Grocery Tote

This was a project for my private crochet lessons. I got the base of this pattern at Purl Bee, and I rewrote it so it is more beginner friendly. (A lot of patterns omit things like chain 1 before starting rows of single crochet because it is very basic, but I noticed it often confuses the beginners.) In the original pattern, they use linen yarn; it is very nice to the touch & durable, but so expensive, too! Regular cotton yarn such as Patons' Grace works fine, but I recommend to use a bit smaller hook for a neater finish.

The bag came out nice and summery & perfect for carrying my daughter's beach items.

Lots of train trips

週末にアップステイトまでメトロ・ノースにゆられて行き、
月曜は地下鉄でマンハッタンまでゆき、
今日はまたメトロノースのNew Havenラインに乗ってハリソンという所まで知人を訪ねてきた。


やたらと鉄道を活用している今日この頃。


グランドセントラルの天井はいつ見てもちょっと感動する。

メインターミナルの天井ではないけど、
こんな照明もクラシックで素敵。

My daughter's and my first protest

I went to a protest in front of the Brazil Consulate in Manhattan with my daughter.

This dam will affect people I know indirectly through my sister, who works for Rainforest Foundation Japan (RFJ) which supports the indegenious people in Amazon. （RFJの日本語サイトはこちら）

I've never been so active politically before, but what happened to Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant changed me a bit. I've always tried my best for living environmentally responsibly, and believed nuclear plants have nothing good for mankind. But I realize, after the accidents at Fukushima plant, that just believing in something is not enough. If I want to change the world, I have to change myself. If you believe in something, your action needs to follow it and express it. Otherwise, how would people know? How does the government know?

You can sign a petition at Amazon Watch's website. Please take a minute and save the homes to those on the video, the animals, and the forest that produces a third of oxygen on this planet. 

ベロモンチ・ダム建設反対の署名はこちらでできます。

プロテスト当日のことが書かれたRFJのスタッフブログはこちらです。

Stop Belo Monte!!

My first T shirt!

I made this for my daughter's friend who had her 3rd birthday.

I won't lie and say it was easy. I've never sewn jersey fabric before and it required a good amount of tips from my designer friends, and extra efforts & ironing. At one point, I was thinking this will be a disaster, but hey, when I was done with the last seams, it REALLY looked like a T-shirt. I think the result was well worth the effort!!

bought some jersey fabric in Garment District.

なんだかんだ

忙しく、ハッと気づいたら8月も第三週目。


アパートに再びあふれかえりつつある、娘のおもちゃや古着、使わない家電などを整理していたら、あっという間に時間が経ってしまった。もちろん、毎日娘と公園やら行くわけだし、慌ただしく夏休みも過ぎてゆく。


そんな整理の中、前に作った娘のパンツが出て来た。二枚はぎの、超簡単パンツ。でもその頃はまだ娘も今よりずっと手がかかったし、あまり手作りする余裕もなく出来上がった時はなんだかうれしかったっけ。

やっぱり青のギンガム・チェックは好き。
いとこからの出産祝いのカーディガンとあわせて。

最近は夜もさっさと寝てくれるし、前よりちょっとは凝ったものも作れるけど、今度は「こんなの着なーい」などと言って、着てくれなかったり。


幼稚園ではピンクやパープルのフリフリのスカートやドレスを着ている子達がいて、そういうのが羨ましくて仕方ないらしい。母が断じてキャラものを買ってくれなかった私も、気持はわかる。でも、いつかそれを感謝する日が来るのさ。


・・・来るのかしら？