Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2012 - October/November

I have previously stated that this entire year has has some warp-speed/worm-hole/timey-whimey issues, and that should be fairly apparent by the  (lack of consistent) blogging for the last few months.

I did manage to do the following in the last two months, when I
~ Worked too much;
~ Considered quitting;
~ Started networking;
~ Booked my tickets for vacation as a way to cope with the stress;
~ Barely rode out some of the job-related hoo-hah at the office;
~ Caught up on lots of television programs/past seasons of certain shows in marathon viewing sessions;
~ Got to see Casey for a few hours when she came to town;
~Went to a craft fair/street fair/spent the day with Jane;
~ Took a few days off to go up to Connecticut to see;
- Dad;
- Do some shopping/stocking up;
- Got my hair hacked off;
- Saw Wendy and Emily and picked up some holiday goods from my local small artisanal organic farmer;
- Saw Jess, Kel, 'little' Victor and Ms. Ro;
- Had dinner with Jenn and the family;
- wandered around and took lots of pictures of the olde family homestead; and
- booked out early before the hurricane;
~ Had lunch with Christine; 
~ Had "fun" with Sandy, so had time off/worked from home/had Halloween;
~ Talked to the Ironic Mother on the phone to catch her up on aforementioned hoo-hah;
~ Got a raise/promotion;
~ Made some charitable contributions;
~ The Twins arrived;
~ Had dinner with my friend Michelle, formerly of the Caramoor years, in town from Miami; 
~ Gave blood at Lincoln Center;
~ Went to a WNET/Great Performances taping at Lincoln Center;
~ Went to a Juilliard Orchestra concert at Lincoln Center;
~ Got sick;
~ Had a long Thanksgiving break; and FINALLY
~ Started the countdown for Christmas and my vacation trips West.

Crafting also took a back-burner for a little bit, but I did finish a few little things. Maybe the output reflects my state of mind/theme of the season: Bird-brained ... A bird in the hand ... Flying to warmer climates ... Partridge in a pear tree ... Canary in a Coalmine ... etc. etc. etc.

ANA 2012-83: Snowy Owlie

(Mixed yarns, chenille and acrylics, plus batting)
(as of 1/2013 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-84: Snowy Owlie with button beak

(Mixed yarns, chenille and acrylics, plus batting and button beak)
(as of 09/2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-85: Snowy Owlie

(Mixed yarns, chenille and acrylics, plus batting and buttons)
(as of 09/2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-86: Snowy Owlie

(Mixed yarns, chenille and acrylics, plus batting and buttons) 

(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

ANA 2012-87: Snowy Owlie

(Mixed yarns, chenille and acrylics, plus batting and buttons)
(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

ANA 2012-88: Red-flecked Birdie

(Partial Big Lots skein mystery yarn, acrylic mix, plus batting and buttons)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-89: Yellow-winged Blackbird

(Caron black sport acrylic yarn, with partial Big Lots skein mystery yarn, plus batting)
(as of June 2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-90: Yellow-winged Blackbird

(Caron black sport acrylic yarn, with partial Big Lots skein mystery yarn, plus batting)
(as of June 2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-91: Canary with button beak

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skein, with batting and button)
(as of 09/2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-92: Canary

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skien, with buttons and batting)
(as of 09/2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-93: Canary

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skein, with buttons and batting)
(as of 09/2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-94: Red-flecked Owlie

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skein with Caron black sport yarn with batting)
(as of 12/13, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-95: Red Birdie

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skein, with buttons and batting)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-96: Red Birdie with Button Beak

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skein, with button and batting)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-97, 98, 99: Brown Sparrows

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skeins, with buttons and batting)
(as of May 2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-100: Brown Sparrow with button beak

(Partial Big Lots mystery skein, with buttons and batting)
(as of May 2013, no longer available, gifted)

Still in progress

2012:

UFO 1: Pink Blankie: needs final rows, edgings, and label

UFO 2: Green Holiday Stocking for Cannon

2010:

 UFO 1: Serbert Waves AKA the Bane of my Existence

Unfortunately, I am still very busy, so the esty.com shop is still shuttered for the foreseeable future (or until I really only have one job and finish traveling to see adorable nieces and nephews). 

However if you see something that you are interested in, contact me and I'll let you know prices and availability.

40 Diamonds for 40: Journeys with Mrs. Jenn

One of the perils of allowing photos to be part of this 40 Diamonds project was knowing that I was opening Pandora's box. It's one thing when it's family, it's a whole other thing when you have friendships going back more than 30 years.

One of the longest enduring friendships I have dates from middle school, one of my 27 Jennifers -- Ms. Jenny, once Jen, and now Jenn, MRS. Jenn. After all this time, we have been mistaken for sisters, which is almost true at this point. If you look on my phone, she's id'd as: Jenn, Practically Sister.

Our path to a pair of "besties" has ebbed and flowed. I first met one of our core group, Shannon, in third grade and we survived elementary school together -- paired as "advanced" students and we were off doing our own thing in a reading group of two, perusing materials from the middle school curriculum. Then we traveled up the hill to middle school, where we met Jenny. Jenny became Jen and then Jenn, and she, Shannon, and I had various classes and activities that overlapped, and for a time, it was really Jenn and Shannon that were the closest.

These are some of the earliest surviving shots of the trio circa middle school. (The 1980s were not kind in so many fashion areas!)

Our middle school trio expanded to a quartet in high school with the addition of Rachel. We ate together, lockered near each other, had overlapping classes and interests, had sleepovers, traveled to NYC on school trips and Trips by Mary (tm), watched Anne of Green Gables and swooned over Gilbert Blythe together, and even all played "hookey" all at the same time (thanks Mom!).

High School: Senior Photos and Yearbook Candids o' Nettie and Jenny

I perfected my guerrilla photography techniques in the halls of the high school. From banquets, to ambushes by the lockers, Jenn was in the action -- with Rachel (l) and Shannon (c and r).

Don't let Ms. Prim and Proper fool you. She'll flip you off when the flash hits too. The '80s were the perm years, for both of us, but by senior year the layers were growing out - to 'fro status.

Graduation led all of us in different directions, first to college, then to different states and coasts, and different life and career paths. Even with social media, e-mail, and cell phones, we've lost track of people. From two, to three and four, now we're back down to two. Whenever I head back to New England, a trip is not complete without visiting Jenn, in whatever home she's residing. Even though one childhood homestead is gone, I know I always have a place at the White House Inn B&B with Jenn and her family.

Speaking of trips: No mention of Jenn could be complete without mentioning all the trips to the Cape, starting with a graduation trip with Shannon, my mom and grandma -- leading to duo trips with just me and Jenn. From whale watching trips, to exploring P-town, to old piers, and winding our way up and down Route 6A to Mashpee and back, the Cape is where we need to go to retreat -- preferably sometime soon, after a 40th trip to Newport.

Thanks Mrs. Jenny from the W-Block!

Happy Birthday to Auntie Nettie! The big 4-0!

So folks, here is my "Nettie story"...

I met Auntie Nettie when we were in 6th grade in Mrs. Moore's reading class at Kramer Middle School. Who knew then that so many years later we would still be friends, and actually I am happy to report--Best Friends. We’ve survived middle school, high school and college and are now enjoying the "Real World," as they call it.

To an outsider looking at us, we do have very different lives: I am married and living in the suburbs with my family and Auntie Nettie is single and living in/near the City; however, we have a past that ties us together, a present that keeps us in weekly contact and a future that may include us rocking together on a front porch when we are in our eighties!

We’ve been through good and bad, happy and sad and I consider myself lucky to have a friend like Auntie Nettie. While we have spent many happy times together exploring the Cape, watching USA network shows and discussing our Ranger vs. Morelli theories, I also know that if I am having a bad day, week or even month that Auntie Nettie always has an ear to listen to my troubles and a shoulder to cry on.

One of my happiest days was when she stood up for me as my Maid of Honor at my 2002 wedding. (Of course, she called in Maid of Horror! That is Auntie Nettie for you!) Hopefully she will attach the pictures as proof!

So Happy Birthday Nettie, and here's to 40 more for us! Meet you on the porch!

Love,

Jenn

(Only for Jenn -- bridal shower photos and bridal shots)

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2011 - September

I don't know where September went! I know that I did the August round-up late, but ... Let me flip my books to see if I can figure this out:

September wasn't all that busy, was it? MMM.

There was:

~ Labor Day weekend: a haze of cleaning, watching tv; and the final season of The Tudors;
~ RIP, my old Nikon when trying to document August's output;
~ Convocation/back to the school year activities;
~ writing the epically long tenth anniversary of September 11th post;
~ an overnight with Christine;
~ up in CT for a three-day weekend dealing with the homestead, with its Tropical Storm damage (spider webs taking over the house, fuzzy mold in the basement, and "horizontal lawn art"), and seeing Jess and Jenn;
~ career services for a bunch of "clients," including friends and family;
~ lunch with friends who have escaped NYC for other areas (*sniff, Ironic Mother, sniff*)
~ Maker Faire 2011 visit with Jane;
~ settling in the new roommate - the airhead Maxxie;
~ the flu/stress/malaise/preventative/necessary sick days;
~ and then the quicky road trip, a return to Cape Cod with the Caramoor crew (pix at right from 2010's trip).

Nope. Not busy at all.

HA! It's surprising that ANYTHING got done.
Seriously.

Also ... I bought a new Nikon and we're still figuring each other out. The 14M resolution is great for showing off the beauty of some of the yarn I'm working with, but it's a battery-sucker. I was shooting in 7M on the old Nikon and managed fine, so I'm backing Nikon 2.0 down to 8M or 10M to see how I like the resolution. Learning curves.

These items will get up on etsy.com at some point. Or not. I'm pretty sure I'm keeping the first scarf down there for myself. Look at the shades. It's like all the colors of sea glass.

ANA 2011-47: Seaglass-hued Scarf
(2 skeins of AlsanTrends: Litoral #1344: Seabed, acrylic/polyamide)

ANA 2011-48: Black Shell/Mesh Infinity Scarf
(2 skeins Caron Simply Soft black, acrylic)
(as of Oct. 2011, no longer available)

ANA 2011-49: Fuzzy Multi-Colored Baby Blanket

(5 skeins, Lion Brand Imagine, #341 Summertime, acrylic/mohair - apparently discontinued)
(as of Oct. 2011, on hold for client approval)ANA 2011-50: Jade Green Scarf

(2 skeins of AlsanTrends: Litoral #1327: Jungle Green acrylic/polyamide)
(as of Oct. 2011, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2011-51: Cream Purse with Round Rattan Handles
(1 skein discontinued Red Heart Sport-weight yarn, handles from Joannes, Purse n-alize it brand;
Detachable Pin, ANA 2011-18)

ANA 2011-52: Graciously Grey Scarf
(2 skeins of AlsanTrends: Litoral #1310: Nightfall, acrylic/polyamide)
(as of 01/2012 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2011-53: Pretty in Pink Ruffles
(2 skeins of mystery acrylic yarn, bought from thrift shop with no label)

ANA 2011-54: Midnight Changes
(2 skeins Red Heart Boutique yarn, Changes in Onyx, wool, acrylic, other fibers)

Still in progress:

2010: Multi-colored, multi-fiber chevron blanket

2011: Potential mobile of hearts (part of ANA 2011-08 group)I think that AslanTrends: litoral is my new favorite yarn. It's pretty, but can be tricky to work with, and is a step up in price from my usual. But I'm, er, my friends, are worth it.

As ever, if you see something you like, please contact me for sizes, prices, and availability ...
or better yet -
please visit the shop to see what new things might have been added.