Peapod Journal

Resting

2012-02-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

hi everyone, i didn't mean to disappear. i feel bad about posting only twice in january. i've been busy. no, i mean...even when i'm busy, i always wrote. so that's not it. i mean i am mentally overloaded. it's been stressful. i can't think of anything. my mind is all over the place, then blocked. too many things to deal with. other than that, all is well. really? :-) the boy is back in school and doing well. just little headaches once in a while when he has to concentrate really hard. but, that's something that was expected and he has to deal with it. so it's a new month. let's make it nice.

January Cleaning & Organizing

2012-01-17T11:07:00.000-08:00

As many other folks feel the same, January is all about cleaning and organizing. I haven't made much progress yet, but my kitchen is a bit more organized than last year.

these dish racks are truely handy...

i even organized my junk drawer...

yup, i am determined...

Happy New Year

2012-01-03T21:17:00.000-08:00

What? I already wasted two days? One of my new year resolutions has failed already which was to blog every day in a month. Wait, I have 11 more months to go. And I have many other resolutions to keep up. Eat healthy. Cook more. Bake more. Sew more. Exercise more. Finish all the projects around the house. And work hard(er). Hope you are keeping yours so far. Happy 2012!

how much longer do i have to put up with this? do you think i'm enjoying this? when is he going back to school? let me go to work with you, mama...
woof (happy new year), everyone!

Thank You

2011-12-30T21:30:00.000-08:00

Today was the last business day of 2011, and it was a good day. As you know, it's been a crazy year. I closed the old shop and opened at the new location. Then, the accident happened. But, it turned to be the sweetest year too. I am so grateful for your love and support. People are sending me warm wishes for my boy's recovery. We've been receiving emails, cards, sweet treats, and even homemade dinner. You guys are so sweet. Thank you!!! He is doing very well and wants to tell you all THANK YOU. He had some friends over yesterday and the first thing they said was "wow, you look normal." Yeah, they had seen him at the hospital :-) The wounds on his face are almost gone, and it is hard to tell that he went through a head surgery just last week as long as he has a hat on. So, thank you again for all your support and we wish you a very happy new year.

i look up the window before getting in the car and there they are. my driving force...
bye mom...they send me off for work everyday from the window...
i know dash is missing to go to work with me, but i ordered him to keep the boy company at home and he is doing a great job :-)

Echo

2011-12-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

I'm afraid that I might have ruined your sewing plans for the holidays because of the boy's accident. I know one lady was checking almost everyday to see if I received the whole collection of Echo. I was expecting lots of shipments last week, but because of the accident I had to ask my neighbor to receive my packages. Driving back and forth from the hospital, I picked up the packages, but I had to leave them in the shop without unpacking them until yesterday. So here it is! The whole collection is available (some prints are not photographed here). I have many ideas to make things with these. A bag. A table runner. A tunic. A pillow. A modern quilt would be very nice too. Or maybe a new table cloth to welcome a new year. Endless possibilities...

Open on Tuesday December 27

2011-12-27T14:13:00.000-08:00

Just to let you know the shop is open today until 5pm...

Christmas Day

2011-12-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much for your warm thoughts. He enjoyed reading your comments. Speaking of a helmet, he totally agrees with wearing it. On the second night in the hospital, he was sitting down on his bed staring in the air. I could see there were tears in his eyes. He wasn't feeling well that night and the tears were because of how sorry he was not wearing a helmet. He has one, but he just didn't wear it all the time. And I didn't force him either. He'll be writing a story on this accident for his school paper and be an ambassador to educate others to wear a helmet once he is able to go back to school. But he quits skating, he said :-)

So we had a pretty quiet Christmas. We needed to stay low at home. It was very nice. The boy gets tired pretty easily and has headaches once in a while, but he is doing well. He took a shower for the first time since Tuesday, and I gave him a little hair trim on the sides and back. It still looks pretty funny, but we don't care. He needs to shave it all at once after his stitches heal so it grows back evenly. Hope your day was filled with lots of love too.

opened the presents and cards...

played with the dog...during this crazy time, dash was being babysat by grandma and grandpa in santa cruz. he loves spending time at their place, but it seems that grandma and grandpa are enjoying his company more :-) every time he comes back home, he has new toys and clothes. during their regular morning walks, they had quite a lot of compliments on his christmas collar, grandma told us :-)
more playing...i think he looks pretty handsome in this sweater...
went for a short and slow walk and found this little branch on the sidewalk...
so the three of us reunited since tuesday (a christmas gift for me!), and guess who was happier than anybody else to see the boy at home...

dash: what?

One Lucky Boy

2011-12-24T08:03:00.000-08:00

I don't feel so comfortable talking about things too personal here since I can't be anonymous, but this has been effecting the shop's business hours. So I decided to write...

This was the view from my boy's hospital room. He had been hospitalized since Tuesday. He had a serious head injury called Epidural Hematoma while he was skateboarding. It was the second day of winter break. He was skating alone at school and fell pretty badly. He called me at work panicking, and while I was on the way, one of his teachers came to work and found him bleeding on his face. She called 911 and when I got there, he was already in the paramedic's care. I left my car there and went to SF General in the ambulance with them. My long day started since then. Being in an ER was crazy, but they were an amazing team! They didn't waste a second and made sure not only the boy was looked after, but that I was feeling okay as well. He was conscious all those hours, so we were positive about his condition. But after CAT scan, they found that his skull was fractured and there was internal bleeding. They had to stop the bleeding and remove the clot right away. The neurosurgeon team quickly arrived and explained to me what needed to be done. Yes, there were some risks that scared the hell out of me. After everything was over, I was told what saved his life was that he received the medical treatments very quickly from the fall to the surgery. If his teacher didn't see him at the accident site and call 911, he could have been dead, his doctor told him. Everyone said he was very lucky. He has wounds all over his body and face. His left side face is so swollen that he can hardly open his left eye. And he will have a huge scar on his head for the rest of his life. But,the important thing is that he is ALIVE! That's all matters. He is recovering remarkably and came home yesterday. He needs to rest and recover at home for the next few weeks. So this was the reason for the emergency sign if you saw it on the door. And my apologies to those who traveled to the shop and found out that the shop was closed. Thanks for understanding and I wish you all happy and safe holidays.

***The shop will be closed on December 24, 25, 26.
Lucky to be alive! Wear a helmet, everyone. Peace out!

Bike Shirt

2011-12-20T09:20:00.000-08:00

I know it is not seasonally appropriate, but this is something I was working on. A bike shirt for the boy. I felt more comfortable sewing a collar this time. He liked the print. I handled the button holes well. I even put my label on. He tried it on. It looked great on him except that it was a couple of inches too short for him. Noooooooo :-( Lesson learned...I will not cut the fabric pieces and leave them for more than a month. The kid grows like a weed. I will have to make another one soon.

boy: am i done yet? i gotta catch the bus. the guys are waiting...

Made in Japan

2011-12-16T20:43:00.000-08:00

Echo

2011-12-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

I know many of you have been asking if I have received Lotta Jansdotter's Echo. I've been waiting for this collection since July. I will be receiving all the prints from the collection soon, but today I only received these in the photo. The rest of them should arrive next week, probably Tuesday. As usual, her designs are simple, modern, and Scandinavian. There are a plenty of fabrics which are described as simple and modern, but her stuff just stands out. You know what I mean? Who doesn't love her stuff? All the Japanese do (she is huge in Japan)! I can't wait to receive the rest of the collection.

Cupcakes and Ornaments

2011-12-13T11:41:00.001-08:00

okay, the tree is up and my holiday baking spirit is upon me again this time of the year. I made those last night for Santa :-)

cupcakes and christmas ornaments...aren't they cute together?
well, my regular little guys are here again...

Home

2011-12-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know it's December, but I'm not feeling it this year. I'm usually quick at switching gears from fall to winter around the house, but I've been very slow this year. Our door is still decorated with a leaf garland, and the pumpkins are still sitting by its side. Yeah, I took out our tiny tree out from the closet, but it's sadly standing there without ornaments. The only place we feel Christmas spirit is on the cabinet in the entryway where I created a winter wonderland. Have you seen the December cover? It's still not complete. I don't know if I am ever going to get any corner of my home ready for the holidays. Is your home ready for the holidays?

Open on Tuesday, December 6

2011-12-06T10:37:00.000-08:00

Just had a cup of cream corn soup. The shop will be open today. See you soon...

Sew & Tell - Mariko's Book Covers

2011-11-22T21:41:00.000-08:00

So I've noticed many of you started sewing for holiday gifts. It's good to start early. Here is something to give you some ideas if you are not sure what to make for your bookworm friend. It seems that Mariko reads a lot, and these paperback covers are great for her to protect her books. In Japan, when you buy a paperback, they will put a cover which is made of craft paper with the bookstore's name on it instead of putting it in a merchandise bag. So, many paperback readers who are crafty usually make a fabric paperback cover to replace the one which came with the book. Make sense? Their paperbacks are all universal in size, and this is why paperback covers are common things to sew (you might have seen a book cover as a project in many Japanese craft books). The cover also provides privacy. Sometimes you don't want other people to know what you are reading in public, right? Mariko's book covers are adjustable to the volume of the books and have built in bookmarks. Isn't it clever? Thank you, Mariko!

Sew & Tell - Eva's Cupcake Duo

2011-11-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

So it wasn't just Francine's family who was moving out of the city. Soon Peapod will loose another loyal customer :-( Well, luckily she will be an hour and half away. Eva took a little break from sewing as her sewing machine was still packed in the box from her previous move. She didn't want to unpack things because she found out that her family will be moving again soon. But, she couldn't go on with her life without her lovely sewing machine any longer. So she took it out of the box, then boom, the sewing bug took over. The first thing she made after a reunion with her machine was a cupcake dress for her little girl. Then she had a little left over. Not big enough to make anything, you think? No, it was plenty to make a patchwork skirt for the wise mom. This one is for her second little girl. They are as sweet as cupcakes! Thank you, Eva and remember it's just an hour and half :-)

Sew & Tell - Francine's Kimono Top

2011-11-16T10:19:00.000-08:00

One of the fun things about seeing people's projects is to see their little ones grow when they come to show me what they made for them. Many times the little ones were still in their mom's womb kicking their arms and legs. Elia is one of the little ones whom I've seen grow since she was still in her stroller. Her mom, Francine loved making this kimono style top for her and her little sister, and they are famous for being purple lovers :-) Here she is again Elia is in her purple kimono top looking very pretty. It's just so amazing to see how the girl has "matured." I remember her as a shy little girl speaking all in French back then, but now she is a bright girl speaking very articulate English. I am just so sad that I won't see her family again. The day after this photo was taken they moved to the East Coast. Girls, thank you again for all these years and best of luck to you and your family. And thank you for the daisies too. Love them!

Sew & Tell - Heather's Play Suit

2011-11-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

I hear that it is not exciting to sew for boys all the time. There is not much to sew for them because all they need are t-shirts and pants. Also, there are not many sewing patterns available for boys either...good ones at least. But, wait. Do not forget Oliver + S. Their designs are classic with a bit of a twist to make them cuter, like this Play Suit. With her excellent choice of fabric combination, Heather did such a wonderful job here. I love her choice of royal blue piping. It makes a huge difference! I remember that Heather and I talked about skipping this detail when she wasn't sure what to choose for piping, but she made the right decision. Yes, it seems like a tiny detail, but it is up to you to make the outcome more advanced looking if you take the time and love like Heather did. Thank you, Heather! It is beautiful!

Cabinet Makeover

2011-11-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

So I found this cabinet on Craigs List during the summer for my entryway to hide the "stuff." It's perfect to hold the dog walking stuff like plastic bags and gloves, and small stuff like extra keys. And also it's perfect to put those shoes away. I went to pick it up down the Peninsula, and it had been sitting in the front porch ever since. The makeover progress was very slow as I was manually sanding it on my day offs for the past few months. But, one warm Monday in early fall I finally finished it. I had a few different shades of black paint left over and I planned to paint it in classic black that I chose for my night stand a while back, but I realized it was the wrong color after a couple of drawers were painted. I kept painting the pieces knowing it wasn't the color I wanted for this cabinet. But, in the end I am pretty happy with the way it turned out.

the yellow fabric in the frame is just temporary and i am currenly working on something for the wall...

before...

i was originally going to replace the hardware too, but i like the way this antique brass looks against this black...

Sew & Tell - Harryette's Blouse

2011-11-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

This post has been so overdue, but Harryette's beautiful blouse is the perfect opening for the November sewing and crafty month (I heard that September was the sewing month, but I think November should really be the one...or any month :-) Too bad that she wasn't wearing this when she came to the shop the other day. Can you tell the sleeves are a little different? It's not the regular puffed sleeves with an elastic through casing. They are balloon sleeves. I really wished that she was wearing it so I could see how the sleeves would look like on her arms. I don't know where she got this pattern, but it is an interesting one for sure. And don't you love this print? So pretty! Thank you, Harryette!

Thank You and Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T21:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you girls for coming to Wine & Needles last Friday. It was smaller than originally planned due to the last minute cancelations, but at the end there were six of us sitting together eating, drinking (okay it was just Lena and I drinking), chatting, and stitching little pears. Very relaxing. We'll do it again, but I realized that it will be during Thanksgiving week in November. So we'll probably have to pass next month. Sorry, no photos were taken because I forgot to bring the camera with a memory card in it :-( Anyways, I hope you are having a nice Halloween night.

you might have seen this collage before as i posted it in 2009. those are photos from the inner sunset neighborhood on one halloween night when my boy was still going trick or treating.

Wine & Needles

2011-10-27T20:41:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder that we meet tomorrow night for Wine & Needles. It will start at 6pm after the shop is closed for business. Please bring a hand needle, thread, scissors, and materials for what you are working on. You can work on your unfinished project if you do not feel like making fabric pumpkins or pears. I might work on something else. Please bring a yummy dish to share with others too. The shop is equipped with a microwave if you need to use it. I am providing a few bottles of red wine, cheese and crackers, as well as plates, cups, and utensils. I would bake cupcakes to bring, but I am out of eggs tonight :-( Hope to see you tomorrow.

Happy belated Mole Day

2011-10-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was no ordinary Sunday. It was Mole Day! Did you know there was such a day? I didn't. Apparently it is a big day among chemists around the United States. So my son's chemisty teacher assigned the class to make a mole. As the teacher provided only a pattern with no instructions, the students had to be as creative as possible. My son had no idea what to do, but luckily his mom was crafty. I examined the pattern and gave him some instructions...and here it is. Super Mole had been born (yeah, it had to be named too). He chose the colors and did all the stitching. Super Mole was just a regular mole with a turquoise and orange body, but he decided to upgrade it with a Super Man cape. I think he did a superb job. It was due today and he told me that there were many great looking moles in the class. I saw a few pictures on Facebook where his classmates posted their moles. And indeed they were pretty creative. My favorite was a mole dressed in a Super Mario outfit and it was named Molio. Get it? My son jokingly suggested that we should make a mole in Wine & Needles :-)
ta da...

what is this, mama? my new toy?

dash observing it in a circle...

silence before the battle...

dash vs. super mole...

super mole was saved and joined the gang before the dog was about to shred it...

Sew & Tell - Laurel's Flower Garden Quilt

2011-10-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

I don't exactly remember when laurel started this quilt because she was making many other things at the time. It all started when she found out that her sister was having a baby girl. She was sooooo excited about the news. Yep, she is a brand new aunt to baby Isla who is happily lying down on her aunt's hand stitched quilt. The pattern is called Grandma's Flower Garden which was very popular in the 1930's. Laurel used, oh, boy, the English paper piecing method so her hexagon pieces are perfectly shaped. Laurel chose grey for the background to make the flowers pop. I think grey has turned the 1930's to 2011, "modern" meets "traditional." It looks fantastic! Thanks, Laurel!

isla in her onsie skirt...thank you, aunt laurel!

the back side of the quilt...

The Lounge Corner

2011-10-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

This corner will be a part of our lounge area during Wine & Needles. Are you ladies okay with sitting on the floor? There will be some chairs and the bench area, but since I don't know how many people would show up, I don't think everyone will be sitting on a chair. We will figure it out as the day gets closer. And to answer some questions you may have, you don't have to bring your sewing machine as I am planning to set up a few of mine for you to use. The materials you will need depend on what you want to make. If you want to make a fabric pear or pumpkin, you need fabric (this could be print cotton, your old sweater, or felt) and some stuffing. Well, Peapod carries all these if you don't have them at home. The tools you need to bring include a hand needle, thread, and scissors. Or just bring your own sewing box. As the invitation says, you don't have to work on the assigned project. Bring whatever you've been working on. Something you hand stitch will be a good project. I also want to clarify the invitation a bit. I've been asked in the past if I will offer mother-and-daughter sewing classes. You know, I have offered mother-and-daughter sewing classes in the past. Well, since I no longer offer any classes, I thought this would be a good occasion for a mother and daughter pair to sew together. So what I meant was for you to bring your kid(s) if they want to learn to sew with us. So please no toddlers. There will be everyone's tools everywhere, and this won't be a relaxing evening for everyone if any kids get hurt. And oh yes, I finished my second Gum Drop Pillow.

More to Sew

2011-10-13T09:02:00.001-07:00

One new project added to my to-do list...have you seen this orange elephant? It's awfully cute. I just can't stand it :-)

On the Window

2011-10-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

boo...

the leaves were collected as dash and i walked around the park...

i used my old orange sweater for the big pumpkin...

crochet baskets from several years ago...always on display this time of the season...

finally sunny early october has arrived...

a green pumpkin made of felt. 35%wool & 65% rayon, good craft quality...
(sorry, lark for the late response. still unable to leave a comment on my own blog)

a little bunting on the other side of the window...

pears and owl cream and suger...

the rain brought the city fall...

hello mr. spider...

Progress

2011-10-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

Yay! I just finished my first pumpkin. I love it! This is my second attempt. The first one was a disaster looking more like a starfish.

who says it looks like a tomato?

no, it's not a persimmon either...

it's not edible, mama...

Felt

2011-10-05T21:24:00.000-07:00

The craft season prep is underway. Sheets of felt have arrived...

A Business Hours Sign and Volunteers Wanted

2011-10-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I was supposed to work on a pumpkin, but here is what I made over the weekend. A new sign for our business hours. Every time I embroider plain text, I just print it out on a piece of paper and trace the letters using tracing paper on the fabric. You can stitch any messages or your child's name and hang it on the door. Ooh, this could be a good project for the Arts and Craft table at the Fair. Or it might be too much for smaller kids to handle, hm...Anyways, if you can volunteer to help kids work at the Arts and Craft table, please let me know. You don't have to be there all day. Just an hour or two maybe. I am working on it with another girl in the neighborhood. Again, please contact me if you can help. The Fair will be on Sunday the 16th. Many thanks in advance.

Wine & Needles

2011-10-03T21:50:00.000-07:00

So we will have a busy, fun October. The Inner Sunset Street Fair followed by the very first Wine & Needles. Then at the end of the month is of course Halloween. Busy, but fun. I've been thinking about this "sewcial" for quite a while, but I always ran out of energy. I AM busy and tired all the time. But, I know this will be fun and good for everyone. At our first meeting we will make a fabric pear and a pumpkin. They will lift your holiday spirit for any corner of your home. I made these pears a couple years ago and have a pattern for it, but I will try to add pumpkins to the gang, or maybe someone can share the pattern? Anyone is welcome if you want to sew, eat, drink, and chat with other sewers and crafters. Hey, it's a free sewing lesson too. This will be a very casual meeting and I didn't want to use the word "RSVP" to make you think that you really have to reserve your spot. It is not essential to RSVP, but I just wanted to have an idea of how many people are showing up so we could set up the place accordingly. Along with your materials and tools, you want to bring something yummy to share with others. Oh, I can tell already that this will be so much fun. So bring your wine (or something else) and needles and let's have fun.

from a corner of my home (our old apartment)...

So Long September

2011-09-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

It's the last day of the month. You know what's coming next...

Swinging Girls Dress

2011-09-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

One project down...and how many more to finish?

Sew & Tell - Ivy's Dress for Mom

2011-09-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

You might not recognize her, but this is Ivy. Yes, Ivy the girl who makes everything. For herself, she has made the dress, and the top and the skirt. For her doll, the matching outfit. And for her mom, this dress! I know she has sewn her mom a dress before, but this is my first time to see it on her mom, Robin. Doesn't she look great in it? Again, Ivy does such an amazing job. It's not kid's work. It is a real dress! A dress that you buy at a store. Robin, you are one lucky mom. Beautiful work, Ivy! And thank you!

the time flies...ivy looks so grown-up now...oh, thanks for posing for the camera, sophie the pug :-)

Baking Monday

2011-09-26T12:18:00.001-07:00

Happy cupcake Monday to you! I tried this recipe and baked at 375F for 12 minutes, instead of 400F for 20 minutes as the instructions say. I forgot to put vanilla, but the hungry boy will be happy to see those on the dinning table when he comes home.

Sew & Tell - Sarah's Jacket & Pillows

2011-09-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

More projects from Sarah (the same Sarah in her nursing cover. My mistake to leave the "h" out from her name). She made another jacket for Maddy on the same weekend while the kids were a sleep. See? she has a newborn, but she doesn't use it as an excuse for not sewing. I love her :-) She is motivated! Great work, Sarah! Thanks always!
The fairy and mushroom jacket...Super easy according to Sarah.
She usually backs it with jersey so it has nice weight...

Jaxen's elephant pillows with a quilt that Sarah made for Maddy when she was a newborn. Time flies...
BTW, how does she keep her chair so white with two kids and a dog? Amazing...

Reversible Duvet Cover

2011-09-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

After my boy's duvet cover, I remembered I never posted mine I made last year. So here it is. Nicely made for the photoshoot :-) On one side I used two different greys and the grey bike print on the other. A reversible duvet is great so I can change my bedding depending on my mood. I chose all grey, but the two sides have different looks. One serious with the plain solids, and whimsical and light on the other.
a matching pillow case. so when the plain side is up, i can accent it up with a printed pillow...

the print side up...

the yellows warm up the cool grey bedding...
the bed is now on the other side of the room...

The Inner Sunset Street Fair

2011-09-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

There are still booths available at the Inner Sunset Street Fair. Again, this is a good opportunity to show the public what you make. So hurry if you want to apply. The Fair will be held on Sunday, October 16th.

Hello Duvet Cover

2011-09-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

It's been way too long since I made my boy a duvet cover. Blue floral on a white back ground backed with a sky blue sheet became blue floral on a tan background and the sky blue was no longer sky blue. "How do you describe that color? " I asked the boy. "I don' know." The boy answered in a flat voice with his eyes glued on his Facebook page. Okay...I will just try my best to describe it. Um, yellow with a hint of green? and some Oscar the Grouchy color in the center. And since the dog came along, thinned textile was easy to be shredded with his paws. I knew it's been way over due to make a new one. So, yesterday after sanding the newly obtained cabinet, pruneing the hedge, weeded the driveway, four loads of laundry, prepping for the week's dinner (this doesn't happen a lot. I was very good yesterday), I started to sew.

I used the Hello print in green...

the room decorated by the owner of the room...painting the room on the "to do" list...

the gangs on the bookshelf...

cowboys vs space rangers...

waking up to happy faces...

Around the House

2011-09-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

I woke up, stared at my sewing table, took a picture, intended to finish one project at least...and walked away. Then I looked at the corners of my home that I want to look at. The corners that make me smile.

fyi - i can't even leave a comment on my own blog (so thanks for all who left a comment). the blogspot system tells me that i don't even have access to this blog while i'm logged in. odd? it's been a while since i found their system so user-unfriendly. i might just have to give up their site and move my blog someplace else again. if you, the blogspot folks, are reading this please improve the system.

three unfinished projects on the table ...

the feather garland which I made with those feathers my boy brought back from the zoo camp in LA a couple years ago.

the heart rock wall...

a nature corner...i love the ghost leaf...

my boy's art project from grade school...

the yellow foyer...

A Window Gallery

2011-09-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have noticed something is different on Peapod's window space. It has become a small art gallery for handcrafters and artists. It currently exhibits handcrafted pottery by a ceramist, Yuko Sato (aka Nama) of Nama-ya. Yuko has nearly 30 years of experience in ceramics both in Japan and San Francisco. Her ceramics are earthy, whimsical, and truly original. It is well-known that the Japanese eat with five senses, and her rustic style for sure makes the traditional Japanese cuisine "shine," but her style is versatile enough to suit in any table setting. Here is what she says about her pottery in her own words. "I love to make simple and natural tableware because their purpose is to let the food "shine" and be the star. However, some of my more playful designs with catfish or monkey drawings make people smile, that would also be a joy for me."

The window gallery is available for anyone whose work is suitable to Peapod's taste for a very reasonable price. So, if you need a little gallery to show your work, please email me (with your info) for more details.

Happy Monday

2011-09-12T09:17:00.000-07:00

Sew & Tell - Cherie's Nani Iro Dress

2011-09-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

Finally someone made something with Nani Iro double gauze. Yoohoo! Cherie made this pretty dress for her little girl, Yuki's big first birthday. Isn't it beautiful? Its delicateness is just undescribable and perfect for this project. Cherie thought she would never make her a "traditional" princess dress, but for her first birthday, she had to. I agree. She kept it simple, but the big sash in matching coral pink and Mary Jane shoes are the perfect accent. You don't want to mess with the Nani Iro aesthetic, and Cherie knows it. Thank you, Cherie! And Happy birthday, Yuki!

I love this picture...

Yes, you are one big star!

Too Many to Post

2011-09-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

Sew & Tell - Sara's Nursing Cover

2011-09-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, Sara is a busy mom with two little kids. Two? Where is the other one? Yes, a newborn, Jackson, is hiding behind the nursing cover. So excuse me to catch him in his very private moment with his mom. You know anything you guys make looks the best when it is in action. So this is a perfect time for me to share her nursing cover with you. Sara didn't mind, and it's a beautiful moment. The fabric is from Aviary 1 (no longer available) by Joel Dewberry. This print is available in the new colorways as Aviary 2. Sara also made this beautiful jacket that little Maddy is wearing. Sorry, it is hard to see as Maddy got shy, but it is a pretty jacket. Thanks, Sara and Maddy! Oh, don't forget Jackson :-) Thank you, Jackson. You are famous already :-)

Good Old Fashioned Pancakes

2011-09-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

Pancake pictures again? Sorry, there is nothing better than good old-fashioned pancakes to eat on a holiday Monday morning. Especially with fresh fruits. It's the day after the farmer's market after all. They are incredibly sweet by themselves, but with a drizzle of syrup, they become heavenly. I always meant to give this recipe every time I posted pancake photos, so here it is. It's a recipe I found somewhere online a long time ago. Just mix them all up, but sift the dry ingredients together first before adding the wet ingredients. After that, you know the drill. Serve with fresh fruits, and if you can take the guilt, serve it with whipped cream too. Your kids will love you more :-)

Good Old Fashioned Pancakes:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted

a wrong napkin?

waiting for something magical to happen...like mama will share her pancakes...no?

Happy Sunny Friday

2011-09-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

my organic shape ceramics...

Inner Sunset Street Fair 2011

2011-09-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

The Inner Sunset Street Fair will be held on Sunday, October 16th this year. This will be the second annual street fair for the Inner Sunset community, which will take a place on Irving Street between 9th and 10th and beyond. I just got the poster yesterday on my window and also received the info about getting a booth at the Fair today. This is a good opportunity for anyone who wants to let people know what you do. Their website shows that the deadline is today, September 1st, but I was informed that the selection process is still going on. If you want to apply, I suggest you do so ASAP. Maybe by tomorrow? As I always say, the Inner Sunset is a great community. Neighborly, family-oriented, diverse culture, unique and interesting stores, cafes, restaurants, and dog friendly. It is down to earth! We have wonderful Golden Gate Park with world class museums in the neighborhood. I've lived in this community for over 20 years. Things have changed a bit, but the same sense of community is still here. Strong! Yeah, forget the Mission or Bernal or Hayes Valley :-) The Inner Sunset may not be the trendiest part of San Francisco, but I can't say enough that it is REAL! So, everyone is very welcome to the Fair. And again, if you want to apply for a vendor booth, please do so right away.

August 31st

2011-08-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

Finally, the sun is shining high on this last day of August. Beautiful! I can't believe it will be September tomorrow...
i know i know it's a shame that my lawn is not green. i will work on it after i win the battle against moles and gophers :-(

Sew & Tell - Francine's Tunic

2011-08-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

So we are having a wonderful summer here in the city. No, I am being sarcastic. It's grey and grey. We all wish we could spend all day in short sleeves, but it doesn't happen that often here in this unique town. But look at the positive side. We could enjoy a layered look all year around comfortably, just as Francine is enjoying in her purple tunic. She used this traditional Japanese print in smokey purple, and if you've ever noticed from her past Sew & Tell, purple is her favorite color. It really looks great on her! She made up a simple boxy dress pattern and sewed straight on the waist a few times with an elastic thread for the instant smocking look. I have to try this method. As usual, she looks so relaxed and elegant. Thank you, Francine!

Get Well, Ms. R

2011-08-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

It looks like fresh veggies, fruits, and flowers from a farmer's market became regular Monday pictures :-) Well, but these are for my friend who is recovering from her surgery last week. I hope these vitamin colors have cheered her up. Get well, Ms. R!

From Japan with Love

2011-08-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Camping Trip Summer 2011

2011-08-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

There is no secret that we love road trips and camping, but I was never outdoorsy until...well, I started this mother-and-son road trip tradition after my boy lost his father when he was five. Okay, this post will be a bit more personal than my intentions. I wanted to keep camping as our family tradition as his father would have wanted. After his passing, I felt that I had to provide my boy as a mother, but as a "father" too. You know just because he is being raised by a single mom doesn't have to limit his "masculine" activities which are mainly planned by a father in most households as it had been for us. My boy sacrificed a lot at such a young age with no male role model around and mom working on weekends (he was the reason not opening on Sundays at Peapod's early age and occasional emergency closings). There were many many meltdowns. Yeah, the boy had them, but mom had more :-) So I started to plan something adventurous, something out of ordinary just for him...and myself. Something he will remember and tell his kids about someday. The first road trip for just the two of us was to the Grand Canyon and Death Valley several summers ago. Boy, it was crazy, but we had a blast! We can laugh about those "we shouldn't have come" moments now. Since then we became addicted to road trips. It's simple, flexible, and spontaneous. And combined with camping, it's economical. And best of all, since we are cut off from most modern conveniences during the trip, our bonding is stronger. So that's the story.

We started to talk about where we wanted to go this summer, and Oregon came up first on our list. I started to research campgrounds and found one that is accessible to what we wanted. A river or lake, flush toilets, and a warmer temperature. It looked like a popular place, but luckily I was able to grab one site which was available in five consequent days. I also booked one campground near Crescent City as a transit so I wouldn't have to drive 12 hours non-stop. With a kid and a dog, it would take longer than that actually. I chose the 101 route for one other reason. So we could stop by a small college town called Arcata to show the boy where his father and I spent a lot of time together when we were younger. So I gave you guys a very short notice and hit 101 North. I don't have as many pictures as I hoped because I forgot to bring a charger for my camera and the battery died as soon as we arrived in Oregon. I bought an instant camera, but more than half of the photos were very poorly taken by the boy with his hand covering the lens. Can you believe he was taking a photography class last semester? Well, it is what it is.

about five hours to arcata and another hour to crescent city...
we stopped and hung out at arcata for about an hour. it was my first time in years. the town looked the same as i remembered. the boy felt like a bagel so we stopped by at los bagel where his father and i had breakfast many many mornings back in the early 90's.

after crescent city, drive another 20 minutes on 199...
there it is! panther flat is in the middle of the beautiful redwoods. we loved it!
it became one of our favorite campgrounds...

the campground resides along the smith river...

just relaxing and enjoying the peace at our site. it had very good privacy.
because it is 20 miles inland, it gets sunny and warm...
made a table for a change from a messy camping table...i should do this more often...
having lunch in the woods was a good thing...

humans' eyes get red, but did you know that the dog's eyes get turquoise?
we went back to town (crescent city) next day for some supplies i forgot to bring, and luckily we found out that there was a county fair going on that weekend...

because it is right on the coast, the weather is very similar to san francisco :-(
the sky was gray, but it has small town charm...

one surprising thing about this small town was how nice and polite people were...
this coffee shop knows how important the local support is for their small independent business. love their attitudes and spirits! the shop girls were genuinely polite and so were the folks waiting inside the tiny depot. they were so well-mannered.

our second destination, about an hour inland from salem, oregon...
detroit lake in detroit, oregon...

we had an easy access to the lake as our site was facing it, but unfortunately it lacked privacy. there was no divider from our neighbor. see a part of the neighbor's tent on the two photos below...

our home for the next five days...

the boy making breakfast...(see how close the neighbor's site is? the white tent is theirs, not ours).

despite the lack of privacy, it was very nice to have breakfast with the lake view. very vacationy :-)

we are gourmet campers :-) we were truly amazed to see those enormous single standing grills with propane which many of our neighbors dragged out from their backyard, and we were even more amazed to see (and hear) that only thing they cooked in those grills was nothing but hot dogs. and i got the sense that eating veggies was just not their daily practice. that was sad...okay, never mind their business. anyways, cooking on a camp fire is a big part of camping fun for us. our regular camping meals are steaks, some veggies (tomatoes, asparagus, corns, mushrooms, peppers, potatoes, and anything good on the grills). after we run out of those, eggs, tortillas, and salsa become our meal of the day. my boy makes killer breakfast burritos. we love grilling seafood too. overall, camping makes everything tastier. it's true!

oh, don't forget marshmallows too...
so, overall, we liked detroit lake campground. there are nice sites with good privacy, but each site is pretty close to each other. I felt like we moved to an outdoor city condo. my impression was that it is a good family campground. it has a playground, volleyball and basketball courts, and the lake provides all day fun on the beach. there are a lot of families with huge numbers of kids in the entire ground riding on scooters from early morning to dusk. so i wouldn't call it peaceful and quiet. our right side neighbor had probably six or seven kids and we heard constant screaming and yelling from kids...and mom. mom kept yelling she would wash the kids' mouth with the strongest soap, but we thought she was the one who needed that treatment, seriously...and to our left, parents with a teenage boy who stayed up till 3 or 4am every single night getting drunk and talking with the radio on...they were not being loud, but we were in the deep nature, so it sounded like they were talking right next to my ear. So it was unfortunate to have the loudest families as our neighbors even though it was pretty entertaining to watch them :-) oh, i would avoid site b21 if there is a next time.

on the way home was all about vws and airstreams...
we took a country back road to explore and saw a bunch of vw buses at this auto repair shop...

and came across this picture perfect scenery...

a vintage airstream for sale...very clean and revamped inside. the floors were gorgeous! $5900! anyone? i would consider it if it was a smaller one...

the grass was very green at a small town called myrtle creek where we had an ice cream break...

dash frantically sniffed and ran in a circle while i was passing out...he was so happy to run off leash...

a small big town, grants pass...yeah, it's the climate! sunny and hot! I am missing it already, especially coming home to this freaking cold summer in sf :-(

thank you, oregon! see you next time...sorry for the poor photo (taken by the boy from a running car).

one other thing i love about road trips is thrifting. small town thrift stores are the best! a few sunny items came home with us. love them!

and a new old t-shirt for my next camping trip. how perfect is this? how can i resist $1.75 anyway?

and of course, new additions to my heart rock collection...

Linen Tapes

2011-08-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

Simply cute linen tapes from Japan have arrived and are waiting for your love...

Camping in Style

2011-08-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

Someday I will be camping in style...maybe :-) Still working on the pictures from our camping trip. I miss the sun...

lunch in the woods...

Wrenly & Silent Cinema

2011-08-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Open August 13th

2011-08-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

How are you all? Today is Saturday August 13th. And we are back in town. Hope to see you at the shop...

Sew & Tell - Yufu's Graduation Dresses

2011-08-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

It's been about two months since Yufu's last Sew & Tell, and this is an update from that post. The older sister, Saho graduated from her preschool in June, and this is the dress her mom made for the big day. A bright and festive choice to celebrate her past fun preschool year achievements and the new beginning as a 'big" school girl. Yufu also made a matching head band to enhance a festive spirit a bit more. I know how proud she was to see her little girl up on a stage. Congratulations Saho! I hope your coming years will be full of fun. Oh, didn't I tell you that Saho makes everything in a pair? Well, she did it again. Two girls, two dresses, and two head bands! Great work, Yufu! And thank you, Saho and Shino!

On a Tuesday Morning...

2011-08-02T11:34:00.000-07:00

Have you had breakfast today?

Nani Iro

2011-08-01T20:13:00.001-07:00

Yay, Nani Iro (what color in literal translation) is here. The first time I saw these beautiful double-gauze prints designed by Naomi Ito was nearly 10 years ago in Japan. I wasn't sure what the material was made of right away, but I still remember how stunning it was to feel it. Then, I learned that it was called double-gauze. The texture is just gorgeous. Rustic, yet so refined. So soft. So organic. I just love it! I wanted to carry it sooner, but it wasn't available for the US market until much later. Then it became available, but I still hesitated to carry it for a couple of reasons. Now I think it is time to introduce it to San Franciscans. I have a feeling that many of you might not know what to do with it, but its super soft texture is a wonderful material for kid's clothing. I remember I made a couple things with it back then, and the drawstring pouch is still with me today. It's been a good travel companion for little things. This time, I will make some tops for myself.

more colors available later on...

Sew & Tell - Ellen's Portfolio Tunic

2011-07-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

Have you tried the Portfolio pattern yet? Or have you seen someone who's wearing their own creation? This was my first time to see it in person. Yes, I have tried the blouse (still buttonless) myself, but I hadn't seen the tunic until Ellen showed up the other day. Isn't it cute? After the blouse, this tunic was my second one to sew from this pattern package. I've just been lazy about tracing the pattern pieces. Yup, typical me...but seeing Ellen's tunic has totally motivated me. I really love the shape of it. She looks pretty relaxed and looks good with her cropped jeans. Thanks, Ellen, and enjoy the rest of the summer before going back to work :-)

Sew & Tell - Francine's Baby Quilt

2011-07-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

For many people sewing a garment is more intimidating than sewing something for home. But, for some others the intimidation is just opposite. Francine has been making clothing for her little girls and herself, but making a quilt was somehow outside her comfort zone. Maybe those modern quilters have inspired her, now she has admitted that making a quilt is her new addiction. She is very happy with her first quilt. And so is the owner of this quilt. See her little girl, Ondine? She turned a corner of Peapod comfortable with her quilt. I love the purples and greys together. It is so pretty! Good job, Francine! I'm glad you tried. And thank you girls!

Sew & Tell - Greg's Leather Bag

2011-07-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, I don't carry leather, but this I had to share. Can you believe someone who has neither a professional sewing experience nor an industrial sewing machine can sew something like this? Yes, this messenger bag I'm talking about. Greg "abused" his regular domestic sewing machine (oh, poor thing) to sew layers of leather to make this cool looking bag. I can't believe he made this. See the detail work? This is something you would buy at a store. It really looks good on him with the grey wool coat. Great work and thanks always, Greg!

lined with classic navy gingham...manly and love it!

Sweet Gift

2011-07-22T07:18:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday to you all! Just sharing a sweet gift basket I received yesterday from Sarah and Ellie. Thank you, girls! Can't wait to try those for the weekend.

Flowers, Pixies, and Kitty Kokeshi

2011-07-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

A Weekend

2011-07-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

It's very grey outside unlike last weekend. Let's see what I did last weekend...
went to a farmers market...

made pesto...

baked a peach cobbler (a bit over baked, but it was still good)...

enjoyed the july 4th lunch at a friend's...

bought some flowers...

thought about transferring the poppies to a better spot...

bathed the dog...
my well deserved two-day weekend was very nice...

LouLouThi & Prince Charming

2011-07-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday

2011-07-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

did you stay healthy this weekend?

Things to Do This Weekend

2011-07-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

What are you guys doing this holiday weekend?

driving somewhere?

a road trip?

or camping?

or maybe in a vintage camper? (i want one)

or some place romantic?

or cruising around town to feel the wind?

or hanging with your pooch?

or being in your kitchen?

or working in your yard?

or off to a farmers market...

to pick up some summer fruits?

or doing chores?

or just chilling out with your favorite mug?
hey, i don't have any sewing theme print...
well, whatever you are doing, enjoy it!

Lunch

2011-07-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hello July! And basil is back in the farmers market! So I packed a pesto spread sandwitch for lunch. Yum! The shop will be closed this Sunday. Have a happy 4th everyone!

Kids Corner

2011-06-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Has anybody tried the Gum Drop Pillow pattern? I finally have. It is very cute and easy to make. But, I know there is a catch. It requires tons of poly fill. Seven bags of 12 ounce poly fill for a smaller size pillow, and 10 bags for a larger one. I stuffed mine with 3 bags so far, hoping two more bags would be enough for my little customers to sit and read while their moms shop. I will make a couple more to complete the kids corner. I also made my two wee chairs more comfortable. I just love scrap patchworking.

Kids Sewing Camp

2011-06-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

Many of you asked, so I am offering kids sewing classes. It's summer. No school. So hence, sewing camp. The projects will be decided soon. I usually think too much to decide on the right projects because they are a big part of the total coordination. I work very hard especially on this part. I have some ideas, but I might have to change the plan depending on the kids' age, experiences, and a number of students in a class. It's a boot camp, so I am squeezing as many projects as possible with homework. I will offer more sessions later in July and August.

Happy Tuesday

2011-06-20T19:58:00.000-07:00

Boy, it was a beautiful warm Monday. I hope you guys had a nice start to the week while I enjoyed laying back in my backyard :-) And it looks like it is going to be even warmer today. Enjoy the sun while it lasts...

Sew & Tell - Annie's Blankets

2011-06-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Today I share Annie's two different blankets with you. She wanted something light for her grand children. Simple blankets backed with flannel were quick and perfect gifts. I am used to seeing elaborate quilts that people make for gifts, but these simple blankets are so fresh to me. She was impressed how soft these flannels were, and that they didn't pill even after she washed them. One panel of Dr. Seuss print is just a perfect size and it makes such a fun crib blanket. This blanket paired with any Dr. Seuss book (Green Eggs and Ham, my favorite) would be a very thoughtful baby shower gift. And the other blanket is for a bit older girl. I loooove this pink against grey swing print from Sherbet Pips. I know grey is not the first color that little girls choose, but this is an exception. Girls on the swing? The pink trees? And the ever hot grey? She will love it. Sometimes it is better to be simple even for a little girl. Thanks, Annie!

Ginger & Violet

2011-06-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Attention Peapod customers! Colette Patterns now has easy patterns for the beginners. I've always loved their aesthetics, but it is true that their patterns were somewhat for the advanced sewers (in my opinion). I know what you ladies want. Easy peesy patterns, right? So the time has come for Peapod to carry their lovely patterns. Ginger is an A-line skirt with a high waist band, and Violet is the Peter pan collar blouse. Don't they look pretty? Ginger provides a variation to bias cut stripes which gives it a whole new look. Genius! The actual packages only show illustrations, not these colored images. So trip over to their site to get more inspired with more images. At the Quilt Market, I met a girl from Colorado. The moment I saw her I noticed she was wearing her own Ginger skirt. It was very cute. So we started talking. About her customers. My customers. Sewing life in her town and my town. I knew when it comes to sewing we San Franciscans were far behind from the Portlanders, but we are also so far behind from those in Colorado. What do you think about that? I know we can do better. Yes We Can!

photos by courtesy of Colette Patterns

The Dog Stuff, The Kitchen Stuff

2011-06-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

dash's new play mat. this one goes under the desk at the shop...

his place mat that he uses at the shop...

a log cabin pot holder with a retro mug looking at me...

a sashiko towel (a kit available). love this rustic texture...
sashiko is simple running stitches commonly used in traditional japanese sewing.

Happy Friday

2011-06-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

My Lisette blouse still buttonless...

Sew & Tell - Ume's Mama's Reversible Shirt

2011-06-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

Little Ume's mom (sorry I didn't ask her name) grew up watching her mom (Ume's grandma) sew, but didn't pick up a needle until Ume was born. It's okay, it's not too late to learn and Ume has brought her a perfect opportunity to start sewing life. Maybe she didn't care that much about sewing because her mom sewed. She could ask her to make anything she wanted. But, now she follows her foot steps. She made her first dress! I'm sure her mom is very proud of her. I recommend this pattern for all the beginners. This is probably the easiest pattern that Peapod carries at the moment. It's like making a place mat in a dress shape. And it's reversible and adjustable at the shoulders. I think Little Ume is happy too. She said yay (maybe) with her thumbs up. Well, index finger up exactly, but she tried :-) Good job and thank you, Ume's mom!

She used the following pattern...

Class Picnic Blouse & Shorts

2011-06-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

Well, the picture didn't come out as I wished it would have, but it's up there as the June cover. It is hard to show a pair of shorts/pants in a way I want without actually on a model. I know I could have done better, but redoing it? Nah, I got lazy. As I said a few posts back, this is the cutest combo I've ever sewn. It took me a while to decide on the fabrics for both the items, but I am so happy with the choice I've made. I've loved this turquoise with delicate twig print ever since it came out from Oliver + S. All their collection of fabrics are very very soft. I hope you have felt it. The style is simple and classic, and the little details make me want to squeeze this blouse and shorts. And as always, the instructions are very well-explained. So I hope someone gets inspired to try this pattern. Sooner or later when this winter-like weather is over, it will be a picnic season. Don't you want to see your little girl in these? Yeah, let's go on a picnic!

Bodega Bay

2011-06-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

How was your three-day weekend? I only had Monday off, and my last day of the work week was kinda hard. I just wish the world is full of good people with good intentions and common courtesy. Anyway, I had a million things to do around the house and I just wanted to relax at home, but if I stayed at home, I knew I would still be thinking about work, so I had to get away from the city. We've been to Bodega Bay before and loved its coast and cute little town, so we decided to drive up there. It's a good driving distance even after a slow day start. We made a stop here and there and enjoyed meals at the local eateries (we are big touristic restaurant haters). Unlike last time, the road was busy and the town was crowded due to the long weekend, but it was still good. So good. Slow and relaxing.

the beautiful Sonoma coast...

hello cows...

a dog on the beach...

an interesting setting caught our eyes. a bbq and a liquor store together inside...
order at the deli and pay at the liquor store...

big "joe" barbecuing more ribs...

the smell was so irresistible when we passed by. we had to make a u-turn and we were not even that hungry.
and this place became a must stop whenever we are in the area...

mmm...pork ribs...

a bubba burger...sooooo good.

a house filmed as the school in "The Birds." i've seen this movie a few times as a classic movie fan. it's cool to see old Union Square in a classic film...

on the way home we saw a sign saying smoked clam chowder. we were still so full from lunch, but as a heavy clam chowder fan, we had to stop by...

stop by for their hearty clam chowder and the Hitchcock souvenir...
a cute picnic setting across the road...

the chowder was pretty good...

a hippie surf shop adds a character to the cute little town...
why does a post office in a small town always look cute?
back to the city...and another work week...

Sew & Tell - Estella's Robe

2011-05-31T07:53:00.000-07:00

Estella took a robe class at The Sewing Workshop a while ago, and I finally got a chance to see it. So this is the famous robe from "the famous robe class." I say "famous" because quite a number of people came to shop for their materials at Peapod for this class. Everyone looked like they were on a mission for four yards of fabric and I was wondering how they had turned out. Estella was kind enough to come back to show me her robe. This print was one of my favorites (sorry, no longer available) and she looks pretty relaxed in it. I know it would have looked more natural if the photo was taken in her living room :-) Thanks, Estella!

Class Picnic Blouse

2011-05-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

OMG, this combo of the blouse and shorts are the cutest thing I've ever sewn. No, I'm not exaggerating. I finished the blouse last night. Love it, love it, love it! I'm almost done with the shorts too. I won't be humble about it. They will wow you.

Class Picnic Blouse & Shorts

2011-05-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

I started to transfer the pattern pieces for Oliver + S' new pattern, Class Picnic Blouse & Shorts. I just love their naming. It represents the style perfectly . The first thing I do before sewing is to trace the original pattern pieces on a tracing paper. I never cut my original patterns. Keeping the original pattern as is gives you the second chance. If the size you've made doesn't work, you can make it again in a different size. I usually get a roll of paper from an art supply store, but now those sewing tracing papers are available at Peapod for $14 per roll (a pretty fat roll). Place the transfer paper on the pattern pieces and trace the lines as I did in this photo. Then cut them to be placed on the fabric. I've completed cutting the fabric pieces today and hopefully I can show you the finished products in a day or two.

Sew & Tell - Yufu's Dresses

2011-05-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

There is someone who shares my love for the inky floral print with which I made my Portfolio Top. Yufu made these two matching dresses with the same print for her two girls. Bright colors are fun in children's clothing, but I also love the subtle colors on little kids. Yufu has been making everything in a pair for two sisters, but now she has more fun dressing them as little Shino is walking hand in hand with her big sister. As the younger one walks without getting wobbly, the older one goes to kindergarten next year. Time flies, huh? Now Yufu is looking forward to sewing another dress for Saho's preschool graduation. The pattern is from this book. Good job, Yufu! And thank you girls!

yeah, mom had to bribe the girls to sit still for the photo shoot...

Sherbet Pips

2011-05-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

Timeless Summer Dress Class

2011-05-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

Debi Cournale Sewing Studio is located just around the corner from Peapod. The July classes are available on Tuesdays. In four three-hour sessions, you will be wearing this pretty dress (in your choice of fabric) to enjoy the summer (or all year around). As she always emphasises that garment sewing is all about the fit, you will learn how to make this dress to perfectly fit your own body. Sign up on her website. She will send you back to Peapod to shop the materials needed. Happy sewing!

Blues

2011-05-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

Spring Roadtrip

2011-05-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

Well, the Quilt Market was fun to attend, but what I really wanted was an excuse to go on a road trip. I researched for the cost to fly for one and found that it would be about the same if I drove. Hmm, then why not to bring the boy and the dog. Let's all go on a road trip. So then we hit the road! We visited southern Utah two summers ago, but the north was very different. The urban freeways were surrounded by the snowy mountain ranges, and they were so close. It was probably one of the most beautiful urban freeway views I've ever seen. Despite the occasional unpleasant treatments (due to my race), I always meet nice people on the road. This time was no exception. Somewhere in the Nevada desert, I started to worry if we had enough gas to make it to the next town. I knew the tank was three quaters empty when we passed the last service station, but I just thought it would be another one coming soon. With no sign of any life in sight, I was really worried. Then I saw a sign in the distance and was hoping it would be a town coming up. It turned out to be a rest area instead, but I decided to get off the road to ask someone where the next town would be. It would make us feel safer to see other cars too. There were no cars around us. A man told me that the next town would be about 20 miles away. I wasn't sure if we could make it there, but we had no choice so we thanked him for the tip and took off. We went slow to conserve gas. I was so nervous as the gas meter light started to go on and off. Inside the car, the boy and I talked about what to do if we ran out of gas. Help probably wouldn't have come until next day even if I called for road side service. We were miles away from civilization. Then we noticed a pick up truck move to our lane in front of us, but was going very slow. We were joking that they were running out of gas too. That brought us laughter and we stayed positive. We cheered when we saw the sign to lead to the next town. Yes, we were goint to make it. As we pulled over at the gas pump, some guy smiled at me and said, "So you made it." It took me a few seconds to realize it was the guy from the rest area. I had no idea, but he was the guy going slow in front of us. He was making sure we would make it. How sweet is he? We were so thankful. Since earlier that day, a little incident had been bothering me. An incident that I was feeling discriminated against by a stupid man, but the guy on the pick up truck made my day. I was feeling better about this roadtrip. And yup, it was a fun trip.

yeah, salt lake city, here we come...

dash's first road trip...
at this point he had no idea how long he would be in the car...

dash's first snow experience on the way out...in the sierra, nice and sunny...

the first stop to let him stretch himself (nevada)...

a little pet area and the sign reads watch for snakes and scorpions...

on the way home on the former salt lake...

the weather was pretty wild on the way home...first it was super gusty winds...

a little memory left...so long utah...

super gusty winds, rain, and snow in nevada!
it took us a while to realize the rain was actually transforming into snow...

back in california...

it was winter wonderland in the sierra...

we were toally not prepared for this...i got so nervous driving on the snowy road...

we had to get off the road to clear the snow on our sucky wipers...
and dash's first real fresh snow experience...cold and wet...
he wasn't sure what to do first, so he just sat there...

then...yay!

dash: finally! (a view from where we stayed)
you didn't tell me how long it would take to get here.
i had to get up early. no park to play in. no doggie friends to play with.
all i had was skimpy 5 minute walks every couple hours.
is this what you guys call a roadtrip?
and wait, did you just say houston?

Purples

2011-05-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

Spring Quilt Market

2011-05-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

So I made it to the Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City over the weekend. As usual, I didn't plan this trip in advance. It was a last minute trip as I was able to book a room at where a pet was allowed. The Market was bigger than what I expected, and I knew I needed more time to visit as many booths as possible. But, I was in such a hurry to visit those booths because I knew my boy was getting sick of waiting for me while wandering around down town with Dash. I wasted so much time walking back and forth on the aisles looking for those companies. I was so worried about the kid and the dog that I didn't even think there was a booth map in the booklet I received at the door. Luckily I came across the booth where I saw a familiar face. It was Liesl Gibson! Her booth was as lovely as her smile with a full of the Oliver + S aesthetics. I quickly introduced myself to her and told her how much my customers and I love her patterns. I couldn't believe I wasn't wearing my new Portfolio top to show off (well, it's still buttonless and sitting in my bedroom). Anyways, she was very very nice. Then I was back on the aisles. As I fast-walked aisles to aisles, I started forgetting who I was visiting. I was just walking worrying about my boy and dog. Then, a little navy P-jacket caught my eyes from a little corner booth. Pattern's by Figgy's. The logo looked familiar. Hey, I have their patterns, I remembered. I love their simple classic designs! I brought a few of their new patterns back home. Yeah, more patterns to sew, ladies. I was so sorry that I didn't have time to go back to visit more booths (yeah, after a 12 hour drive), but here are some photos I managed to take.

Still Work in Progress

2011-05-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

Nope, it's not done yet. This is where I am, and I am confused...and my nose is stuffy...and my head pounds...and my sinus hurts. Both my boy and I got sick while on the road this weekend. Yes, I made it to Salt Lake City, Utah for Quilt Market. But, I wasn't able to visit all the booths I originally planned to stop by. Well, it will be another post on that.

Work in Progress

2011-05-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

Has anyone tried this bag? Looks hard to make? Well, I love challenges...

Portfolio Blouse

2011-05-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

My most recent sewing project, Portfolio blouse (view C) has made it on the May cover. It turned out to be much better than my expectations. It is pretty, but it's not totally finished yet. It just needs buttons to be completed. I searched my tin can and narrowed my choices to those vintage buttons in the photo. I want to choose something to comply with the nostalgic feel of the fabric. The print has inky smudgy gray, peachy, blue, and brown on it. So any button would work here. I love the square brown ones, but they might be a bit small for the project. Perhaps gray round ones. I think a gray A-line skirt would be a nice complement to go on the window. Another pattern tracing on the way. Sign...

Sew & Tell - Kelly's Baby Quilt

2011-05-03T20:53:00.000-07:00

I am happy to post another hand-quilted quilt here. It seems that more people are enjoying how meditating hand quilting is. Is it becoming a trend? Well, either by hand or machine, it is nice to know that more and more younger people find quilt making fun. This is Kelly's baby quilt and her second appearance here. The first project was Mr. Rabbit and matching quilt (or a quilt and a matching rabbit). I'm assuming the pair was a gift for someone else' baby because she didn't have a baby back then. Now she does. Just two weeks old. Aw... So she made this one for her own baby boy. Yes, she quilted it by hand. See, when you have your own baby, it's totally worth it to hand quilt. I love the simple scrap square quilt. Well, I love any scrap quilts. One of the reasons is that you see those small prints that remind you of something you made in the past. I'm sure those pieces remind Kelly of her craft history. And they all became one to wrap her precious boy. Great work, Kelly! And thank you!

Sew & Tell - Joon's Hexagon Quilt

2011-05-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

I have a few baby quilts on display at the shop, and one of them is my very first hexagon both pieced and quilted by hand. When I tell people that the quilt is done all by hand, people usually go wow, but nobody really gets encouraged to try it themselves. Well, I don't expect everyone to do hand piecing or hand quilting. No doubt it is time consuming. But, for me it is sort of meditation. If you want to do it, that's great. If you don't, that's fine too. But, if you say that you want to do it and would do it, and you really have done it, I admire your will, action, and patience. And here is Joon who I admire. She really did it! And she did an exceptional job. Thank you for trying and sharing it with us, Joon!

Jumper

2011-04-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

I've been in a sewing mood these days.This jumper is one of the samples that I've made. It's super easy. The pattern package looks okay in my opinion. Actually it's pretty cute compared to the majority of their patterns (sorry to say this, but it's true). But, it might still be hard for some beginner sewers to look beyond the package. Girls, you don't have to make exactly what the patterns say. Just look for the basic styles. The basic ones are usually very easy to make requiring fewer steps. I'm sure this jumper is something everyone of us had worn when we were kids. Even as a little tomboy, I remember I had the same style jumper in corduroy when I was little. For a jumper 2011 version, I used heavy weight cotton in a large modern Scandinavian print. It's timeless, and it's time for you to sew for your little girl.

a modern gray pattern for the lining...

little girl, i have nothing against you and you look lovely, but you would look freaky styley in my jumper :-)
the pattern available at peapod fabrics...

Sew & Tell - Marcy's Three Tiered Skirt

2011-04-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

Everyone, please meet America's next model, Olivia. Here she is wearing an adorable three tiered skirt that her mom, Marcy made. Phew, she made it just in time for the Easter branch. And all in pink, of course. Olivia loves it so much that she can't stop modeling :-) Here are a few shots from our photo shoot. She is just adorable. You will be charmed. Thanks, Marcy and Olivia, and dad (for playing with Dash)! And Happy Easter!
whenever olivia visits peapod with her mom and dad, dash is the first one to greet them. he can smell their dog on her.
take one...okay, olivia look at the camera. okay, dash move out of the way. well, it didn't work...

take two...on the chair. very elegant...

take three...yes, this is it! fun and charming. that's olivia!

Sew & Tell - Lena's Shower Curtain

2011-04-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

I'm honored finally to post the first Sew & Tell after moving to the new location. Well, I was way over due actually. It's Peapod's neighbor, Lena's shower curtain. This cheerful flower print is just so perfect for this purpose. As most medium weight cotton comes in 44 inches wide, we always have to seam two panels of fabrics for a big project like this. But, she managed to match the print from the two panels, so it looks seamless. Especially In an all white bathroom (what can I say, she is from Ikea country), the blooms look so happy. So so happy. Great work, Lena! Your bathroom looks fantastic! But your work makes me feel bad because I am so over due for my own shower curtain. Anyways, thank you always.

Lisette

2011-04-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

I just received these new patterns and I am so excited about them. Have you seen them? I didn't know these were designed by Liesl Gibson of Sew Lisette, the designer of the adorable children's patterns, Oliver + S. I thought Simplicity finally listened to what people (Peapod's customers at least) wanted. The package covers show better choices of fabric and styling. Hence more inspirational! I haven't tried any of them yet, but they look simple enough for beginner sewers (well, that's why I purchased them). The jacket or shirt dress might be a bit intimidating for the beginners, but I think they are still beginner-friendly after making rather easier tops. So let's start sewing girls. I've already heard feedback that the Portfolio tunic (#2245) is so cute and easy to make. Can't wait to try them myself!

photos courtesy of simplicity

Birdie Sling

2011-04-10T19:31:00.001-07:00

Well, I've been making things while I was working on the new space. The new store needed some fresh samples to display. This Birdie Sling bag is the newest one I've made and my second one to make from the same pattern. The first one didn't even make it here before it was sent to Japan last year. For this one, I used heavy weight canvas for both the exterior and lining so I had a choice of fusing them with interfacing or leaving them without it. I still fuse heavy weight cotton depending on the style of the bag. But, for this bag, I thought it would be okay without it if I used heavy weight cotton. And I was feeling lazy too. Cutting and fusing the pieces for a bag this size, it would easily take more than an hour. But, the band and the handle are made of a regular medium cotton and fused. I cut some of the pieces at the shop, and I sewed six and a half hours straight that night to finish. I love the way it turned out. This pattern is very well written and easy to follow. I've been always a square bag girl, but this is really cute. My son even looked away from his computer monitor and looked at the bag, and gave me a compliment. If you have a teenage boy, you know how they are. No attention to anything but video games. So this is really good and he meant it :-)