Project Runway 101

This weekend creative inspiration (or insanity) struck me and I've decided to take sewing classes. This all happened after our dry cleaner majorly screwed up a very simple alteration a few months ago (I just wanted a skirt hem let down an inch) and I've been boycotting her ever since. In the meantime I've bought a few things that just need to be hemmed (the continuing curse of being short!) and my lovely purchases have been just sitting here going to waste until I find a new place to get alterations. I made it my mission for this weekend to solve this problem. I finally found a great place in Berkeley and I'm very hopeful that she'll do a great job with the alterations. I'll find out on Thursday when I get my pants and dress back.

This whole maddening process made me start thinking about how it's nuts for me to pay for such simple alterations when I have a sewing machine in the closet. To be honest I'm just intimidated to pull it out and try to use it without someone here (MOM!) to help me when I get stuck. So I looked online and found a great fabric store nearby that offers lessons and after reading the glowing reviews on yelp I decided to check it out. I was really happy to see that it was a cool store that felt more fashion-forward than "crafty". There were several hip guys working there along with a girl with a nose ring and a few normal looking mom-types. Nothing looked crafty. There were no patchwork sweatshirts with ABC lettering or puppies - or anything of the kind. All of the displays were of things I might actually wear and the fabrics were all really cool too.

The 5-class series called "Beginning and Beyond" starts in 2 weeks on Saturdays. I really wish I had a friend to go with me. I feel weird going alone. Maybe it's best that I don't know anyone there so that I can make a total fool of myself and not have that spill over into the rest of my life. :) I'll report back soon with my creations. I have big dreams of being able to sew beautiful things and then have Heidi Klum crown me the winner of Project Runway. We'll see.

Blake, you can wake up now.

Sushi Night!

Many of you have told me how surprised you were that I didn't take more pictures of the food we ate in Italy. I'm a bit surprised myself. I guess I was just to busy slurping my noodles and didn't think to take a picture until all of my delicious food was gone. Such a shame - it was amazing food.

Since I know you were all disappointed I've decided to share with you some pictures of the beautiful sushi Keith and I had last night at Kirala in Berkeley. We sat at the bar with a perfect view of the sushi chef's. It was really fun to watch them work their magic while we ate!

I didn't take photos of all of our food - but here is my main course. I have no idea what kind of fish all of these are, but my favorite was the tuna (no surprise there). Erin, I thought of you while we were eating there and decided we *have* to eat there while you're visiting for the 4th of July. What's more patriotic than 4th of July sushi? :)