a week in salt lake city

I love flying over the great salt lake. It's so odd and strange looking, I always lean my forehead on the window, watching and trying to decipher just how big it really is. It's pretty entertaining.

Matilda, in her carrier, at the airport.

So I'm officially the crazy cat lady that takes her cat on vacation with her. At least, that's what it looks like at the airport. So here's the story...

Sunday, 3 p.m. Danny gets a call that he might have to go to Hawaii for work. My flight for SLC is leaving at 9 a.m. the next day. I have prepared the house for me being gone for a week, not both of us to be gone. Luckily I had already packed my bag. We don't know how long Danny will be gone, and the only friend that could check in on the cat could only do it until friday, so we decide that she has to go with me. I figure everything out, and I call the airline and double check. I am so nervous and feel bad for making her fly with me, but whatever. At least I won't have to worry about her.

Danny drives us to the airport. We go through security- I have to take her out of her carrier and hold her while walking through the security thing. I have no idea if she will flip out and scratch my eyes out or not.

She does amazing. I held her like a little monkey as she looked around totally calm and happy. All the TSA agents comment on what a pro she is, and one tells me of the teeny dog that bit him the day before. Hilarious.

My mom picked us up, and we went a few places before going home. I recently switched to feeding her raw food (a totally different post) so we needed to go and get her some. We stopped by a fabric store, I took her in with us (in the carrier) and she sat on the floor by the register totally content.

We got home just in time for Lindsay Loo to get home, and we were starving so we went to one of my favorite places...

Kneaders.

Their Turkey Bacon Avocado sandwich is the most amazing turkey sandwich ever. It's not lunchmeat sliced turkey- it's like thanksgiving chunky turkey. Mmmmmmm.

Lindsay Loo got a cookie for dessert- and posed for the camera as Cookie Monster- to match her shirt.

On our way home, we visited another fabric store, one of my very favorites- Quilters Haven in North Salt Lake. The owner Joanie is so nice, she was there and we got to chat for a bit before I bought a stack of fat quarters.

Lindsay Loo loves to color- and has a ton of crayons. She likes to sit and sort them into rows. It's very calming to her. This day it was by color, but sometimes she does it differently. It amazes me- I want to know what she's thinking, why she sorts in the order that she does.

Matilda didn't have her usual 43 naps that day- so by the time night came, she was out cold.

The next day my mom and I were looking for something in the basement, when I found this...

Our old Robie the Robot bank. You would put a coin on his hand, and he would gobble it up while rocking back and forth, licking his robot lips. We loved this thing- we got it for Christmas, and we spent all day taking turns feeding him change.

Loo says "Me take picture with you?"

He said "Why?"

And Loo says "Because I love you."

Simple. It's always the obvious and simple things that get me. That remind me to slow down and stop thinking so much.

I had to go to the dentist that day. I had a cleaning and one cavity. Not bad! I love having a dentist in the family- especially one that's so on top of all the new tech. In and out, hardly any pain at all. Plus, his office just happens to be a few blocks from one of my other very favorite fabric stores- Material Girls. Another fat stack of fabric, how I miss fabric shopping! It's such a part of the process for me- it's been so hard not being able to go and match colors and get inspired by all the new prints and collections. Since moving to SF, I've been ordering most of my fabric through sellers on Etsy. So it was WAY fun to be able to go to all my favorite places and renew my love for fabric shopping again!

We also went to Hobby Lobby while we were out there. No Hobby Lobby by me either. Their ribbon is half off every other week- such a great deal!

On Wednesday, I drove to Salt Lake, grabbed a pizza from the Pie, and met Nan and Van at a park. After lunch, we went back to her place so Van could nap, and I sort of helped her make decorations for the graduation party. We were trying to make those yarn balls- the ones that you use balloons and glue dipped yarn. Yea, so we had like 20 balloons and only made 3. We ran out of glue, balloons sprayed with Pam are very slippery and we dripped glue all over their patio.

For dinner that night, I met Danny's dad, sister Chels and Auntie Gayleen and her friend Lisa at Little America. I love the turkey dinner there- but I was still so full from the pie that I had a side salad instead. We had a great time catching up- Gayleen is a riot and always has me almost laughing until I pee. I never get to spent time with Chels- and since we had a few hours I asked her if she wanted to go to the new mall with me.

City Creek is gorgeous, it's everything they promised it would be back when they torn down Crossroads and announced their plans. Before Gateway decided to sneak in and build quickly before the Olympics. Now Gateway is doomed. An outside mall in Utah was always a stupid decision. But City Creek had enough time to perfect the moveable roof. Smart, so smart!

So we move away, and Utah has the mildest winter ever. And then they get an H&M and a Lush. That's just how it goes, right?

On Thursday, I picked up the Loo from her day program.

And granted her a photo op in from of her beloved handicapped parking sign.

We went to Orson Gygi, to find some cupcake wrappers for her birthday cupcakes. She loves going there as much as I do- she loves looking at all the cookie cutters and colorful candies.

Then we were off to Gardener Village- I heard a rumor that the fabric shop Pine needles had Tula Pink's new fabric line, Nightshade.

But I was starving, so we went into a little cafe and I had a sandwich. I peeked into the ice cream case, but knew I would be sorely disappointed from being spoiled by the fantastic Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous. Except that I spied the familiar Swiss Milk Chocolate, so I asked the girl where their ice cream was from. She replied Leatherby's- I worked at Leatherby's in high school, and they have fantastic ice cream. So I ordered a cone of the Strawberry Cheesecake, and it did NOT disappoint! They didn't have that flavor when I worked there, so loooooong ago.

Pine needles did not have Nightshade, (sadface) but they had a million other things that I piled high in my basket. Loo spied the kids corner, sat down in a tiny chair and sorted blocks like it was her job, while I combed through rows of fabric looking for perfect matches. It's funny- Pine needles isn't one of my favorite shops, it's so hit and miss, mostly miss with me. But when it's a hit- it's huge. I had so much luck there I felt like I should go out and buy a lottery ticket.

Loo spotted the goose and insisted that I take a photo. A close up photo. She directed me from afar, saying closer, closer, slower, perfect, now!

Clouds. Big white fluffy clouds. In SF it's either foggy or clear. And if there is clouds in the sky- they are weak and wispy. The sky looks so big here, I guess I've gotten used to the tightly woven hills of SF.

We went home and made cake. Loo wanted cherry cake. I was just going to color it red and call it good- but she picked up a package of cherry jello while we were shopping, so I googled if that was a good idea or not and it came up good. So I thought I'd risk it.

It's SO nice to be able to bake in such an amazing kitchen while I'm there. People don't just miss me, they miss my baking. So I have to bake while I'm there- and I love being able to use my mom's super kitchen. She has 3 weddings coming up, so she was sewing a quilt top while I was baking. And we didn't get in each others way. Oh, how I miss gigantic countertops to make baking messes on!

I was planning on coming out to Utah for Loo's birthday, which is at the end of this month. But since Mike was graduating at the beginning- and I wasn't going to miss that- we decided to have Loo's birthday party early.

Banner found at Orson Gygi.

Pink polka dot cake.

It turned out totally delicious! All I did was add one small package of cherry jello to a package of yellow butter recipe duncan hines cake mix. It was a little sticky in the pan- I wish I had greased and floured it better.

Van approves!

I loved how he just laid on the floor and played with the cars. Such a sweet boy. He has grown up so much since we moved away- but he's still the same gentle, intense, inquisitive boy that he was back then, its just that now he runs and says no quite well.

Mike, Van, Nan, me.

Unrelated, but totally to the core family.

Flying home- the great salt lake to snowcapped mountains to tight city blocks.

Horizon line.

Driving through the tunnel.

And reaching the bridge. 

Danny ended up leaving on tuesday morning, and staying for a week. He drove to the airport, so that I could drive home, and so that we wouldn't get a parking ticket for not moving the car. I missed him so much during this trip- we have gotten so spoiled being each others only close friends out here, spending so much time together. I am so grateful for this time, with just us. It won't last forever- so I try to treasure each day. 

I got so much fantastic fabric- I tried to only buy what the people have been asking for so that no waste will happen, and I will have many happy customers. Oftentimes I just buy the stuff that I love, even if it doesn't fit the project in mind, and them I end up with beautiful fabric sitting and not getting made into anything. So this time I just bought fabric for dolls (dresses and leggings), and sleepover pals. 

Last week, after unpacking and doing an insane amount of laundry (which still hasn't been put away) I made 22 doll dresses and leggings. 22. They sit in a gigantic pile on top of my desk, waiting for me to take photos so I can get selling!

this one's for you, mom

(Family photo, 2000. Me, Loo-loo, Mom, Dad, Maloree, Nick)

Years ago, and I mean years ago, like when I was still vegan and working at Starbucks, my mom had the idea that we should start an internet shop with handmade stuff like baby quilts and jewelry. It was when we first started sewing together, making quilts, and when I mean we, I mean her.

(this is a quilt she made for her BFF Stephanie's daughter, Jessica, for her wedding. Gorgeous!)

(and I made this one for a friends baby- yellow and green because they weren't finding out the gender. Turned out to be a boy. And yes, she hand quilted it for me.)

 I could draw out patterns and figure out the measurements, cut all the fabric into neat little piles of squares. Arrange the rows in order and bring them to her when she was ready. But it was her that sewed them all perfectly together, matching seams. And when it was all finished, she would set it up in the living room, and hand quilt it all alone. I never had the patience, nor the interest to learn to hand quilt. A few baby quilts and a gorgeous full sized one for me, with picos all along the edges (those are teeny tiny interlocking triangles meticulously placed and hand sewn in) before she gave me my very own sewing machine for Christmas in 2004.

(See the picos? I adore this quilt. We found the fabric one day, and died, then bought a ton to make me a quilt. Aren't moms the best??)

 

That's when I really started to sew on my own.

No, that's not quite true. That was the year that I lost my mind, and ended up in rehab for 37 days. I started sewing on my own when I had to move back home, when I lived in her basement, when my parents gave me a very generous second chance. 

(Loo loo the genie, and Maloree the frog. My mom tie-dyed the fabric, then make that entire costume.)

(me the giant M&M, Loo-loo the bee, and Nick the ninja turtle. How lucky we are to have such a talented, patient mom! And P.S- that M was heavy!)

As far back as I can remember, my mom has always had a project or 2 going on in her sewing area. In our first house, it was a table in the corner of the basement with a stained glass lamp hanging over it. She made us Halloween costumes, clothes, doll clothes, whatever was needed. In the house that they currently live in, she would bring it up from the basement and sew on the counter. Now of course she has the fabulous kitchen to sew in, until her sewing room gets finished in the basement.

But she would say, all the time, how we needed to get a booth at the arts festival or something. I was always like "I can't do that! I'm not good enough! Nobody wants to buy that stuff! We wouldn't make any money!" And so on and so forth went my excuses. But she never gave up. Even with my negative attitude, she simply and patiently kept suggesting her ideas. 

It wasn't until 2008, after getting married and moving into a new place that had room for a sewing table that I really, seriously started sewing. I worked at a baby store, and saw all the things that new moms went gaga for, and said to myself, "I could make that." (psst, my mom knew what she was taking about!)

Now, the first few things I tried my hand at were terrible, I mean really awful looking. But you gotta learn somehow. Hand dyed onesies with wool felt appliques and flower hair clips. I have kept them, in the deepest, darkest corner of my sewing room, so I can see just how far I have come.

We'd get new inventory in and I'd snap photos with my phone and show them to my mom- can we figure this out? Lets make this! And that! And every time, she would help me pick fabrics and come up with ideas about how things were made. And never once did she say, "I told you so!" (and she totally could have, BTW.)

She constantly encouraged me to try new things, supported me when I felt like a failure, showed me what to do when I did something wrong, and praised me when I finally got them right. 

I quit my job, because it made me unhappy. I started to sew full time, really developing my skills and honing my talents.

My mom knew- way, way before I ever did that I could be the person I am today. Today I have my own internet business, selling my handmade things. I have had a booth at an event, and have invitations for more. People actually want to buy the things I make! Granted, I don't make any money- I just make enough to keep going. And I could care less- happiness is payment enough!

I have finally arrived at a point in my life where I am so insanely happy doing what I do, that I almost can't believe it. And I have my mom to thank...

We are such a great team, having different strengths and different styles. We can finish each others sentences. You should see us in a fabric store- One of us will pick something up and say "Don't you think this is perfect for the..." and the other know exactly what project we have in mind. And then proceed to pick out the rest of the fabric and the excitement is incredible! We get big ideas and loads of inspiration, the perfect fuel for conquering the task of learning a new pattern, technique, or project.

We love going on day trips to far away* places like Ogden, or Springville, to find fabric and delicious places to eat, as well as antique shops to forage for treasures.

When my mom would call me and say "Wanna go to the fabric store?" it was like Christmas. I miss that so much. 

I don't go to fabric stores here. One- because I already have an insane amount of fabric stashed away, and two- I don't have extra money to buy more fabric. And the fact of the matter is, that going to the fabric store by myself is not any fun, and I can't pick good stuff without my mom. Period. Like I said, we are a great team. 

Can you even imagine the damage we could do here in San Francisco?!?

(squirmy Nick, my mom, and me.)

Mom, I love you. 

I have so much to thank you for. You built me up, so much- that now I am able to live my dream. Remember when I used to sit in the basement making clothes or furniture for my troll house? Or when I would sit on the floor of my room making beads and sculptures out of clay? I wanted to keep creating forever. It gave me such comfort and peace. I never thought it would be possible to continue doing it as an adult- but here I am. You made me, mom. And I will owe you for the rest of my life.

Jessica

*ok, those places aren't that far away- just enough that we like to make a day out of it.