I can't stop thinking about him!

Rosario head preview

It's been a busy week, I've fallen behind on updating. But, I do have lots and lots of pictures for you! Here is a small preview of a series from rosario head, in deception pass state park, on Whidbey island, WA. I'm giving you all this info because if it's not already, it should be on your "to visit some day" list.

Also, if you click on them, you'll get the big version, and these are at least desktop size.

Christmas in June

last winter, My aunt and cousin planned to visit Erik and I over the holidays, and see our new house/life. Of course, we had the mother of all snow storms, and the world was snowed in all week. Their flight was canceled, as was our holiday. The tree I made sat in the corner of our apt for 6 long months.

And now, spring has come. Sam and Linda, and my uncle Harv too, came to see us last weekend. We had a great time, and got to do a wide variety of things in the city (more blogs to come). And on the last day of their visit, we sat around our now blooming Christmas tree, and opened presents.

My boyfriend really likes hats

This table was clear in the morning....

....Hanu is not

Aketa is watching you

It's called getting carried away

And I do it so well.

After my relative success with the apple and pear for Jessie, I wanted to make a couple- oh wait, make that 7 -more pincushions... whoops.



Cutting out the pieces for 5 at once


Another one here, this one is for Michele

Notching the seams is the hardest/most annoying part... I really want some pinking shears!!



I have a little problem with buying crazy cute pins....


They aren't all finished yet, as you can see... they take a while, and I usually have Erik help with the hand sewing bits because I am really, really, a machine sewing kind of girl. I'll post little cameos of each of them as they are completed... if they are completed....

Birthday gifts continued....

Also for Jessie, because she's so very cool, and I knew she'd appreciate, I finally figured out how to make the Heather Bailey apple and pear pincushions.

Birthday presents

I love birthday presents, and birthdays. The birthdays of my loved ones are some of my favorite holidays. One my favorite traditions, with a couple of my oldest friends - making a birthday card for each year of their life. Of course, it takes a while to make 27 cards. So I tend to find something that works, and do that for each card. This year, I've been sewing a lot, so I decided to sew the cards, and I think it turned out particularly well! Inside they read, at a rate of one word per card (mostly): Heyyyy, happy birthday ginkgo girl, you are the bee's teeth and all special sunshines. Here's wising you pears, radishes, amy butler, bees, cranes, wistera, and bunnies, in the following year. Love you! Melly.

Erik might have helped me write it :) And you can see where the radishes bees etc come in.... yeah, I guess I'm kind of literal :)

Baking bread

Erik has taken to making almost all of his own bread. I have been super impressed: it's a lot of work, he can make a few kinds now, and they taste pretty darn good - getting better all the time.

He's even got kitty helping.

New kitchen table cloth

I'm not sure if this one goes very well with the walls... but it is pretty cool isn't it? It's an Anna Maria Horner print that I've come to adore... I love large prints! And they are so hard to find.

(Jenna, if you're reading this, your bag with the print that looks like a stack of books? That's Anna Maria Horner.)

This sums up my love-hate with libraries

My lastest project...

A week or two ago, I spent a lazy afternoon watching avatar, and twisting up these pretty little stands... can't wait to put it all together.

Kitty's new spot

It's a good thing our bedroom is such a mess, it makes lots of nice hideaways for kitty.

Fruit preview

I've been making lots of tomatoes, pears, apples... more to come.

I am the bitter buffalo

Many of you already know, I was officially laid off yesterday. I received all of my paper work, and was informed of my rights, and my last day (Tues, Aug 11). It's a done deal.

We've been having budget meetings since last Dec, and hearing that there may be layoffs since something like last Jan. So, in some ways, this comes as no surprise. Although, with the build up over the last several months - the roller coaster of good news and bad news that's leads to more worry and sometimes hope - I have found myself deeply impacted by this final turn of events.

One of the hardest parts about this is that I myself was not chosen for layoff - I was bumped from my position by someone else who was. As the last person hired in my class, anyone laid off in my class is given the right by the union to take my position. I've known this fact for some time, and have had faith that that would be a hard thing for anyone to do, and wouldn't do it lightly, right? As it turns out, in this case, the person bumping me has enough work experience to retire... and, in fact, work experience going back to the days of the good retirement plans, so they can really retire, unlike most of us. The advantage of bumping me is for the extra bit of retirement that one more year buys them, and they only plan to work that one more year.

So, all of my good attitude and acceptance of the situation pretty much went out the window, and it suddenly feels very personal. I can't help but feel marginalized by this individual. That it was worth uprooting my life, and taking my livelihood for just a little bit more money. I know this happens all over the world, in much, much worse situations, but let me tell you it sucks and I do not understand it.

That said, there are some really amazing people at the University of Washington who have been incredibly supportive to me. As much as I am hurt, I am equally touched by the people who have been rooting for me. It has been a fantastic, and very healing work environment for me, in so many ways.

So I'm not sure what I'll do next. Most of my work experience is in libraries, and they're not hiring much these days. Most of what I'd like isn't specific to the type of job - it's things like: a mutually respectful work environment, a place that's not afraid of change, or to try new things, a place with a window, somewhere, or at least unobtrusive fluorescent lighting, and somewhere where I can contribute, and try things, and make suggestions. So if you know of such a place, or a job search engine that has check boxes like those, please let me know how to find it.

I <3... <3's

A lazy afternoon on the porch

Kiwi's are fabulous

I must have one

New curtains

They actually look good with the pale chartreuse walls!

when you say it with flowers, I want to believe it

Octo-bunny

Really, pentapus-bunny, but that's just too hard to say. He was a cheer-up gift for Asha, and there will never be another one like him... he was such a #&%$@% to make.


Trying to make a pattern, figureing he was going to be 1/2 inch smaller on every edge


Notching, notching, notching


slowly slowly emerging

This is when I realized I might have gotten in over my head...

Finally, success

Here he is with another apple - this is one I made for Michele

Right now I really love that shade that most people hate

I've been debating over what color to paint the bedroom for a long time, and eventually landed on this one. I love it in cool lighting, it's like a smokey jade. a little exotic, a little shaded... a little lagoon like. I think it's great :)

But honestly, I have to admit it falls into that "minty" category, that most people hate, and often with good reason. maybe I'll wake up form my green phase one day, and wonder what i was thinking...


I love the sample wisteria with this color....



This is the bedroom lit normally, at night. I think I want to get some cooler bulbs, bring out the aqua tones a little.

The green lamp, on the green walls. it's really fun for 5 min, then it gets a little intense.... I think I'll have to put this one in Asha's room, and get a blue or white light for this room!

Also, Erik and Hanu bonding


In the daylight... this is how I like it best. I changed out the curtains this morning to give the light that cool quality.... it's just so pretty.

Finished quilt

It's got a great drape. The muslin is a little see-through, but I was too lazy to back it... so it's my bad :) Maybe next time.