So, as much as I was tempted to start another mini-sewing project from Amy Karol's book, yarn and needles won out because I'm surrounded by so much yarn in my house! Here's what I started this past weekend....Eunny Jang's Endpaper Mitts. I originally wanted to make these mitts in red and tuquoise, but the "turquoise" that I ordered from elann just wasn't bright enough for my taste, so I just went with the two colors above--black and a subdued chartreuse, a boring, but very practical combination. I have to admit, the knitting takes some concentration with chart reading and all, but the results will be worth it. I can tell already....

Sun Run Day

It was Sun Run Day here in Vancouver, and not only was I grateful for amazing sunny day weather (after snow on Friday night), but for finishing the 10K without feeling like I had to drag my entire body across the finish line this year. Although I didn't officially "train" this year, I have been hitting the gym regularly for the past four weeks and consciously trying to get in more sleep. This annual event is one that I've tried to keep up since the 90's and pre-kids. Now that we've had kids, I think I've only skipped the year R was born, and the year afterwards. D has been doing the Mini Sun Run since he was three years old, a fact of which he is proud. R, on the other hand, looks at us like we're crazy and prefers to watch the rest of us do all the work from his stroller seat. This year is the first where I did the Mini Sun Run (2.5K) with the family and then headed up to Georgia Street to do the 10K while Dad looked after the boys in the stadium. It was very "do-able" as it only took less than half an hour to complete the kids' run which started at 8am. The timed Sun Run did not start until 9am, and my group did not cross the start line until well after 9:30am. It was another record attendance year (close to 60, 000 participants, I heard), making the Sun Run the second-largest timed 10K race in the world and third-biggest timed race on the planet for any distance. How cool is that to be a part of such a big community event!

So, here's the Artsy Clutch that I recently completed from Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing book. I used cotton fabric that I purchased at IKEA for the exterior and some leftover cherry blossom cotton print for the lining. This is a very cute, practical pattern that I'll probably be using again very soon.


And finally, another reversible fabric headband that I made this afternoon in a silk print on one side, and cotton/linen on the other side in three colors: brown, soft red, and light purple. This pattern worked out much better for my head after narrowing the width by 1cm. I'll definitely be making more of these too!

Starting Small

Lately, I've really been obsessed about getting back into sewing. Maybe it's because I spent a fortune fixing my beloved Pfaff that my mother bought me when I was in high school and I want to use it. Or maybe, I just need yet another creative outlet to channel all my extra energy built up from going back to the gym four weeks ago. Anyhow, whatever that's possessing me to put my needles and yarn down to take on another crafty pursuit, here's my first small completed project to help me get back into the sewing groove--a reversible fabric headband. I followed a fantastic tutorial by Kate of KC Quilts and was fairly happy with the end result, but would probably make the headband next time just slightly narrower (by 1 cm) to suit my head shape. I chose a cotton cherry blosssom print for one side of the headband and a chocolate linen for the other, both from my small fabric stash. I'll try this headband again, but I'm already onto the Artsy Clutch from Amy Karol's bend-the-rules sewing book.

Look Who's a New Aunt to Twins!

photo taken by Sandra Ormiston
Introducing my new niece and nephew, Ava and Zach. Ava's older by three minutes and she's on the bottom right with more hair. Zach is the one on the left with the poutier, more pronounced lips. Congratulations to mum and dad in HK! We're all so happy for you. Welcome to the "club"! All you will be solely concerned with for the next little while is what goes in and what comes out of your super adorable babies, and that includes projectile spit! Enjoy every single minute!