dolin bliss

Recovering, Love, Art and a Puzzle!

Well there's a title for you... I have been recovering for almost a week from jet lag and a head cold.  Getting an average of 4 hours of sleep a night for over a week, is really taking a toll on me.  I am a girl that needs around 7 hours a night to feel good. 

My very short trip to Seoul, Korea went very well.  I only spent 3 and a half days there, but it was great.  I wish I could have had more time to explore, but this trip was mostly about business.  I did some training there with our business partners and got to meet many pattern makers face to face, some that I have been working with for almost two years.  I was lucky to travel there with my friend/boss who is Korean, so we were able to get around easily and have all sorts of yummy food. 

Crafting has taken a back seat lately.  My brain has been mush and I have had no energy.  Over the long weekend I was pretty much just a lump of Dolin.   The greatest thing about just being a lump of Dolin and not worrying about what/where/when, was that I got to get in some much needed one on one time with my wonderful sweetie!  We really needed it, both of us has been so busy and stressed that we just hung out around his house, doing quick trips to the outside world for food and some art.  That brings me to the wonderful exhibit we went to see at the San Jose Art Museum.  I have been waiting for this exhibit to come there and it was totally worth it.  Here is a image of one of the paintings:

Can you guess who it is... It the the Tragic Kingdom exhibit by Camille Rose Garcia!  WOW!  I loved it and after seeing a lot of her work on-line and in books, all I have to say, you must see these paintings and drawings in person.  They are so beautiful and the colors she uses are so lush.  I am no good a describing these things, just go and see the show! 

The other thing I did was put this puzzle together.  I love puzzles and can totally lose myself in them, so now you know where all my time went.  Don't worry Olivia, you get this puzzle next!

I have to admit I am not the best and most prolific blogger and in the next week or so, it will not get better.  It's a very stressful time at work because we are going through a round of lay offs and once I actually get home from work, I just eat, watch a bit of T.V. and crash.  Not the best way to live your life, but we are all just trying to get through the craziness with our jobs.  We find out by the end of this week where we stand.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

lacy tank!

I haven't really knit much lately, since I made this blanket for my sweetie.  It was a birthday gift that was one month late.  So that means no real knitting project since the end of January.  It was about time I picked up my needles again.  I wanted something new to be able to knit while I am on my upcoming business trip to Korea.  I know, I know I really should pick up one of the MANY unfinished projects that are lingering around my apartment.  I did tell myself that I wasn't allowed to purchase any new yarn for this new project, need to use some yarn from the massive existing stash.  So this is what I decided on:

I have only shown the back image from the pattern because I don't like the front vee neck and decided to the back neckline shape for both.  You can find this pattern for free here.  I bought this yarn about a year and a half ago, it is about time I knit this up.  I am also going to make the matching shrug.  I bought enough yarn to make both. 

This should get me through my 12 plus hours (each way) of flight boredom.  I am also bringing my new Bust magazine and a few paperbacks.  I have a real hard time sleeping on flights, so I bring a lot to keep me busy.  I will try to sleep a bit since we are in business class and there is more room to spread out, but still I usually only end up napping. 

I haven't tried an all over lace pattern, because I really don't like having to count each row and really pay attention to every stitch I make, but after reading through this pattern I am taking the plunge!  It is a pretty easy pattern once you start doing it and best of all, it is knit from the top down, so there is no seaming at the end.  Come to think of it, this is the first time I am knitting a sweater from the top down.  So I am feeling a bit proud of myself, I am stepping out of my knitting comfort zone.  This is what I have done so far since starting Sunday:

Embriodery Done!

I finished my Mother's Day airstream embroidery card over the weekend and sent it out to Mom today:

I think she will like it.  I always forget how fun embroidery is, it is like painting with thread.  I haven't quite figured out the best way to attach the embroidered piece to paper when making a card.  I don't want to glue it down or anything.  I normally sew it down with my sewing machine, but that never turns out to well.  Last night I decided to just hand-stitch it to the black paper with a running stitch, then I glued the black paper to the turquoise card stock.  It isn't perfect, but she will enjoy it.

On a non-crafty note, I just celebrated a birthday on Sunday!  It was wonderful and amazing, due mostly to my thoughtful fabulous boyfriend.  He goes all out, which is very sweet.  I LOVE birthdays, especially my own, and anyone who does anything thoughtful for me on my day (or week, or month) gets an A+ in my book.  I love to celebrate birthdays and try to do fun things for my friends and family.  Tonight two of my really close girlfriends are taking me to a fancy pants dinner at Boulevard as a belated b-day celebration and I am just counting down the hours until our reservation.  I am even wearing my new birthday shoes (I bought the emerald ones)for the occasion.  That is one of my own traditions, buying a fun pair of shoes for myself every year!  YAY for birthdays! 

Airstream Embroidery

See my little work in progress:

This embroidery is going to end up being a Mother's Day card for my mom!  She used to have an Airstream trailer, named Elmer.  So I thought she would enjoy a little card with one embroidered on it.  The colors at the bottom will finish up the piece, the red for the awning and side curtains, the orange for the awning pompom's and back curtains (which am adding) and the turquoise for the door and hubcap.  I am also going to embroider the word "Mom" in the license plate.  My mom loves bright colors and these will blend in with her decor.  She is pretty crafty, so I think she will either make this into a pillow or frame it.  I used the Sublime Stitching pattern "Camp Out" for the transfer and just doing a basic split stitch for the outline, the pompom's will be french knots.  This is a quick fun project that doesn't take a whole lot of concentration, which is totally what I need right now. 

On another note, I had to cancel my Maker Faire workshop on how to make a fabric belt, because I have to go on a business trip to Korea.  I am SOOOOO bummed that I am missing the Maker Faire this year, but I am excited that I get to go to Korea.  I have never been there.  It is a very short trip to do some training, but I will have one day off to explore Seoul.  I am swamped at work with prep for this trip, but it should be very interesting.