For the third year in a row, I happen to be giving a tour downtown on Panama Day. There is a colorful music filled parade, I had my small camera, so unfortunately – not great shots. When I got home I realized that it was on manual – since I use this as point and shoot – that was a bad idea.
Got to love, everyone with their smart phone.
I don’t know what the black ribbon is for and I had no idea that the Virgin of Guadalupe is also important in Panama, I thought she was the Saint of Mexico.
The queen and her court? A bright red convertible is better than a white horse.
So sorry this is completely out of focus, but I just love the composition, the colors and the movement, so it stays.
Sweaters on large needles
I always have some kind of knitting project on the needles. Since the calendar says fall (although the temperature doesn’t yet). I started a sweater, the Dauphine Cardigan.
I no longer buy knitting magazines, I either find the individual pattern online, or through my public library I am able to download a number of magazines on Zinio. This one comes from Knitscene. Between screenshots and conversions to PDF files, I am able to get the pattern into KnitCompanion.
I am trying to use yarn from my stash, I have cascade Greenland, a worsted weight yarn. The pattern calls for bulky yarn. Enter the swatch and a little math.
I am able to use the instructions for 2 size larger, I do need to make adjustments in length as well, so far that hasn’t been a problem.
The back knit up beautifully. I am using size 10 needles! Unheard of for me, most of my sweaters are on 6s’ or at most 8s. (the bulky yard did call for 11s, I simply didn’t have the yarn and wasn’t going to buy any)
Along with the faster knitting I’m doing some editing of my photos on PicMonkey, a free online editing program. At some point I may upgrade to the paid version, I’m not there yet.
Between really learning how to use my camera and some editing I am trying to improve my photos. In a few months I will probably go back and compare my old photos and see how far I’ve come. Until then, you will be seeing the good and the bad of my learning skills.
In praise of small exhibits
This post will be a little unusual since I don’t have many pictures. Yesterday I went to the exhibit Hollywood Costumes at the old May Company. I think I’ve mentioned before that when LACMA owned the building they erased any mention of the May Company – we were to call it LACMA west, I’m glad to see historic accuracy returning, although soon it will be known as Academy Museum.
While they are raising the money for this project, they have put on this exhibit, of course photography was forbidden, hence – not many photos.
I recommend going to your search engine of choice and looking at images, it is quite a production. So much so, that I had sensory overload. First of all, the exhibit is completely in the dark – because everything except the costumes are all Audio-Visual media – of every kind, labels, stills, movie clips, interviews – a cacophony of light and sound. In one area they had small screens with the faces of the actors right where they should be in the costumes.
So how easy was it to view the costumes themselves? It wasn’t. Sure, the costumes are an important part of the movie – but even in this exhibit – they weren’t the star. I would recommend this show, it is very well done and it is fun, but like all of Hollywood, it’s the production, it’s the glamour, it’s hiding the product under a very glitzy package.
Which brings me to FIDM, This Fashion and design school has a wonderful little museum, open to the public free of charge. Go and lose yourself in this website for a while: Annual Art of the Motion Picture Costume Design. And if you are in LA from mid February to late April, go see the exhibit in person. No photos allowed, but you can get up very close and personal with the garments. I was there 22 years ago for the first exhibit and have seen most of them since then, it is incredible to see how the making of the costumes has improved over time. More money, higher definition film, means that one can no longer ‘cheat’ by using puff paint and plastic gems.
I always enjoy seeing the small details, that we probably never notice on screen, but are there non the less.
For glitz and glamour – go to the May Company, for real workmanship and a closer look – go to FIDM.
Ventura Blvd, main st. of the Valley
For many Angelenos The Valley is somewhere they never go or somewhere they escaped from. The original suburbia, tract homes and swimming pools. I live here and as much as I love exploring other parts of the city, I am very happy to be here.
Ventura Blvd is our main street, it runs for 18 miles from Studio City out to Woodland Hills. Mostly a commercial thoroughfare, it changes personality as it moves west.
Today I was in Woodland Hills and noticed this wonderful restaurant sign.
I have no idea what the food is like, but as far as signage is concerned, it sure beats the Chinese restaurant next door. I have no idea how long they have been in business, one doesn’t see this kind of signage anymore. I could only find restaurant reviews – some good, some bad, but no one mentioned our little Thai boy. I guess I’m one of the few who actually looks up.
Just like people in the city distain the Valley, we have a way of looking down on the newer suburbs, not that it stops them from advertising right on our main street.
So on my drive home, I stayed off the freeway and stopped to capture some other great signs, that may not be here for long.
This Bar-B-Q joint has been here for more than 50 years and seems to be going strong according to the reviews I read. One thing they have going for them is their real estate.
Even in the Valley having such a large privately owned parking lot is quite a luxury. 
Right down the street is a store selling BBQ equipment, not sure how functional this is…
…but it sure is cute.
Back in the car and on to another Ventura Blvd landmark.
My kids used to go to parties here, there is a bowling alley closer to us, so this wasn’t our regular hangout. I love the 1950s’ sign.
It was the middle of the day, they do turn on the neon at night.
I can just see the Jetson’s coming in for an evening of fun.
Hexie quilt update
Measuring against Joel’s quilt, it looks like I’m 3/4 of the way done.
Adding more black and white.
This is how it’s done, one tiny stitch at a time.
I think I’m happy with the color distribution.
The Bris
Eight days after he was born it was time for Westley’s Bris – circumcision. Traditionally it’s done as a large celebration, since it’s all about welcoming a new member to the community – so the community needs to be present.
House filling up with guests.
The Mohel (man who does the circumcision) discussing issues withe the parents.
Grandma Pat bringing him in.
Uncle Yochanan is the Sandak, I guess that translates to Godfather.
Aytan and Westley, it was just five years ago the Dr. Andy performed the same ceremony for Aytan.
Those looking down are looking at Shira, to be honest, no one wants to see the actual cut. 
A few blessings.
And it’s done. Yochanan had to watch, it all happened within seconds on the board on his lap. Yishai was called the bartender, he is holding wine infused gauze, yup, start them off right away with the wine – it makes it all better. Aytan was close by, not seeing the actual procedure, but his reaction was: oww! That hurts. 
Back with his parents, quiet and happy, he slept the rest of the evening. A Dr. friend, a urologist, told me that the home setting is so much easier on the baby vs. the hospital. He is surrounded by love, by joy and happiness and of course a little wine.
And then we ate, because that is what every Jewish event includes, food! I was too busy to take any pictures, no one left hungry!
Not all sewing advice is good.
Last year I made this shirt. Looks nice right? Wrong
After one wash this is what happened to the hem. (this photo is after many washes, but it happened right away). People are always posting great tips and I love trying them out. This one was a failure. The advice was to put elastic in the bobbin when sewing with twin needles so there would be stretch and it would lie flat. Clearly it didn’t lie flat, it actually pulled in more than plain old sewing thread in the bobbin would have.
Thank you again Coletterie tips, I pulled out the seam ripper, removed the offending elastic and now have nice hems.
I didn’t wear this shirt much last year, the puckered hems really bothered me. It was well worth my while making this adjustment.Now I have a shirt I can wear with pride.
Unbelievable what has happened to me, I love to sew new clothes, I hate mending, yet here I am, pulling out another tunic I made a few years ago, ripping out the twin needle hem and replacing it.
A nice clean finish, it’s worth the effort. (btw, are noticing that purple is a theme in my wardrobe?)
Another Moneta
Recently I shared the wonders of the Moneta Dress with a friend who hadn’t sewn in a while, I think she has just bought up all the patterns available in The Colette Collection. I find that these patterns are well designed, well written and come with booklets of instructions as well as online information. For my friend it’s a sewing lesson, for me, it’s reminders and wonderful new tips.
So, I pulled out the pattern, went to Mood Fabrics and bought some lovely cotton jersey.
I added sleeves and the tie collar from the wonderful free collar options made for this dress.
I believe the inside should be as neat as the outside. I didn’t ‘need’ to line the bodice, since there are both sleeves and a collar but I feel that extra layer makes the dress look more professional.
At first I had cut the pocket out of the lining fabric, it’s thiner so won’t add any bulk. Problem was it stood out like a sore thumb, white against the dark purple, so off it came. Aside from the twin needle hem and gathering the skirt with clear elastic, the whole dress was made on the serger. 4 needle, for a little extra security.
Nice fitting, comfy and soft.
It even moves well.
I like the front tie, although with such a busy print, it’s hard to see.
The pearl necklace is one I made years ago. That is the difference between making dresses and jewelry, the dresses wear out, or go out of fashion, the jewelry will match many different outfits.
Quick Knit
I bought the wool and downloaded the Inspira Cowl after seeing an example at Knot Another Hat in Hood River OR, this summer.
It sure feels like summer here, still in the 90s, yet I buckled down and knit this quick cowl.
It’s like potato chips, can’t stop because I want to see the color combination the next row will bring.
It is way to hot for me to try this on myself.
Maybe we’ll get winter this year and I can wear this, or else, there is a possibility that this will end up in the gift pile.
Art Deco on Wilshire Blvd.
For my 36th anniversary (how did that ever happen! (Ok let’s say I got married at 15), Joel got me a new IPad. I had been using the original first generation, no camera, super slow. I am having so much fun! I went to Mood to buy fabric (more about that in another post). I’ve been thinking of the many pictures I can take in this city, having my iPad with me, as well as a good 45 minutes on the meter I went exploring. 
This is the corner of Wilshire and La Brea, big busy intersection. I have no idea if Samsung still has anything to do with this incredible Art Deco, but their big blue sign sure disrupts the view. In the 1930’s Los Angeles was marching westward. This section of Wilshire is known as the miracle mile, it used to all be Art Deco. This was Desmond’s Dept store, this being the heyday of such stores. 
View from the front.
Right across the street is this new mixed use building. As wonderful as Art Deco is, it can’t all be saved. Btw, this is what we use umbrellas for here, as sun protection.
Right next door to the Desmond is this wonderful little gem known as The Deco.
Wonderful details, this little jewel was designed by Stiles O. Clements, maybe he had leftover tile from the Atlantic Richfield building downtown. That masterpiece was torn down in the 70’s when people were completely bored with Art Deco. So having this small example around is wonderful. 
The black and gold in the ARCO building represented black gold – oil. Which is why I think he must have had some left over, just enough for a small building.
Like most of these buildings, the public facade is gorgeous, the side of the building, drab, and utilitarian. I went inside and asked to take pictures. I was told that wasn’t posible, I was very polite and commended them for taking such good care of this gem.
A block up, on La Brea one can see this wonderful tower, View from Sycamore Ave over the roofs of old Spanish style homes
Today this is a modern bistro, For years it was Campanile, and before that, an office building built in 1929 by Charlie Chaplin. His studios were just up the street. 
Once again, drab side but a nice view of the tower.
