SistahCraft

Charmed! In San Francisco

 Golden Moments

 

(Mr. K's pic of the Golden Gate Bridge, on his last visit; all pics enlarge).

Hey there everybody!

Checking the date of my last post, I was a bit shocked––where did the time go? I Thank the ancestors for photo aps, while sorting through the blur of events pics that your life becomes when you're on the move.

Right now my butt's stationary, having had to cancel my standing date to spin in the park with the spinderella of Harlem herself, my sistahfriend Chanté, due to the iffy-looking weather. But disappointment has led to a welcome opportunity to catch up, and share with y'all a few things I felt could make a needleworker's life more joyful.

San Francisco, Coming And Going

On a stopover, you don't have time to take in all the sights, so Mr. K and I had to concentrate on what was important––knitting, eating, drinking, and shopping. A delicious lunch at Kuleto's, which included some spicy, sensual bloody marys, fortified us for walking around (and occasionally up and downhill) the downtown section of the city. We ended our day at Heaven's Dog in SOMA. I let the bartender chose to make a cocktail for me, and it was transcendental, as was the food––light and lovely on the palate.

(The area shown, is fab in summer evenings for knitting friends to sit and get some rows in while having a cocktail and their divine dumplings. 

Reveal Your Charms

(And the flyer whorl on the spinning wheel turns!).

Whether you knit or crochet, stitch markers not only fulfill their intended purpose, but like shoes and cars, speak hanks about your personality. Sarit Simäyof's World of Charms on Powell Street, abetted my lust to re-purpose a more than a few of their trinkets. With over 9,000 charms that represent the who, what and where (the Michael Jackson charms are in, ba-by), everyone's needlework can give a clue. I also want to send a shout to their gracious and patient sales associates––you're the best! Prices range from under $20 to over $1000.

(She's as sweet as the candy she's holding. Thanks to thedailygrommet.com, for this photo).

Claudia Schwartz  is the seraphic owner of Bell'occhio, an absolutely recherché treasure chest, that's worth a trip to on its own. Mr. K  bought the vert vapeur shoe box, which was perfect to hold the wine goblets he hand blew for his father's 80th birthday. Now, go to her website post haste!

The Littlest San Franciscan

But not yet. Before you go, here is a pic of the city's most charming new resident, who arrived into the world in March.

Finn Liang, is the nephew of Ursula Liang, my co-worker. His arrival was inspiring for me, in that I could knit something that wasn't  a "baby color", and was meaningful.

In Chinese culture, red and gold symbolize prosperity and good fortune, and I believe that babies born into today's world should have as much as possible! The number 8 additionally symbolizes good luck, and this pattern called for 8 buttons. See, the ancestors know, 'cause that detail wasn't conscious in my choice––they will guide you every time.

Finished in spring, the large (18 month) size, will fit just when it's cold enough to need it. The pattern from Lion Brand Yarns, took about 4 skeins of Universal Yarns "Eden Silk", a merino/silk combo, for the body, and one skein of a  gold wool/silk from my stash. The needle size was a 4 (3.5mm).

Aren't these frog buttons the best?

Ursula and I went to Tender Buttons at 143 E 62nd St (212- 758-7004), where she chose them. All blessings to the family!

Bouyed By Benevolence

The Seamen's Church Institute

(A scale model of a Gloucester fisherman; unidentified American schooner from late 19th-century to early 20th-century; weight, 50 tons or more. Property of the institute. All pics enlarge)

The One That Got Away

Recently one evening, weaving through the homeward bound Financial District's worker bees, en route to a Sit n' Knit meetup, at the Seamen's Church Institute, I was shook by a memory. I was a little girl, sitting in the kitchen, my mom telling me about her relationship with Frezel, an African merchant seaman who was in love with her, before she met her husband, my father. Back in the day the myth was, that seamen were prized marriage prospects. They made good money, accumulated from long voyages (if not disposed to gambling), and they brought back beautiful gifts. Indeed, I loved visiting my aunt C.'s house; it was a museum of Oceania, filled with the souvenirs of her former marriage to one. My mom however, surface dweller that she was, went for my father's looks instead. Frezel it seemed, bowed out with dignity, returned to the sea, and later married.

Suddenly, I considered Frezel's reality––spending weeks, months even out to sea, it's actually a hard and dangerous life. Did he come here? 

A Vision On Land

(Beyond macramé; a homage to the old church)

The institute, now inhabiting a new building is awesome! Designed inside and out to resemble an ocean liner, it sports a collection of old and new marine artifacts that are marvelously juxtaposed.* The upper floor, which make up the roof deck are perfect for a fab event (hear that, Florence?), but provides unpretentious comfort to the visiting mariners––its primary purpose.

(A wall of warmth; and this is just the scarves)

 I ogled my way up the stairs at the  collection,  then entered the expansive yarn room. Folks, my photos would do it no justice; believe me, this room should be made a knitting heritage site. Nonetheless, the intimate group seated around the table were chatting and knitting away, with the nonchalance of––been there, felt that. Me? I was busy taking pics. Suddenly I felt bemused; Sahara, you're acting like a damn fool. Okay now. Regaining my cool, I joined the group to a cordial, but friendly reception, warming up considerably, as the evening progressed.

(L to R; Jeanette, Angela, and Vicky) 

 (Our host; Jeanette, with her lighthouse smile).

Guiding Light

Jeanette Devita is the manager for the institute's Christmas At Sea program. The yarn room (swoon) may be her office, but I can see why it wouldn't faze her; this sister works assiduously, coordinating the efforts of  thousands of volunteer knitters and crocheters across the country, who produce what looks like an ocean of accessories that are distributed to close to 20,000 seamen. Ancestors!

 (You are here; the volunteers)

But hey, it's not about the yarn. "I'm really fortunate to be able to reach out and connect with the knitters and seamen," she says. I ask her about the tallying of all those goods. There are volunteers who come in once a week to assist, but ultimately? The connection's in the touch for Jeanette. "Every stitch of every scarf I handle connects a knitter to a seaman." Damn. Damn. I wonder if the woman Frezel eventually married, knew how to knit or crochet. I hope so.

To learn more about this extraordinary organization, and get involved, click on the the link.

*Album pics of this beautiful building, are in the side bar.

  

Franklin Habit At Knitty City––The Itch Scratcher Book Tour!

You Know You've Hit The Big Time When…

(You Have Your Own Colorway! Companion yarn to the book, by Lorna's Laces; all pics enlarge.)

Franklin Habit's appearance at Knitty City last Sunday was definitely the place to be, as  you can see from the looks of this pic. In the midst of this crowd, the Lord of Lace himself was giving a presentation of the Print o' the Wave stole, that he knitted in a color so sexy––I wanted to stop any current knitting to completely devote all my attention to it, finishing in time to wear at a cool, summer latin jazz night at Willie's Steak House. I can't believe Franklin uses this stole as the project for his Intro to Lace class! But hey, once you can knit this, a night of dancing salsa Eddie Torres style in the back yard of Willie's, will be easy!

 (Franklin flossing the sexy stole; below, lace detail.)

The Hullaballoo, and The Hoi Polloi

Now you know what makes an event like this so much fun, are the knitters who come out. So let me not continue this post, without paying homage to the knitterati! Kisses and hugs to eternally fabulous Phyllis Howe, producer of the events at New York City's nicest yarn shop; yes this was definitely a biggie!

The ever-bouyant Pearl Chin  proprietor, holding it down. I heard on the Q.T.*, that books earmarked for Franklin's appearance, sold out 20 minutes before he arrived––talk about fabness! Many thanks to Annie & Co., the chic shop on the Upper East, for supplying more books.

(Right, a rouge spinner.) I always find it so––rad––when you see the one person at a knitting event, spinning.

Now Here's Where I Insert The Plug

Friends, do get this little tome, and then kick back with a cup or glass.  I tell you, Franklin had to be a fly on the wall, to create these cartoons. You'll know why they're funny––or you don't knit enough. And his essay on immortality as it pertains to knitting alone, is worth the book.

Almost Famous

Before I sign off to comptemplate whether to have Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Mexican, Dominican, Pakistani, or Middle-Eastern take out (Mr. K complains about the lack of food choices in our neighborhood––talk about jaded), I'll leave y'all with this frightening pic of myself, in the company of the illustrious illustrator.  Maybe some of his fabulousness will rub off on me! LOL!

* Q.T. means Quiet Time, for those of you too young to remember.

Now, Don't Drop The Ball––March Announcements

If you see something, say something…

(A garter stitch swatch I found, dropped on the steps of the 40th Street subway station, NYC; all pics enlarge.)

If you are the knitter who lost the swatch, or know who did and are reading this post (a shout out to my NYC subway knitters!), you may find me the following events. Now, I hope you just didn't say f*** it, and commenced to knit your project––'cause you know how I feel about swatching first.

I'm Just Itching To See Him!

(portrait by Franklin Habit)

Hubba, hubba! The copiously talented and rakishly handsome Franklin Habit whose blog, The Panopticon, is about to cause the internet to crash due to the size of his fan-base, will be appearing at the wonderful Knitty City on the 29th of this month.  The creator of the sexy and sold out "Guys with Yarn 2009" calendar, will be signing his uproariously funny book,  "It Itches".  (Interweave Press). As the line will probably stretch down the block, come early, and bring a seat (sorry Thomas, I don't know if he's single, you will have to ask him yourself).

Just In Time For The Cherry Blossoms

"America is not like a blanket-one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt-many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven together by a common thread."––Jesse Jackson, American minister and civil-rights leader

Pictured here, the eleventh hour quilter herself, Michelle Bishop, founder of Harlem Needlearts, and portrait quilter Laura Gadson, are getting an extension of their 15 minutes of fame.  The work of these two members of the Harlem Girls Quilting Circle, are part of the exhibition Quilts For Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of Our 44th President. Due to its overwhelming success, this show has been extended to July 26th 2009; it's at the Historical Society of Washington D.C.

For a short list of more events, check out New York This N' That, in the sidebar.

The Aliens Have Returned Me!

Where I Was Seen Last During The Summer…

 

(I only got up for a moment; The Silver Spinner, my Ashford Kiwi wheel, custom painted and tricked out to be portable, by the handsome Dave Paul of The Merlin Tree. All pics enlarge.)

Hey there everybody!!!

I want to thank all of you who expressed concern for me. And since I do care about your feelings, I'm not gonna lie––I was not a candidate for the visitors; I was right here on earth.

Honestly? I just didn't have the time to spend online, so I had to take a break. Fall/winter became very busy, between work at the magazine, and my work in knit product development. With the hours I had left, I directed my energies to living, because I am not under the self-help book inspired illusion that one can have or do it all––that's for the deities. And maybe the aliens.

I finished some intense design commitments, then acquired skill in a new medium––hand spinning––in order to refocus my eyes, and find new inspiration. I'm now feeling renewed and refreshed,  just in time for the return of spring! 

But, as the daffodils are moving up, some things have moved on. Here are two announcements, so you won't be unpleasantly surprised when you visit NYC.

Last Stitches

The start of this year has seen the closing of two yarn shops. The first, Yarn Connection (218 Madison Avenue at 36th Street), was a favorite haunt of mine for over 20 years. Arriving at the top of the stairs to Jane Young's jewel box of a shop on the second floor, you were often greeted by boxes of the latest yarns stacked in the hallway; my heart would immediately start to palpitate with cupidity. Her staff was the nicest, both patient and helpful to everyone, and they had the best sale bins for designer yarn in the city. Yes folks, this was where a frugal gal could look good. I admit I didn't go to the final sale. I would've started to cry, embarrassing everyone. For a last look at the shop, go to Heidi Cohen's  Knitted Yarns. Jane, I wish you  the best!

The second to cast off, was Stitches East (55 East 52nd Street, lobby 3). This elusive but spacious boutique, discretely called bitches east by disgruntled patrons, catered to well dressed, advanced knitters and needle pointers who lunched. Indeed, on the rare occasion I stopped in, I was actually treated decently––probably owing to wearing a not-too-vintage designer suit, and running off to meet friends for a sweet lunch at that venerated New York institution, Serendipity.  But, regardless of the mixed reviews, it's still a loss for midtown center––where will the swells stitch now? Perhaps Knitting 321 (321 East 75th Street), will pick up the ball. It's expensive, caters to knitches (from what I've heard), and you can lunch at Swifty's!

Yes y'all, the knitting magpie is back!!

The Magnificance of Significance, Because ALL Time is Real

Don't Let The Fickle Fingers Of Fate Dictate Your Time!

(Real time, or real crowded; Times Square at the evening rush hour; all pics enlarge).

Naomi, I'm so happy my intermittent blogging has inspired you––because real time has become a real pain in the tuches for me.

The Tunnel's Too Wide For My Vision

When I returned from my vacation, it all hit me again. My job––which is about things that happen before real time, my leisure––which is my time, and real time––everyone else's time––came crashing into me. The simultaneously occurring circus of invitations, openings, events, and just plain mayhem that drives the hypertension of this city, my perpetual curiosity, and the illusory need to stay in the radar, doesn't allow much time for real contemplation. You can either blog your ass off––or rebel totally, and gaze at your needles (or your Jacob & Co. navel ring, right Tammy?). In the end however, is it elevating anyone's craft or consciousness?

Nevertheless, since I ain't turning down many invites or recommendations, I had to find a solution. New York This N' That––And The Other, is the sidebar portal that will preview and pertain to––the city circus; you can get your hypertension on! If you're traveling here––and many of you are travelers, international, as well as cross-country––it's my culturally hip radar screen, and a respite from the mainstream's myopia. For those who want the other––these are products and producers, who are about friends, rather than fame (but it can be about that too; there are some famously friendly folk out there). At last, I'll be free to blog in a manner that honors the subject (thanks for your patience, Monique).

Featured blog posts will be timelessly devoted to significant content. In my definition, this will mean content to elevate either your craft or your consciousness, with some of my raised eyebrow observations thrown in, to deflate the high and mightiness of that last sentence. I hope you'll find my new lens enjoyable and reactionary!

(And yes y'all, I'm still knitting––hell, my leisure time is of significance!)

My boat neck dress is an A-line silhouette; the yarn is a linen blend; the pattern is Herringbone Lace, a favorite of mine, from A Treasury of Knitting Patterns. Knitted on # 5's, I'm half-way up the back piece now. I'm wearing it to dinner with Mr. K, at the Ebbitt Room in The Virginia Hotel, when we return to Cape May (I know, but we love it there) next week).