Happy Holidays!

Happy and healthy holidays to you all!

and peace to the world!

Solyi

getting used to being back in America

Our endless amount of stuff has finally arrived from Israel via London.  I have been busy trying to shed some of the things that we don't use anymore.  I have been selling our nice, sellable things on eBay and the business has been booming.  Especially popular are our collections of American Girl dolls.  They travelled more than most of people.  They lived in London, Israel and France with us and some went to their new loving homes with the help of eBay.

The house is still filled with boxes and unloaded things, or stuff, mostly useless.  I just can not believe why does anyone need so much stuff.... dishes, games, computers, electronics... and so many clothes... of which 90% I rarely wear.  I have to stop buying and start selling more.

our little living room is furnished, although messy with boxes and stuff

We are settling back alright here in Irvine.  I try my best not to miss London so much...all the museums, hackney picture house, London fields, Broadway Market and their amazing food, whoever says English food is bad doesn't really experienced the country in the proper way, their food is amazing.  I am sorry my fellow Americans, but we really are lagging behind in the food department.... and few more areas,  than Europe.

I have been walking daily since I moved back here.  My neighbourhood is so wide, spacious and pleasant.  I do enjoy my quiet meditative walks alone.  You see only few people passing by on the walk in such a large and impeccably manicured, surreal village. I guess most of people are at work during early evenings, to pay for their expensive homes and their Mercedes and BMW's. 

As for my crafty part of life, I have been enjoyed crocheting lately.  I started a project from a Japanese instruction book(amazing publishers), which is translated into Korean.  These marvellous Japanese craft books are the best of the best, and are translated in so many different languages. Even French has been translating whole array of them for a long time(although it has only recently started to translate in English). I have piled up quite a collection but there is not enough time to make so many.

But here is my new project

If anyone is interested, I can put up the pattern in my next posting.  Just leave me a comment.

Namaste, Happy Thursday!

Wool House revisit and end of my etsy shop

Wool House, winter 2012/13, Somerset House

I opened my etsy shop to try to sell my creations, but it turns out getting viewed on etsy and selling is not as easy as you would hope.  This is my second time trying to do it and ended up closing the shop, again. Unless I have a lot of merchandise to sell or really crank up my production, which I wasn't able to do since I have been in some kind of pain in my side and back, it will not work at all.  It is a fun place to look at work of a lot of creative people, but unless I have more stuff to show and be extremely productive, I decided that it is not a right platform for me. I still have my ebay shop though.

However, I finished this wonderful wooly socks with the sale yarns I got at JoAnn's for like $2 for 50g balls.Although I knitted socks before, I quickly forgot how to make it afterwards and I had to resort to the pattern again.  I found a great pattern from Red Heart website which is the brand of yarn I got.

I am hoping to start making few more pairs for Xmas presents, once my back feels better.

 self striping, pretty cool.

It took me like 4 days to finish it, which is pretty good. Arielle loves them, they are so toasty and comfy.

Here is the link to download the pattern: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/self-striping-knit-socks

Happy knitting!!

... and here are some photos of one of my favourite exhibition from winter of 12/13 in London, Wool House at the Somerset House.

what a beautiful day we had

Arielle and I drove to Somerset house next to King's College before I sold my beloved Hyundai i30.  It was a cold and beautiful day.  After the Wool House, we went to Courtauld Gallery and saw their amazing collection of paintings.

Donna Wilson's creatures at the Wool House

wow, some amazing knitting, Argyle?

Lana Del Rey - Blue Jeans (Live @ France)

I was in my farmhouse in France watching TV when Lana came on. I was so impressed with her performance and I was proud to be an American.  I think it was sometime in 2011.

our place before, and .....

Our place here in Irvine is still empty except for a few items like dishes and stuff my mom kept for me when I left the country more than 5 years ago.  Our stuff, as I said before is still in Los Angeles and it could be another 10 days untill I get the delivery, if I am lucky.

It is a very challenging business moving, let alone moving internationally, like 3 times in last 5 years.
I am planning to either sell or donate things that I don't need and start shedding away stuff, material.... etc. so I don't have to, in the future, even if I move overseas, to send containers. I want to be able to just pick up a few suitcase and leave.

my work space

Thank goodness for a counter space in the kitchen, at least I can seat and write and do my business.

our completely empty living room,  great for doing yoga

Hey wait, we have chairs! 

The only things in our living room

At least I have a bit of craft material and most importantly, internet!

my empty room

I have been sleeping on the floor for last three months, it will be so amazing to have my bed back.

stairs to the garage

We are alright, we have large 20 lbs bag of rice stocked up and full pantry.

my craft books in 4 different languages

Yesterday, I received some of my stuff from London, thank you Alexis! I am amazed at how much you were able to pack in those two luggages, including my Le Creuset, craft magazines, fancy shoes and bags.

.....So, all is good,  even in an empty home.

Namaste, from positive Solyi

Lana Del Rey - Ride

Eckhart, Irvine and the Past...

This summer was quite interesting for me, to say the least, and wait, it still is not over yet, it is almost like Dante's inferno here in Irvine.  Oh, and our stuff is still in Los Angeles waiting to be X-rayed, which I need to pay in addition to $15,000 already paid to bring my stuff from Israel to London, and storage in London for a month, then to Los Angeles. In conclusion, we lived without any furniture and out of our suitcases since we left London in June.

My dear friend who knows my situation quite well, and who shares my love for France and Europe, told me about Eckhart Tolle. I have been interested in spirituality and his teachings immediately touched me on a personal level.

So, basically, I try not to complain about my current situation and try to be 'present' in Now, not my past, not my youth, not my French farm house, not my London flats, not all the heavenly cheese and dairy products in France and UK, not rain and thunder and the cool breeze of London, not crisp cold air when I walk out to get a heavenly bottle of organic Rachel's milk at the little organic store on the Broadway Market, No, No, No....  I can not do that.

I have to find pleasure and truly appreciate the beauty of Irvine, the impeccably manicured homes and lawns, occasional trips to Los Angeles and the beaches, and last but not least, the 100 Fahrenheit weather.  

Eckhart is amazing and I totally feel and agree with his teachings,  but I am not yet capable of controlling my mind enough to not dwell on the past or the future. I have been too spoiled last 5 years travelling Europe with my amazing two girls. Coming back to USA was like coming back to a completely strange country for both myself and Arielle.  Eckhart says, living in the past or future doesn't help your current situation, and they are like illusion, and I completely agree with that. And the older we are the more we dwell on the past,  and the younger you are, the future.  So, I am going to try my best not to miss Europe too much and concentrate on enjoying SoCal for now.  

This photo is my favourite photo of all history of Solyi's photos, so far...  in Chartres, back of the cathedral.

I found some photos from Spring of 2010 when we were living in a beautiful mansion block in Maida Vale. These two years in London were  Arielle and my happiest of years before we were basically forced to relocate to Israel( a long story which is better unexplained ). I had a brand new gorgeous, black Hyudai i30 and I was driving everywhere with that car,  from busiest streets of London(I especially loved roaming around London on Sunday evenings when the streets are fairly empty) to the most rural of France, and even to Amsterdam and Brussels.  Bye my beloved Hyundai.  We drove our black Hyundai to Dover and took Ferry to Calais and then drove to Chartres, to see the cathedral, spent a night at a converted Monastery and we went onto our rented apartment at a chateau in Charente region near Angouleme, which turned out to be one of the most beautiful apartment I had ever been to.  I wish I kept the owner's info, because I can not seem to find it.  I would really want to rent it again.

Chartres cathedral, the first building we studied at our famous History of Architecture taught by prof. Calkins.
the gothic masterpiece.

The beautiful chateau apt we rented, Poitou Charente

Angouleme, Poitou Charente

Angouleme, I had a friend in NY who was originally from Angouleme, when I visit her at her home in Westchester, they would give me dark wonderful coffee in this huge bowl,  and they would cook a steak for their dog.  I told myself, someday, I am going to visit Angouleme.

the wonderful town of Angouleme

Today, that is all the reminiscing I will allow myself about my past.

Meanwhile, back in Irvine, Halloween stuff is in full swing, how so very exciting!!!(sorry for the sarcasm)

Irvine, California

For a bonus,  I will leave you with some 'present' of my life.  I made another dress!!!!  and this one fits too!!

I am completely in love with this Japanese bookstore called Kinokuniya in Costa Mesa, inside Mitsuwa market. I bought this sewing book and it is wonderful.

another dress completed!

and here is the book which this pattern came from

wish I can understand Japanese

Thank you for visiting!!

Namaste!

California Roll

It is easy to just snap photos on your iPhone and just load it onto your blog.  However, I am going to try to have quality photos instead. I have, really, no patience with technology(or anything else for that matter) so they will not be professional quality photos, even with a great camera.

So, as a practice, I took some photos of our meal today, including pictures of my preparation and making of California Roll.  The most important element, the rice, came out a bit dry, but everything else was good and it was really very good.


This morning I made some simple garlic kale for Arielle along with some eggs and toast.
I have all these avocados that mom got from her friend from the tree, and it is getting too ripened.

My girls love simple sauteed greens with lots of garlic toasted in olive oil.

I am starting to dislike my kitchen granite surface for my photo background.  It is too obtrusive.  But the counter is only surface we have right now besides our not so attractive carpeted floor.  Our stuff is still in the LA dock... this moving company is not in a hurry at all, they are taking their time nice and slow.   For goodness sakes, really..... dear lord, when is my stuff going to come?  

these are ingredients for the roll,
sometimes, I also put in carrots, but I skipped it today

ingredient for the rice seasoning is
vinegar 3 Tbls
sugar 2 1/2 Tbls
salt 1tsp
for about 2 1/2 cups of uncooked rice

I usually use persian cucumbers and discard the inside part with the seeds.

Putting the right amount of water with your rice cooker is very important since rice has to be done right to make good sushi.  Today, it came out too dry...

vinegar mixture to be poured and mixed with hot rice

this Korean brand seaweed was not as good, but still alright

cool rice slightly before you assemble the roll

This is very easy and delicious recipe.  It is great made using Japanese Genmai quick cooking brown rice as well.

ready to assemble

you can put whatever ingredients you want inside

I made four rolls today

sprinkle lots of toasted sesame seeds on top. Bon Appetite!

I am such an amateur blogger.  But I am having fun.

Thank you for visiting.

Namaste!!

Lots of Peet's Coffee and Vintage 80's Singer Sewing Machine

finally finished after a day of a painful sewing experience

Did I mention that I was a terrible terrible sewer.  I should give up my hope of trying to sell my creation at this point I think, unless I hire someone to do the sewing for me.  Did I also mention that I almost failed my Apparel Design elective course at Cornell?  I guess having no patience and very short attention span is not desired qualities for a sewer.

After all day of not doing any housework, not showering, eating junk food, having three cups of coffee, with my trembling hands, I have manage to put together decently fitting top that I actually like and could wear.  I copied the style from one of my favourite top from Honigman(Israeli brand).  I was like a sewer zombie... a day passed without doing anything but sewing.  This reminded me of another sewing misadventure two decades ago.  I spent all weekend sewing a very pathetic unwearable orange jersey shirt when my boyfriend drove 6 hours to see me and didn't pay any attention to him and that made him sad and upset.  Bad sewing skill and habits can be a hazard.

Nevertheless, I bought this simple cotton fabric for $6 for 2 yards and got a wearable, cool and comfortable shirt which style I love, so I guess a day of complete disfunction was not a total loss.

I had to re-cut and change many times before it fit me

Irvine, a unique suburbia

Since there is close to no public transportations here, everyone drives, drives like mad people mostly.

There are these gorgeous brand new swanky association salt water pools but I don't have a bathing suit here with me,  it is somewhere in burning dock(this time, literally there was a fire in the dock, not just hot burning weather...crazy) of Los Angeles in a container, for goodness sakes, can I get my things please?????

Of course it is an excuse about the bathing suit.  I just don't like going in the public swimming pools that much as clean, new and beautiful it is.  So, I make sure I take 30 mins evening walk.  The weather cooled downed a bit but again scorching last few days. I was enjoying the beautifully hazy and hot desert evening walk.  Humans are creature of habit they say....  I am already getting used to being here. Driving to school, Ralph's, Trader Joe's and buying overpriced European cheese. That is a real bummer. Quality of dairy is very lacking here in America, sorry, but it is so so true.

hazy dusk of my hood

OK. so in my crafty part of my daily life,  I have taken over my mother's project, which she worked so beautifully, but is having some problem making armholes.  We have a beautiful memory buying this yarn at a Phildar store in La Souterraine when my papa was still with us and visiting.  Us ladies took forever in the shop and he would just walk around the little medieval street waiting for us to finish.  So, this yarn holds very special memories for me and my mom.

this yarn will always make me think of that summer day in La Souterraine and papa

crocheted cotton blend boatneck tank pattern

Finished product

I finished crocheted top.  As all cotton yarns tend to be, the final product is somewhat weighty. Not as light as I wanted it to be.  But it still looks pretty. I may put it up for sale on my Etsy shop since I don't think I will make a good use of it.

I have made one for Arielle when we were still in Israel, after finding a decent yarn store in Ra'anana.  I used dark navy blue and it looks more posh and classy.  I have a request from Alexis to have it made as a dress for her.  This pattern is also mine but I did use basic idea from an incredible Japanese crochet magazine.

fancy crocheted lace shirt I made for Arielle

So here is my first project back in the USA. 

I attempted to draw an instruction diagram for roughly how to make this piece.  I do not have patience to make it detailed for beginner, but it is more for people who already know how to manipulate shapes and patterns on their own.  If you have any questions, please email me or leave a comment.

using yarn for the needle size, this roughly fits US size 10 to 12

Enjoy my first pattern.  Thank you for visiting.

London memories and crochet

Did I mention how amazing London sky is?

Notting Hill, London, Spring 2014

I have started crocheting a summer tank top, out of necessity.  We brought two tiny luggage and we have only few pieces of clothing which I have worn over and over again during this summer.
Instead of trip to Liberty and John Lewis in London for fancy shmancy yarn collections artistically merchandised in gorgeous setting, I had to head to Michaels, for some humble not so fancy white cotton mix yarns. Get used to it! my other self yells at me.  For now, at least...  There is no department stores that stock up rooms full of most glorious collection of European yarns in my neighbourhood, so really, get used to it.

Here is a side of my tank which I designed with a crochet diagram I saw from Pinterest post which I will be illustrating it for my viewers including the pattern details that I made up.

a side of crocheted boatneck tank

I am almost done with the other piece and excited to complete it and add to my currently a sadly small wardrobe. Once I figure out how to connect the neck and arm area, I will share my designs, so, yeah, lets hope I follow through this.

our Broadway Market flat which was the coolest place I have ever lived.