Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 2010 menu:
pumpkin curry soup
scalloped potato gratin
shrimp and avocado salad
caramerized onions, mushrooms, bacon, wild rice stuffed turkey breast
sweet potato and yam cheese cake

I will enjoy these in gratitude...hope you are enjoying your day too...

Yellow Patchworked Tablecloth

So after all, I was the one who needed a new tablecloth for the holiday table. Or maybe just for everyday use. I patchworked four yellow prints randomly. I love it. It makes me so happy. Everytime I pass by the kitchen, I stop and admire it. And I could do this forever. I even brush my teeth in the kitchen so I can admire it again. It became one of the things that make me smile. Well, things I make for home should always make me happy anyway. There are so many flaws, but I love my home!

a flower from our yard...

i've been searching for kitchen art for the empty wall next to the window, but no luck yet. maybe i should make something myself. a mini quilt in a frame? or another little display shelf?

i used the following prints + yellow solid...

New Prints

I can't possibly post every new item here. More colors and prints restocked...See you there.

Sew & Tell - Priscilla's Linen Gifts

I always enjoy conversations about sewing with Priscilla. I especially love to listen to her sewing life in her old school years. It's fresh and vintagy at the same time. Her stories make me wish i could go back in time to see the American sewing life that I never knew. I could imagine from those vintage sewing books and patterns that I own, but it's absolutely a pleasure to hear from someone who has experienced that era. The other day, we talked about what was our first assignment in our Home Ec classes. A pair of pajamas for me, and an apron for her. Then she told me that everyone had to use gingham fabric and smock the gingham. Yes, smocking! Yes, gingham! You could guess what decade that was :-) A smocked gingham apron sounds so cute! No, I mean, can you believe they taught smocking in school? Do they even teach how to sew a button in today's school? I don't know. We also complained that women these days are not sewing enough. Especially here in San Francisco. We hold such a high reputation to be creative, artful, and unique, but we are so behind from the rest of the country when it comes to sewing. Yeah, girls, start sewing. Show the world that city girls can sew too. These tea towels and pot holders Priscilla made for her friend are great to start with. Simple and straightforward. And they are scrap busters. And the technique she used on her potholders is very interesting. I've never seen it and never known it. Her sewing machine has a "hand quilt" stitch function that makes the stitches look like they were hand quilted. Really? Really! The trick is to use invisible thread in the bobbin, and color thread for upper stitches. Well, most of us don't have a fancy machine like hers, but the point here is it's easy to start sewing. With a holiday gift season just around the corner, you better start taking a step. Thank you, Priscilla for sharing!

Sew & Tell - Lisa's Quilt

Lisa was one of a few people who discovered me right after Peapod was opened. I still remember the first thing she said when she stepped in. "WHAT are you doing here? You are in the WRONG neighborhood!" she said in her amazed voice. And I also remember what she purchased on her first visit which was a brown linen dress with embroidered roses for her little girl and a wool tote bag for herself. Both my handmade works. No fabric. Because making a quilt, or maybe touching a sewing machine, was not her thing back then. But, ever since her first visit she wanted to learn quilt making. So she whipped herself up, and voila! This quilt! I loved being able to enjoy this quilt being progressed over time. Her striped blocks were growing slowly every time she came back for more fabrics to add to. Then backing and binding. Honestly, it's been a while since I first saw this quilt in progress, but she finished it! She even rented a long arm quilt machine and quilted herself in a free circular motion. Amazing! Gorgeous colors. And I LOVE the wonky stripes. Thank you, Lisa for sharing!

Let the Sunshine in

Ah, a sunny Sunday morning...I could melt in the sun like our silly dog.

Off to the market...then to work. See you later.

working on something yellow...

taking a nap in his favorite spot on a sunny morning.

(he just fell off the chair right after this shot :-)

Happy Friday

Just wanted to share my growing clover with you...
Our lawn is lusciously green now. It's time to go buy a mower.
Happy sunny green Friday to you!