lienra amimono knitting class

I am starting knitting classes here at my home.  It is going to be fun! We are going to have a variety of knitters with different skills and techniques. It is very important to have fellow knitters to enjoy chatting while knitting. You also have a chance to see other knitters's project. That's why it is important to come and join the class!

Anyone interested in coming? Any questions? Please send an email to: gwakana (at) gmail.com

lienra amimono knitting studio

                                                                                                 by Wakana Gates

Are you interested in knitting? At lienra we are working on a variety of knitting projects constantly. If you are curious about what is going on in knitting world, come join us in our classroom to acquire basic techniques or to bring your own project to work on with other knitters. I will assist every student in different levels. Children are welcome to take classes, too.

Date:          Tuesday               9:30 – 11:30am

                                             12:00 – 2:00pm

                  Wednesday           9:30 – 11:30am

                                             12:00 – 2:00pm

                  Thursday             12:00 – 2:00pm

                                                           3:00 – 5:00pm

Location:    Silver Lake neighborhood in Staten Island

                  (address will be provided by email)

Please reserve the seat by 1 day before the class by sending an email to:             gwakana (at)gmail.com

     ・on the title line, please write “lienra amimono knitting workshop”

     ・please specify the date and time

     ・you are welcome to attend two consecutive sessions in one day.

     ・no minimum attendance required to join our knitting studio

     ・for the first time only, please briefly introduce yourself

         (including your knitting experience)

       Looking forward to seeing you all at our studio. Enjoy knitting!

Happy New Year!

I wanted to write this posting on New Year's Day and it is already January 6th... As always, there are so many things I need to do around the house - my errands never end! Anyway, I wanted to have a little bit of traditional Japanese food for the first day of the year, and I managed to make some simple dishes to celebrate.

I always make ozoni (rice cake soup) and chikuzennni (kimono - chicken stew with taro, carrots, burdock, etc..). These are typical New Year dish in Japan, but unfortunately, non of my children like them.

I also picked up some osechi, a collection of New Year food that was ready made from a Japanaese supermarket. Each food has its own meaning and it is important to eat them all.

My husband's favorite was sashimi salad - I used to make this all the time when I was in Japan, and I somehow forgot to make this here in US. I enjoyed this very much as well! I would make this again and again from now on.

It's so easy - you just have to add some sashimi piece, some nuts (I added crushed cashews), and fried dumpling skins on top of greens. Somehow, these combination make everything so tasty!

I always feel a little bid sad to have a New Year's day in US, because it is only one day and it is not a big celebration like the one in Japan, where most people stay home for the first three days (Jan. 1-3) and just eat, talk, watch TV, relax, and sleep! I miss those days so much!