February 2007 Archives
My baby moved to Room 3 at his daycare center! That is basically preschool level. It happened a month earlier (he will be 2 and a half next month) but I am glad because he was the oldest in Room 2 and he was getting a little bored, and he started imitating the little ones (most of the other kids in the room were 18 months or a bit older) so this will be a good change. Ahhh... My baby... I have had mixed feelings about sending him to the daycare full time - he started very early - he was only 10 months when I went back to school. It broke my heart. By the time I was out of school (last fall - only a year in grad school? llong story, different post), he was already two years and the daycare was good for him. He really enjoys it, he likes his teachers and (most) of the kids. And, the toys, oh the toys! Sometime he won;t leave when we come to pick him up. They work a lot with the kids - lot of crafts, they go out to the yard, they go to the gym, and he gets to play with other kids. Some things I just cannot give him at home. Right now I work basically full time, but the plans for the future are to be more at home and have him with me a couple of days a week... we'll see... By the way, these pictures were taken this Sunday t Long Beach during the Tour of California bike race. It was a lot of fun but it was cold (well, cold for Southern California).
No, this is not going to turn into a fashion blog, but these two have caught my attention over the last week. It surprises me every time when I see fashion trends two! seasons ahead. It is not even Spring and we are looking into Fall 2007 already? Where can I see what's new for this Summer?
The second is from Milan Fashin Week and features a neck wrap from Clare Waight Keller, a british designer. Very elegant and cosy - it would be really fun to make!
The second is from Milan Fashin Week and features a neck wrap from Clare Waight Keller, a british designer. Very elegant and cosy - it would be really fun to make!
Burda paterns come in european sizes, so here is the conversion and sizing chart, in case you need it.
I took this picture last wednesday, in front of the gym where I take Luka for his swimming lessons. It was a total surprise, not this particular tree, but all of a sudden I saw these trees in full bloom everywhere. I have been living in Southern California for 6 years now, and by now I know this is not really spring, just another blooming season. I have some trees and bushes in my yard that bloom twice a year, once in summer, once in winter, usually late January. The Summer bloom happens, I think, sometime in May - that's when I actually feel (and I think I can smell) Spring.
That is Spring the way I think about Spring, coming from 4 season climate. The funny thing is I have not lived in a 4 season climate for about 11 years now. From Croatia I moved to Atlanta, then to Austin and then LA. But even now, after all those years my body seems to steel be tuned into seasons, expecting them. For example, every September I feel like my body expects cooler temperatures, almost craving them, feeling restless when I (my body) realizes that Summer is here to stay.I also miss rain and gloomy weather. I think I might be one of very few people that do not feel depressed during gray weather (well, if it lasts too long...). I thought it was for the same reason, expecting rain in October, as well as that feeling of cozying with a book and a cup of tea... But the other day I was watching an episode of Northern Exposure (did I mention I love that show), when Chris mentioned something (during a rnt about something or other) that made me realize it is not the cold temperatures I expect, or rain, or gloomy weather (even though I still like the rain) - it is the slowing down that comes with Fall and Winter. I guess I am used to a certain schedule and rhythm that includes very active Summers. Summers mean vacation, spending time outside, having fun. When Fall takes over, you go back to work (or school), weather changes making you spend more time inside (how do you really focus when it's always sunny outside: I always feel I have to go outside or I am going to miss something), your activities change (more reading, less frolicking around)... Then Spring comes, everything smells fresh, hormones go wild, you know that vacation comes in a few months and you prepare for the fun. Is there rhythm in everlasting summer - I am sure there is I just cannot get in tune.
Please, don;t get me wrong - I am not complainin, at least that's not my inention. The tepmerature here was 72 F last week, while in Boston they had -18 F (with the windchill factor, but still!), so it might seem I am bitching and ungrateful. I am not, nothing can beat california weather, especially near the beach where we live. It is just the way my body feels.. I don;t know.
Wow, this is long. Well, just to show you how I appreciate the weather here, here is a sunset picture, taken on the same day as the picture above. I love sunsets here, especially in the winter when the air is clear...
This is the ltest addition to my shop. It is a baby blanket and a pillow set. The back of the blanket is a very soft and lightweight fleece, which makes this blanket very light and very soft and also easy to fold and put almost anywhere. All my recent blankets are like that - cotton on one side, and fleece on the other. I do not put any batting in the middle because it is really unneccesary, it would only make the blanket heavy and bulky.
I love this fabric, it is a Kaufman print I have had for a while. I never really liked any other fabric for a border, so I just waited for the perfect one. And then, one day I found a matching fabric, I guess from the same set, only with small flowers (you can almost see it on the pillow border) - and here is the pillow and the blanket set. The pillow case is removable - I have some pillows that are not removable and it takes forever to dry them - it is an envelope pillow so no buttons or ties or zippers to close it. Very simple but functional.
On another note, it has been a week since I finally cut the squares for the puff quilt.
I love this fabric, it is a Kaufman print I have had for a while. I never really liked any other fabric for a border, so I just waited for the perfect one. And then, one day I found a matching fabric, I guess from the same set, only with small flowers (you can almost see it on the pillow border) - and here is the pillow and the blanket set. The pillow case is removable - I have some pillows that are not removable and it takes forever to dry them - it is an envelope pillow so no buttons or ties or zippers to close it. Very simple but functional.
On another note, it has been a week since I finally cut the squares for the puff quilt.
I decided on a toddler quilt size with a 5x7 grid of 7"x7" squares (finished size). I am using the same fabric I used for my niece's bed set (except for the one with little pink flowers) - I just had enough for this quilt. I decided to use thin cotton (from an old sheet) for the back of these squares because flannel is rather thick, and with the little folds (for the puffs), it would make the seams too thick. At this point I am not sure what I will use for backing. I have not started to sew these, but I am thinking it will not take much longer than a reqular quilt - stuffing instead of trying to align and pin the backing and quilt the whole thing together...
