World Class Chef in a Strip Mall

I wrote this article for the Knoxville News Sentinel after reading tons of praise for Chef Chang on foodie networks like Chowhound, Don Rockwell , and Atlanta Cuisine . The food is awesome.

Happy Gloves, Happy Girl

My mom gave me a craft book for my birthday that I love. Happy Gloves by Miyako Kanamori has instructions on how to make cute little creatures from gloves. I have been wanting to make toys but haven't ever gotten into crochet. Kanamori's technique uses a cheap and readily available material to make quick and easy stuffed toys.

Functional Handmade Gift

Reusable grocery totes are pretty prevalent these days. I made one for my mom and one for my sister-in-law. My sister-in-law's was made from one of the tablecloths from her wedding rehearsal dinner. She seemed to enjoy the sentiment.

I used a basic folded method to make theirs. They work just fine, but I wanted a roomer bag with a flat bottom. I found this pattern that I plan to try out sometime. If anyone beats me to it, let me know how it works or post a picture.

Fabric Stash Spectrum

I am making this quilt for my own bed. The idea was to make it out of the stash of fabric I have been collecting for so long. Today I finished sewing the blue section. I am keeping it up on my living room wall until the entire top piece is finished.

The fabric sticks to the flannel sheet I thumb-tacked up on the wall. (Fabric sticks to flannel magically...unless you have a fan on high). Ideally the sheet would be plain white, but I improvised.

It is helpful to see the entirety of what you are working on at one time. Another benefit is that when my quilter-friend Felicia comes to my house she can see exactly what I am doing and has donated many pieces from her stash to this project.

I recommend a fabric wall for every quilt designer.

New Crafty Podcast

Hello Craft has started a weekly podcast of crafter's stories. I liked the first two episodes and plan to keep listening. They are requesting contributors.

Assignment: Smoking Ban

I had another article in the Knoxville News Sentinel last week. It's a look at how restaurant business has been since the smoking ban began. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/30/west-haven-for-smokers/

Long-anticipated Article

I tried to get this story in a different newspaper this time last year, but it didn't work out.

Writing about something that you wrote about earlier is an interesting experience. You see how your perspective changes and your writing does too.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/26/cultural-connections/

Writing Routine Tips

I’m reading a memoir by Haruki Murakami called “What I Talk about When I Talk About Running.”
Through journal entry-like writing, Murakami reveals the routines and methods he has used to become a stellar novelist and athlete.
I’m trying to let the book teach me how to be a better writer.
He says that to be a good writer one must have talent, focus and endurance.
“You’ll naturally learn both concentration and endurance when you sit down every day at your desk and train yourself to focus on one point.”
I have made it my goal to spend two hours a day every day at my desk (actually a sewing table) writing. I need to learn to focus and endure. I’m an hour and twenty minutes in right now.
Earlier in the book, Murakami wrote that he stops every day when he feels that he could write more so that the next day’s work goes more smoothly. He sets a pace and keeps rhythm in writing just like in running.

Fall Photo

These dogs have accessories for every season and holiday. They live outside a barber shop in the Otamayashita neighborhood of Sendai, Japan (or at least they did until this time last year).

An assignment

I covered a Pagan Pride event for the Knoxville News Sentinel.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/20/celebration-unites-east-tennessee-pagans/