06.08.08
Posted in NYC at 5:41 pm by delipics
Growing up in California and the midwest I had only experienced one kind of air conditioning - central. A wonderful, wonderful thing is central air - a push of a button and cold air is created. Moving to New York opened up my world to the “air conditioner window unit.” What a concept - put in the a/c in the summer, take it out for the winter - it’s a huge pain in the a$$ to put it mildly but that is what New Yorkers do, well, at least those of us who don’t live in fancy new luxury apartments that have central air built it.
In my twenties it was a point of pride to claim one didn’t have an a/c. There used to be a certain type of hard core New Yorker who consciously chose to live without a/c and I belonged to those ranks. I lived with fans strategically placed in the apartment and bragged about my stamina in enduring the heat. In my late thirties I proudly wave my wimpiness when it comes to the heat. I have an a/c with a timer and remote control and it is a fabulous piece of technology, but I retain a bit of the hard core New Yorker in me. I will not put that unit in until the 1st of July because basically, I’m cheap. I tell myself I can deal with the heat through June but I just can’t suffer through the humidity of July and August. That all changed this weekend.
The first heat wave for New York City started on Saturday. One of the best ways to escape the heat, of course, is to go to the movies. I started my summer movie season with the 1:30 showing of Sex and the City. (Promise, no spoilers) It was a double date with Alex and her man. (Brave, brave fellows.) We got there way, way early. Alex was smart and brought her knitting while we waited. The movie was over by four and by the time Darren and I got home after a late lunch, it wasn’t so bad in the apartment. I have multiple ceiling fans and if I just plop myself on the couch and don’t move, it’s fine. Sunday, we went to see You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. (I figured these two movies bookended nicely - estrogen and testosterone - that kind of thing.) Upon walking out of the theater and encountering the wall of heat, I had given in, that and the looming 100 degree weather predicted for Monday. I rationalized I had to put in the a/c for my cat, Cleo, if not for me. Poor thing just lays on the floor, all stretched out with a zoned-out look on her face.
This heat wave has all led to one predictable thing - absolutely no knitting has occurred. My current projects are all wool. Wool in this weather? No way.
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04.26.08
Posted in Art, NYC, Photos at 2:42 pm by delipics
Chelsea, NYC - walking from work to the subway
Artist Miki Lee at Lyons Wier Ortt Gallery
Spring leaves amidst urban concrete
Fire escapes and water towers
Looking into a window shop
Classic straight New Yorker talk to the dog owners
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03.06.08
Posted in Knitting, NYC, Photos, Scarf at 7:27 pm by delipics
I present Ms. D modeling her Huckleberry Ascot -
This is the Huckleberry Ascot pattern from Interweave Knits, Holiday 2007.
And Patty’s scarf keeping her warm on a cold day in NYC -
All pattern specs are on Ravelry - I’m Delicasyarns.
Plotting my next project . . .
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10.31.07
Posted in Art, NYC, Textile(s), Weaving, fashion at 4:36 pm by delipics
Last Sunday I went to see Tapestry in the Baroque: Threads of Splendor
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The fiber-artist in me felt it was an obligatory pilgrimage. The tapestries are massive. I am amazed at the craftsmanship and time that went into each piece. When I looked closely at a tapestry, my mind was staggered at the level detail and complexity of the design. This is a show that deserves a second visit.
What stands out the most for me is the history connected to the art. I only thought of creativity and craft with the tapestries but there was much, much more: war, upset economies, intrigue, royalty, religion and the art market. Knowing all that background information only makes the art work more interesting.
Another show that’s worth the trip is the Luxury exhibit at FIT. Hurry because it is closing November 10th. After making your way through Luxury, go downstairs to see Chicago Chic. These are my two favorites from Luxury - Chanel and Rodarte. Why are beautiful clothes so satisfying?
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03.22.07
Posted in Knitting, NYC, Photos at 6:23 pm by delipics
Ooh, it was a tough night - I had to juggle knitting and KU basketball.
Top: rows of busy knitters. Bottom: a blurry Yarn Harlot at the podium and the beginning of a seed stitch afghan square in the foreground.
You see, I wanted to go see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee represent at 6:00 p.m. and the Kansas/Southern Illinois game was starting at 7:15 p.m. I figured if I stuck around for at least an hour, and if all went well on the subway, I should get home in time to see the second half of the game. I was feeling pretty confident about Kansas. I figured even though I didn’t know anything about the Southern Illinois team, the Jayhawks were strong. I did take a glance at the CBS website and the one line that caught my eye: “Southern Illinois’ defense vs. Kansas’ offense: Which one will come out on top?” Da da da dum - ominous music - a foreshadow of things to come?
This was my first time to hear the Yarn Harlot. She got a good turnout of NYC knitters and a very enthusiastic audience. That Stephanie - she is damn funny. Lots of loud belly laughs while knitting - I’m sorry I had to sneak out at 7:30 p.m. I felt incredibly conspicuous but this was the compromise I had made to the KU fan in me. I consoled myself by promising to continue knitting on the charity afghan square we knitters were encouraged to start while waiting for Ms. Pearl-McPhee to come out.
I got home just in time for the beginning of the second half. (Warning: for those knitters not a part of the March Madness, you might want to stop reading now.) It was an edge-of-the-seat game. I’m not usually like this (my honey is completely bewildered by my behavior) but I was screaming and cursing at the television. I was mad, MAD, at the Jayhawks for their sloppy playing for the first 15 minutes. They were literally giving the ball away to the Southern Illinois dogs! And they weren’t kidding about the dogs defense - they were a wall, difficult to penetrate, on top of each Kansas player - the SIUC Salukis were a worthy opponent. Oooh, I was seriously pissed off. I felt like KU had this wide open defense, more openings than the laciest of lace shawls, and they weren’t playing aggressively when they had the ball. At about the ten minute mark, I remembered my afghan square and peeked at it in its bag, but by then the Jayhawks had begun to turn it around. First, those Jayhawks lucked out with their free-throws - those easy baskets helped them gain the upper hand. There were many close calls on the court and each team must be suffering from floor burns for all that scuffling for the ball, but the Jayhawks tightened up and won the game 61-58 to take them to the Big Eight. Phew, I can breathe now and pay attention to knitting again.
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02.04.07
Posted in Fiber Artwork, Knitting, Lace Knitting, NYC, Photos, Spinning at 1:49 pm by delipics
I was hoping that the next time I posted my blog would be all fixed but I can’t wait that long. I hope to have it fixed this week.
I took a little break from the knitting world to catch up on some reading. I got tired of rereading the books in my personal library, although I do have some really good ones - several Jane Austen novels (personal fave - Persuasion), all the Barbara Kingsolvers, Roddy Doyle, A.S. Byatt, Jhumpa Lahiri, just to name a few. A couple weeks back I went to B&N and indulged myself; I bought four books: Never Let Me Go, The Jane Austen Book Club, The Blue Flower, and The Gate of Angels. I’ve been trying to make them last but I just finished Never Let Me Go and I only have the Blue Flower left. It’s been very satisfying having new books on my bedside table. I’m still processing the story from Never Let Me Go - I can’t get the characters and plot out of my head. Ishiguro is a beautiful writer; I’m going to have to read more books by him.
So now I’ve been trying to keep busy fiber wise. This incredible cold weather helps - below zero temps makes staying at home and knitting very easy. I’m about sixteen inches into my lace wrap. I’ve picked up the spindle again and I’m tackling fiber I bought from Rhinebeck. This is the knitting highlight of my week.
Here are three of my knitting friends (Diana - a very good KB@W, Maria, and the Sock Maven) at Sabrina Gschwandtner’s art piece at the Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting show at the Museum of Arts & Design. When we got there, Alex was already knitting the balaclava, which she basically finished but for the ribbing. Maria went for the slippers pattern, and Diana and I picked up the half-finished blanket squares. It was a very good night out - knitting, talking, seeing the show (I want to go back!), and then yummy Japanese ramen afterwards. Hey KB@W - remind me I’ve got your yarn that you left that night!
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01.03.07
Posted in Knitting, NYC, Photos at 6:20 pm by delipics
Sometimes the holidays feel like a mad dash - running, running, running - the finish line is in sight - and then, pant, pant, pant - IT’S OVER - and when you’re trying to get rid of a cold and cough, your run out of breath fast.
But, oh, for the knitting goodness of Christmas! First, let’s show off what I knit for my honey.
Here he is (wearing last year’s My Guy Hat) with his Mom in front of GTS. His mother is wearing a crochet scarf of my design that I made for her.
This is the Rib & Cable Quartet pattern from One Skein. I used yarn from my stash - I don’t remember what kind of yarn it is (definitely wool content), but I do remember buying it from Habu during their yarn sale.
I started the scarf one night at The Point. That same night, Alex finished knitting her honey’s Christmas gift.
She came up with this pattern on her own and everyone in the store wanted to know how she did it. I can’t wait to see how it looks on her boyfriend.
Then there is this fun gift from my good friend:
And something I have always wanted and was sooo excited to get from my honey — It’s the Traveler Clutch from Offhand Designs!
It’s good to start the New Year organized!
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