Shibori Workshop

Look what I made!
I took a Shibori workshop hosted by French Generals Fabric shop. I'm not really all that great when it comes to fabric related things, but I've always wanted to learn more. I've always been quite fond of Indigo color and Shibori just looks so nice. Shibori is a Japanese tie-dye technique using natural dye extracted from plants.  I think it's usually dark blue extracted from Indigo plants, but I've seen variety of other natural colors as well. I also love that it's non-toxic. Despite it being one of those rare rainy days in LA, it was such a wonderful day.

I'm going to put down the process as a reminder to myself in the future.

Material:
Fabrics (natural fiber for dying)
Latex gloves (to keep your hand from getting wet/dye)
Binding materials (Rubberbands, cotton strings, wooden pieces, pingpong balls, corks, etc)
Clamps or clothes pins
1 bucket of water (for presoak)
1 bucket of water (for dye)
Indigo Dye kit (Pre reduced Indigo Dye & Reducing agent )
A wooden stir stick.
Drying Rack (that will be okay if it is stained)
Vinegar
Water

Preperation for the Dye Vat:
a) Add dye and reducing agent.
b) Use the stirring stick and stir clockwise vigorously forming a vortex in the center of the bucket until a mass of bubbles forms there. (maybe 5 min)
c) When you see a mass of bubbles, slowly drag the stick the opposite way along the edge of the bucket making sure not to disturb the bubbles (bloom) at the center
e) Leave the mixture for an hour or overnight.
f) Once the vat is set, remove the bloom in the center with a strainer and it is ready.

Process:
1 - Choose a technique (Kumo, Itajime, Nui), and do it to the fabric you intend to dye.
2 - Soak the materials in the bucket of water for a few minutes. Wring out excess water.
3 - Dip fabric into indigo dye vat and leave it for 3 - 5 minutes (depending on fabric thickness)
4 - Slowly take material out and squeeze the dye back into the bucket.
5 - Put on drying rack and it will look green but will gradually turn blue as it is exposed to oxygen.
6 - Once the fabric is blue, repeat the process (3 -5 times. The more times, the deeper the blue)
7 - When happy with color, Rinse the fabric in water (use the presoak vat again and rinse until the water is clear.
8 - Let the material dry completely.
9 - Set colors by soaking in a mixture of 80% vinegar and 20 % water (overnight)
10 - Wash with blue jeans / dark clothes in a washing machine for final wash. Done!

Dye Kits:
http://www.frenchgeneral.com/products/indigo-dye-kit
http://www.amazon.com/Indigo-Kit-Natural-Clothing-Method/dp/B002E32N4W
http://www.noonbyjanepalmer.com/collections/noonindigo/products/natural-indigo-dye-kit?variant=1265320056
https://botanicalcolors.com/shop/kits/indigo-shibori-kit/

This is interesting info on indigo dyes :)
http://www.maiwa.com/pdf/organic_vat_data.pdf


We also got to learn Sashiko Stitching which was really fun too!
The teacher made this amazing quilt with Sashiko stitching

LA Trip 2015: Fruit Picking Day

Fruit picking day :o

LA Trip 2015: Disneyland with Reef

It's the 60th anniversary at Disneyland! 

At the entrance.

We're going to Disneyland!

Last time I went to Disneyland with my Nephew he could barely walk. He was actually scared of the giant characters, but this year is totally different. He was also just tall enough to go on many rides. First stop was the Jedi Academy because he's very into Star Wars at the moment. On the way, we ran into a Storm Trooper! Am I at Comic Con or Disneyland? :p

I have no idea what Mr. Stormtrooper is showing my Nephew.

 On to the Jedi Academy. Reef was the youngest one there. It's so funny because at home he's always using "the force on me" as he holds out his hand and tilt his head, but he was so confused during the whole Jedi Training thing lol. Darth Vader was also Gigantic! He was like "omg, do I have to fight that giant????"

Then we wandered around. My sister took him on Thunder Mountain ride. Okay... I'm not really into being thrown around and that crazy speeding up and down thing. My poor Nephew. It was his first Roller Coaster and throughout the whole ride, he just kept saying "Mommy Mommy, I don't like this at all. I want it to not go fast" with this frowny sad face. Poor kid. We really needed some Corndog after that. Then, he got all stingy with his corn dog because it's so good!  We were actually all pretty possessive of our corn dogs lol. This is totally my sister's mistake for thinking that she could share with her son haha.

I didn't take as many pictures as last time, but the highlight of the trip is probably the Pirate's Island. After all these years even with Annual pass before, I've never been to the Pirate's Island. I was really pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. It's like a giant cave maze with lots of little surprises here and there. My Nephew just didn't want to leave that place. He was exploring dragging us all over the place.

By the time we got to the restaurant, he fell asleep. My sister booked the Blue Bayou inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. They had this really awesome light up ice cube thing that Reef totally loved. The people was so nice and even brought out a Chocolate Mickey birthday cake for him, but since he was asleep, my sister decided to attack and we all joined :p.

Birthday cake

After that he went on Splash Mountain which he liked! And we went to Mickey's house and walked around some more. I spotted the new Popcorn bucket that's the shape of Cinderella's carriage. Whoaa. 

Toon Town

The new Popcorn Bucket is Cinderella's carriage.

Trying on hats and ears.

Dinner was at Carthay Circle in California Adventure. She mainly reserved this restaurant so we can get special seating are for the World of Colors, but ended up leaving that to see the 60th anniversary light parade. Reef fell asleep again and we had to wake him up so he could see parade.

 And the moment we got to the hotel... the poor boy was so tired. He had such a wonderful day though.

 Rise and shine, we were at the Characters Breakfast with Mickey. I've never been to one of these before and thought it's silly to pay a lot to eat with people in costume, but after the experience, I am so glad that we went. I think the characters were really wonderful and put a lot of effort into interacting with everyone. Stitch came up and surprise my sister and her son. He took Reef's light up cube and Reef was following him around trying to get it back. The food is Buffet style, but they were all really good and the details of having Mickey pancakes and Mickey Waffles really adds to the magic. It's more expensive to eat at a character's breakfast but if you have a kid, I think it's totally worth it. It's a little price to pay for the extra wonderful memories that you will share.

Reef makes this face and Ray makes this face.

High Five Pluto :)

 

LA Trip 2015: Part 7 Desserts and More!

Cool Haus
Culver City's Cool Haus Icecream sandwiches are so delicious. It's much better than the stuff they sell in Whole Food's freezers. The fresh ones have soft ice cream and the ice cream is just perfect.

It seems like Camron Diaz approved. The flavors are so unique!

Delicousness

My nephew was so satisfied, he did the happy food dance.

Sprinkles Cupcakes
My sister and I went to get our eyebrows done at Anastasia in Beverly Hills, so we stopped by Sprinkles Cupcakes. Look at the Cupcake ATM machine! :)

Kreation Juice
There is a juice bar next to it. LA people really love their green juices :o

And there is a nail salon by there that's really over the top lol. Only in LA maybe? :p Look at those seats and chandeliers!

Lette
My favorite Macarons are from Lette in Little Tokyo. I like them better than Laduree because it's not as sweet. The best flavors are Earl Gray, Pistachio, and Caramel. For something sour, passion fruit is also good.

Cold Rush
This place was a bit disappointing. I really love hawaiian shaved ice that are super soft and fluffy. Cold Rush emphasized that their stuff are made with very high quality ingredients. Even the ice was made from water that went through reverse osmosis process. Unfortunately, I don't think it was as fluffy as the regular hawaiian shaved ice from places like Brian's Shaved ice in Sawtelle or Get Shaved in the Valley. The Yuzu flavored one was really bitter. The green tea was decent, but the ice-cream is really good though.

LA Trip 2015: Part 6 Italian food and other places.

My uncle took us to Angelini which is considered one of the top two Italian restaurant in LA. The owner was there too! The food was amazing. They are famous for their Lasagna and I have to agree that it's the best Lasagna that I've ever had. The desserts were also delicious.

Happy faces from tasty food.

Lasagna

Pasta with Clams

Steak

Desserts

Cheesecake Factory
My mom and I went to the mall and also stopped by to eat at cheesecake factory. It's very nostalgic and the food is always delicious and filling. Their new Salmon Salad with Kale is super good.

Other Places:
We saw a flea market that used to be there when we were younger, but has not been there in a very long time. I guess they decided to open up a flea market there again. My sister and I decided to stop by to check it out. We didn't buy anything, but we really enjoyed looking at all the stuff.

 and we also stopped by the Grove and the Americana. They are beautiful outdoor shopping mall with amazing fountains :o.

Dancing water fountain at the Grove.