Knit-Centric Weekend

It's Vintage Photo Friday! I found this add online for knitwear. Being part of a knitting group (Stitch 'n Bitch) and on Ravelry is ALL about admiring your friends' knitting!

There will be a lot of admiration of knitted items this weekend for me! You? Have a wonderful time!

Such Fun!

Gale, Natalie

Gale, Natalie and I had dinner at the Original Farmers Market tonight...Singapore's Banana Leaf Restaurant. It was delicious, of course.

Regina, Jenna, Beth

We had a great group at tonight's WeHo SnB. Sorry I didn't get everyone's photo.....I was busy crocheting!

Sarah, Lauren

Gale's Mohair Shawl/ScarfBridget (standing), Sara, Meri

Gussied Up

I'm on vacation for a few days! Yayyyyy!

Tomorrow my friend, Gale is coming to visit. Gale is from the east coast and has some photo assignments here in Southern California. I'm really looking forward to her visit. We became friends through Ravelry, have read and commented on each other's blogs and have definitely made a connection thru yarn and art! On Friday I'll be assisting her on a photo shoot. I've assisted Larry a few times, so I know what to expect. I've also been style consultant on a few of Larry's CD cover photo shoots. My old radio partner, John "Juke" Logan credited me as "Mistress of Stylistics" on one of his CDs!Sooooooo, we've been readying our house for Gale. It's quite habitable, we just needed to scrub up a bit. All of the flowers are blooming outside. The Granny Square Suite is ready. Larry has been working on replacing the trim around our front door. Now that the weather is nicer, I'm hoping that our house and trim will be painted this summer. We also have plans to add some new front steps and do a bit of landscaping. Nothing like having visitors to inspire home improvements!
Gale is coming with me to the WeHo SnB tomorrow night. I hope you join us!

Taos Cardigan

2009 Taos Wool Festival

When we were at the Wool Festival in Taos, New Mexico last October, I bought a lot of the most beautiful sport-weight yarn called Plain and Fancy. The Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool Company is located in Henderson, Texas. They really don't have an online presence, it seems that they only sell at festivals around the country. Their yarn is beautiful and comes in the most exquisite colors. I picked up some blues, blacks, greens, grays and a few skeins of variegated.

I must have started at least three different cardigans with this blue yarn until I finally found the "9 to 5 Shrug" online. It's a simple, top-down construction. I do not wear shrugs, but it was simple to lengthen the sleeves and body from this pattern. I used a size "H" crochet hook. When I bought the darker blue yarn (3 skeins was all they had in stock), I knew I would need a fourth skein for a full-size cardigan, so I bought one skein of lighter blue. I striped the yoke of the cardigan to make the dark yarn go a bit further. After finishing the body and the sleeves, I added a border in the light blue. I switched to a lacy shell pattern for the body and the sleeves. Next time I crochet this pattern, I'll add in a few more stitches to the top-down construction so I don't have to add such a wide border.

I did not soak this sweater. I merely blocked it a bit with my steam iron. I love the lightness and comfort of this sweater. It's all about the yarn! I wish I was in Taos right now!

Pineapple Princess

When I see crocheted pineapples, I do not think of old lady lacy doilies. I think of Annette Funicello's rendition of the song, "Pineapple Princess." Yes, I'm a child of the 60's, stuck in my pop-culture world.

I've crocheted the pineapple pattern in the past. It's fun, fast and deceivingly impressive looking.

I saw this pattern online. I remembered that I still had lots of Denise's bright yellow Berroco Comfort Yarn in my stash....perfect for a Pineapple Princess scarf!

I do love how this turned out. I might add a bit of green embroidery at the bottom of each pineapple motif just to give it a Hawiiana look!

A Possible Mother's Day Gift?

The reddish-pink pineapple scarf (below) is made from Ella Rae Silkience. I like it, but it's almost too drapey. I think I'll try this pattern again in a bulky yarn! Once I find a pattern I like, I crochet it in several different yarns until I find the perfect match!

6 Months to Go

We've all changed a bit over the years!

a page from our Senior Class Yearbook

It's Vintage Photo Friday! This past week I've been using my free time to work on our upcoming high school reunion. We had a meeting this past Tuesday. The meetings are always fun, but exhausting for my brain. We're all working hard to find as many classmates as possible. We started planning this reunion six months ago and we have six months until the big party! I think we have everything under control. The venue has been selected, along with the menu. The invitation has been designed. Our website is active. We're working on activities and visual presentations during the party. We've got a few emcees lined up.

Some of these couples are still together! Amazing!

It has really been great re-connecting with so many of my old friends. A lot of us have stayed in the area, so mini-reunions have been easy to arrange. I do hope that we can all stay in touch in the years to come. Remember that old round we used to sing when we were kids?

Make new friends,

But keep the old.

One is silver,

And the other, gold.

A circle's round It has no end

That's how long I'm gonna be your friend.

Reunion Committee Members, Hard at Work!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

WeHo SnB Tonight

It's Thursday, so it must be my night for the West Hollywood Stitch 'n Bitch at the Original Farmers Market.

The faces have changed over the past 6 years, but we always have a wonderful group. We meet from 7-9pm in the upstairs dining room, above Kip's Toyland., rain or shine We inspire each other, we laugh, we knit, we crochet, we eat dinner, we talk endlessly about yarn and we have a fabulous time.

2008 Group, WeHo SnB

If you're interested in learning to knit or crochet, join us! See you there tonight!

Administrative Professional's Day

On My Desk This Morning

What used to be called Secretary's Day is now known as Administrative Professional's Day. They changed the name to make it gender appropriate, because many more men have entered the secretarial field in the past 15 or 20 years. What's so female about being called a Secretary? What about the Secretary of the Navy? Secretary of State? Oh wait a minute, the Secretary of State is a woman this time!

I found this description of the "holiday" online:

National Professional Secretaries Week and National Secretary's Day was created in 1952 through the work of Harry F. Klemfuss of Young and Rubicam. Klemfuss recognized the importance and value of the position to a company or business. His goal was to encourage more women to become secretaries. Using his skill and experience in public relations, Klemfuss, promoted the values and importance of the job of secretaries. In doing so, he also created the holiday in recognition of the importance of secretaries.
Today, the title is changing and evolving. But, the recognition is equally important. There are two new terms in use today. They are "Administrative Professionals" and "Executive Admins". The two names sometimes mean different roles and responsibilities to different companies. Both are broader terms, that encompass more positions than the original "Secretary" role.
The name change recognizes and acknowledges that the role has changed significantly since 1952, and for the better at that. In Harry Klemfuss' day, these postions were the realm of women. Today, you find some males in these positions.
The most common ways of recognizing your Administrative Professional(s) today are with: Flowers, cards, often with shopping gift certificates, take them to lunch, candies, assorted gift baskets

I don't mind being called a Secretary. It's what I do. Even though many of my duties are considered to be administrative, I still answer the phone, type and file. I must say, I am lucky to work where I do. This year, the Human Resources staff went all out and invited us to a conference room luncheon (with party favors) and gave us a card signed by the company brass, along with a few chocolates.The gesture was lovely and a free lunch is always appreciated. HOWEVER, a simple "thank you" and more money in my paycheck would have been sufficient!

My Cube Neighbor, Dana Received Flowers from her Boss

Hexie-Mania

Hexie Pin Cushion - Pre-Felting

Okay, you all know that I'm obsessed with granny squares. I'm also obsessed with hexagons...multi-colored hexagons. I've made a few hexie afghans, totes and purses in the past. Last week I crocheted a hexagon felted potholder. Well, I saw a mini-hexie potholder pattern online that was used as a pincushion! Oooooo....I had to make one!
I just happened to be at Ellene's yarn stash sale on Saturday at the Slipt Stitchers El Segundo Knitters Guild. Along with a few treasures, I picked up a bag of wool needlepoint yarn. It's thin, it's 100% wool...perfect for a hexie pincushion.
After felting, it only shrunk about an inch. Naturally, the piece picked up a bit of lint from the dryer...argh! I'll have to shave it a bit before stuffing it into the perfect pincushion shape.I was thinking of crocheting a few of these for gifts, but they're really labor intensive.

Chego

On Friday, Larry and I zoomed over to Palms to try out Chef Roy Choi's (of Kogi taco fame) new restaurant called Chego. The restaurant is in a mini-mall at the corner of Overland and Rose. I'd read about Chego awhile back. For some reason, I thought that it had opened a couple of weeks ago. Noooooo...the restaurant opened just this past Wednesday! Whoa! We experienced a short line at the door, but when we left, the line snaked out into the parking lot!
So, you stand in line, order, then try to find a table and wait for your order to be served. Luckily, we saw a table-full of people leaving, so we snagged their place. Later, we ended up sharing our table with another hungry couple who were also first-timers at Chego.

The food was great! There are only a few choices on the menu, which makes ordering rather easy. We shared an order of the charred asparagus with blueberry habanero salsa, garlic, chillies, parmesan and lemon. Larry ordered Tiny’s Prime Rib Rice Bowl, which is chili-rubbed beef, with fried egg, water spinach, creamed horseradish and fried shallots. I ordered One Chubby Pork Belly Bowl, which is kochujang-lacquered and glazed, with fried egg, and spinach. All of the dishes were delicious. The pork and prime-rib were particularly succulent. My taste buds and stomach aren't what they used to be in my youth, so everything was a bit spicy, but still delicious. The rice and fried egg helped to cool things down.

Charred Asparagus

Prime Rib Bowl

Pork Belly Bowl

Everything is served in easy-travel biodegradable cardboard bowls and trays. I would definitely stop here and pick up dinner to go.
Chef Roy has done it again! The Kogi tacos are winners and his rice bowls are fantastic!Chego
3300 Overland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 287-0337
Tue-Sat, 6PM-MIDNIGHT

Vintage Photo Friday - Potholders

Lately, I've been hypnotized by the 2010 Ravelry Potholder Swap. I'm going to join the swap next year, for sure! All of the potholders are made from 100% cotton and double-sided for extra heat protection. Here's how the swap works: You join the Potholder Swap Group on Ravelry, crochet five potholders to the group's specifications, send your potholders to the moderator with postage, envelope, etc. The moderator sorts out all of the potholders and sends you five potholders made by others in the swap group!
I've always loved the whimsical look of vintage, crocheted potholders. I've made a few of these in years past, but I always gave them away as gifts. In this year's Ravelry Swap I was surprised at the clever way the crocheters updated these vintage patterns using very modern colors.

A couple of years ago, my good friend Natalie gave me a vintage potholder that she found in an antique shop. I love it, but it's almost too pretty to use! It's displayed in my kitchen as artwork.

Natalie's Gift

The other day I used some leftover wool, made a double-sided hexagon potholder. After felting, it only shrunk about an inch. It's the perfect size for use in my kitchen.

Wool Hexie Potholder, pre-felting
Wool Hexie Potholder, felted

Have a wonderful weekend!

Finished!

My Ravelry-Red Seraphina Shawl crocheted with Malabrigo Sock Yarn is finished! I blocked it yesterday and am wearing it today! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! This yarn is the best! I used a size "H" crochet hook so the shawl would be very lacy.The color gradation of the red is lovely, the weight and drape of the yarn is perfect for our Southern California climate, the pattern has always been one of my go-to favorites. I purchased the yarn at Twist, Yarns of Intrigue in Manhattan Beach. It's definitely time for a repeat visit to this beautiful shop.

In a few weeks I'm taking a class at Loop & Leaf Yarn Shop in Santa Barbara called "Photography for Knitters Workshop...photographing your finished proects." Acclaimed photographer, Gale Zucker, is teaching the class. Even though I'm married to a professional photographer and have learned many techniques from Mr. Larry just by hangin' with him, I know that I'll learn some excellent new approaches from Gale. She has photographed many yarn-related books and articles. I'm looking forward to the class and to finally meeting Gale in person!

Addendum: After looking at my photos above, I can already see where I need some improvement. I should have placed the RED shawl closer to something GREEN or BLUE for a higher contrast so that the red would pop. These are the principals I have used in painting. They apply to photography too. Composition, color, lighting and placement are key elements. At least I have a basic knowledge....can't wait to learn more secrets!

Architect Wm. Krisel @ The Getty

Corinne Krisel, backyard of Twin Palms Estates home, Palm Springs, 1957, photo by Julius Shulman

Last night Larry and I were invited to a screening of the new documentary, "William Krisel, Architect" at The Getty Center. Bill Krisel is 85 years old, spry, witty and very much in touch with what's going on in the world. The movie was wonderful for mid-century architecture buffs.

Getty Auditorium

There were interviews within the documentary of many people involved with the modernist movement in Southern California during the 40's, 50's 60's and early 70's. Surprisingly, many of those people were at the screening as well as other dignitaries in the historic architecture community of Los Angeles.

Q & A with Wim deWit (left) and Bill Krisel (right)

We ran into many of our friends from the Modern Committee; author Alan Hess; 3-D photographer Jack Laxer and his wife, Jan; L.A. Conservancy folks; former L.A. D.A. and photographer Gil Garcetti; Krisel's childhood friend, film producer Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. and more.

Bill & Corinne Krisel, Getty Reception

After the screening there was a VIP reception where we could actually talk with Mr. Krisel and others in the documentary. The modern, Richard Meier-designed Getty was the perfect architectural background for this event!

Getty Center, at night

At the reception, I spied this very elegant lady with Krisel's structural engineer, Richard Bradshaw. I admired her sable hat / headband. She is Mrs. Bradshaw (actress Chanin Hale). We had a very long conversation about appropriate headgear for Southern California. I admire Mrs. Bradshaw's fashion sense and style. The Bradshaws are a delightful couple.

Mrs. Bradshaw's ring o' sable hat