When I got back to knitting about 15 years ago I made a scarf out of Noro yarn for my son’s girlfriend, soon to be wife.
This was the first brightly colored yarn out on the market that I remember. It is still going strong. So my DIL requested a new scarf, just like the old one, which has been destroyed from use. I had made another scarf a few years ago, but not with this yarn. So I placed an order and it arrived right after Christmas.
A simple garter stitch on the biggest needles I own.
I found another skein of Noro, in pinks and orange and combined it in.
I haven’t blocked this, I won’t. With time the scarf will simply stretch out on its own.
Sometimes the old tried and true are the way to go.
And then there is quilting. In May, at the Spring Quilt Market, this fabric line and pattern were debuted with Moda. I fell in love with this pattern. I had to have it. What is shown at market usually doesn’t make it to the stores until months later. So I stalked an online store that said they’d notify me when the pattern arrived. Turns out that they were selling it as a kit with the fabric. You know me, I don’t like kits, and I really don’t like working with just one fabric line. Luckily I was able to buy the pattern on its own.
Got to work, this bear is similar to Elizabeth Hartman’s animals. But it is much larger than I expected.
Love seeing how the bear grows from row to row.
Here the bear is complete, now to add the borders.
I’m stopping here. Yes, the pattern calls for another round of borders, but that will make this too big. This is a baby quilt, it is quite large enough. I might make this again and if I do, I might make a larger size, but not on this project.
No, I didn’t complete this in 2017, I still need to quilt it. It is always a good idea to have a project that carries over into the new year.
To end on a bright note, while the rest of the country is suffering record-breaking cold, my roses are sending out their final blooms of the year. In a month or so, the gardener will prune them back, so they can build up strength for next years blooms.
This is a sight to see. For years we were forbidden to call it The May Company – it became LACMA west and the language police were very strict with anyone connected to the museum, especially the docents. Then a deal was made and it will become a Hollywood museum and now one can call this the May Company again. I wonder if this museum will deal with the abuse of women and children that goes on in the industry or if it will be another puff piece that shows us the unreal veneer of the industry.
It is amazing to see what becomes an icon. These lampposts have certainly become iconic. Not so sure about the floating rock, we never even went to check it out. 
The Chagall exhibit was bright, colorful and fun. Shira said that she loves this costume and wants to wear it. That in my book in a big success.
Aytan wanted to go visit the Japanese pavilion. He really likes these pots, go figure, one would think that he’d be interested in big bombastic things. But no, it’s the pots. Then I got smart and I gave him my phone. He ran around and took pictures of everything, here are just a few.
It is wonderful seeing something from a different angle. From my point of view I see the god more than the dwarf. I didn’t check out the label, but to me this looks like the Japanese version of Siva stamping out the dwarf of ignorance.
I cropped this a little, what I didn’t crop out is the person, because it was part of the picture that Aytan took.
He took this picture again, without the person, he was going for the ceramic vase. I love how he captured this man as well.
Another image I love, just because I’d never take this, but he did.
There was a special exhibit on Japanese cloisonne, what interested Aytan was taking pictures of the catalog, these are just two, but he did take quite a few.
As well as many pictures of the painted panels. I think the theme is the atmosphere. Even in this image, that waterfall is incredible, IRL it is all the more so.
I think these are rocks, I may be wrong, they may be made of fabric. For me, this visit was all about letting Atyan lead the way. It wasn’t about reading labels.
You saw me wearing this, I didn’t see any reason to have a full post on yet another shirt.
Four of them together? Why not? You can see how different fabrics really change a shirt. 
Time to make another one, for Joel. I bought the chambray at the Pearl Soho outlet in Irvine. I wasn’t crazy about their fabric selection. Chambray is wonderful to wear but not that easy to sew with.
Here was a tip from the Craftsy class that I had not used on any of the other shirts, not even the silk one. This piece of embroidery thread gave me something to hang onto while topstitching. It really does work and I should do this even on a cotton shirt. You can see that the tip of the collar is a little rounded, that is how chambray behaves.
Unlike silk where one gets a very nice sharp point.
So far so good. I sewed this while Joel was up skiing at Mammoth. I used the large size, I measured the body of the shirt against a shirt he owns and it looked very similar. What I didn’t do was check the length of the sleeves…
When I measured them against the store-bought shirt – they were a good 3 inches too long. Uh-oh! So Joel got home, tried it on and those sleeves were too long. So I started out carefully unpicking the underarm and sleeve seams. You guessed, the seam ripper slipped and a big gash in the back of the shirt.
I don’t want to end on a sad note, so here are my new socks, after I wore them and before I washed them, a little dirty, as socks should be.
Another hat for Eyal, he outgrew the first one, that kid is growing very very fast.
Even with life’s little mishaps, always remember to celebrate the wonders.
I’m pretty sure this was one of the first apartment complexes to be built at the time. The paint fob and decoration is new and fun. I used to park in that garage, they built a supermarket right across the alley. Well the supermarket failed and now that space is all kinds of smaller shops, restaurants, coffee shops, a yoga studio. One has to drive a mile or two to get to a supermarket.
Very large apartment development is happening all over. This is a huge plot of land. I was very concerned that an old house would be torn down. I kept on meaning to take a picture of it, but forgot.
So you can imagine my delight when I saw that it was being saved and refurbished. You can see that large complex on the left. Someone is fixing this up beautifully.
I don’t know if it will be a private home or something else. But I love it when some of the old is maintained alongside the new.
It’s unusual to get this image, no cars on Lankershim?? Well, fewer cars, I managed to capture this between cars. El Portal was saved years ago and is an active theater.
Walking along the side I spotted this. I wonder if there used to be more and this is all that remains. As I walked along this street there was a guy leaning against the wall. Usually, I’d just walk by, but he smiled, so I smiled back and wished him a Merry Christmas, at that point, he smiled back broadly and wished me the same. One of the things I love about the season.
Another old building that isn’t going anywhere. It was a bank, with tile work made by the famous Gladding McBean company. Today it is the Federal Bar, a really nice bar and restaurant that also has a performing space upstairs.
Lankershim is one of those diagonal streets, so although it’s a little hard to see, the buildings were built accordingly. 
I met a cat, she rushed over for scritches, which I gave her of course. But that meant not a great picture.
I’ve already blogged about this station that is now a coffee shop. In the background is one of the tallest and oldest apartment buildings in the area. With all the building going on, I’m still hoping that most won’t be this tall.
Another example of old and new. I don’t think this building is that old, it just looks it. but behind it is a brand new building I had not seen before.
Its’ a three-star hotel! I’m not sure it’s open yet, the lobby area looked like they were still working on it. I notice it is advertised as being near Universal Studio. It is near the subway station, one station away is Universal Studios. A few blocks away there is a new Holiday Inn Express. So I guess the area is really becoming hip and desirable.
Right behind the hotel is the adorable coffee shop, one of the oldest buildings around, hopefully, it remains. Next door is a beautiful church, across the street is a large park, with a community center, a pool, and a library. All the things needed for a vibrant neighborhood.
Still at Rogers Gardens. How cute are these?
This owl is even cuter since he isn’t seasonal.
Turns out he’s not alone.
One thing this nursery is really known for is it’s floral designs and it’s original planters. The pinecones add a Christmas feel, but the planter will do just fine without them.
They do a lot with driftwood. This is probably one of the most impressive ones.
This wasn’t at Rogers, rather in the office building that holds the Irvine Museum of Art. One of those living wall decorations. I wonder if the red is for the season or is always there.
Good landscaping with grass, aloe. I like the blooms, even if they haven’t opened yet.
A quick drive along the beach in Corona Del Mar, need to come back here. Here is another storybook house, unlike the one I saw in Tujunga, this one is modern. Only built a few years ago, but with all the trappings of the style.
I couldn’t stop taking pictures of ornaments. Love the shades of green here. Also, nice that it became something of a selfie.
The trees were done up in color schemes. This Turquoise one popped out among the darker ornaments.
Pantone has chosen ultraviolet as their color of the year. I will be working with all kinds of purple, not necessarily this one. I think this is about as ultraviolet as one can get.
A hot air balloon in honor of my friend Clayton.
Love these Chinese jars! 
The key was on the gold tree.
Ahhh! Can’t get over the opulence and festivity of it.
This is the white and pale pastels.
Love the paper bird and flower.
Red is a must, Candy stripes even more so.
How about pink? Yes, there is another ultraviolet one as well.
The embroidered look.
We started with arts and crafts, decorating draidles.
Cameron got bored with it and went to play with trucks.
Then it was time to get the candles ready to light.
The big kids helped with the lighting.
We all sang the blessings.
There was food. Mandy and Elk made real potatoe latkes, we had store bought sufganiot. The rest of the meal was simple salads and burekas. I don’t get the brisket deal, once or twice a year at Rosh Hashana or Passover is enough for me.
My Hanukkah gift this year was an external flash. Which is why we took another family portrait. Also, Elk took most of the pictures, which is why you see more of me.
We relaxed a little before opening gifts. Yes, that was Eyal’s choice to sleep face-planted like that.
I guess this was early on when we were still decorating. Btw, Cam never took off his hat.
Then the rukus began, gifts galore!
Shira as the only girl, shines in her Belle dress.
A lot of books were gifted, along with all kinds of toys.
Love Cam reading while Aytan can’t wait to put on his Mindcraft pajamas. 
Cousin Janet bonding with Eyal. This year he slept through most of the fun, either way, he brings plenty of joy. Mandy even mentioned how nice it was that this year Yishai and Yochanan weren’t just handing out gifts but have a wonderful reason to receive them as well.
These are the scraps, yup, even cuddle sheds like crazy, but it’s not flimsy like most minky fabrics.
I went through a lot of these lint roller sheets.
I like using a touch of quilting fabric and since the person who is getting this cat doesn’t have any small children, I can use these eyes.
Flat cat.
Begining to bulk up.
I used more than one bag of polyfill. I think it’s because of the Cuddle fabric, it has more give than quilting cotton.
Love how the tail stands up in the air.
I love working with 
And here’s the label.
Two critters together, I may be giving the fox as a gift as well….
I have already made the cat, now onto Fifi the Fox. I have no idea if I am giving this away or keeping it for myself. I guess it won’t be a baby gift since I’ve put on those ‘safety eyes’. They aren’t safe, doesn’t matter how I install them, even if I add glue to the process – a baby can chew those eyes off. 
The body is complete, just waiting for the stuffing.
What a difference fiber-fill makes!! 
I have made many stuffed animals, some better than others. Paula has a real understanding about the shapes and how to render them flat and yet, they sew up into remarkable three-dimensional creatures.It’s a small thing, but the ears have real personality.
I need to order more labels.
Just to leave you with a happy smile.
I gave them to Roberta, every year she puts them out. Nice to see them getting used.
This year as I was wrapping gifts (Hanukkah comes much earlier than Christmas), I had a very special gift in mind.
Here she is opening her present.
Yup! The Urbanology Red and White quilt I made, it has moved to it’s permanent home.
Roberta was speechless, it takes a whole lot to get her speechless.
Best of all, cuddling up on the couch under the quilt.