Ikat book

Ikat has been resurfacing around me these last few months so I'm taking it as a sign to investigate.

Got this great new used book called The Dyer's Art: Ikat, Batik, Plangi. It's describes these ancient dyeing processes and has big colorful photos of historical textiles. It's even signed by author and famed weaver Jack Lenor Larsen. 

First of all, the process of dyeing is coloring fiber and then using something else like mordant to fix it" or keep it from washing away or make it "colorfast". Products like Rit dye are all-in-one products which makes it easy to do in your washing machine.

The look of ikat is the soft feathery edges of a woven graphic on a textile as a result of the imperfect handmade quality of dyeing and weaving by hand.

In the process if weaving ikat, yarns of a warp are wrapped in certain spots to resist dye, so when yarns are dyed, then unwrapped, and put under tension on loom it creates a warp with a dyed design.

Will try dyeing first!!

an evening walk

weekend in 30 seconds

digital harinezumi

playing with my new digital harinezumi these last few evenings... video next. love this sample video. via Lisa

the week...

Ice and blue carnations at TOTNLA; real lens flare effect in a nighttime shot; new ikat placemats from the PI; ceramic art from UCLA MFA open studio; tree roots...

words of wisdom

"Moderate your greed." - R.L.N.

clouds

followed the clouds this weekend...

spirograph and sun prints

Baby-sat my 4 year old nephew today and played with an updated version of the Spirograph. This was one of my favorite things as a child. We also did sun prints from Berkeley's Lawrence School of Science which I had never tried before. The last pic is of his 2 year old brother messing around and whose little hand we sun printed. In their words it was "awesome!"

Venice Beach

Spent some time in the Venice Beach area this weekend. Quintessential Venice sunglasses, the skate park on the boardwalk, my favorite - the guys who fly the gianormous kites, a nightime shot from the balcony, yellow powder coated table here and this awesome watercolor poster by David Hockney from the window of a shop on Abbot Kinney. Too cold for May, but being by the ocean is good r & r no matter what. Will be back for warmer temps when it's really summer...

photo album and box kits

These last few months, Yuka and I have successfully carved out some "crafternoon" time on Fridays for making these photo album and box kits from Paper-Source. We both realized that we hoarded them (I actually made 2 of those pink boxes a la Lily Pulitzer) way back and needed to bring them to life. The instructions need a little help and it takes some time getting used to the cutting and gluing, but we're seriously pro now. Hoorah!

more around Manila

Picture of my Lola (my grandmother), grade school classroom in Liliw, handwoven paymapay (fan) in Greenhills, hot pan de sal and queso (hot bread and cheese) before breakfast, my uncle's collection of chinese miniature statues, election time banners (update: Nonoy Aquino wins presidency).

around town...

Doug Wheeler's Rm 669 during one of several jury duty lunch breaks to MOCA, learning to transplant plants from Adam, light fixture made from pieces of a vintage sewing machine at Terroni, photos of tree shadows by Donna Wong at Euro Pan Bakery, and then spotting the Neutra font on the P7 parking structure at LAX, and this beauty on Mother's Day morning at Bottega Louie's cafe.

Alicia

After trying to resusitate her twice, her son said no more.. but right when they stopped her heartbeat came back. It came back just as all seven of her sisters arrived. It was if she knew they were on their way and she wanted to say good bye before she left. Her body could no longer move, but her heart beat grew faster on the monitor as the voices got louder. Still, they all knew it was too late. Her body had already given in to the infection. Only her eyes remained slightly opened. Days before she told them that her mama and papa were at foot of her bed but not her late husband who she was always missing. She was also looking for her new shoes telling them she had to go out. It was just a matter of time. The spirits of her mother and father were there waiting to bring her to the other side. So they reassured her that it was okay and that she could go. You don't have to stay, go be with them. We love you and will miss you so much they said as their hearts broke deep inside. And just then, tears began streaming from her eyes. She became sad... and aware... that they were right. She too, would miss us terribly. They all cried now weeping for themselves and for what was to come. After a few more minutes the monitor flatlined. They say your hearing is the last thing to go. Lucky for us.

kiput hike

When we visit my mom's provincial hometown, we always have a big lunch and eat with our hands off big banana leaves at the farm. The farm was developed on the land my mom and her siblings inherited from my grandfather. He loved to hike this land. When we were young, he would lead all of us down to the river for swimming and eventually a bath at the end. Good times. These days, we all hike down to an area called the kiput were there is a narrow but deep stream. I love this hike. It's so green and lush. My aunt added steps to the path so that the elders could get down to the quiput too.

Philippines 2010

Just got back from a 10 day trip to the Philippines. Caught some spectacular views. The last mystic photo is from the airplane window over Incheon Airport in Seoul.