running for the bus

There was a whole scene this morning involving me dashing out into the street to flag down the (early, but then again we were a little late) schoolbus while my son was running back down the hill to retrieve the Something-or-Other Trooper that had fallen out of his pocket (it's Sharing Day) & then me breathlessly explaining to the busdriver that her weeks-long substitute had always been late & so we must have gotten used to it, sorry, & as I was walking back home I was thinking that the bus scramble is a very apt description of my life lately, then suddenly the neighbor from around the block who also puts her kid on that bus comes flying down the street in her car, honking & frantic, trying to catch the attention of the bus which has stopped at the intersection & which may or may not have noticed her & be waiting for her child, & I think no, THAT'S my life.

Anyway due to life-as-nearly-missed-bus, I've been taking a break from all things internet lately, have you noticed?  I was flipping through my photos, looking to see what I've been doing this whole time, & apparently I have 1. not been up to all that much, & 2. taking a break from the camera, too.

Though there was that too-hot afternoon when we built a fairy porch to my girl's specifications:















(Scrap wood, twigs, white glue)















Complete with hanging lanterns.  I wanted to drape something across from the other two twigs, but she says I haven't thought of anything good enough yet.

We also had another good gocco session when it was time to make her thank you cards.



 











I try to involve my kids in their thank yous as much as possible, & this time around I drew a blank fairy for her to color in (featuring an unfinished head so she can draw whatever hairstyle she wants).  I used a dotted-line font to spell out "thank you," & her job was to trace over the letters as she finished each card.















Things to note in this picture:  she is currently favoring fairies with SERIOUS BANGS, she's got a handy reference book open in the background, & off to the right you can see that my son got in on the gocco action too (my kids LOVE that thing) & we have mighty many blank fairies around now.  For the smaller cards, I put a post-it over the "thank you" to block the ink & then let them go to town printing out a whole stack of fairies for us to add to the art box.

I have also been thinking a lot about sewing, though not to the point where I have been DOING any.  This sundress has been in heavy rotation recently, & it finally fits her perfectly (TWO YEARS LATER), so I think I might see if I still have those pattern pieces around. 

The sewing itch has to wait a minute, though, because the most exciting thing around here is that on Friday I am off for a fancy weekend in San Francisco with my husband/without my kids:  any vegetarian restaurant recommendations or shopping must-sees (including good fabric stores)?

Comments

[Amanda]

Britex Fabrics in union square is a pretty sweet fabric store. Every time I go to San Fran w/my boyfriend I stare longingly through the windows...he never lets me go in cause he knows ill be there all day

[Sarah]

Definitely Japantown, and if you have time to drive to South SF, Daiso.

In SF I really like Mendels on Haight because it has cool fabrics (including a rather extensive oilcloth selection) plus other art supplies.

[melissa f.]

check it:

http://westcoastcrafty.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/crafty-maps-of-portland-and-san-francisco/

[melissa f.]

check it:

[muralimanohar]

Dang....I want to go to San Francisco, tooooo!!! Wah. lol

[Becky]

Oh! Oh! Oh! If I were going to S.F., I would definitely want to try Cafe Gratitude! It is a raw vegan restaurant - I just bought their cookbook, and OH MY GOODNESS! Yum!

[meg]

it's nice to see that you and i are on the same page.

have a wonderful get-away!

[Lisa]

Love those Thank you cards - what a great way to involve younger ones in this activity! Have a great time in San Francisco!

[Nada]

Vegetarian eats:
-the above mentioned cafe gratitude is good if you're into raw foods

-millenium is AMAZING for a fancy night out (it's in the Union Square area, and pricey, but a lovely date type joint since you won;t have the kids)

-papalote's at 24th St and Valencia (1 block from the 24th BART station) has the best vegetarian burrito selection in the city. They've got 4 different vegetarian fillings to choose from, along with the usual roster of meats, and they prepare their beans and rice to be vegan, unlike all the other taquerias in the city. lots of good shopping on this stretch of valencia also, from 24th to 16th

[N]

Shopping:

-that crafty map of SF is good, check it out

-http://www.scrap-sf.org/
I have not actually made it to scrap yet, but i hear it's amazing, like organized thrifting for weird art supplies. I plan to go later this summer, next time I'm out there

-Flax (http://www.flaxart.com/) is also great, but it's retail. The best paper selection and kids selection I've seen. Flax is very much more on the art tip than the craft one, but it's just a couple of blocks up Market St from....

-Rare Device! Lisa Congdon's store, super cute, currently exhibiting Betsy Walton's art, with affordable prints and cards from Betsy, Lisa, Amy Ruppel, and more

-Kinokuniya in Japantown... Japantown in general is underwhelming, and Kinokuniya is inside a mall, which I'm not that into, but whatever.

-Chinatown. there is fabric there, but i have no idea how to explain where.

-Britex... the remnant floor is totally worth it, as is the trims floor. I get overwhelmed by all the rest, it's pricey!

-Black Cat Quilts at Ocean Ave and 19th Ave is where I go for FreeSpirit type cottons

this is getting long, and now I want to go back to SF! where in the city are y'all staying? there's more in my head, but it would help to narrow it down by 'hood...

[Amy]

I second the Millenium recommendation - YUMMY!! And totally worth the splurge.

[Amy]

I second the Millenium recommendation - YUMMY!! And totally worth the splurge.

[jenn]

check out satin moon on clement and second ave in the richmond. it is small but every fabric is awesome. across the street and down a bit is a place called fabrixx and it is not so great but you can find some good stuff for cheap if you dig.

a few more blocks down on clement and 6th is green apple books. they have an amazing selection of used and new books. i could spend hours there...
have fun!

[cyndi]

glad to have you back blogging...we've missed you! have a great weekend with your husband!

[Anne]

I just found your blog through Visty's and wanted to say hello.

[Megan]

Millenium is amazing! It's not just eating dinner - it's an experience - definitely worth splurging on! I just bought one of their cookbooks because we enjoyed eating there so much.
http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/

[cheap ed hardy]

In SF I really like Mendels on Haight because it has cool fabrics (including a rather extensive oilcloth selection) plus other art supplies.

[chocolateboots]

Why is your own eco-friendly item distinctive?