Going Home

My apartment in a truckA few days ago I loaded all my possessions into a rental truck and made the seven hour drive back to Maine... with my cat. Thankfully my pal Sarah came a long for the ride and kept Louis (the cat) from jumping in my face. He chilled on the dashboard mostly while I admired the leaves and made small talk, unable to comprehend all I was leaving behind.

The time to move from Brooklyn hit me like a ton of bricks. Really? Leave the coolest place? (it is right?) Why? I have everything I'll ever need here. It's hip, happening and there's so much to do! Right. There's so much to do. At any given moment you could be doing something else much cooler, with much cooler people, wearing much cooler clothes or shoes. My friends are pretty rad, so I tended to focus on the shoes part and since I was almost always broke, buying such things was usually out of the question. Oh NY, how you inflated my insecurities!

My Marks family send off. They all came to wave goodbye, heart wrenching, but much appreciated!But I don't want to dwell on the darkness, because the city is a fabulous place, I'm sure in time I'll even be able to lift my "I heart NY" mug high, but it just wasn't working out.

Of course I have HUGE plans of doing everything I ever wanted in life in this new magical land of opportunity, but for now...I'm content to collect my thoughts, breathe fresh air, talk to people I haven't seen in years, invest in some new projects and find my smile.

Things I will miss:

  • My pals and their kids
  • The flea and these pickles
  • The slate sidewalks covered in leaves and a little rain
  • The Brooklyn Bridge
  • Brooklyn being part of my addressThe Marks brought me a parting gift and as I opened it 2 year old Clarissa said "Happy Bithday Gimmie!" which just killed me!
  • Bike riding in all seasons (ok, I didn't really do that, but at least I could!)
  • Brooklyn Family Thanksgivings
  • Being able to get almost anything at anytime
  • Being able to drink as much as you want and still get home safely (hello subway/car service!)
  • Things being open past 9pm!
  • The skyline
  • Parties on my roof

Things I won't miss

  • Traffic
  • Being underground
  • Cockroaches
  • The anger... in every line, street corner, subway car, driver...
  • Carrying my bike up four flights!

What I made today

Ok, so to be honest,it's what I made today and yesterday. Mostly yesterday, I just ran out of light to photograph.

I was inspired by this post by Wren Handmade, guest blogging on Design*Sponge, to make fabric yo-yos. I actually made a bunch for a recent sweater design which I can't show yet, but here are some that I grouped together for a necklace. The pink fabric is from a vintage slip and the striped is a yummy silk taffeta. I like adding tiny buttons, especially in groups of three, to spice things up. I pulled out all the stops here, using buttons and fabric I've been hanging onto for a long time, but I'm glad, because it makes the new pieces feel like little treasure chests.

This post by Love Forever, along with the latest Anthropologie catalog showing(see necklaces below) inspired me to make my own version of a collar necklace.

Bit's of lace, many buttons, knit coral, chain, a locket, beads, yo-yo, embroidery... so again, a treasure trove of things I had lying around just waiting for a home.... all atop a piece of wool felt tied with vintage, silk seam binding.

 

 

 

Check out the awesome sloppy seems on the curtain I made! SO obvious with the sun behind them. I'm just not a perfectionist when it comes to sewing. I get started and blaze on through like a tornado. It's a little silly, but usually if you see me sewing, I'm procrastinating. Any "tiny sewing project" quickly turns into a major undertaking, so I just want to "Get er done!"

 

Also, here's a little buddy who'll be joining me at the flea market tomorrow. I found his unfinished form when moving into my studio, so I decided to finish him... or her? Her legs are quite long. Perfect for hopping!

 

 

Brooklyn Fleas: Cooler than most...

Hoorraaaaaaay!! It's flea market time again! Well, for me at least. The Brooklyn Flea has been going strong all winter in Dumbo, for a few weeks now in Fort Greene and is soon going to launch a new, under the Brooklyn Bridge location (umm, rad!) I was so busy rehearsing for a performance that I just couldn't get it together for the flea until now. I'm super excited to go back and see all my flea pals tomorrow and hopefully make some more!!

My plan is to go every other weekend, so I can hopefully last all summer! I start this Saturday!

Here are my dates:

May: 2, 16, 30

June: 13, 27

July: 11, 25

August: 8, 22

 

 

Keep your fingers crossed for no rain!!!