Retroblogging: Fancy Hats are Fascinating

Crafts in Chelsea, October 2012

Due to the recent fascination with fascinators (Thanks Duchess Kate), the booth bedecked with a variety of shapes, colors, and styles of fancies was attracting a lot of attention. From floral clips and posy pompoms, to ribbon headbands, to simple bands with crocheted blossoms, it was like a rainbow of cranium accessories. (I'm sorry Elle, I didn't get you this orange pretty.)

It was the kind of booth where the attendant encouraged us to try on things. So -- Jane and I had to play. With varying results. Granted, I was picking up the most ridiculous things ever to put on my head.

Yeah, I don't think so either. I just can't carry these off in my normal life. A hat like this requires a vintage bell-skirt velvet 1950's cocktail dress and heels, and little handbag. Imagine Queen Elizabeth II in the 1950s.

I'm just not the type of girl to look like a peacock. Wait, let me check...

 Nope. Just won't work in my life.

 Jane, however, looks ADORABLE in her feathered headdresses. 

I can't remember which one she ended  up with, but one of the last two. She can carry them off. I really hope she wore them for her autumnal concerts/Thanksgiving gatherings.

Actually, Jane - being even more English than I am (and I'm pretty English) -- seems to be able to carry off just about any kind of feathered fancy. See? Tiny hat on me? Not so much. Large fly-away feathers on Jane. Super cute!

Hey Jane! Let's go find another craft fair soon and play dress up some more!


(Jenn! Wake up. It's okay. I should have warned you!)

Summer Weekends 2012: Wandering the Streets

Live from New York ...
It's a(nother) day of Fun with Christine and Amelia!!!!!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

It seems only fitting that I "ended" the summer chilling with my girls, as that's how I started the summer. Instead of visiting the Isle of Entertainment, we spent the day exploring Governors Island off the coast of lower Manhattan and then had a leisurely afternoon wandering around, dining, and then happening upon various other amusements.

I'll cover the bulk of our Island Hop later, but it was delightful to get off the ferry and then go do more exploring. Amelia wanted to show us Stone Street - one of the remaining cobblestone streets in New York, now one of the trendiest areas for outdoor restaurant dining in the City. We ended up staying for a long afternoon of talking, people watching, avoiding being dive-bombed by pigeons, and yummy Mexican-inspired food.

As we sat there, the crowds came and went. Waiters broke down umbrellas belonging to one restaurant, and then began the turn-over for the evening's dinner rush. It is a scene, and I can't imagine what it's like to live near there - or over some of these places. I am definitely not one of the "beautiful people" who brunch/drink down there, so our timing was perfect.

On the left, some vintage touches in one of the historic taverns, where we didn't dine. I also didn't get over to take pictures of the door handles to Mad Dog & Beans. The hardware for the door pulls were adapted shot guns. There were many options for dining on the street, but after a day at "sea," we were in the mood for chips & salsa and then drinks for the girls.

Not pictured, the chips and salsa sampler for the first course or my side of pickled jalapenos. So good. Just enough heat - but WHOA, Am I glad I didn't get the serranos!

Below, on left, my flautas de pollo: three crispy corn tortillas filled with potato, queso fresco and stewed chicken and served with green tomatillo and roasted tomato sauces, lettuce, cabbage, pico de gallo and crema fresca (YUM!)
On the right, Christine's grilled shrimp tostada: two crispy corn tortillas with guacamole piled high with a salad of shaved romaine, white cabbage, queso fresco and pico de gallo, tossed in cilantro-basil dressing, drizzled with crema fresca and topped with grilled shrimp

Above: Amelia's mushroom quesadilla: a blend of Chihuahua and Monterey Jack cheese melted in a grilled flour tortilla, served with crema fresca and pico de gallo and a side of grilled corn smothered with chipotle mayonnaise, chili powder and queso fresco

Aren't you hungry now? A day of fresh sea air, walking, talking, and playing and we were hungry! We weren't by the time we cleared our plates. We were full. So, so full.

We did a bit more walking around lower Manhattan, back over to the subway line to take us to Grand Central. I wish I had had my video camera on to capture a) the look on the tourists' faces as b) Christine and Amelia raced each other up to the subway platform via the flights of stairs for one and the escalator for the other. Not being graceful and so, so full (or stupid), I sedately watched and took the escalator up in a more civilized manner. To be a fair friend, I will say, that they laughed, they wheezed, and then they "tied." And no tourist or friends were harmed in the tomfoolery.

Also missed in documenting, the variety of panhandlers now operating on the subway. We had too much to discuss about various subjects to pay attention to the spiel anyway. (Yes, still. Even after a day of walking, talking, and dining. We have a lot to work through after a few weeks/months!)

We got back to Grand Central in between departure times for our various trains, so before stocking up on drinks and magazines for some, we discovered that there was a street fair going on on Lexington Avenue right outside Grand Central. Out back to the streets to explore.

A lot of these vendors are the same ones that travel between events in the City. In fact, I recognized the scarves and bracelets from my other trip to lower Manhattan from the day I went to Staten Island. However, we stumbled on the youngest (and cheapest) psychic in New York taking a short break from his consultations,

the reason why there are overweight people/rodent issues in New York,

and the "Home of the World's Best Brownie!"Thank goodness I was so full of chips, salsa, and jalapenos. No temptation for the popcorn, brownies, or the red velvet whoopie pies I see lurking in the display.

I did spy future retail opportunities for some of my relatives, as well as bikes that would almost induce me into trying to ride one again. ALMOST. After a year - the "shark bites" have almost completely healed and the mental scars are fading.

Such a wonderful day in the City with some very lovely ladies who are game for exploring all kinds of things and taking adventures all over the different kinds of seashores in the New York and New England area with me!

XO Girls. Let's go back soon!

Photos of the Day: Summer's Bounty

Who doesn't love a Farmer's Market? We stumbled across this one last August in Logan Utah, in the park just meters away from my Utah childhood home.

Talk about grown locally. Some of the produce was from backyard gardens. Doesn't that "beet" all?

Of course, this being Utah, the land of industry and of Molly Mormon crafters, there were booths galore with quilted and stitched delights of all kinds. Many many an etsy.com shop were there in physical form.

Photo of the Day - Craft Show 2010

Provincetown, October 2010

I wish I could have my annual crafts show from 10-5, and in such a lovely venue as a New England church. Alas, it was supposed to be today during lunch, in a lowly conference room.

I have to give props to the organizers of large events -- it's not easy. I had people drop in and out of this thing, and until Wednesday wasn't sure if I was going to be the only person trying to hawk my wares, not to mention having a special corner of the Attic converted to Kelli's Kard Korner.

I had my fingers crossed that people would come and "adopt" many a stuffed animal and snag a scarf or two. You see, the Attic is running out of storage places, and I still can't rope Grumpa Max into running an on-line shop for me. I just want to make stuff -- this whole selling thing is a pain in the butt.

Unfortunately, due to a whole series of factors that include the aforementioned people dropping in and out, and office politics, it was determined to "postpone" out of an abundance of caution. Instead, my colleague and I are holding what we are calling: viewing hours/trunk shows. If asked, no money is exchanging hands in the building or on the property. People can place orders to be filled off-site and communication will done after hours and not via company e-mails. Policies, procedures, conflicts of interest, blah, blah, blah. Such fun. [The Man is stifling my creative outlet, but since I'd rather be employed, you do what you got to do!]

So, have no fear. Lots of stuff is still available. If you have your eye on something, please check the Merchandise link on the right there, and contact me for pricing and other fees.

Finally from the Faire, Paella & Kilts

After all these posts about Maker Faire, I can hear you thinking: Well okay. We've seen crafts, crafts, more crafts, transportation, friends, demonstrations, and even the sanitation facilities, but what about the food? What about your favorite things?

The food, my friends. The food that we had was fabulous. Because we got our tickets ahead of time, we were able to come in a side gate, right near what I'm calling the Paella Pavilion. Little did we realize that there were other food vendors at the Faire, down another pathway on the other side of the grounds. Vendors and trucks were set up to serve typical things like hot dogs, burgers, empanadas, gyros, etc. We didn't care. The first thing we smelled at the Faire was the saffron and our stomachs were set on having the paella. My dinky pictures can't do these vast vats of rice, shrimp, beans, and chicken justice. At $10 a plate we both knew we couldn't eat one by ourselves, so Jane and I split lunch. Well, I probably could have finished one off, but then it would have been siesta time at the Faire and I didn't see hammocks for naps.

As has been documented, Auntie Nettie likes to ogle men in kilts. It might be due to my English/Scottish Borderland heritage, my fascination with Jamie Fraser in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, or my ongoing thing for Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod from the t.v. show, Highlander -- I likes me some men in kilts. Finding out that Utilkilts was going to be at the Faire was just another reason to go.

Yes, the shirt does say: "Reach up, reach up, and touch someone."

Don't worry. I restrained myself. Security didn't need to be called. I have to say, for all that there was a great many men trying on the kilts, I can't say that many were purchased while I was there. (I'm still trying to justify the purchase price for one for my bro.)

This gentleman was seriously WORKING the pose for his significant other. You go dude!

Then we stumbled upon the fairy and the faun. I'm not making any type of off-color or negative comment. This winged girl was at a SteamPunk fashion booth, and then I think this sculptor/artist? was named Faun. I may have read the signs wrong; I was just so distracted by the plastic? kilt, the knee high leather boots, and then the bleached hairdo. Maybe I'm more conservative than even I thought I was!

With bags full of Faire swag, minds full of inspiration, and a bit of a sunburn, Jane and I packed it in after a long hot day at the Faire. Our robotic lady friend here,

played us out by requesting a gigantic air guitar quartet solo.

Air FLARE! (Freebird!)

Seriously, if the Faire comes back next year? You.have.to.go!

It rocks.