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I suppose there are (crazy?) people everywhere who decorate their houses for Halloween, but I don't know of anywhere else that so many people get into the fun.
The more stately houses have pretty fall decorations:
The fun houses have whole families of jack-o-lanterns:
This is one of my favorites:
Then there are the ghosts and creepy graveyards:
Not to mention miles and miles of spider webs:
And of course, where there are spider webs...
I think this about my far-flung family and friends practically every day. I'd love to be able to meet my mom for coffee, go out for a drink after work with my friends in New York and Portland, or drop by to see Evelyn and Tate on a Saturday afternoon. My most recent "Why can't I be there?!" occurred when my friends Brigid and Lindy canvassed New York's best yarn stores as part of a Yarn Crawl -- like a pub crawl, but more crafty.
Here they are outside the Brooklyn General Store:
And here's Brigid with Kate Davies' Owls sweater:
In front of the new Lion Brand Yarn Studio display:
And browsing the racks at the gorgeous new Purl Soho store:
I wish my favorite DC stores (looped, fibre space, A Tangled Skein, are you listening?) would have something like this!
5 days! I think this is the longest I've gone between posts since I started the blog. Sorry, guys. This weekend totally got away from me, but I'll be redoubling my efforts to bring you good stuff in the next few weeks.
Last night, we went over to our friends Sebastian and Brighita's house for an incredible dinner. I have to get Brighita's apple crumble recipe, because it was out of this world. Anyway, Sebastian and Brighita are from Romania, and after dinner Brighita showed me her mother's amazing lacework, a beautiful example of a technique called Romanian crochet or point lace.
I was so in awe that these intricate, handmade pieces that Brighita generously gave me this one to take home. Isn't it wonderful?
Pattern: Spiral Cowl by Knitty Gritty Thoughts (available for free on ravelry)
Yarn: Mirasol Tupa Shade Ruby Red 808
I had this project 95% finished for ages, but I couldn't bring myself to add the button and loop until the weather got cooler, because I knew I was going to want to wear it right away. (For more on earlier stages of the project, check out my first efforts at lace, the project in progress, and the cowl being blocked.)
Here it is buttoned up, snug and warm (with me apparently contemplating the upcoming winter and looking a little bleak):
I love the way it matches my winter coat. Apparently, so does Bailey, who really wanted in the picture:
Just two weeks to Halloween! We are getting very excited here on E St. We put up the Halloween decorations this weekend.
Things are now pretty creepy-crawly on the stair rail
and the fence.
A little tacky? Possibly. Awesome? I think so.
I just got an e-mail from looped about their new fall class line-up. A while ago, I did a post about how much I loved Kate Davies' beautiful owl sweater. She now has a kids version (available on her blog!) and looped is doing a class on it. Could anything be more adorable?
Unless it's this Seed Stitch Baby Jacket by Elinor Brown, which is pretty darn cute:
Pattern: Soft N Seamless Baby Sweater by Lynda Ward, available for free on ravelry
Yarn: Lion Brand Jiffy in San Diego (washable, soft, and all-around great for baby projects)
This was such a fun sweater to knit. Easy, quick, and adorable (at least, I think it's adorable).
1/17/11 update: The pattern is no longer available for free on ravelry, but you can find it in A Passion for Knitting.
After losing several canteloupes to thieves, both human and animal, it was great to end the season with a perfect, sweet fruit:
Most of the other things going on in the garden this week weren't too glamorous -- planting iris bulbs, breaking up and replanting some lambs ears -- but those are the things that will hopefully make next year's garden even better.
Last Saturday, I headed over to Adams Morgan to check out the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair. It was intense! The show is incredibly curated: every booth showcases work that is creative, cheeky, and fun. Here are some of my favorites:
I love supermaggie's t-shirts, which I've bought many times as gifts (you can find them in DC at The Propper Topper and Homebody) and long coveted for myself. I finally gave in, and got this awesome t-shirt:
I loved these modern handmade quilts, especially namoo's cool use of contrasting thread:
and my absolute favorite: horrible adorables
Artist Jordan Elise makes these quirky animal sculptures out of felt.
I've been lucky enough to know Megan Fickling, creative genius behind La Partie Events, since college. Megan brings her unique style to everything she does. Most wonderfully for me, she designed the flowers for our wedding with the creativity and fun that are hallmarks of all her work. So I was thrilled to see Megan this week on Design*Sponge, which featured her apartment as a Sneak Peek:
I love her use of color and prints. It's so great to see that everyone else does, too!
