Vintage Photo Friday - Halloween

Here's what Larry wore in 1956 for Halloween:

Lil' Wrangler, Sherman Oaks, 1956

Here's what he wore last night for our WeHo Stitch 'n Witch party:

Photoman, West Hollywood 2009

Last night's WeHo Stitch 'n Witch was an outstanding success! Natalie made sock skellies for our gift bags.

Sock Skelly, by Natalie

There were vampires, pirates, chickens, witches and other assorted fun costumes. Treats and goodies were in abundance too! Check out this slide show to view the festivities!

The Winners!

Regina: Best Use of Yarn

Karyn: Most Original

Mary Jo: Best Vampire

Thanks to everyone for making our party a grand one!

Calendar

Last Year's "Grim Ripper" and "Spider Granny"

First order of business is tonight's Stitch 'n Witch at the Original Farmers Market, 7-9pm. I know I've been blogging about this endlessly, but it's really going to be fun and I want you all to attend! Here are the details, once again:

Thursday, October 29, 7-9 pm at the Original Farmer’s Market, 3rd & Fairfax in the dining room upstairs from Kip’s Toyland. The annual costume contest will feature VAMPIRES! Vamps are all the rage, so we will have a best vampire costume category. The other two categories are: Best Use of Yarn, and Most Creative Costume. There will be prizes! This is always a great night for us SnBer’s who love to get creative! So if you are new, come on out if you have been AWOL, come on back if you are in the neighborhood. Maybe bring some treats to share and most definitely bring your creative spirit.

This weekend, there are all kinds of Halloween-ish things to do. Check this link and this one too.

On Saturday afternoon I'll be at the bonus, 5th Saturday, meeting of the Fairview Knitters from 3:30-5:30 in Santa Monica. Who knows what sort of Halloween treats will be served?

If you like crowds of costumed people, check out the West Hollywood Costume Carnival on Saturday night! Also, check here for more Halloween fun in the Los Angeles area!

On Sunday, I'm attending the Southern California Handweavers' Guild Weaving & Fiber Festival Annual Autumn Show & Sale at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. I'm car-pooling with my Sometimes Sunday crochet group. I attended last year and had a great time. There are spinners, weavers, knitters and crocheters all over the place. Hopefully, it will remain chilly so we can wear our handknits!

Yarn in Torrance at last year's Fest

Scarves Really Are the Best Gifts!

I finished my two donation scarves for the Red Scarf Project / Orphan Foundation of America. Since Gale Z. was the person who brought this worthwhile organization to my attention, I decided to steal some of Gale's beautiful sheep and alpaca photos from her book, "Shear Spirit" to use as gift tags for my scarves.

I found another crocheted scarf pattern on Ravelry called "Branching Leaves." Our friend, Beth printed up the pattern chart with some helpful notes and I started crocheting it. I'm using some mystery wool, sock weight in a lovely soft blue color. I LOVE this pattern! It will look even more impressive in a light color. This will definitely be a holiday gift. Must make more!

Woooo Hooo Hoooo! Tomorrow night is our West Hollywood Stitch 'n Witch Halloween party! I still need to work on my costume, so tonight is crunch time! Please join in the fun. We'll be at the Original Farmers Market, 3rd and Fairfax, upstairs dining area. We meet from 7-9pm. Wear a yarny costume or don't. Bring a treat to share or don't. Just be there!!!!

Fairview Fun

Santa Monica's Fairview Knitters, October 24, 2009

I do LOVE my weekly WeHo SnB group. There are many regulars who almost always show up every week. It's a wonderful group. We inspire each other, laugh often and generally have a good time every single week. I'm really looking forward to our Stich 'n Witch Halloween Party this coming Thursday. I hope you can join us!

HOWEVER, the other Stitch 'n Bitch group that I attend regularly is also jolly fun! (jolly? I've been reading the Brit-blogs too much)!

Jamie

The Fairview Knitters meet on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Once in awhile there's a fifth Saturday. Sometimes we meet then too (put Saturday 10/31 on your calendar, 3:30-5pm). Meetings are at the Fairview Branch of the Santa Monica Library on Ocean Park Blvd. and 21st Street. This is a gem of a mid-20th Century building. If the weather is good, we meet in the charming patio in back. There's also an inside, multi-purpose meeting room. We usually have snacks and hot tea. I brought my camera this past Saturday and snapped a few pix.

Close-Up on Debbie's Sweater

Heather & Ellen used the same sweater pattern with different results!

Brenda, Karla, Melody

Corrina and Heather

Melody, Corrina, Maria, Ana

Molly and Debbie

Maria and Helen

Molly and Melody also teach knitting at Fairview on Mondays, 5-6:30pm. Sometime, on a second or fourth Saturday, if you find yourself in Santa Monica in the late afternoon, do drop by! You're sure to have a faboo time! By the way, there must be at least 5 yarn stores in the vicinity!

Score!

green frames were NOT working for us

On Friday night Larry and I zoomed over to L.A. Eyeworks for their eyeglass frame sale. We met up with Natalie and Joe. We had a grand time trying on frames. Everyone in the place turns into your best friend and offers their opinion on the coolest looking frames for you. We ran into a few other four-eyed friends. It's always a fun event.

Orange/Pink Glamour Girls

Ellen's New Frames

Larry's New Frames

Larry and I both bought three pairs. We each bought the round, black Harry-Potterish frames. We left Natalie and Joe at the shop...they were still deciding.

Natalie and Joe look like movie stars!

Vintage Photo Friday

OMG! I almost forgot! It's Vintage Photo Friday!

In one hour Larry and I will be at the L.A. Eyeworks sale. I can't wait to see all of the new/old eyeglass frames. As you can see, Mr. Larry has been wearing eyeglasses for a very long time. He's an expert!!

I'm thrilled to have him as my personal eyeglass consultant. See you there my four-eyed friends!

SnB Fun

I always enjoy hangin' out with my WeHo SnB group. For the uniniated, that's the West Hollywood Stitch 'n Bitch at the Original Farmers Market, every Thursday night from 7-9pm in the upstairs dining area. We do have a good time knitting, crocheting, embroidering, needlepointing and generally talking about yarn, patterns and more!

From L to R: Erin, Sarah (behind the pole),

Lori, Meri, Brenda, Miriam, Natalie

We had a smallish group last night, about 15 ladies. NEXT WEEK is our annual Halloween Spooktacular Party, the Stitch 'n Witch! We usually have WAAAAY more people at the Halloween party.

Erin, Sarah, Lori, Meri

Once again, here are the details: Thursday, October 29, 7-9 pm at the Original Farmer’s Market, 3rd & Fairfax in the dining room upstairs from Kip’s Toyland. The annual costume contest will feature VAMPIRES! Vamps are all the rage, so we will have a best vampire costume category. The other two categories are: Best Use of Yarn, and Most Creative Costume. There will be prizes! This is always a great night for us SnBer’s who love to get creative! So if you are new, come on out if you have been AWOL, come on back if you are in the neighborhood. Maybe bring some treats to share and most definitely bring your creative spirit.

So, last night Leah was knitting her Fair Isle vest in Kauni yarn. It's a standout! We were all admiring her work. Isn't it gorgeous?

Leah's Fair Isle Vest

I'm in love with that Kauni yarn! It's got long color runs, similar to Noro Kureyon. The yarn is DK weight and positively amazing. Little Knits is having a sale, by the way! Each skein shown has MANY colors of yarn! It's truly magnificent.

Leah and Brenda

Brenda, Bridget and Denise

See how much fun we have? Sorry I didn't get a photo of everyone last night! I think you should join us and bring your camera! See you next Thursday! Have a great weekend!

Calendar

Fashion Accessories

I won't even be able to attend ALL of the events happening this weekend! There are just too many temptations!

My fave event, the L.A. Eyeworks annual eyeglass frame sale is this weekend. Check out Mimi Pond's darling cartoon detailing what goes on at the sale. It truly is a community of four-eyes....my favorite people. Larry and I try to go every year. I have a drawer-full of glasses to prove this fact. You can read about my past experiences here.

The Brewery is having it's fall Art Walk this weekend...always entertaining!

Kitchen at the Mosaic House, Venice, CA

The Mosaic House is also having an art sale this Sunday. Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran sell the most faboo artwork. It's really worth visiting their home and studio...the mosaics, inside and out, are inspiring.

Giant Robot is having a 15th anniversary group show and sale at the Japanese American National Museum, downtown LA.

Three Apples is an exhibition event celebrating Hello Kitty's 35th anniversary at Royal/T café / shop / art space, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City.

I'll be at Fairview Knitters on Saturday afternoon, in-between running back and forth to L.A. Eyeworks to scam new glasses!

Larry's been photographing all of the buildings on the Mod-Com's tour, "The Sixties turn 50", coming up Sunday, November 8th. Another building has been added, and it's a stand-out! The tour takes place in the Westchester, LAX area, a cornucopia of faboo 60's architecture! I can't wait for this one...it's really going to be fun!

LAX Theme Building

Also, next Thursday, October 28th, is the West Hollywood Stitch 'n Bitch annual Halloween Party at the Original Farmers Market. We call it the Stitch 'n Witch! Here are the details: Thursday, October 29, 7-9 pm at the Original Farmer’s Market, 3rd & Fairfax in the dining room upstairs from Kip’s Toyland.

We all bring yummy snacks!

The annual costume contest will feature VAMPIRES! Vamps are all the rage, so we will have a best vampire costume category. The other two categories are: Best Use of Yarn, and Most Creative Costume. There will be prizes! This is always a great night for us SnBer’s who love to get creative! So if you are new, come on out if you have been AWOL, come on back if you are in the neighborhood. Maybe bring some treats to share and most definitely bring your creative spirit. It’s Halloween! Here are some pix of our past parties. I hope you can attend!

Red Scarf Progress

I'm finished with one of my Red Scarf Project donations. I knitted it on our recent trip to and from Taos, New Mexico. It's a simple mistake rib pattern, size 10 needles, Lana Grossa Bingo Mouline Yarn.

I've abandoned my previous reversible cable red scarf. I just didn't like how it was turning out. Instead, I'm whipping up a quick crocheted scarf with Berroco Sox in a multi, red, orange, burgundy and brown colorway. I really like how this looks. I might make a few of these in different colors for holiday gifts.

The deadline to turn in your red scarves is December 15th. Scroll down for pattern ideas here. Have you finished your scarf yet?

Homes of the "Future"

Palmer-Krisel Home (1957), Northridge

If you've been reading my blog for awhile you know that I'm a fan of mid-20th Century architecture. Larry and I are members of the L.A. Conservancy and it's sub-committee, The Modern Committee.

On Saturday, we were invited to attend an information session in Northridge (primarily for residents of the neighborhood) at a Palmer-Krisel home. The owners of the home are also Mod-Com members. The speaker at the get-together was author/architect, Alan Hess. He was there to stress the importance of maintaining the architectural integrity of the neighborhood's Palmer-Krisel homes. Dan Palmer and William Krisel were architects that worked for the Alexander Construction Company from the late 1940's to the mid-1960's. They designed many tract homes in Southern California, primarily in the San Fernando Valley and in Palm Springs.

Alan Hess and Jennifer

Our trip to Northridge in the SF Valley on Saturday was delightful. The house where the meeting was held is part of a small tract of Palmer-Krisel homes. The home has a butterfly roof, rocky mountain stone on the exterior, high clerstery windows and a tiki bar smack dab in the center of the entertaining area! The turn-out was good.

Tiki Bar
Sven, Naomi and Tom, listening to AlanNaomi, Larry

The homeowners gave an introduction to the program. Then, we each introduced ourselves and our relationship to the Palmer-Krisel connection. There were original homeowners there from the late 1950's and early 1960's. A short trailer of a new film about Bill Krisel was shown and then Alan Hess gave a slide presentation about Palmer-Krisel homes.

Histotainer, Charles Phoenix

Delicious refreshments were served. We had a wonderful time communing with other like-minded architecture buffs.