How I Will Celebrate NatCroMo

Clones Lace. NYC. March 29th.

Consider this me trying to "circle the wagons" in an old timey pioneer kind of way. CALLING ALL NY, NJ, CT crocheters!

Quick and dirty details (SO SET YOUR CALENDARS NOW!):

Clones Lace Workshop with Maire Treanor

Date: Saturday, Mar. 29, 2014
Where: Pearl Studios, in NYC

Interested? More details can be found on the NYC Crochet Guild's Facebook status update regarding, what will be a wonderful class... well... PRESUMING...

PRESUMING!!!!

ENOUGH PEOPLE REGISTER FOR IT! YES! THE CLASS *MIGHT BE CANCELLED* IF NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE SHOW INTEREST AND REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS!

It is now 9:55 p.m. on March 13th. Hell, where Maire is in Ireland, it's ALREADY March 14th, so only 15 more days to register. 

It'd break my heart if this class just doesn't happen due to low numbers of registrants. 

CALLING ALL CROCHETERS! CALLING ALL HOOKERS! UNITE!  LET'S CELEBRATE NATIONAL CROCHET MONTH TOGETHER BY TAKING THIS SPECIAL CLASS!

Finally, An Update: A Full Day in NYC

Had to head into NYC for my three week visit with my surgeon. (Info on the results of that are going to be posted "elsewhere." Dear friends/regular readers, I think, know where to look for that update, I'll get around to it tomorrow, I think.).

So off to Grand Central, then the Shuttle (passing EAST 125th en route), then the #1 all the way up to 168th to the surgeon's office (passing WEST 125th en route). Yes, VERY INDIRECT! Afterwards, back to 168th, take the #1 downtown to 79th.

Had lunch at Nice Matin. Appt w/the surgeon was great, and I was invigorated, and felt I owed it to myself to celebrate. So I treated myself to "brunch." Had their veggie/sausage frittata and coffee. Sipped coffee until right before my meal arrived. Then I took my time, sitting in the sunny window, people watching then reading my book. Sitting there with my "Jackie O" styled sunglasses, trying to get into a "South of France" mindset (afterall, I *have* visited NICE, FRANCE in 2008). Envisioned myself a french woman, and took small bites, savoring my food. And I'd say maybe I ate 1/3 of that frittata, maybe 1/4. But it's not like I had a scale on hand. I eyeballed it. I also had some of the soft part of a piece of multigrain bread (and YES I put butter on it). Took my time. Eventually had the waiter pack it up for home, then asked for a container of the soup du jour for home. Continued to sit there long enough until I could sip a little more of my coffee. Really enjoyed this.

Also, while there, I found out about the "Stinky Cheese Festival" which is coming up. I hope to go back to Nice Matin for lunch. I've already picked out what I want to eat: "Limberger Steak Hache." I can't wait. I can get maybe 3 meals out of that burger. This new lifestyle of mine is really appealing to my sense of thrift. Rather than snarfing down one meal and not be satisfied, now I'm eating considerably less, enjoying it more, and have enough leftovers for 2-3 meals. WIN WIN WIN.

After lunch, I walked across the street to Knitty City for my celebratory yarn "fix." I got some lovely lovely cotton silk by Misti Alpaca, a spare skein of Provence Cotton by Elite, and an Interweave Crochet Accessories magazine:

Here's the magazine w/the Misti Alpaca cotton silk.
I love the aqua variegated and the "hand."

Here's the Provence Cotton. Love it.
It's my fave, "go to" cotton.

Little did I realize when I picked up the magazine,
inside I found this great pattern for these socks!
I think I'm going to tinker with it!
MIGHT!

So, afterwards, I headed back to the #1, took it back to 42nd, took the shuttle back to Grand Central, then took MetroNorth back home. Glad to be home. Too much walking with my new orthodics (btw, the left one shifted in my boot, so my heel is now tender). My calves are killing me. And by the time I got home, I could hardly get my ass up the 15 stairs to my front door. I hobbled up, one step at a time. My back and knees and heel all SCREAMING IN PAIN. But, all in all, a very good day. So "good" in fact, I fell asleep watching t.v. with the husband. I couldn't keep my eyes open!

This Oughta Hold Ya For a While

Before going static for a few days, I figure I'd share these pics which were snapped today at the conclusion of our intro to weaving class at Loop of the Loom. The first pic is a close up of the panel I wove, and the second pic is of my friends and I with our textiles. I'm fairly certain each of us is interested in attending more classes. It was great, peaceful, colorful, and enjoyable. Thanks, Coco!

Photodump: 8/19/10 Birthday in NYC

A thumbnail sketch of how I

spent my birthday...

Shrug I was eyeballing while downstairs @ GCT
(According to the French tourist who was wearing it, it was designed & crafted in Ibiza.)

Glimpse of the booty I scored
@ Economy Candy on Rivington.

Me & galpal MzMo @Babeland on Rivington

Picture This, 2/19/10

Only in NY, can you be on the corner waiting for a bus and have someone approach you about the yarn store bag you're carrying, which then leads to a furtive, impromptu "show and tell" as the M104 pulls up to our curb, with me showing off the Ella Rae Merino Lace I got at String, and my yarny compatriot showing off some sparklely silver Vanna White she picked up at NAME REDACTED:)

I hopped the M104, where, there's always something happening. A fight could break out. I could possibly spot someone quasi-famous. And the potential is always there for something disgusting. In the latter of the three, unfortunately was my fate on my way to Knitty City. A woman hopped on the bus, wearing a very light colored skirt with a noticeable dark rusty brown vertical streak up her hind parts. Think of that the next time you sit on a seat in public transit.

So off to Knitty City I went, in search of buying the largest Tulip/Etimo hook I could buy, which in this case means a "J." I looked at the entire kit of hooks, and I just can't justify spending close to $80 for an entire set of hooks when the reality is H, J, and sometimes a B are the ones I use primarily (when I'm not using my P, Q, S or U JUMBO hooks, that is). So I bought the J, and fell in love with two skeins of Merisoft by Punta, which I bought and had them cake up for me. The fate of these skeins has yet to reveal itself to me. The colors lend themselves well to Spring or Autumn projects.


I worked up a thirst and appetite at Knitty City and decided to check out Gus and Gabriel's Gastropub, (ETA: 12/28/10: Gus & Gabriel's is no longer at this location) on the same street. So I popped in to try a Weihenstephan and their applewood smoked "riblets." Good stuff. While I waited for my order, I worked on my Ella Rae Chunky Floral (in my projects) scarf. I got a smidge mellowed from the Weihenstephan, as I nibbled my riblets, watching Tiger Woods' public speech regarding his infidelity.

I then wandered a few blocks away to the Fatty Crab, to pick up dinner for the husband and I: some type of wonton type soup, nasi goreng (Malay fried rice) and some type of "crock chicken." I sat and sipped a coconut water, while I continued working on my scarf.

I went back to Grand Central to wait for the husband, so we could travel home together, and ended up sitting next to a woman engrossed in a knitting project. I asked if I could sit with her, she obliged, and we sat in silence working on our projects. Hell, when I finished up my project, I discovered even a Nasonex box can be used as a suitable Nostepinde.

We sat in silence. No discussion. No introduction. No mention of Ravelry or anything else for that matter and before I knew it, he arrived, and my day in the city was done.

The "Fruits" of Another Yarn Crawl

This past Saturday, I (along with three other friends) met a fourth friend (and her boyfriend, who are both from Australia) in NYC, where they are on holiday until the 17th.

I've been remiss/laxe about posting the goings on. Too much fun, laughter, etc, and though there are stories to tell and pictures to show, not everything can or must be shared online.

We were smart, and headed to Habu FIRST. This is where I purchased these two spools (looks like they're wound on drinking straws, to be honest) of Laotian Silk (which I might decide to use on an Oya (Turkish Lace/thread crochet) project.

I also picked up these two little skeins (about 200 yds each) of what I believe to be linen or a cotton blend. No text on the labels, so I don't know for sure. The only thing I "got" out of the sales clerk was yardage.

We had lunch at Heartland Brewery, and much merriment ensued. Too much, to be honest!

After lunch, we went to M&J Trims, where (even though I did not have a burning NEED for them) I picked up these two sets of acrylic handles.

As for the friend from Australia, she had a certifiable, "New York" experience, as she was engaged in and encouraged conversation, and even managed to hug, this guy named Larry.

Initially, us jaded New Yorkers were in hysterics, partly out of shock of the types of things Larry was saying to the friend, and partly out of the fact that the aforementioned friend did not shy
away from Larry, culminating in some great photos and even a hug.

The way my friend spoke with Larry, was nothing short of tender and kind despite the inappropriateness of the things he *ahem* wanted to do. She was full of humanity and kindness, thus making a shocking and inappropriately amusing situation into a rather poignant one.

I have no doubt that the kindness he experienced from my friend was perhaps the only kindness he experienced that day, if not the only kindness he experienced in a great while.

This is a crop of Larry.

A Mini Yarn Crawl

Yesterday I had to go into NYC for an appointment with my specialist. Afterwards, a friend and I had the rest of the day planned. Here's our itinerary. I've struck through what was originally planned, and sharing where we actually went. Pictures to be forthcoming.

Itinerary:

We actually decided to visit Anne & Co., where I got some magenta burly spun for a monster granny 'ghan full of splashy color, an M crochet hook, a K afghan hook, and two abalone buttons. They asked if I wanted my burly spun wound, and of course I did! They wound it as far as they could on the ball winder, and the rest of the hank they had to do by hand. IT IS ENORMOUS.

(Pictures forthwith.)

Jackson Hole
1270 Madison @ 91st

Jackson Hole was jammed to capacity, so we ended up hoofing it to 3 Guys for lunch.

Cooper Hewitt Museum
91st & 5th

As Jackson Hole and the museum were proximal, it did not make sense for us to walk back uptown to the museum and just continue making our way back towards GCT.

Knitty City
208 W. 79th St. (Between Broadway & Amsterdam)

(Incidentally, there is a Lush @ 76th & Broadway, #2165 Broadway.)

We ditched this segment of the itinerary, and opted to bus/hoof it over to String.

On our way there, we were walking behind a woman on Park Avenue wearing some heels that were either uncomfortable or too high or what-have-you, and you could see her ankles really taking a beating while she walked.

At first it was a wild goose chase, going to String's previous address. We called and walked over to their new location. And in doing so, we were glad that we went to Annie & Co., first.

String was in total disarray, as they were moving their sale yarn out, and putting new stuff for Spring in stock. Isn't this something that most folks would do either before opening or after closing for the day?

There wasn't any seating in there, so I opted to go outside and sit on the stoop while my friend browsed. Had this been our only stop for the day, I would have been very disappointed.

In comparison, Annie & Co., was a bright cheerful, inviting shop. Plenty of lovely yarns to oggle. I justified the purchase of the yarn and the tunisian hook... and the M hook and abalone buttons were just total impulse! I can't wait to snap a picture of it!

So we headed on over to MarieBelle Chocolates 762 Madison @ 65th for tea and hot cocoa and purchases. I sat on the bus behind a woman wearing a mink coat and a straw pith helmet and Gucci sunglasses. HILARIOUS "Safari-meets-Upper-East-Side." I leaned in to whisper to my friend traveling with me, "Why is it every time we get on the bus, it smells like ass/shit?"

Lastly on our way back to Grand Central, we passed someone, who my friend suspects is a student at FIT (we THINK), who looked kinda like either a "He-She-It" (not that there's anything wrong with it!) transgender or transvestite albino, wearing broken down go-go boots and the rest of the ensemble was total 1960s retro Carnaby Street attire. Pasty sallow make up, baby pink lipstick. And another pedestrian had a skirt that was entirely too short that if she were wearing one, you'd be able to see her tampon string. But then again, I think I just answered my earlier question about why the buses smell like ass.

Good times~

Thanks NYTimes For Planning My Day!

I go into NYC every three months (or so) to visit my specialist. I'll be heading back there 3/16.

In today's NY Times:

March 5, 2009

Feeling Felt

By TIM McKEOUGH

IF you ask her about trends in textiles, Susan Brown, an assistant curator at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, will tell you that felt is having a very big moment, finding its way into everything from fashion and product design to architectural installations and home furnishings.

It has become so ubiquitous, in fact, that Ms. Brown has organized an exhibition at the museum called “Fashioning Felt.” The show, which runs from March 6 to Sept. 7, explores the many uses of felt, from traditional pieces, like a Turkish shepherd’s cloak and an Afghan saddle pad, to contemporary objects like the “personal uniforms” designed and worn by the artist Andrea Zittel as conceptual art.

“There’s something so tactile about it,” Ms. Brown said of the fabric. “The desire to touch is strong with most textiles, but particularly so with felt.”

It differs from other fabrics, she explained, because it is made not by knitting or weaving but by matting wool fibers together using water and friction. The result, she said, “is very comforting, warm and inviting.”

Although historically felt has been a natural material, it is often made these days with synthetics like polyester or acrylic, so that “it has the softness you expect from a textile, but it can be handled and manipulated more like a plastic,” she said. “You can make it very hard, mold it into three-dimensional forms and machine it with all kinds of equipment.”

Felt’s flexibility and versatility have inspired designers to find a variety of uses for it in the home. Shopping for felt products in Manhattan, Ms. Brown identified several examples, including the Gubi room divider from Karkula, in TriBeCa. A rigid, freestanding panel with a gently undulating shape, it is made of felt that contains polyester fiber, some of it extracted from plastic water bottles.

For those who prefer their felt on the floor, Ms. Brown found vibrant rugs at the Odegard showroom, which makes them to order. She admired several samples, including Saba, a single piece of felt decorated with a patchwork of stripes drawn from the same family of colors (hues like orange, green or blue). She also liked a yellow oval rug with playful embroidery.

At Lancelotti, a tiny East Village boutique crammed with designer housewares, she found a number of small-scale objects, including the Beehive SoftBowl, a ribbed pot by the Philadelphia design firm Mio that could be used as a cozy for potted plants or a container for mail.

Shopping online, Ms. Brown picked out intricate, die-cut placemats at kikkerlandshop.com, which demonstrated yet another of felt’s assets: it doesn’t fray when it is cut.

“It’s a little bit liberated from the constraints of other textiles,” she said. “It’s a really wonderful, yet strange material.”

From the Cooper-Hewitt Design Blog:



Cooper-Hewitt is amazingly close to my specialist, who is in the neighborhood of 93/Park, and this at 91/5th.

Now I'm off to find a place for lunch. A lot of French type bistros in that vicinity. I'd love to find a Thai place, though. Looks like we'll head to Jackson Hole for burgers!

I have already mapped out that MarieBelle chocolates at 762 Madison is a straight shot from the museum down 5th (by bus, my knee is still not right), making a left at 65th and a left on Madison.

Now, do I dare find a LYS nearby? Here is the itinerary thus far:

Cooper Hewitt Museum
91st & 5th

Jackson Hole
1270 Madison @ 91st

(TAKE CAB!)

Knitty City
208 W. 79th St. (Between Broadway & Amsterdam)

(Incidentally, there is a Lush @ 76th & Broadway, #2165 Broadway.)

MarieBelle Chocolates
762 Madison @ 65th

On Being Busy...

Sunday went very well. Mom got weepy at one of the gifts I got her (a mug with a sepia tone print of one of her fave pictures of the three of us as tiny kids), and I gave her a Krups waffle iron for her, and made up a batch of waffles for lunch. After, I headed to Edison to do some Indian grocery shopping. After that, I went to Clark to get Thai food. I also ordered extras, so I'll be having that tonight.

Without fanfare, I went to my specialist in NYC. I don't know why I hardly told anyone where I was going... didn't even mention it to my folks when I visited them. The appointment didn't go too hot.

After the dr. appt, I went to Jackson Hole for lunch, and walked around a bit, and rather than doing my usual "multi-mile" walk thru NYC, I decided to take the M1 to 54th, walk to 53rd and walk two avenues to get to the Museum of Arts & Design to see their "Radical Lace" exhibit. I loved every moment of it, so much so, I bought their book devoted to this concept. Not cheap, but I know I'll be getting hours of enjoyment reading about everything, as well as Googling the individual artists.

The first item in the exhibit which "spoke" to me was "It Sucks," by Freddie Robins, which was a hand-knit shawl made of delicate Shetland lace, based on a traditional Shetland christening shawl, but with the rude slogan, "IT SUCKS" knited into it. According to the book which details the exhibit (and then some): "It's a real comment on motherhood and babies, and on knitting as well, thinking of the Shetland women knitting these shawls for a living. It just sucks, if you are having to do it for money continuously."

My thoughts: I laughed when I read the shawl.

The next item which caught my eye was, "Lilian's Face Flowing," by Barbara Zucker. According to the book, the description of this piece: "It features a cascading network of wrinkles (cut from rubber)that has become a dynamic entity of its own--an enormous river." The artist's thoughts behind this sculpture was: "She found that rubber gave her the power to manipulate the forms and, in a sense, conquer them symbolically: "I wanted to be able to throw them around or cast them off at will, like pulling the skin away from the face and throwing age on the floor."

My thoughts on this? Aging isn't fun. Aging isn't glamorous.

In contrast, "Bobbin Lace Lamp" by Niels Van Eijk WAS, indeed, glamorous, AND innovative. I've since gone to his website, and I have to laugh at some of the products! I especially like the "Moulded Mole," and the "Cleaning Machinery."

Though I can go on and on about this exhibit, the last thing I really enjoyed was EVERYTHING by the artist, Dave Cole. His "Knitting Machine" and his dress made out of 879 one dollar bills (cut to 1/8 strips and knitted), were some wild things. The knitting machine was not just static art, it was a video of two tractors holding two telephone poles fashioned into knitting needles, and was also performance art, as the "knitting machine" knitted a big-assed US flag.

The museum was between 5th and 6th, so I walked to Broadway and took the M10 down to Herald Square to check out Lush, which I have used some of their products (a friend sent me a gift pack via mail, and I've ordered some other items), but there's nothing like wandering thru a store and smelling and touching everything and figure out what you want. Good times. They gave out little samples of their "Dream Cream," and after a skin consultation, they gave me some samples of things they suggest for my skin type. I walked out having bought a bubble bar, a bath bomb, a massage bar, a chunk of their Sultana soap, and some other things I can't wait to use. I think I'm going to use the massage bar as an all over moisturizer, it's good stuff!

Then I took another bus back up to 42nd, and hung out at Bryant Park. Sat and chatted on the phone, did a little crochet, got approached by no less than three homeless people (two to admire what I was working on and make small talk; the third to hit me up for cash), and enjoyed a diet pepsi before heading back to GCT, where I met up with the Maharajah and we went to Michael Jordan's Steakhouse for dinner.

Even the train ride home could not ruin my mood. It was a good day.

UPDATE, 5/18/07:

I would be remiss if I did not mention that when I came home from this lovely day, in my mailbox was a parcel from Teabird. Inside was a mix CD (I'm listening to it now) of some mindful, peaceful instrumentals, and a fantastic washcloth (here it is, folded in fourths):

For me, I take bathing seriously, as in a ritual. I have to have the RIGHT soap or scented bath for my mood. Some days a grapefruit or peppermint to wake me up, or lavender or patchouli to calm me down. And lately I've been on a Sultana (from Lush) kick (truth be told I even shampoo with it--and much to my surprise, it leaves my scalp SIGNIFICANTLY itch free). And Teabird's washcloths... I use one every day. I never tire of them. They are one of my favorite things!