Bakersfield?

Bakersfield, CA is where I was born and raised. Here's what it has to offer when I visit family there.
First off F&M's Fabric Store! This is no regular fabric store, fabric isn't on tiny bolts, its on gigantic rolls. Prices start at a buck a yard! They have everything, knit, cotton, crazy prints you will never see anywhere else, fancy stuff, upholstery, trims, buttons, ribbons, anything sewing related you could ask for. The largest selection of minky for only $10 a yard! I have been there twice on this trip and I have boxes of fabric that I'm going to have to ship home, but so worth it.

Most of the other places I like in Bakersfield have to do with food.
Basque is a mandatory stop on every visit. Woolgrowers is awesome. Basque food is usually served family style, first course is a vegetable soup, beans, salsa and sour dough bread. Second comes salad with a light oil vinegar, picked tongue, and sometimes tomatoes. Then is the meat course always followed with some ice cream! Eat light before you go! What do I get there, Pork Chops with extra garlic, keeps vamps away, and ice cream Spumoni!



Hey Luigi! Luigi's is a monument in Bako, celebrating 100 years in 2010! Italian food, family, friends, fun its awesome. Yep you can get pickled tongue here too, but you can also get some R&R, that's Ribs and Rigatoni! (Friday Only) Luigi's isn't open for dinner its a lunch spot, and if its not 100+ degrees, the patio is a nice place to relax. What do I get, an Arnold Palmer to drink, Giovanna’s Gourmet Salad, and White Pasta-Spaghetti with Butter, Parsley, Garlic & Parmesan Cheese, all is served with an antipasti of a roll, salami, cheese, pepperoncini and marinated carrot.

que paso? I love mexican food and I don't know many people that don't. Los Tacos De Huicho keeps it simple and delicious.

There menu is short and sweet, pick a meat pick an item, burrito, taco, sopa, torta, get some papas or rice and beans to go with it and your set! I hadn't been there in a couple of years and I have to say its just as good, the place is clean, the service is fast and hello they added a bar! What do I get there asada tacos Tripas, also known as Machitos taco, asada sopa and papas.

Still hungry? Bakersfield is lucky to have not one but two of the best made on site ice cream places in the USA! Dewar's Ice Cream is celebrating 100 years this year of serving some of the best ice cream and candy in the world.

It's across from Bakersfield High School so you can imagine all the kids that have made there way over there for some sweets after school. They have a counter with real soda jerks! They also make some great chew candies. A few years back Dewar's was asked to sell at Disney's El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. That's right so even if your not in Bakersfield, you can get your Dewar's fix in Hollywood, CA! What do I get when I go, a Black and White!

A little side story from my childhood, before I was 5 when my parents would take me there, they use to tell me that the building down the street was an orphanage and that they were taking me to get ice cream before they dropped me off to live there. Oh my parents, twisted.

The second amazing made on site Ice Cream place is Rosemary's Family Creamery. Not as old as Dewar's but its tasty too.

I'm surprised they don't seem to have a website? Anyway, what do I get there, creature of habit, a Black and White.

So I guess that is my culinary tour of Bakersfield, CA. What else should you know, if your visiting try not to do it in the summer, it gets over 100 degrees a lot. Bring loose fitting clothes, so you can eat :) Enjoy yourself.

Los Angeles Trip Post Two

OK so I got so crazy with posting about Kit Kraft yesterday I didn't go on to post about California Millinery Supply and the L.A. Fashion District.
So my second stop on my creative shopping trip to L.A. was California Millinery Supply where its all about hat making of course. Now I've never made an actual hat before, fairy princess and birthday crowns yes, but a real hat nope. But this place is really inspiring. Its a narrow and long store filled with feathers, hat forms, flowers, ribbons and lots of other hat related goodies. I picked up a elf sort of looking hat frame, a green ostrich feather and some vintage red glass berries. I've been searching online on how to go about covering the hat frame with fabric and creating my one of a kind woodland hat. I hope to have it done by the time I'm at Strange Folk so I can wear it!
Just a few block from the millinery store was the Fashion District, where fabric flows on bolts galore! I didn't take pictures because I was to busy looking at all of the fabulous fabrics and trims. Michael Levine is a popular stop for fabrics in the Fashion District, but the best thing is across the street from the main store is the "Loft" where fabric is sold for $2 a pound! I picked up some great prints to make into market totes. One of my best finds of the day? Target Trim Corp. this places has any trim for anything, lace, tassels, rhinestone, ribbon, buttons, zippers, thread, nylon, glittered, glamours, you need trim this is the place to go and they sell wholesale too!
So after this day filled with creative goodness it was time to get some good food in our tummies. So Aunt Carla and I were off to Westwood for some good stuff at Jerry's Famous Deli. Located right by the UCLA campus Jerry's is always a great place to grab some good eats. I had a Patty Melt cause they make it with rye bread, they way it should be made, with their black and white shake, the glass is lined with chocolate with a vanilla shake pored in the middle, YUM! Aunt Carla went with the pastrami, which I eyed the whole time wondering if I should of got the pastrami? Being in CA you never know who you might run into. I was in the bathroom at Jerry's and the paper towel dispenser didn't work. This lady tried to use it and I pointed out to her it didn't work. I looked in the mirror and realized she was Maura Tierney. When I called my husband on the drive home to tell him about my day and my star sighting, all I could think was, that actress who was in Baby Mama that licked the chocolate, not knowing if it was poop or chocolate, "It's chocolate"
Well what a wonderful day I had in the L.A. area. Thank you so much to Aunt Carla for doing all the driving and taking me everywhere I wanted to go.

Patience is a virtue

Patience is a virtue, its just not mine. This is just a quick post to say until I figure out and find the patience to make my own layout, I like to change them up sometimes, but never fear its still just me.

Trip to Los Angeles Post One

My husband's Aunt Carla was kind enough to offer to take me to L.A. for the day when she heard me going on and on about wanting to go down there while I'm in CA. So we headed last Wednesday morning. I had only two places for certain on my list of must shop at, Kit Kraft and California Millinery Supply. (Blog on the Fashion District to follow)
First stop when we got down south was Kit Kraft as soon as I walked in I knew I would walk out with less cash in my hand and more creativeness in my heart. Now about half of the place is models, cars, planes, robots, stuff like that but hey never say never to something new. I walked thru the model portion of this cute quaint shop and found my husband a Robbie the Robot model kit and for myself these really neat trees. They are actually paper you put together yourself and can color them or leave them white. I picked up some miniature animals two squirrels and two bunnies and I hope to make a scene with the trees to photograph them, maybe into note cards or who knows. Oh and they sell glitter in BULK! Hello all of you that are glitter crazy!

I also picked up Black Shrink Art cause I hadn't ever seen it in person.

Tomorrow I will blog about the rest of my day in L.A., my other creative shopping adventures and my star sighting, stay tuned.

Claudia is in CA

Well what started off as a trip due to a parent in the hospital has turned into a creative adventure. The parent ended up to be fine, so why not take advantage of the 3 weeks in California. I will be postin' about my trip to Los Angeles and all of the fantastic stores and scores when I get back to my normal life around Aug 13.
I have been a SEWING MACHINE since I've been staying with my parents. Three new Chirps and 11 tote/market bags and its only been a week so far.
Stay Crafty

Claudia's Burning Ink has gone PLUSH

That's right you heard it Claudia's Burning Ink, "The Green Line" to be specific has went the way of the Plushie. I really took a long time to think of what I wanted to make in plushie form. Did I want to create, monsters, robots, rabbits, bears, well lets see what do I love to watch play and scatter about, SQUIRRELS!!!!! So with that in mind Chirp was well born. My first Chirp was born from a pink argyle sweater and some tshirt scraps.

He is for me and was my learning curve.










Today Chirp 2 was born, I guess you could call him Chirp 2.0 he is made from a sweat shirt and some tshirt and sweater scraps. Chirp 2.0 is well very unique. I'm quite sure that when Chirp 2.0 yells out his chirp he has a stutter. Also I'm quite sure he laughs a lot at basically anything, a leaf falling from a tree can send him into a laughing fit with tears and everything. And his laugh a loud repeated high pitch cackle of sorts, its quite funny.
Look for more Chirps to be born soon. I'm currently stocking up for Strange Folk Festival, but don't worry if you need a Chirp in your future you can just contact me and we can figure out a "due" date for your very own Chirp.

Strange Folk Festival, Claudia's Burning Ink is IN

I'm so excited to say that Claudia's Burning Ink will be vending at Strange Folk Festival in O Fallon, IL this September! I'm so excited to be a part of such a great creative event and I can't wait to meet all of the vendors and the shoppers!

Ahoy and arrrrggghhh there Brigid

Brigid is the happy owner of the Cookie Monster Pirate Tee to Tank I made this month. Brigid was kind enough to send me a few photos of her wearing this one of a kind awesome tank. I must stay she looks hot enough to stay cool in this comfy little number.

LIVE on the Plaza

It has been too long since I went over to NW 16th street. This Friday is Live on the Plaza. Come see wonderful artist, crafters and creators. I will be there peddling my wares. I look forward to seeing some of the creative souls I haven't seen in a while. So come by and say hi.
The Plaza District is located on NW 16th Street between Classen and May Ave in OKC.

Coast to Coast Coasters

The Green Line of Claudia's Burning Ink has really been a very big thing for me this year. I really enjoy hunting and finding great fabrics, and clothing that can be recreated and given a new life. I'm most proud of the Coasters I created for The Green Line. Not only are they made from 100% recycled clothing, they also have recyceld plastic. Which just happens to make them waterproof! No worries about moisture soaking thru the knit fabric only to leave marks on your table. These babies have plastic inside to prevednt that. So go ahead and order some for yourself or a friend, and support handmade and eco friendly products.