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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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3.31.2004
Classes are on hiatus because... I'm finally writing a knitting book! The perfect combination of packager, publisher and subject matter materialized, and I went for it. I have only 3 or 4 months to design the patterns and write it, so no classes till September. In the meantime, if you can't wait I heartily recommend Make Workshop. I've heard *many* lovely things about their classes.
So...the book! Knitting for Dogs! So very up my alley. If you live in Brooklyn or New York City, and would like to work with me on knitting samples and pattern proofing, email me at staceyatredlipstickdotnet. It is necessary that you own {or have owned} a dog {so you understand intimately what and why}, and be an experienced knitter familiar with basic+ techniques. This is not a learning situation, although I will be showing how I want things done, and you may learn a new technique or two, that's fine. We'll be having knitting meetings at my studio in Brooklyn over the summer, so teleknitting is not possible for this project. I'll fill you in on the details privately. Very excited! 3.29.2004
"The good life consists of the roots that lead to flow. It consists of first knowing what your signature strengths are and then recrafting your life to use them more — recrafting your work, your romance, your friendships, your leisure, and your parenting to deploy the things you're best at. What you get out of that is not the propensity to giggle a lot; what you get is flow, and the more you deploy your highest strengths the more flow you get in life."
Read more. A bit rambling, but excellent. I've come to {and agree with, especially the gratitude part} these conclusions naturally, by the long road. :-> 3.27.2004
My knitting equipment list is complete! I won an electronic 950 knitting machine from a guy in England for a song. I needed either that model, or a 910 or 930, because I have hundreds of original stitch patterns graphed on mylar sheets, most of the electronics don't read mylars anymore, they removed that capability so you'd have to buy a floppy reader and a pc {I refused to}. It's taken me over 3 years to get this affordable new baby, and I'm beside myself with glee. 950 is better than the other models, because it's newer, and *Please Zeus* hasn't been dogged by a hack, or if it has, has been so for fewer years.
Hopefully, it works, and will arrive safely from it's transatlantic journey and not smashed. Miss Moneypenny really came through for me today. Thank you, Puschy! It was beautiful again outside in the afternoon, and my customers and friends peppered me with spontaneous declarations of love and affection, which I returned wholeheartedly and in abundance. Brooklyn is in love with warm air. I feel extraordinarily lucky in many, many ways. Tinted lip balm is a no-go, thankfully I didn't order hundreds of dollars of it. After about 2/3 hours, it started feathering pretty badly,rendering it unacceptable. The formulation's too greasy for color. Plus, it smelled medicinal, annoying right under your nose, don'tcha know. I want a lip stain, satin finish, semi-transparent, non-greasy, lasts for 6+ hours. If I can't find one, I'll eventually make one.
Yesterday was one of those extraordinary days that make working very hard worth it. The weather was lovely, I went to two interesting trade shows in the am, then ran the shop later till evening as usual. There are times when I have incredible things in there all at once, and the shop takes on an "aura", which it has right now, plenty of gorgeous colors all meshing, and hyacinth scent. In addition, a neighbor I've not met before, Christian, popped his head in the door, and said, "You have the best taste!" That so nice! He said the things I have in the window are 2-3 months ahead of everyone else, and then of course I'm onto other things. I don't have time to notice that usually, and validation is a rare treat. Thank you, Christian!
I'm sore from running this winter weary little body around yesterday. My TV has on demand Pilates, which I'm considering. I watched 10 minutes of it last night when I got home to see what it was about, but it put me to sleep. Methinks it moves too slow for this gal. Perhaps if I were actually DOING the exercises, I'd be able to stay awake. I've been accused of being an object fetishist, I gracefully, proudly accept that description. Found strongly tinted {red, of course, other colors as well} lip balm yesterday, testing it this weekend, may have them in the shop next week if the color lasts long enough. Hooked up with another company that makes custom color cosmetics, but their miminums are quite large, I'm not really there just yet. Spending this drizzly am embroidering pink poodles on Brasilian bikini bottoms {the third piece, which is a boycut coverup, the other two are a thong for sunbathing, and tiny triangle top}. I'm not really sure what this, or this is, but they're incredibly cute. Seems like the site, judging from visuals on this page, are about making kid's toys from Japanese trash or common household items. 3.25.2004
Excellent article reposted in the Design Observer: "Top Ten Things They Never Taught Me in Design School".
I didn't attend design school. I did learn these things by trial and error and some great advice over the years. I'd like to add one told to me by an architect I worked for once: "If you really don't want to do a job, ask for an exhorbitant fee. The client will either retreat, or pay you so much you won't mind doing it." Works for me.  I mean, ok, I think they're pretty, but the concept is gross. Peeing into a womans mouth? It's fascinating to me that the concept got as far as it did.
Researching Japanese and Italian cosmetics {my current obsessions, two of them anyway}, how inconvenient that all the information is in Japanese or Italian!! Italian I can fake my way through, many years ago I ran an office for an Italian importer, and picked up a bit of the language, but the Japanese is impossible. Still, I managed to get some incredible Japanese Hot Spring Bath Salts for the shop. Should be here by next week. Japanese lip gloss palettes arrived yesterday.
Next week looks quite exciting for many other reasons as well.
SweetAction Party this Saturday night, if you're in NYC, swing by. They'll be showing outtakes from the photo sessions for the first issue. :->
3.24.2004
A bit of extraordinary news today, the new Zagat's Shopping Guide for NYC came in the mail, and my shop is in it! With an excellent review! This is pretty major, as there are thousands upon thousands of shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn. I am really happy today. Last year RedLipstick made the Brooklyn shopping guide, this is like graduating up. :->
A lovely day all around as the irridescent pink and apple green jellies came in, too. I love them! Pointy toes and a little heel. super comfortable. Shoes and Press, a nice combination. Waiting for the superfine fishnet panties, actually due last week. 3.23.2004
  
Went to look at an interesting bit of "real estate" this am, it's undergoing drastic reconstruction for the next 2-4 months, that will fit into my time frame quite well. It has definite possibilites. The location is on the very edge of an excellent, happening neighborhood. The rent is reasonable.
As I was speaking with the landlord, who I liked, rats were audibly eating through the floorboards trying to get in and eat food the current tenants {hot dog vendors} frequently leave unprotected. UUUUHHHHH. Oh yeah, needs a bit of work!
I'm very excited about the Comme des Garcons Guerrilla Store, the temporary one that's opening in Brooklyn, {don't know where yet} in September. The first one is in Berlin The theory behind these stores is that they'll close after a year whether profitable or not, and are very spare. I love the idea of bucking the whole "label" monopoly, both physically and in terms of mindshare. I've always shopped for items for the store by style, not by who made them, if that corresponded it was ok, but that's not a given. It's easy to have cool things at excellent prices with that motto. Does take time to track things down, though.
Can't wait to see what's in this place. 3.22.2004
Eased my annoyance at sending the State a large check and finding out about 2 years of missing important mail by riding over to Knitting Hands and indulging in some yarn made of Bamboo, which I've only read about. It's fine enough to become a medallion for insertion into a jersey tank or tee. Seems a little scratchy, just mildly so, we'll see what happens when I wash it. A very nice way to calm down. Chocolate, and Salt & Vinegar chips {separately} helped as well.
At times like this, focusing energy on making something is the way to go. What the hell else will they be making yarn out of? 
PO'ed Rant follows, not knitting related:
I spent all morning trying to get the form for filing quarterly sales tax for the shop, they must be sent w/check postmarked today. I usually get the forms at the NYS tax office on Hanson Place, just a few blocks from the shop, no big deal. Today, there were over a hundred people waiting in the LOBBY, they weren't even letting anyone up to just pick up a form, I don't know what the deal was. Went shopping for an hour, and came back, the same people were waiting to get in! SO I called 311, the NYC info line, and after 3 or 4 wrong turns on the phone, finally connected with the NYS Tax Dept. and got a URL where I could download the form, even better. Going over my account, the woman helping me mentioned that they HAD been sending the forms and lots of other important info to me, and it was getting sent back. They were sending them to my ex-boyfriends bad karma fetish house in Bay Ridge, who never even bothered to let me know. He just sent them back, instead of dropping them in an envelope for me, or at the very least just leaving a message on my machine that this was happening. This has been going on for over 2 years. He's STILL trying to sabotage my ability to efficiently run my business, in my opinion. Thank you Zeus, for an excellent accountant who keeps me on top of this stuff. Mark, you're obviously still a flaming, petty asshole. Hope your thinning hair falls out halfway like the lame Bozo you are. 3.21.2004
3.20.2004
Ok, a strange, serendipitous coincidence happened today. I've made a few mix cds of music I used to have the albums of, mostly from my teens and early 20's. There are {only} 2 Joan Baez songs on one of them. I was playing that one in the shop today, when three women came in, one a regular, local client, the other two were visiting her from San Francisco. One of the visiting women asked who was singing, it happened to be one of the two Joan Baez songs... {the Bob Marley song "No Woman, No Cry", which is enunciated exquisitely by her, BTW}. Turns out, this ladies sister has worked with Joan for years, and so this woman standing in my shop knows her well, and saw her very recently. We had a lovely conversation. I had goose bumps.
Now, I'm not a superstitious person or mystical believer by any stretch of anyone's imagination, but this type of thing happens VERY FREQUENTLY to me. Perhaps it's just an awareness thing. The subject most likely would not have come up had the song not been playing. But it was, just then. Maybe this happens to everyone. I have not thought about Ms. Baez for about 20 years. But in the last week, she has entered my world quite vividly again. Strange? Oh yes. Going to Amazon right now to buy her new cd. I sort of view occurrences like this as proof that whatever I focus on comes to me like a magnet. That I have multiple, endless proofs of. As they say, you must be careful what you wish for. A happy accident. A wide stroke of interesting luck. Things like this make me feel happy, like there is some type of larger pattern... 3.18.2004
Experimenting with old school 3D (anaglyph) in an embroidery context. Granted the number of people looking at your chest with red/blue glasses is most likely to be nil, but still...it's the idea that's funny.
 3.17.2004
While I find this extremely interesting, there's no way I'd wear something knit out of a yarn impregnated with red pepper to "stimulate my skin". Crab shells? What the hell for? Sometimes, there's something to be said for leaving well enough alone.
It's still {gently} snowing! Since the shop is now filled with spring clothes and Havaianas flip-flops from Brazil, I'm happily playing hookie today. UPS will redeliver my expected packages tommorrow. I've been doing alot of machine embroidery yesterday and this am on cotton tanks. Now getting ready to work on some writing, then machine knitting.
I'm *very* excited about the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, since I've decided to go this year! I've always been too busy, too bad, just going to do it this time. Anyone else going? I want to see the sheepdog trials and eat funnel cake, and of course buy yarn from small suppliers. Plus, I just love sheep. If you're in the NYC area and want to book a seat on the bus with us, email Eve at Eveningg@aol.com. It's a Saturday daytrip. 3.16.2004
Oh shit, as if I didn't have enough going on...got sidetracked researching and then fooling around with electroluminescent wire and other stuff. Trying to knit it to make lamps. It snowed today, so my appts. got naturally cancelled. Yippee!
3.14.2004
Currently blooming in the window of the shop:
 Not shown, the Hyacinths, which are making the place smell delicious!  Brooches.  Balancing out all the Spring sweetness is this example of the insidious evil lurking in my heart: A basket of adorable plush baby ducks placed in the window at kiddie eye level. When you squeeze the stomach, they quack loudly! Three times! Enough to drive you nuts, as kids like to squeeze them over and over.... A precursor to the more expensively evil "drum kit". Soundtrack for today: "Fujiyama Mama", by Wanda Jackson. 3.13.2004
JoanBaez.com, of course!
3.12.2004
Does anyone remember Joan Baez? Spending my scarce knitting time tonight making compilation cds of amazing folk music I loved in jr. high school. She has the most beautiful voice, and was (probably still is) a model for a deeply moral, uncompromising and present life as an artist. I realize now she must have made a big impact on me in my impressionable years, although I hated politics then and still do.
WARNING: Esoteric rant following, turn away while you can: I am totally exhausted, but used to this pace I created. I don't know why, but I have a deep sense of urgency regarding getting as much of my work done as I can as soon as I can do it. I still feel like I wasted 5 years trying to be "normal", when my life with my creepy ex was anything but, under a fake and bullshit traditional surface. Way over 2 years later, I still feel like I've just been let out of prison. I heard a line in some movie about a woman who was called a "failed heterosexual", and I had to laugh. I think that's what I am. I just DON'T CARE about the traditional things women are supposed to care about. I've always felt ambivilence. I was emotionally tortured about and spent years of precious time doing anal housework, shopping for food for complete meals, cooking them, wandering aimlessly just to get exercise almost every weekend and enduring non-fun and pointless social engagements with people I didn't like, and who didn't like me. I worked in an office for Corporate Amerika, and learned about office politics and culture. I did work I was bored by and wasn't proud of for alot of money. Almost 5 relentless years of this. I was almost totally braindead and had no self-esteem by the time it imploded. I don't think I've ever been happier than right now, or felt more like myself. My doctor prescribed iron pills and vitamins to relieve anemia, and it's helping fight fatigue. Life is incredible, mine, yes, but also in general. Vote Democrat in honor of Joan B., won't you? hehe
Phone was inexplicably dead this am, prompting the installation of the cable modem, making me late to open the shop. I don't care, this is great!
I made a simple page this am for my friend Ina, a hilarious artist and film-maker, who's having a show next month, and had to upload it for her. In NYC? check it out...Ina Archer. Times and opening info soon. 3.11.2004
I have a tremendously fun project on the horizon. More about this as it develops. Very excited! I'll need some experienced knitters on this one! I can't sleep becasue my mind is overflowing with ideas, hence this 6am post. Been up since 4:30. *sigh*
I got the cutest things in the shop yesterday, Lucky Beggar coin purses! They look EXACTLY like a Greek diner paper to-go coffee cup, but are made of leather, with a zipper closing the top, like the cup is squeezed together. I went to a dinner party the other night, and one of the women had one. I watched in horror as she removed her lipstick from what seemed like an old coffee cup, and I thought "Oh honey, please get yourself a purse". It was actually charming! I love them, and ordered them for the store. It's the small things, isn't it? In reality, I think I must be really easy to amuse. FINALLY have a free morning to do my studio thing, and unpack and test some of my new equipment. Got a cable modem 4 days ago, still need to take the damn thing out of it's box. Thank you Zeus, for strong coffee. 3.07.2004
Some RedLipstick garments for Spring 2004:
 Silk and velvet ribbon lace beach halter. Yes, that is a copy of KnitKnit in the window, which the shop now sells. {thanks, Ellen!}  Linen and silk shoulder awning detail. And the elusive woodgrain sweatercoat {wool, alpaca, silk} captured on the way out the door:  That's also a merino Marsan watchcap keeping the heat in upstairs. 3.06.2004
If only they made these in a boycut shorts model, I'd get them for the shop. But I'm tired of thongs.
Went to a fun going away party last night for my dear friend Joseph, who's moving to San Francisco. Discovered how delicious whiskey sours made with Maker's Mark are. He's rented a huge Victorian mansion there, and I can visit him anytime! I'm going to take him up on that, I love that town. One of his friends there is a guy who handmakes cosmetics, hopefully there will be a custom shade of RedLipstick Red Lipstick soon! I've always had that idea on the back burner. It may be time to implement it. Have been on a textile equipment buying spree, my new Babylock sewing machine came yesterday. I did unpack the Swiss knitting machine, it's beautifully made. Getting Luciano to build a custom table for it, as I'm only going to use it coupled horizontally. One more electronic 7G knitting machine needed now, and the spree will end for a while. 3.04.2004
Just took delivery of an ancient standard (7G) gauge Swiss knitting machine, a strange double bed that does one very unusual thing: you can unhitch the beds, which are usually used "face to face" and then couple the beds together horizontally to create a doublewide flat knitting machine, 400 stitches. I'm fucking salivating to put this thing together, and I won't have time for a few more days. DAMN IT>>>>>
Oh man...this week is insane, Yesterday was 6:30 am to 11:40pm non-stop, the I had to go home before I collapsed. I was confusing left and right, repeatedly, that's a sure sign of my dyslexia which really only appears when I'm very tired. I want this week to END!!! The task schedule really won't slow down for another 4 days. I hope I can make it before I get sick.
The things I'm doing are all work/art/design related, and taken individually would be considered fun, but just without rest or mental spare time, so while I'm just pooped, it's infinitely better than when I worked for someone else. I'm not unhappy in the least, quite the opposite, and creatively challenged and satisfied as well. The projects I'm involved in now are really excellent and very interesting. Have taken pictures of my recent work, will optimize and post as soon as I get time. Got dark purple and creamy white hyacinth, daffodils and crocus plants for the shops windows last night, can't wait till they bloom. 3.02.2004
Oh. My. Gawd. Here are the "sweat pants" pattern all knit up. No insult intended whatsoever to the knitter or her figure, which I'm positive is just fine and properly proportional underneath. And I was mistaken, they're actually made of acrylic, not cotton. Yeast infection, anyone? 'Nuff said.
It's Spring, and I want a motorcycle. Every Spring I want one. My brother Richard and I had some when we were kids and teens, starting with mopeds. I come from an automotive/ motorcycle appreciating family. Driving one here in Brooklyn is flirting with suicide. But the desire is there. Perusing the craig's list ads, thinking about Honda Rebels and Vespas. I'm only 5'1", so it's gotta be a small one. Ok...stop now. It ideally would be shiny red or any color metallic.
Been busier than ever, with task after task being completed during my waking hours, from 6:30 am to bout 9:30pm, when I collapse after walking the dog. Tired, yet very energized. Very, very productive Spring so far. |
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