09.13.06

Fall Fiber Focus

Posted in Knitting at 6:06 pm by delipics

Since I have returned from vacation, I have been slowly transitioning back into my NYC life. It is so strange to have to wear a jacket and tomorrow I will have to wear shoes that cover my toes because it is going to rain. Plus I am still jet lagged. I spent the first three nights back unable to fall alseep until 3 a.m.! Last night was the first night I was able to fall asleep at a decent time.

As part of the fiber focus process I made a list of fiber things to do, last night I started spinning again, and I am still working on the tropical blue socks - will post pics when I have something worthy progress to show. I did finally join two group on Flickr - “Spin or Knit” and “Handspun, Handdyed, Handknit”. I hit the 200 photos limit on my account, and I am trying to decide if I should do the Pro Account. I might have to do it because my Fiber Arts photo set seems to have disappeared.

I am really looking forward to this weekend. This Friday is Amy Singer’s evening at The Point and Sunday is Knit Out. Very fall fibery!

One thing on my Fall Fiber List TO DO that is a goal for me is to knit myself a sweater. I was looking at my finished objects to date and I realized everything has been an accessory - socks, scarves, hats, one poncho. It is time to raise the bar and challenge myself. Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, I did knit myself a sweater. I have worn it less than fives times in the last six (seven?) years. The story behind that deserves it’s own post. I have knit baby sweaters so I do understand sweater construction, albeit on a smaller scale. Suffice it to say (where does that phrase come from?), it is time for me to try once again. So I am on a search for a simple yet stylish petite-sized sweater pattern. Oooh, another possible purchase for Rhinebeck!

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09.12.06

Yeah! I Have New Socks!

Posted in Knitting, Photos, Socks at 3:19 pm by delipics

Whoot!

Aren’t these great? My incredibly talented friend, Alex, made them for me and I LOVE them!

This is what the cuff looks like:

And this is the detail that runs down the inner part of the sock:

These socks are beautiful and they feel great on my footsies. Thank you, Alex, you are my sock-maker-idol!

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09.11.06

One New Yorker’s Observations on September 11th

Posted in NYC at 1:39 pm by delipics

End of the work day:

There has been a conscious quietness throughout the city and a sense of acute awareness.

On my morning commute I felt that everyone I saw was in sharp relief - details and color were turned up, as if I my eyes had been focused to an unknown level.

No one talked about this day at work. I did not overhear any conversations from people on the street or on the subway. The day passed in a regular format, but underneath the routine there is edginess - not uneasiness but alertness.

Walking down the street I would occasionally see a fireman in his work gear or a police officer in dress uniform, and he or she seemed to be outlined in a subtle shimmer.

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09.10.06

The Island of Kauai

Posted in Photos, Travel, Yarn at 10:32 am by delipics

Kauai is truly a tropical paradise. Known as the “Garden Island,” every view is beautiful. I have been back for 24 hours and this NYC life seems to be a dream and my time on Kauai was my real life. I was so lucky to have this experience and it happened because my brother and his new wife decided to get married there!

I tried to choose photos that highlight the wonders and activities of this trip (click on photo for a larger view). Despite the island’s tiny size, there is so much to do and I did not get to see or do everything I had planned. This only means I have to return to Kauai!

Our tour of the island from the air with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters (clockwise from top left: the waterfall where the opening credits of Fantasy Island was filmed; a rainbow over the Na Pali Coast; Darren and I; the Na Pali Coast)

Choice scenes of the island (left to right: taro fields in Hanalei Valley; the Waikapala’e wet cave; wild chickens run amuk on the island after Hurricaine ‘Iniki; snorkeling at Brennecke Beach on the South Shore; one of Hanalei’s many one lane bridges; caves on the coast of Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge)

The Princeville Makai Golf Course: This was my first time golfing. For years I never understood what the big deal was - hitting a small ball with a stick?! Everyone told me I would love and it and they were right - I’m hooked! I’ve got to find a place for lessons here in the city.

My brother’s and sister-in-law’s wedding took place in this one-of-a-kind house at the Seacliffe Plantation. The outside of the main house and all it’s counterparts are covered with green tiles. The gardens surrounding the estate are lush and gorgeous. The lower right corner shows the view from the room in which the wedding ceremony took place.

In case you were wondering, I decided to go with the blue beaded dress.

It wasn’t all beauty and relaxation on Kauai - there were some knitting/crafty moments. In the Princeville Hotel are examples of Hawaiian quilts. Darren tried to find out more information for me about the quilts. The concierge only knew that the examples in the hotel were from a museum on Oahu.

And I found a yarn store (by accident!) in the Ching Young Village shopping center in the town of Hanalei.

Darren and I walked into the Hanalei Video and Music Store because he wanted to find information on ukeleles. As we approached I saw a table covered with fuzzy items. This was so completelly out of context that I first thought these were some type of musical shakers I had never seen before. We were both so focused on our own interests that he did not notice I had stopped in the yarn corner and I was oblivious to the music section.