Knotty Knitters

I'm a member of the Knotty Knitters, a knitting/crafting group at work. We meet every thursdays during our lunch hour to knit, but mostly to talk and catch up on the latest news regarding work, family, relationships, etc... all the things that make life interesting and exciting. The talented members include myself, Karen, Heather, Lisa and Kim. This year, I gifted each knotty knitter with Pink Knitters Soap from Karen's Soaps on Etsy. I love the soap! Not only is it perfect for knitters, it also smells really great! She has tons of really wonderful soaps so please check them out.

Monkeyhouse "Wild Wild Kingdom" Show

My first show was a success! I sold both my dolls on the first night, which I wasn't expecting but very grateful for. In fact, I was standing with some friends when I saw a man pointing to my doll and telling his girlfriend that he wanted to get it. My friend told him that I had made the doll and we all introduced ourselves and talked a bit. I even got a picture of him with my bear!


George of "Citizen L.A." with the "Bear Gone Wild"


Monkeyhouse Toys and Gallery

Some of the dolls on display.




Special thanks to Mayra, Kelly, Kim, Matt, Amy and Roy!

Wild Wild Kingdom

Two of my handmade dolls will be on display at Monkeyhouse Toys and Art Gallery for the "Wild Wild Kingdom" show.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of my dolls so I can't upload them here as a preview. One is entitled "Bear Gone Wild" (bear is wearing a leopard-print bikini) and the other is a little boy dressed as a white bunny carrying a carrot.

Opening reception is this Saturday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. This is my first show so it'll be exciting to see what other fabric artists are creating!

Boy Toys

My "Sleepy Ninja" was recently included in an Etsy Treasury by crafter/blogger Meg of Elsie Marley. Check out her blog when you get a chance. She's got some great craft and decorating posts.

Save the Date!

This event sounds really fun! I'm planning to drop by for the festivities to ring in the Christmas holiday. Artist Kelly Thompson will have a table at the art and gift bazaar and graciously invited me to sell my plushies with her artwork. I'll be by the bazaar to lend a hand. Read more about the event here.

O.k., now I have to make a bunch of ninjas before the event!

A Want, not a Need

The Francois Dress from Rare Devise is so lovely!

See It!

I spent most of Saturday working on two dolls for Monkeyhouse Gallery's "Wild Wild Kingdom" show. After many hours of sitting in my house cutting and sewing, I was so happy to get out to see "Milk" at the ArcLight with some friends. I can't recommend it enough! This movie came at the exact moment in history when we need it the most. If anyone is still unclear about why the passage of Proposition 8 is so wrong, please see this movie. I predict Sean Penn will most deservedly win the Oscar. Emile Hirsh, James Franco and Diego Luna also turn out great performances. See it!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Arroyo Arts Collective Re-Discovery Tour

Participating in the Arts Collective was a new experience for me, both as an artist and as a spectator. The feeling of community among artists and art lovers reinforced in me that art should not be elitist; anyone who creates using his/her imagination is an artist. A special thanks to Kelly for inviting me to participate this year!

Here are some images of the beautiful pieces on the tour.






(Clark Dugger's photography and Kelly Thompson's painting)


(My handmade dolls on display)




(Drawings by young artist Alex)


(Henry observing the spectacle)


(Young entrepreneurs!)

To-Do Tattoos

This would make a great stocking stuffer for those of us who are very forgetful! 12 tattoos for $3.95 at Wishingfish.com.

Join Me!

My one-of-a-kind dolls will be on display at the Arroyo Arts Collective Re-Discovery Tour. Artist Kelly Thompson was kind enough to invite me, along with other fellow artists including the mincing mockingbird, Clark Dugger and Kim Bagwill, to show at her home studio in Mount Washington. I'll also be selling my wares there just in time for xmas. Hope to see you there!

Center of Attention #2

(Iggy cat-napping on my printer)

See It!

"Slumdog Millionaire" is my favorite movie of 2008. The year is not yet over but I can't imagine I'll like another movie more.

Indie Shopping Heaven

This year's felt club event was fantastic! I left my home an hour early hoping to snag a swag bag. When I got to the Shrine Auditorium Expo Center, there was already a long line extending around the corner of the building. I thought I missed my chance for a swag bag but I lucked out and got one!


(swag bag contents)

There were tons of great vendors including the Mincing Mockingbird and the Frantic Meerkat. It was hard but I managed to control myself and bought only a few items that I couldn't resist. Great job Felt Club and congratulations to all the vendors!


(view from the top)


(Leslie Hall with fans)

Apply Now!

BUST magazine (One of the best magazines around!) will be expanding their holiday craft shows to include Los Angeles (in addition to New York and London). The L.A. Holiday Craftacular is on December 6 at the Echoplex in Echo Park. There will be djs, bands, drinks, dancing, and over 50 vendors. If you want to be a vendor, you must apply by Friday, November 14 here.

Save the Date

I'll be selling my wares at this event on Saturday. Hope to see you there!

Halloween Cupcakes

I didn't want to let Halloween pass without featuring my sister's tombstone cupcake topper and eyeball cupcakes. I especially love the detail of the skeletal hand (She's an Otis graduate!).

Silver Lake Art Crawl

If you are free this weekend, check out the Silver Lake Art Crawl. Fellow Etsyan and friend Kim Bagwill will be showing her paintings at Gold Bear Academy and Kelly Thompson will be showing at Monkeyhouse. See you there!

In My DVD Player

I'm currently hooked on the British crime-series "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates" starring Patricia Routledge ("Keeping Up Appearances") and a young Dominic Monaghan ("Lord of the Rings" Trilogy, "Lost"). Hetty, a retired working-class woman, has a knack for solving crimes. Dominic Monaghan plays troubled youth, Geoffrey, who works as her assistant. The series looks a bit dated and might be slow for some people but I enjoy the laid back feel of Lancashire, England. It's a good show to watch on rainy days.

The Moment of Truth!

Election Day is Finally Here!

I can't believe election day is finally here. I voted absentee ballot two weeks ago so I didn't have to deal with any long lines today (thank goodness!). I hope everyone voted or will vote. As an incentive, here are a few freebies being given away today:

Starbucks is giving out free coffee to voters Tuesday to anyone who asks.

Krispy Kreme is giving away star-shaped doughnuts to those with an “I Voted” sticker.

Ben & Jerry’s is giving away a free scoop.

No on Prop 8

Download your own poster here.

Topshop in the U.S.

Kate Moss' Christmas 08 collection is now available at Topshop.

Topshop finally opened its flagship store in New York last month and I'm hoping they will open a store in Los Angeles soon. When it opens, I hope it doesn't disappoint as much as H&M. Albeit there are some great bargains at H&M but I think my expectations were too high.

Bubble Calendar

If I had this Bubble Calendar, I think I would have to pop all the bubbles at once. You can get this fun calendar at Wishingfish.com.

Synecdoche, New York

I was fortunate enough to see "Synecdoche, New York" at an advance screening sponsored by Flux. The film is written and directed by Charlie Kaufman ("Being John Malkovich," "Adaptation," Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind") and like his other movies, it takes a while to process because of the blurring of reality and fantasy. I still can't pronounce the title, let alone tell you what the movie was about. Personally, I thought the theme of the movie was regret; live your life so that when you come to the end you have no regrets. The highlight of the event was when the film was introduced by producer Spike Jonze and actor Tom Noonan (I just realized he was the serial killer from "Manhunter," which haunted me for days after seeing it!).

Prediction: Another Oscar nomination for Philip Seymour Hoffman!

Heartwarming Story About Obama

My friend Jeremy sent me this story entitled: "Amazing: Obama Helped Stranded Stranger 20 Years Ago." If you're not a fan of Obama, you will be after you read the story. If you still don't like him, you have no heart.

Michel Gondry at Family

French writer/director Michel Gondry will be at Family tonight signing his new memoir, "You'll Like this Film Because You're in it" and comic book, "We Won the War but Not the Battle." I would love to go but alas I'm stuck at work.

Pegs on Canvas

I went to the opening reception of Matt Bilfield's exhibit at Ghettogloss on Saturday and was wowed. I'm usually underwhelmed by what people call "art." If it's something anyone can do, I'm not very impressed. But I was definitely impressed with Matt's work. He uses meticulously placed colored pegs to create comic images. Check out the show if you have the time.

The Center of Attention

I found Iggy draped on the microwave the other day. He seems to like sitting on appliances for some reason. Maybe it's the warmth, or maybe he just wants to be the center of attention. He sits in front of the t.v. when I'm watching it, sits on my keyboard when I'm on the computer, sits on my papers when I'm trying to do paperwork, etc... If he weren't so cute, I'd swat him away but I grab my camera every time. He's got me trained really well.

E-Cards Don't Have to be Boring

If you're tired of mainstream, sentimental e-cards, check out Someecards.com.

A Want, not a Need

This parka is only $39 (originally $110) at Eva Chleo.

SAVE THE DATE!

I'll be participating in this show and selling my wares.

NOVEMBER 23, 2008

You’ve been wondering, you’ve been asking, When is that artist tour in Northeast Los Angeles anyway? Shouldn’t it be coming up? Well, mark your calendar. Bigger and better than ever, with over 130 artists, 32 of them new to the Tour this year, The Arroyo Arts Collective Re-Discovery Tour will be Sunday, November 23, 2008, 9:30am to 5:00pm, beginning at the Lummis Home, 200 East Avenue 43 (at the Avenue 43 exit of the Pasadena Freeway), Los Angeles, California 90031.

What: The Arroyo Arts Collective Re-Discovery Tour

When: Sunday, November 23, 2008, 9:30am-5:00pm

Where: Begins at the Lummis Home, 200 East Avenue 43, Los Angeles, CA 90031

Tickets: $10 (plus $1 handling) advance on-line purchase, or $15 at the Lummis Home on the day of the Tour.

Echo Park: One of America's 10 Great Neighborhoods

Echo Park was just distinguished as one of the 10 great neighborhoods in America! As a longtime resident of Echo Park I already knew this, but it's great to be validated by the American Planning Association. I love, love living here. Here's what the APA has to say about my little neck of the woods - Angelino Heights.

"Angelino Heights near Echo Lake is the neighborhood's most picturesque area. More than 50 Victorian homes grace this historic district, which was established in 1983 as the city's first Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. One entire block of Angelino Heights, which also includes Craftsman-style bungalows, brownstones, and Streamline Moderne architecture, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places."

Gay Ninjas in Love

I made these Ninjas for my friend Michael and his longtime partner Clark. They will wed this weekend after 13 years together. Each ninja has the other's initial on his heart and they can hold hands thanks to some velcro.

I don't want to rant but it's about time they had the right to marry! If you are a California resident, please vote "no" on Proposition 8, which eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Read about Michael and Clark's story here.