Take 5: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse

Happy Lunar New Year!!! Gung Hay Fat Chow!

This year marks the year of the Horse on the zodiac calendar.

General characteristics of those born this year are energetic, bright, warm-hearted, kind to others. They like to talk, are entertaining, enjoy large crowds. They never give up and strive to make themselves better. They are independent thinkers and carve their own paths in life.

Our family celebrates the new year with a hearty gathering: an exchange of red envelopes, a traditional 8 course meal and just a basic good time. Our Mom preps all day and all night! Sometimes for weeks. Trust me, she wouldn't have it any other way. Each dish is symbolic. Every family has their stand-bys.

Ours include:
1. Chicken: Health and Family Togetherness (served whole)
2. Noodles: Long Life (served uncut)
3. Eggs: Fertility (our fam likes century eggs)
4. Fish: Prosperity / Abundance (another item served whole!)
5. Seeds: Wealth (this is served in a soup, along with water chestnut: symbolizing unity / wood ear: longevity / black moss: wealth)
6. Shrimp: Liveliness
7. Lettuce: Prosperity (we eat this with a filling for a lettuce roll. the filling also has oysters : good fortune and good luck
8. Sweet Cake: the sweetness to symbolize a rich, sweet life; while the rise of the cake is for "rising" prosperity for the new year. Served in a round shape to symbolize a cohesive family. It's a good way to "sweeten" the New Year.

Just listing these items leaves my mouth watering!

Wanna give some a try for dinner tonight? Here are some suggestions:

1. Chinese Lettuce Cups by Mary Kate Tate & Nate Tate

2. Soy Sauce Chicken by Rasa Malaysia

3. Chinese Marbled Tea Eggs by Steamy Kitchen

4. Shrimp Fried Rice by Wantanmien
      bonus: She has her own YouTube channel! She demos every recipe and has English subtitles!

5. Chow Mien Noodles by Rasa Malaysia

No matter which items you decided to include in your celebrations, have a Happy and Prosperous 2014!

xo halloJAK

Field Trip Friday: CHA Mega Show 2014

A couple weeks ago, Sis and I got to go to CHA Mega Show 2014, in Anaheim Ca.

I gotta say, It was a TON of fun! All craft genres were represented: beading, jewelry making, paper, printing (both 2-d and 3-d), stamping, needleworks, yarn crafts. Basically, you name it, they had a booth for it.

There was a lot of emphasis on mixed media: companies really trying to appeal to alternative or unconventional uses to their products. There were a lot of Make and Takes. Fantastic opportunity for all in the crafting world to see what is new and emerging.

It was a whirlwind; but here are some highlights.

1. The Lion Brand booth recreated the 7 Wonders of the World, with yarn!

The 7 Wonders of the Yarn World

Great Wall of China

done in crochet granny squares and hexagons

 

Easter Island
love the knitted cable sweaters

 

 

Stonehenge

check out the texture and color detail for the moss

 

  

Taj Mahal

 lots of texture and embellishments

 

 

Mayan Ruins

colorful stripes and chevron

 

 

Leaning Tower of Pisa

great detail in the open lace work 

 

 

Sphinx

check out the detailed hieroglyphics covering the stand

2. Arm Knitting Demo and Knit-Along with Vicki Howell

I've seen this done before but was hooked once I tried it myself

 

 

3. Pretty Displays with lots of Yarn, Paper and Lace
Squeal!!!

We have more photos! Hop over to our Pinterest page and have a look.

xoxo halloJAK

 

Take 5: Printable Calendars for 2014

Let's just start by saying that I'm a bit OCD with calendars and lists. I have them everywhere, which can be a good and bad thing. A bit of an organized chaos.

January is best time to get organized and start to year off on the right foot.

Everyone's taste is different and with that in mind, here are some free printable 2014 monthly, daily and weekly calendars from around the web.

YEAR AT A GLANCE

via I Should Be Mopping The Floor

 

I can't get over how cute and funny the blog name is.

 

 

via Love vs Design

 

For those who can't decide, you have 10, that's right 10 designs to choose from.

Now, which one? 



MONTHLY

 

via The Creative Exchange

 

These are perfect for your desk. I really like that every 2 months fit an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.

Compact and Pretty!

 

 

via Oh The Lovely Things

 

Another calendar fit for the desk.

Fun, Festive and Modern!

 

 

 

via My Owl Barn

 

For you owl lovers, you get to choose from 50 different artisans!!!

It customizable for every month.

If you can't decide, there is a pre-made version.

 

WEEKLY / MONTHLY Write Ins

via Kate and Trudy

 

Clean, Color Coded, with space to write notes.

Easy!

 



via Elli

 

Confetti and Calligraphy all around!

 

 

via Nina Design Studio

 

This one is perpetual; you just need to write in the dates to coordinate with the days of the week.

 

Sweet!

 



PLANNER

via the handmade home

 

For those of you going all out, this one is all inclusive.

EVERYTHING is in here.

Hewww. That was exhausting! But well worth it!

Hope this gets you motivated and organized!

Have a great weekend everyone!


PS. If all this isn't enough and you want more options, check out our Pinterest page!
Follow us to get more updates and links.

xoxo halloJAK

Ringing in 2014!

via

How is it that 2013 is over and 2014 is here? This year went by so quickly!

Wishing all a Happy, Safe & Prosperous New Year!

 

xoxo halloJAK

It's beginning to look like Christmas!

via

December has been a whirlwind and it's not over yet. One more week till Christmas!!!
As I type, I have more boot cuffs and scarves to crochet.

We have one last holiday show this weekend @ the Downtown Flea in downtown LA. If you haven't been downtown in awhile, it's the perfect time to go. With so many new eateries opening up, you can have brunch and shop for the holidays. Perfect!

xoxo hallo jak

Holiday Shopping and Patchwork Santa Ana

 

With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas just around the corner, I really have to get started on my
shopping list, while still doing our shows!

Enter Patchwork Santa Ana.




It's a great show with lots of vendors and good food. Our booth this year is on 3rd Street.

Hope to see you there!

xoxo
hallo jak
jen and kris
 

Black Friday Sale!!!

In the spirit of saving on Black Friday, we're offering 25% off everything @ our Etsy Shop!

coupon code: BLKFRI25

Get it while you can! Code only good for Friday, Nov 29th.

xoxo

hallojak

jen and kris



Giving Thanks!



Earlier this week, sis and I were walking around in the Bay Area after Patchwork Oakland. We were surprised with the number of people out and about. Even @ 10am! Didn't people have to work?! Let's not even get started on the traffic! Although, we have to admit that flip flop weather in November is Awesome!

The holidays just crept up on us! We've been so involved in getting ready for all the holiday shows that we lost track!

Well, before it gets REALLY CRAZY, we just wanted to take a minute to reflect and give thanks.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 

xoxo
hallo jak
jen and kris

Hello October!

Happy October everyone! Although it's 80 degrees today in Southern California, the pumpkin patches are officially open. We love all things pumpkin: pumpkin carving, pumpkin eating, even pumpkin pasta making! But 1st, we have to go pick out our pumpkin. So, how are you going to decorate your pumpkin this year? We're still thinking about ours. Hmmm.... Ideas?

BTW, for those of you in the Southern California area this weekend, we'll be vending @ the 1st ever Patchwork Show Edible Edition in SOCO located off the 405 in Costa Mesa.

It's going to be a spectacular event! The events calendar looks so (fabulously) crazy! Bread, Cheese, Meats, Kimchi, Cottage Law and so much more.

Nicole and Delilah have done a fabulous job lining up presenters, speakers and DIY activities to cater to everyone! Hope to see you there!

xo hallo jak

Take 5: Homemade Ice Cream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

via

September and Labor Day are just around the corner! It been so mild in July and Aug that I'm kinda scared of what Sept will bring.

 

To prepare, I'm stocking up on some HOMEMADE ice cream. Nothing cools me down faster! Except maybe a dunk in the pool.

 

I love ice cream and it's fun making your own. I start off with an ice cream base from Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. If you haven't tasted her flavors, you are missing out! Her secret ingredient.... Cream Cheese! Her base has no eggs so no worrying about cooking it and ending up with lumps. Also perfect for vegetarians.

 

Here are the links for some variations.

 

1. Kona Stout Ice Cream

 

2. Blackstrap Praline Ice Cream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Salty Caramel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Coffee Ice Cream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Backyard Mint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you give the recipes a try!

 

xo hallo jak

Take 5: Car Trip Crafts

With summer quickly coming to an end, sis and I are trying to get in the last of our road trips for the season.

The dessert is our next destination. Since we're gonna be on the road for 5 hours (each way), I've been collecting ideas (via Pinterest, of course!) on how to keep my hands busy with something creative and pretty.

Top 5 (so far) are:

1. Crochet Bunting
     no tutorial on this one, but it looks like a series of increasing dc's.

2. Spool Strip Tease Embroidery by maximumrabbitdesign
     the name makes me giggle!

3. Hexagon Embroidery by ladyface
     really liking the clean lines and use of color.

4. Fox Embroidery on goodsmiths
     all over the place right now!

5. Granny Squares by Sarah London

     So convenient since they can be made individually and then put together later.

     Perfect for blankets, afghans, edging on table cloths, pillows, stool covers, etc



 

FieldTrip Friday: Poketo and LA Food Swap

How did we get to August already?!

 

A couple months ago (like in June!) , we got the opportunity to participate in LA Food Swap held @ Poketo.

Fun times! A great venue and a great event @ the same time! Sign me up!!!

 

First, the venue. Poketo is just plain fun! Their flagship store in the bustling fringes of Japantown in LA is stocked with highly curated, beautiful, handmade, practical pieces. They really support local artisans and their crafts. You will definitely find something here that you can't live without. If your more of a DIY-er, they have a diverse list of classes.

 

Now, for the Food Swap. The main concept of the food swap is to SHARE and build a sense of community. Just one main rule: you have to have made, foraged, or grown the items that you are trading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our grown item of choice: Kumquats. Out trees were bursting @ the seams and we can only eat, candy, and bake so much. We'll share!!

 

There were lots of items to choose from and trade for: honey, fresh eggs, veggies, jams, jellies, kombucha, chili oil, granola, breads, cookies.

 

The swap is approx. 2 hrs and broken down to a couple of parts: setup, tasting, deciding which items you want to swap for, making offers (this is when it becomes a little frenzied since everyone is running around trying to get what they want and hoping that their trade will be accepted), packing up and clean up. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't he a cutie!

 

 

Here's the basket of all our goodies! It was happy eating for weeks!

 



There are food swaps going on all around! It's a great way to share what you have and try something new!

 

Have a great weekend!

 

xo hallo jak