No more posts from me until 2007.

Happy New Year everybody!!!

John

Celebration

A gigantic candy cane float arrived on the village green. It was led in by reindeer. Penguins were waving to everyone and tossing candy.

Then the top blew off, everyone looked around no santa but a lot of snow. The count-down for santa started, 10, 9, 8, 7..... BOOM!!! a santa flew threw the air over everyone's heads, shot out of the candy cane,

And then a spot light on a near-by roof, It was Santa, Everyone was cheering,

Merry Christmas.

After lots of talking and hugging and greeting we walked home.
and sat down to a feast.
The end.

Fran stealing a Parmesan Black-Pepper Biscotti. Pretty easy to make.

Gougeres cooling. Easy.

Baking

The pizzelle are finished. I was laughing to myself about the "recipe" that I use. It's a list of ingredients written on a postcard covered in a few years of sticky dough. I can hardly read it, if anyone is feeling adventurous.3 cups flour 1/2 cup more maybe?
1 box confectioner's sugar
6 large eggs
2 sticks melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp anise flavor
1 tsp anise seed
About 6 dozen

So that's what I had to work with.
I do know that I got the recipe over the telephone from my sister. We always called the pizzelle made this way, with the confectioner's sugar, Joe and Terry's recipe. That would mean we have probably had the recipe for over 30 years. Terry died sometime in the 1970's. That's something I love about cooking and food. It is a part of that line between the past and the present, I always think of Terry when I make these even though my memory of her is very faded.

To the making,

I mix together the eggs and the sugar and the melted butter(cooled), then I add the flavorings and the anise seed. I always add an extra tsp of the seeds. I mix that all together and then add the flour. This year I needed to add the extra 1/2 cup I think the eggs were extra large.

Anyway it's that simple. What you end up with is a very soft dough.

you put a teaspoon of the dough for each cookie and press for about 30 seconds. They cool really fast and when they're all cooled I sprinkle them with powdered sugar.
That's the pizzelle story. Oh and yeah it was about 6 dozen.

I'm trying to hold on to

that feeling I have when I am walking through this.....

No pizzelle were made yesterday. It became a day of running errands, and everything seemed to take just a little bit longer.
Today off to Connecticut to set up our new selling space. Then home and I'm hoping the cookies get made on Friday. gotta run...

A quick get away

On monday we had some business in Massachusetts so we decided that we needed a little bit of a break, A place that would relax us, a place that we love. So we went to Provincetown for one night.

The Holiday food binge continued there. With , well, all kinds of seafood. We even brought lobster and oysters home for a little bit of a Provincetown dinner once we got back.
We had heard that there were 2 whales off of the coast last week, but we didn't see them.
We did have a great time walking on the deserted and rainy beach with 50 degree temps in December.

We're home now and the final holiday prep is going into full swing. The shopping for ingredients starts today and I'll be making the pizzelles. Photos of them (I hope) later.

More holiday eating

The Xmas Tree has been decorated.

Just in time for the 2nd holiday dinner.

It was great having Cynthia around to help with the cooking.



A roast chicken and latkes once again, this time made with blue potatoes and parsnips. Oh, and yes we did drink a little bit of wine.



Tonight will be a little break from the week of feasting, while we plan the menu for xmas eve, west coasters welcome. It looks like a fish pie for the main dish. An orange flavored crust with vegetables, swordfish, sultanas, olives, I forget what else .... a little bit of 19th century sicilian cooking. What kind of sides would go with that?

There is still a ton of food shopping to do, oh and We have planned a bit of baking.

Holiday Season

The latkes are cooking and the xmas tree decorating has begun. Later we'll be at Magic Meadow to celebrate the solstice.

This was last weekend

I survived the in-laws visit despite the statement "You Liberals are trying to outlaw Christmas", yep Fran's Dad actually said that. There are tons of reasons why this is funny.... a few

1. he is a UU, Yep, a good old inclusive New England Unitarian Universalist, fighters for gay marriage, in other words a Liberal.

2. We happened to have been subjected to very similar rants while in NJ at My families.... All coming from FOX television.

3.Fran's family never was a big Christmas celebrating clan. They do save this time of year though for the biggest, long simmering fueds/battles.

That was only the tip of the iceberg of last weekend.

I am recovered. I'm ready to have some fun for the holidays...
You all know that with Fran holidays are not his thing. He might even be said to be against them.
I've been mentioning getting a tree and decorating it for about a week, with the response, No , not yet, too early. For a little greenery I made a boxwood wreath yesterday, yes very Mid-Atlantic elite of me.

Now I'm over it and moving on to the next thing which is the Xmas eve dinner.

I happen to love doing this. It all is planned around the big eve celebration in Woodstock.

I invite the group (friends) and you all know who you are. over for cocktails and some nibbles in the late afternoon. It's got to be early because the santa arrival on the village green is at 5:30, so we need a little lift before we head out into the cold to see what transportation Santa will arrive in... Here's someone's story from last year. As you can see it is a very elaborate affair and the entire town is there.

After that we all head to the house and start the feast. I like to loosely base it on the Italian vigili. In other words.... lots of seafood.

So that is where my head it at this morning. hope to update you all soon. with a menu once the planning is done.
There will be something with baccala and .... I'm not quite sure what else yet.

strange pattern ceiling dirt

If you got here by googling the above...

Congratulations on your poetic ability.

Sorry I can't help though, maybe it's mold?

Just when I thought that i would be able to relax and have a little bit of time to myself.... The In-Laws arrive.

A recap

We were in New Jersey to see my Mother and Sister for the holiday. They remain as crazy as ever. Fran thought worse I thought slightly, ever so slightly better. If we had tons of money it would be grey gardens...

So we're there for Fran's birthday, and we all go to Philadelphia to see this amazing show. and we have a great lunch at Delilah's, a place we manage to get to every time we are in Philly. We survive the trip and get home, and it's time to prepare for the arrival of Fran's parents. They come every year at this time. For Fran's birthday and guess what... it's both parents birthdays , too. and we celebrate xmas. So this will be a party weekend.

Some how I have manged to make enough room in my studio, they'll be sleeping here. I might not get to the computer while they have my space. I'll try to sneak away though.

Time for me to have a drink or two. Happy Holiday.

I have given up on editing my posts. I'm just happy that I manage to get something written with a minimal amount of whining.

how I have been spending my time

It seems like I have been spending weeks trying to fit the things from the shop into the new room. This week I think I have nearly finished. Well, finished enough so that people can actually come over and see stuff.


Some how I managed to do all of this while barely able to move because I totally twisted my back and pulled a muscle while unloading from the last Pier show.

All of that is past now. I'm still sore, but my mood has improved ever so slightly.

My next goal is getting the studio into functional shape. I really haven't had the time or been in the mood to even knit a hat. no knitting for 3 weeks. wow.

Somehow I have also gotten it into my head that it's time for us to have a pet. I found a cat online (it's at the local shelter) and then there is one who has been visiting from the neighbors house.... I thought of catnapping him before he's eaten by the coyotes. But then I start to itch. So even though Fran says if I want a cat I should get one, I think maybe I don't really want that itchiness in my life right now.

So.... I started looking at dogs. Everyone who knows me will realize this a big deal. But wait, what if we do go to Mexico for a month or two..... Would we drive down with the dog? I'm so confused. So unless the perfect dog falls into my lap no pet in the near future.

Thanks for putting up with this little yakkity yak post. I'm going to NJ for a couple of days (family visit) and I hope my mood improves.

Happy Thanksgiving

It seems that all of the plans for Thanksgiving in NYC fell apart. Intead we are home and I've cooked / am cooking a crazy amount of food... for 2.

I'm laughing about it.

Tomorrow we're up super early for day 2 of the show set up and then two days of the show. The last one of the fall seaon, hopefully we will get to Mexico in December.
I'm worn out. Hope you all are enjoying yourselves (even those not in the US)

I start to look at the older work when cleaning the studio

I have been feeling uninspired lately. I suppose that is a good thing since I have had so many little tasks to complete. I'm still working on all of that stuff.
Plus we leave Thursday a.m. for the show in NY and then home for 2 days and back for a second show over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanksgiving dinner will be at Cynny's apartment. We still need to figure out the menu.
Today since it is feeling cold and damp and rainy I am leaning to a traditional T-day menu. The event is a week away so it all may switch. I haven't forgotten the conversations that I've had with everyone about a non-traditional, based on the food of the Americas type of meal.

If you have arrived here via my favorite Canadian blogger, welcome. Do come back, I'm not always so boring, really.

Because something should be written here

From Strange Little Mama. thanks

You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.

No.
Explanations.

1. Yourself: loyal
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend (spouse): detached
3. Your hair: thick
4. Your mother: wacky
5. Your Father: gone
6. Your Favorite Item: soft
7. Your dream last night: oooooh
8. Your Favorite drink: coffee
9. Your Dream Car: none
10. The room you are in: messy
11. Your Ex: who?
12. Your fear: mediocrity
13. What you want to be in 10 years? alive
14. Who you hung out with last night? FRAN
15. What You're Not? rich
16. Muffins: corn
17. One of Your Wish List Items: passap
18. Time: yes
19. The Last Thing You Did: cooked
20. What You Are Wearing: blue
21. Your Favorite Weather: transitional
22. Your Favorite Book: Melville
23. The Last Thing You Ate: dinner
24. Your Life: chaotic
25. Your Mood: calm
26. Your best friend: genius
27. What are you thinking about right now? art
28. Your car: lesbian
29. What are you doing at the moment? answering
30. Your summer: over
31. Your relationship status: long-term
32. What is on your TV? Fran
33. What is the weather like? rain
34. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday

who else will do this?

I am still around

This weekend saw the last of the scarves go. That part of my knitting machine life has gone.



The studio remains a gigantic mess. I have basically been spending my days huddled in the corner photoshopping images for the store website.

I've been knitting hats, too. every night sitting around and knitting a few rows on a group of hats, just fun silly stuff, things I keep forgetting to photograph.

The plan is to get back to the machines after Thanksgiving. (we're busy with shows until then). But when this show mania is past The machine will be set up and the old singer will be buzzing and I'll see what gets made.

So..... thanks to anybody who still might be dropping in here.
I'm still sane (somewhat) and I'm hoping that soon posting will be regular again.

Let's Vote

I'm up early today and I'm ready to vote.

Time for a change.

A quick post on a Monday

Most of the last week has been spent working on the new website for the "shop". I am trying to get the thing updated before all of the fall shows.

That means that I have been taking photos of stuff and working on it in photoshop, blah, blah, blah. In the middle of all of this I decided that I had better get glasses. I had my eyes examined and have a prescription for reading glasses, yes it's official no more cheap drugstore reading glasses for me I will actually have ones that are the correct magnification for each eye.

I've been looking at stuff on the studio wall


There hasn't been much added.

I've also managed to finish a hat. Unusual that I actually have a finished something but here it is....

modeled by Danny, on his last day working on stuff around the house this fall.

Somehow this doesn't sound like an accounting of all of my time since the last post. Still busy and boring.
and yes, my Sims are doing well, thank you for asking.

Somehow I thought that not being in a shop every day would give me time to do my own work and post to the blog.

It doesn't seem to be working out that way. I suppose it is all about adjustment. I've got to figure out a whole new way of being in the world now that I'm not in the shop.

In other words... I have been so, so busy.
It's the kind of busy that if I went into any detail about it you'd just click away to the next read.

Even Halloween was eventfully uneventful.

The meshing of everything into the house continues. ...

The big excitement is that our shed arrives today. That will help to clear a few things out.
I'm still trying to harness the energy in the chaos. It is a particularly wild ride..

Oh ... one other thing. I am back to an old addiction, Yes, everyone who knows me has probably been in fear of the day .....

I'm back on TheSims. Whoa, there goes a couple of hours.

Mess/chaos has its own energy

First off.... I just want to thank everyone who has been sending notes asking how and where I am. I'm not sure where I've been but I'm starting to feel like I am on the way back. Thanks to Tina (who is unfortunately blogless). She made a comment to me that the energy in the mess can be harnessed and used. So that is what I'm going to be trying to do.

I need to get back to the original point of this writing/blog - The studio wall.

Sometimes it isn't what I want it to be but, hey putting it out there is all a part of the process.

So....... Thanks you all for sticking with me. Who knows where this is going.

oh, and p.s. nice haircut.

I have been busy. And what better to do when you're going totally nuts and can't find a moment. A Time Waster.

48 Things You Could Care Less About


1. FIRST NAME? John

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No, I just had boring parents.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Probably last week. I think I was talking about a dog.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Liverwurst, I hardly ever eat it.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, but I wonder which one of us would do all of the talking.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Journal, and journals, and many many sketchbooks.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I was just thinking about this the other day ... no.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Barbara's multigrain shredded spoonfuls. ah.... and muesli.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? For some odd reason I rarely wear wear tie shoes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes, and I can lift things too.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Vanilla, really.

14. SHOE SIZE? 10 1/2 now 11 us.

15. RED OR PINK? Pink. Pink. Pink. and sometimes red.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My lack of motivation.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? All of my gay male friends from the late 70's and 80's. It's a very long list.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? NO.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black plants, green striped shirt, green socks.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Spaghetti for dinner.

21. ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? nothing, that's strange.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? I keep typing vermillion and then deleting. Why?

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Amber, and the woods.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Thom on his way to Mexico.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Eyes and how they move through a room.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? Love her blog.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? coffee a.m./ wine p.m.

28. FAVORITE SPORT? You've got to be kidding.

29. EYE COLOR? green

30. HAT SIZE? ???

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No, reading glasses from the dollar store.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? This could be a novel.... Chinese, not cantonese, or maybe cheese, or for comfort I like a roast chicken. I sometimes obsess about a steak. I love food, sometimes it's a steamed vegetable if it's just picked, or how about something with chilis I love chilis, in hungarian goulash or mexican food, or lets see ...I like to cook Indian food. This Is a question I can't answer.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings, unless they really deserved to die.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? winter into spring.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? My sweet downfall is maple

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I hope no one.

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Same as above.

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? America's First Cuisines - Sophie D. Coe, False Tongues and Sunday Breads - Copeland Marks, Lorain Cooking - the American Stove Company , 1930, and Moby Dick.

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? It is just plain blue.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Weeds that we TIVOed.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Waves.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Stones.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Which is further S.F., or Holland?

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I am a colorist.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? New Jersey , South Jersey

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Found at AmpuTeeHee's blog. Your turn.

I have managed to get a little work done amid all of the chaos here.
The "devil" is closer to the correct color on these machine embroidered things.


The crowded house continues, but hey look I managed to get my computer hooked up and I have a little teeny space where I can work.

The weekend was a whirl with tons of people and a party or 2 a day. All of that craziness because of the film festival.

And I thought the sheep and wool festival was this week. (the billboard in Rhinebeck had the wrong dates) I planned to have added to my stash. But since it isn't until the 21st it looks like I will miss it again this year, we'll be in NYC for a show.

The writing Mojo hasn't been with me lately. So many things to do.

Friday's update

Everyone may have noticed the big gap since my last post. A few little things have been going on.

I'll start with nice things.

Last Friday...

when Fran and I decided to go out for a walk I saw a hen of the woods mushroom and we picked it. I thought it was a hen of the woods but I wasn't sure so we called our friends Tim and Suki, and Danielle and tromped over to their house. And yes it was the very desirable Maitake. I would guess it was about a three pounds. We gave half to T,S,+D, and then I spent the evening making a broth and freezing 2 batches for use later this fall. And I made a sauce to go with scallops for dinner that night. At the last minute Fran freaked out that we were eating some mushroom I picked in the woods that I really didn't know anything about. His loss, it was excellent.

Saturday ...

We began getting emails from the evil landlady (oh, I should back up. She wanted us to be out of the shop by October 1st , we sent her a letter saying that we would be staying until the 10th.)
Anyway we get a nasty email that calls us lots of names and just goes on and on and on.... a vitriolic rant.

Fran responds that we find it laughable that she has now decided to call us all of these names and scream and yell after she has been the one harassing us for months and we are doing what she wants ( vacating her space) and we will be out the 10th.

Meanwhile... at the shop this woman keeps coming in and telling me how she is moving in on the first, when will I give her a key on and on...

Sunday ....

The crazy woman is back and wants the key. I feel like I'm about to snap. I know this is another way the landlady is harassing us, The "new tenant" tells us that she isn't going to be paying rent - The Evil Landlady is letting her have the space until December, gratis. I really feel like screaming at this point. That night Fran and I have a long talk and decide that it just isn't worth the hassle and we should move everything out on Monday.

Monday...

(Remember our bathroom is still under construction)
We manage to get everything out of the shop in Four van loads. It takes the entire day, but it gets done. We drop the key through the mail slot and poof, 6 years of retail in Hudson is over.
At the house... Everything from the shop is in the yard. We decide that we should try to get the fragile stuff into the house and we'll leave the furniture covered under a tarp until Tuesday.

Tuesday...

We spend the day shoe horning the shop into the house. (It's all a blur at this point)

Wednesday...

More straightening, cleaning and we pack the van for Rhinebeck. (antiques not wool).

Thursday...

Set up at the Rhinebeck Antiques Fair. We get home around 5 and the bathroom is nearly done. a little bit of painting left. Danny - carpenter (Who we are beginning to feel is on staff) jokingly reminds us that he likes to have meals with us. I make a note to have lunch ready for him
Friday...

And here it is one week later. We're off to finish the booth for the show. I think it's the last day of bathroom construction. The house is jammed full of stuff. The show weekend begins.

More days of recovering

I am still a little drained from the whole project trip. I think that mostly it has to do with everything being in such a whirl at the moment.

Did I mention that while I was away Fran decided that the bathroom should be redone? It has been gutted and there are boxes of everything piled in my "studio". There are also things in every other part of the house. That is making it a bit difficult to relax.

I had to laugh at the link to my stash from Bonnie's blog. Fran pointed out that it was a very very small portion of the true stash and it looks so organized.

I added a bit more to the stash today. I couldn't help myself. I was at the farmer's market and my favorite wool fix was there and, well, before I new it I had bought 4 skeins. Destined for scarves. I'm still trying to come up with a cardigan pattern....time, time, time.

I am home. This morning I'm at the shop getting ready for the final push of getting all of the stuff out of here. The unpleasantness continues with the bar, I'm trying to ignore it since I am nearly out of here.

Melissa has posted photos of our intense 4 days of studio work. I think the piece "Everwhen" is successful and not what either of us expected.

I thought that I would have photos of Toronto and visits to yarn shops and art venues, but we were in the studio for the whole period.

I have got to thank Nina for taking care of us. We probably wouldn't have eaten meals if she wasn't around. That was in between doing her own work .... So a great big

THANK YOU NINA.

Also big thanks to everyone who emailed support.

Some images are here.

A broken promise

I know I said that there would be some photos here...... I lied.

The work is going so much slower than we anticipated. It's at a slow crawl and We have both been feeling the frustration of it.

Otherwise the little bit of Toronto I've been able to see on this trip has been fun. I am sort of hoping for a little break this afternoon maybe for a walk or a little shopping.

This post is very uncreative.... all of that energy is in the studio. I'm on a coffee break.

1st full day in Toronto

Crazy long drive yesterday and then a little bit of work and a brief stop at The Knit Cafe. I was there for about 5 minutes and had to run when our ride showed up. Gotta get back. Great people + place.

More studio time is planned for today. First we have a morning of errands.

Photos next post, promise.

It's still hectic around here. I think that not having the time or a place to work makes me feel even more frazzled.

My day on Saturday was so so. I picked up our share at the farmer's market and I also bought a bunch of heirloom tomatoes.

Besides all of the knit blogs that I read I'm also addicted to food blogs. One of them Anne's Food has a great tomato soup recipe that I have been wanting to try. It was the perfect soup for an end of summer meal. It is spicy/peppery though. I also added a little extra virgin olive oil to the bowl, I think it helped to round out the flavors.

What really intrigued me about the soup was the ingredients. I've been reading about the foodways of precolombian America and I really wanted to use stuff that reflected the foods that were available before the conquest. Tomatoes, chilies with the addition of the sweetness of the sugar. The recipe seems like a riff on , I think Mayan cuisine. Any way try this soup, add the cayenne to your taste, but don't be afraid of the kick. That is part of the beauty of this soup. Thank's Anne.

More moving today and I need to prepare for Toronto. Blogging may be light.

My life with objects

The moving has really pointed out to me how much I am involved with objects.
I've got a room that will be a studio filled with boxes of things. The entire house is filled with the stuff that we're bringing out of the store. It's filling up. I have accepted it, and the truth is I like it.

I like the business I'm in dealing with material culture.

I like making objects.

So what if I don't really have a spot in the house to sit in. It isn't at the Collyer Brothers stage, yet. In fact I see myself as rather organized. I have neatly arranged piles of stuff (everywhere).

And I'm getting rid of things in this sale.

Gotta go now and find those #3dpn's that I know are in a box around here somewhere.

Studio moving

I have spent the last three days moving the studio.



I took a photo of a few of the boxes. In total there were 32 of the large plastic crates.
Mostly yarns. 4, or so, boxes of books and some filled with equipment ( one was knitting needles). So that meant there were 20 boxes of yarns and then the small boxes, 12 of those - all cottons. Bonnie said it, and it might be true .... I'm a yarn ho.

The only mishap occurred when I lifted a file cabinet and the top drawer whacked me in the temple. I still have a lump, but I have avoided a black eye.
Right now all of those boxes are in the new studio at the house and I'm trying to get everything put into some kind of order. Once the stuff is shelved I'll move in the table and the loom and set up the machines. I'm thinking of not setting the bulky machine up until I need it. They take up much more space set up then when they're packed up in the cases.

Next week I'll be in Toronto finishing up the collaboration and installing the piece. Oh. I also had a request for slides from someone who is doing a book on "art knitting". hmmm..... I'm thinking about that one.

Now it's back to the shop and moving this stuff in the sale. (fingers crossed)

The studio is going to be packed up today and I'll move everything except the loom and the large work table.

That means packing a ton (well half ton) of yarns and equipment into boxes. I'm expecting it to be a little slow around the shop so I should have the time.

My life is that mundane right now. Busy work but no photos. I just wanted to post and let everyone know that I am still around.

3 days and 400 miles.

This has been a week with a lot of driving.

I have been missing the studio. I get antsy about the work when I don't have the time for any. It is all packed up and some is in the shop and some is at it's new home. I don't see the machines being set up this month. So I have been working on smaller hand knit projects. (swatches and more swatches) as I try to figure out fun quick easy things to make.

And I have been shopping.


I think this yarn that I got from Scarecrow Farm might become hats.

I also bought a few skeins of sock yarn, oh yea, and a bag full of mercerized cotton, a new journal/pattern book, a few circular needles and some new dp bamboos. It seems that all of the creative energy is going to stash and equipment enhancement. I decided to stay away from the knitting machine listings on ebay, it just feels a little to dangerous when I'm wanting a Passap e6000. Haven't even looked (I might today).

The market at Brimfield was ok, we managed to sell a few large things and that means less to bring into the house. I think it also is the reason that my back hurts. Moving furniture in and out of the van at 5 am yeah, that is fun.

BTW - Is there a simple men's cardigan pattern out there? I need novice level, first sweater kind of thing. If any one knows of one please send me the info. I'm getting into that nesting mood.

Surviving Labor Day Weekend

The opening felt like a very good party. Thanks to everyone who came, hope you had fun.

The shop continues with lots of problems with water. I would say that at this point it's harassment. Coming into the shop to a floor covered in stickiness and damage really isn't the way I wanted this weekend to end.

I am still chanting one month left.

I'll be away until Thursday .....

Tonight's the night

The gallery space is almost complete. Some minor little things are left to do, but we installed the show and moved in some objects last night. I love the bamboo flooring. It's hard to believe that this was once a garage.

The rest of the house is also under control. Now we will see how many people show up and how badly the rain from the hurricane remnants effects things. The plans for an outdoor party have been shelved and everyone will be inside.

I'm feeling really good about this, and a little guilty since I am going to be at the shop all day and Fran has been left with the final cleaning and the food prep.

Last night I managed to make an heirloom tomato gazpacho and some toppings for bruschetta. I won't be home in time to do anything else, but I know that everyone is going to make this great.

The house is at the point today where everything is a total mess. I guess it is the turning point and now it should all start coming together.

We were out for the day and when we got home the contractor was sanding the kitchen floor. That's good it means that the floor should be laid today. The bad part was he didn't cover anything. The food. the counters, the stove, the cupboards. Everything was covered with dust. Somehow we managed to stay calm. Last night was spent cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. So now all of the dishes are cleaned, even the ones we haven't used for months.

The layer of dust created in the rest of the house will be swept up today......

....And in the shop. Drips. Yes there are still drips, a major reason for our leaving. I'm reminding myself that there is only one more month.

There, I even managed to find the time to update this blog.

Three days until a lot of people will be over and the gallery looks....

and a kitchen shot... notice no floor and everything piled beyond in the darkness. And I see Fran there too, and a bottle of wine.

2 Days Into The Sale

First, Thanks to Reader #7 and Reader #2 for your comments and sale lust.

Some things are moving. I am guessing that this week and the holiday weekend will be the most active time here.

The plan for this week is to get the studio pretty well packed up. That means no knitting machine news for a while. I am still doing the little projects, the sort of stuff that I can do while watching TV at night. (yawn) My attempts at being a real knitter using needles, and a pattern, and wool, stuff like that. We will see if anything gets done. Maybe there will be photos.

Otherwise the blogging may be sparse as I pack and clean and plan the open house for Saturday , OH, yea and I have got to get the things together for the trip to Toronto and the finishing of the unknown object.... That is planned for the end of September. Before that there will be the Brimfield antique market. and the sale is on for a month so.... I had better go and start working.

It's been getting busier.

I finally completed the things to send to Toronto. We are semi documenting the project at A-list Textilist and I have an image posted there.

There are also the "little" projects that I'm working on. Today at the farmers market I bought a skein of wool for a scarf.
It's from Scarecrow Farm in Hollowville, New York, the same people that I buy great eggs from.


The major part of the week though has been preparing the shop for a moving sale. It will start this weekend with everything 1/3 off. Here's the shop before the sale begins.

I'm nervous about it. All of this stuff needs to go, or most of it anyway.
The gallery at the house is almost done. We really just need the steps installed. We're planning an open house for next Saturday with a painting exhibit and sale. So a busy week ahead. I will try to keep you all (all 10 of you) posted on what's up.

Yesterday I had one of my revelations. I realized one of the reasons that I love living in this town.

The Artist's cemetery.

How many places can you think of with a separate cemetery (next to the town's cemetery) set aside for artists? Fran and I went there yesterday, looking for the grave of a local legend, Mary Weaver Wilson - who built the tower house around an oak tree. While we were there I just felt .... right... This is a really cool thing about Woodstock. There are musicians, and actor, and crafts people and painters, and sculptors. All in a special little place in town.

Some graves I noticed Hervey White founder of the Maverick artist's colony.

I also noticed Kuniyoshi's grave, and Guston's, and the Avery's. A real connection to history here.

I took photo's really I did but they aren't loading. Bah....

And now the links aren't working.
and Fran is pacing waiting to go somewhere....
Yikes, I started this off feeling nice and calm....

Deep breath

I also have a photo to post of the garage conversion.....

We're having an open house on the Saturday of labor day weekend. and we are showing the paintings of Mary Wilson. That prompted the trip to the Artist's Cementery and this post. Which somehow I have lost the thread of.....

Oh, well...... We're off for a day of art at Vassar.

I have been busy at the shop this weekend and there was no time to get any of the knitting done. I'll have a full day tomorrow to finish up the stuff and send it off to Toronto and the next step.

Part of the busy - ness has to do with the decision we've made to close the shop. Yep, were going to leave the store and move everything to the house. Including the studio. That has both of us feeling slightly overwhelmed since we live in a 1600 sq ft. house and the shop/studio is 3000 sq. ft. Something tells me we'll have to rent a storage unit.

Overall I am feeling great about the move. No more hassles with the bar upstairs, yeah!! So while it will be a frenzy around here for the next six weeks the outcome is going to be very positive. (can you tell that I am trying to live in the moment?)

The people who come into the shop provide me with endless amusement.

This week I had a long conversation with a woman about things in the shop, local places to go see and do. It was a fairly long conversation for the shop. She seemed normal and interesting. Then she says "I guess I can assume you're French?" , I say "why?". "Well, your accent". "Uhm, no that's New Jersey". "Oh" and she leaves the shop.

Tina, I know that you suggested that I speak to people in various accents while in the shop. But I wasn't. And I wasn't wearing a beret, who knows.

The rest of my week has been the usual machine knitting and sewing and at this point the work is at a creative standstill. I have a goal to get this one piece finished and off to Melissa. The goal was Friday, now moved to Monday.

I'm no Angel

Today is Mae West's birthday. My always inspiration. How gay is that!

Putting together Toronto stuff

At home today with the panel for The Gladstone. This still needs to be sewn and the embellishment needs to be added. I'm aiming for completing it to send by the end of the week. Better get to work.

More store strangeness

Yesterday, a beautiful sunny and warm sunday, two women came into the shop. They looked around for a short time. Then they stood about 7 or 8 feet (2 meters) from me and started talking to each other about whether or not I looked like John Travolta. Really! Talking like I wasn't sitting right there and couldn't hear everyword they were saying.

This is just a sample of the insanity I get to deal with in the shop.

Or is this a zoo?

Busy today

This is the beginning of the newspaper piece. I am using a vintage barbie dress pattern and making it big.



Here's the latest panel off of the knitting machine. I am getting closer to connecting a lot of the pieces and sending the whole thing to Toronto and Melissa so she can do her thing with it. Oh, and I figured out the embroidery issues that were holding me back so soon embroidery will be appearing on these. Well I'm calling it embroidery, it's my take on embroidery and related to embroidery.... just like the knitting is related to knitting. In my mind I think of it all as painting and drawing. call me crazy.

Two days off

I needed to take a little time off from the shop so I stayed at the house for the last 2 days trying to catch up on things.
I did mow the lawn and straighten up a little.

The best news from the last week. One of the pieces from the show sold.
Here is part of the review by Paul Smart that appeared in the Woodstock Times.

....Woodstocker John Krynick's knit cotton samplers of prosaic sentences, one stretching the entire last Norma Desmond "Mr. DeMille" speech from Sunset Boulevard across a dishtowel-sized surface. He's also got a series of fantastic woven newspaper works that someone should purchase immediately. One is an entire Sunday New York Times worked down to the size of a large washcloth; the other an entire week's worth of the same paper in the size of a bath towel.......

And the piece that sold was the Sunday NYTimes.

I've been working on the other knitted newspaper. Something is up with the blogger photo upload , or maybe with my connection so I will try to get the image up tonight from home with a different connection.

Yesterday Fran and I went to Bard to see "Uncertain States of America" . It is a show curated in Norway and traveling. Everyone was very young in the show, and there was reference upon reference to everything art-wise in America. I left it feeling confused but interested.....

Of Knitterly interest was the work of Jim Drain, aka Gorgon Radeo formerly of Forcefield.

So that was the week so far.

I have had a lot of comments about the the person in the shop on Monday. So far my favorite.

"Oh, that's proof, the martians are walking among us." .... thanks Michael.

Shop Question

I was thrown for a loop today when I got the dumbest or craziest or most stupid question that I have ever gotten in the shop.

A woman who had been in the shop earlier in the day came back in with her husband. She immediately said that she was just showing her husband a few things. Fine.

They look around and she comes up to the desk and asks " Um....Are these things for sale?"
My answer, wide-eyed "yes"
"Oh, Okay" and then they walk out of the shop.

Everything has a price tag on it. Did they think I just sit in a commercial district with an open sign to show off my beautiful things?

Wow, a first in the eighteen plus years in business. I am almost speechless.
"

Knitting the New York Times

I've got my dowels and the paper has been made into a giant ball of "yarn". This morning I cast on and began work on the project. There will be photos later.

I am still feeling summer lazy. That is good news.

I'm concentrating on the shop today. Not much content here.

It should be a busy day, good weather, lots of people on vacation, now they just need to spend some money.

First to answer Shelly's question. Ruby was an Affenpinscher. She was as cute as she looked in the earlier post even though that haircut was during her chemo.

The heat wave is suppose to break today. I have gotten to the shop/studio early and it is cooler in here than it is outside. The thermometer inside says 80. But it doesn't feel as humid as out. O.K. so this is one time I am happy to have the bar upstairs. I think that they have been running the air conditioner full blast and as we all know the cold air sinks.

I stayed at home for the past 2 days. I've been working on some newspaper "yarn" for a new knitted paper project. This ball is a sunday and a monday NY Times I just might have enough to knit with.

Don't tell Fran, but I have had I dream that I got a new dog.

Staying cool

snowflakes

Memory Day

The Heat has got me thinking about Mexico.
OMG I think I see a bald spot! It's gotta be the camera angle.
Without getting too sad about it I just wanted to note that today it is one year since Ruby died. I don't get all weepy about it anymore but I do miss her.

Busy Monday

I'm doing a bunch of stuff and sweating. I thought I should get things to work on over the next 2 days when it is suppose to be really hot.

I keep forgetting to give this link to Radio Reposado. It has become my new musical background. It's my playlist streaming back at me from someone else. I could have picked this music. So if you want a mix of jazz and lounge and Latin and electronic and , well, just interesting stuff listen to it. It is coming from the Reposado Hotel in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Maybe I'm just wanting to be in Mexico right now. Soon, soon, soon , I hope.

Summer

I am taking Shelly's advice and just going with the flow of summer. I'm keeping myself centered at the shop not letting the weather bother me.

Knitwize I have been doing little sample things. Samples for functional stuff that I'll need in the fall and winter. A raw silk hat, funny socks that sort of work.

And I am sketching. Trying to put the ideas for a few finished pieces on to paper. I was inspired when the artist Valerie Hammond was in the shop. She brought me a copy of her latest catalogue and we talked for a while even though we were both sweating and hot. I really liked what she is doing with her work. The way she is using victorian/women's imagery in a contemporary way has reinspired my way of thinking about knitting.

I've been lazing on the back deck and there are more pictures of the fawns eating their way through the garden. Blogger doesn't seem to want to upload them this morning so you'll have to use your imagination.

I am in the summer mood. Pass me a beer, thanks.

Sticky Friday

I made it into the shop early. I wanted to open up the door before it got too hot out. The thing is the temperature inside was already the same as out. The door is letting in some fresh air though and the fans help.

I have a piece on the machine that will be going to Toronto. I'm working on it slowly, the sticky air makes mistakes a lot more likely.

It has mostly been a quiet week.

I'm feeling uninspired.

So, apologies for such a boring post.

Warning! Knitting Content Ahead (sort of)

I have been trying to get a chance to post since yesterday. Technical things were getting in the way. I have been knitting. Working out some ideas for Toronto.
I'm also trying to do some of the sewing on earlier stuff.
The next 2 images have machine sewn lines. It really changes the texture and feel of the knitting and almost makes it an armor. It makes a solid fabric.


I just wanted you all to know that I'm not just sitting on the back deck watching nature walk by. I'm doing the art work + knitting some little projects. It's just that there are some annoyances at the moment, {read shop}.... and that makes the S.O. extremely grumpy. But we are handling it.