The Covid era is slowly drawing to a close in the Far East (but its not over, yet). Almost two weeks ago, South Korea lifted its indoor mask mandate in most public places. That includes shops, restaurants, and gyms, but masks on public transportation are still required. Korea has been one of the last holdouts… Continue reading Thoughts on masks + Japan travel
Category: Expat in Korea
Daegu café and yarn shop + weekly prompt: “Is there anything you feel too old to do anymore?”
I am deep into my winter break in South Korea, and between trips - just coming from one in Hanoi, and preparing for another in Tokyo next week. Last month I participated in the WP Bloganuary challenge, and had fun writing a blog post every other day or so. I probably won't be able to… Continue reading Daegu café and yarn shop + weekly prompt: “Is there anything you feel too old to do anymore?”
Bloganuary: “How are you brave?”
Today's Bloganuary prompt is "How are you brave?" I like how the year is starting off with positive questions. I had to think about this one a bit. To the casual observer, my currently unconventional life (single, 50-something, childless, self-supporting woman in a foreign country) might seem "brave," risky, odd, exotic, or a number of… Continue reading Bloganuary: “How are you brave?”
New mohair shawl + Seoul trip
I have a lovely new shawl creation to share that is a bit different from ones I've made previously. This cloud-like confection is based on a Japanese pattern that is sadly not available online anymore - the website where I found it ceased to update last year. However, I did save the chart for this… Continue reading New mohair shawl + Seoul trip
Tweedy poncho is finished! + Seollal, Year of the tiger
Welcome to a new Lunar New Year, a new month, and to my finally-finished Tweedy Poncho! I so enjoyed this poncho project and look forward to wearing it, especially since it uses one of my favorite yarns - Rowan Felted Tweed. The poncho is from a pattern in Issue 141 of Inside Crochet magazine. PHOTOS:… Continue reading Tweedy poncho is finished! + Seollal, Year of the tiger
Busan sea views; new crochet poncho project
My plans to go back the U.S. have been postponed until July, so in Korea I remain for the time being. The pandemic has presented complications that have kept me in a kind of physical limbo, but I'm doing my best to use my time well, which includes digging into several fun art projects I've… Continue reading Busan sea views; new crochet poncho project
Happy Chuseok! Plus, WIP cardigan progress
Happy Chuseok (추석)! Roughly translated as "Autumn eve," Chuseok is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in both North and South Korea. It's celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar on the full moon (at the Autumn equinox). Westerners understand Chuseok as "Korean Thanksgiving," and although its… Continue reading Happy Chuseok! Plus, WIP cardigan progress
Aug. 15: Love for Korea and the Humble Granny Square
Today is Korean Liberation Day, a major holiday celebrating Korea's 1945 emancipation from the Japanese empire. We're in holiday mode and the Korean taegukgi (태극기, national flag) is flying high. A much more humble observance underway for us crafters is the yearly commemoration of the granny square, a familiar, homespun classic that's found on countless… Continue reading Aug. 15: Love for Korea and the Humble Granny Square
Traditional Korean painting “Minhwa” and WIP update
One of my favorite Korean handicrafts is Minhwa (민화), or Korean folk painting. I recently acquired a lovely reproduction of a well-known Minhwa theme, called Hojakdo (호작도), or a tiger, magpie, and pine tree scene. There are many versions of this triad, and this one makes me smile. Minhwa paintings have a charm and accessibility… Continue reading Traditional Korean painting “Minhwa” and WIP update
Happy New Year! First post of 2021 and Winter view
Just checking in to send out a wish for a happy, healthy, hopeful New Year. I have to laugh a little as I look at my modest crafting resolutions from last year. Hardly any of the things I dreamed of doing got done! But a few important ones did - for example, I made my… Continue reading Happy New Year! First post of 2021 and Winter view
The Frill Seeker 