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Spill Guts Here. It's gotta go somewhere, know what I mean? Can you stand it?
purls before swine
Geek Knitting
West Indian Parade
West Indian Parade
Dog/Cat Wrestling
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6.29.2002
My newly greased ride. I'm blinking! but this is the best one. Pics of the new knits came out badly, and I have to try again today to get better shots.
6.28.2002
Finished 2 more cotton fine gauge tanks, one with HK lace shoulders, another with chain stitch sides and shoulders. They were handwashed this am, and should be ready to be photographed then come to the shop tommorrow.
I treated myself to a screw gun today! I've always wanted one, and now I don't have to ask anyone to screw stuff for me. Always been slightly afraid of them, but I got a Black & Decker "girly" model, very light and powerful. Battery is charging right now, and tonight, I'm going to be screwing things all over the house! OK, I'll stop now. ;-> Took some pics today of my excellent ride, a 1971 magenta Schwinn Stardust. This was a present from my little brother Richard a few years ago. Just got it filled with air and greased yesterday. Love spinning around the 'hood on it. Will post one of those tommorrow also. 6.27.2002
 Calling all budding (or established) knitwear designers: New knitting e-zine Knitty.com is seeking original design submissions. I love that name.Well, I'm still very excited about my factory visit with Shima on Monday, but being over excited is TIRING, and yesterday and today, I felt like sleeping in my shop, not a very flattering picture when someone comes in. Coffee didn't help. Going to bed early tonight. 6.25.2002
“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” —Albert Einstein
That does include me! I had a fantastic telephone conversation with the General Manager of Shima Seiki's Headquarters in New Jersey this AM re: the 3-D industrial machines, the state of the industry, fashion, tech stuff, etc. I've been invited there next Monday to see the machines and samples they've produced so far, and discuss possibilities. wow. I'm happier than I've been in years! Holy shit! I was actually physically jumping up and down today. I forgot to eat. This is historical. At times like this, I wish I were more articulate. Curiousity killed the cat, satisfaction brought her back. So anyway, of course, I went out this afternoon and bought new shoes. ;-> ;-> ;-> 6.24.2002
What's in the left window of my shop.
Well, the mouse that was living in my oven reappeared this am *IN MY BATHTUB*. Couldn't jump out. Dog was completely disinterested, obviously far too well-fed. Filled the tub with 2" of water so it would exhaust itself, then after a while scooped it out in a big bucket, and threw it in the backyard. I watched it run away into the weeds. Probably I'm getting too soft, but I didn't feel like killing anything this morning. 6.22.2002
A fascinating Japanese knitting website: "The ABC's of Knitting". The site lets you create your own gauge ratio for graph paper, and has a great conversion chart with all the different needle sizes, American, British and Japanese.
Be sure to check out the Poetry section, it's knitting related, and really made me laugh! SO subtle! Faboo! There is also an excellent illustrated guide to knitting with *2* circular needles, as opposed to double pointeds. Interesting, I haven't tried it yet, as now I actually enjoy DPs. Some of it's in Japanese, but there's still plenty to look at and learn here. OH. This morning I had a life changing revelation. This is why: 3-D knitting. Ran into fellow knitwear designer Martha this am at the greenmarket, and we got into our usual hardcore discussion about the state of the industry, progress on her almost ahead-of-their-time projects regarding green/organic yarns, fashions and fibers, and industrial knitting. She's the only person I know who I can talk to about that, it's very special!!!! ;-> She casually mentioned 3_d knitting, and I mentally filed it away to research later. So I googled 3_d knitting, and found out what my design goal is for the next phase of my "career". This is BETTER than warp knitting. Just as complex, and uncharted! My mouth is watering. No old school production methods to overcome. It's like going into space. It's a culmination of all my interests and experience up until this point. Hardcore knitting + hardcore technology. Heaven. Now have to think strategy. Curious girls named Tamara go here. 6.21.2002
12 New Lace edging and insertion patterns posted by Sarah Bradberry today! Oh, what a bounty. Next on the agenda to knit, as soon as I'm done with the finishing work of 2 machine knit sweater bodies I knit this am. Hand knitted lace straps on one and black crocheted zigzag seams on the other. WIll post pix when they're in the shop, probably tommorrow...
Excellent new knitters resource page by Crafty Bitch. I keep meaning to make a page of resources, but if other people keep doing it, I might not have to! ;-> (Although I do have a few resources no-ones tapped yet, I think!) Took the dog to the shop today, and just brought him home again. He's in his "lungeing at passerby's ankles" mode, not a very good store dog. It's just too hot today to deal with. So he's back home either contemplating his bad behaviour or liberating the contents of the bathroom wastebasket. 6.20.2002
 In the RedLipstick household, cameras are a vivid invitation to play. Some shots from the shop and studio. 6.19.2002
Taking pictures at the shop so I can finally just put(post) up and shut up! Got in wonderful handmade beaded leather sandals today from Indonesia, going to start online shopping with those, I think. Kept a pair for myself, of course. Taking shots of the "doily insert" tees as well...hang in there, barring technical snafus (yeah right!), they will be revealed tonight or tommorrow am!
If you simply cannot resist faux woodgrain, this season's ColorCrush will be of interest. I know I can never get enough, as long as it's not 70's basement porno wall paneling. Tore down my share of that stuff. It's about the *subtlety* of it. Have a pretty large collection of "woodgrain" ceramic barrel mugs and pitchers.
Knitting ribbed tank bodies on the 7g in cotton/silk mixs, and handknitting lace insertion and edging patterns in the same yarn, doubled, for the straps and decoration. Hope to finish one this am, take a picture of it at work on a mannequin, and post it up here tonight. Want to get into that habit, mostly as a way of recordkeeping, too many things get made and sold with no pictures. 6.18.2002
There's a mouse living inside my oven. It doesn't work, and I'm waiting for my landlord to get me a new one, so I can't turn it on to get it out. It's been squeeking pretty regularly for 2 days. The dog is hanging around the stove alot (minpins are natural ratters). Hope he gets it before I have to.
Got the camera working! 6.14.2002
Love this quote:
"You must proceed there, that way, where today you are least at home." -- Friedrich Nietzsche Been thinking alot lately about change, growth, progress, and how it's uncomfortable, but you learn to love the "growing pains", even need them to feel good. Every time I think I've "grown" enough, here comes more in tsunami sized waves. OK. I give in. I guess dealing with the State Tax people and IRS like I have been lately will lead anyone to be slightly philosophical. It's a coping mechanism, because believe me, this is very expensive non-fun. Infuriating, to be precise. Whoa, Girl. Love watching Sarah Bradberrys progress on her Homework project. This is my idea of clean information design, and the knitted lace patterns are beautiful. Some new lace patterns were just posted. Store is looking very good. Still have one more day's work to do, then re-open on Saturday. Mostly organizing stock, since the layout is all different. Pale lettuce green chiffon curtains are really nice. Driftwood Lamp is larger than ever. Had trouble finding a spot for it, but finally found one. Ok, got more batteries for the digital camera, took some shots around the house. Next day tried to get them into the computer to edit, and the camera wouldn't even turn on. Recharged the batteries, just in case. Still won't work. Oh Zeus, did I break it? I didn't do anything! Have to call Ranjit (who's camera it is) and find out what's wrong. *sigh* SHIT! Sewing like a fiend. Made 4 printed cotton skirts yesterday, from simple a-line, to gathered and ruffled, and one silk apron dress. Sort of want to machine knit a bit this am, or at least assemble my large gauge machine. I want to make knitted pocket belts for my new skirts, started making one last night by hand, then stopped, realizing they are a perfect machine project. Mental block is definitely getting annoying. 6.11.2002
Shop is closed this week for Spring/Summer cleaning and reorganization, plus I just need to do too many errands. I found a huge, old, driftwood table lamp at a thrift shop, really this thing is 3 or 4 feet tall with a huge basket weave shade! I want to redesign the store around it for the summer. Wood, pearl grey(walls) and light green(chiffon curtains) with the everpresent black and white tile floor.
It's hard to believe, but I got on a cleaning binge 2 days ago. This is a first. Bought a vacuum. The apartment is so nice now. My gardenia is about to bloom. The trees are also in heavy bloom in the park, and it smells great early in the morning. Cleaning, not knitting (yet). 6.08.2002
Wow! Just got a major thrill! The inimitable Liz Collins just came into my shop! By accident, as she now lives in the neighborhood right next to mine, and passed by when I was closed. I consider Liz to be the most creative (machine) knitwear designer around right now. And she's really sweet! That just made my day!
After work today, with great anticipation, I'm going with a friend to see a performance of Mysterio Simpatico, with guitar by Bill Frisell, and visuals by the amazing Jim Woodring at The Warehouse at St. Ann's. Then, tonight after that, we're going to a very hip little girls birthday party in Ft. Green. It's a very inspiring day today! I could get used to this! 6.07.2002
The camera batteries in the charger leaked. It's happening all over again. *long sigh* Will buy more today. Haven't even gotten to the camera yet.
6.06.2002
Received a lovely bag of authentic shetland wool in skeins from Maggie, who just had a vacation in Scotland. They are so beautiful, that I'm thinking of ignoring my "hate knitting wool in summer" dictum, and doing some fine colorwork. Thanks Maggie!!
Just had another shop visit from a friendly West African gentleman, Aliyou, who brings me incredible silver jewelery made by his family in the desert, mostly in Ghana. The shop now has an incredible assortment of patterned rings, earrings and bracelets. Might possibly put some of this online, as I finally got up the nerve this am to look at the digital camera, and recharge the batteries, so I can use it. O-FREAKIN-K! I have a fear of cameras, because I always break them! It used to be watches. When I was a child, my body produced that electrical phenomena thingie that stopped them from running in a matter of days. They were the wind up type, not quartz. I eventually became less "electifying", and now wear quartz with no problem. I even have an old french wind-up Lip from the '60's that works quite well. Computers are ok, too. But cameras still break on me. Overcoming mental blocks is gratifying, but ultimately draining to deal with. Still having a machine knitting mental block, so working on semi-precious jewelery for the shop, as well as gathering materials for an entirely new project. More about that as things arrive, and creation gets under way. 6.03.2002
Whipping out small versions in cotton and silk of the excellent doilies in the Marianne Kinzel books: "First Book of Modern Lace Knitting" and "Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting". These are most definitely not modern any more, they are now retro and bizarre, and very beautiful.
It's a perfect day out, and it's a closed shop day. Sitting here trying to decide which tasks and errands I need to complete today, and wondering if I should just blow it all off, and go to the beach for a few hours. ;-> What the hell. More coffee, first. |
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