Monday, May 27, 2013

LA

There was a time when moving to LA would not even be a choice I consider.  But the more we visit the city the more I like it.  Off course, I realize to visit and to live in LA are two different things.  If the opportunity to move there comes along, I still have to consider a few things: a good neighborhood, one that I can afford to live in, with a good public school for my kids, and with a relatively good commute to the airport so I can go to work.  Is that a lot to ask?

The last few times we went to LA the kids always ask to go to the beach.  They love the beach.  I never thought much about the beach, but I love the beach too.  Growing up in Eastern Europe we went to Greece almost every year.  So the beach experience is not new to me, I just never realized that I missed it in all the 17 years living in the US.

So this past weekend when I had an opportunity to go to LA with my husband, I didn't think twice. In addition to spending time at the beach with the kids, I also got to see my college friend Isabel, who has never met my kids before.  And since the job my husband had was close to the fashion district I found myself walking though this row of street market where pinatas, Hispanic foods and candy were everywhere.  Walking along, holding a kid in each hand, I fit right in.  After all, I grew up in a developing country, where the atmosphere, street vendors, street food and all that goes along with it, is a common thing.







So who knows, maybe I will end up in LA one day.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Tornado

It's on a day like today when a tornado wipes a town in Oklahoma and many die, children included, that I squeeze my kids a little tighter, I hold them a little longer and I am thankful that my family is ok.  We live another day.

I think of the pain, grief and confusion that the families affected are going through right now and how their lives are changed forever and their healing process has not even begun.  I think of the families that only a few months ago lost their children and loved ones in the school shooting in Connecticut, or the ones in the Boston Marathon bombing just last month.  How are they doing?  And if I kept up with the news a little better there are probably many more tragic happenings that are too much, too many or too overwhelming to remember.
And there is nothing that I can say that is profound, that would make a difference.  Inside I hurt a little, and I wished that somehow that was enough to take a little of the hurt away from those who suffer right now.


Sunday, May 19, 2013

SEW Somerset again

I got the new issue of SEW Somerset in the mail and I have to admit the first thing I did is list through to find the pages with my work.  This is the second time my work is in SEW Somerset, and I've also been so blessed to have my work in other Stampington publications, but each time I feel just as excited as the very first time I got published.
I spent my afternoon yesterday listing through, reading the articles and admiring the work of many talented people whose work was selected to be in this issue.

And here is the two page spread with my fabric rings.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Zentangle turned into Zen-shrinkies

I've been preoccupied with a new skill I learned from a workshop I took last week: Zentangle.  Zentangle is a drawing technique of repeating patterns.  It seemed easy enough, so I gave it a try.  It was a success!  I have been seeing patterns everywhere since the class.  I've been drawing and experimenting with the technique.  And it is how I got addicted to what I like to call Zen-shrinkies.
You know I like to use shrinky dinks in many of my projects.  So I tried to see what will happen if I draw zentangle desings on shrinky dink plastic and bake it.  I added color using pencils.  And I've been totally consumed in zen-shrinkies.
I turned them into rings too.
I added my original practice drawings I did in class, to my craft only blog: Stitch Play
 

Monday, May 06, 2013

Vacation

I've been busy, but not with working, instead with taking vacation.  I took vacation twice in April: the first week and the last week of it.  I didn't have big plans, and had a great time still.  I did some travel, visited family and some friends, spent time with my kids, enjoyed the beach in California and Virginia and did some crafting.