currently sue

Migration

2010-10-13T12:52:00.001-04:00

http://anythingforsue.tumblr.com/

Cat video, quilt update

2010-01-11T13:07:00.004-05:00

Hello faithful reader, it's a new decade!

I have all these quilts I want to make, but sometimes it takes me a long time to get the composition right. I did an art exchange with my friend Tom, because I really like his drawings and decided that might be a good way to get one to put in my house.

Here is what he sent me (I got it framed here):

And here is what I sent him (the composition was tricky and took me longer than expected):

Right now I am working on something where the composition is easy, it's a quilt for my nephew Jack, and it's about my chaotic life in New York and a search for pattern:

Bonus: here is a video (!) of my cat. It might as well be a photo, she doesn't do anything:

Advent

2009-12-18T15:40:00.001-05:00

New or newish photos

2009-10-26T15:25:00.003-04:00

These first couple of photos are from a walk in the East Village the other day; it was fun to do something I don't normally do. I think I'm craving variety and new experiences these days.

On the way something caught my eye.

I went in the store, and came out a little happier.

Some other randoms: a found object; the Lincoln Center fountain, which just reopened; and a parked van on 110th kind of near my house.

Visuals

2009-07-29T18:16:00.004-04:00

P.S. LtK is at my house right now!!

If in doubt...

2009-06-09T11:31:00.001-04:00

I know, I know

2009-06-03T19:18:00.002-04:00

I don't update. Here's a picture I like:

I was in Illinois on the weekend, this was taken out the car window.

Inspiration - old clothes quilts

2009-05-06T17:44:00.005-04:00

Via this blog, but really they're from Gees Bend.

The baby quilt from the last post is almost done--well, it needs to be layered and quilted--maybe this weekend I'll finish it.

Blitz

2009-04-14T18:17:00.003-04:00

This quilt is remarkable in that I have had zero compositional crises while making it. The layout is pretty much finished (this photo not up to date) and I think I'm ready to sew, barring some minor minor changes.

In other news I have some weird spots in my vision that my eye doctor said were because some sack of gel has pulled away from the back of my eye---but not in a bad way.

Also I planted seeds on the weekend!

Interlude quilt - true blitz (?)

2009-04-06T14:02:00.006-04:00

I have plans to start K&T's wedding quilt in the near future---however, this little baby quilt looks like it will happen first. I need a warmup project, it's been a while since I've really made anything.

A true blitzquilt by my definition should be done in under three weeks. Can I finish by April 25? It's going really quickly so far...

The extra thing in the top right is a nascent pillow cover (made with leftovers from Daniel's quilt), perhaps I'll finish that one up too. I love spring, it makes me want to make things again.

Too long

2009-03-10T13:01:00.004-04:00

So I haven't posted on here in about a million years---I never made that cat thing---thank you for your nice comments kind people---Julia it's been way too long, why don't you come visit New York eh.

I've felt like I've had no margin for life at all for the past 6 weeks or so. Our office moved from here

to here (well, the ESB is next door):

DEFINITE UPGRADE. Hilariously there is still a Papaya Dog, it's just across the street now.

Somehow the move combined with the regular busyness of life, and the beginning of Lent---well I stopped even reading blogs let alone writing them. And the quilts are quiet---but soon I will be working on a new project oh yes, I just bought some fabric the other day, it's very pretty.

The weather felt like spring this weekend, it was so warm, I was in a wonderful mood and went places I don't normally go and New York felt all new again. Even Daylight Saving Time is amazing, despite the loss of an hour of wonderful sleep.

So maybe you'll hear from me a little more often again.

Cat interlude, some random photos

2009-01-14T16:36:00.006-05:00

I think I might make this! The baby kitten can always use something else to scratch.

Speaking of the baby kitten, did I show you this pic? A friend of my roommate Molly took it before Christmas sometime. It captures one of her usual expressions (mild impatience?).

Also, I am working on some pillow covers for the couch, using up some leftovers. And I will be, it seems, making a quilt for Kate and Tim for their wedding! I am waiting to hear whether they will give me carte blanche on colours (all white? Hm).

Merry Christmas, finished quilt, some snow

2008-12-26T00:47:00.006-05:00

Dear everyone, merry Christmas!! I am in Ottawa with the fam. It's always a bit strange being home, because it's at once extremely normal, since this is family and we've been this way forever, but also completely not normal, since my regular life is far away in a very different (and wonderful) place.

Daniel's quilt is DONE (I finished it just in time to give it to him), and I'm overall pleased. My dear sister was kind enough to take some actual photos of it so you can see the colours (when I took it out of my suitcase she was kind of surprised that it was so bright).

We have also included some snow in the picture, for your entertainment. Man I'm glad I live somewhere that doesn't have weather like this (also where I don't have to drive).

What to work on next??

The quilt is shrinking

2008-12-16T12:28:00.001-05:00

So many tiny pieces means the quilt is shrinking A LOT as I sew... I might add a border to it, if I have time, or... maybe not.

I saw these tiles in my friend's apartment building, I really like this:

I'm going to start sewing this tomorrow

2008-12-11T15:13:00.001-05:00

Quilt update + advent video

2008-12-08T11:04:00.008-05:00

Ok, it's Advent everybody! This is one of my favourite times of year: waiting for Christmas. Anticipation. But waiting. Check out this Advent challenge from Shane Claiborne and those ordinary radicals.

Also, I've just realized that I am going to Ottawa TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY, which means I gotta hustle when it comes to finishing this quilt (if I want to give it to my nephew for Christmas). It's very colourful...

Sorry for terrible quality pic, I seem to have misplaced my digital camera...

ONE YEAR IN NEW YORK!!!!!!!!

2008-11-24T15:56:00.002-05:00

I changed the quilt

2008-11-13T11:14:00.003-05:00

This is now the correct design direction. I am so relieved.

The quilt is at a different tricky stage, where I like so much what I've done so far that I'm worried about screwing it up. I feel like I need to keep the same colour progression but just broaden the areas... We'll see what happens.

God Bless America, Indeed...

2008-11-06T14:41:00.002-05:00

God Bless America, Indeed...

Found via gothamist - I love it.

Everyone here is happy

2008-11-05T11:07:00.004-05:00

In the school our church meets at Sunday morning - voting booths waiting for action:

In my building:

On my way home from prayer meeting last night I had perfect timing - passing the local Obama campaign office just after CNN announced Obama took Virginia and as I was standing there they announced their prediction that he was president.

Drivers of garbage trucks, taxis, buses honked and waved.

Broadway filled up quick; people were everywhere; it was pretty amazing.

I ended up meeting up with my coworkers, who live nearby, and we watched Obama's acceptance speech together. Historic and pretty fun. I voted in my first US election!! It's almost confusing to have a president that people like, who can actually make a good (and better than good) speech, and who gives people hope for the country. And it seems like the whole world is pretty excited too. I wonder what will actually happen.

Quilt update + some random photos

2008-10-30T12:46:00.002-04:00

Daniel's quilt looks basically like this right now. Am trying all sorts of different things for the in-between parts. This one below is just for colour trial, I'm not convinced though. (The actual squares I bought at Melanie's Closet when it was still in the old Lettuce Knit space in Kensington.)

Yesterday's photos

2008-10-16T13:14:00.002-04:00

I only ever take pictures with the iPhone nowadays; I am too lazy to bring a real camera around with me. Maybe someday it will have like the best camera ever in it. I love all-in-one devices.

Responses

2008-10-14T17:21:00.003-04:00

You are all kind! I love it. I really like one of the links posted by Anonymous so I'm putting the picture up:

Modern stained glass is one of my favourite things; here are some shots from last summer in Germany (the War destroyed a lot of the original stained glass, but I like the replacements way more):

My true favourite modern stained glass is Marc Chagall's Jerusalem windows; someday I will see them in Jerusalem ("next year"):

Note that photo from this guy's flickr.

Visual thoughts on new quilt

2008-10-09T14:45:00.004-04:00

These colours are not right yet, says my instinct, but here is what the current quilt now looks like:

Bear's paw on a giant scale. It's going to be a twin size for my nephew DANIEL:

(seen here in earlier days with his Christmas dishcloth.)

I am currently inspired by this quilt from Quilt Otaku, I might incorporate some of this design somehow:

Here's a today picture from Bryant Park, does anyone else remember that episode of the Cosby Show where they played petanque?

Today's pictures

2008-10-08T16:40:00.002-04:00

Life continues here. There is either nothing to report, or everything, but everything is so many small things that it's difficult to know what's important. I am learning more of what it means to WAIT. I WAITED for what felt like a long time to have a job that means something to me (and to move here to the city I love); and now I WAIT again.

Perhaps something that helped me before will help me again; "this time is a good time; don't rush out of it."

New quilt, ESB, a picture I like

2008-09-22T15:35:00.002-04:00

I know, I'm neglecting the blog

2008-09-14T16:28:00.002-04:00

Above: lesson of the week.

Things here have been uberbusy, because our church has as of today changed its name, from Origins Church New York to Trinity Grace Church. There are lots of reasons for the change, but I don't feel like typing them; however the people at Freedomize Toronto may be able to guess at some.

For now check out the new website.

The name change has been my excuse for not getting ANYthing else done, so I will use it for the blog as well. Perhaps life will go back to normal again this week.

Inspiration: orange and blue zigzag

2008-08-24T13:44:00.004-04:00

I like these colours and this design (also reminds me of Charlie Brown -- the shirt) from the Purl Patchwork blog. (PS Purl Patchwork has such wonderful fabric, I am so happy to have a good quilting store in my city.)

Searching for inspiration

2008-08-21T13:39:00.002-04:00

"my circles" making progress
Originally uploaded by stitch n' knit

In the midst of composition angst during that last quilt, I remembered that a good thing to do when out of ideas is to look at other people's art. The solution ended up coming from a picture of another book inside this quilt book I have (I do not have enough quilt books and would love love to have some of Japanese quilts particularly...). Totally ghetto picture but totally solved my problem.

Somehow I lost all my good quilt bookmarks switching computers when I moved, but I'm on the hunt again. I'll post anything I find that's interesting. I like the circles above, esp the mix of broken-up and whole; the colour scheme is kind of 70s (I don't know whether that's good or bad).

Toronto and back again, including blitz finale

2008-08-19T17:49:00.004-04:00

Ok everyone. I went to Toronto this past (extended) weekend, and saw all sorts of wonderful folks in the correct sort of doses (meaning I could actually talk to most of the people I saw, instead of seeing them all in one go and talking to no one at all in a satisfying way). It was good to see you all! And it's good to be back home in New York too.

And also, I DID FINISH the blitzquilt in time to go! My boss, who is extremely kind, gave me my birthday off work, so I stayed home and quilted. Perhaps a strange choice for a birthday but I did finish making something beautiful.

I am very happy with it and am happy to report that the new owners (well, the baby isn't born yet but the parents) are too.

Also had crazy dreams most of the time I was there. And, got pictures of the cross in my Manning Ave backyard, odd that I never took any while I lived there for 3+ years. Here's the one at my current apt. Wonder if this trend will continue with whatever my next apt is (no, I'm not moving).

Incomplete progression (not very blitz)

2008-08-11T11:52:00.004-04:00

(Some of these photos are supersketch, I need to start using my real camera again instead of just my phone)

I have a crazy plan to finish this before I head to Toronto Thursday morning -- and Wednesday is my BIRTHDAY (I AM TURNING THIRTY), leaving me only Monday and Tuesday to work...

Top three of New York

2008-08-06T11:39:00.003-04:00

I went up the Empire State Building! First time ever. Seems like a endless exercise in lining up if you go the regular route (4 or 5 maybe 6 separate long lines), but LL had a special pass that let us skip all the lines but the last one. LUCKY. Am discovering ways like this a lot living here -- like you know someone who.. and suddenly something expensive or difficult is free or cheap or easy. Stay tuned for a particularly exciting one of these in September.

There are moths up there! Hilarious.

Some other New York tourist classics (we were talking about tourist trophy shots while on top of the world):

Community, biking, scramble

2008-07-29T13:11:00.003-04:00

I don't have much to say but kind of want to say something. LL is leaving me (+ NYC) soon... it's going to be weird and lonely without her. Have felt some reluctance to really push into community here, there's a strange balance between working for a church and being part of one that I haven't figured out. But without Lisa I am missing something. Time to become more vulnerable? This is difficult for me.

Also of note, I went for my first real bike ride on the streets of New York earlier this week -- to meet LL at Columbus Circle. I rode home up Amsterdam Ave (it took 15 minutes, which is way faster than the train) -- exhilarating. I felt daring, and FAST.

One effect New York busyness has had on me is that I now write much faster and with much less editing. There is an enormous stylistic difference between my Toronto emails (bored at work, nothing to do -- very long carefully written) and my NYC (how short can I make this??). Also affects blog posts (maybe longer due to less editing).

PS I just read that Yonge and Dundas is going to become a scramble intersection!

Recent things seen

2008-07-17T09:52:00.007-04:00

Stray ironing board. BYO iron + cover.

Man walking down Broadway with his cat sitting on his head (why didn't I take a picture??).

These girls in the subway had the same haircut, the same glasses, the same tshirt, the same BAG. Also note the poster behind: "Be someone else, be KANYE!" (Related video; is this a Phenomenon that I am unaware of because I'm out of touch? Subway ads are often my only brush with reality. PS I highly recommend watching it.)

Also, last night I went on LL's work boat cruise around lower Manhattan. We got to see all the public-art waterfalls by Olafur Eliasson. And, it was the closest I've come to the Statue of Liberty (photo by crappy iPhone camera makes Lady Liberty look farther than she really is).

NEWS FLASH

2008-07-12T19:47:00.002-04:00

They will be ready in about a week. !!!!! Also, LL and I saw this in the park near her house in Brooklyn. Apparently people travel far to play soccer baseball.

I forgot to title this

2008-07-07T17:27:00.006-04:00

Last week was my first Independence Day as an American resident.

There were nice folks around, we ate potluck summer foods and then saw the Macy's fireworks display. It was cool because the same display of fireworks was going off at different places around the city -- so we could see the next display down from where we were, the same thing but smaller. Does that make any sense? I feel my descriptive abilities failing.

It was good to see some friendly faces from Toronto/Central America, too.

The kitchen ceiling is being redone starting today so the kitten is now living at my office (we came in a taxi this morning). It's kind of like when Ursula from Seinfeld makes an appearance on Friends, strange mixing of stories. LCdB has now stopped hiding under the sofa and has taken up position in the shelving unit; hopefully she'll eat and pee and be happy by the time the day is out.

PS New collabo-blog from Tom for all the cat lovers.

Window cat + Canada Day

2008-07-02T14:15:00.003-04:00

Well everybody, I spent my first Canada Day as an American resident yesterday. No day off! But I wore a red & white shirt, ironically it was I heart NY. At work we listened to all Canadian music and sang the national anthem at staff meeting, then later LL and I had some beers at the pub. Unfortunately not Canadian beer, they sell basically none here in NY.

On the way to rice pudding we met a kitty in the window, she had the most enormous tail and followed us around from inside the store.

Slow blitz & my apartment

2008-06-30T12:33:00.005-04:00

I just had lunch with Kate and Tim, who are the latest in the growing ranks of Toronto people who are not just engaging but ENGAGED. Crazy!

Current blitzquilt is above, though "current" is a bit of a misnomer since the quilt is off the wall (literally) and packed away, and the sewing machine is in a box. No, I am not moving. Some nice men are giving my apartment some new ceilings, which should last a couple of weeks (at least...). When I left home my roommate's ceiling was coming down and the poor baby kitten was hiding deep inside some shelving (she was so hidden that I actually thought she had somehow got out of the apartment and went all the way up to the roof to look for her). When they do the living room I'm going to bring her to live at the office.

"Blitz" is also a bit of a misnomer, this one is taking a while. I keep changing the composition, and it keeps getting CLOSER, but it's still not done.

Bonus -- you have to look closely to see the message from my drycleaner:

Being comfortable and chic is a difficult balance (or, taking care of business casual)

2008-06-23T13:01:00.006-04:00

Ok everyone. Since moving to New York my wardrobe has been undergoing overhaul. LL can relate I think (and she's helped me a lot, in part from clothes lending when we lived together and I had no appropriate clothes, and in part from inspiration/advice). No part of my wardrobe has changed more than my shoes. I wear heels on a regular basis now, instead of just for weddings. It's a good change.

In the bookstore last night I ran across this book, it is the best in the world, I will let myself dream about it for a while before I go and buy it to love it forever. It inspires me to dress more skillfully.

A gift from upstate, I wore it yesterday and had several conversations with strangers on the street:

New York fashion is not perfect however, this is on the Upper West Side:

Title credits go to the Sartorialist and that book.

Elevator men and a visitor preview

2008-06-17T18:06:00.003-04:00

Only two more sleeps and one of my dearest friends is going to come visit me! It will be extremely nice to have Allison Guy to talk to in person, like in the old days, rather than on the internet as is usual now. Also, seeing as she saw me through the whole process of being depressed in my Master's degree (and being somewhat depressed in her own), but graduating after a million years by a miracle of God, then not knowing what to do, and dreaming of living in New York but having no idea if/how/when, and then the whole passport saga -- well, it's meaningful that she's coming to visit me here in my new city. I'm excited.

Also we will go to see Sex & the City; we watched the whole series together so it's just right that we'll see the movie in the the City itself.

Summertime

2008-06-10T16:55:00.007-04:00

So it's extraordinarily hot in New York right now (95 F/35 C, and humid). Even though our office is more or less air-conditioned, I feel greasy and itchy and squirmy (the afternoon coffee I had isn't helping) and I just want to GET OUT. My house, on the other hand, is currently not air-conditioned (well it could be; I need to sort that out), so going home isn't actually going to help me.

The office also contains, for unknown reasons, many tiny gnat-like bugs, and they are driving me insane.

On a brighter note, yesterday I went to Princeton NJ, about an hour's train ride away, for a conference. The conference was fine, though I always get antsy sitting still and listening to people talk for hours on end, but the real highlight was leaving the city. Now, I love the city; nevertheless, it's so refreshing to go to places with more space, more trees, fewer people. I sat in a garden on Princeton campus, by myself, on and off with a bunny rabbit, for an hour and some, and it was the best thing in the entire world.

Hm, I feel like this is an incomplete entry, but I don't have much more to say. Oh, except I'm reeling from hearing that Karl and Dylan are both getting married (not to each other), and that Elna got a motorcycle license (as well as a motorcycle).

Stay tuned; blitzquilt news coming soon.

Ok one more

2008-06-03T18:00:00.001-04:00

more cat pictures

Interlude

2008-06-03T15:02:00.001-04:00

more cat pictures

Kitten, summer, long-lost friend, sailors

2008-05-23T15:41:00.004-04:00

The kitten has been hunting, though she let this one get away (like fishing for sport I guess).

I went for a bike ride and sat right next to the Hudson River yesterday, which was really the first day of summer, I made iced tea and everything.

Do you realize it's been THREE YEARS since Mandy Martens left Toronto? That means, until four days ago, it's been that long since I've seen her. Very weird. Not that I knew her that well to begin with, though I've always liked her and I miss hearing her sing. She was around the city to help me and LL celebrate my six months in New York (at a psycho Indian restaurant with more chili pepper lights than you ever thought could be put in one room before, especially since you've probably never thought about putting chili pepper lights in a room in the first place).

Also, somewhat surrealistically, the city is filled with sailors, since it's Fleet Week. I wonder how often they have to do laundry, or if there are drycleaners on board.

Many things, including Y is for Yale

2008-05-22T10:41:00.005-04:00

Dear reader, I have several updates to offer you. First, last weekend (after a sizing drama and a strong bout of indecision) I bought a gift for myself to celebrate six months in NYFC:

BEAUTIFUL SHOES from an AMAZING STORE.

Also this past weekend (continuing in the footwear theme) I started some socks. Seems that I knit about one pair of socks per year. I'm learning new stitches! It's keeping me interested (remember the neverending socks for sister last year? Oh my), I'm pretty sure I'm motivated almost entirely by curiosity.

Here's where we're at:

In the background there you see Connecticut, which brings me to yesterday. I went to New Haven to see Sharon, Jerome and their new addition, the lovely Cayley Rose (recipient of this quilt). They live in Cambridge now (no need to qualify which Cambridge now that I'm living in the US), it was great to get out of the city and see them.

Funniest picture in the world

2008-05-19T14:19:00.002-04:00

Ok maybe not quite but certainly up there for funniest cat.

With special notes to Tom and Enoch and all those nice folks.

New York Saturday

2008-05-17T14:47:00.004-04:00

One of the things that I love about New York is when you drop by the office on a Saturday afternoon to print out discussion questions for tomorrow morning and a knitting pattern, and instead of the usual Ninth Ave business there is a street fair that stretches maybe 20 blocks.

So I bought a crab cake sandwich, a lemonade and a tiny pecan pie.

More on the new knitting project next week. Now off to buy my six-months-in-New-York best-shoes-ever.

:)

Something's growing

2008-05-15T10:53:00.002-04:00

My peas have come up!!!!!

Also, I've been home the past couple of nights, and so I've had nice time to read, let the cat out, and even sew.

I started a new quilt ages ago; I'm trying to figure out how best to mount a working area on my wall so that I can play with layouts, but since my working area is in our living room (the largest room in the house, Molly and I both have work spaces in there) it needs to look reasonably nice. Perhaps LL will come over and help me out, once all her visitors leave and her work is less psychotic.

Furthermore/Garden

2008-05-07T16:36:00.005-04:00

Two extraordinary things about my Manhattan apartment are that (1) I have a backyard, and (2) the backyard has a tree* in it. When I tell people, they immediately become jealous. We're pretty lucky.

Sylvia said something when she and Brian were visiting a few weeks ago (they've been living on a co-op organic farm near Toronto for three-ish years) that keeps coming back to me. She said she's becoming increasingly aware that the most important thing they're doing by being farmers is preserving knowledge: knowing how to grow food naturally. They initially moved out to the farm to live out their environmental convictions (I think), but that's fading in importance. After all, we're approaching a food crisis. Doesn't hurt that these people have PhDs and are really good teachers.

My mom always gardened when I was growing up, but I never cared anything about it. But now something about the sanctuary of the backyard, and feeling like I own that space (God willing, for years to come), makes me want to work in it and make it beautiful.

And productive! I planted some peas (Sylvia's suggestion). I hope they grow.

(They're in pots rather than ground because someone is supposed to come soon to dig up the rat burrows that are EVERYWHERE. Apparently it's illegal to harbour rats in your yard.)

*A third extraordinary thing (for me, growing up where I did) is that our tree is an elm. I've never lived in a city with elms, they all got killed by Dutch elm disease.

Other stuff from the homeland

2008-05-07T10:08:00.002-04:00

Well, just one more thing. LL was in Toronto this past weekend (she had some work meetings on Monday) and brought this funny/fab button from Enoch. I love it and am wearing it today. Speaking of LL we met up in Central Park yesterday after work -- it looks like summer here! No jackets, skirts, full leaves on the trees. We sat on the edge of some body of water near the Bethesda Fountain and watched turtles poke their heads out of the water and the gondola man row around people drinking wine.

(I don't think one actually "rows" a gondola; but what is the right verb? Anyone??)

I stumbled on the Hell's Kitchen flea market on my Sunday walk to church. Didn't pick anything up, though was tempted by a decorative plate depicting the signing of the constitution.

More visitors from the homeland

2008-04-30T11:55:00.002-04:00

Always nice to see some Torontonians, even when I don't know them personally. And I think LL found a new dream profession in being a lantern-overhead-craft girl.

Engineers strike again

2008-04-25T11:58:00.002-04:00

I am using the free but incredibly faint internet on campus at Columbia (three blocks from my house) in the efforts of sending three emails. On the way onto campus I noticed the above -- chalk another one up to the U of T engineers. I have to scam internet since there is no internet at home, for various reasons relating to our unusual-but-appropriate-to-New-York real estate arrangement.

Yesterday I got a lovely postcard from adventuress-in-Dutchland, the ever interesting blog writer and friend LtK. Among other things she said I should blog more New York stories. I actually think that would be good for me; writing helps me process.

To that end stay tuned for more (when I get back to work on Monday where the real internet is). I'll also be writing a post at Empire Remixed...

NPD

2008-04-22T14:21:00.001-04:00

moar funny pictures

Knitten update

2008-04-16T14:17:00.004-04:00

You can just catch a glimpse of it in that picture -- I got the kitten a collar. It's going to have a little tag on it with her name and my phone number (will people call asking for Lady Catherine? Maybe it will help her get some hot dates).

Initially, the collar also had a bell. The kitten was not impressed with the bell. She did a comical but extremely distressed dance to try and get the collar off. Poor baby kitten. I removed the bell.

Soon, maybe I'll let her outside without supervision...

LYS + spring

2008-04-13T16:36:00.009-04:00

Dear reader: I write with several small pieces of news, which I will cover in turn beginning with the most important: I have visited my LYS (Amsterdam and 108th). I'd passed this place a few times but couldn't decide what type of yarn it sold; the outfits on the mannequins and the font on the awning gave conflicting messages.

Hoping I could get some dishcloth cotton (I'm out of red), I went in today. Somewhat disappointingly, it's got really nice yarn. Maybe K-Mart has cotton.

In other news, I went for my first bike ride EVER in NYC -- in Central Park, which is gorgeous right now.

In further news, the kitten and I spent considerable time outside this weekend; she chased one of the rats, and even escaped briefly into the next door neighbour's "yard" (all paving stones). Time to get her a collar and tags.

My backyard

2008-04-02T12:11:00.004-04:00

When I was looking for apartments here I wondered how on earth the kitten could go outside, so this backyard is, to me, a miracle. My current dilemma is, do I let the kitten wander about on her own, despite the general starkness and the large rats that live in the tree stump? Any wisdom out there?

While I'm talking about the backyard, both my backyards at this house and Manning Ave had, randomly but appropriately and very homemadedly, crosses. (I am annoyed that I failed to get a pic of the Manning one.. how did that happen?)

Catching up/home

2008-03-22T15:24:00.000-04:00

Spring

2008-03-19T12:18:00.002-04:00

I have totally neglected my blog, not because I've forgotten about it (or you, my loyal audience), but due to missing technology. Finally, we have the internet at the office, and I don't have to go to Starbucks anymore. I even have batteries and a cable for my camera. So perhaps communication from this end will increase.

But maybe low communication has been working for me and LL; it encourages people to visit.

Someone came, and is seeing and conquering

2008-02-26T16:59:00.003-05:00

Well maybe it's a weird picture, I have a different, clearer one to put up once I get my camera cable back from dear LL. However it's somehow appropriate, I don't know why.

Not only is the baby kitten here, some other visitors have been in town. And more are coming!

Slow

2008-02-14T10:00:00.004-05:00

Adjusting to living in a completely different place takes a long time. I've been in my own apartment for a little more than a month; we have one room (the kitchen) left to paint; we now have a table to eat at and chairs to sit on; I hung one of my little quilts on the wall. Slowly, slowly, I am making a home.

This weekend will be the first Toronto shenanigans in New York since I've lived here. (Well, first with the notable exception of Jelena, who visited LL early in January.) A whole pile of folks (Enoch, Megarrah, David, KARL) are going to be in town all at once. And someone in particular will be making her way to the city on Saturday: I'm going to Toronto tonight so I can escort her. It's all going to be very good.

I've carved a nice walk into my morning commute, here are some pics from today.

Updates from the Great City

2008-01-29T18:41:00.000-05:00

Everybody! My apartment situation has resolved itself extraordinarily well, at least until August. Thank God (literally). Also, I am about to book a plane ticket to Toronto to go get LCdB and bring her to her new and rightful home. I hope I get through customs ok.

In celebration of more settled situations, I present you some pics from around my new home. I set up my sewing machine, too.

Working late

2008-01-17T22:47:00.000-05:00

Tonight I'm working late in my second office. But at least I have nice company.

One million years later

2008-01-17T10:49:00.000-05:00

I have a photo published in some random online guide! Check it out.

Also, my housing situation is up in the air... I feel foolish, though I guess it's just part of New York real estate. I wonder what will happen; I am awaiting my fate; send strongly positive thoughts in my direction if you think of me.

Neighborhoods, new and old

2007-12-15T21:14:00.000-05:00

Everybody everybody: I got an apartment! Starting New Year's Day, I'm going to live in Morningside Heights. Here are some pictures of my new neighborhood, starting with my street.

And here are some of where I'm living now.

I live here now

2007-11-28T23:36:00.000-05:00

It doesn't make any sense. But it's just right. We heard the Rockefeller Center tree being lit tonight, but couldn't negotiate walking there (too many police barriers). We heard the countdown and the cheers though. Top pic is LL's street, bottom is the entrance to her work.

Tomorrow I sign some papers and then I will officially work for a church!!

Four more sleeps

2007-11-20T23:39:00.000-05:00

I have been defeated by the blue quilt. I am so tired, finishing odds and ends at work all day, packing all evening, that quilting something that big is just too much. My mind is elsewhere. I can't even focus on my Scrabulous games.

I also don't feel like taking any photos, so I'll leave you with some flashbacks.

P.S.

2007-11-17T14:36:00.001-05:00

One more to go?

Start spreading the news

2007-11-17T01:08:00.001-05:00

Well everybody, it's official: I have a job in NYC, and I am going to move there, SOON. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps even too soon. Or not soon enough? Anyhow, I'm packing up my house, which is everybody's favourite activity. I don't know why we all don't move more often, packing is that much fun.

Weirdest thing I've found so far: a lock of hair from my first haircut (October 1981), sealed in an envelope. (I didn't open it.)

Also:

Furthermore, from a different year:

Which reflects in an eerily accurate way my life so far, in both content and indecision. Finally, for that little taste of random, here is a picture of me with Ted Rogers and his family:

In a box again and then some

2007-11-07T23:19:00.000-05:00

Poor kitten is stressed by all changes in the house. I wonder how she'll fare in NYC.

blitzquilt4 (leftovers)

2007-11-04T14:23:00.000-05:00

I am making a blitzquilt using the blocks rejected from my past four quilts. The one rule is that I'm not allowed to cut any new pieces. It makes for a strange but very fast project.

It's also a very satisfying project. I feel psychotic and hyper and unrestrainedly excited these days, since I'm moving to NEW YORK CITY really soon (but I'm not sure exactly when). (I am thus purging a lot of my stuff so if there's anything in the world that you want, ask if I have it, and if I do you can have it for free.)

This quilt is so low pressure and so quick that I feel like I'm accomplishing something. Also I'm sure I'm not getting enough exercise so it's burning off a lot of excess energy. (Maybe I should cut back on the coffee.) Furthermore, it's distracting me from all the waiting I'm doing right now. I'll let you know how it all (ALL) turns out.

One down, one (two?) to go

2007-11-03T14:40:00.000-04:00

Cold weather makes the kitten bored

2007-11-01T22:14:00.000-04:00

Home/home

2007-10-29T00:05:00.000-04:00

Dot dot dot

2007-10-24T00:06:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow evening I'm off to New York. I will stay with LL in her beautiful new apartment, I will wander around the most amazing city in the world, and... I'll also talk to some folks about the possibility of work. I'll let you know what happens.

NEW YORK CITY!

In the meanwhile...

And for the future... a judicious use of rejected bits:

(I really can't expect to finish THREE quilts in the next few weeks. OR CAN I?)

What?

2007-10-22T22:32:00.000-04:00

Everything feels crazy right now (or maybe it's just me that feels crazy). But this is funny.

Oh blitzquilt++

2007-10-09T23:34:00.000-04:00

After about 1000000000 variations on the same thing (I kept thinking I was finished, but something was unsettling me and making me completely crazy), I finally discovered what was missing.

Now to sew it and quilt it (unless I change my mind again augh). Finish by Friday? I've got at least one other quilt I want to finish before November...

blitzquilt secret

2007-10-07T20:28:00.000-04:00

One of the reasons I really like making quilts for babies is that I had a quilt made for me when I was a baby. I carried it around with me obsessively for years and years, wouldn't go to sleep without it, etc etc. It was yellow and white with line drawings of animals and flannel on the back (the best part). Here I am maybe four years old, with my Grandma and my Blankie, in Thunder Bay where my dad is from.

I still have my Blankie; my dad made me take it to my own house to get it out of his. He gave it to me in a ziploc bag.

If I am lucky, maybe some of my quilts will be loved this much.++++

P.S. Update on the current blitzquilt coming later this week.

Getting there++++

2007-10-03T18:09:00.000-04:00

New beginnings++++

2007-09-30T16:00:00.000-04:00

Even though it happens every time, my inability to follow a plan, when it comes to things like quilts, never fails to surprise me. Luckily, the non-plan is usually way more interesting than what I started off with. We'll see what happens to this one (I just started it yesterday).

P.S. I ordered fabric for the end of the blue quilt...

I bet you've forgotten about this one...

2007-09-14T23:11:00.000-04:00

...but I haven't. The blue quilt top is, I think, done. If flickr is to be believed, I started this quilt almost two years ago. It's been a good experiment ground, especially because I haven't worried too much about how it looks.

Soon it will be on my bed. Tomorrow I'm thinking of looking for backing and batting.

New footwear

2007-09-12T22:06:00.000-04:00

The socks are from Allison Guy (thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and the shoes are from London.

Home (but first, Cambridge)

2007-09-07T09:36:00.000-04:00

I didn't die, and other memories of Germany

2007-09-01T07:45:00.000-04:00

Land of bikes and LtK

2007-09-01T07:24:00.000-04:00

Sartorialist in Romania

2007-08-17T14:02:00.000-04:00

"Alight here for the British Library"

2007-08-12T18:25:00.000-04:00

One last photo

2007-08-06T13:54:00.000-04:00

It really is done, and will be winging its way to Japan in Allison Guy's suitcase on August 19.

It feels strange not to be working to some absurdly tight quilt deadline. Maybe I can finish the blue quilt before leaving the continent on Thursday.

Giving credit where credit is due

2007-08-02T13:54:00.000-04:00

Thanks to IKEA, and the mysterious force that left the 2008 catalogue on my doorstep two days ago, the blitzquilt top is now finished.

Can I finish tonight? Stay tuned...

P.S. LL has some ginormous news. !!!!!!!!!

blitzquilt+++++crisis

2007-08-01T11:53:00.001-04:00

I am not yet done the top of this blitzquilt. I had a frustrating night last night trying to get things to work, and became very tense. This seems to be a necessary part of my design process, which is becoming clearer through this blitzquilt work:

1. Original idea arrives (or no clear idea but something is begun)
2. Initial bits are made and are satisfactory but are not completed or attached
3. Some sort of crisis arrives in the attaching; panic ensues
4. Crisis eventually is resolved by calming down ("it's not the end of the world," etc) and changing the design, usually in an obvious way (obvious once I think of it)
5. The rest is straightforward work and is done quickly

Some variations on the current blitzquilt design are over here. Comments welcome; updates to come.

In the meanwhile, here are a few pictures from my dear darling nephew Daniel's fourth birthday partay.

blitzquilt++++?

2007-07-29T13:55:00.001-04:00

At least one of us is adventurous

2007-07-25T12:44:00.000-04:00

In exchange

2007-07-25T12:30:00.000-04:00

This is what I sent Mimi in exchange for these shoes. Think she'll like it?

N.B. Square design nabbed from a bag belonging to LL, origin: Paris.

P.S. I haven't started it yet.

blitzquilt++ and +++

2007-07-18T23:44:00.000-04:00

Vicarious news: LL and Enoch and Tom and Heather and Heather's cousin are heading off to NYC in a day and a bit – I wish I were going too!!

Honest Ed died the other day; there's something about that man that I love:

As for Ed's final retirement, he jokingly suggested that he wanted to be cremated, have his ashes sealed in a large hourglass that would not only be put on display at Honest Ed's but also turned every hour so that his employees and his customers could say: "There's good old Ed ... still running."—The Globe & Mail

Some inspiration

2007-07-13T11:51:00.001-04:00

Via Lucy in the Netherlands and her trip to the US. I love the scatteredness of the colours, and especially the red coming out of the centre of the giant star.

Favourite recent street find

2007-07-08T13:02:00.000-04:00

Should I buy giant sunglasses? Please vote

2007-07-07T00:23:00.000-04:00

Blitzquilt+

2007-07-06T12:04:00.000-04:00

Shown here while being pinned. It's quilted now too, and might get bound up this weekend. Blitzquilt will be the first quilt I have ever finished. !! And it's so much smaller than the others I'm making; quilting the larger ones will be difficult.

(P.S. Got my camera back.)

Blitzquilt

2007-06-28T22:53:00.000-04:00

For scale-scale: this quilt is three feet by four feet. For time-scale: I started piecing the top last Friday, and finished it last night (Wednesday). (I'm frankly impressed that I finished it.) On Tuesday, I bought batting instead of going to the island with Meanoch et al. And now...

...comes the hard part, or rather the part I've never done before: the sandwiching of layers and the actual quilting. My goal had been to finish this before I went to Ottawa this weekend, but now I'm not going anymore; maybe I'll use the weekend to finish the quilt.

(And the phone photos continue. For now you'll have to use your imagination a bit re: colours. LL says that she will be my official photographer until I get my camera back from my sister.)

P.S. Amazing

2007-06-28T11:55:00.001-04:00

More amazing here.

I took a picture of the blitzquilt this morning – with my phone – the top is done! But for some reason I'm having troubles emailing it to the internet. Stay tuned.

Handicap

2007-06-26T14:11:00.000-04:00

I am working on a bunch of things right now (including the mysterious blitzquilt) but I can't show you anything because my sister has my digicam. I feel like I am missing a limb. Ok that's an exaggeration. Just a finger. But seriously now, I am severely hampered in my ability to blog and have been reduced to taking any necessary photos with my phone.

Actually, taking phone photos is really fun, because I can email them to flickr as soon as I take them. I've recently cleaned out the photo archives on my phone: flickr now shows tiny pictures of NYC, the Exhibition last summer, various graffitis and other odds and ends. Check em out.

As you may have guessed, the photo above is also a phone photo – and is the product of a facebook (oh yes) friendship between me and my Halifax doppelganger (discovered by Tom: she owns a knitting store and teaches at an art college and even has green glasses). So: Mimi sent me shoes; now I will send her something. I have an idea for what, I just need to get it all together.