Here are some excerpts….

Thanks for looking! Now I’m off to enjoy the fall sunshine

xoxo,

Diana

10 years ago, I was an immigrant to this country. I can’t tell you how hard it was to fit in. I was scared of everything, even the microwave. There were so many things I didn’t understand like why nobody honked their horns in traffic and why strangers smiled at each other so much. Even now, I feel like I haven’t caught up. I still draw a blank face when I hear phrases like “dig yourself out of a hole” or “it’s not over till the fat lady sings”. I still spell check and lookup words in the dictionary when I email and pick my words carefully when I speak. I don’t think I’ll ever completely blend in and if anything, accepting that helps me cope.

So when Akiko sent me an invitation to participate in a fundraising craft fair to fund a fledgling non-profit called Seeds of Opportunity, how could I say no. Seeds of Opportunity aims to help immigrants gain financial footing by encouraging them to use trades and skills learned from their native countries to create art in an interactive space. Such an awesome idea because we all benefit. To raise funds, Seeds of Opportunity will be hosting an auction and mini craft fair at SLATE in NW Portland. While MOSS will not be vending, I am donating this lovely floral hand embroidered necklace to the auction. A lot of traditional Filipino Tagalog gowns feature delicate embroidery and beading, most are still hand done today. This is me sharing something I’ve learned from my homeland, to you.

Please support this amazing cause. We all have a lot to learn from each other

You better get to know it better

I’m taking a quick break from the long line of photos I’m editing for my line sheet and etsy update. Running behind as always. Sigh. So sorry for letting MOSS‘ loyal followers down. I’ve been wrapped up with filling orders that I’ve been neglecting web updates for awhile. I know, it is bad

I can be a little obsessive with taking photos. I’ve been known to take hundreds of product pics and not use a single image from that roll. I’m no professional photographer, mind you. I just like good photos (i.e., photos that are well balanced in composition and are visually rich). Maybe if I take photography lessons, the process wouldn’t be as long or as painful. But alas…. No time and no dough. So I just go by some tips that always work for me. Here are some of them:

- Try positioning your focal point away from dead center on a frame. Place you subjects slightly to the left or right, lower or higher than the middle of the frame.

- Work with natural light. But when you do, make sure you don’t shoot in direct sunlight. The shadows can be really harsh, cutting out detail. Conversely, shooting in the shade will give you a bluish wash that can be hard to correct.

- Neutral backgrounds always work best. I love using bluish gray

- Face subject towards light or light should be 45 degrees in relation to subject.

- Invest in photo editing software. When I worked as a graphic designer, I hated this so much but now it saves me every time. I have a photoshop formula that I might be willing to share for a trade

There it is I hope they serve you well. Here is a pic of the photo I was working on from above.

I should post the raw (unedited) version of this photo too but I don’t have access to it right now because… I’m blogging from my phone! This is like a major technological advancement in MOSS headquarters. I can now blog while cooking, waiting for my daughter’s bus, from the checkout line at the store, etc. WOWZA!

I was lucky enough to inherit an iPhone (3 then 4) from 2 of my very generous pals. I must admit that I love it! Especially the camera. It takes 5.0 megapixel pictures, which is about as good as a point and shoot, and it’s got a built in flash. Now I know that that’s not really much to get excited about, here’s where the app called Camera+ comes in I won’t go too much into details of the app but you can click my link to it (see previous sentence) to see what a powehouse it is. That and the ability to post on social networking sites right away is just plain ol’ awesome!

Here is my month in iPhone pictures (all photos taken with iPhone 4 and edited with Camera+)

My older sister, Chrissie and I love the world market just because of their international snack aisles. This is THE find of the month! Tunnock’s Chocolate Mallow Teacakes!!! They are beautifully round and the marshmallow inside is soft like a smore marshmallow. I loooove them…

I am not a very good cook but I am on a mission to perfect the homemade pie crust. What to do with all those “experimental” pie doughs when there is not enough fruit? Roll it out, spread with good jam, sprinkle sugar and viola!

Mayumi and my granmdma (best baker in the world!) ate it all up so I guess I am not so terrible in the kitchen

Since I am on a food roll… check these out!

My friend Niluka, who is Sri Lankan, made these for us. They are called Appas or Hoppers. They are basically a cross between a crepe and a pancake (made with coconut milk!) and are made using a lightly oiled special pan that gives them that lovely bowl shape. Niluka cracks an egg in the middle of some of them and serves them with chutney. They were so delicious and so beautiful. They look like little edible lace bowls. Thanks, Niluka! You and Surin (other good friend who is an awesome cook) feed me well

This month has also been so much about seeing family and enjoying the outdoors. Chrissie got married last month and we had a lot of family from out of town coming to visit. It was nice getting to show people our beautiful state. Here is Mayumi enjoying the cool river water at Multnomah falls.

I always love it when my 2 sisters are in town

Chrissie, in her bachelorette party finery!

Me and Kathy, enjoying the festivities of said bachelorette party Karaoke night

This month has left us very tired but happy, well fed and content.

Now its time to get ready for fall meaning school for the little one and lots of work for me (ahhh! holidays are coming). Maybe blogging will be easier now that I have a phone to take pictures with.

Alberta Street Fair Poster

I was so very sad to hear that the Alberta Art Hop was to be cancelled for good. But I am glad to be back on Alberta this year, joining the Alberta Street Fair instead Come out and join the fun! There will be over 150 participating vendors, food, music and activities for the kids. MOSS will be located between the 22nd and 23rd blocks. Hope to see your bright, shining faces there

On my last visit to the Knittin Kitten, Ethel was so very kind to give me this panel of antique crocheted lace. Parts of it were well worn and damaged but what was left was too beautiful to throw away. Along with this lovely present, Ethel threw in some ideas on how she thought I might be able to use this in my jewelry. As soon as she threw in those ideas, I had a picture in my head of what they were going to look like.

Awhile back, I purchased a bag of vintage kimono silk scraps from the Button Emporium but have never used them for anything. I am a sucker for seeing different textures in the same color schemes. The photo above shows my lovely scrap pile in red. I knew before I got home that these would be the perfect backdrop to show off the delicate crochet from the panel Ethel gave me.

And…. voila!

I love how these turned out. Crochet is so very dear to my heart and it makes me sad that not a lot of people take it up anymore. I am always glad to find ways to pass it on to other people, either through teaching or getting people interested by showing them how beautiful it really is.

Thank you, Ethel! I’m so happy I was able to save some of this delicate work

Last year, a friend of mine told me about this little craft show going on at the Portland Nursery on Division. I signed up for it and it turned out to be one of the best craft shows I did that summer (I signed up for the winter one as well and it was just as good). So this year, I will be participating again  Super RAD PDX and Portland Nursery will be putting up the show to benefit Snowcap Community Charities, a charity created to provide food, clothing, advocacy and other services to the poor. MOSS will be donating this lovely “Oui” Hand-dyed crocheted lace necklace to the silent auction.

You may also bring in donations of non-perishable food, school supplies & kids clothes to donate. The other amazing thing about this show…. FREE…. beer! Hopworks local brew will be on tap Come out and socialize!

Here is the pertinent info:

July 17th, 2011, Sunday

from 1-7pm

@ Portland Nursery

9000 SE Division St. PDX

For the 2nd year in a row MOSS will be participating in this year’s Mississippi Street Fair This street fair is THE biggest one I’ve attended in Portland. Last year, I was fortunate enough to be right across from Fifty Licks Ice Cream. I hope this year I should be so lucky

Come down and see us! Our booth is located in between Mason and Shaver.

PS. Prices on my sale bin have been further reduced!

It’s so nice to be able to enjoy a stretch of sunny days here in Portland. Puts me in the right mood as I prepare MOSS’ summer collection. I’ve been experimenting with bright colors, nice warm tones and big chunky plastic vintage beads and lots of brass. Seen above is a sampling of MOSS’ summer earrings. There’s a couple that didn’t make the photo but all of my lovelies should be ready early July. Oh and, and, and…….

I’ve started dyeing the dolies!!!!!! And making them into earrings too!!!! If you didn’t catch these little babies from the group shot, here they are in detail. As always, I crocheted these around metal rings and dyed them in small batches. I’ve been using a combination of RIT dyes and iDyes. The process sort of takes me back to my painting years. I am so excited and inspired by the new possibilities in doily designs There are necklaces too of course. Those I will be blogging about soon.

MOSS doesn’t have a lot of events going on this month. I will be in production mode mostly, which means I will be working at home a lot, which means I will have time in between to work on home projects.

This is my domestic diva getup I was preparing to sand the cabinets of my daughter’s bathroom (the duckie curtains have to go too). I was supposed to wear goggles when sanding but I couldn’t see very well with those things so I opted for my reading glasses (meow!). Anyway, this month I have to refinish the bathroom counter and redecorate Mayumi’s room (her birthday request). So lots to do. I get to trade in dainty crocheting needles for power tools. Yay!

MOSS is participating at this year’s Kenton Street Fair! Yay! I will be setting up shop with the lovely Mel of Sweet Bonny. We will be located in between Kilpatrick and McClellan. I’m putting up a sale table too! So come and see us Aside from all the wonderful shopping and yummy food, there will be an excellent line-up of musicians playing all day, a coaster car exhibition, games and all sorts of fun for the entire family!