For the birds...

I was able to have the window open wide today (with a screen in place) and they were very noisy. And loud. I sometimes worry it may bother the neighbors. But it's been several years and so far no problems. Knock on wood. My birds as far as I can tell get into fights with the birds outside. It would be nice if I could understand them.

I love them to bits but when they get into a noisy mood, man oh man, they're loud! I've taken to wearing ear plugs some days when I'm doing the morning cleaning. I think they can hear the tinnitus that sometimes rings in my ears. Maybe, or not. When my neighbor first made that suggestion I thought he was crazy but I've since wondered. They seem less agitated when the ear plugs are in. Hm.

I think I'll design a needlepoint pillow of love bird feathers. I've collected many from the floor. Here's some:

Catch up... cello, piano and needlepoint

Well! It's been almost a whole month since my last post... time to catch up...

In 2 weeks it will be 6 months since I started cello and that's hard to believe! The time has flown. I originally committed myself to 6 months and it didn't take long to extend my commitment to a year. Now I'm pretty sure it will be with me for a long time to come. I'm loving it.

Working on lots of C Major the past month. This week my exercises are covering all 4 strings which means I can do arpeggio's from low C to high C in the Dotzauer book. Bowing is still pretty difficult--so many angles to attend to.

Work on the cello is complimenting work on the piano and vice-versa. On weekends such as this one I can get 2 hours a day on the cello and 2 on the piano. Wish I could manage that every day. It works out really well to do an hour of cello early in the day and another hour in the evening.

On the piano I'm relearning Beethoven's Op. 49 No. 2 since one of my students is learning it. It's a fun piece. I'm also going through his Op. 31 No. 2--ever so lovely! In addition to the other pieces I'm working on at the moment.

Piano needs tuning. The harpsichord needs a technician and I wouldn't mind a nice German cello. Is there no end? :) It'll all happen. Eventually.

On the wool front I'm nearing completion of my first Candace Bahouth needlepoint which I copied from a book. I'm enjoying this very much too. She has 6 patterns which she gathered into a rug. I have found 4 of them in 2 different books plus 1 more on the cover of one book. I may try to do them all and make a rug too. I like the patterns a lot. Here's where the squirrel is at this evening. Just the tail remains:

Knitwise, the sweater is going kinda slow but that's OK since it's spring and I won't be needing it anytime soon. I'm doing most of my knitting on the subway these days apart from the 1.5 hours every two weeks at the LGBT Center knitting group plus the 2 hours every month at Lions Brand Studio's men's night.

There are a couple rugs waiting for me to start but I'm not in a hurry. They'll get started soon.

For the birds...

Well I made the rounds this week. It is essential that I keep tabs on their proclivity to progenerate. They aren't called love birds for nothing. Prolific little creatures they are!

A while back I purchased some fake love bird eggs. They are made of plastic and are the same size, color and weight as real love bird eggs so when I gather up the potential makings of a bigger flock I can leave these imposters in the place of those I take. It makes me feel better that way. The birds are probably having a good laugh over it.

If I had more time I think these would make swell easter eggs if I cleaned them all up and hand painted them. Quite a novelty I should think. I could package them up 12 to a dozen in miniature egg cartons. Come to think of it, I think I'll hold on to them. Easter will be back next year.

City Life

It's days like today that I like living in NYC.

Yes, I have a love/hate relationship going on. So much about NYC is uber fantastic and wonderful, but there's still a lot of the country in me and I miss it. I want to open the front door, some days, and see a big field in the spectacle of spring with Indian Paint Brushes, Blue Grass flowers, and Dandelions. I want to be courted by their aromas and the deep brown smell of earth. I want to hear the birds against a basso continuo of rustling leaves and grass.

But today, as frequently happens, I am content to open the front door at the onset of a walk in the city. Having spent a good deal of yesterday sitting at the piano, with the cello and needlepoint, it's a much needed walk. Within a 15 block radius I'll have the opportunity to brush against ghosts in junk stores, grab a slice of pizza mid-journey, browse the bookinistes on Bedford and peruse the wares of sidewalk vendors before heading back up towards my neck of the woods. All this without a car. It's expense free--excluding purchases which I am quite bound to make.

A few purchases I did make! Just this morning at breakfast I was thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice if I had a little rest for my coffee spoon?" Voila! Found this really cute Limoges 2" butter pat (I think that's it's original purpose). $3. I think the pattern would make a really pretty embroidery.

I also found another lovely plate, about 6" round, handpainted with strawberries. $3.

On my way down Driggs I paused to watch the cutest dogs in the run in McCarren park and stopped briefly to glance up at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration (if you poke around their website you'll find photos, it's very pretty inside) and I found the border for my harvest rug in part of the frieze. (I'll have to write a post about the infinite source of inspiration to be found in the architecture here.)

It was a nice walk.

Now I would like to open the front door and see the millions of stars shining in all their glory. I want to look up and smell the deep, rich, brown, earth. Sigh.

A few recommendations... continued....

Purl Soho
459 Broome Street (between Mercer & Green)

Bigger than their last digs. Recently found out they carry Appleton tapestry yarn hence my sojourn this afternoon! I had plenty of time to browse and found that they are also carrying rug hooking wool!!!! I couldn't believe it. A very nice stock of yarns, needlepoint floss and wool, some embroidery, fabrics, canvas, felt, notions. I only have one gripe: they should lose the table that's in front of the cashiers... what's that doing there!


Brooklyn General
128 Union St. (in Carrol Gardens or Red Hook--depending on whether you're buying or selling! ;) )

Great selection of yarns. Wonderfully personable staff. The kind of place you want to enter and somehow be locked in for a few hours. (It's right around the corner from my cello teacher, how dangerous is that!) Big selection, needlepoint, embroidery, frabric, wool for spinning, notions.


Ideal Music
150 West 22nd St. (2nd floor... or is it the 3rd?)

One of the oldest music stores in NYC. Strings. Where I purchased my cello upon my teacher's recommendation. The owner gave me a very nice deal. She's a sweetie.


Frank Music Company
250 West 54th St., 10th floor

I think Frank's is less well known because they don't have a storefront. In fact, when you get off the elevators on 10, there isn't even a store to browse. Frank's is a counter, very much like a library, where you request what you want and they fetch it for you from their stacks. One of the few sheet music stores left in the city.

Needlepoint... tapestry wool

I went to pick up some more tapestry wool this afternoon and couldn't help but wonder about the high price. This picture shows the loot I left the store with, each skein being about 10 yds. This purchase of appx. 443 yds. comes close to $100 (including NY tax). Pretty pricey. I can only think this must be due to the extremely high number of colors offered. What's pictured here is just a smidgen of the color range available. To be fair, this is a good quality yarn: Appleton from London. 'Tis very pretty though, isn't it! :)

Speaking of $$, aren't canvases expensive! Understandably so. The canvas I'm working now was handpainted by me so the only cost involved was my time... and it was time spent in the backyard in nice weather with a glass of wine and some munchies so it was spent quite enjoyably! I have seen very few canvases larger than 8x10 for anything less than $100. I'll be painting my own for the foreseeable future. The Strand book store is a great place to pick up wonderful needlepoint books, full of exquisite patterns, at at least half price. So I don't mind spending a little extra on the yarn.

I will say, however, that I'm getting a brain wave... might try spinning my own tapestry yarn and/or I might try dyeing some of the beee-utiful New Friesien ( http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/friesianmilk/ ) yarn I've been picking up at the farmer's market.

I'll post a pic of my work in progress one of these days.

A few recommendations....

I think I'll start a running thread of my favorite NYC stores... worth a stop if you're in town...

P&S Fabrics
359 Broadway (2 blocks So. of Canal)
I found burlap and linen canvas suitable for rug backings there! Yay! I also found a bargain box of embroidery wool. Good prices.

M&J Trimmings
1008 6th Avenue
http://www.mjtrim.com/
I swear they have everything imaginable in the universe. Buttons and trimmings galore.

Annie & Company Needlepoint
1325 Madison Ave (Btwn 93rd and 94th)
http://annieandco.com/
I went there for the first time today. Knitting downstairs, needlepoint upstairs. Very friendly and helpful, tons of canvases and tons of yarn, floss, silk. I didn't check out the 1st floor knitting store but it looks chock full of absolutely yummy yarns.