A Packing Primer - Get the Steamer Trunk!

Want to know how much you can pack into your daily life without losing the whole suitcase, as it were?  Here's a peek into what I recently packed in -

Last time I blogged, I was in DC visiting family -

The boy wearing an Alabama Chanin t-shirt I made for him.

The thimble tattoo he gave me.

My father and I drove back to Hamilton together so he could help me do my roof, which took about a week.  It's two thirds done; he's coming back this month to help me finish it,  but at least we took care of the leak.  We were doing such a good job (seriously) that our neighbor asked if we might help them do theirs.  I am not going into the roofing business, but I appreciate the compliment.

Tarping the roof for the evening with my dad and friend.

The day after my father headed back to DC, we had our birthday dinner at our friends' house.  We both agree it is one of the best meals we've ever had.

 And two days later, we drove to Nova Scotia to close on our cottage.  Crazy!  Keep in mind, this is all during MeMadeMay!  It kind of helped since it focused my travel wardrobe around handmades. (Full post just on MeMadeMay and what I learned coming soon.)

Two essential elements of Nova Scotia:

Sheep at Lismore Farm -

And lobster (here in its ultimate expression - the lobster roll made by the ladyfriend) -

I also had an FO - the Fair Isle Skirt by Mary Jane Mucklestone.  It was part of a KAL (knit-along for you nonknitters) for Squam.  I really wanted to take this little sheepy home.

And then, we drove down to Portland, ME en route to Squam.  There was just enough time to have an amazing dinner at Eventide Oyster Co., buy some fabric at Z Fabrics, then pick up some Quince & Co. yarn at KnitWit, and find some local craft beer.  The server who brought out our food at Eventide said that we'd ordered really well and that she was excited for our dinner.  She was right!

And then the ladyfriend dropped me off at Squam for the Squam Spring Retreat...

Full post on Squam coming soon.

A Tale of Woe for the Conscientious Shopper

Tattoo done by the boy

I found myself in a foul mood Saturday, and I think it started Friday night.

The ladyfriend and I had been talking about holiday gifts (she was getting her list together), and I suggested we look at Patagonia because we've always liked (and fetishized, at times) their stuff.  I saw this and paused -

It hit a lot of the notes I like - hood, thumb holes as well as pullover mitts, green funky pattern, etc.  But I'd just purged a lot of clothing, and as I put away my long-sleeve athletic tops, I'd remarked to myself that I clearly didn't need anymore.  But need shmeed, right?

Not so fast.  Patagonia kindly makes its supply chain transparent, but that didn't mean I was excited by it.  Sure, the factory they use "has a strong social program, which includes medical care and on-site, no-cost meals," but it didn't convince me.  Frankly, I'm beginning to feel like this is a way of whitewashing off-shore production (is there an ethical/sustainability version of whitewashing?).  It's made in China, and that's kind of the story for me.

The Boy Tattoos in LA This Weekend

If you're in the Los Angeles area this weekend, the boy (also known as my son) will be a guest tattooer at Crimson Unicorn this Friday through Monday.   Wasn't a new tattoo on your resolutions list?

On My Mind Mondays: Going Home

It's been a pretty packed weekend here in the Bay Area.  I feel like I've been here for longer than the four nights I've stayed - in a good way.  It's been great seeing the boy, and despite the fact that he had to work every day of my stay, we spent a lot of time together.

So in addition to getting ready to fly home, I'm thinking about -

1. The sashiko mending workshop with Katrina Rodabaugh that I took yesterday at the Handcraft Studio School in Emeryville.  What a fantastic workshop.  I'll be finishing the mending of my pants on the plane ride today.  I hope to post more about this workshop in the next few days.
2. The yarn I bought at A Verb for Keeping Warm that I initially thought I'd start a shawl with on the plane.  What was I thinking?  Starting a lace shawl on a plane?  I'm saving that for when I get home and when I find the right pattern. 
3. My boy.  Always.
4. My birthday, later this week.  You know.  Just thinking about it.
5. My boy's suggestion to get on Twitter, which, frankly I've thought was stupid.  However, he's quite convinced, and somewhat convincing, about it being a good way to get my work and what-not (I am not a brand) out there.  I'm thinking about it.
6. Posting about my new tattoos (yes, plural) and the one I gave Ian (yes, I gave him a tattoo).  Here's one of my new ones.

That's my bike!  And it commemorates this summer's bike trip.

 Have a great week!
 

Mother-Son Tattoo Bonding!

Bunny by Ian Manley, Spirograph by Jean Chen

As I've mentioned elsewhere in this blog, 'the boy' (as we're prone to calling him) is apprenticing as a tattoo artist at Sacred Rose Tattoo in Berkeley.  Yesterday he did his mama proud.

I cannot tell you how happy I am with my bunny.  It's got to be the cutest thing ever - and so well rendered!  And yes, I love bunnies.

The Boy Tattoos in the Bay Area

As I may have mentioned, our son Ian (aka the boy) is apprenticing as a tattoo artist at Sacred Rose Tattoo in Berkeley, CA.  The photo above shows one of his most recent pieces.  Anyway, he's looking for more people to work on and is only charging $50/session.  For more details, you can email him (i.bh.a.manleyATgmail.com) or call him at 510.883.1083 (Sacred Rose Tattoo).

If you're not convinced yet, check out the flash he painted for us for Christmas last year -

Alabama Getaway (No, I'm Not a Dead Fan...

...it's just the song that pops into my head when I think about Alabama - better than "Oh Susanna"?)

This past weekend I had the pleasure and privilege to attend a weekend workshop at Alabama Chanin (thanks to the OAC).   I have to say - it was great.  I picked out my own project (albeit one that is almost identical to one in the most recent book, Alabama Studio Sewing + Design), received all the attention (and in some ways more) that I needed, and got to experience first-hand the Alabama Chanin aesthetic and ethics.  It was a perfect storm: crafting, fashion, conversations about sustainability, local food, and no other obligations. Yes, I ran away to sewville! And I would gladly run away again although next time I might try to get my mom to come along as well.

Natalie Chanin and her staff were great.  I was often a dork, but they didn't let on that they knew, which I really appreciate.  It's just hard when you're really excited but also second-guessing your choices (dress? skirt?  cardigan?  Ack!).  Everyone, including the other participants, was generous with their time and advice.  I've come home with a project that I'm terribly excited about as well as new confidence in my sewing and construction skills.

To Want and To Have

My motto (and late birthday gift):

As a counterpart to this, you need to watch I Want a Tattoo.  Too funny and too common.

Dapper Day in Toronto

Yesterday was a day to catch up with some friends and errands in Toronto.  Yes, I'm often cranky about the city and its inhabitants, but it also has its strong points.

Firstly, we stopped at the Melissa, a vintage store I wrote about in a post at the end of November.  It's still going strong, and Melissa herself pulled out this incredible white open work/lace 60's dress that I would never have chosen for myself, but after trying it on, it is mine.  I'll post a photo of it soon.  Who knew that I'd once again let the hemline stop at mid-thigh?  It's probably all that running.

While poking around the shop, this dapper fellow came in:

Meet Craig Renaud, a fledgling fashion designer.  I really liked the mix of elements in this outfit:  the lace at the cuffs, the buttoned and chained waistcoat, the walking stick, etc.  One thing you can't see is that his bag (the strap crosses his chest) had all these band names and patches on it.  I appreciated the creative anachronism displayed.  It made it quite modern.

After our errands, we headed to Fresh for dinner.  I was excited that we had the same waiter we'd had months earlier because I'd loved this tattoo:

How tough is that?  "Read More."  Again, it's a call to engage in a more traditional medium, and of course, as a writer, I'm all in favour of people reading more. 

Winnemucca to Napa

We managed to get out of Winnemucca early and without losing anymore money.  I love the fact that the average speed limit on the highways has been 75mph.  It makes hauling ass faster.

Again with the scenery - these are images from the California hillside and then as we made our way through the mountains.

Col. Mustard, our car, has been performing beautifully.  He's a champ around the curves and switchbacks, and at 80 or so mph, that's important!

We got to Napa, a primary destination on this trip, by 4pm, which allowed us to check into our pretty swell eco-friendly hotel, Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa and meet up with our boy and his girlfriend.  What does every mom want to see when they visit with their child?  What new tattoos do you have?

This one is in homage to my parents who have called him "maus" since he was a baby.  I love the colours on this as well as the composition.

This one refers to, of course, the imminent zombiapocalypse.  It's a new twist on the Boy Scout motto (an organization I did not allow my son, Ian, to join, by the way) - Be Prepared.  Ian is an assistant shop manager at Sacred Rose Tattoo in Berkeley, California (he also did their website).  I had my spirograph tattoo done there last year.

The main event in Napa was a reunion of my father's side of the family.  We gathered in part to remember my Uncle Hamilton, who died last year, and partially, I think, to remember that we had extended family that we should celebrate while we're still all here.
   For me, it was quite special to reconnect with these members of my family.  As an only child who moved frequently (I am an Army brat), it's easy to forget that there are other people who are related to you.  In fact, it's easier to forget because otherwise you'd miss them.  Talking to, and in some cases, meeting for the first time these people was even better because - hey, I want to be related to them.  They're interesting and warm and funny, and bonus! they're my relatives.  It's great when you would actually chose your relatives as family members.
   This photo from dinner isn't great, but it's the best one I have.