Photos

Here is a photo of the finished gift for Ana & Amelia - matching bags to hold makeup or items in the purse, gym bag, etc. Amelia's is smaller (as fitting for a four year old) but includes a wrist strap.

Project Update

I spent some time last week working on the polka dot dress,



but I had a bit of trouble getting the bust seam smooth on the princess seams down the front, and then I knew I wouldn't get it done by the party so I put it on hold. Before going back to it (I will not let it join the unfinished stack) I'm going to make a gift for Ana and Amelia. I'll post pics when I'm done, which had better be by Saturday morning, since their bday party is that afternoon! I will hint that I'll be using more cute fabric from Peapod (http://www.peapodfabrics.com/), and an Amy Butler pattern, so you know it will be fabulous.

Busy Weekends

The last two weeks have been quite busy, and two busy weekends as well. The most exciting thing is that after 4 years of really not liking the kitchen curtains I had made with cheap fabric, I broke down and bought some cute new fabric from Peapod fabrics on 18th & Irving, and in about half hour whipped up some new curtains. They are adorable, and I just love them. The colors are perfect in my kitchen and I can't believe I waited so long to replace the old ones!




This past weekend Habiby and I did Greek Fest and had some friends over for homemade lamb gyros, cooked on the rotisserie on the bbq. He was in charge of the lamb, chicken, tzatziki and a delish roasted red pepper and feta dip. I'm the dessert girl, so I was in charge of the cashew baklawa and the sesame crunch. A few things I learned: use toasted nuts, because even though they'll cook in the oven, they won't really get a good toasted flavor. Making candy, you really do need to get the mixture to the temperature it says in the recipe. I should point out that I printed 3 recipes from the internet, all mostly the same, but different enough to not know which to follow. We made a first batch of sesame honey candy and it didn't harden at all, so we made a second the following morning, in a smaller pot, also taking note of the recipe that said it could take about 15 minutes of boiling for the mixture to reach the correct temperature. That batch tasted so good - I think I may try to keep some around, or to whip it up if I know friends are coming for tea and visiting.

Two Nights of Veggies

Last night I made "Sweet & Sour Cabbage with Tofu & Grains", a recipe from the NY Times, Eating for Health series. I made a half recipe, substituted 5-spice baked tofu instead of frying my own, and served it with Udon noodles. I probably could have used a healthier grain, but the saute was almost done when I decided I did need some sort of carby addition, and the udon took only 8 minutes to cook. I have to say, it was quite delish. I had some for lunch today as well.



When I got home tonight I wanted a healthy filling dinner that wouldn't put me over my calorie limit for the day, and having a bit of time I set to cooking some Millet first thing. Since it takes 30 minutes, I like to get it (and any grain really) cooking first, then I can start on the veggies. Tonight I chopped up the carrot sticks I didn't eat at work, as well as a yellow summer squash, two zukes and the remaining half of onion from last night's saute. With a dash of canola oil, I sauted the veggies with italian seasoning, a little s&p, and served them over the millet. It was quite yummy, and I don't think I'll have to cook again until Friday night - a little break may inspire me, but right now I've been thinking about doing Cornbread and a spicy black bean chili. I've been wanting cornbread for a few days now, but I want to make it when 7abiby is here, so I don't eat the whole pan and it doesn't go stale. It doesn't last well in the freezer, so it's best to make when you've got more than one hungry mouth.

Re-start

Inspired by some chats with my co-worker, I'm back to the blog world - documenting recent recipes and as always the slow moving craft projects.
I did finish the felted hat for baby Dylan (now 1 year old), and made a guitar print apron for 7abiby for valentines day, both projects from my list last year. I also am about 90% complete with the bolero sweater, but finishing projects is so hard! Definitely the most difficult part for me. I've also made some makeup pouches for my purse, using a cute Amy Butler pattern I got awhile back on a shopping spree, and a pillow case for a throw pillow for my bed with fabric from that same trip. I'm reserving the rest of the fabric though - for a Kaffe Fassett quilt - to begin in 2010 if I can finish all my other projects first!

-Eman's baby bib (I luv veggies - from sublime stitching)
-Mah jong make up pouch (come on - it's already cut out!)
-Oil cloth pouch for my cap & goggles (with a stylish bag will I get to the pool?)
-Red/White polka dot dress (can I get it done before Greek Fest - who am I kidding)
-The Shirt dress - still sitting half cut out on my desk - I don't even see it anymore

I think that is most of them, but I probably have another list somewhere...

As for food, I joined Livestrong.com in an effort to be more mindful about my food, and to track my intake, etc. I'm finding it a good tool, and 7abiby and I are both on there - and can share recipes/meals which makes it easier since we do eat many meals together.

Tokyo fashion inspiration

I'm officially a convert to Junya Watanabe. If it weren't for the $750 price tag, I would have bought the mr. rogers/grandpa argyle cardigan for myself. Unfortunately I can't find it online, but here is his springs mens collection on the runway.

http://www.gqstyle.com/TheCollections/Photos/Default.aspx?ShowID=3687

I have come back home ready to add more unique twists to my wardrobe, to break out of the boring banana look of my office and to add a bit of pizazz - I'm also inspired to do a bit of refashioning. Perhaps the cardigan is not as out of reach as I first thought.

I did buy an Issey Miyake piece (Pleats Please line) which is only available in Tokyo, and has sentimental value as well as fashion oomph, since it ties into the exhibit I saw at the Asian Art Museum over New Years.

Project Update:
I finished the gift for Colleen & Shun on the plane trip, and if I can get her to send a picture, I will post it here! Now I think on to the Shirt dress and a gift for the coming baby Peters.

Upcoming Projects

Perhaps by publicly listing my projects it will motivate me to actually start making some progress on them!
Here's what's currently in progress or at least in progress in my mind.

Partially complete:
1. Colleen & Shun's wedding gift - I need to finish it before heading over to visit them!

2. Shirt dress - half a muslin cut out on my work table waiting to be marked and sewn up for fitting

In the wings or in my mind:
1. Half-gloves from the Stitch Lounge tutorial (link here: http://stitchlounge.com/site/blog/79/half-glove-tutorial)

2. Swing coat - supposed to be a project with Lainy

3. Quilted pillow for Jackey

4. Knitted shrug (Debbie Bliss pattern http://www.debbieblissonline.com/books/ss/ss_1.htm)

5. Potential gift for a particular person (this is definitely only in my mind)

6. Another serged knit top, I've got 11/2 hours at Stitch and the serger awaits me. I just have to do the prep work here first. I have an idea for a mock turtleneck with a pleated seam above the bust. We'll see how it turns out.

7. Many others I can't list without getting super overwhelmed at how little I've been accomplishing here

I'm a sucker for snazzy new make up and html code