Life as of Late...

So I've been very busy lately babysitting and frantically making things for the Renegade Craft Fair. I've mostly been making jewelry which I would love to show you but... the trash camera I've been using while I wait for mine to get fixed, doesn't take very good up close shots. Alas. I guess You kids will have to come out to the craft fair to see all of it and buy it up so I can pay my rent!!!

I'll just share a few random things with you. First check out Luke and Eleanor posing while picking flowers in the park. I think this is one of the best kids shots I've ever taken! It really captured a funny moment between the two. We were gathering flowers to make flower necklaces... until a crazy storm hit and branches started falling down. Luke reminds me everyday that we still have to finish making those flower necklaces.... I wish I was getting married so these two could be my ring bearer and flower girl. Do you think they'll but up for it at age thirteen?

These are the two latest Harfs,


The top one will probably fit a child better or maybe a gal who's a little smaller than my model, Petunia.

I recently took the kids to ride the carousel in Prospect Park. How much do I love carousels? They really go so fast and I love the music. Anyone want to go again with me? I know some kids we can drag along to make it look like we're doing it for them...

As the summer approaches, the light in my room around six o'clock has been amazing. I didn't think trash camera could really capture it... but a little bit.

Dinah has been a little dare devil lately! She jumps out up on my window ledge like it's no big deal and sometimes it totally freaks me out. I don't mind when she goes out on the fire escape... look how funny she is!

I think this is it guys. I wish I had more new ideas to share... but I'm a little uninspired. What else do you think I should make for the craft fair????

My Latest Crush

No secret. I'm totally in love with Henry on Ugly Betty. The actor who plays him, Christopher Gorham, is wonderful and handsome off the show, but it really is the Nerdy Henry that makes me giggle. I kind of love having a "program" to watch that is just light and fun and that has a cute little love story I can totally crush out on.

It seems I have many "Programs" these days.
These are the shows I make sure I'm home for:
Gilmore Girls (again more crushy love stories!)
LOST (hello!)
Ugly Betty
Greys Anatomy

These are the shows I've started getting into and make sure I watch if I'm home:
Veronica Mars
Brothers and Sisters

I'm a little sad that all the shows are ending for the summer. Especially that the Girlmore Girls will be no more. I can live without the fast paced witty banter, but I really love the Luke/Lorelai love roller coaster.

I guess now I can go out and enjoy the nice summer nights instead.

Yarn Crush

I just spotted this yarn on purlsoho.com It's called Nashua Ecologie Cotton. All the colors are natural plant dyes, which is super super cool and makes for pretty, subtle colors.

I don't know about you, but I'm always at a loss for delicate Spring/Summer cover ups. There are just some occasions where a hoodie is not appropriate so I've been planning a new cotton sweater in my head for a while now. I want it to be pretty simple and have some eyelets. Here's my drawing:

This yarn will make very defined stitches, so I think the eyelets will look nice. It might also look nice to have some other lace or cabling going on. I'll keep you posted as I buy, swatch, and knit this thing. It might be done for next Spring!

My new crush....


Is it possible to have a crush on someone's imagination? I mean, I really love my own, but when I look upon the work of Ann Wood I get giddy with crush-ness. I just love everything her hands touch... look


Her aesthetic is so whimsical and glittery. Like a day dreaming mind of a child with the hands of a skilled artisan. Her work embodies so many of my favorite things... birds, antique things, lost treasures, dioramas, vintage fabrics, collections, fantasy worlds... glitter...

Her wedding cake toppers make me ten times more eager to walk down the isle! Please visit her site and see all the other lovelies!

I leave you with my favorite, Isabelle.

A very long day

I opened my eyes this morning to an apocalyptic sky of yellowish-orange, just moments before a huge thunder clap and a monsoon like drenching. It was six am. I didn't go back to sleep at all! I totally got up and made breakfast ( oatmeal & coffee). Sipping coffee I did some epoxy-ing and jewelry making:


Then I knit some trees while watching Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy. Meet "Evelyn," "Karl'" and "Gertie."



This was all before 10 am!!

Then I headed to Anne's house to make more stuff, but first I went to the grocery store to pick up makings for sandwiches. Somewhere in my careful planning I managed to forget my wallet and had to schlep all the way back home for it. I did get to Anne's where we chatted, made things and ate things.
I made a bunch more earrings for The Renegade Craft Fairand later we took an adventure to look at fabric and pick up some Styrofoam display heads.

By this time I was starting to fade, but I had one more errand to run. I ended my day at Treehouse! I dropped off the trees and jewelry I had just made. I chatted with Siri, one of the owners, some lovely gals crafting away and a funny, cute neighborhood boy, who I think was flirting with me a bit. (tee hee)

It was a lovely, lovely, long day. So much was made and I'm going to bed feeling rather accomplished. This is a great feeling.

W 46th street btwn 6th & 5th

Normally I'm not a huge fan of the hustle and bustle of Times Square but 46th street has now become a happy destination spot for me thanks to one of my favorite and important supply stores: Metaliferous

It doesn't matter that the isles are about two feet wide and that every jewelry design student seems to be in there when you are... the treasures are worth it. Well worth the dirty hands too! (Just ask and they'll let you use to bathroom to cleanup)

The staff are quick to point you in the right direction, suggest the best tool or cut chain for you, but don't expect a chat about the weather.

Before you go, make sure to stop at the $3 Falafel stand nearby... you'll need your sustenance to get out alive!

I got so many new treasures... I can't wait to share the jewels I make!

Swatch blankets for Eleanor

Eleanor, the little girl I babysit, loves to tuck her animals into bed. Quite often I come across little rows or groups of her stuffed animals that are all snuggled in their own "blanket." She wraps them in napkins, socks, clothes... you know, whatever is nearby. One day, as I saw her wrap a bear in a pair of panties, I thought, "Maybe I should knit this kid some blankets..."

Then I realized I already had a perfect pile of blankets already! Every time I plan a project, I first knit a swatch. A swatch is not that big, just a small sample of the stitch I want to use, or whatever I need to work out before starting the actual garment. I have all these little "blankets" just lying around gathering dust so I decided to give them to Eleanor. It didn't take long to put them to use!

My Helpers...

I have some furry helpers at my house who try so very hard, they do...
I took this moments before it might have been too late for Dinah


This is Louis getting mad for taking my dress away. He always manages to find the thing I've put down for five seconds and curl up on it. When I move said thing, he lets me have it.I just wanted to put on my party dress, geeeesh!

Dinah sabotaging her own photo op...

The girly team:

Neighborhood

Last night I got off the train pretty hangry and since it was late I didn't want to go home to make food. I know, just pick up food on your way home, like every other city dweller. Oh, I forgot there's only Fried Chicken... WAIT!!! Just kidding, since I moved here four years ago there are a handful of places within paces from my apartment, including the fancy Pizzeria/Exspresso Bar that I got food from last night. As I sat waiting for my fancy sandwich, I watched the handsome Italian owners buzz around in there overly distressed designer denim and thought about this post. I'm going to make a map of all these new places....

The hipness has come to me. That's right, that's a cupcake two blocks away. My map is not really to scale, these little places make a perfect little circle around my house. I haven't left Brooklyn in ages!

What I made today

Well, yesterday, actually.

A "Bloomers" prototype. I will most likely use a more subtle fabric, but this is all I had enough of at the time. (I really need to update my fabric stash.) This sample is hastily sewn together but the real bloomers will be much nicer. Drawstring waist and elastics at the cuff. The photographed version doesn't have elastic yet.

Pizza!!! I love homemade pizza for all the reasons!!!

Nests

Don't worry, I can still knit!

Holy mole chickens!!!
So I was putting away a beautiful pile of kitchen towels yesterday when this slicer guy attacked me. Stupidly I had left it out with one of it's sharpest attachments facing up... I mean it's an incredible kitchen tool, with many SHARP blades to cut anything, including your fingers!!! I set my pile of towels down on top of it, so I could open the drawer and just like that, it had cut through my finger. I'll spare the details but just let you know there was fingernail involved and it totally freaked me out. Not to mention quite a bit of blood, pain and tears on my part.

I was all alone, so of course I called my mom. I balled like a little kid (it felt really good to do that) and decided to go to the emergency room. Luckily my roommate Lauren was on her way home and went to the hospital with me and paid for the car, since I had zero cash.

Ok, we all know E.R.'s take forever right? Well normally I don't mind waiting one bit because I always have my knitting. The trouble is... you can't knit with a bleeding, throbbing, middle finger. It kind of gets in the way, so I had nothing to do for my 5 hour wait. Lauren stayed with me for a while and then my friend Dave showed up with his computer so we could play old school nintendo games. I don't blame anyone for not staying the long haul. They didn't call my name until midnight.

When I first got to the emergency room, I was actually happy to wait because the episode of Grey's Anatomy I had just missed was playing on the t.v. and if I was going to have to sit a wait doing nothing, I might as well catch up on my program. But then the big burly security guard came in and switched the chanel to this:
"Ah, what are you doing? I was watching that." I said.
"I'll change it back..." he grunted (I think)

Then I became one of THOSE people. Out loud:
"You're kidding right? Wrestling? I'm just as tall as you, shoot, I can switch it right back you know. Turn off MY program...show me your blood. Are you bleeding? You can't even see the t.v. from over there...." Eventually I stopped muttering and making all the people around me laugh. I don't think anyone really wanted to watch wrestling... but none of us switched the channel.

Around 11 this somewhat crazy old Haitian man sat down to talk to me. He kept saying he was a "Business Man" and a "Free Man" and shouldn't have to wait. Then he talked to me about voodo and how Heavy Metal music was the devil. Crazy as he was, I enjoyed talking to him after 3 hours of silence. I also made friends with this little boy. He had been tossing glances at me all night and eventually came and sat next to me. He was so cute. He obviously wanted to talk to me, but he kept his head down and wouldn't look at me. Anytime I said anything to him though, he would smile just beams into his lap. I wish I could have hung out longer with him, but they finally called my name.

I went into the trauma room and sat down next to a Polish man in gray shorts, white socks and a muscle shirt. He had obviously been in a fight, cuts and bruises littered his face. "I lost my finger..." I said jokingly. "Maybe it is with my face" he replied, making me giggle. I kind of had a little fun with all the other peeps in the room. I just couldn't be serious because the Dr. was cutting my finger tip off and it really hurt! The Polish guy, who was super cute in the way that he spoke... it certainly didn't match the guy his face suggested... well I'll just have to do my impression of him in person. He was such a riot, I really got a kick out of talking to him. The Dr. jokingly asked me to stay to keep the polish guy occupied. So it all ended on a good note. Only 20 minutes once they called my name.

Now I have a bandaged finger and hopefully everything will grow back. Luckily I can still knit, since I have two sweater sleeves to finish this weekend!

My Pillowcase Collection...


Most are vintage from various tag sales etc. I like having a lot of pillowcases because they are a easy way to liven up your bed. Vintage linens feel the best...I highly recommend them. I change cases often and like to mix and match- I don't think they need to match your sheets or even each other... but I'm big on coordinating them, so I stick with one color family at a time. I have three pillows on my bed, so it's usually a pair that matches and a bright funky one for my favorite pillow in the front.

Before and after

I recently re-did my desk area cause it was getting a little crazy. Wandering around the hardware store I found these bulletin board squares which inspired it all. That and needing to procrastinate from doing my taxes. I couldn't possibly get my taxes in order with such an unorganized desk! So here's my desk before:


And after.
(Well, the tape provided with the bulletin board square was not quite strong enough and they all fell down shortly after this photo was taken. I've since pinned them more solidly into place. It looks the same!)

Favorites...


I find it a little ridiculous that we are often expected to pick favorites. How do people do this? Or more importantly why???? I always feel bad for the things not picked, however, I think I can confidently say that these sticky notes are my favorite... sticky notes that is.
They are designed by Lotta Jandsdotter and you get a whole palette of cute birds and little designs that might make you want to practice your penmanship!!!