Thread

Thread
Originally uploaded by theseawithin

Last time my parents came to visit my dad made this for my thread. I think it almost looks like a piece of installation art.

My Bernina

My Bernina
Originally uploaded by theseawithin

I love my Bernina. Well I certainly didn't pay only $35 for it, like my sewing machine, but I could not live without it. It has paid for itself! Probably the best investment I have ever made.

My Elna

My Elna
Originally uploaded by theseawithin

I feel so lucky to have this great machine. My mom found it at a flea market in Winnipeg for $35. It is the same make and model (but different year) that my mom bought when it came out in the 1960s. I grew up sewing on that machine of my mom's and she still uses hers.

Succulents

My succulents looked fabulous today!

The Mission

I spent Sunday shopping in the mission (and a quick trip downtown to Bloomingdale's and anthropologie) with my sister.

Highs: little otsu, David Egger's Pirate Supply store, seeing The Ferocious Few play at Market and Powell, Frijtz's

Lows: seeing someone barf in a Guardian newspaper box and Fritz's EuroPop decor.

marc

I think marc jacobs might have beat out Betsey Johnson at the moment for best party dresses.

Stationery

I love stationery. Etsy has renewed my obsession with it. I had taken about a 10 year break from madly buying it up because I got sick of only finding Sanrio stuff. Lately I have bought this stuff off Etsy:

From http://hidenseek.etsy.com
And finally I bought something from CharlieMotel (http://charliemotel.etsy.com):

Sadly, CharlieMotel is closing down. Get her stuff on sale when you can!

The Linnaeus Bag No. 2

The Linnaeus Bag No. 2
Originally uploaded by theseawithin

I don't usually post my Etsy stuff, but I just love this bag! It's one of my favourite Japanese fabrics, but I can't find it anywhere now!

Best Birthday Ever

My sister took me to Disneyland for my birthday. We flew there Saturday AM left Sunday AM. It was way too fun, but also exhausting. I hadn't been there since like 1989 or something. Fantasyland was still my favourite part.

Arnold Schwarzenegger signed my Master's Degree

Arnold Schwarzenegger signed my Master's Degree
Originally uploaded by theseawithin

My mom could not stop laughing when I told her this. I am a laughing stock of my Canadian family and friends! Good thing I find it quite funny myself.

St. Louis Arch

St. Louis Arch
Originally uploaded by theseawithin

I just got back from Louisville, KY and St. Louis, MO. We just missed Obama!

MacArthur Bart (In the Neighbourhood Part 2)

MacArthur Bart
Originally uploaded by theseawithin

I forgot I wanted to post stuff about my neighbourhood.

I prefer the West Oakland Bart because it's only 1 stop to San Francisco. I have to use the MacArthur Bart during weekdays (if I'm actually off) because there is no parking at West Oakland (and it cost $5 if there is any).

California Academy of Sciences

I made the trip out to Golden Gate Park this morning to check out the new Academy. 

I liked the African Exhibit best, except everyone wanted to see the penguins too!

My friend, Stephanie (beetlelady.etsy.com) does her PhD research here so I was able to see some of the real collection.

New Coat

New Coat
Originally uploaded by theseawithin

I refuse to buy anything full price at Anthropologie. Actually, I rarely buy anything frivolous full price. I could probably write a blog on just the great deals I get. Did I mention I got my $425 Betsey Johnson dress for only $140 (that INCLUDES tax!).
I got this coat for $90! regular $180. Pretty good! Oh and I also got a $150 skirt for $40!!

Birthday Cake

I made a cake for my sister's birthday a few weeks ago. The requirements were Red Velvet with Seafoam coloured icing. 

Hi Chew

I  have been a huge fan of HiChews since I bought them at Super-Cao Nguyen in Oklahoma City. Everytime I go to Japantown in SF I buy a bunch (and Pockys, of course). I want to have a party and at that party will be a huge bowl of HiChews. The best part is that the wrapper is the exact same for every flavour, so it would be a delicious surprise every time you tried one. 

Animal Portraits

Animal Portraits
Originally uploaded by theseawithin

I haven't been able to stop buying berkley illustration's animal portraits. http://berkleyillustration.etsy.com

Mourning Doves

Mourning Doves
Originally uploaded by theseawithin

A mourning dove nested above my front door. I can watch her fed her chicks from inside my apartment!

In the Neighbourhood Part I

I thought I'd show a few things that are quite close to me. The MacArthur Maze is something I hear about everyday on the traffic report: "traffic is backed up to the foot of the maze". Luckily my commute doesn't have to deal with this mess. It got considerable news about a year ago when a tanker full of fuel crashed and melted one of the on ramps. The news reports like to hype up how bad the traffic would be. Traffic was at its lowest ever because people just did the smart thing and took Bart which is what they should be doing anyways.

Helvetica

I recently have splurged and got a netflix subscription. I have never been a fan of programs that recommend items to you, but the netflix one is pretty good. Without it I would have never found, quite possibly, the greatest documentary ever made: Helvetica. When I saw the title, I immediately added it to my queue without even reading the description. And yes, it is ALL about the font. Not only could every gray-haired Western European interviewed be any relative on my dad's side, but they all understood my idea of aesthetic, which I thought was quite impossible to describe. Anyways. Go see it.