nyc through my eyes….or lens
my ny
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love like that
It’s been too long since I’ve shared a sweet jam with you all! So obviously I’ll take care of that right here, right now. My main man Mayer Hawthorne has done it again! His new album Man About Town comes out April 8th and I simply cannot wait for it. His 2nd single for the album is Love Like That and I’ve had it on repeat! Please enjoy
i will say that the video makes more sense when you watch Part 1 (Cosmic Love) first. But the jam is still good on it’s own.
right place, right time
It’s time to let the cat out of the bag on something that I’m doing come June. The production company that I stage manage for has received a grant to take a show to Luxembourg.
And I get to go with it.
Is this real life?? Is this my real life??? Before this came to pass I had been getting the itch to travel and really was saddened by the idea that I probably wouldn’t have another opportunity to do so…or at least not so conveniently as I did in college. I have a very bare passport that needs attention but living in NYC doesn’t exactly let a gal budget a trip overseas. So it was a pretty large pipe dream. When I began to hear mentionings of this show for Luxembourg, I didn’t want to assume anything or get my hopes up. It sounded too good to be true. When it became clear that not only was the show happening but that my presence was wanted there, I could hardly believe it.
Would I be able to afford it?? How do I ask my full-time job for 2 weeks off?? Where the heck is Luxembourg?? Is Luxembourghese a language??
Needless to say, there were a couple hurdles I needed to get over before letting myself get swept up in the idea. After a few more conversations about the logistics of the trip and crunching my own numbers, it became clear that I would be able to afford it. When I talked to my boss about the time away not only did she say yes but she practically demanded that I go. In her words “If you had asked for any other reason I’d have to think about it, but this is what you’re meant to do with your life. This is why you moved here. You have to go.” {How I ever became so blessed, I’ll never know} A little Google research led me to learn that Luxembourg is a small country nestled in the middle of Belgium, Germany, and France and that Luxembourghese is not a word. However, Luxembourgish IS a word and it’s one of the languages spoken there, along with French and German.
I’ve been pinching myself for weeks and will continue doing so until June. I never would have imagined that this theatre thing would work out so well AND bring me an opportunity like this. It only shows me how moving to this city was exactly what I was supposed to do with my life.
rather be
I have a new jam and it’s the only thing I want to listen to lately. It just makes me move and groove and feel all the happy feels. I love it. What’s that you say? You want to hear it and dance around your room without pants on as well?? Perfect!
Rather Be by Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne
happy little tune
A few summers ago a great pal of mine invited me to go to a concert with her. She said the artists were B.O.B., this new guy Bruno Mars, and Jason Mraz. Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyway, it was one of the best times of my life! I was already pretty familiar with Jason Mraz but seeing him live was just awesome. My love for his sweet sweet jams only grew.
So of course now that he’s dropped a new album, it’s my duty to enjoy every minute of it…and I do. One of my particular faves is the little ditty below. It just makes me feel light and happy and sunny. And I dig it.
The Daisy Duke Cowl
Well, it happened again. I was consumed by a yarn. {holds head in shame} This time the takeover was much slower and very gradual but it still happened nonetheless. A couple weeks ago this very interesting cotton fabric yarn popped up in the store. It looked as though strips of fabric had been cut and then twisted around a string to make a yarn. Knitting AND fabric…I mean come on. One problem though, no one had a clue what to do with it. Every couple of days a customer would ask about what to do with it. I would shrug my shoulders. There weren’t any patterns for it so it was hard to imagine what the possibilities were. A rug? A bag? It was a real head scratcher. As the days went by and I looked at the yarn, a little idea started to creep up. I saw a big needle. Like US35 big. The thought of them alone was exciting. I haven’t made a project on such large needles yet so the prospects seemed wonderful. A holy, loosey, goosey summer cowl. Yes!
So cast on I did! And again, and again. I forgot how much experimenting comes with creating something from nothing; the scientist in me was napping apparently. Once I figured out a proper cast on number I went to knitting. After a couple rows it became clear that a US35 was just not the proper needle for this project. There was little to no stitch definition and I was barely an inch in and the ball was almost used up. So frog I did. My next try was the US19 and it made all the difference. I fiddled with knits here and yarn overs there and the end result was a super unique cowl that I absolutely love! The pattern on the fabric gave me a country vibe but it’s still a girly accessory so I named it Daisy Duke!
Here she is!
Because the fabric is a cotton this cowl is still really comfortable to wear in the summer months. It’s not heavy or fuzzy so it’s not smothering.
The yarn is called Wildflower by Knit Collage and it comes in 3 other super cute colors. There isn’t a lot of yardage on each skein so I needed 2 for this cowl.
Thanks to my pal Brie for snapping these shots. It takes a village folks and I’m sure glad I’ve got that gal in mine!
The pattern is available on my Ravelry page and will be on my Etsy soon!
pictures of yarn via
i did it!
I’m going to be doing the thing I came to this city to do. Theatre. It’s really happening! Let me begin at the beginning.
The weekend my roommate left for her new cruise gig, my new gal pal (Brie) invited me out for her friends birthday party. A much more exciting plan than my original plan…sitting at home by myself. I had met a couple of her friend already so I knew it would be a good time. While at dinner, Brie happened to mention that I had a degree in theatre which prompted the birthday fella himself to ask me what I do. I told him I’m a stage manager and without skipping a beat he said “I need one of those”. Amidst the party fodder we decided to talk more about it later on. The rest of the evening was spent with many laughs and really great food. (for real though….such great food)
After a couple week of getting each others contact information, Easter, and setting up a time to meet, we were finally able to sit and talk. As I rode the train to our meeting I had trouble ignoring a little voice inside my head. It kept saying things like:
“but you just started enjoying your 2 days off”
“there’s no way it will fit into your schedule anyway”
“how will you break it to him that you won’t be able to do it”
“do your really want to drive yourself into the ground again?”
“the subway costs money”
Needless to say, it was a pretty negative voice. It was as if I had made up my mind going into it. I’m not even sure why.
So we met. And we talked. And talked. After about an hour or so of talking and sharing stories and giving each other an idea of what we’re about, it became clear. Not only did I want to do it…I needed to do it. Everything about the way this company works seems like a perfect fit for me. I’ll be the Stage Manager but I’ll also have the platform to have a voice in what’s going on…not just a paperwork machine. It’s a company that values everyone’s opinions and artistic backgrounds and finds a way to make the work a product of everyone involved. Beyond that the work that they’re producing is new and fresh and not typical. It’s interactive and in your face. It’s out of my own comfort zone and I’m thrilled about it.
I’m doing it guys! I’m going to be a Stage Manager in New York City. I’m fulfilling the dream I’ve had since I chose this career. How many people can say that?? I feel so blessed and grateful to the people around me that helped make this happen. Does it get any better than this?! I don’t see how it could. Life isn’t good….it’s amazing.
If you’d like to check out the company:
auntie
The biggest thing that has happened these past couple weeks didn’t even really happen in these past couple weeks. It was merely announced to the public. I’m officially going to be Auntie Sarah. That’s right folks, my sister and brother are expecting their first child. It’s funny that as I type this my eyes are welling up…something that hasn’t happened since the day they told me. I’m just so happy for them and for my sister especially. If you should know anything about Cassie (Trostle) Jindra it’s that she was put on this earth to be a mother. Having children is not a marital duty for her, it’s a personal necessity….something to make her truly complete. So knowing that it’s happening for her, really happening, fills me with so much joy that it seems to squeak out of my eyes at times. Then add to that the fact that this will officially make me someones Aunt…happiness overflow.
The one thing that saddens me about this glorious event is that I live as far away as I do. I never had to give much thought to the idea of my niece or nephew growing up and not really knowing who I was. It always seemed like a distant idea. But now it’s here. I know technology is great for staying in touch and skype is a wonderful tool for that, but it’s just not the same as being there in person to see the cute facial expressions and hear the baby noises first hand. And what about cousins?? I’m not having children anytime soon so who knows how much older this child will be by the time I get around to making my own. The thought of mine and my sisters kids not being able to get along because of their age difference is sad. Cousins are an awesome thing to have and they can even act as extended siblings. Will mine and Cassie’s kids have that kind of relationship? On April 13, 2014 I’d have to say probably not. And that makes me sad. More so for our kids than for me. Maybe these are things I shouldn’t worry about too much but when you’re one and only sister gets pregnant for the first time, it happens.
Of course this also means that I will have LOTS of baby knitting to do! Chickpea (as we’re affectionately calling him/her) will need a good amount of handmade things from Auntie Sarah and so far I’ve already picked our patterns and yarn for an adorable baby blanket as well as the cutest hedgehog sweater in all the land(my sister has a pet hedgehog…my first nephew Huckleberry). Chickpea will be the cutest thing in the world! I’m actually really excited to get into making baby things. They’re just so cute!
All of our lives are about to change come September and it’s going to be absolutely thrilling. I can’t wait to meet this little Chickpea and be a part of his/her life. And until I meet a wonderful man I may or may not use Chickpea for a little advertisement. Can you blame me??
knitted mood blanket 2014| joining squares
When I decided on using mitered squares for my mood blanket I didn’t really think about how to connect them and beyond that how to connect the rows together. I just knew I liked the way they looked and that people had been connecting them somehow. So mitered squaring I was. Connecting the first row of squares as I made them was easy. When it came time to start row 2…then the trouble came. I knew I wanted my diagonals to go in the same direction as row 1 so I figured out how to make the first square and quickly realized that square 2 and the rest of the row wouldn’t prove to be as easy. I didn’t want to bother with seaming 2 long rows together so I scoured the interwebs for some kind of solution. I quickly realized that the easiest way to connect mitered squares just happens to be in a diagonal fashion . I certainly wasn’t about to un-knit 21 days of progress so I knew I had to find another answer and find another answer I did! So I figured it was only the nice thing to do to share my answer with anyone else who cares to know. So I took some pictures and I’ll explain my steps. If something doesn’t seem right or you have any questions, just ask!
Note: I’m making my squares with 20 stitches on each side so if you attempt this with a different sized square, adjust your numbers accordingly.
I’ll be referring to 3 different squares to work with:
-The Previous Square-the square in the same row as your new square: Pink
-The New Square-the square you’re knitting: Yellow
-The Top Row Square-the square in the row above your new square: Blue
Let’s go!
Step 1:
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| (RS) |
With a spare needle (I used a smaller one than my squares are made with-a US5), pick up 20 stitches from the right side of the Previous Square(pink), starting at the bottom of the square
Step 2:
With the proper needle-US7, cast on 20 stitches with the yarn your New Square(yellow) will be made in
Step 3:
I found it easiest to achieve this step by placing the Top Row Square(blue) right side down, so the bottom edge is on top.
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| (WS) |
With the needle you just cast stitches onto, pick up a stitch from the right side corner of the bottom edge of the Top Row Square. Having the New Square yarn in front, wrap it on top of your needle(back to front)
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| (WS) |
Using your free needle-US7, slip your Top Row Square stitch over your New Square yarn, from the back
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| (WS) |
Repeat this step, picking up 20 stitches altogether. You should now have 40 stitches on your needle with your New Square yarn
Step 4:
To begin this step, turn your work over so the Previous Square is to the right of your cast on stitches.
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| (RS) |
Slip the first stitch from the New Square onto the needle holding the Previous Square stitches
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| (RS) |
With the New Square yarn in front, slip the Previous Square stitch over the New Square stitch from behind and slip your New Square stitch back onto its needle.
Knit the next row, then continue making your miter square making sure to repeat Step 4 every time you finish the row ending next to the Previous Square.
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| (RS) |
As your miter square decreases to the corner the number of stitches from the Previous Square should lessen evenly until you finish the corner.
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| (RS) |
It should end up looking like this!! It’s not quite as smooth as the top row but I have every faith that it will block out nicely….and that I won’t mind it too badly even if it doesn’t!
Now that that’s settled I’m also glad to announce that I’m officially caught up on my mood days! It’s such a relief and I’m really happy with the way it’s coming out. Needless to say, 2014 will certainly be colorful!
on repeat
I’ve started watching Late Night with Jimmy Fallon(hilarious bee tee dubs) and I’m loving the musical guests that he has on! I mean come on….this guy chose THE ROOTS for his house band. So you know he’s got taste.
Now I’ve never been big on the electronica scene. As a lady who loves to sing I enjoy being able to sing along to my favorite songs so electronica music just doesn’t keep my interest for very long. Great for dancing, not so much for singing. So the other day while I was watching my guy Jimmy he introduced a group called Disclosure.
Let me tell you. It was as if the heavens parted and my ears finally found their electronica soul mate. They performed the song Latch and I’ve been hooked every since. Their album, Settle, is so dang catchy but Latch in particular has been on repeat for me lately. I just can’t get enough. Enjoy!!
