novamade

things to do in northern cali when you're crafty

I spent last week in northern California and due to having limited internet access took an unintentional blog break.  My apologies, I am working to catch myself up on your lives, projects and what-not.  But I wanted to share some of my doings with you, as most of them are of a somewhat crafty nature that you may or may not be interested in.

So here is my list of things that I did and things that you can do as well if you find yourself in northern California and you are crafty (if you are celebrating your birthday, that sort of helps too).

Pebble Beach, California. Wollmeise Gloria Cowl.

Start and finish knitting a Gloria Cowl (details here) to give to a friend for her birthday.  My friend is named Kathy, your friend can be named something else.

Artfibers in San Francisco, California.

Have your friend (Kathy) take you to local-to-her yarn shops like ImagiKnit and ArtFibers.  Acquire pretty things that make you smile.

If you are bloggy, take the opportunity to meet up with a knit bloggy friend and her beau. Especially if said knit bloggy friend is a birthday twin and is like some sort of long lost crafty twin of sorts. Apologize profusely for exposing your knit bloggy friend to your tired tyrannical toddler.

Rangsiwan meets a very tired Little Sir.

Because you can, go to a fabric store, there are lots of them in San Francisco.  If for some reason you, like me, are planning some sort of novelty quilt requiring 21 shades of silk dupioni, you should go to Fabrix like I did.

And since there is a Kinokuniya in San Francisco, you should go there and buy some Japanese craft books, especially if you can not decipher Japanese.  It makes crafting interesting.

And because you neither speak nor read Japanese and you bought a bunch of books written in that particular language, you should probably get some written in English (or whatever your primary language is) just to balance things out.

Whether you are crafty or not, you should take time to smell the roses (or whatever flora is at your disposal).

Pacific Grove, California.

And don't forget to take time to experience wonder.

Jellyfish at Monterey Aquarium in Monterey, CA.

When you return home, get giddy about the books you received for your birthday from friends near and far.

Utilize the book about pies as soon as possible, you know, if you are so inclined. 

Pineapple pie, a very sweet sweety pie.

So yes, good trip, I have a few more trips to California scheduled for the summer, but I am thinking they will not be as acquisition-friendly as this one, a birthday celebration is a great way to justify stash enhancements of all sorts.  While I usually kick off my birthday celebration on Cinco de Mayo and count up to my birthday (are you not doing this as well?), Special K suggested that we start the celebration on my actual birthday this year and add 8 days to it, isn't he sweet?  So with that said, I am still celebrating.  Though right now, I am trying to get my back to stop hurting after incorrectly lifting heavy boxes of books and documents at work.  I am also going to think about happy things, like friends in Philly having lots of fun.  And knitting, because I can do that lying down.

Hey, happy knitting, quilting, sewing, or pie baking!

sorry papa, i had to make pie

In a fit of avoidance (you have no idea), I went through my stash last night to start a new project (this is ridiculous on so many levels).  I really didn't have anything in mind, I was going to let the yarn inspire me.  When all was said and done, I realized that everything I pulled out was green. 

I wish I could say it was Project Spectrum that inspired this color frenzy (it's just a happy coincidence, really); but, I just figured out that every year, about a month before my birthday my affinity for the color green increases exponentially.  I try to incorporate it into everything.  So why fight it?

And going to Webs with my friend Kathy over the weekend didn't help either (they are having a pretty big sale right now, if you are interested in that sort of thing).  Also, Kathy gave me an early birthday gift.  A bajillion yards of laceweight forest green baby alpaca.

That's a whole lotta green.  Enough for an Icarus.  Um two Icaruses...

And then there is this:

I received this sock yarn in a wee trade with Christy recently.  I really love it, and have been saving it for the perfect pattern.  I have a particular pattern in mind for the sock yarn; but, if you can think of something better, please share your suggestion.  It needs to be something that would maintain my interest...because I tend to get bored with socks and my interest usually wanes after the completion of the first sock (in case you hadn't noticed).  This waning interest in sock knitting is a problem since I have an unspeakable amount of sock yarn in the stash.

Oh, so those limes...  I used them to make a tart.  Shocking, I know.

Good, but not great; but, anything would be better than last week's disaster.  It's the Key Lime Tart from the April 2007 Everyday Food magazine (a lot of the older recipes are available online, but I love flipping through the magazines).  I really just had to make something with limes in it.  A mojito might have been a better idea though (hmmm, Mojito Monday...it sort of has a nice ring to it).  I think Papa would definately approve.

new york in november

First we were going.  Then we weren't.  And then we said, who are we to let a little thing like sickness deter us from taking three bites out of the Big Apple?  In a spontaneous (for us) decision, we opted to go.  And on the advice of my friend Al, we thought we would take a ferry (long story).  When I say we, I mean Special K.  I came home from work and was told, "we are leaving in 15 minutes, pack a bag."  Good times!

We were sick, but we had fun.  We stopped at School Products.  I bought some yarn.

We stopped at Purl Soho.  Special K got to meet other knitter spouses outside the shop while I discovered that I am somewhat claustrophobic in the shop (tiny shop), try going on a week day, that would be my advice.  I, of course, bought some yarn.  I would have probably bought more if I didn't feel so frantic and uncomfortable in the cramped quarters that was Purl on a Saturday afternoon.

We also went to Purl Patchwork, right down the street.

I was able to see many of the projects from Joelle Hoverson's new book.  The shop is small, but it wasn't as crowded as the yarn shop.  Special K  waited outside with Little Sir for a while but did have to bring in Little Sir at one point though, it was getting really cold outside.  Not that he was complaining.

We also managed to get to Brooklyn to check out Brooklyn General Store. 

I am convinced that it is, quite possibly, the most wonderful place on earth.  Special K mentioned that of all the yarn shops he has been in, this was his favorite.  We won't even analyze that statement.  Just go with it.  It is a great place, the atmosphere is excellent, the staff is friendly and the customers are fun.  A quilter had a really long conversation with Little Sir about her quilting adventures.  He thought she was fascinating. And of course, I bought a few things.

And though we had a lot of fibery fun in New York, we really enjoyed going to The Strand (18 miles of books people!).  I was able to add to my collection of Dorothy Parker books (by and about).  I am a fan.

I think we mostly enjoyed the parks (Central and Prospect) though.  We are fans of public spaces.  And who is going to deny the fun of a park to a kid?

We didn't get as much done as we would have liked; but, we were sick.  And of course, you all are right.  New York will always be there, so we can go back!  Probably when it warms up a little though.  We had some frozen fingers and toes on Saturday!

to maine and back

Lolly has mentioned to me that I need to do a better job giving a head's up when I am going somewhere.  I will try to work on that.  In the meantime, I went to Maine over the weekend; and, I had a great time.   Saturday was rainy, Sunday was perfect (if you are into that whole sun thing). I actually like the rain.  And a rainy day is perfect for shop-hopping, particularly of the yarn variety.  There are many yarny places of fun in Maine, I only had time for two places though.

 

First thing, fuel for the journey. Bintliff's American Cafe (best breakfast place EVAH), worth the 4 hour drive, all by itself. After breakfast and a brief stop in Freeport (L.L. Bean, anyone?), we headed up to Brunswick to visit Ms. Purl Diva. 

I LOVED this shop.

 

Ellen has a great selection of yarn, she is really friendly and the customers all talk to each other like they are old friends. 

Even Loki gets in on the fun.

My search for more Dream in Color yarn was what originally led me to Purl Diva, but I am so glad it was my first yarn shop stop. It was a great visit.  And I will just say I was very successful in my purchases and leave it at that.

My other yarn stop was Halcyon Yarn. 

Oddly enough, the store was smaller than I thought it would be.  But, I have to admit, I was a little overwhelmed (which leads me to believe that a trip to Webs might not be the best idea for me, but I am willing to build my resolve). 

I really liked the way the store was arranged. 

Floor to ceiling color, gorgeousness everywhere. 

I didn't go in with a plan and mostly just looked around.  I wasn't planning to buy much, or anything in particular at all, actually.  I had a vague idea about buying yarn for mitts for Special K and "maybe something suitable for lace."  I ended up getting some gorgeous lace-weight silk orange-red stuff, some light orange wool for something fun (I have no idea, the color was fantastic), and then an inky skein of Malabrigo for mitts for the man.  And then the man says, he doesn't think he'd have any interest in mitts that provide no finger coverage.  Your loss buddy.  I mean, Malabrigo, people. 

After yarn shopping, eating, visiting with friends and sleeping, we ended the trip by looking at some lighthouses and playing in a few parks.

It was a good trip.  Now, back to the knitting of socks.