elephant and chickpea

my vintage treasures

2010-01-27T14:35:00.000-08:00

quilted blanket for baby chickpea

2010-01-22T16:58:00.001-08:00

today i finished to quilt a small blanket for baby chickpea. i made it with scrap fabrics that i've kept for a while so all the pieces are placed mix-and-match randomly. i wish our baby enjoys lying down on this blanket.

knitting alone projects 2010-2011

2010-01-22T11:24:00.000-08:00

as a child i learned to knit from mom and she taught me to read japanese patterns as well. but now i have to knit english patterns by myself for my "knitting alone projects". i hope it doesn't take forever to finish these items.

cheese cake..and a little celebration

2010-01-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

my husband made this beautiful cheese cake for my birthday. it was very delicious and pretty as well. thanks a lot mitho zaan!

little mouse earflap toque

2010-01-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

recently i'm crocheting winter toques for my little one and my friend's baby. they're so cute and tiny. it's so much fun to make something for baby :)

simple japanese curry for dinner

2010-01-06T21:02:00.001-08:00

it's simple to cook on a day that you don't feel like cooking.

yummy~

2010 resolutions

2010-01-02T19:37:00.001-08:00

our 2010 resolutions

1. be happy and healthy
2. appreciate and love family more
3. remember family & friends' birthday and anniversary better
4. live with less
5. share more
6. be more sustainable
7. keep supporting handmade artists
8. eat and buy locally
9. read and learn more
10. trip to south korea, portland, okanagan or saltspring island

2009 winter

2010-01-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

2009 fall

2010-01-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

2009 summer

2010-01-02T19:23:00.001-08:00

2009 spring

2010-01-02T19:17:00.000-08:00

crocheting rug for baby chickpea

2009-12-31T15:52:00.001-08:00

tuesday afternoon

2009-12-29T14:37:00.001-08:00

simple potato spinach soup and cheese toast for lunch.
hanging laundry.

handmade cotton gift bags

2009-12-29T14:34:00.001-08:00

snowflake greentea icing cookies...happy holidays!

2009-12-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

for christmas, i made about 40 of this greentea icing cookies as a small gift for my husband's collegues. i would probably make more to share with everyone around us if everything is still like usual. but this time i needed to slow down a bit for our little chickpea is on the way. things that i've planned are getting harder to finish on time due to our little one's arrival.
even though i couldn't do much for our family and friends who are far from us, i hope everyone has a very happy holidays.

best wishes to all.

tissue paper pom-poms

2009-12-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

winter passing

2009-12-16T20:07:00.001-08:00

dala horse on the snowy window.
knitting on the cozy sofa.
things i like in the winter.

one last picnic

2009-11-13T16:44:00.001-08:00

homemade cheese brioche

2009-11-13T16:41:00.000-08:00

say goodbye to summer and hello to autumn!

2009-11-13T16:28:00.001-08:00

mint chocolate chip house shoes

2009-10-15T14:18:00.001-07:00

i really enjoy those quiet sunday afternoons. the weather is cold outside but the sun shines brightly through the living room window. it's nice to sit down on our comfy couch and start crocheting for our little chickpea. if i'm lucky my husband will bring me a cup of warm milk and chocolate chip cookies.

coffee with me?

2009-10-12T19:59:00.000-07:00

on a cold winter morning sitting on the couch... bread and butter, coffee, newspaper, and warm toes. maybe a cozy blanket on your lap.

sound like you're already there?

then come have coffee with me... i'm already here.

picnic lunch house shoes

2009-10-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

Recently returned from our summer picnic. These cuties will bring back fond memories of warm days eating lunch in the park. The Gingham pattern always reminds me of all my childhood picnics. Can I feel the same way when I have lunch at home in these house shoes?

cranberry t-strap house shoes

2009-10-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

finally, after a long summer these cranberry t-strap house shoes are here for the holidays. perfect with any meal, at home, or visiting family and friends.
although this design was created in february, they were hiding in my drawer. so now they have seen the light. thanks for waiting for me to take you out to play, cranberry!

from my granny and mom

2009-04-20T03:34:00.000-07:00

from the moment i saw my granny and mom's sewing boxes, their old spools of thread, fabrics and embroidered thimbles, i was impressed by how warm these things made me feel.

ladybug mary jane house shoes

2009-04-20T03:31:00.001-07:00

don’t be shocked these loveable ladybugs are your friends!

these cute mary janes are perfect when your taking care of your plants on your balcony or in your sunroom. they bring the beauty of nature into your home.

blue jay mary jane house shoes

2009-04-20T03:28:00.001-07:00

these are Elephant and Chickpea’s original round-toe mary jane house shoes in slate-blue with a vintage pearly white button on the strap.

it's perfect when you’re dreaming about jumping across stones over a clear stream. the peaceful sound of the flowing water, the fresh smell of the leaves and the sounds of blue jays in the trees.

cotton candy loafer house shoes

2009-04-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

these round toe turquoise and coral colour velvet loafer house shoes are sweet and delicious. i redesigned them from the original elephant and chickpea's loafers.

it's perfect when you're remembering the days you used to go the carnival!

new mary jane house shoes

2009-04-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

these are cute round toe indoor mary jane shoes in lime green and crimson red linen with salmon colour vintage button on the strap. they make you look cute and elegant even when you are in the room with your pajamas on.

granpa loafer house shoes

2009-04-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

these are classy round toe loafer indoor shoes.

it's perfect when you're listening granpa's stories about the good ol' days!

granny loafer house shoes

2009-04-19T10:49:00.001-07:00

these are classy round toe loafer indoor shoes.

i redesigned them from the original elephant and chickpea's loafers.

it's perfect when you're looking through granny's old photo albums!

gumball mary jane house shoes

2009-04-15T14:01:00.001-07:00

these are cute square toe indoor shoes in pink and funky dot pattern cotton fabric with black push button strap. they make you look adorable and pretty even when you are in the room with your pajamas on.

wedding ballet flat house shoes

2009-04-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

in my shop now!

these are shiny cream colour satin ballet flat indoor shoes with beads.

i stitched each bead by hand and attached leather patches to the sole to prevent sliding on smooth surfaces.

at the reception the bride can take her high heels off while she is dancing. they will make her look elegant and feel comfortable.they'll be much better than wearing flip-flops!

they are packaged in natural cotton garment bag with a cute french lavender sachet so it's a perfect gift to give at bridal shower!

cream ballet flat wedding house shoes

2009-04-15T13:19:00.001-07:00

in my shop now.

simplicity is the beauty of this design.

these original ballet flats don't need any make-up. they have purity and elegance that can match with any wedding concept colour.you can also decorate these yourself with a beautiful corsage or a sexy shoe clips.

they are packaged in natural cotton garment bag with a cute french lavender sachet so it's a perfect gift to give at bridal shower!

pomegranate mary jane house shoes

2009-04-12T17:01:00.001-07:00

these are beautiful burgundy red colour linen sqaure toe mary jane house shoes with japanese box wood button strap.

+ outside - 100% burgundy linen

+ strap - 100% burgundy linen

+ inner lining - 100% heather ivory cotton

+ insole - 100% heather ivory cotton

+ outside sole - upcycled jean

+ anti-skid patch - upcycled leather

please check here if you want to see more house shoes.

spring is here!

2009-04-09T15:20:00.001-07:00

the cherry blossoms are blooming everywhere. finally, spring is here!

vintage buttons

2009-04-09T15:17:00.000-07:00

boardwalk sneaker house shoes

2009-04-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

in my shop now!

these are round toe indoor oxford sneakers made from upcycled french navy cotton drapes and light gray linen table cloth with 4 cream eyelets and natural cotton shoe strings.

As you are walking around at home, you can imagine yourself waking down a boardwalk near your favourite beach!

flower garden loafer house shoes

2009-04-02T13:25:00.001-07:00

in my shop now.

this is limited pair, the displayed model is us size 8.5 and I can also make 1 more pair of any size.

these are pretty round toe loafer indoor shoes made from my mom's beautiful floral pattern vintage handkerchief and 100% cotton turquoise velvet.

summer cottage blue & brown plaid t-strap house shoes

2009-04-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

custom made black mary jane house shoes

2009-04-02T13:18:00.001-07:00

jelly bean mary jane house shoes

2009-03-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

these are cute square toe indoor shoes in colourful madras plaid cotton fabric with push button strap.

+ outside - 100% colourful madras plaid cotton

+ strap - 100% natural cotton

+ inner lining - 100% natural cotton

+ insole - 100% natural cotton

+ outside sole - upcycled jean

+ anti-skid patch - upcycled leather

this fabric looks like a jelly bean gift box contains jelly beans in an assortment of all different flavours. enjoy all the colours at once!

custom made black t-strap house shoes

2009-03-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

these are cute square toe indoor shoes in black with t-strap.
i attached leather patches to the sole to prevent sliding on smooth surfaces.

+ outside - 100% cottage blue & cream check cotton
+ strap - 100% cottage blue & cream check cotton
+ inner lining - 100% natural cotton
+ insole - 100% natural cotton
+ outside sole - upcycled jean
+ anti-skid patch - upcycled leather

orange mary jane room shoes

2009-03-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

these are cute square toe indoor shoes with button strap.

they make you look cute and elegant even when you are in the room with your pajamas on.

+ outside - orange cotton canvas

+ strap - orange cotton canvas

+ inner lining - 100% heather ivory cotton

+ insole - 100% heather ivory cotton

+ outside sole - upcycled jean

+ anti-skid patch - upcycled leather

round toe flat room shoes

2009-03-14T22:51:00.000-07:00

summer cottage blue room shoes

2009-03-13T19:37:00.000-07:00

even though i like modern textile prints i am always attracted to old country patterns and textures from mom's closet, vintage clothing shops and thrift stores. i am always very happy when i can find such fabrics by chance that i run home and think about new shoe designs that would work well with my new discovery.
i started making these shoes during the few days of warm weather we had last week. then i imagined we were spending time in a summer cottage somewhere near a lake or by the sea with the warm summer wind blowing through an open window.
this is the first in my summer cottage series. i'm always looking for more so another one will come in time.

wedding ballerina flat room shoes

2009-03-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

for a long time i have thought about making room shoes for a beautiful bride. i have often seen brides take of the heels at the wedding reception so they can dance but most of the time they just wear their old flip-flops.

this time when a bride's mother requested a pair of room shoes for her daughter i was more than happy to accept. it took a while to choose the perfect fabric and beads but i think it was worth the effort. the gift will be given at the bridal shower. i hope she will be happy and will dance all night in her cozy and elegant shoes.

from my homeland

2009-03-05T13:18:00.000-08:00

my parents are visiting my husband and me and they brought lots of stuffs from my homeland. especially my mom got gorgeous fabrics for me and these are only some of them. they look absolutley beutiful! i really love the shiny colours and patterns. now i'm thinking what i can do with them.

damask round toe loafer room shoes

2009-03-03T08:59:00.000-08:00

another pair is ready to fly.
this room shoes turned out nicely and i love this colour!

i made it to the etsy front page

2009-03-02T13:16:00.000-08:00

i found these pictures on flickr - etsy front pager's photostream
8 times in February!
yay! yay! yay!

thank you so much everyone!

round toe flat room shoes

2009-02-28T14:24:00.001-08:00

it's ready to fly to her now!

this loafer room shoes turned out elegantly with this fabric.

i hope it makes her happy and cozy.

avocado mary jane room shoes

2009-02-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

in my shop now.

these are upcycled avocado round toe mary jane room shoes with push button strap from my cute avocado corduroy skirt.

this is limited pair, the displayed model is US size 6.5 and I can also make 1 more pair of any size.

little house pincushion

2009-02-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

tiny pincushions from scrap fabrics.

a plate full of sweet cherries

2009-02-23T15:24:00.000-08:00

sweet and simple happiness.
red cherries on my own handmade majolica plate.

custom made sweater mary jane room shoes

2009-02-23T14:57:00.000-08:00

the last mary jane from my sweater. good walking!

rainy sunday afternoon

2009-02-22T19:47:00.000-08:00

a year of mornings, pancakes, and my boy. so lovely...

chocolate pudding

2009-02-21T16:18:00.000-08:00

i hope it brings us comfort after a long tiring week.
have a good weekend!

someday next week...

2009-02-20T15:58:00.000-08:00

it's been sunny for the last few days so i'm very happy. and other good things..i got this cute red & white check pattern fabric from my sister (it's just enough to make 2 pairs) and i finished a sketch of the next mary janes. it reminds me of spring picnics! i'm so excited to make this t-strap mary jane. i hope i can finish it soon.

belly dancer flat room shoes

2009-02-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

in my shop now.

i think they will be great to wear for special occasions like wedding day or indoor party. next time i will take them with me for my cousin's bridal shower. because i guess the party will be parsi style so it will match well with the concept.

apricot tartlets

2009-02-17T19:38:00.000-08:00

most of the time when i don't work on my shop i like to bake sweets and breads especially if these are for afternoon tea time. actually i need a 4 o'clock sugarrush so i keep some sweets around me. when i don't have specific ingredients i simply bake chocolate chip cookies or jam drop tartlets. it's quite simple to make. it only needs pie crust and any jam from the friut of your summer. when it's almost done baking, my husband makes the tea and we have a nice tea time. because my husband is nice and helps me i give him one.

etsy front page

2009-02-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

every morning, even before my husband gets up, i turn the computer on and check etsy to see what's featured on the main page and what other artist are doing. surprisingly, this morning when i was loaded the etsy main page i saw my mustard mary jane room shoes. i was absolutely extatic. i didn't think my work would be featured. i'm a relatively new seller and i thought they only selected established artist. Thanks to botanicalbird for including me in her treasury!
later, while i was eating lunch i revisited the main page and much to my surprise i saw my strawberry mary jane room shoes. today is the greatest etsy day ever!

in progress

2009-02-15T17:52:00.001-08:00

these are inspired by punjabi 'jutti' which means 'shoes'. usually punjabi wear the jutti for special occasions like wedding days or festivals. since i got this beautiful and delicate sari fabric always i've wondered which shoe design will fit with it. finally i made this pair and they look elegant like women in saris to me. so i would like to call them 'belly dancer room shoes'.

chocolate cake for valentine's day

2009-02-15T13:05:00.000-08:00

it is a very simple chocolate cake that my husband and i love to eat so i bake it pretty often.

i got this recipe from donna hay's cookbook; modern classics and i replaced the amount of almond meal with unsweetened shredded coconut.

her recipes are always easy to follow and taste good. most of all i like to keep her recipe books and magazines close to me because there are nice pictures of each recipe.

sunshine and mustard seeds

2009-02-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

i woke up early this morning and found a nice little gift waiting for me. hellogemini had chosen my mustard mary jane shoes for her etsy treasury. thank you!

white dishes

2009-02-13T15:02:00.000-08:00

always it feels so good to have a few things around the house that i made by my own hands. i made these dishes last year; then i used to go to the ceramic studio 3 times a week but since my husband and i moved away from our old place it's been almost impossible to go there. it was very nice to start doing my pottery work again since i left my ceramic studio after graduation. so these days i really miss those moments .

2009 spring collection - mary janes

2009-02-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

strawberry mary jane room shoes in my shop now.

i often think about life in the country and all the beautiful flowers and warm colours. with spring coming soon, i made this pair to imagine life as a little girl running in the fields.

2009 spring collection - mary janes

2009-02-12T13:51:00.001-08:00

mustard mary jane room shoes in my shop now.
when i look at these i think about ducks swimming in a pond. the mustard fabric, is a blend of hemp and linen and has a natural shine and texture. they are comfortable and hug your feet like mittens. the square toe was inspired by the ballet flat room shoes.

custom made room shoes

2009-02-11T08:59:00.001-08:00

these are customized room shoes for paul tieman. he sent me some pictures of the early italian renaissance painter, giovanni mansueti. this pair is inspired by the shoes on the painting.

black & white mary jane room shoes

2009-02-11T08:16:00.001-08:00

ballerina flat room shoes

2009-02-11T08:12:00.001-08:00

loafer room shoes

2009-02-11T08:05:00.001-08:00

i kept making room shoes to sell online but after i made each pair my husband kept asking for me to make one for him. so i tried this loafer design from a book i had. this pair is a size 7 but i will make another one for him soon... with a different fabric.

round toe flat room shoes

2009-02-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

the description for these room shoes is on my etsy shop. the round toe and pull straps on this pair reminds me the indoor shoes that i used to bring with me to my elementary school.

sometimes...

2009-02-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

...when i'm so tried of listening to the sewing machine i like to spend some quiet time doing crochet work. first, i put one of my favrouites cds on (garden state soundtrack, damien rice, or nick drake); second, i find a warm and comfortable spot in the room and get cozy; third, i begin to crochet. i keep going till i get tired or begin to miss my sewing machine again. occasionally, i get up to change the cd. for me, crochet is soothing and peaceful and allows me time to clear my mind.

sweater mary jane room shoes

2009-02-10T16:24:00.000-08:00

since i started making room shoes for my etsy shop i had a bit of a stressful time but when i finished these mary jane room shoes which look so cozy, i suddenly felt much better. however, these shoes are no longer next to me. they are in the comforts of someone else's home. good walking.

things for my soul

2009-02-10T15:33:00.000-08:00

my other new year started and i wondered what i was doing last year at this time. i hope this year brings me a comfort like a soft boiled egg helps me feel better when i am sick.