By day I'm a massage therapist and continuing education instructor and the remaining hours are dedicated to creating art - whether through mixed media, yarn and fiber, or through prose.
My mind goes a mile a minute and I do too many things in a day so I set up this blog in an attempt to at least document one aspect of my life - the arts!
Welcome to the world of my inner child!
Yesterday Leo and I spent a wonderful afternoon with my brother Paul at Shoreline Village in Long Beach overlooking the Queen Mary. We stayed till the fireworks started and it was a blast - as you can see! My brother is a professional photographer and so when he's around, I usually put my camera away. He ends up with much better photos anyway. And that bright spot on the upper left of the pics? That's the moon, of course, one day short of being a full moon - but so beautiful just the same.
Since my 'lil peanut' surprise, I haven't been spinning or knitting much. Just too darn tired and not focused enough to sit that long enough in front of a wheel.
However, I'm not about to let all that pregnancy exhaustion stop me from spinning today. I'm going to spin today, even if it's only a few minutes. I've got lots of yummy fiber lying around waiting to be spun, and if not today, there's tomorrow, where I'm planning on joining Fiberfreek and Janro for some spinning (fingers crossed, of course)!
Yesterday I spent a wonderful day with my BFF Pam who's going through what she's termed "endstage ovarian cancer". We started the day walking along Little India in her search for a certain Chandrika brand soap, which we eventually found at the last store, Ambala Cash & Carry, which had been my first choice to take her to because it's been around the longest in the neighborhood - and a local favorite.
She'd never tried mango lassi and so I took her to Ambala Sweets & Snacks, a lovely vegetarian 'hole in the wall' that's just the best place ever! We each got ourselves a glass of fresh mango lassi (no powdered mangoes here!) and a plate of yummy spinach pakoras - which became the first of my 5-small-meals-a-day pregnancy diet. I'm not supposed to have spicy food, but it was too yummy to resist!
We then had some soup and salad at Mimi's Cafe before seeing the movie, Away We Go. Lovely movie - totally independent, and totally something I would choose over the latest Transformers movie. I'm such a sucker for movies with awesome soundtracks, and this is definitely one of them! Maggie Gyllenhaal is a hoot!
One of the cool things about watching independent movies is definitely the trailers! Remember Third Rock from the Sun? Well, the youngest kid has grown up and he looked pretty cute in 500 Days of Summer, with Zooey Deschanel. Then there's one powerful movie that I can't wait to watch - although I may wait till it goes to video because I hate crying inside the theater - it's called "Precious" and it's based on the novel "Push - by Sapphire", and while it features an amazing unknown named Gabourey Sidibe and a powerful performance by Mo-Nique, it also features - get this - Mariah Carey, who actually is an amazing actress herself!
After the movie, we parted ways wishing we didn't have to leave so soon. I've known Pam since 1997, when I first started massage school and she is one of the most amazing women I've ever known. Full of life and love, she is now fighting for her life against ovarian cancer and after almost a year since she started her fight with surgeries and chemo, she finally lost her hair. But she is still so vibrant and positive, and I love her so much. It reminds me each day to remain positive and always look at the bright side of life - no matter how bleak it may seem...
Lately I've been too exhausted to spin or even think fiber! I haven't finished the fish hat I had been working on since WWKIP Day (June 13), and I haven't dyed a single ounce of fiber in, like, 2 weeks.
It's worrying me.
I did get to spin some ultra fine yarn a week ago, and wondered - since when did I only spin lace weight? I miss the novelty yarns I used to spin - these days all my yummy fibers and batts (from Jazzturtle, Loop and Crystal Creek Fibers) have been sitting forlorn and unspun. Not even a sliver!
Oh well, maybe it's because of this litle peanut I discovered at my doctor's appointment 2 weeks ago. What do you think?
Last week, I visited my local Salvation Army in search of some reading books and found Stephanie Meyer's sequel to "Twilight", "New Moon" for two dollars. I figured, what the hell - why not? Then I found the prize - Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth" by Bill Moyers, the written transcript of Moyers' last interview (which took days and was broadcast years ago but you can watch it on Netflix!) with Campbell prior to Campbell's death.
If you haven't heard of Joseph Campbell, you may have experienced the results of his writings through modern movies like the Star Wars trilogy which feature hero archetypes from his books, and through many other movies and books. It's a kind of formula, but it works, and most books that I've read and movies that I've seen (and loved) follow Campbell's "hero's journey" - which most of us follow in our own lives as well (though we're not aware of it). Harry Potter, Bilbo Baggins, even Wesley Gibson of Wanted (the movie).
Unfortunately "Twilight" does not follow such a formula. Instead, I spent a few hours each night struggling through the first book, and its recently acquired sequel, till I finally set it down without finishing it. One more "No, don't leave me," and I'm gonna puke.
There are no archetypal heroes in this damn series. I wouldn't want my kids to follow Bella's example of whining, whining, whining (teen anst or not - er, do you want cheese with that?) and the more I read the book, the more I wished Victoria would just show up and kill her already and end my misery (alas, this does not happen).
Don't worry - I'm not about to spend the rest of my post to rant about the Twilight series. I know friends who love it, and I also know that the people who do range in age from 9 to 90, so I guess there is something there (though not much). I do have to admit that I liked the movie - it took me two viewings to get into it, but it was okay. I liked the soundtrack and I found that I liked Cam Gigandet who played James.
But I'm done with needy girls, and lame plots. I'm ready for some strong, intelligent women (and men). I'm ready for some real heroes (and heroines!).
It's been an interesting couple of days around here. There's been one huge development that I'm going to get confirmed this afternoon, and after that, I guess you could say that my life will be changing!
I'm still spinning, although a whole lot less than I'd like to. My three wheels are feeling a bit neglected and it makes me realize that when I am after a wheel (or anything for that matter), I love the excitement of the chase more than the acquisition of the prize.
The wheel least use in this house has been the Babe. I just haven't been in the mood to spin uber-bulky yarns these days although that's partly more because of the fact that I like to savor the feel of yummy merino in my hands as I'm drafting it out instead of watching it go so fast as a bulky or super-bulky yarn through the delta orifice and onto the nether world of the bobbin. Where's the fun in that? But really, I guess I've been spinning lots of bulky yarns in the past so I could say this is just a little break...
So the Babe has been sitting in the garage while I've been splitting my time between the S-45 and the Fricke, spinning pretty fine singles on both. On the Louet, I'm enjoying the feel of Lisa's merino roving from Poppy Flower Fibers, and on the Fricke, I'm spinning some merino silk blend from Alpaca Direct that I've had for almost a year now. Come to think of it, June is also my first year anniversary when it comes to spinning! Woot!
This time last year, I had ordered my first drop spindle starter kit from Maine Woods on Etsy, spun (or attempted to spin) while watching Stephen King's "The Fog" and then attended a class with Nancy of Custom Handweaving so I could learn how to drop spindle properly before finding myself at the park facing Ann and her lovely spinning wheel!
This year, the event was held at the same place, El Dorado Park, and this time there were over 70 attendees! There was lots of wonderful food, great people, yarn and fiber everywhere, and of course, wheels! Seven, the alpaca from last year, even came down to visit along with her little sister!
Since then, I've had about 7 wheels come and go, from a Hitchhiker, Louet Julia, Ashford Joy, an antique wheel (missing a bobbin but I didn't even know that then!), Fricke ST-160, Babe novelty bulky spinner and finally the S-45! Whew! That's a lot of wheels! Not to mention the accumulation of fiber!
Yup, my first hand-dyed, handspun, handknit FO to share (on second thought, it may not be the first, but definitely still fun!)!
I started with some Sheep Shed Studio mill ends in black and white, which I kettle dyed (just threw in the colors in layers and prayed), then navajo-plied, and finally knit into this hat that I hope isn't too big for Leo's head.
I usually use the Yarn Harlot's notes for knitting generic hats and socks, so this was pretty easy!
In other developments, I was sneak-attacked yesterday from The Handmade Movement (thank you so much, Heather!) and my shop Liz and Leo got its first seven sales (that's what happens when one has too many shops to begin with - but Liz and Leo on etsy has proven to be most representative of Leo's and my my work) so basically my earlier shops are going to fade away soon.
So all in all, it's been a good day! It's been slow for my practice but it works out because I'm helping Matt, my son, get all his stuff together so he can find himself his first job (he's 19) and today we went to DMV so we could get him his drivers, er, identification card. He says he's not driving yet because he doesn't want to be saddled with the expenses tied to owning a car. Good for him!
At least, he's going to look for a job locally so he can take the bus and the metro easily. Thank goodness we live in a central area with transit within a block or two away...
I have to constantly remind myself to be more patient with him since he's only 19 and being raised overseas where he had everyone doing everything for him, coming the US is a huge leap - especially when there are no maids here. Hehehe...heaven knows I need one in this little house as it is to control my fiber and yarn stash that's spilling out of every nook and cranny!
The other day, I saw my Kiva widget feature a Guatemalan man in need of a micro loan to purchase weaving looms for his business (oh, be still my heart! I love me a weaving man!).
But before I go on though, "Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs around the globe." (that's from their website).
You can help someone build a business by lending him a minimum of $25. Let's say he needs $100, three other people would be joining you to complete his loan request. The money is funneled through a local microfinance company managing the entire affair and as the loan gets paid, you get your investment back in no time. You can then lend it out again to another entrepreneur, and even add more money into the pool to help more people.
I started with Kiva last year to help a single mother set up her little store in Africa. Got my investment back a few months alter, and the other day, I re-invested it into this man's weaving business. The photo of him with his loom was enough for me - he needed to buy more looms so he could weave more.
You can browse through many of the people around the world in need of micro-loans and help out. Twenty five dollars is all you need to get started. I can't wait to see how this man builds his weaving business - we're into fiber after all and need to watch each others' back, eh?
This just finished drying and I am hooked on romney fiber! It feels so wonderful and I can't wait to order a whole bunch of them and get started dyeing them all! I don't know what to do - sell it or spin it.
In the meantime, yesterday I started reading this really awesome book, "Let The Right One In" by Swedish writer John Ajvide Lindqvist. Read it last night and finished it this morning! It is amazing!
It's a vampire novel and it is captivating. They did come out with a movie last year that is said to have garnered some awards at the Tribeca Film Festival and tonight Leo and I watched it on Netflix. It's a good movie, but I love the book way better. The book is always much better in most cases...
I've also finally given in. Got myself a copy of Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" yesterday - got tired of the book 'the other Nancy' promised me in March. While Sherri and Craig were visiting here this week, I kept picking up her book and flipping through the pages (and not in any particular order, too, each time I picked it up!) So yesterday, I finally gave in and got myself a copy.
Yup, I actually got to spin an entire yarn in 5 days! It's from my Fae kettle dyed roving that I stole from the shop and then spun into a not-so-thin single, before navajo-plying the entire thing to produce 210 DK-weight yards! I think it's going to be a manly hat, don't you think?
I also got some beautiful fiber! Two days ago, my Sac friends, Sherri and Craig, came down here for an interview/evaluation for Craig to get a kidney transplant (and we think we have problems!).
Craig has Alport Syndrome, a genetic disorder that manifests early in males and later for females. It has something to do with the cell membrane lining around the ears, eyes and the kidneys that do not develop correctly and thus create scar tissue which, if you're a kidney and need to filter just about everything for the body to work right - you can't because the cells have scarred up to the point that no filtration of whatever-stuff-the-kidney-filters ever is filtered - just about renders the kidney unable to work.
Anyway, when I was in Sacramento last year, Craig drove me to this awesome store - Rumpelstilskin - and exercising a rare feat of self-control, I left there with only a skein of hand painted yarn. No roving, no wheel! Well, Craig brought Sherri there before their trip down here and she said the moment she ran her hands on the baby camel fiber, she was hooked.
Craig was eyeing the huge bag of fleece actually but wasn't sure if I could process raw fleece or not (I do! I do!). This is one divine set of fibers! I just love it and can't wait to start spinning it - maybe ply them together and then knit a scarf with it! What do you think?
Today I got to dye a small batch of 4 ounces of romney fiber that Fiberfreek had given me last year. I added a dollop of silk noils and now they're currently drying. I also got to give some merino I had lying around that still had a coat of lanolin on it a good soaking. It's drying, too! I can't wait to card it, or even try spinning it directly!
By the way, in case you haven't heard, June 13 is WORLDWIDE KNIT IN PUBLIC DAY, otherwise known as WWKIPD! If you happen to be in Southern California, come on over to El Dorado Park (off Spring Street and Studebaker Road) by the archery range and join us for a beautiful day knitting, spinning, and hanging out with friends! Last year, someone even brought a young alpaca named Seven!
I've turned into a grouch these days. So to counter-act this grouchy phase, I've resumed knitting. A lot. I'm actually working on an afghan that's been in progress for about 1-1/2 years.
Of course, it doesn't hurt to receive my black Nantucket Bagg in the mail and stock it up with my knitting essentials. It's quite inspiring actually. I can place all my knitting needles, my current WIPs and still have room for the bulky feather and fan afghan that I've been working for, like, years.
It's an amazing bag and now Leo wants one for his tools!
These days, I find myself knitting in my knitting/spinning chair that's been now moved into the bedroom because my son has taken over my knitting/spinning space in the living room. And these days, that's where you're gonna find me.
Or in the garage, drumcarding - which I've been doing as much as I can, only to realize that when one drum cards, one also needs more fiber! So...guess I'll be prowling for more fiber online as well.
In the non-spinning front, I spied this teaser trailer online and am quite enthralled (I need distractions!). I've never read the books (well, read a few pages while browsing at Borders but ended up buying City of Bones instead - which turned out to be another teen novel), and preferred James (muy caliente!) over Edward in the first movie.
