I spent last week in northern California and due to having limited internet access took an unintentional blog break. My apologies, I am working to catch myself up on your lives, projects and what-not. But I wanted to share some of my doings with you, as most of them are of a somewhat crafty nature that you may or may not be interested in.
So here is my list of things that I did and things that you can do as well if you find yourself in northern California and you are crafty (if you are celebrating your birthday, that sort of helps too).
Pebble Beach, California. Wollmeise Gloria Cowl.
Start and finish knitting a Gloria Cowl (details here) to give to a friend for her birthday. My friend is named Kathy, your friend can be named something else.
Artfibers in San Francisco, California.
Have your friend (Kathy) take you to local-to-her yarn shops like ImagiKnit and ArtFibers. Acquire pretty things that make you smile.
If you are bloggy, take the opportunity to meet up with a knit bloggy friend and her beau. Especially if said knit bloggy friend is a birthday twin and is like some sort of long lost crafty twin of sorts. Apologize profusely for exposing your knit bloggy friend to your tired tyrannical toddler.
Rangsiwan meets a very tired Little Sir.
Because you can, go to a fabric store, there are lots of them in San Francisco. If for some reason you, like me, are planning some sort of novelty quilt requiring 21 shades of silk dupioni, you should go to Fabrix like I did.
And since there is a Kinokuniya in San Francisco, you should go there and buy some Japanese craft books, especially if you can not decipher Japanese. It makes crafting interesting.
And because you neither speak nor read Japanese and you bought a bunch of books written in that particular language, you should probably get some written in English (or whatever your primary language is) just to balance things out.
Whether you are crafty or not, you should take time to smell the roses (or whatever flora is at your disposal).
Pacific Grove, California.
And don't forget to take time to experience wonder.
Jellyfish at Monterey Aquarium in Monterey, CA.
When you return home, get giddy about the books you received for your birthday from friends near and far.
Utilize the book about pies as soon as possible, you know, if you are so inclined.
Pineapple pie, a very sweet sweety pie.
So yes, good trip, I have a few more trips to California scheduled for the summer, but I am thinking they will not be as acquisition-friendly as this one, a birthday celebration is a great way to justify stash enhancements of all sorts. While I usually kick off my birthday celebration on Cinco de Mayo and count up to my birthday (are you not doing this as well?), Special K suggested that we start the celebration on my actual birthday this year and add 8 days to it, isn't he sweet? So with that said, I am still celebrating. Though right now, I am trying to get my back to stop hurting after incorrectly lifting heavy boxes of books and documents at work. I am also going to think about happy things, like friends in Philly having lots of fun. And knitting, because I can do that lying down.
Hey, happy knitting, quilting, sewing, or pie baking!
oh, i just love nothern cali, especially the monterey/carmel area and san francisco. the aquarium is so awesome!
Posted by: mai | May 16, 2008 at 12:32 AM
I so wished I could have tagged along! It looks like you had a great time! I want the yarn and fabric you came home with!
Posted by: tiennie | May 16, 2008 at 01:21 AM
I'm so glad you had a great time! Don't worry about Little Sir at all! Kids will be kids and I thought he was absolutely charming, sans nap and all! Let's start planning your August outtings now!! ;)
Posted by: yaiAnn | May 16, 2008 at 05:18 AM
Happy Birthday!!! It looks like it was a fantastic trip!
I love that jellyfish photo.
Posted by: Kirsten | May 16, 2008 at 07:09 AM
wow! what a whirlwind week!! looks like you did a ton, bought a ton and had a ton of fun!!!
Posted by: stacey | May 16, 2008 at 07:35 AM
I am just finishing a Gloria cowl myself, such a great use of sock yarn. And I am so wanting that Martha Stewart 'Cookies' book...glad you had a great visit!
Posted by: Heather | May 16, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Happy birthday! Those look like some pretty great stash enhancements. When do we get more details about the yarn?
Posted by: Rachel | May 16, 2008 at 09:28 AM
Happy Birthday! It looks like you had a great trip! I'll have to keep some of your ideas in mind for my next trip to SF.
Posted by: Kristy | May 16, 2008 at 10:22 AM
What beautiful pictures from your trip! Happy baking with all those new books, and happy crafting with the others, too!
I'm excited to see the results of that duponi quilt!!
Posted by: Hannahbelle | May 16, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Oh my goodness - I'm totally tempted to make that jellyfish background picture of you & Little Sir my desktop photo - it's just AMAZING!
Posted by: Susan B | May 16, 2008 at 01:36 PM
the jellyfish photo is incredible. and pineapple pie? that, i've gotta try.
Posted by: rebecca | May 16, 2008 at 02:04 PM
Ooo, I want a slice of that pineapple pie!
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Lisa | May 16, 2008 at 03:19 PM
The pie I was hoping you would teach Kate to make was, carmelized orange tart with blackberry puree - I may just try it myself. Yum! And it was fantastic getting my yarn store break-in with you as a tour guide. Yesterday, Kate introduced me to the LYS in Oakland as we were riding bikes past. I think I can now go into a yarn store without having a panic attack. That's a good thing, right?
Posted by: Rocky | May 16, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Looks like you had a great time. Being from Southern California, I can relate! Happy happy birthday...what fun to celebrate for 8 days!
Posted by: priscilla | May 16, 2008 at 04:05 PM
I love the jellyfish at Monterey. It was wonderful to see you and don't forget that Art Fibers does mail order... you know, in case there was something you forgot to buy.
Sorry Rangsiwan for delivering a napless Little Sir back to the hotel!
Posted by: kathy | May 16, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Hey, happy birthday. As usual, you really know how to celebrate.
That jellyfish picture is AMAZING. Truly. I can't stop staring at it.
Posted by: earthchick | May 16, 2008 at 07:16 PM
well, i think you will be busy for a while! love the pictures of you and little sir. so sweet.
Posted by: katie | May 16, 2008 at 09:33 PM
such lovely photos and goodies! i definitely want to make it to artfibers when we are there in august! promise! :)
Very nice cowl too!
Posted by: lolly | May 16, 2008 at 09:57 PM
Happy birthday - and oh, those Japanese books!!
Posted by: Nora | May 16, 2008 at 10:21 PM
that sounds like the BEST trip/birthday celebration EVER!!!!!!!
happy birthday, you!!!
(san fran + pebble = fantastic)
Posted by: leslie | May 17, 2008 at 07:56 AM
I love that photo with the jellyfish, it's amazing. Looks like a fun trip, and the yarns and fabrics you picked up are gorgeous.
Happy birthday!
Posted by: whitney | May 17, 2008 at 09:41 AM
It's great to have you back. Happy birthday. Looks like wonderful time and you picked up some fun things. I hope the back is better soon. In the meantime happy crafting and blogging.
Posted by: Kwana | May 17, 2008 at 11:49 AM
What great pics. And if I didn't say it before, happy birthday!
We missed you so much this weekend. I posted an Ode to Nova pic on flickr. I look forward to you, me + kids at the zoo soon.
Smooches!
Posted by: diana | May 19, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Happy Belated Birthday!
Looks like such an amazing trip! Glad you got to go! And I'm drooling over your new recipe books! Can't wait to see what you make from those.
Posted by: Rachel | May 19, 2008 at 11:51 PM
aww, these are some of my favorite things to do in nocal!
missed you this weekend! xo
Posted by: pamela wynne | May 21, 2008 at 12:56 PM