Breakfast Downtown

I woke up bright and early on Saturday morning to meet Christine downtown for breakfast. I've been lunching with Christine for about a year now every Thursday. We work across the street from each other and we both knit and crochet, so we've formed a mini-Stitch 'n Bitch at work. Sadly (for me), Christine has relocated employment to the Valley, which is good for her, since she lives there. I met Christine through Crazy Aunt Purl. Christine showed up at one of Auntie's yard sales. Being extremely outgoing and Southern, Auntie invited Christine to a barbecue at her home. That's where we met and hit it off immediately.

Christine and I are going to attempt to see each other often, even though we don't work near each other anymore. We wanted to choose a location half-way between our homes, so we decided on Philippe's for breakfast.

I've been eating at Philippe's all my life, but never for breakfast. The breakfast menu is huge. I decided to have The Combo: Choice of two halves of French toast, dipped in cinnamon egg batter, or two pancakes, choice of one sausage patty or two strips of bacon, two eggs any style, and your choice of any small juice or coffee...$5.75. Christine had eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, biscuits, coffee...about $4. We ordered a baked apple to share.

Ellen's Combo

Christine's Classic

Everything was simply prepared and delicious. We sat in an old wooden booth in the Clown Room which features clippings, photos and memorabilia of all the circus folks who have eaten at Phillippe's over the years.

Clown Room @ Phillippe's

For an early Saturday breakfast, Phillippe's is perfect....not rushed, not too crowded. We spent lots of time in our booth visiting without feeling like we had to give up our table to people waiting. I'll definitely go back for breakfast to try the corned beef hash and eggs.

After I left Christine, I zipped south to the Fashion District to Michael Levine's fabric shop. They carry yarn and have a great notions section. I needed to stock up on belt buckles, buttons and various other sundries for upcoming holiday gifts. To my surprise, all of the workers at Levine's were in costume in celebration of Halloween. One lady had this absolutely fantastic peacock outfit on.

Peacock Lady @ Michael Levine's

Clown & Princess @ Levine's

"Eyes Wide Shut" @ Levine's

I love downtown L.A.

Halloween in Wilshire Vista

Saturday our neighborhood held it's annual Halloween Haunt

Most of the little kids in the area attend. There are games, bouncy-things, balloon art, photos, candy, sing-a-longs, costume events, etc. It really is fun to see all of the kids in their various get-ups, along with their wacky parents.

Larry always takes photos for our Wilshire Vista Association.

Scary Larry

The decorations were really good this year. My favorite costume was this uncomfortable little lobster baby, strapped to his witchy mom!

WeHo Stitch 'n Witch 2006

Last night was our second annual WeHo SnB Halloween Party. It was great. Most of us dressed up in costumes....many with a yarn-fiber emphasis. I took so many photos....I want to show them all here. Thanks again to Natalie for creating the spectacular prizes....felted totebags!

Me Llamo Elena Flores

Yo soy la sobrina (niece) de Frida Kahlo

Fiber Fairie Natalie

Natalie felted her wings, shrug

Fiber Queen Kim and Fiber Fairie Natalie

Kim's Freeform Crochet and Roving Wig

Carla as Angela Davis with 'tude

Carla and Susan

I couldn't take my eyes off Carla's faboo hair!

Darcy in her Doily Dress

What a Doll!

Scary Moth-Girl Sara

Cowgirl Doll Abby

Susan, Cory and Faith

Laurie Ann in her CandyCorn Ski Mask

Kendra's Gay Troll Hat

Gwen, the Snarling Pirate

Faith as Dr. Love

she was handing out condoms as Halloween treats

New crocheter, Catherine

Catherine is Giddy with Delight over learning Crochet

Punk Rock Schoolgirl, Catherine

Alicia's Conceptual Art Costume - "La Brea Tar Pits"

Natalie's Prize Bags are recycled wool sweaters, sewn into totebags!

Winners

Best use of Yarn, Most Original, Scariest

Be sure and check out blogs of other WeHo SnB members to see if they've posted their photos of last night's extravaganza!

Spectacular Vernacular

The Adams House - Lloyd Wright 1939

photo by Larry Underhill

Spectacular/Vernacular” Tour Explores High-Style Roots of Everyday Modernism. There's still time to get tickets for the L.A. Conservancy's tour this Sunday, October 29th. It really should be spectacular. There are six faboo mid-century homes on the tour. These are not high-end Case-Study type homes, but similarly designed homes for the masses. In this case "vernacular" refers to tract home architecture, further defined here. This is one of my favorite styles of architecture. I love the clean lines, large spaces and incorporating the outdoors with the indoor areas. Southern California is loaded with this type of architecture because we have such wonderful year-round weather, making it easy to blend inside and outside living spaces.

The Eventmakers Estate - D. Wallace Benton & Donald G. Park, 1961

photo by Larry Underhill

Mr. Larry took all of the photographs for the L.A. Conservancy's brochure and guidebook for this tour. I have seen many of the photos, and the houses really are splendid.

I hope to see you cruisin' Ventura on Sunday!

WeHo SnB Stitch 'n Witch

Oooo....I'm so excited! Tonight is our Halloween Party at the WeHo SnB. We always have a great time at these special events. Last year's costumes were outstanding. I don't know how everyone will top them. Even if you don't have a costume, you should definitely join in the fun....bring your camera! We will meet at 7pm at the Original Farmers Market in the upstairs dining area. Our cruise director and party planner is Miss Natalie! She's awesome. There are sure to be special treats and prizes.

Here's just a peek at portions of my costume for the evening:

Starting Projects

A Portion of Ellen's Yarn

I know that I have yarn attention deficit disorder (YADD). I'm sure you do too! When I purchase a new yarn, I want to try it out right away. I can't let well enough alone and just knit or crochet a swatch, label with the size hooks I used and wrap it all up in plastic until I decide on a project. No way. I have to jump right in and start a project with my new yarn. Of course, this project is usually large-ish and I get bored with it after a few days or I change my mind on how to use the yarn. The abandoned project and the yarn will sit in a tote bag with the hooks, needles, notes, etc. until I get back to it. Sometimes, I may not get back to a project for years, thereby tying up the totebag, needles, etc. My house is full of half-started projects. I keep buying the same size needles and hooks over and over again because most of my supplies are buried in these totebags with the new-ish yarns and incomplete projects. All of this "yarn-crastination" happens because I whip up small projects in-between the larger ones. I often will crochet up squares for a charity afghan, scarves for U.S. soldiers, washcloths for gifts, etc.

Some stitchers call these larger, abandoned projects WIPs or Works in Progress. You can also refer to the neglected projects as UFO's or Unfinished Objects. This illness can be titled anything you want, but it's serious and I'm afflicted! Oy! You'd think that after over 35 years of this behavior, I'd change.

Last year I went thru all of my totebags of projects and sorted out the yarn, supplies, etc. into bins and shelves that darling Mr. Larry provided for me. Well, that was last year. I'm 8 months behind on my yarn-sorting duties. I love to take photos of my new projects and post them. Once in awhile, I'll write about a finished project. Think about it, you'll rarely see a large finished project on my blog.

OK, my blog is my confessional. You are the priest. Hi, my name is Ellen and I'm a yarn-a-holic. But, you already knew that. How will I ever gain absolution?

Below, see some of my WIPs and UFOs.

My Brother's Cardigan Vest

Cascade Wool...Almost Finished

The "Ana Tank" - Blue Heron Yarn

My Boss's Granny Square Afghan

I have finished this, except for adding the border

One Sad Slipper, Looking for a Partner

Lizard Ridge Crochet Samples

I purchased TONS of gorgeous Noro online for this project!