No Idle hands here

Giraffe

By the time I post this, months will have gone by since I made it. A friend who loves giraffes is having a baby. Of course I immediately pulled out Itty Bitty Toys. I have been eyeing the pattern for years and bought yarn for this purpose when the friend got married two years ago. Of course this giraffe is anything but itty bitty.I made a fabric pouch and filled it with plastic pellets and then used regular fiberfill. Without the pellets, the giraffe will simply fall over. Snug in the pouch the pellets shouldn’t come out and be a hazard.The knitting and stuffing is done.This isn’t a present for the baby, really this is for the mom.I started this post back in January, the baby has finally arrived so I get to share my creations. The giraffe is more for mom, I’ve noticed that at about six months Westley got the hand coordination and really loves his Amish puzzle ball, using giraffe fabric of course I set out to make another. I even remembered to sew in a label, although no one will see it.Ball complete, since it has giraffes from Africa it’s only fair it should be photographed in front of a Kangaroo paw flower from Australia.The two look very cute together.Of course the gift was well received.

Knit and crochet

Months ago I bought this linen on sale at Webs.Euroflax is probably the best linen yarn on the market and it isn’t cheep, even when on sale.I spun it into balls, this color is a little more accurate.I started knitting.

I knit most of the body of a sweater, up to a point where I could sort of try it on. I hated it. Linen has no give whatsoever – really none. It was a big shapeless mess. So bad that I didn’t even take a picture, I just frogged the whole thing. A couple of very large balls of linen are hanging around the house. I have to use them, I don’t want to knit a shawl out of this yarn (I bought more linen for that purpose).Remember this sweater? This could work well in linen. Heres’ the thing, I don’t like knitting the exact same thing twice. I also am not crazy about the length of the sleeves.

So my next thought is – combine patterns, make a standard neck down raglan with a V-neck till a few inches about the waist, then use this pattern to create the peplum.

So I started, I thought I had the correct number of stitches, but I wasn’t sure. Then I had a lightbulb moment, I don’t use my dress form much for sewing, but here is the perfect use for it.So far so good, looks like I’m ok.This is just one of the two large balls I got when frogging. I think it will be fair to say I will have knit this sweater twice.Still looking good.Now I need to figure out when I stop increasing, put the sleeves on scrap yarn and continue just with the body. I would like to get this right and not have to rip anything out again!

As for crochet, a friend has cancer, a bunch of us are making her a blanket, here is my contribution.The front flower only has 7 petals, I couldn’t turn it into a square, so it will be used for something else. It’s the African flower made into a square. I love the internet, was very easy to find instructions for how to do this.

Old buildings in the Valley

People think of the Valley as the big wasteland of suburbia that somehow became part of Los Angeles, but really isn’t. Of course that view is held by people who are too hip to ‘come over the hill’ to see what’s really going on.

Like many other places, agriculture was the king (which is why close to 700 people voted to become part of Los Angeles in the mid 1910s when the Los Angeles Aqueduct was completed). It was only after WWII that tracts, subdivisions and suburbia really gained momentum.

So documenting older buildings has become a priority of mine, some will survive, many won’t.I drove by this building (yes I need to go in and try their sandwiches) and took a double take. Old? New? Why haven’t I seen this before? The Cahuenga General store has an interesting history. The building isn’t that old, but it didn’t look like this. Since the present owners used it initially as a prop store for the industry, it’s nice to see that they transformed the exterior as well.Paint can really change the feel of standard architectural elements.From the photos on their site, I can see that the upstairs windows are original, and the tree is relatively new.
Moving on along Burbank Blvd, we come across some real old. I have driven by they grey building many times and have thought to myself:Art Deco in the Valley! The overhand is pure Art Deco, the font for the address isn’t, but it also looks like this paint job isn’t so old. Today the neighborhood is gentrifying some, but I doubt they will take the iron gate off any time soon.As I walk around camera is hand, I find that people are very nice. Someone yelled out from his car – Smile! Another man on his bike stopped to talk to me, he told me there is a plaque on the building stating it was built in the teens – hmm that is way before Deco.I went to investigate, no sign, so yay for Google. The building was built for small industry in 1947, so although Art Deco was officially over, many builders were still using many of the design elements.The facade is attractive, looking from the side, it simply becomes a large warehouse, I do like the old Chimney or Vent on the roof.Walking around the back, non-descript. Although the current tenant Panther parts (an electronic parts and equipment dealer) has spruced up the back door.Meanwhile, on the other side of the small red building, two brand new structures are being built. Very interesting roofline. I also appreciate how the glass balcony railing unifies what looks like two separate buildings. Not sure why it’s not just one structure.If it weren’t for the stamps on the plywood, I’d consider the roof line done. One doesn’t do that kind of detailed work and leave it like that, but what do I know, I’ll report back in a few months.

Sharing a bag, now that I’ve gifted it.

I told you I’ve been making things, now that this bag has been gifted, I can share.

I love this printed canvas and I had the perfect green in my stash, then to make matters even better I found the perfect green leather handles, they are the exact color of the apple.Sorry the picture is blurry but I just have to prove that yes, I sewed the handles on by hand, with the help of a plier. Waxed linen thread and book binding needles – I did manage to break one of them.I used a zipper pull from my treasure trove of buttons.Made a small pouch for extra goodies.Voila purse and pouch finished, gifted and very well received.

The big clown in the Valley

One of the icons of North Hollywood is Circus liquor, or to be more exact, this:The 32 foot tall neon clown.

The liquor store has been at the corner of Burbank Blvd and Vineland Ave. for 50 years.The scary clown is both on the sides of the building as well as front and center in the parking lot.If it weren’t for the massive programatic ‘billboard’, this would simply be another corner liquor store.This being part of Los Angeles, you have to go big and outrageous.As in, double sided 32 foot neon clown – perfect to turn anyone into a coulropohbic – someone who has fear of clowns. I need to drive by at night to get an image of him all lit up. This used to be a very sketchy neighborhood, but things are changing, nearby on a side street there are a number of small businesses, most of them related to the film industry. But I did notice Brite-Lite Neon Corp is right around the corner, a neon company that has been in business since the mid 1950s. They have some pretty impressive clients now, they also have a picture of this clown, but no where can I find any information about who actually built this.Just for size comparison, notice the keg.The back side of the store, that faces an alley has a very interesting mural. I was a few months late, any earlier I would have seen the artist Kiptoe painting this. At least he has video showing him at work – fascinating.

Explore your neighborhoods! Some people feel that have to travel far and wide to see interesting things, not so, so much is happening right in your own backyard. It may be very different from what is happening in mine, but is worth paying attention to.

Refashioning jewelry

I wasted no time with this bracelet.Wire wrapping and a combination of other beads I had on hand, and the bracelet is now a necklace.I first tried it on with this little shirt I whipped up the other day. A lovely soft jersey become a drop cowl shirt. These are clearly my colors, nice to have options for both the shirt and the necklace.With the intended dress. Sure it’s busier and the necklace doesn’t stand out as much.I think the necklace and the earring work very well with this dress.. Success!

Topanga Vintage Market

Lately my posts are more about what I am seeing and doing about town. I haven’t stopped making things, not by a long shot. Some of the items have to wait to be shown – because they are gifts.

I haven’t been sitting around moping, I’ve been out and about, exploring the city and my own little corner, The Valley.Although the Topanga Vintage Market has been around for a few years, I just discovered it this weekend. It takes place on the 4th Sunday of the month in a large parking lot at Pierce college. So parking is free, entrance fee is only $3 and yes, one has to deal with the heat in the summer. Most of the vendor sell ‘antiques’, one persons’ junk is another person treasure.

This quilt may for for sale, it has very good workmanship, it also has the ubiquitous small floral fabric that was ‘quilting cotton’ in the 70s and 80s. What is unusual is the solids, heck that almost makes it modern!More quilts and unfinished tops. Once again, that floral. The color combination here is giving me a headache. The yellow is fine, I can see why it was combined with the floral, problem with those florals is that from a foot away all you see is muddy dots, nothing reads clearly. Anyway, I am very impressed with the design, each six cited star is cut from the solid fabric, and the triangles are inserted with a y-seam, something many quilters avoid. The resulting Hexagons are fun. The quilter gave up though and never finished the project. I wonder if I every met her years ago when I still went to the San Fernando Valley Quilt Guild?This doll is made from Cheater cloth, she was among many toys being sold.A very scary rocking horse. Must have been in someone’s garage for years. These fellows are garden ornaments, there was a whole menagerie of upcylced animals, I had to capture the goat.Not all items are old, instead of just taking a picture, I could have use one of these parasols. Did I mention it was hot?So much to see! So many pictures to take, I found myself drawn to glass.This orange is for my friend Becky.Once upon a time, people smoked in their homes and had things called ashtrays for their cigarettes, they also used something called matches that came either in a small box or a fold-over case. Watch some old film noir, you’ll see what I’m talking about.Blown glass lamps and a very strange chandelier, I checked it out, I think someone took the time to paint it pink, I’d love to see it lit at night.
Also for my friend Becky, a teardrop trailer. Clearly people want to buy the trailer since that is the one item that isn’t for sale.Once upon a time these faucet handles were everywhere. though the purple has to be rare. There were two tables full, not sure what someone would use them for. Oh wait, Simon Rodia, the man who built the Watts towers used them for two purposes, as a stamp in the concrete and then as part of the mosaic itself.This sign stole my heart, Gilmore Gasoline is what built the Farmers Market, where I meet with my knitting friends every Thursday night.The dress and earrings are new, the bracelet is old fimo beads, I’m taking it apart and combining with other beads to make a necklace that will go perfectly with this outfit.

Downtown at Night

This month is Last Remaining Seats at the Los Angeles Conservancy, so I’ve been downtown a lot at night. This time I’ve even brought my good camera.The Globe theater is no longer a theater and can never be one again, the floor was leveled years ago, these stores next door are what used to populate Broadway, and slowly will be moving away and replaced by upper scale shops. I don’t know what is in this store front now, but they went out of their way to reinstall the original marquee.At dusk the neon is lit. The Rialto is also no longer a theater. This is the kind of store that is filling the store fronts on Broadway.The Orpheum with the lights on.Oops they need to fix the M.This is one I should frame, I love the reflection, the street sign and the advertisement for the Bill Graham show.The neon really sings at night.The Palace, which was the original Orpheum.

DTLA at night is very lively on weekend, the great changes that come with revitalization.

Eastern Columbia building

My Art Deco tour ends at this building, on the corner of 9th and Broadway. One of the most beautiful Art Deco buildings, or any style of building for that matter in LA.Did you know that many buildings actually own the sidewalks? They do, and in many cases are generous enough to let the city/public use them. Back in the 1930s they often decorated them, here in colored Terrazzo, including the name of the building.What it is really known for, aside from the blue and turquoise terra cotta is the four sided clock tower. This clock tower rises 114 ft about the height limit for buildings in Los Angeles. (Limit of 150 ft was in place until 1959), 114 ft billboard, the space couldn’t be rented out, it could house elevator or air-conditioning equipment, but had to remain empty otherwise.So between the height and the color, this building really stood out on the skyline of downtown.Today the building is getting crowded in by new construction. I used to park in that parking lot, but now with the fencing around it, they are already digging for foundations for a very tall building. New construction in downtown is happening on every parking lot. So I had to rush and get as many images as possible.Images like this are still possible, but very soon, it won’t be empty blue sky in the background.It will be glimpses through alleyways.This is all you can see from across Broadway, impressive, but missing the pyramid. Side view. The clock says Eastern on all sides. The building was built by Adolph Sieroty, a Polish Jew who arrived in California in 1892 along with his brothers and cousins. He was 16 at the time. Together they started the Eastern Clock company – which sold appliances, home furnishings and clocks. By 1894 (Adolph is 18) he moves to Los Angeles, and opens another store – Columbia – this one selling soft goods, clothes, linens and other such household items.The two businesses did very well, by the late 1920’s Adolph decided to build a flagship store and headquarters. The stores would remain separate but he would combine the business side, buying, shipping and such.

The building would not only have the colored terra cotta (Gladding McBean) but real gold and copper. In 1929 prices, he paid $25,000 for the gold alone. The copper has oxidized to somewhat match the tile.One reason for all the details is to give work to people during the depression. He hired the Architect Claud Beelman who had already built many of downtowns Art Deco office buildings. Most of the gold is used in the entrance. The vestibule is two stories high with an incredible sunburst. I need a better picture, the band above the door is embossed with the date the company started, 1892, the date this building was completed, 1930 as well as the name of Adolph himself.Great detail was given to the terrazzo chevrons here. During the 25 years that the two stores occupied the building, there was a long hallway that ran the length of the building, The Eastern was on one side and the Columbia on the other, so shoppers could easily go from one to another.I am rarely downtown at night so to get this images is a treat. Ten years ago the building was converted to loft apartments and is one of the most successful residential buildings downtown. I have been fortunate to visit two of them. The apartments themselves are very spare – of course each owner can do as they wish, but initially you are given concrete walls and floors. Yes, Johnny Depp does own four of the lofts on the penthouse level. People who live in the buiding have confirmed seeing him in the elevator. Another improvement is that now the clock tower is being used. A pool, jacuzzi and workout room are up on the roof.

I think it was 18 years ago that I interviewed here for a textile job, the building had a very different feel at the time, as did the whole area. Change is always happening, although no longer the tallest building at this end of Broadway, it is still a gorgeous, well loved, well used landmark in downtown.

New addition, got those photos I was missing.

Summer knitting, a tee

Knitting a simple Tee shirt seems like a lot of work for a very simple garment. Which is why I haven’t made one in years.

But when a yarn falls into my hands that is rayon, linen and nylon – there is not much else to do with it.It knit up very quickly and it actually does have some slight shaping. It is rather see-thourgh but not terribly so.I guess it’s a little longer in the back. At least I’m smiling in this picture.

Ok, no smile, but you can see the interest in the knit fabric.A quick and easy knit that will not be repeated anytime soon. But I do think I will get some good wear out of this tee.