More Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky

I wrote about this fascinating photographer a while back. He developed a special technique for color photography in the early 20th century, which makes it such a rare treat to look at his work - like stepping back in time.

Second Official Making Monday

The progress so far on my first ever quilt.



A mock-up I created in Illustrator.

So far I like quilting. The patchworking was super fun. I was intimidated at the thought of quilting since I was afraid my sewing machine would just chew up all my work, but it's handling the extra thickness pretty well. I just lengthened the stitch a bit, and it's all good. The hardest part is handling the rolled up quilt, as it's a bit unwieldy. I'm using a natural shade of organic flannel which makes it incredibly soft. I can't WAIT to curl up on the couch with this.

SF artists on Etsy

I was going to post pictures of my second official Making Monday, but I got called into work. Money calls. Instead, here's a treasury I made of local SF artists/sellers on Etsy. There are so many talented people in the Bay Area. I'm thinking about doing a weekly feature on local artists as a way for me to discover other makers in my community. Plus, it's just so fun to look at all the pretty.

R.I.P. Amy

An unbelievably soulful voice. So young. Not a surprise but still sad nonetheless. I hope you found some peace, Amy.

P.S. I wish I could remember the origin of this photo. I think it's a British pop artist. I did look but couldn't find the name of this particular artist. Wonderful image, though.

Little Things That Make Me Happy

Like painting an old dresser that a friend gave me to hold my ever-growing cache of art supplies and control clutter. And finding super-cute ceramic knobs on sale at Anthropologie.


And best of all, finally checking this off my to-do list.

Making Monday

A little while ago I got overwhelmed and fell into a funk and stopped working on my projects. It was only when I started getting back into them that I realized the connection between making (learning new things, crafting) and happiness...at least for me. So in order to add a little structure to my life and make time for making, I've designated Monday (a day off work for me) as Making Monday. I'm going to try to work on laundry, errands, etc., on other days, so I can really focus on learning a new technique, craft, etc. on Mondays.

So to kick off my new commitment to making, I started with something fairly easy - a wrap bracelet. I found a tutorial on the aptly titled blog Making Bracelets Blog. It never ceases to amaze me how generous bloggers, particularly makers/crafters, are with their knowledge and expertise.

So it was loads of fun to relax and learn how to make something. I used the recommended waxed Irish linen, which is a very satisfying material to work with. Not only is it inexpensive and comes in a variety of colors (I spent 75 cents on materials because I had everything else at home), but it's super malleable (kind of like dental floss) and ties, beads and knots easily. The elephant button was a poor choice because the loop needs to follow a smooth edge, but it's so cute I couldn't resist. It just requires a bit more patience when I put it on.

Monogrammed Napkins

I was playing around with some scraps of fabric and made a couple of monogrammed napkins for my husband and I. I'm not too sure about the stars or the cool palette, but I'll definitely make some more in a different color scheme with just a simple "B" and "D." I'm trying to get rid of some of my fabric stash...so I can buy some more.



P.S. I could definitely use some more practice styling my photos. Because there's nothing I like more to snack on than a bowl of limes. ;)

Makes Me Smile

This mural on a nearby school always makes me smile.



They've included lots of local spots of interest - like the Conservatory of Flowers and Claude, the albino alligator, who resides at the California Academy of Sciences.



They've captured the ballpark quite nicely. Along with the tourist sites, the parking police car is a pretty hilarious addition. Anyone who has ever had to park a car in San Francisco can certainly relate.

And look who's pitching? Fear the beard!

Another Good Reason For Creating Treasuries...

It gives people hints for great presents. I made this treasury because I was thinking about pretty shades of green combined with brass and sharp angles.

A few weeks later, look what my sweet husband ordered for me from Smile Sophie!

Nice Package!

I ordered this adorable tea towel from Patapri a while back, and when I received it I was so delighted by the packaging. From the customized wrapping paper and tidy presentation to the cute invoice, it's really making me think about how I can present my own handmade things so it's just a little more special.