SistahCraft

Greetings From Cape May––My Trip To Peru, Row 1

That's Right, Only $45US! Do It This Summer!*

("Make sure to get my good side." This is Miss Katie, Isabel's mom; all pics enlarge.)

Folks, is there a more wonderful way to spend an afternoon in 90º-plus temperature, than to visit an Alpaca farm? Of course not, if you're an avid hand spinner. But I'll admit though, I was a bit concerned about the temperament of the creatures I wanted to meet––Alpacas can take weather extremes (such as in their native environment), but will suffer heat stress in high humidity; shearing them isn't enough. Barbara Nuessle (one of the farm's owners) informed me there were six fans in the barn, and the flock were getting hosed down twice a day. Now that's cool (excuse the pun), but I'd heard about folks who had been spit on by an aggravated camelid. Nevertheless, my appetence for their fabulous fleece, fueled by my New York sense of time (if I don't get there today, when is it gonna happen?) took hold of me, so that was that.

The Farm

(A bit of graze, after food and a joyful hosing.)

The cab driver asked, "what do they do there? I've heard of Bay Springs, but I don't know what they do."

"It's a farm. They raise alpacas. I'm buying fleece to spin."

"Oh."

I assume he decided not to take this further. I didn't either but, I did wonder how often the owners were asked the same question. I mean, think about it––no one asks this question about a horse farm, and you can spin horsehair. Yeah, I know what the reference is, and no, you can't ride an alpaca, but still…!

I knew of Bay Springs Alpaca Farm from previous visits to the cape, although it's usually during the week, when it's closed to the public. This year, following my recent creative iteration as a spinner/knitter, I saw the very nice fleece on their website, with the magic words––during the week by appointment only. One email led to another, and––awrighty now––you're reading about it.

The Shop

(You can feel the softness clean through your screen; Barbara knits the ear-warmers and the scarves.)

I was happily greeted by Barbara and Warren Nuessle, then Barbara led me through their beautiful home to the shop in the rear. I tell ya', this store is an alpaca lover's dream––it oozes softness. Beginning with the impeccably made clothing, gifts, accessories, and blankets, locally produced, and from Peru, the quality is excellent; combined with the friendly prices,  this a frugally fabulous shopping experience.

(Yarn so beautiful, you'll want to display rather than knit them.)

Fondling the different yarns, made me heady with the inspiration of what my spinning efforts could achieve, so I became even more solicitous about having this fleece. When Barbara opened the bags of it (8 oz. each), I was shook with the kind of rush I imagine that gamblers feel, when the flood of quarters from a slot machine is cascading into their bucket.

Altogether I purchased 32 oz., which I didn't feel was nowhere near enough, as I wanted the whole lot! (this is not greed. If you stuck your hand in any of those bags, trust me, you'd understand). But common sense ruled––or to be truthful, I was comforted by the fact that more could be ordered through their website.

Meeting The Family

(Increase the fleece! Clockwise, from left: Cerise, Miss Katie, and Geraldine; not shown is Florence, a true black fleece).

One of the many joys spinning gives me, is a closer connection to the animal. When buying brand name yarn, you buy the manufacturer. That's all good, but how cool is it to meet your yarn resource up close and personal? I believe this bond guides my spinning method and eventual choice of end use, so I it was only natural to meet and learn firsthand about the sires and dams enhancing my personal luxury.

Okay folks, it's late––my eyes are closing. Tomorrow you'll meet the family, including a 'lil cutie-pie whose fleece I can't wait to spin, when she gets clipped!

(*The cost of a round trip ticket by bus from Port Authority, N.Y., to Cape May, N.J.)

Greetings From Cape May––Wish You Were Here

In A Nod To Victoria, I Brought My Wheel

 (Fitting in with the decor; all pics enlarge)

As I compile my notes for the next post, I thought I'd ramble a bit on my doings here on this lovely cape, and during the time I was away from the blogosphere. First, about the spinning. Soon after my major peeps Chante´ revived my interest (I learned over a decade ago), I've been at it full force. Pictured, is a knitted sample of an Icelandic fleece from Bryna, a sheep at Sunrise Sheep & Wool, in Minnesota. The knitted sample on the chair is mine; the one I'm about to spin and knit, is for the owners. The scoured locks were opened with a flick carder, to spin both the tog (outer hair), and the thel––the inner hairs that feel as soft as cashmere––together for warmth and softness.

(Hail Victoria!; a lovely period home)

Cape May is a lovely place to ride around (go to Sheild's  Bike Rentals at 11 Gurney; 609-884-BIKE). It's flat terrain is easily negotiable, and the drivers conscientious. While shooting these ornate residences, I surmised about the ladies of the time, sitting under the grand awnings that shade their porches; would they be knitting or crocheting the latest pattern from the Godey's Lady's Book? Or would it be just too damn hot, especially wearing all those clothes? Currently, a few of these homes are now for sale––they certainly look nice, but I bet they're  a b***h to heat during the winter.

(The Fiber Arts Yarn Shop carries some outrageous yarns; would Vikki approve?)

No trip to this town would be complete without a stop at the local yarn shop (LYS). The photo foreshortens the store, but believe me, it's not messy. Actually, it's easy to walk around in, has an abundance of natural light, and Kathy is welcoming and lovely! Yes, I bought a few things; my purchase was so small, Mr. K would approve. Please go to the above link for more details about this great shop.

(Keep these artisans going; hand carved circulars from Nepal)

I thought these were fabulous! They're 12mm circular needles, connected to a fabric tube. The photo doesn't do justice to the exquisite carving.

(The separate guest house at Buttonwood; its two mini apartments are cute for a small family, or friends)

Before I sign off, I gotta tell ya'. If you are either allergic (as I am) to mosquitoes, or have a phobia of them, you won' t do well at Brothers II Pizza, on Sunset and Broadway. They had the door open, and as I was waiting for my outgoing order, I looked around and realized I was surrounded by mosquitoes––hundreds of them––on the floors and walls; I programmed myself out of panic, and, in a testament to the power of Off! Deep Woods I was not bitten. In fact, when a fly landed on me, I was grateful.

Speak On it, My Sistahs––The "Speak Out!" Show

In The Eye Of The Calm

(the pupil of "Peace Meditation of the Third Eye", by Robyn Mahone-Lonesome; All pics enlarge.)

A lot of self-help guides advise you to express your feelings to the intended, in the form of a letter, if you can't communicate them verbally. "Speak Out!", the exhibition attended by myself and Mr. K at the
Frank H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center last weekend, had me thinking about the shows description as a correspondence, giving voice to a group of women––The Harlem Girls Quilting Circle––addressing issues affecting them, me, and whether you know it or not––you too.

I am largely a knitter, but I like to look for the connecting threads between diverse mediums to obtain inspiration. This show had my head spinning. The issues, investigated through the modern manipulation of a trad feminine form––the techniques, color, power, size, and beauty––bum-rushed my brain in a kaleidoscopic convergence.

The result, was a viscerally, sensory experience; your first thought is not the "gee, these are really nice quilts," kind of pleasantness you get from other shows of similar medium. When you enter, and the first quilt you see reflects the past and present state of Harlem, N.Y., now a real estate epicenter, depicted in a marvelously cohesive member-assigned block quilt––it's more like "Wow, what the *&#@?!"

Harlem On Their Minds

(Harlem 2008, in a nutshell; the HGQC group quilt; machine pieced by Ann Alvarez, machine quilted by Laura R. Gadson)

The messages, while personal to the circle, were certainly not intended for an inaccessible audience; and believe me, the audience came out in force! The issues––injustice, the criminal system, economics, health-care––aren't new, but that's not the point. As the blandness of email makes it easier to delete what you don't want to deal with, the attraction of these quilts, is quite the corollary; like letters written in a sensuous hand, on handmade rice paper with a
Faber-Castel––their beauty renders the subject matter even more compelling to read, no matter how chilling.

(My Country, Tis'  of Greed, by Laura R. Gadson. Flag. Cotton with mixed media embellishments; 2008)

But unlike paper correspondence, this is too powerful to be mentally balled up and thrown away as some of the same guides advise, the importance being "closure". No y'all, this is a trad form of expression turned on its head, to express everything from outrage to a mechanism for coping. And true to our sistah selves, the imagery was bold and to the point––but hey, how else are some folks eventually going to "get it?"

(You GO, grrls; artists Robyn Mahone-Lonsome and Michelle Bishop, in front of a meditation quilt by Paula Wynter).

"Speak Out!" isn't all about facing confounding issues. As in life, there are ways to cope, and these methods are displayed in works that soothe and heal, through balance and meditation. Paula Wynter's diptych, "Meditation: All The Pain And Suffering In the World", and "Meditation: All The Happiness In The World", is inspired by the practice of Tonglen. Unfinished works, they invite the viewer to add to the sending out of the pain and suffering of themselves and others, and then to send out happiness to us all. "Peace Meditation of the Third Eye" comes with an actual mantra to repeat.

At The End Of The Day, Why You Should Go

(Detail of HGQC's group quilt; transfer, magic marker, applique, machine stitched)

The HGQC is an independent circle of Harlem based sistahs who meet regularly to quilt. Together for a number of years, their works grace many private collections. In order to share their refreshingly modern perspectives with the public, they raise money for, and mount many of their own exhibitions. This group effort enables you to enjoy a stereotype-free experience, lacking censorship from the technique dominated, lulling shawl of passivity of many local group shows. I'm sending a HUGE shout out to the Cultural Center for hosting this show; and to my girls at HGQC, for inspiring me with new ways to communicate.

Now, I'ma say this once more. If you're looking for new ways to communicate, there will be a panel discussion with the artists about their way of working together, on April 30th, and then––African-inspired quilting workshops on the 7th, 14th, and 21st of June; for more info, contact Monthina Williams at the center––RSVP early for these, my friends, the instructor is Ife Felix, one of the founders; these workshops don't happen often, and they fill up quickly. So be there, or you're only a square!

Saying Ha-a-a-a-a-a-y!

Knitters At Work

 

Leonor Mamanna and myself; My former "Student of the Month" is now part of the Saartje KAL at work. We are fashionably outfitting the feet of some of the new babies of our co-workers. All pics enlarge).

Girl, How Ya' Livin'?

Although the temperature is 42º at present, and the view of the park across the street looks pretty bleak, my internal clock feels the beginnings of the subtle transition toward spring. Or maybe it's just menopause. Anyway, it's been a minute, so here's a report on my own doings, while the devil's playground has been closed.

Shout Out Time

First, I want to big up a few new subscribers––Pooch2, Brokedown Tiger, and MissDavis! I also say welcome to any new unpublished subscribers! I'm happy y'all think my blog is worth the time to check out regularly.

No Idle Hands; A Onsie for Karen

Ancestors! I'm just in time for the arrival of Tawana's daughter, Karen Joi! Plymouth Encore D.K. Colorspun, is my favorite Acrylic/Wool mix; there's enough wool to give the yarn a nice hand, and the synthetic lends machine wash-ability; the yardage (150 yds) is value for money. The contrast yarn is Knit Picks' Merino Style in Harvest. Three balls of the main color, and 1 ball of contrast color was used.

The original pattern, is from Minnow Knits, Too by Jill Eaton (Pottercraft). Her instructions are clear, there are detailed schematics and excellent photos of a diverse range of tykes. I chose the 3 month size, in order to adapt to the larger gauge fabric my needles (sizes 3 and 6), produced; the finished garment is sized for a one year old. Here's a close-up of the buttonhole and Crab st. finish.

I don't have a vision of a button yet, but I'm sure  Tender Buttons will have a miniature work of art which will leap out at me. I'm considering a duplicate stitch embellishment of Adinkra symbols denoting blessings. Powerful devices, when rendered in a juvenile color––such as the contrast yarn––softens the viewers response, while maintaining the strength of their definition.   

Chante´ Put Me In A Spin

(My first handspun bulky yarn)

A refresher lesson from Chante´ last summer, revived my long dormant interest in spinning. I dusted off my very old Ashford Student wheel––no longer made––then got busy. I now own a new Kiwi, and a Bosworth Journey wheel (for cotton), an adaptation of the original Charka book wheel, endorsed by Ghandi to promote South Asian independence.

My yarn is spun from Halcyon's Corriedale top, using the long draw method, while simultaneously creating thick/thin spaces. The swatch shown, is a rib using size 11's. I tell you, it's uber-lofty,soft, and with excellent memory. Ultimately, my intention is to spin and knit items for myself and Mr. K, and to give yarn as gifts to friends.   

Folks, before I check out, I want to hip y'all to a few interesting people, places and things.

Support the Handmade

My girl Stephanie Syjuco has it going on! Her site Anti-Factory, features beautiful recycled jersey tops that knock the hipness quotient clean off the charts! All are handmade by her, and if you're slow you blow––her pieces sell that fast.

Places To Knit and Crochet

I love Tribal Spears Gallery & Cafe 2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (8th Avenue) bet. W. 117th & W 116th; 212-666-6550.
It's spacious and cozy at the same time. There's a nice group seating area that looks like your living room, cubiclesque enclosures along the wall for laptop users and the outer part of this large room is multi-purpose, encompassing a gallery/performance space. Good lighting, coffee and desserts round out the offerings. They're open daily until 8 p.m., and is where the nimble-fingered sistahs of the Harlem Sistahfriends Knitting Circle currently meet. We will be in the building again next Sunday, February 9th, at 4p.m.

Computerized Knitting

I've become a laptop knitter meaning, I now occasionally carry my laptop, in addition to my knitting and other essentials. I wanted an accomodating bag, that would offer seroius protection for my Macbook (felted bags look nice, but to be honest, I don't trust them; New York at rush hour is way to brutal). I was becoming flummoxed by what I thought were the lack of options out there for women. That is, until I hit upon Kate Trgovac's lens, and found a bag that completely satisfied my needs. In fact, there were a number of laptop bags to suit all of my needs. Kate diligently and fairly reviews an amazing number of bags; she doesn't merely reprint the press release, like some other shopping lenses.

Ironically, the bag I chose, is made by Spire. Kate informed that the owner is married to Lexie Barnes, who is, as you know, a primo craft bag designer. Ah, there's that thread that  binds us all again!