Lemonade Day 29: Just Danny

. I'm taking the opportunity of this unplanned time off to connect with the many artists and creators in this wonderful city that I love. Come with me on my 100-day odyssey - a scavenger hunt for art, creativity and community in Long Beach, CA.  I call it .

July 30th was Day 29 of Making Lemonade.  Selfishly featuring my nephew, Danny Tsoi-A-Sue

Last week it was all about Steel Drums... pan... as the trail led me to Dave's Island Instruments, then to the Long Beach Steel Drum School and on to the Pan Jive concert (Sponsored by Councilmember. Schipske's office) at Heartwell Park.  Did you miss Pan Jive at Heartwell Park?  They will be back to play at Pan American Park on August 5th.  Free sno cones!  Pan American Park is in Lakewood Village at Centralia and Heather.  For those of you confused by the name, I checked the address (5157 Centralia) and Lakewood Village is actually in Long Beach!

This week, it seems all about my extended family.  Yesterday, .  Today, about my nephew, previously known as Just Danny.  As a Trini might say, arms on hips: "What next, Ms. Handmade Penguin... You goin' talk about youself?"  Well, you never know.

Today, I write about my nephew, Eagle Scout Danny Tsoi-A-Sue.

It's extremely refreshing when someone decides they want to do something, then works to figure out where to find the resources to do it, and simply lunges ahead... experimenting, using existing models, learning... some failures... then finally success.

I received a call a bit over two years ago from one of my favorite new graduates, Danny Tsoi-A-Sue.  He wanted to learn how to sew.  Why?

Danny had just returned from his vacation to the Grand Canyon, and found that his hiking pants just collected way too much dust.  As I understand the story, he would hit the fabric with his palms, and little dust clouds would be released.  He knew that he could make a better pair, and wanted to do so.  When you want to learn how to sew, who do you call?  There are a few good places to learn here in Long Beach... Friends Jane Loper at Sewing with Jane (who exhibited at the ) and Scott Noble at Sew Vac provide some wonderful classes.  However, if your last name is Tsoi-A-Sue, you definitely want to call Auntie Trish.

Danny had apparently been doing research on various types of camouflage pattern.  In fact, I learned quite a bit from him.  He knew about the various types of rip-stop fabric, the patterns of each manufacturer and branch of the military, and had ordered some rip-stop camouflage for himself.

He arrived around 4:00 PM one evening, and I set him up with my spare sewing machine.  He'd found a pattern for a simple shirt, and I let him use an old sheet that I'd planned on shredding for crafting.  We downloaded a pattern that he'd found, and pieced the printed pages together.  We cut it out of paper first then fabric, and I showed Danny how to thread the machine and stitch.  Later, the family wanted to leave the house, as we were headed to R.E.I. (one of Danny's favorite stores).  We were stunned that he preferred to continue what he was doing - learning to sew.

We returned two hours later and he was still going.  I eventually told him that he could take the spare machine home with him.  I knew that he needed to have access to one if he was going to make any headway.  He was thrilled.

Danny has been my companion on many trips to the Garment District.  He will shop for camouflage patterns in canvas, heavy-duty nylon and rip-stop.  I will shop for embroidery threads, nylon and various cotton prints and accessories.

Since that time, Danny has taken apart pants to see how they were made (he couldn't find a men's pant pattern to purchase), made his own pants and shirts to wear at school and around Long Beach, made jackets, hats, gifts for friends and even did a few custom shirt commissions for his friends at school.

It didn't take much to get him going... he was motivated anyway.  I am just happy to have been there to help him in any way I could.

Penguin Note:  I thank Danny for having provided the influence that led me to LEGO.  First with Duplo at age 4, when he put 3 pieces together and flew his airplane around the room.   Several years ago, when Danny was in 1st grade, I purchased a LEGO RCX robot as a beginning-of-summer gift for him.  My condition?  He had to work in my garage, as he had many young siblings at the time.  Also, I was excited about the learning potential (for me) in that little programmable block.  After about a month, Danny came over to have a serious discussion with me.  His Dad told him he had to deliver this message himself, so he did. "Auntie Trish...Can I take the robot home with me?"  My heart was broken, but I understood - how could I say no?

A few of Danny's more recent sewing creations and his many custom LEGO designs may be found on his Flicker site.

Tidbits, Things, Trails

• I am experimenting with ways to make stampable blocks.

Next up?   

• I'm going to start working on blocks to use for printing/stamping.
• I'd like to stop in on the Steel Drum School, but I know that I can't.  But perhaps you can!

Want more lemonade?     

Need to contact me?  info@handmadepenguin.com

Trish Tsoiasue writes as herself about creative and maker topics for the and as Handmade Penguin for the Handmade Penguin Blog.