to be a occupational therapist.

but decided that carrier wasn't for me, and dropped out of school.

I still have textbooks from anatomy/physiology class -I though it was the best class ever! geeky.

I am very closed to my dad's side grandparents.

because we lived so close by, they are like my second parents.

my parents are somewhat conservative, and my mom didn't approve of piercing.

but I got them done anyway, first time when I was nineteen.

now I have three, one on each ear and nose. nothing extreme. at all.

I think my younger sis has six, and she wants to get a tattoo.(good luck sis!)

I have naturally lighter hair for Japanese.

my middle/high school teachers thought it was dyed and gave me a couple warnings. so silly!

most of the Japanese schools has lots of rules regarding length of hair, length of uniform skirt/pants, etc...

and no makeup rule of course.

so conservative and surplussed!

my biggest bug enemy is cockroaches!

they usually come flying by whenever I encounter. oh, they KNOW!!

I am so happy that (so far) I have never seen them over here in North America.

I guess their preferred inhabitant is humid and warmer(tropical) climate...?

well, it was fun getting to re-know myself.

now I am suppose to pass it down to seven bloggers.

hm it's even harder to pick so few out of many!!

all dressed up and nowhere to go

Jorth

A Beautiful Mess

Kennedy Holmes

cheated little, and I listed eight, instead of seven...haha

no pressure, but hope to read more about you ladies!!

my mother in law sent my husband these old pictures.

most of the pictures from his childhood burned in a fire.

and these are a few of remaining... so precious.

chelsea vol.1

2011-03-03T22:34:00.000-08:00

this afternoon, I received a package from Japan.

it was from satomi!!

I had been super stoked about it ever since we made a deal.

(well, it was more like an offer from her :) sweet person!)

I throughly enjoyed reading/looking through Chelsea vol.1, the little paper she made about her trip to Prague.

great pictures and writing, which made me feel like I was on this trip withe her.

I especially wish I was really there to eat all those tasty looking yumminess!!

I am a food lover :)

and look at all the souvenir goodies came along with the paper!

I don't think I could use the baby deer tissue, too cute to waste... awe.

hahaha

thank you, satomi :)!!!

hope you'll get my package soon.

currently in love with....

2011-02-28T11:18:00.000-08:00

currently in love with these colored trousers.

(viabecause im addicted)

went onEtsy, and found these lovely vintage trousers.

(pic 1, 2, 3, and 4)

I have been wanting to make myself a pair of trousers for a long time!

maybe after the patternmaking class, I will be able to draft them all by myself!!

never let me go

2011-02-27T13:57:00.000-08:00

watched Never Let Me Go a few nights ago.

it was a little different from what I expected.

well, tell the truth, didn't know what the story was about(had not really read the reviews/previews...).

so, no expectations really,

but when my husband was lost in a movie store and asked me for an input, I told him to get this one.

the clothing/stying and cinematography was beautiful,

and the story was interesting enough to make me want read the book.

patternmaking class: week 2 & 3

2011-02-14T13:57:00.000-08:00

sorry for a luck of updating on my patternmaking class!

in week 2 we had finished the body moulage/sloper.

and I had little homework to sew a muslin based on the moulage.

last week we tried the muslin on and made some adjustments.

we also started working on the pants sloper, and finished drafting.

now, I am supposed to sew up a muslin and bring in class this week.

all the numbers and calculation make me a little dizzy,

but I guess it's a matter of doing it so many times and getting used to the whole process.

the pant sloper/moulage was A LOT easier than the body one,

less measurements, less lines/darts!!

in the last class, there was a girl from another patternmaking1 class.

her name is Alicia Wood, and she has a line called Ms. Wood.

teacher was introducing her to the class and she mentioned about a feature on her in Portland Monthly Magazine.

she is a stay at home mother of two girls by day, and designer by night.

she also won a 2010 catapult competition(portland fashion week).

what makes me inspired the most is that she plays both mother and designer rolls so well and balanced.

(and I am sure it's a straggle! both time wise and energy wise...)

and also her husband is a woodworker and they corroborate their work.
like these platforms!

my husband, who is also a woodworker/carpenter, and I also talk about doing some corroborative work together every now and then.

like making lanterns. he makes the frame, and I will print on the screen...

anyhow,,, it's just great to know there is someone out there making it all happen and work!!

I sometimes feel like my life is on hold and I am stuck taking care of our little girl and family,
although it is absolutely fun, and beautiful, amazing and unique experience raising a family.
but I don't need to feel this way, and don't need to put the spell on myself.
it's just such an encouragement to know there are people making their dream come true.

happy Valentines! & a very lucky giveaway winner

2011-02-14T13:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines day everyone!

hope you all are having a lovely day :)

today I am here to announce a sweet valentine giveaway winner!

a very lucky lady is....

Chie!!!

congratulations, chie :)

I will e-mail you later to get your shipping address.

as some of you already know,
but Chie is a fantastic seamstress/designer/fashionista.

if you never visited her blog or her Etsy store please do so!!

thank you all for participating,

and also thank the new followers of my blog/twitter!!

hope you all enjoyed the giveaway, and hope to do some more of them in the future :)

Anniversary/Sweet Valentine Giveaway!

2011-02-01T13:54:00.000-08:00

last Saturday was our 5th (married) anniversary.

we didn't do too much, but had rather a relaxing day.

I got him a small gift, and he took me out for dinner @ Pok Pok, Thai restaurant, on Division

since he 'looked bad'(so he says) having not prepared me a gift.

also took an offer on baby sitting from our housemate, and went out for a drink after our little one went to bed.

we had never really gone out just two of us since this girl was born,

but it is nice to be able to do that every once in a while!

anyhow,,,

I decided to have a giveaway for this occasion,

combined with an upcoming cerebration of love event, Valentine's day!

-SWEET VALENTINE GIVEAWAY-

here is the prize

-earring/necklace traveling case-

nice to keep your earrings and necklaces from getting tangled and damaged, don't you think?

this little pouch will help you a big time!

so convenient for traveling, or carry a 'backup' jewelry in your bag,

or just for daily uses!

-knotted bracelet-

you even get to pick a color!

please pick one of the colors from the above right picture, and state in your comment.

for more details about the bracelet, please visit my etsy shop!

******************************************how it works******************************************

please leave a comment with your e-mail address(if I can't reach you via blogger account),

also with your choice of color for the bracelet.

★bonus entry 1- if you follow my blog, you may leave another comment for an extra entry!

★bonus entry 2 -if you follow me on Twitter, you will also get another entry!! please leave a separate comment.

(up to THREE entries per person!!)

this giveaway ends @ FEB 12th, 11:59pm pacific time.

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

GOOD LUCK :)!

P.S. a little apology...

I have so much to blog, but since we only have one computer and my hubby has been using it a lot lately for work, I have not been able to update it often...
I am little behind, but I will find a time and post more!

patternmaking class: week 1

2011-01-25T20:43:00.000-08:00

last week I started on the patternmaking class at Portland Sewing.

I had been looking forward to it since I registered to the class around the christmas.

I met my classmates and teacher in the first class.

some are already in the apparel/fashion industry,

and some are beginner/intermediate sewer like myself.

regardless of the difference in skills/levels, I was super excited to be in the class and meeting the people.

it's good to be in the environment that makes you motivated and inspired :)

in the last class, we paired up, took some measurements, and started work on bodice moulage.

and we will be continue working on drafting it this week, I think.

I also met someone whom I had been following online(blog) of.

she is also taking the class and she is the one who recommended me about Portland Sewing.

it was kinda weired( in a good way) and a bit awkward for me to meet someone virtual in 3D.

it's like meeting a mini-celebrity of your own world-I know you (somewhat) well, but you don't know me.

and it is probably weired for them to be known by a stranger,

and asked "aren't you from xxxx? I read your blog!".

anyhow, it was and is still cool and fun to meet her in a real life!

and maybe I get to know her a bit better, separate from the online world.

a bit off topic,,,

but I will keep updating on my class!

japanese souvenir

2011-01-03T09:49:00.000-08:00

it's kinda late for this, but still wanted to upload all the goddies I brought back from Japan this time.

fabric

I got all of them on sale.

unicorn one is a gift for my friend.

sewing notions

the bigger one is for ironing.

you put it in between folded fabric, and it helps to keep the hem allowance even(same length).

small one is for adding sewing allowance.

when you are tracing an existing pattern, it comes handy.

especially the ones from Japanese sewing books, they don't have the sewing allowance included,

which is very inconvenient!

sewing & embroidery books

the left one is called "She Has a Mannish Style" (気分はマニッシュ)

The right one is called "Wappen" (Uiの刺繍ワッペン)

I had been wanting to learn embroidery.

so this one is perfect!

there were so many cool Japanese sewing/crafting magazines/books over there

and it was so hard to choose a couple from so many,

but these caught my interest the most.

mt(masking tape) and stamps

these are so much more expensive to buy (via etsy or ebay) over here,

I had to replenish my supply...

new years resolutions vol.2011

2011-01-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

goodbye the year of 2010.

and hello brand new 2011!

the whole year flew by, yet another one started.

the last year was a new start of our life in Portland, Oregon.

we're loving it and enjoying the life here so far, yet there is so much more to explore in and around the city!

I still need to keep working on my last year's new years resolution,

I have many more for this year!

here goes the list.

-go on Candida cleanse/diet-

although this year's christmas was much better than the past years, and we did not overeat and did not eat much sweets and baked goods, I decided to give it a try. even if I don't have any dietary sensitivities and we eat pretty well, I think it will be very beneficial for my body. I just ordered a book called 'Body Ecology Diet' through library. it was recommended by my husband who is also known as food Natzi. can't wait to read it and give it a go.

-learn to bake non-yeasted bread-

I had been wanting to try baking a non-yeasted bread for a while now. we buy good organic natural leaven bread from Wholefoods, but it would be awesome to bake our own at home. I'd probably get a starter somewhere, and try that first to see how it goes. does anyone know a good source for a bread starter??

-start a recipe book-

over the last few years, I have been collecting some cooking recipes, and more recently really good gluten-free(and some are also sugar-free) baking recipes from one of hubby's sisters. they are all over my notebook, unorganized... it would be nice if they are all neatly written and in order.

-print photos from computer-

it is as bad as the recipe deal,,, well it's worse actually...

all of our great memories are on a hard drive, and almost all of them have never been developed as photo... I would like to get the good ones printed and have real photo albums. especially the pictures of our little daughter since birth.

-knit a sweater-

I have been knitting quite intensively lately as I freaked out about making christmas gifts to people(as always). made some hats and cowls(hope to do a post on this). I like quick projects that I can get it done in a couple days, but if it is a "real" knitting project, it intimidates me and make me feel almost anxious... plus, I am not sure if I have that kind of patience. I may developed more patience and my knitting-speed might be a little faster. hm,,, maybe it's time to try knitting a sweater(or cardigan)!

-keep the sewing room(aka closet) nice and tidy-

oh why is this so hard?! I tend to leave my (so called) creative mess in the middle of a project or in between projects, especially because I don't have a chunk of time to finish it up in one session. but clean organized work space definitely make the performance much better/faster. so, yes,,, I should keep that in mind.

-be able to draft my own patterns-

I am very excited for this patternmaking class that I am going to take at Porland Sewing! I worked out a child care deal with one of the neighbor mamas, and was able to register for it. I had been wanting to take a class on patternmaking forever, and this is such a treat for me! it will be nice to have an official "me-time", and take a time apart from my child(and it is good for her as well).

so these are very few of my new years resolutions for 2011, but plenty to keep me busy for sure!

wish you the best luck and happiness for 2011 :)

明けましておめでとぅございます。

今年もどぅぞよろしくお願いします。

happy holidays!

2010-12-25T13:55:00.000-08:00

.hope everyone is having a nice warm happy christmas with your loved ones!

we're here on Quadra Island, BC, to spend the holiday with my hubby's family.

had a delicious turkey dinner last night and opened gifts this morning...

a lot of eating, sitting around and socializing, but quite chill christmas here.

I had been wanting to get myself a DSLR for a quite sometime now.

doing a little bit of research, but haven't had much to familiarize myself to the world of DSLR...

a friend of mine who is way into photography recommended me this one below.

<pic>

but as I said before I am a real beginner at camera/photography.

so, if you own a DSLR, I have a few of questions for you!

-which one(maker/model) do you have?

-what was selling point of your DSLR?

-any good site to visit to read up on DSLR, and to buy one?

and any input/recommendation are more than welcome, and I really appreciate that :)

wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year!!

how-to -passport case-

2010-12-16T14:50:00.000-08:00

okay, finally I am getting the how-to together!

hope you like it and try making it.

it's a perfect gift for your world traveling friend, and easy enough to make it as a last minute gift :)

I apologize beforehand for the quality of the photos...

the day I was working on it was really dark, typical raining portland weather,

and the lighting of the room I was in wasn't the best...

I photoshopped them, but still not the best... soryyyyy :(

anyhow, here it goes!

-PASSPORT CASE-

*material list*

1. 10 3/4" x 23 1/4"

2. 10 3/4" x 11 1/4"

3. 10 3/4" x 5 1/4" [x2]

4. 9" x 6"

(draw a curve in 1.5" x 1.5" on the upper right corner)

5. 5 1/4"(left side) x 6"(bottom) x 8 1/2"(right side)

6. 3 1/4" x 6 [x2]

7. 1 5/8" x 8"

bias tape

thin infusible interface that is slightly smaller than piece2 & piece4

Velcro

*sewing allowance 1/2"

-BODY-

use iron-infusible interface and put piece1 and piece2 together.

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

I sewed the edges of piece1 here, but DO NOT sew them right at this step.

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

infuse piece3 onto piece1, right beside piece2.

now, including the interface edge double fold the side edges of piece1, and sew them.

-POCKETS-

fold the upper edges of piece5&6 twice, and sew.

fold the bottom edge of upper piece6 and pin onto piece5. sew the lower piece6 on piece5. you don't need to fold the bottom edge of this lower piece because it will be covered with bias tape and won't show in the end.

infuse the thinner interface onto the back of piece4.

this step is a prep in order to sew a nice curved line.

just like when you gather, sew the curved edge with wider stitch, and do this twice.

pull the bottom(bobbin) threads and gather.

try to make a nice smooth curve.

iron, double-fold, then iron again.

(if you'd like a more detailed version, visit here at Burdastyle)

sew the entire curved edge.

I did double stitch, but it's not necessary.

just for the looks.

-CONSTRUCTION-

now, all the pockets are done, this is how it looks all the parts laying together.

piece1 is folded to the center, piece4 is on the left, and piece5&6 are on the right.

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

the picture shows the body is folded, but it is not when working. lay the piece flat/unfolded, when following the next few steps.

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

fold the inner side edge of piece5&6 pocket once and sew it onto the body.

sew the side and bottom seam of piece4 and body together, as well.

sew piece7 into a tube, and make a strap.

turn inside out and sew velcro on it as well as onto the body.

sew the strap onto the right side of the body. make sure it lines with the other side of velcro.

-FINISHING UP-

sorry, no photo for this step...

I made my own bias tape using a bias-tape-maker(tutorial on Burdastyle), but obviously you don't need to!

but basically all you have left to do is bind the entire body+pockets with bias tape!

the following youtube videos are helpful : no swearing bias tape method

how to sew binding with mitered corners

tadaaaaa! all done and well done!!

*please let me know, if anything is unclear to you, or if you have a further question!!

japan trip part2

2010-12-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

Hi, everyone!

hope you haven't completely forgotten about me... :I

I know it's been way too long since the last time I really blogged!!

we came back five days ago, and finally jet lag is fading away.

I always find it harder to get use to the time difference back home... wonder why that is...

anyhow, I know I have to post about LOTS of things, but still not so motivated... sorry... :(

I will post pictures from the second half of the trip to hold you over for now!

hope you enjoy them!!

at a local beach.

she had a blast!

that we had to go back!

with her great grandpa & great grandma watching birds eating tangerines on the tree

her friend came back to play again :)

right before the loooong plane ride back home...

ahhh, good to be back home and get back to the regular routine, called life!

I will try to post a how-to on the passport case in the next few days.

so please stay tuned!!

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

P.S. I am having a LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SALE over at my ETSY shop!

please go visit my site, order, and receive 20% off via Paypal after purchase.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

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

a little over a week left

2010-11-30T19:58:00.000-08:00

sorry for not updating the blog much lately....

little miss and I have been having a great time here in Japan,

reconnecting with people and visiting lots of places.

here is a little sneak peak of our trip so far.

@SF airport right before the looooong plane ride.
she did really well on the planes, except when landing...
her ears were hurting. I tried to feed her something, but she didn't want to eat/drink...
does anyone have a useful tip for little kids on releasing the ear pressure?

my folks' place

family tangerine orchard

her great grand parents come to visit every morning & evening

visited the kindergarten I went to.

this whale slide has been here for ages!!

it looked so big to me back in the day, but now I know it isn't!

glad I got a chance to take my daughter there. precious memories...

also went to an aquarium and zoo.

she had FUN!

only a little over a week left...

we also have a few hours in Tokyo...
not enough time to go out and about outside the airport...
hm what to do...?

P.S. thank you all for the comments on the last post!

my mother's computer/Internet is really SLOW,

so, I will get the how-to's together as soon as I get back home...

thnak you for your patience :)

ready for the trip!

2010-11-15T13:21:00.000-08:00

here is a digest of what I've been making for the trip.

start with a passport/ticket holder

I had one from a travel company, but it was cheaply made not-so-good-looking one.

so decided to make up one!

the pattern is based on the 'original' one I had.

it has two big pockets, a pouch to put your passports, a slit for your tickets, and two more small pockets.

made with Echino fabric that had been hibernating in my fabric bin for a quite sometime.

this blight purple will make it easier to see when you have tons of stuff in your traveling bag :)

(especially you have a toddler to travel with!)

next!

knitting needle case

because I can't really take my sewing machines with me on this trip,

I am planning to knit when I have free time in Japan.

I've been knitting a quite bit more than the last year,

and started accumulating knitting needles.

they deserve a proper home anyway.

this way, they are very organised and easier to travel with!

I used this tutorial, but you also can find a lot more here.

next!

zipper pouches

originally made one for my ergo,

then realized they were very handy and made some more for other things!

one of them became a diaper bag, which keeps the bigger diaper bag organized

and you can just take this smaller diaper bag out when you take the little one to a washroom.

the very big black one is used for my knitting stuff, just big enough for a few rolls of yarn and the needle case.

two more, and I think I am going to use them for socks/underwear, etc...

and the last!

traveler's jewelry case

ever since I saw this creation on Burdastyle,

I had been wanting to make myself one!

it is so handy when you travel and it keeps earrings and necklaces from getting tangled!

I often have a problem(even at home) with that and end up spending 15-20min to unravel the mess.

ha! finally!!

this will make my life so much easier!!

phew!
what a week of sewing!!
I got so much stuff done and am ready to travel!!!!!
well, I guess it's time to pack up then :)

*********************************************************************************
P.S. is anyone interested in a how-to on any of the projects above?
maybe I can put it together when I have time?? ;)
*********************************************************************************

little world traveler's backpack

2010-11-12T13:46:00.000-08:00

i've been making things for the upcoming Japan trip.

very first thing I wanted make was a backpack for my little one

so that I didn't have to carry her books and toys while we travel.

so here it is, it is all done and ready to be packed up with all the goodies!

this one is pretty close to this one,

I made my own pattern, but the sewing steps/instructions are pretty much the same,
and used the leftover fabric from this hat.

I added a pocket on backside and outside of the backpack and embroidered around the butterfly print.

also made a bottle holder by simply adding a band with elastic inside of the backpack so the bottle stays upright.

it has an extra cushion of thicker interface on the back and bottom of the backpack for comfort and durability.

it was my first time using piping, and it was great.

I think that is what give the backpack the finished look.

I also did a research on free toddler backpack patterns/tutorials as I was making up my own pattern,

and here is a list of useful links if you'd like to make your little guy one of these!

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

that crafty mrs. V: free pattern/instruction

think liz: a long list of free sewing patterns(clothes, accessories, baby items, etc)

indietutes: free toddler backpack tutorial

made by rae: purchase a toddler backpack pattern/instruction

sew, mama, sew!: free back to school backpack pattern/instruction

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

I have a few more sewing creations to share,,,

please come back to check them out later :)!

have a great weekend!

clothes carts

2010-10-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

Food Carts are very popular in Portland.

you see them pretty much everywhere you go, and they are cheaper than dining in, yet still so delicious!

you can find a wide range of food, like Mexican, Thai, Korean, crapes,,, you name it!

my husband and I really want to make a ritual of going to one food cart a week,

and check all of them out.(we haven't made a point yet : I)

yesterday, I was reading The Oregonian, a local news paper,

and found an interesting article.

it was about this double-decker vintage dress shop, called Lodekka.

Erin Sutherland, the owner, got laid off from her job,

and she decided to pursuit her all time dream, owning a vintage clothes store.

she researched for affordable retail space for rent,

but even tiny space wasn't below $1200/month.

so she decided to go with the cart idea

"if you can sell food from a cart, why not put a dress shop in something that moves?"

so here it is!

a vintage dress shop on a double-decker!!

read more of Erin's story on Lodekka, please visit here,

and her blog and Facebook page.

surprisingly enough, Lodekka isn't only one vintage clothes store on wheels in Portland!

I remembered reading a blog post over at Modish.

Wonderlust!

it might seem smaller compared to Lodekka, but they travel well!

they drive over to street/craft fairs!

pretty awesome, uhn?!

I wonder what kind of new type of carts start appearing in Portland in the near future...

..................................................

Lodekka pics are from here and here.

Wonderlust pics are from here

..................................................

happy Friday!
and have a lovely weekend :)
xo

this season's first knitting project

2010-10-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

do you remember this post where I wrote about Happy Knit's anniversary party?

I started working on the slippers on that weekend, and it didn't take me too long to finish knitting all the parts.

upon assembly, I came across the designer's blog for Bickford seam video tutorials.

then I did some research on 'felting' because I've never done it before, but it didn't look that hard. however, our washing machine is an old front-loader, and it seemed having a hard time felting. in addition to it is a front-loader having some trouble felting, compare with the top-loader, maybe the hottest set water wasn't hot enough? hm :I well, that's done anyway and took them a few days to dry(I'm sure it would have been quicker outside!)

made couple fabric covered buttons, and sewed all the parts together. taddaaaa :)

actually they are technically NOT DONE yet,,,

the pattern called to put something, like puffy paint, on the bottom sole to give them more friction.

yet my housemate gave me a better piece of advised to sew leather on the sole to make them more durable and warmer.

I think it's a great idea and I'd love to try that.

that will be my first project with leather as well.

a simple, no stress project for a first timer!

I will tell you all about it once I get them done :)

stay tuned!

little Miss's second halloween

2010-10-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

Halloween is here!

every store front and many houses are decorated with scary things and spider webs.

wow, it's that time of the year again!!

this year, I couldn't get much creative on little Miss's costume...

I was debating between a little lamb or Little My.

I grew up in Japan, and there was a kids TV series called, The Moomins.

I remember watching it as a kid.

it is a comic/illustrated story from Sweden/Finland,

and it's about these hippo-like trolls, called Moomins.

(pic)

Little My is one of the characters in the Moomins.

(pic)

she has a bad temper, but is determined and quite loyal.

I thought it would be cute if my little one and myself got dress up as her together,

but wondered if anyone over here knew who she was...

so, this year I whipped up a little lamb costume!

the patterns were based on a bonnet and playsuit in this book I got from Powell's Books(a must-go-store when you come to PDX!)

I even made her a pair of leggings as well!

(sorry, no photo of them :I)

she looks cute in it and I even manage to get some picture with our goats!

but I still can let the Little My idea...

hmmm,,, maybe next year!

Japan trip(coming up) & Sale announcement

2010-10-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

at last the completion of my US immigration is in sight( well, we hope!).

I received a letter for an interview, as well as travel document from USCIS two weeks ago.

we had been looking into getting a flight tickets to Japan.

this wold be the last chance for my little doll to fly cheaper and go see mama side family and friends.

I had a hectic time finding a good deal both cost-wise and time-wise,,,

I guess traveling is no longer so affordable especially when you have a kid(s).

anyhow we got a ticket, and little miss and I would be in Japan from November 18th to December 10th!

three weeks is not really enough, but better than nothing.

so excited!

because I won't be around much for the pre-holiday season,

I decided to have a little early pre-holiday sale over at my little Etsy shop.

[SALE] 20% off on all the items listed in my shop.

[time] today Oct 22nd(Fri) - November 7th(Sun)

[deal] please mention about the sale in your comment to the seller when you proceed to purchase.

you will get the 20% refunded via Paypal after purchase.

hope you enjoy the opportunity!

happy weekend :)

finally captured the Melon Hat

2010-10-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

I made my little daughter this hat a few weeks back,

but she had been rejecting to wear it :(

however, today something was different or has shifted.

'honey, do you want to wear the hat? it's kinda chilly outside.'

and she willingly took my offer :)

so, here they are! the very precious shots of the hat(and the little one!).

the pattern is from the book, called Carefree Clothes for Girls,

and I had been eying on it ever since I borrowed it from my friend.

the outer fabric is wool blend and the inner one is flannel, which will keep her head nice and toasty in the winter.

they were both from my scrap pile, as well as the chin strap.

and a little ebony button to give it a finished touch.

it is a nice n' easy quick project and great way to use up some scrap fabric!

I was obsessed enough to even make myself one after grading the pattern to fit my head.

I can't decide if it looks too silly on me though. hm....

anyhow this made my day today,

and I am glad that I can share that here with you :)

zucchini salsa!

2010-10-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

fall is here.

we are harvesting last bit of the garden vegetables.

we also got LOADS of giant zucchinis from our housmates' friend who manages a community garden.

we made zucchini bread four times,

also made some zucchini patties a few times.

but we never seem to be able to consume enough of them...

we still have LOTS!

I mean, LOTS!!

so, I decided to do something different with them.

looked up recipes for zucchini salsa.

found this one, which has great reviews.

so, gave it a shot.

I eliminated the sugar and cornstarch that the original recipe called for,

and cut back the vinegar by half and used apple cider vinegar.
oh, and you know my secret?
I used vita-mix to chop up all the vegetables!
it would have taken me hours to hand-chop them otherwise...

indeed it was very tasty!

I canned most of the first batch,

and made the second batch and canned some more a few days after since we still had a lot of zucchinis.

we have a year or more supply of zucchini salsa :)!

Happy Knits Anniversary Party/Sale

2010-10-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

my knitter friend told me about the anniversary sale/party at Happy Knits.

I started knitting last winter and still a beginner.

I am still not a serious knitter like some people who knits all year around,

but, usually my knitting urge starts nudging me when the cool autumn breeze begins.

I am looking for warm comfort.

it was kinda funny that she told me about the store when I asked her about a good place to get yarn in Portland.

the store was one of the first shops we went to when we moved to Portland five months ago.

so, first only I was going to go there and meet up with her and her friends,

but my hubby and little miss decided to come as well.

they wouldn't let down an offer on FREE food and drink.

and good social occasion, of course!

I never really went in to the back so I never noticed,

but the store was really nice and open.

and they even have a play room for kids!(so mama friendly!)

as usual, I forgot to bring my camera, hence no picture... :(

anyhow, we had wonderful time there.

what's even better,

both my hubby and I won two ruffle tickets!

yipppeeeeee :)

I LOVE those slippers, and I am going to start with them!

can't wait to have my own pair :)

it was a perfect thing to do on a rainy day.

we had fabulous time, thank you Happy Knits :) :) :)

best wishes on many more happy years/yarns to come!

meet my new mug

2010-10-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

a couple days ago, I received a small parcel at my door.

yes, yes, this was what I had been waiting for for almost a month!

camera lens!

but it is not just an ordinary camera lens!!

it actually isn't a lens at all!

it is a coffee mug made to look like a lens!!

I found it on Photojojo, and instantly fell in love with it.

it arrived just on time for pumpkin spiced latte season.

I can't wait to take you everywhere I go!

happy Friday,

have a lovely weekend :)!

P.S. pshyyyyyy! if you also fell in love with it, you can get your own here :)

the autumn breeze

2010-09-14T14:37:00.001-07:00

the autumn breeze by lunatepetal featuring a tea dress

LOVE this dress from Alexa Chung for Madewell!

so simple, so sweet.

old T-shirt cushion covers

2010-09-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

my husband loves T-shirt from Granif, a Japanese T-shirt company.

every time we go back there to visit my family, he brings back a couple of their T-shirts with him.

they have a lot of cool designs, and it's perfect for my husband who doesn't like words/writing on clothes.

over a few years of being well loved/worn by him, and being washed and dried in the machines,

they are no longer the right size/shape for this very picky man.

so he passed these down to me to give them a new life.

I decided to make our little cushions covers.

they have been naked for a long time, well as long as I've know them.

that is kind of gross...

it was about the time and a perfect opportunity :)

How-To

[[Turn your old T-shirt in to a cushion cover]]

you'd want to use as much material out of the T-shirt as possible.

cut the sides as closest as the sleeve seams. and it is okay to go over the seams as long as it is going to be the seam allowance (it will be hidden!)

also, cut off the neck/shoulder part. you can get more out of the back, because the neckline is higher.

cut the front part into a square, the back into halves.

I sewn a piece of twill tape on the back edges, which make the opening where cushion goes in and out. this way the opening won't be stretched out and look sloppy...

put all three pieces facing the right side together and sew/serge all four seams. make sure the outer side of the two back pieces lays in the middle of the three when inside out.

turn it right side out and put cushion in from the back opening!

taddaaa!

these even had a nice designs on the back of the shirt,

which I collaborated into the back opening.

back to basics

2010-09-10T15:20:00.001-07:00

back to basics by lunatepetal featuring high heel shoes

kids clothes inspiration

2010-09-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

I have these books checked out from my friend Tiffany's craft/sewing library.

above all, this one is my favorite!

Carefree Clothes for Girls by Junko Okawa

the dresses in the book are absolutely adorable

and I love the nostalgic styling!

oh how much I love the Japanese kids clothes books!

and I wish I could be in those dresses!!

all the pattern are in size 4~7, which my daughter has still a few more years to grow into.

but I may copy some/all patterns anyway, so I have them for later.

another great thing about this book is it is all in English.

so if you're Japanese sewing book lover, but intimidated by Japanese sewing instructions,

this might be a good one to start with :)

(not to mention that most of Japanese sewing instructions come with some diagrams and easy to figure out!)

finally updating...

2010-08-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

sorry for not posting anything for almost the entire month!

I just noticed this month is over,,,

september is here!!

my husband came back from Canada a little over a week ago,

and we've been pretty busy ever since.

we went down to Bend for Timber Framers Guild workshop,

and then Southern Oregon to visit friends for a few days.

in short, it was awesome!!

(sorry not to mention any details... maybe I'll upload some pics later...?)

I've been dying to upload what I had been making while my husband was away.

I was pretty motivated and occupied with sewing!

I made two pairs of scalloped shorts.

I really liked how simple and clean looking these were,
so I based this pair on ruby pattern from Burdastyle.

the scallop part was a little trickier than I imagined...
I found it harder if they are too close together(smaller scallops),
and looked very irregular(because of my sewing skills?).

instead of the side buttons for closure,

these have an invisible zipper on the one of the sides.

and I added the front pockets because they are very handy!!

I was so excited to find this decorative stitch on my machine!

goes perfectly with the theme -SCALLOP!

these ones are alternation of tonia from Burdastyle.

you notice I went crazy with the scallop stitch!

this pair has the stitch on the front pockets as well.

this one also has a side closure with an invisible zipper.

I could not decide if I wanted the pleated shorts or not.

So I made them both :)

and I love them both!!

last, but not least,,,

in fact, this creation is possibly the most practical thing ever!!

pouch for my stroller.

this stroller didn't come with a cup/key holder when we bought it on Craigslist.

but I was very happy to make it anyway,

and one less plastic thing to contain in the household!

I basically designed it based on my own needs.

cup holder and little pocket for a wallet, cell phone and what not.

so useful and makes things easier!

everything I need is right below the handles.

now having had a little break from sewing,

I am ready to get back at it!

what is the next project??

no computer, less distraction

2010-08-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

sorry for the lack of posting...

my husband left last Monday to work in Vancouver BC, and took our only computer with him.

so, I am going to be computer-less for THREE weeks!

it is both good and bad.

I have been getting a lot more other things done, including some sewing projects,

other than spend hours on computer, which I tend to do when it is around.

so, that's nice.

but it's really hard on my eyes and fingers to websurf on the cell with a small screen and small keys.

I can use my housemate's computer, but I can't(don't want to) use it for a long time...

I'm sort of out of the Internet world.

but not really...

you can find me here more often during the three weeks.

I never thought I'd be a Twitter'er,,,

but I guess I am now!

I will post about things I sewed when I get a chance, or when he comes home.

by then, see you all on twitter!

burdastyle book -shipped- & sewing wishlist

2010-07-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

I just went to a FedEx office, and dropped off my coat for the BurdaStyle book project.

it's finally done and over! yay :)!!

it got really hot here a few days right before the deadline,

and I was so not feeling sewing a winter coat in the heat!

also I decided to give bounded button wholes a try in a last minute,

so I had to take a couple seams a part.

well, I had to do it, and I DID it!!

I find it still hard having a deadline and keeping my motivation up for it.

all the same as when I was a student.

anyhow, now fun time for sewing starts!

here is a list of the few things I want to make.

1) scalloped/or not shorts

(image via Vivat Veritas)

maybe use Tonia or the shorts pattern from BurdaStyle Magazine as a base.

these shorts Natty made look awesome too!

2) tie skirt

from BurdaStyle Magazine

3) airy blouses

I LOVE this peasant blouse!

and oh look!

this version of Alexander blouse posted today on BurdaStyle.

woooo LOVE!

Alden looks fabulous in it too :)

well actually before I give it a go on another project,

I probably should organize my sewing room(aka closet) first.

since I started on the coat as soon as we moved in to the house,

my sewing space is still such a mess!!

bed -my husband's work-

2010-07-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

I wanted to show you readers this bed my husband made for a customer recently.

it is made out of all recycled materials!

a couple of doors are used, I think, for this bed frame.

he got all the material from the Rebuilding Center, located on N Mississippi ave in Portland.

it is such a cool store where they sell all the recyclable/reusable building materials, which is all donated from the previous owners. you can find not only lumbers, but also lots of used old doors, windows, sinks, drawers,,, etc... most of the things there is reasonably priced, and sometimes you get lucky to find a really nice stuff for very cheap!!

the company which my husband works for also uses a lot of recycled materials from the store,

and builds/remodels houses, restaurants, and shops like below!!

for more photos visit their flickr :)

interested? you have a building project/inquiry??
you know who to contact ;)

two way garden top

2010-07-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

I know I should be focusing on the project.

the dead line for shipping is in less than 10 days!

oh, but you know....

I got distracted(as usual), and started another project.

well, I get to have fun,

and make some summer clothes for the season!

it's been a while since the last time I made something for myself.

this fabric has been waiting for its use for a whole year!

it's from naniIRO fabric, and I LOVE all of their fabric.

this one is double gauze, light and breezy. it's perfect for the summer!

the pattern is 1 Piece Kimono Tee from Burdastyle.

it is not 1 piece anymore because I had to use the fabric crosswise(I liked how the print was that way),

and it wasn't long enough.

the sleeves were shortened a bit,

and the neckline is different- one side is shallower than the original, other is V-shape.

this way, I can wear it both ways, front or back.

I kind of like wearing the V on the back better :)

I have a tiny bit leftover of the fabric, and am planning on making a little tunic/top for my daughter.

matching clothes are kinda nerdy, I know.

but I enjoy wearing them with my daughter ;P

it's hard to see, but these are the earrings I am wearing in the pics above.

I made these parrot earrings a few years ago.

oh, how much I love birdies!

okay, that was enough sidetracking,

and now it's time for me to get back to the main project...

burdastyle book -work in progress-

2010-07-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

a little sneak preview of what I am working on for the Burdastyle book project.

these are the fabric I am using for the coat.

I did not get what I was imagining for my variation,

which was really disappointing and frustrating...

but it seems like a lot of the people who are participating in the project didn't get what they wanted to use for their projects either...

and I'm sure those kinds of compromises are expected and needed for a project like this.

now, I'm over it, and feel better about what I got.

I worked on the pattern modification and muslin a little bit.

even though I probably should work with muslin first before starting with any kind of project,

I never have.

but for this project, I was a little too scared to just give it a go and start cutting/sewing the fabric,

and I am little more careful...

although this hot weather is not really helping my motivation to be up for the winter clothes sewing,

I will be starting on the actual fabric soon as there is only half of the time left!

work, work, work!!

recent exciting activities

2010-07-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

last Sunday was a pretty exciting day.

we went to Bakery Bar to watch the world cup final game.

it was jam packed with people, and it was a great game as well.

we didn't know about this place till a few days before the semi/final games,

it won't take us too long to become a regular there!

they have good food, good drinks, and good people :)

and so convenient that it's just a couple streets down from us!

after the game was over, we went home.

and look what we saw!!

goat babies!!

CC(not sure how her name is spelled?), one of the three female goats, had her babies while everyone else was screaming and cheering at the world cup.

she had her own game going.

it was probably so nice for her to have her own quiet space to labor these cuties, though.

oh, they are just too cute :)!

you are next, Zlateh!!

she looks so ready to poop the babies out!

nothing says summer like...

2010-07-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

strawberry shortcake!!

here is the recipe I tried a few days ago.

it was the first time for me to try out a gluten free recipe.

I made it gluten free because one of the housemates has a little trouble with wheat.

I looked up for wheat free strawberry short cake recipe and tried this one.

I will write my version down below.

[[WHEAT FREE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE]]

Sugar -2 TBS

Rice flour -generous 3/4 C

Millet flour -2/3 C

Bking powder -1 TBS

Salt -1/4 TSP

Butter -1/4 C

Water -3 TSP

Yogurt -5 TBS

3 large eggs

①mix all dry ingredients together, then cut butter in and mix until it becomes crumbly

②mix the wet ingredients together in a cepalate bowl, then mix in with the dry ingredients

③preheat the oven 400F, bake it for about 20 min or until it's browned

④serve with strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

Von ape tit :)

I didn't use margarine(it's BAD for you!) or any other dairy/gluten-free products as the original recipe called for.

nor did I use rosewater because I couldn't find it in a store.. :(

it sounds good with rosewater though!

and actually didn't use sugar either(well, just forgot!)

it wasn't that dry and crumbly as most of gluten free bakings tend to be.

I'd love to try it with rosewater next time, for sure :)

so, we went to a u-pick organic farm on Sauvie Island last weekend.

with six of us, picked 46pounds of strawberries in a couple hours!!

(this is what she did most of the time while the others were busy picking!)

we finally finished processing(washing, drying, bagging, freezing, and making jam!) two nights ago.

we'll have plenty of strawberry supply for the year :) :) :)

meet my new housemates

2010-06-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

it feels longer, but we moved in to this house only one and half week ago.

we'd been pretty busy painting the walls and putting stuff away(and still it's work in progress).

but it feels very grounded having our own space back!

so, I'd love for you guys to meet our new housemates!

they're a lovely family of three with four goats and several(fourteen to be specific) chickens!

oh oh! and a bunch of bees(tiny dots you can see in the pic below), too!!

we had been looking for a place pretty intensively ever since we came down to Portland for almost a month and half.

but it was really hard to find a 'workable' place with a child and cat...

so it took us a little more than we expected to find it,

but it was worth it and this place is so perfect!

my daughter loves the kids and animals, and there is a nice park/playground not even a block away!!

well,,, you may think this is somewhere in the country,

but it is right in the city of Portland!

Portland allows you to have up to three domestic animals without any permit.

and a lot of people do have chickens in their back yard.

it doesn't seem that hard to get a permit(for bigger animals/more number of animals) either.

pretty cool!

we're loving Portland and it feels really good to be here :)

life in transition + little announcement

2010-06-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

my life is still somewhat crazy and unsettled.

well, not there just yet.

we moved into a new place two weekends ago,

and had been painting the room and bathroom for the entire first week!

the walls and sealing were cracking and peeling, which was original old paint.

took us a while to get ready to paint and actual painting part was an experience,too,

because we used all natural/non-toxic paint, called lime paint.

anyhow, it's all done and finally we moved our stuff to the room,

and slept on our own bed first time for the past THREE months!

still need some organizing and more furnitures(which my husband will be making soon, I hope!),

but it feels really good, and relieved to settling in!

I have to introduce this unique household/members to you guys,

but I will save it for another post for sometime this week ;)

before I say goodbye for the day, I have a little but exciting announcement to make!

many of you who are also a member of Burdastyle community might already know about this book project.

I am super excited about the book and to be a part of it!

there will be 60 different artists/seamstresses/designers making a variation of the five different patterns(blouse, skirt, dress, coat, and accessory) that are included in the book.

I will be making a coat!

is any of you also participating?? what are you going to make??

would love to know who is participating!

sunshine love

2010-06-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

ah!

we finally found a 'home' here in Portland!

we moved most of our stuff yesterday and we'll be living there by the weekend :)

we haven't had a 'home' for way too long,,,

I am so excited and looking forward to having our own space and start living again!!

meanwhile,

I will post pics of a couple of thing I made for my daughter during our transition...

pants

pattern was from the book I borrowed from my friend.

made with leftover sport fleece and Amy Butler for pocket and hem.

hat

my daughter needed a new hat for the summer.

I used a pattern from Japanese sewing magazine, but forgot the name of it...

I had this fabric saved for sometime, and it was perfect for the hat, I think!

I made this hat while we're staying at my friends'.

my friend and I held a couple craft nights after the kids went to sleep.

it was lots of fun having someone to share the creative time with.

blueberry face :)

it seems like the summer is finally here(skipped spring)!

it had been really rainy and cold.(of course today is one of those days again!)

we're so ready for some sunshine and summer fun!!

I will post some pics of our new home once we settle in :)

I'm here.

2010-05-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

a sweet short film by Spike Jonze.

I have to admit,,,

I cried...

you can watch a full version here.

my kind of drink

2010-05-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

since we got in Portland, my husband and I've been drinking this tea called "kombucha".

we had been a regular drinker of it until we moved back to Canada two years ago,

but the price in Canada was so much higher and there was only one kind sold at the organic grocery store we used to go to...

now, we're back in the States and definitely enjoying the variety and the cost that they offer here!

yesterday, I discovered another favorite one!

SYNERGY Guava Goddess

sorry it is an empty bottle :P

sometimes you can't taste the 'flavors' because Kombucha is so strong,

which kind of tastes like carbonated apple cider vinegar.

but this one was really fruity and very yummy :)

just in case you've never heard of kombucha...

KOMBUCHA (kom-BOO-cha)

is a handmade Chinese tea that is delicately cultured for 30 days. During this time, essential nutrients from like: Active Enzymes, Viable Probiotics, Amino Acids, Antioxidants, and Polyphenols. All of these combine to create an elixir that immediately works with the body to restore balance and vitality.

KOMBUCHA SUPPORTS:

digestion, metabolism, immune system, appetite control, weight control,

liver function, body alkalinity, anti-aging, cell integrity, healthy skin & hair.

(description/info from the SYNERGY bottle,

and here is their website.)

okay, there has been a little question on my mind...

I am a little confused and wondering why it is Chinese tea, but the name is Japanese?

is this one of those thing that got all mixed up and thrown together just because it is close enough in region,

or is the name really chinese??

does anyone know????

it seems like there are a quite few Portlanders who brew their own Kombucha!

I'd love to try brewing my own, too, once we settle in!!

happy birthday to..

2010-05-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

me :)!

today was my birthday!!

it was rather mellow and quiet.

my hubby went back to Canada last Sunday for a week worth of work left up there.

so, I am all by myself here in Portland on my birthday :(

well,,, at least my little girl is with me!

I got a lot of messages from family and friends.

so that was very sweet.

oh, and I got an unexpected raspberry tart and card from our friend's family who we're staying with right now.

it was very sweet of them.

I was going to share the raspberries with little L, but she didn't really dig and tried a little bite on one.

and,,,

we're still 'home' hunting in Portland...

it's been pretty hard to find a family/kid-friendly place for rent that suites us.

although, this family is really nice to us and offering a place to crash,

it been pretty stressful(for me anyway)...

trying to stay positive!

here we come!

2010-04-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

our lives have been kind of crazy and very exhausting...

hard to live in an 'up-in-the-air' lifestyle with full on unknowns.

my creativity pretty much doesn't exist when things are chaotic like this,

and I get unmotivated and a bit depressed.

I know that it takes sometime to make a transition from one life/place to next,

and it doesn't always happen in the way and timing that you want.

but, it's been a quit challenge for my patience, that is for sure!

well, I hope it is ending soon, and I just can't wait to get on with my life soon...!

anyhow, we're going down to Portland, Oregon!!

and then to Ashland in a few days.

I have been to Portland a few times on a quick trip, but never explored much around the city.

do you have any suggestions on where to go, eat, and shop(maybe?)??

and that actually is the place we're thinking of moving!

we'll be checking out different neighborhoods around the city as well.

I'd love to hear your recommendations on safe good inspiring (and somewhat family oriented) neighborhood that might suite for our family!

(image)

ah I can't wait!!

what we've been up to...

2010-04-09T11:08:00.001-07:00

so, I guess I can sort of tell you what we've been up to.

we have been trying to make a move to somewhere inspiring that we'd love to live!

I won't tell you where we're thinking of moving just yet,

just because it may not work out...

currently we're in a transitional phase.

I and my little girl are staying at my husband's sister's place while my husband keeps working out of town.

his sister and her family had been gone for a couple weeks to Japan to visit family.

(yes, his sis is married to a Japanese guy. two Japanese people in the family! interesting, eh?)

while they were gone, I had an animal care taking job at their place.

they have a cat and a bunch of chickens.

I feed them, collect the eggs twice a day and tuck them in at night.

sure chickens taste good and I certainly love eggs, but oh man, I can't stand them...

they kind of creep me out - how them move is very weired and I can't figure out what they're thinking(if not at all)...

I even chopped some wood yesterday! it was a lot of work!!!

I don't think I've ever used an ax before.

what a way of life!

it is very inspiring to be living off grid and be self-sustainable,

but I think I'm going to wait another ten fifteen ears before I get into a country living!

changes are happening...

2010-03-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

sorry for not blogging often lately...
some changes are coming upon us,
well, maybe they are happening as I speak.
I can't quite tell you what the changes are...
well, I, myself, can't even keep up with them, nor am I entirely sure how they will play out.
so, I will post about that later when things are more clear and sure.

anyhow, I finally watched this movie, called New York, I love You.
I had been wanting to watch this for a long time.

it is constructed from a bunch of different short stories, which are also interwoven together somehow.
each short story is written and directed by different play writer and director.

the main reason why I wanted to watch it was because I like the similar movie called, Paris je t'aime.
I guess, it is the same production...

here are the little youtube trailers.

I loved them both movies, but I think it would be much more fun watching it if you know(have visited or lived)those cities.
recognizing so many places and land marks in the movies would have made it much more real.

anyhow they are both good :)

I am trying to keep up with reading everyone else's blog even though I may not leave a comment.
I promise, I will write about what's going on as soon as it becomes more clear!

hoop earrings for my sis

2010-03-11T13:49:00.000-08:00

I got a custom order from my little sister(for free, of course...!).

she wanted a pair of hoop earrings like these ones with some green or/and purple semi-precious stones.

I made these a bit bigger(4cm in diameter) as she requested,

and the stones removable so that she can wear the earrings with/without the dangling agate and amethyst.

she is going to UK in the spring on working holiday for eight months, and I am green with envy!

I don't regret whatever the path I took and am really grateful for what I have right now.

but being young and free(meaning lots of me-time) is so precious!

enjoy, sis!!

tomorrow, we are going to Vancouver to get our daughter Americanized!

when the application is accepted, then she'll become a citizen of THREE countries - Canada, Japan, and US!

what a lucky girl!!

well, up until she is nineteen,
then she has to chose Japanese or the other two because Japan doesn't allow you to have more than one citizenship...

it would be really awesome if that changes by the time she has to make that decision.

it's going to be a quick (whole)day trip...

get up early(4am), drive to the ferry, ferry, then public transit in Van. then, the same thing in reverse on the way back...

loooong day...

but it will be nice to get the city fix(right after the Olympics), and get out of the town for even one day!

hope you'll have a fun exciting weekend!
xo

more knitting

2010-03-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

oh, it's so gorgeous out!
but here I am sitting inside knitting in our shady home(our suite has lots of big windows, but gets no sun)...

after leaning how to knit, all I want do recently is to knit.

yes, yes, I know the spring is just around the corner and we've been having nice sunny warmer days.

but a few days of the coldness left is a good enough reason for me to knit.

I am sure it will fade away once the sunny beautiful spring really hits here.

here are what I've been working on :)

●my toque(that's what we call knitted hat here in Canada) #2●

based on this pattern.

but I didn't repeat the cable pattern all the way around, instead broke them up with some knit stitches in between.

currently on hold because I ran out of yarn, and the store I got it was out of stock and put it in order...

●fingerless gloves for my hubby●

it took me a few re-do's to get a pair of gloves done for him.

originally I was going with this pattern,

but my husband is pretty picky(with pretty much everything!),

and he said it was too long, too baggy around the wrist, etc,,,

and finally turned out how he wanted(well, sort of,,, close enough... :I)

he didn't really like the yarn either because it was too 'sweater-like'.

ha! oh well, that's all I had!!

●my toque #3●

based on this pattern.

I liked how Novita did hers, so I decided to integrate the cables(braids) into it.

it is a bit too big and loose, but may shrink a little after washing it(although the yarn itself came pre-washed).

but I still like it :)

although I don't really like cold winter weather,

now I get excited just for the perfect opportunities to wear my knitted things :) :) :)

need help - Portuguese-English translation / sewing input

2010-03-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

do you remember this pattern I was going to try out?

I finally got around to buy fabric, and cut all the pieces.

then went to a couple different online free translating sites to translate the instruction for the pants.

although it is all in a weired grammar and wording, I managed to figure out the most part.

however I am stuck with this following part of the instruction:

•Una os fundos da frente e das costas do bolso com uma costura pelas laterais.
•Una os fundos externo e interno do bolso, direito sobre direito, com uma costura pelas bordas externas.
•Prenda a frente nas laterais das costas, coincidindo os números 5 e 6 de montagem. Deixe livres as aberturas inferiores.
•Costure as palas nas bordas superiores das costas. Pesponte, pelo direito, rente às bordas inferiores das palas, prendendo as folgas no avesso.

there is a cool pocket detail on these pants.

and if you look at the diagram of the pants, it looks like there isn't any overstitch on the bottom part of the back pocket.

(sorry for the dark photo!)

from the wacky Internet translation, and translation my sis(who studied Portuguese in University) did for me,

it seems like the bottom of the pocket is left open.

but then, the pockets are not functional... which doesn't make sense to me...

maybe it's just for the look??

so here I am, still lost in translation, desperately needing a help...

if any of you know Portuguese and could tell me how the back pockets are done, I'll most appreciate your help!

or if any seamstresses out there have any input for me, yes yes enlighten me please!!

shoe addiction

2010-03-01T19:51:00.000-08:00

one of my bad habits is 'collecting' shoes.

yes, I have a shoe addiction!!

in order not to 'collect' shoes, I try to get the ones I wear for sure.

(no high heels... they are just not so practical for me.)

regardless of my effort, my pile of shoes keeps growing, seemingly, every months.

there are some pairs I will never wear, or wear maybe once or twice a year.

I probably should get rid of them...

but oh well, what can I do?

lots of shoes make me so happy :)

here are a coupe of cuties added to the collection this week!

I found the purple bow shoes(left) at a local vintage store.

they were 18 bucks, but I had some store credits from consignment items, so they were free!

the black flats were thrifted today for $2.

they show the toe-lines(don't know what to call them... little bit top part of toes??),

and it kind of bugs me...

but hey for $2, I can give them a try! I am sure I'm going to wear them lots!!

... and shes for my daughter :)

the pink bear shoes were thrifted for 99c.

the other pair of shoes/boots were $9 each at a local kids consignment store.

how can you resist the little girly shoes?!

they all are super cute!!!

aaahhhh

yup,,, no wonder why the number of shoes in our household keeps going up!

my first ever knitted hat

2010-02-27T12:36:00.000-08:00

the spring may be just around the corner.
but before it comes, I wanted to squish in some knitting.
I love soft and warm knitted/crocheted item that keep me cozy in the cold weather.

do you remember how I explained before that I didn't have a brain and hands for knitting?
I know I had failed so many times trying to knit,
but, all the hats and scarves I see on Etsy and people on the street & blogs had been making me want to learn knitting, well, once again!

I searched online for slouch hat/beret patterns, and I came across this blog.
also find this site for knitting terms and stitches, and it even has little tutorial video clips.
thank god for the Internet! I would have been lost without it, otherwise!!

I changed the pattern slightly because uneven number of stitches was driving me nuts!
yes, I am very particular when it comes to things like that.
and after restarting it five or six times, finally it was shaping like a hat!!
I was so excited :)!

I did one too many row in the cable(can you find where it is?),
but I decided not to rip it all apart once again and tried to shut my eyes off of it.

not bad for the first project, right?
the important thing is, I actually finished a project!

now, I am hooked on knitting!
and want to make myself another hat with cranberry/raspberry red yarn.
the year I used for this hat was thrifted for 50c and wasn't that soft.
I am guessing it was aclyric.
I want the next hat to be nice and soft, so now I am off to yarn hunting :)