memories on Memorial Day...

Happy Memorial Day!

I was talking with a friend the other day,

and started reminiscing about what I did

on Memorial Day when I was a kid.

I remember getting up early,

putting on something red, white and/or blue,

and getting in the station wagon (ah, the 60s! Lol)

with my parents and siblings,

then going to the Memorial Day parade.

It was so much fun sitting by the curb

on our canvas and metal fold-up camping seats,

waving our little flags,

while the parade passed by!

I don't go to any parades now 

in L.A. on Memorial Day,

but I decorate my home in red, white and blue,

and lots of little flags (just like I had as a kid)...

... honouring not only my childhood memories,
but also those who fought and served,
for the freedom of our country.

So please remember and thank those in the military, not only today, but everyday! Have a Happy Memorial Day, and...

... come along for the ride!

wound and wound in natural yarn...

The third business involved in the trunk show that I visited, Sales International, carries an incredible variety of wool yarns, along with kits and the tools to create wonderful silk or wool scarves.

The two owners are sisters, Gaye and Leslie,

who actually do this as a side business

to their Monday-Friday import/export company

that they took over from their father.

They're located at

17922 Star of India Lane

Carson, California

310.538.5725 or salsintl@pacbell.net

They have yarn with "pom poms" attached to them,

which they call string of pearls, and

yarn with faux fur attached to it,

which feels just like real fur!

Or choose their curly locks yarn,

which has hand-tied pieces of colourful yarn

attached to neutral coloured yarn,

so your scarf will have little bits of

fluffy yarn throughout it!

 You can also get wool yarn

with little hand-felted flowers on it,

which can be slid up or down on the yarn strand,
placing them where you want

when you knit a scarf, mittens, etc.

How about a wool yarn and "flower" kit?
You can make a scarf like this, by
attaching yarn flowers wherever you want.

Or, do as I did,

decide which colour of silk scarf to buy -

hmmm, pink, which I'm suddenly into lately, or

the natural silk scarf and yarn kit -

which I ended up buying, along with 

the two tools needed to attach
the yarns to the scarf -
the needle felting tool

and the needle felting mat.

 Now, to get my creative juices flowing, and

 design an incredible one-of-a-kind scarf

with "flowers" and "vines"

wherever I decide to put them,

as in this scarf that
I was so attracted to at the trunk show!

This is just a sampling of what Sales International has to offer. So, don't be a knit-wit - check out these fantastic wools and kits, then...

... come along for the ride!

a tisket, a tasket, a biscuit, a basket...

The second business featured at the trunk show that I visited is called Karen-Ginger Gifts, Inc., located at 17209 South Figueroa, Suite A, Gardena, California. They carry a variety of gourmet comestibles and gifts, as well as create gift baskets for individuals and corporations.

Need a baby gift?

They have books, decorative burp cloths,

REALLY soft bears, and many other great items to choose

and have wrapped for that new, special little someone! 

Shell-themed goodies,
either to give or keep for yourself!

A relaxing Tea forte gift combo that they've created.

A great selection of Bella Cucina spreads,

including my favourite, yummy pesto!

I love the products from this company, Olivina!

They have incredible Meyer lemon hand lotion,

along with honeysuckle and rose,

and lavender Hand and Body Wash.

Bringing in some exotic food items, Karen-Ginger has

a section called A Taste of Aloha, with Hawaiian items,

such as Li Hing mangoes and cherries, and ginger,  

as well as Hawaiian shave ice sets, with

a variety of bottled flavours to put over the ice -

a great way to cool down on an upcoming hot day!

They have also created their own snack crackers,

called Mochi Krunch and Chocolate Mochi Krunch, which are

Japanese rice crackers, then covered in chocolate, and

their own cookies, Chocolate Mochi Krunch Cookies, where

they mix the Chocoalate Mochi Krunch into cookie dough,

creating a variation on chocolate chip cookies.

My teenage son LOVES them!

Have Karen-Ginger combine a mixture of goodies

into a basket for a fun gift!

Aren't these bowls so perky? Don't they make you

want to get a set, then mix and bake like crazy?

You can also buy a gift that pays it forward!

The proceeds from this bracelet help

to provide food, shelter and education

to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, as well as

provide African women a living wage. 

And a great way to take all of your goodies home -

a fun and colourful Envirosax, in either nylon or linen,

which conveniently rolls up and

fits into your purse for future use!

So enjoy checking out all of the goodies that you can buy for yourself, or to give as gifts, then...

... come along for the ride!

"sew" fun trunk show...

I had a blast going to a trunk show, featuring three local businesses, all of which are owned by women! Located in a warehouse in Gardena, California, the show included a clothing/home decor business, gourmet comestibles and gifts, and a natural wool yarn company.

The clothing and home decor business,

called Jazzmin and Jazzmin Home,

17209 South Figueroa Street, Suite C, Gardena,
is open Monday-Saturday from 9-6.

I love all of the fun and creative displays -

a mannequin in a cardboard apron,

surrounded by cardboard cupcakes!

Large cardboard spools,
made to look like spools of thread.

Clothing displayed on a great old cart.

Scarves on a metal bar, with jars of buttons above.

Handmade jewelry includes necklaces, earrings,

fabric pins and

felted wool pins, displayed on branches.

Isn't this so sweet?

There are also felted wool flowers on pillows,

which are sitting on a wing chair, and

table runners with coordinating napkins,

resting on an antique crate,

all of which were sewn on

an antique Singer sewing machine,

just like the one in this painting!

I'll tell you about the other two businesses in the next few days. So check out this one, and...

... come along for the ride!

  

hide and seek...

I just got back to L.A. after bringing my daughter home from college for the summer. We had spent a few extra days at my dad's home, helping to reorganize and redecorate it, because he's been in Florida while his Michigan home was being remodeled.

I realized when we had the new flat screen televisions

attached to his living room and kitchen walls,

that I prefer to have my tv hidden behind the doors

of a cabinet or armoire, as I have in my home.

I just love being able to close the doors

when I'm finished watching tv. 

To me, it just gives a cleaner,

more unified look to a room.

So where do you like to put your television?

On the wall, above your fireplace, on top of a cabinet,

inside a cabinet or an armoire,

or somewhere else in your home?

Let me know, and...

... come along for the ride!


  

oh happy day for moms...

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm enjoying mine spending it in Michigan with my daughter, packing up to take her back home to California

after finishing her junior year (wow, already!)

at college in Ohio.

It's now finally starting to warm up a bit,

and I'm enjoying nature's designs, since

the trees and flowers are now just beginning to bloom!

But it sure was worth the wait,

and I'm glad that I didn't miss

the beauty of the spring blossoms!

I love this perky forsythia bush,

which I remember so vividly

from our backyard, when I was a kid.

When I get back to California in a few days,

I'll be able to enjoy my fuchsia plant,

which started blooming just before I left.

So, here's to enjoying your own flowers on Mother's Day! Then...


... come along for the ride!


  

my heart goes out to all of the victims from last week's tornadoes...

I started this blog because I love all types of design,
especially interior and environmental design.

Last week, I was heartbroken to hear,
as I'm sure so many people were,
about the hundreds of tornadoes ripping through
six southern states in the US,
flattening homes, churches and commercial buildings,

and totally destroying several towns.

The destruction from the tornadoes has now left thousands

without their homes and all that they had owned.

The winds scattered items - including mementos,

such as irreplaceable photos - miles away.

Pictures and Documents found after the April 27,2011 Tornadoes 

is a site set up on facebook,
so people can be reunited with their photos and mementos
which have been found by others.

Network for Good
is a website listing ten different agencies,
such as The Red Cross,
who are helping the victims who have lost
their homes - and everything - in the tornadoes.
Please help in any way that you can...