NYC -Bound!

I'm going to New York tomorrow! Just for a visit not moving there.
I go about once a year and usually it relates with seeing some sort of amazing art exhibit that I guilt my husband in one way or another to take me.

This year it is the Impossible Conversations with Prada and Schiaparelli at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'm delighted that the museum is open till 9pm on Saturday night. I won't feel so rushed to get in there right away the way I did for Alexander McQueen or Tim Burton. I feel like this will be a much quieter exhibit and mature audience. I hope to take long appreciative time through this exhibit without being shoved and bustled. It also is not the last day of the exhibit like it was when I went to McQueen and that was a sheer madness.

Other things on my list include taking the hubby to High Line since the Statue of Liberty is under construction. I figured just going to Ellis Island won't be fun unless we can get into ye olde majestic lady for a peekaboo (yes I totally feel that last sentence maybe a little dirty and I'm ok with that).

The only place I feel a dire need to eat at is Kenka in St. Marks. Then several friends told me I must try Momofuku. K-town would be nice for some neng-myung and galbi and some China Town Dimsum is always a welcome meal.

As for shopping I have plans to hit up Uniqlo, Topshop, Muiji, Zara.
To feed my collections and craft I plan to hit up Purl Soho, Toy Tokyo and KinoKuniya.
People always ask if I will hit up any fabric stores. I answer is usually no, because I just wouldn't have the room and it would be unfair to friends and husband to wait hours for me as I waddle through the bliss of NYC fashion district. When I travel with the hubby I try to be very mindful to do things he would be interested in as well. At the least I can pick my shopping areas close to parks, a MAC store or other interesting visuals for him but Garment District is not so pretty unless you are digging the trims, fabric and tools.

I did get some pretties in the mail yesterday which will make my Purl Soho experience a lot less stressful! For one I can now make my swatch card and know what colors I need to pick so I don't do duplicates and also I've been waiting for this stuff for nearly a month. It was a bit of an ordeal but I have WUSHA'd my negative feelings away on this and am just happy to revel in the colors.

I may have told a friend earlier today that I wanted to "rub my face all over the pretty colors". 

 
To end this post how about a couple cuddly critters I saw over the weekend at the Ohio State Fair. They were both part of the amazing petting zoo that included Cavy's, Emu's, Baby Zebra, Baby Water buffalo, sheep, goats, alpaca, llama and a few more.

This little darling is a Highland Cow. I'd only seen them in Scotland before when my Mom and I were there year's ago for a Fashion Contest. This is just a babe so not nearly as shaggy as the parents. The full size ones reminded me of Bantha's from Star Wars!

Images from Alien Species Wiki

This Alpaca was my buddy, I spent a lot of time petting him (for lack of knowing the sex). He was like a pet whenever I stopped he would nudge my hand for more and when I scratched behind the ears you could see him close his eyes and just melt a little bit. I wish I could of brought him home for the fiber and as a boss new pet.

I hope you all have a great weekend where ever you are and whatever you do!  Make sure to have fun and stay positive! If you are in Columbus this weekend there are a few great things going on like Gallery hop in the Short North and the Summer Flea!

Cheers!

Narrator Bob

A couple weeks ago while I was up at the Lake house I took some time to just figure out the Narrator Bob fair isle mits from Moonrise Kingdom. it was tough since I didn't have any good clear pictures but after a good bit of testing I think I finally got it nailed down.

I just used some scrap acrylic yarn from baby toy amigurami's to test it out. It took me about two tries to get it where I wanted the pattern and then a final two in a full mitt version to get the sizing and spacing on the pattern worked out.

This was one of the tests in final yarn. I have it all charted out now I just need to finish up the written instructions and I can post the PDF on Etsy for sale! I plan to add in a gusset thumb hole as well. With all the crazy from Craft Wars and festivals I'm still working and making things for the fall shows.

In August I am going to be traveling a lot so I am going to take it easy on meetings unless they are for Independents day. I am really looking forward to my trip to NYC in about a week to see the Impossible conversations, Prada and Schiaparelli at the Met and seeing friends of mine!

Do you have any trips planned in your near future?
How about projects that are longstanding that are coming to completion?
Cheers!

100 Dresses Book Review

 I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  At first when I saw it on the almighty Amazon from suggested books I thought, "Oh man another useless coffee table book with just pretty pictures"  But then I noticed it was published by the Costume Insitute for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, then I knew there was something special there.  I instantly ordered it from my Library and was spellbound when I received it.  It is a small book for what you would think it's content being but just right.  Because it is small it can easily go about with you for instant inspiration and a touch of history.

 Each page has a small biography of the dress, it's time period and facts significant to the dress itself.  I love how it does not pour knowledge all over you in a scholarly boring manner but keeps it sweet and concise.  It gives you enough information for you to explore on your own or you can be satisfied with you tidbit of trivia knowledge.  The photos of the dress are also not all face on and they are all on mannequins so you get to see the best side of the dress which is not necessarily the front of her and there is not styling distractions from a  live model.

 They were extremely selective in this book and it is amazing that they were able to narrow it down to just 100 dresses in my opinion.  Whenever there was a dress that had an accompany photo or painting similar they would include that also. 

 Another fantastic thing from this book is that they took pictures that I cared about such as the detail shots of the embroidery, bead work or lace.  These are the kinds of things that get my heart pumping to see the details and how those are constructed because without all the frills a lot of these dresses would be less then impressive. 

The dresses that had photos accompanying them were some of my favorites.  It is completely different seeing the dress in it's time setting.  It just gives a different perspective and life to the dress seeing them so casual. 

This is a book that will move from my just reading pile to must own.  Even reading through it once I find there are more details to ponder over again and again. The historical facts have made me curious for sure and I have delved deeper into the history then I have in a long time.  All these things make it a must have for any fashion/garment enthusiast.  The holidays are coming you know ~wink~