Welcome grandson Westley Ellis Kabaker
Arrived October 8 2014
Category: Uncategorized
Happy New Year שנה טובה
Local hike
One thing I love about living in Los Angeles is how easy it is to go on a hike at the spur of the moment. We are a large metropolis with a very impressive mountain range right in the middle of the city. The Santa Monica mountains should be the border between Los Angeles and communities in the San Fernando Valley on the other side. Due to the massive Los Angeles Aqueduct project in the early 20th century – The Valley as it’s known became part of the city of Los Angeles. Something to do with Federal dollars and who could use the water. But that is a story for another day. So although I live in the valley, I am very much a resident and tax payer in the city of Los Angeles.
2 miles from my house is Fryman Canyon, most days this 2.5 mile hike is teaming with people and dogs. For some reason on Sunday afternoon there were very few people here. Although we did manage to bump into people we know. The initial climb is pretty steep, which makes the hike feel more like exercise than just a neighborhood stroll.
Wilderness, with a radio tower in the distance and few houses on the hillside. Except very busy Laurel Canyon Blvd is right down there bellow us.
That Russian looking building is on busy Ventura Blvd, our house not far behind it. Distance makes everything look more peaceful. Not to mention how many trees there are! Is the Valley really that green?
We’ve climbed higher, now I am looking east towards Burbank and the San Gabriel mountains in the background. It is very hazy and smoggy, summer brings out the worst of the smog, although to be fare – the air quality in LA is so much better than it was 30 years ago. 
It always helps to look back where you have come from. Another fellow walker is back down on the part of the road we were just on five minutes ago.
This time looking west towards Sherman Oaks and Encino. The office buildings indicate Ventura Blvd heading west. Still very hazy, to get a clear view I need to come back on a crisp winter day.
After we crested the mountain and started back down the other side we come across the back entrance to Tree People, a non profit group that has been supplying trees all over the city – making LA a greener friendlier place.
Down the other side, we are walking along quiet residential streets with large homes on very large lots. I had to stop for this yellow double hibiscus. It’s a little late in the season for these blooms, maybe because it is a shady protected canyon the bush is still flowering. 
The rainbow in the sprinkler was more impressive in reality, but I snapped a picture anyway.
A cow in the city. I have a friend who would love one of these. And that’s it, one hour, good exercise and happy it is so close to home.
Book Recommendation
I’m seeing a lot of blog hops recommending wonderful crafty books. I’d like to do something a little different and recommend an advice book, or should I say – helpful hints.
Jodi is a dear friend of mine, I’m not going to gush and tell you about this amazing book ‘I’ve discovered’.
As someone who prides herself on being very creative with the work of my hands, I am in awe of people who have a way with words. This little gem of a book is perfect example. Miss Manners is stale and old fashioned, Dear Prudence is just too edgy and hip.
Auntie Jodi gets it right, yes you will be laughing at many of the situations she describes, but pay attention, good advice is being offered. Humor is the best tool for learning.
Here are just two examples, now go get the book!
If an over-solicitous kumbaya type shares that you seem “angry,” simply laugh and tell the poor soul “it’s called ‘having an opinion.’
Don’t be one of those who proclaim that “I’m not into funerals.” Few really are, unless you are a member of the walking dead. That, darling, is not what funerals are about. We go to funerals for all sorts of reasons: because we loved someone or because they meant something to us, or, as they say, “to pay our respects.” Remember—if you cannot grant respect, you certainly won’t command it.
LeahAddendum
My niece just sent me these pictures of me at the juice hut.
Notice how I both blend in and add color to the image. It’s all about being colorful!
With drinks in hand.
Bear
Every baby needs a Teddy Bear, so that was the next project.
I must have picked this pattern up on sale a while ago, so why not use it now. I started cutting out the pattern before realizing that I don’t have enough fabric, all that means is combining more than one.
All put together, with no stuffing.
Stuffed!
He needs a little vest to keep him warm.
Since this is for a baby, I didn’t put on eyes or buttons. Even when it’s ‘safety eyes’ I’ve noticed that babies are very capable of biting those eyes off. So I embroidered the eyes and nose as well as putting a little highlight on each eye.
It was quite a photography session, I’m playing with the camera, trying to learn the manual mode. I love digital photography, I’ve been taking A LOT of photos – then when I open them in iPhoto, I look at the info, I’m beginning to get an understanding of what those numbers are – it’s slowly beginning to make sense. 
View from the back.
And we’re done!!! This little bear has had enough!
Out of town
I am enjoying a wonderful vacation in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately I have an old iPad and can’t upload pictures. So that will have to wait until I get home. What can I say, we have an amazing country, beautiful and full of wonderful people
LeahKnitting with Linen
My favorite fiber to knit with is wool – good old fashioned Merino sheep wool. Fibers from other animals such as Alpaca or combinations of wool and other animal fibers are also fine. From the plant world, hands down my favorite is linen. The oldest of plant fibers known in the Western Hemisphere. Sure cotton was being used in the Americas, but didn’t arrive in the west until the Europeans brought it back. I love to sew with cotton, but not to knit with it, unless it is combined with wool or a very good acrylic. Cotton is heavy! It weighs a lot. When woven into fabric, the weight is negligible, not so when knitting. After the garment is finished – the weight just drags it down and out of shape.
Linen, unlike wool has no memory, no bounce back at all. So I have to be careful how I use it. It too will stretch out and not bounce back. Unlike cotton, it is very very light and cool. Although the fibers are rougher I find knitting with linen, even when stiff – to be very southing in my hands. I discovered how wonderful it is for shawls and the most simple of sweaters. Unfortunately – linen is expensive and the colors tend to be on the washed out side. Enter Etsy. A while ago I ordered some lace weight linen – it’s literally thread, it’s still sitting in my stash. This marvelous blue arrived from Russia. No, not cheaper than Louet linen yarn but the color!
This is the second shawl I am knitting out of New Vintage Lace, (Third actually, I started and frogged another shawl, but that is a different story).
This is also the time to recommend Knit Companion. At the moment this wonderful this wonderful program for advanced pattern management is only available in Apple formats – they are working to bring it to Android as well. The best thing is the charts – being able to combine charts and also zoom in and mark it up as much as you want! I had a slight problem when I was setting up, the Knit Companion group on Ravelry came to the rescue. It was a silly mistake on my part but having someone to correct me within minutes is invaluable.
This project is growing quickly, of course as each row gets longer, it will slow down. I am enjoying this so much, I will have more progress to share with you soon.
LeahContemporary Craft Show
For years this show would occur biannually at the convention center in Santa Monica. Well they are in a midst of renovation so last year the show moved to Pasadena.
I have no problem going either place, actually Pasadena is much easier for me. So I grabbed some local friends who had never been to this show and off we went. Amongst the many shows, faires, events in the park – this one is the best quality. I have purchased multiple items here throughout the years. I forgot my camera so used my phone. Many vendors do not allow photos, I understand that, also, I was trying to capture the feeling, not the details of their work.
Woodwork- what can I say, smooth as buttah!
Unique and interesting lamps. Not too thrilled with the ones that look like hand-granades. To be honest, none of these are my style but they are fascinating and well displayed.
There were all kinds of handbags, many like these, as well as some very interesting leather ones. I must confess, this booth is more of an inspiration for what I can make. In the past I have bought bags at this show.
A lot of unique clothing, these coats really caught my eye.
Wow to this glass work! Stained glass with other wonderful objects from nature. 
What I bought! Dotty is a hand weaver who figured out that you can make money with small items, so along side her scarves she has polymer clay jewelry as well as fun necklaces, bracelets and earrings for the Sewers/quilters among us. What a creative idea.
Here are some items I have bought in the past. Others, like a glass lamp, already broke. Or some lovely bags – I probably gave away. I am not a packrat, I don’t save everything, I don’t even save wonderful handmade items. My grandmother was a packrat, I learned that that is not a good thing to be.
A few years ago, I bought this wonderful ceramic garden sculpture by Leslie Codina, she continues to make more of these in new fresh colors.
I think this has been in my garden for 3 years, still bright, pretty and no chips.
Unfortunately the woman who weaves these cotton chenille blankets no longer comes.
Hint of blue, a good contrast to the gold/yellow.
A silk dyer, also no longer there, but there are others, just as talented.
Leah
A look at where my raw materials come from
Go look at the pictures, even read the article. Fruits of the Loom. I love it when a good photographer captures the essence of an industry. My only quibble with the article is about how the textile industry is in it’s final death throes. Sorry, I beg to differ.
It isn’t what it was 50 or even 150 years ago. It has changed, but with all of us crafters out there as well as a thriving garment business going on all over the US (I can give tours of the LA area garment districts alone). Textiles haven’t died here and all moved to China. Like every other business – it has changed. Change is not death.
Anyway, enough of my soapbox, just go look at the photos, they are wonderful and they tell an amazing human+machine story.
Leah