I've got about fifteen different projects going on right now. A pile of amigurumi toys for the website, several toddler size backpacks, also for the website, and a pair of pajamas for each of the girls. I also need to make a baby kimono for my sister-in-law's shower, and some Christmas present clothes for the girls build-a-bear stuffed animals. I'd also like to make Ivy a new Christmas dress with my new Japanese craft book.

We are looking at new houses, we'd like to buy one before the New Year. We're looking for something bigger than the house we are currently renting, so among other things I can have my own craft room. So maybe we can start actually eating meals at the dining room table again. The process of looking at houses is exhausting, though. I'm inclined to just take the first one that looks good, although that's probably not the best way to do it.

I just finished watching Odoru Daisousasen, which was more of a comedy, I was hoping for more of a thriller, but I still enjoyed it. Now I am watching Rondo, which is a little confusing. The subtitles are very poorly done as well, which adds to my confusion. But it's a good way to pass time while crocheting or embroidering.

Fabric Book

I just finished this for my shop. I had to keep it hidden from Ivy, who was ready to claim it as her own.






Available at Purple Kappa!

Jump to Japan

Yesterday we drove to Toledo for the Jump to Japan exhibit at COSI. Getting to ride in the Cat Bus was very much one of the highlights of the visit.







This one is a little dark and blurry, it's a replica of the giant camphor tree in the movie My Neighbor Totoro.


There was also a lot of other great things to do, including a freaky anti-gravity room that was so disorienting it gave me a headache and a bubble exhibit where you could stand inside a bubble. It was a lot of fun and well worth the trip--although I was monumentally disappointed that no one noticed the Totoro applique on Ivy's pants, but that's just because I am a huge show-off.

The Fossa

As I have been telling my Ivy/fossa story to folks, I am realizing not everyone knows what a fossa is. It's actually a rather obscure animal that lives on the island of Madagascar, if you have seen the movie Madagascar, they do appear only they are referred to as Foosas.

Last year Brian found a little hooded one piece sweatsuit for Ivy at the thrift shop, it had cat ears and a tail, as well as a little button you could push so it would meow. Miranda was immensely envious. Not only that, but cats were her thing and she didn't want her little sister edging in on her territory. So she told Ivy the suit was a fossa suit, since fossas look very much like cats. Ivy was fine with this, and gradually Miranda was able to convince her that she does in fact love fossas. So now she pretends she is a fossa, which confuses people who think she is saying Mufasa from the Lion King. And then they think she is this rather bright child who knows all about fossas when she explains to them that it's a fierce carnivore mongoose from Madagascar. And that's the definition of the fossa, as well as their history in our family.

Yesasia.com

The improvements to the Yesasia website are going to make it very difficult to stick to a budget. Now you only have to spend 25.00 to get free shipping and it's so much quicker, it used to take on average 5 weeks, my package arrived within 3 weeks this time.

This time I got 2 books I've seen on other blogs
ISBN 4529042049


ISBN 4579110919


as well as one I found by browsing
ISBN 4579108272

This one is really lovely, shows how to make five traditional kimonos, 4 for girls, 1 for boys. With my limited Japanese, I am pretty sure these are meant to be for the Shichi-Go-San Festival. I"m just not sure how much I would use this book, but I am going to hang on to it for a bit. It would certainly be more practical to sell it, especially since I already have a new order lined up at Yesasia...I suppose there are worse vices than too many Japanese books. I can always rationalize that they are helping me learn to read kanji.

Purple Kappa

I had forgotten what a special challenge it is to write HTML by hand while holding a sleeping child in one arm. Not to mention forgetting how to code HTML altogether. I managed to summon my rusty skills and my new website is now active

Purple Kappa

Not sure how I like the layout. I like writing my own code, but there is something less polished about the look of the website. It's okay, just not quite what I envisioned. Trouble is, I am not really sure what my vision is.

Tonight's conversataion with Ivy:

Ivy: MOM, come here. I have to tell you something
Brian--mom is eating, can I help you?
Ivy--NO! I NEED MOM!

I get up and walk into the living room

Ivy--Fossas have testicles
Me--yes, you're right, they do.
Brian--(choking on laughter)