the sky fell

last week i had a mini catastrophe; i opened the door to my bathroom and this is what i saw:


all i can say is, thank goodness i wasn't sitting on the toilet when it happened! there were chunks of cement, rocks, wet sand and heavy sodden drywall; it definitely could have knocked me out. apparently a slow drip upstairs just soaked the entire ceiling until it was so heavy it had to come down. this was actually the third time in my life that a ceiling has fallen in my home, and the first two times i WAS in the room when it happened! i feel like chicken little! fortunately my super patched the hole back up the next morning and removed all the debris from my sink drain... but i still haven't moved everything back in yet!

p.s. that's my hand-crocheted wall-to-wall carpet under the rubble. of course, my bathroom floor is only about 3' x 3' so it didn't take long to make!

new etsy classes!

i've got 2 new classes coming up this week at the good ol' etsy labs! the crochet class begins monday 10/29, for 4 weeks from 6-8pm. it's just the beginning of high season for the yarn-y crafts, so now's a great time to learn! it's not too late to make your gifts this holiday season...

and a brand new beginner sewing class will begin this sunday, 10/28 for 3 weeks from noon-2pm. in this class you'll learn how to work a sewing machine and design your own tote bag, while making use of the sunny and spacious sewing studio at the labs.


Introduction to Crochet Technique.

Date: 4 week series held on Mondays in Oct/Nov beginning 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, and 11/19
Time: 6PM-8PM
Location: Etsy Labs, 325 Gold Street 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

Description:
In this class you will learn all the basics of crochet (chain, single, double and triple crochet stitches) and how to use them to whip up scarves, hats, amigurumi and infinite other possibilities! We will learn shaping and circular crochet, as well as stitch patterns like meshes, scallops and bobbles. You'll begin a scarf in the first class and continue on to either a hat or shawl by the end of the session. Happy hooking! Supplies provided.

There are only 8 spaces available in total so sign up quickly!

Class fee is $90.00.
To register, go here.



Beginner Sewing Class: design your own tote!

Date: 3 week Sunday Series: 10/28, 11/4, and 11/11 2007
Time: 12:00pm-2pm
Location: Etsy Labs, 325 Gold Street 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

Description:
If you've been wanting to learn to sew, this introductory class is for you! You will learn how to operate a sewing machine and design and complete your own tote bag. We will cover various techniques such as pockets, straps, lining and trims, and you can choose which to incorporate into your first project. With these skills, you'll soon be stitching up whatever your heart desires...

Students are required to bring the following materials with them to the class:
* 1 yard of fabric for tote
* thread to match

*** optional: 1 yard of lining fabric, scraps of contrast fabric or trims for decoration, pockets and/or straps
basic sewing kit: scissors, pins, pincushion, seam ripper, tape measure, tailor's chalk

There are only 8 spaces available in total so sign up quickly! You must sign up 24 hours in advance of class to be registered.

Class fee is $120.00.
To register, go here.

check out all of the classes at the labs in their etsy shop!
and read about what's happening (fun events, parties, and tutorials) here, and don't forget to check out The Storque, their new online newspaper!

the sky smiled

about 2 weeks ago, i took a little weekend trip up to the fingerlakes. on the way up, a little past binghamton we hit some crazy stormy weather, black sky, rain coming down in sheets, and then... hands-down the best rainbow i have ever seen in my life. it was a full arc, and a DOUBLE (though the second one doesn't show up in the pics). and the colors were unbelievably intense, but also didn't photograph well. still, i am happy to have this souvenir, and to share it with you!

'all-day tote' class @ brooklyn general

we've developed a new class at brooklyn general, for 'advanced beginners', after finding that the true intermediate project (like the BBW tunic) could be a bit too challenging for someone who has only been sewing for 4 weeks and made one wrap skirt. so i'm happy to announce Sewing 102! we'll make the cute tote bag pictured above (at right in both pics), perfect for those who are still getting their 'sew-legs' (har!) or who haven't sewn in years and want a refresher course...

**please note: one session begins tomorrow evening (10/9) and another wednesday morning (10/10) so act fast!

Sewing 102: All-Day Tote $150
Four 2-hour classes

Step up your stitching skills with this very practical tote bag from Lotta Jansdotter's book Simple Sewing. You'll learn how to do pockets, linings, topstitching and straps and become much more confident with your sewing.

Materials:
1 yard medium- to heavy-weight fabric for bag
1 yard medium-weight fabric for lining
1/2 yard of twill tape (1" wide)
thread to match
optional: quick-release metal key clip
basic sewing supplies (scissors, pins, pincushion, ruler or tape measure, tailor's chalk, seam ripper)

Session A: Tues 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 10/9, 16, 23, 30
Session B: Wed 11 am to 1 pm, 10/10, 17, 24, 31

To register, please call the shop at 718–237–7753 (leave a message!). please don't register by e-mail this week, as kaitlyn is on vacation.

pets on parade

it was one of my favorite days of the year today: the Blessing of the Beasts at St. John the Divine. where else can you see hermit crabs riding in strollers and prairie dogs tucked into purses? i went with my friends kim and heidi and we didn't get in for the service, so we got coffee and strudel from the hungarian pastry shop and ate in the park, then joined the festival which is essentially a show-and-tell of the pets of NYC!
gertie made a new friend, named TiTi. he's a little hottie!



some pets come in carrying cases (those are the aforementioned hermit crabs on the left)...

we saw three of the peacocks that live at st. john's, two blue/green ones and an albino one. if you click on the pic on the right, you'll be able to see them better...


the cockatoo was dyed pink (with Kool Aid) for a commercial. and the golden eagle was one of the rescued birds brought by the raptor project, whose owls i took pics of last year.

the llama really likes to kiss the ladies; he got heidi smack on the lips!

dogs outnumbered all the other pets by far...


...but the most exotic pets we saw, and hands-down our faves, were this pair of prairie dogs!

of course, gertie got blessed.


kimmy bonded with this dwarf bunny; he was eating carrots from her hand. and i loved how these lovebirds rode around on their friend's shoulder as he wandered all over the grounds!

tunic class at Home Ec

i am teaching another intermediate sewing class beginning this thursday 10/4, this time at Home Ec, using the Built by You pattern #3964, which can be a top, tunic or dress (depending on the length you choose) with either wing sleeves (as in all the pics here), or 3/4-length sleeves which you can see in some of these pics. above are some of the ones my students made the last time i taught this project (thanks amylou, laura and rani for sending photos!). i am excited to make some new ones for fall with the sleeves...

Intermediate Sewing: Sew Your Own Tunic/Tunic Dress with Cal Patch

Take your sewing skills to the next level with this project: a shirred diamond-yoke dress, tunic or top from
the Simplicity/Built by Wendy collection (#3964). You'll learn about gathering, french seams, facings, bias
bindings, and more. Three different lengths and two sleeve versions give you so many options, you'll want
to make a dozen of them! Preregistration required.

6:30-8:30pm on October 4, 11, 18 and 25; $240
Call 718-783-0364 to register, or you can also e-mail flirtbrooklyn@earthlink.net with your phone # and
we'll call you to take your payment securely by phone.

Supplies needed:
Built by You/Simplicity pattern #3964 which can be purchased online here or at your nearest Built by Wendy store.
1.5-3.5 yards fabric (yardage requirement is on back of pattern package; depends on desired length/style)
thread to match
elastic (optional, depending on style)

Home Ec
303 3rd Avenue between Carroll and 1st St.
http://www.flirt-brooklyn.com
718-783-0364