Sommer Designs

Carrie & Kelley go on an adventure.

If I was the singing type [be glad I'm not] I'd be belting out Downtown! right now! Everytime I talk about going Downtown! the melody goes through my head and won't leave! This can be, and is, distracting in many ways.

Yesterday, Kelley and I went Downtown! fabric shopping! I don't do these things, because I don't ever want to leave my house. Preparing to go Downtown! entails me map-questing the entire trip because (sheltered waif that I am), I'm afraid I'll take a wrong turn and end up on skid row.

Forget it - we aren't here to listen to me babble about my insecurities. One of my supplies went and retired on me (the nerve), and I had to find a replacement. I decided it was high time I checked the local district out, and you know what? I'm glad I did! There's a whole 'nother world out there!

I should have gotten a picture of the bolts lined up on the sidewalk, because that is truly a sight. You could, nearly, give yourself whiplash driving through the fashion district.

Tiny little shops, stuffed to the rafters with bolts of fabric - some of it so cheap, I was astounded. Much of it was fashion-oriented and stuff I would never use.

This place was stuffed with every imaginable trim you could think of. We had to step over and around boxes and boxes of more trim - ribbons, bolts of crochet trim (wha?), bolts of ric rack, rolls of bias tape - it was amazing, and almost a shame to leave it there at that price, that you actually begin to think, "now, what could I make with this?"

We finally found Fabric Nirvana at the legendary Michael Levine.

Oh, hello luscious cotton.

Where have you been all morning?

I quickly set up a wholesale account and started gathering bolts for samples. We ran out of time here and didn't make it across the street to the Home Dec Michael Levine store. I guess that means a return visit is in order.

We made it back to the freeway and headed north so I could introduce Kelley to the best Beef Dip Sandwich in the world.

Oh, man. I love this place. Philippe's is stuck in 1950, and there ain't nothing bad about that! And we made a new friend:

Meet Dollhouse Dude.

Yes. That's a dollhouse attached to a bike helmet. Dollhouse Dude is spreading the [good] word to eradicate homelessness and make sure everyone has a home free & clear.

You know what they say: only in L.A.

Ink, ink.

Back in December (you know, years ago), the editor of Art & Ink contacted me about my Tattoo apron for a future issue of Tattoos for Women. I have to admit, at first, I was a little hesitant. Not because of the magazine. I just wanted to be clear that body art wasn't a lifestyle for me; I just happened to fall in love with the fabric. And one of the things I initially loved about the pattern was (besides the totally cool imagery) that this pattern would appeal to people (like myself) who wouldn't necessarily go out and get a tattoo.

I had totally forgotten about this, but when I opened my PO box on Friday, a big smile spread on my face, and it literally made my day! There was a little interview also, and her synopsis is perfectly written! A bigger, more readable, image is on my Flickr.

Fun stuff...

Weekend in pictures...

Saturday I spent walking around in a daze, because I was out too late Friday night! Sunday...field trip to Downtown Los Angeles and Chinatown...

It was a cloudy and gloomy day, so the colors didn't *pop* they way they usually do.

I love that dragon!

Great old signs...

Color & character everywhere...

It's not as good as Chinatown New York or San Francisco, but still fun & interesting.

Dried...seahorses?

And my favorite...

The Benevolent Association - Private, Members Only. Clearly a gambling club. I tried walking by with my camera at my hip, but only got photos of the door or the green chair. I'm not good at the spy stuff, and some things are probably left unknown. And undocumented.

Did you have a good weekend? I hope so!

Whoops. Almost forgot - New Products!

Well, not really. But new to the website - so that almost counts, right?

Perky Pouches: You knew that was coming right? After all the hoopla about finally figuring out zippers, etc. And I'm working on other sizes, so check back - they'll be there soon!

And what's with that silly name? Perky Pouches? It must stem from my need to name everything. It can't just be *pouches* - they have to be *perky*. They can be found here - and they are only $15.00.

Of course, having said that, I came up with nothing for the Key Fobs. These I have been selling since the very beginning at sales and events, and after countless inquires about why they aren't on my website, I've added them. They can be found here, and are $10.00.

Incidently, the key fobs are a great party favor. I had one customer at an event buy 30 of them for a tea party, and used them as the napkin rings; and then they were the giveaway afterwards! Smart cookie! I like that!

My son Colin is in his first year of Spanish at the high school. He comes home everyday speaking Spanish, which drives me crazy, because I can't understand a word he says. But he mutters "entonces" constantly. This makes no sense, because, [and I have looked it up] entonces means 'then'.

I'm just telling you this because now I want to start every paragraph with 'Entonces'. Just so you know. In case I do, by accident.

Entonces.

One more about the Itty Bitty, and then, I swear, I'll stop.

I'm feeling a little defeated, but I'm finished. I blocked the petals, but they didn't change. Much. They were made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK, which I would have thought would block, but it didn't. I tried the 'steaming iron with a towel trick' too, nothing. Could it be that they are just too small to make a blocking difference?

I sat down last night determined to finish this, no matter what the outcome. I ran into a problem with the last petal (which was the one with the hole) - there wasn't enough room for the entire petal, so I ended up layering it (which gave me an idea for another Itty Bitty, but I just can't go there right now!).

Okay, that last petal looks like crap.

I seriously considered not giving it to my friend. Why? Because it isn't perfect, and perfection is something I struggle with everyday. But in the end, I decided that I would give it to Baby Daisy, because there are some people in this world that understand handcrafted; and understand that it doesn't always mean perfection, but it does indeed mean love.

And, with all it's imperfections, I do love this Itty Bitty Upside Down Daisy hat. And I do love that little i-cord stem. I wish we all had the nerve to wear hats with i-cord stems.

What a blockhead.

*rolling my eyes at myself*.

You guys are spot-on. I did not block that hat. I did not. It did not tell me to in the book. I followed the pattern, and nowhere did it say, "now, block your petals. If you don't, they will look like white shriveled prunes."

They are currently splayed and pinned on my dining room table. I just got around to it this morning, so I can't even tell you if it worked yet. If it doesn't work, I might just make the petals over again. Luckily, I don't have to go there with the whole hat, but the petals, I might be able to manage.

Come to think of it, it might be good idea to make *some* of them over again anyway...

Thanks for all the great advice! I love you guys!

*group hug*

Itty-Bitty Hat Parade

I've been a hat-making fool - Itty Bitty Hats, to be exact. Baby hats, I've discovered, are the perfect project for me right now - totally mindless, and if they're simple, you are just going around and around and around.

They are easy to transport, and easy to pick up and put down anywhere, at any time, and at any place in the project. You don't even have to worry about finishing a row.

Luckily, I've had some people in my life who have recently had babies. The stripey set up there is for a friend who had little twin girls. Little twin identical girls. So I made them the same color, but switched the colors on each. I still have to weave in the yarns, but that's easy.

The other Itty Bitty is the pink hat. It has become a thorn in my side. The idea was so perfect. My friend Kathleen (who, if you are reading Kath, avert your eyes. But you shouldn't be reading - you should be cuddling.) who had a baby girl the first week of January. JANUARY! That was...years ago already! They named their sweet baby girl Daisy - and I thought it would be so perfect to make baby Daisy the Upside Down Daisy hat from Itty Bitty Hats! Great idea, right?

Wrongo, chongo.

Knitting the hat was no problem. You know, around and around and around. Even switching to the DPN's was no problem. Sticks all over the place was a little challenging, but I did it.

No. It's those daisy petals.

They are nothing like what they should be. They should be this:

Nice, straight, puffy petals that burst from the top of the Itty Bitty.

But, no. Mine turned out shriveled, short and crooked. Like a Daisy trying to bloom during a drought or sandstorm. Like a pesticide-ridden bloom, languishing in the setting sun of its' lonely day...

Mine:

The Proper Upside Down Daisy:

Mine:

The Proper:

Mine:

Pathetic. I don't know what to do. There is no way I can gift something like this, and the thought of little Daisy's keppi going uncovered and cold is just too sad for me to contemplate.

Is there any way to salvage this mess? Has anyone made this hat? Do I just throw in the towel and move on? 

Getting productive with it, and packaging.

Packaging has become one of my least favorite activities. Why? I have no idea. Wait. I do. Because it's redundant. I used to love packaging. I love wrapping presents, and I like wrapping outgoing orders (because they're little presents in my mind. If you've received an order from me, you know this), but the packaging of products has become one of those things that I put off until my studio is about to explode and barf all over the house.

Okay. Not really.

But I can sure put it off for as long as possible. I can put it off until I can't see the surface of my worktable, and can't get any work done even if I wanted to.

There's going to be a website update very soon now. In fact, if you are on my email list, you'll be the first to know. I just have to finish this damn packaging, and then retake about 40 pictures and Photoshop them (okay, maybe there's something else I don't like more than packaging!), and get everything uploaded on my site.

And, clear the worktable.

Oh, and then there's this:

I know the secret to perfect meatballs. And it's here.

You do know I'm the Anti, right?

We've been through this before...I'm not real big on V.D. and I'm secretly happy that none of my kids are in elementary school any longer and we don't have to buy into that whole Valentine-swap-for-everyone anymore.

I don't know when this distaste for this commercial and manufactured holiday began, but I'm pretty sure that's why I dislike it.

Scott, my sweet, buy me flowers because you want to, not because the masses tell you to on a particular day.

There, I'm off my soapbox. That wasn't so bad, was it?

I do have to admit that the little knit heart up there is pretty damn cute - Shari made it and gave it to me yesterday, with the comment, "I know you don't like Valentine's Day, but here!" See? Everyone knows! The whole thing is about 1-1/2 inches - it's so tiny, I can't imagine the toothpicks she must have used to knit it!

The weather has changed again - and I'm freezing! It's even sprinkling over here! I like it better this way. It's February for crying out loud, act like it! I'm bundled up and have a huge day ahead in the studio. I've been working on trying to get a pattern right - I hate it. I hate wrestling with it, I hate when it doesn't turn out, and I hate wasting the time on it.

I broke down last night and ordered pizza, but the night before I made a super easy (and super tasty) Orange Beef stir-fry with cilantro rice. Another 30 minute meal - it's up over at Dinner Challenge!

Oh, and, Happy V.D....I guess :)

Dare I mention the weather?

Saturday evening we went down to Laguna Beach to meet some friends for (my birthday) dinner. The weather was stunning. Seriously. It's been freezing for the last three months, and then all of a sudden we have (near) record highs. Before dinner we met for cocktails on the patio at Las Brisas, and the view was simply spectacular.

In retrospect, an evening out in Laguna, as wonderful as it was, was probably not the best idea the night before a market. Because the next morning, I had to get up 5 a.m., and that wasn't pretty.

Once again, the weather was spectacular - tank tops and flip flop weather and white, white, white legs peaking out of skirts. It was all I could do to make it through the morning - actually, the morning wasn't so bad, and luckily the day ends at 1 p.m. I was a basket case, however, by the afternoon and even with an afternoon nap (can you believe it?), I was in bed by 8 p.m.! I am so out of market shape! The back hurt, the legs hurt - oy, me!

As part of my early-in-the-year organizational triumphs, I am dedicating Mondays to paperwork and bill paying. I even put it on the calendar, and having put the time aside, yesterday was so productive. I feel so much better and in control of those nagging things. My desk is still a mess, but at least the mortgage is paid.

After last week of not cooking one single night (thankyouverymuch), I am back at the Dinner Challenge. It has been so helpful to plan everything out, and blogging about it keeps me accountable, even in the smallest way. Last night, I made Pasta with Turkey Sausages, Red Bell Peppers & Basil, and the unofficial recipe is up. Unofficial, because I couldn't find the actual recipe, and just winged it.

It's super easy - take a look!

Small discovery - when cooking, it's especially important to have a kitchen staff. Mine just follows me around...

They're better at clean up duty than anything else. I always disappoint though...poor babies.