Winter Solstice

 Tomorrow is winter solstice and Korean people make patjuk. I went to the temple for 49day ritual for my father-in-law and the temple was busier with people who were making patjuk.

Patjuk(red bean porridge) is believed to drive evil spirits away. The color red has very positive energy which can defeat negative energy. 

내일은 일년중 밤의 길이가 가장 길다는 동지.

시아버님 49재를 지내러 절에 갔더니 동지를 준비하느라고 바쁜 모습을 볼 수 있었다.

팥죽을 쑤기 위해 새알심을 만들고 팥을 삶아 팥물을 만들고 쌀도 불려놓고. 잊고 있었던 우리네 명절과 풍습을 보니 마음이 남다르다.

팥죽의 붉은색은 액운을 물리치는 효과가 있다고 믿어지고 사람들은 팥죽을 쑤어 집안 곳곳에 뿌린다.

I stopped at the grocery market on the way home to get red beans. I never made patjuk by myself but gave it a shot. Fastest and easiest way to find a recipe is searching  cooking blogs. And here it is!

집에 오는 길에 시장에 들러 팥 한봉지를 샀다. 어머니에게 얻어 먹어본 기억밖에 없지만 요리 블로그를 찾아 한번 시도해봤다. 짜잔~!

오랫동안 잊고 지냈던 어린시절 추억과 우리전통을 한번 느껴본다.

Hello from Korea

It has been almost a month that I am in here, Korea.

My family is trying hard to cope but my mother-in-law still is having a very difficult time.

I am staying with her to help her out until she gets better.

Last week I went to Gwangjang sijang in Seoul. This is the biggest market place for Korean traditional fabrics. 

I bought a few bolts of moshi( Korean ramie) and sevral yards of myungju(fine Korean silk).

한국에 온지도 벌써 한달이 다되어가나보다.

온가족 모두 이 힘든시간을 이겨나가려고 애쓰고 있지만 시어머니는 아직도 많이 힘들어 하고 계셔서 시댁에 좀 더 머무르며 도와드리고 있다.

지난주엔 광장시장에 가서 모시와 명주를 구해왔다.

I have limited supplies of sewing but that doesn't discouraged me from making a new piece.

There are seven companion of women in old story in Korea.

 Needle, ruler, scissors, flat iron, iron, thread and thimble.

바느질 도구가 다 갖춰진 건 아니지만 그렇다고 시작 못할 이유는 없지!

뿔칼대신 내 긴 손톱을 쓰고 구구단이 인쇄된 작은 책받침은 커팅매트로 

I got my eighth companion for my sewing!

Why I didn't get this companion earlier?

게다가 새로 생긴 나의 여덟번째 규중팔우!

돋보기가 바느질을 이렇게 쉽고 편하게 해 주는데 왜 진작 쓰질 않았을까?

 

Leaving for a while

I lost my father-in-law today.
Will leave for Korea to take care of my family so please visit again later.


Youngmin

Missing Lucy already

Last two weeks were very busy but happy moments.

My friend Lucy came to visit from Mexico city again and we had so much fun together.

지난 2주는 매우 바빴지만 행복으로 가득한 시간들이었다.

멕시코시티에 사는 루시가 방문을 해서 즐거운 시간을 함께 했다.

She brought me this colorful tote that I can use for shopping. I think it's too pretty to use but well, I will think of her more if I use it everyday!

알록달록한 이 가방을 장볼때 쓰라고 선물로 가져왔는데 너무 예뻐 쓰기가 아깝지 않을까 싶기도 하고 한편으론 맨날  쓰면 루시 생각을 많이 하겠구나 싶기도 하다! 

맨 위사진은 루시가 선물한 보자기 장식! 이제 감침질엔 전문가가 된듯 하다.

She also brought me this sweet hanging bojagi! I think she mastered the technique, gamchimjil.

We took a trip to the Asian Art Museum, shopping at JoAnn's store, eat sushi and sashimi until we explode. The second day, we went to Japan town in SF and enjoy shopping, reading books at Kinokuniya and  eating tempura with Japanese ale ! Fun time wasn't over until we across the Bay and stop by at Stone mountain and daughters fabric store in Berkeley! Lucy and I agree with the fact that we can enjoy so many things together and we even don't need to ask " How do you like it?"

샌프란시스코의 아시안아트 뮤지엄엘 함께 갔고 조앤에서 천구경도 했고,  배가 불러 숨도 못 쉴 정도로 초밥과 회를 먹었다.

둘째날엔 예정에도 없던 재팬타운 나들이. 둘이서 옷도 한벌씩 사입고 서점가서 패턴책도 사고(루시도 나처럼 전직 디자이너다!) 맥주와 튀김을 시켜 먹고!

베이를 건너 버클리로 가서 Stone mountain and daughters fabric store서 옷감을 만지며 행복해 하면서 둘이 가진 많은 공통점과 관심사를 나누며 하루를 보냈다.

And the third day, we got together and sew, talk, eat, sew until we drop, ha ha!

Lucy brought her almost finished mujigae bojagi and I taught her how to finish with boarder.

While she was working on that I was able to learn how to start Hawaiian quilt which I always wanted to make one but never had a chance to learn.

We went out for lunch at Blue Agave in downtown Pleasanton. The food was very authentic Mexican( approved by Lucy!) and found that the person who served us came from same city as Lucy. Small world after all!!!

셋째날엔 바느질, 대화, 음식, 지칠때까지 바느질!

루시는 무지개보를 가져와서 선을 대고 마무리하는 동안 난 늘 꿈만 꾸던 하와이안 퀼트 기법을 배울 수 있었다!

점심을 먹으러 다운타운 플레즌튼에 있는 Blue Agave에 갔다.

루시가 인정하는 정통 멕시칸 식당! 우리를 서브해준 사람이 루시와 같은 도시 출신이었다. 덕분에 대접을 잘 받고 ㅎㅎㅎ 

Now she is in Houston, attending the quilt festival which she won the prize with her quilt.

 I am missing her and dreaming about to visit her next time! 

이제 루시는 휴스턴으로 날아가 퀼트페스티발을 즐기고 있다.
루시의 작은 인형침대를 덮은 퀼트가 일등상을 받았단다!
비오는 오후에 난 루시가 남기고 간 작은 책모양 바늘꽂이를 만지작거리며 루시를 만나러 갈 여행을 꿈꾼다!

Sweet Lucy left this for me!

Check out her tutorial posting at her blog.

http://lucyhernandez.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html

Fashion statement

 Just finished 3 scarves for my clients.

One was making the old bojagi scarf (I made years ago) little bigger.

Two other are for friends who liked that scarf when my client wore it.

Guess who?

Lucy is coming to visit the Bay Area again!
She live in Mexico city and very talented quilter/teacher.
Her quilt was chosen for International quilt festival in Houston in November 2011.
This is her blog page.
http://lucyhernandez.blogspot.com/
She actually is in the area and I am going to meet her tomorrow.
We are planning to visit Asian Art Museum in SF.
http://www.asianart.org/currentandfutureexhibitions.htm
I want to see Poetry in Clay exhibit with my special friend!

Korean Culinary Camp in SF

I went to the Korean Culinary Camp in SF the other day.

Bunch of friend were invited to this fancy fusion Korean food tasting event and we all had a wonderful time.

샌프란시스코의 멋진 요트클럽에서 열린 한국요리를 알리는 행사에 참가할 기회가 있었다.

친구들 몇명과 함께 차려 입고 설레는 마음으로 집을 나섰다.

 

The head chef who trained at CIA came from Korea with her culinary team and made 8 course meal and it was wonderful to see the fancy setting and eating delicious dishes.

CIA에서 수련한 주방장이 이끄는 조리팀이 한국에서 날아와 멋진 8코스 요리를 선보였다.

First course, soy balsamic dressing eggplant and tomato bruschetta. 

첫번째 코스는, 간장 발사믹드레싱을 얹은 가지와 토마토 브루스케타.

Fresh ramen with sauteed vegetables
볶은 야채를 얹은 생라면

Mero marinated with doenjang sauce

This was my favorite!
제일 맛낫던 된장소스에 재워 구운 메로구이!
김치롤과 훈제두부가 곁들여 나왔다.

Kalbi jjim and pan fried shrimp
My friend Kid was very interested in this dish!
갈비찜과 새우요리
내 친구 키드가 젤 관심있게 먹은 요리

Bibimbap
비빔밥

Hotteok and tofu flan
후식으로 나온 호떡과 두부 플랜

Nice goodie bag!
행사후 나눠준 고추장, 쌈장 그리고 불고기 양념이 든 구디백!

Thanks to consulate general of the republic of Korea in San Francisco!
샌프란시스코 총영사관 덕분에 즐거운 하루를 보냈다.
감사합니다!

Would you set the table please?

Abundance of colors

I was busy playing with colors this week, again.
The museum of folk art and craft in San Francisco wanted to have some of my works at the museum shop so I tried to bring up many different ideas using bojagi technique.
These are some of the products I dropped off this afternoon.
Many different sizes of pin cushions-  some are cupcake shape and some are as tiny as mochi.
또 바쁜 한주가 후딱 지나가버렸다.
샌프란시스코의 포크아트와 크래프트 뮤지엄 스토어에  보자기관련 물건들을 선보이느라 콩튀듯 팥튀듯하며 바느질과 씨름을 하기를 몇 주나 했나보다.
이번엔 다른 크기와 종류의 바늘방석을 만들어 보았다-꽃모양, 컵케잌 모양 그리고 모찌 같이 앙증맞은 것까지.

 I thought I can show them and let Amelia choose what she wants to carry at the store but she grabbed all of them! And told me that some of them will go home with her :)
뮤지엄 스토어의 아멜리아가 고를 수 있게 여러가지를 가져갔는데 그만 다 두고 가라고 해서 빈가방만 들고 집으로! 그중 몇개는 자기집으로 갈거라고 찜하는 걸 보고 웃으면서 나왔다. 

 This is the treat that I came back with! Beard Papa's cream puff!! La Dolce Vita!!!
바트타러 가는 길에 들러 사온 크림퍼프! 인생은 달콤한 것!!

Wedding wishes

  She is moving to Korea to get married. The bride groom is her elementary school sweet heart.
 She wanted to get a Bojagi bow tie for her dad and a gift wrap bojagi for her parents in law.

The bow tie was made with her choice of colors and I made it as a ready made bow tie.

 

The gift wrap bojagi were made with red and blue colors which symbolized yin and yang. 

  

As I was making these two projects, I was hoping my good wishes and prayer for the couple's happy life were sewn together with silk pieces....

After the busy weekend

It was a wonderful weekend!
Last Saturday was the Korean Culture Day at Asian Art Museum in SF.
Left home at 9 am and back home at 11pm but hardly felt that I was tired.
There were wonderful artworks, great artists and many fun activities during the day.
And I really enjoyed the fancy dinner with wonderful live music at night.
Here is an article about the day.

http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110919000943

Korean Culture Day

Mark your calendar!

Korea Foundation Korean Culture Day

Saturday, September 17

11 am-4:00 pm

Enjoy FREE museum admission with the whole family celebrating the Korean moon festival of Chuseok. As a celebration of the good harvest on the autumn full moon day, people visit their hometowns and share a feast of traditional food with family and friends. This all-day family fun day offers docent tours, storytelling, food tasting, music and art. Korean music artist Kang Eun-il & Haegum Plus performs their “New music" for the first time in the Bay Area. Watch artists Shin Meekyung and Lee Kang Hyo demonstrate new and traditional forms of art making and create your own artworks to take home.

Wonderful way to spend a day

I went to SF the other day to see this exhibit.

Wrapping Traditions: Korean Textiles Now

http://www.mocfa.org/exhibitions/index.htm 

The museum of Craft and Folk Art is in downtown SF and it is a cute place to spend a day with good friends. Last time, I went there with Ann, who always love things Korean. This time I went with Minjee, who is Korean costume historian. Both times we spent quite long time at the museum.

As if I'm a kid who is doing scavenger hunt, checking every single techniques, stitches, patterns and artists' statements!

When I was buying a book, the girl who helped me was inviting us to the hands on workshop on Saturday, September 10th.

' Create your own Bojagi with remnants of fabric' !

How can I miss this fun activity?

Actually Minjee told the girl at the front desk that I am a local Bojagi artist :)

The girl was thrilled to hear that and asked me to come and help the activity.

Instantly, I promised her to come and help out the bojagi making.

Now I am so excited and looking forward to it! 

After we left the museum, we went to the San Francisco center for lunch and had Tom Yum noodle and Pad Thai. Yum!
On the way back we spotted the famous cream puff place, Beard Papa and of course we got a box of treat. 
What a wonderful way to spend a day and feeling city vibes! 
Life is good.

Mujigae bo, finally done!

When did I started this mujigae bo( rainbow bojagi)?
  It just took me quite long time to finish.

It has a simple design and technique but somehow didn't show much progress.

가끔 어떤 프로젝트는 한참을 가도 진전이 없는 경우가 있다.

 멕시코 시티의 루시와 함께 시작한 이 무지개보는 무슨 이유에서인지 다른 일에 밀려 늘 뒷전에 있다가 이제야 겨우 마무리를 했다.

 From September, I started to log my sewing time details about the project.

I think this helps me to plan, organize and utilize my time.

My next goal, plan the projects with finish time!

Let's see how I can manage my creativity in a productive way.

9월이 시작되면서 바느질시간과 내용을 짧게나마 기록하기 시작했더니 계획하고 정리하고 활용하는 습관들이기에 조금은 도움이 되는 듯도 하다.

크리에이티비티를 관리해서 생산성을 높인다? 한번 시도하고 지켜볼일!

Multi tasking

I went to the library the other day to check out some books and found that I have $6.60 fine for almost 2 years. 

I had no idea that I did late return. Shame on me!

Lucky me that they didn't add interests as banks or credit card companies do.

After clear my record, I checked out a audio book, 28 CDs for just one book!

I started to listen to these CDs while I sew. 

Voila! Eureka!

I was able to work hours without distracting!

Usually I have so many things to think and some of my thoughts just kept me from keep working on one thing but since I listened to the story that I like, I hardly thing of anything else!

I am on CD 15 of total 28 now and I know what to listen next time.

I can finish 6 books that I was reading last 5 years in much shorter time.

And I can finish my on going projects sooner!

I finally would say that I am a multitasking person!!!

Need to wrap a gift?

Here's a new gift wrap bojagi!

Simple yet decorative way to wrap your gift.
선물을 싸기에 적합한 보자기!
간결하지만 장식 부분이 돋보이는 선물보.

 I used Jat Ssi(pine nut seed) as a part of the decoration.

 And finished with Sang Chim stitches (decorative stitches).
잣씨장식을 사용하고 상침질로 마무리

Tour D'Organics

Last Sunday, we left home at 5:30 am for our fun family bonding time.

After 2 hours of driving, we arrived in Sebastopol at 7:30 and unloaded our bikes.

지난 일요일 평소 같으면 꿈을 꾸고있을 시간인 5:30에 집을 나섰다.

2시간을 달려 7:30에 세바스토플에 도착, 자전거를 모두 내렸다.

자~ 이제 가족 화합의 시간!

We signed up for organized bike event called Tour D'Organics.

Unlike other organized rides, this one offers organic fruits and vegetables as rest stop snacks.

Rest stops were actually local farms and gardens.

I loved dried figs and Asian pear juice.

We missed one stop which has lots of peaches and apples....

Tour D'Organics라는 색다른 이름의 자전거 이벤트에 참가하러 온 것이다.

중간중간 쉬는 곳에  유기농 과일과 야채를 간식으로 먹을 수있게 해놓은 점이 특징이었다.

쉬는 곳도 유기농 농장이었고 그중 말린 무화과와 배로만든 쥬스가 정말 맛났다!

한 곳 놓친곳이 각종 복숭아와 사과농장이어서 조금 서운....

 The route was well planed to ride along the vineyards, back roads and beautiful hills.

코스는 포도밭 사이사이를 지나는 정말 아름다운 언덕들.

Great way to enjoy California's wonderful weather and family bonding time!

Post ride meal was wonderfully prepared vegan meal.

I was happy but hubby and baby were missing some meat :)

캘리포니아의 날씨와 자연을 즐기며 가족이 함께 시간을 보냈던 즐거운 날 이었다.

Vegan으로 장만한 점심을 맛나게 먹었는데 남편과 딸아이는 고기가 못내 아쉬운 모양이었다.

I came back home with bags of organic fruits from the Andy's fruit stand.

Life is good~

집에 돌아오는 길엔 Andy's에서 유기농 과일을 잔뜩 사가지고 돌아왔다.

행복한 인생~