i'm back!

I'm back!  It was a WONDERFUL trip to Turkey and I promise to share lots of pics and more details in a bit. Coming up (in January and May) trips to the Big Island of Hawaii and a trip to Japan; HUZZAH!!! In other news, I've redesigned my blog again!  It won't last long, probably just until the holidays are over.... I'm still trying to make it look cleaner and more professional; we'll see how it goes in the near future.

Also in other news, I've opened my shop again! It has been quite a while since its been open and its been even longer since it's had items for sale other than those that are already reserved for customers.  I am trying to sell things I already have on hand, and I'm also considering reopening my second etsy store (happyapplet... bet you guys didn't even know/remember I have an etsy supply store; it's been closed for years!)  because I think berrysprite is moving in a new direction... we'll see about that too.  Anyway, I might have some yarn and fabrics for sale... still considering parting with some of my stash!  If you're in the mood for some Christmas gifts, feel free to pop on over to berrysprite... I'll let you know if/ when happyapplet is opening again!

stanford

One part of the Stanford Campus from the Hoover Tower... the campus was huge (I think around 800 acres!)

I just got back  from my trip to San Francisco/ Palo Alto/ Stanford/ Monterey Bay.... It was so much fun but also a lot of work: we had class sessions from early morning to late evening everyday, including weekends, for two weeks straight! When I got home, I think I sleep for a straight day and a half :P. Anyway, I'm off to Turkey today... I'll see you guys in two weeks!

San Francisco from around Pier 1... it was so pretty and SO FUN!

The Alaskans we were with insisted that we get some oysters from Hog Island Oyster Company

I insisted I get some clam linguine... this is from the Stinking Rose and is made using black linguine noodles (made with squid ink); it was really good!

Kayaking Elk Horn Slough... It was the first time I've ever seen otters!

Monterey Bay Aquarium... one of the best places I visited!

A cow fish!

I looked at the jellyfish for hours... they were by far my favorite part of the aquarium!

A fancy seahorse/ seadragaon! The Seahorse exhibit was my second favorite part of the trip to the Aquarium.

An area just outside the aquarium... this reminded me of the tidepools at home and I almost wanted to go swimming except that I remembered that the water was super freezing!

Also a highlight... We got to play with horses!  They can sense your feelings and so as a leadership and team-building exercise we worked with them as a group... so nice!

shop in vacation mode

I put my shop in vacation mode from October 14 to November 14, 2012 (there wasn't that much in it anyway) because I'll be going to Stanford University Palo Alto as part of a fellowship... I'm super nervous but excited too!  I'll be there for two weeks and participating in a special set of classes with my fellowship cohort, some of whom are coming from New Zealand and Alaska (but most of us are from Hawaii).

After that I'll be going to Turkey for a vacation... I'm super excited :)

halloween blog

I redid my blog, just in time for Halloween!  It's based off of one of my old calendars (I really hope I can get back into that next year!)  Let me know if you prefer the two column or three column blog... Thanks!

butachu

All pictures are from kawaiishopjapan.com

Holy COW!  Look at these super kawaii acrylic toys shaped like PIGGIES!  Many of you know of my extreme fondness for takochu, but when I saw these (incidentally called butachu) I nearly had a brain aneurism!  So KAWAIIIIIIII! I was lucky enough to snatch some on my go-to site for small cute things, kawaiishopjapan, but she only has a few left so if you love them like I do you'd better hurry on over to her site and get some... I can't seem to find them anywhere else!  According to kawaiishopjapan owner Miki, the butachu are made by a company called Eikoh; Miki is selling them for a very reasonable $3.70 each in the "kawaii toys," "small and tiny" category.  I couldn't find much information on them otherwise (maybe because they are so new?), but here's hoping you're able to get some too!  If you aren't able to get some, I suggest watching the kawaiishopjapan website or sending an inquiry... it's restocked fairly frequently! The blue one and the black ones are my faves right now.  But also the red one..... gaaaahhhhh so cute!

bead show!

I thought I'd wait until a full month had passed until I blogged again... blogging FAIL! Seriously though, I've actually been super busy: I was accepted into a yearlong fellowship program that requires a fair bit of off-island travel, which is super cool...I'll be going to Stanford for two weeks in October so I imagine my crafting will take a hit time-wise.  But otherwise I'm very excited!

For today I thought I'd share some pictures of the bead show they had at Ward Shopping Center. 

Two of the tables in the first room.

 

Glorious chain!  I really needed some... I'm all out

 

What I bought: coral, coral beads, amazonite, gold chain, fire agate, crystal and cat's eye shell beads