My semester is back in full swing, and I'm alternating between the classroom and Zoom classes, as the Covid protocols make the return to "normal" life a bit rocky for the time being. There are a couple of small projects I have started recently that I can fit into short bursts of free time that… Continue reading Mini update: New Life mandala in progress
Tag: crafts
Finished Mont Blanc cardigan
PHOTOS: Mont Blanc cardi using Scheepjes Stone Washed XL and Furry Tales yarns. Buttons are from a shop in Seomun Traditional Market. The pattern is by Lilla Bjorn Crochet. The Mont Blanc cardigan is now ready to wear. I really want to call this garment a "shirt-jack" since that is how it looks and fits.… Continue reading Finished Mont Blanc cardigan
2014 Travel memory: lovely handicrafts of Laos
I've found some simple ways to experience joy during this past year of being grounded by the pandemic, many of which are just outside my door in the beautiful Korean countryside. Some other sources of comfort have come from my substantial cache of travel memories I frequently access, as I regard the mementos that surround… Continue reading 2014 Travel memory: lovely handicrafts of Laos
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
Favorite home crafts of 2020
Three of my favorite home crafts this past year were crochet projects - the Celtic Hearts placemat, the beaded lampshade cover, and the Spice Market mandala. Each one of these projects used either cotton crochet thread or laceweight cotton yarn. The lampshade cover used the same taupe cotton that is part of the mandala. All… Continue reading Favorite home crafts of 2020
WIP scarf and cardigan, plus – music I’ve loved during lockdown
Even during "normal" times, I really enjoy podcasts and music while crafting. More isolation has me reaching a little farther into my musical favorites. Here's a short list of what I've listened to recently, and a bit of background. In the last couple of weeks, we've had some monsoon weather with heavy rain, thunder and… Continue reading WIP scarf and cardigan, plus – music I’ve loved during lockdown
New rustic scarf make and WIP updates
Just checking in to share a few of the projects I have going. It's still pretty hot weather-wise here in Korea, but I think our heat wave is finally behind us. I've started looking at my yarn stash for Autumn ideas, and have begun a pretty cardigan using Scheepjes Metropolis yarn - a soft blend… Continue reading New rustic scarf make and WIP updates
Crafting updates and my favorite local bakery
Happiest July 4th to all my American family and friends! I've been spending the weekend (since Thursday) wrapping up the semester, hosting a beautiful little dog for a night, cooking, crafting, and enjoying the fruits, flora, and fauna of my Korean neighborhood. On Thursday, I went to Siji, a neighborhood about a 12-minute bus ride… Continue reading Crafting updates and my favorite local bakery
A mini craft update; Korean daisies
Now that I'm nearly done with the semester, as well as the massive Spice Market mandala project, I can start to turn my attention back to some other makes. One of them is a sweet little mermaid amigurumi that is about half-done. She has a lot of promise as a favorite make, but there are… Continue reading A mini craft update; Korean daisies