I woke up yesterday with an overwhelming urge to organize my bookshelves by color. It must have been the Domino Magazine I read before bed.

I now have a blue shelf, a green shelf, a red & yellow shelf, a white shelf and a black shelf. It gives me an immense sense of comfort to look at my newly organized shelves. Sigh.
















Color was everywhere yesterday. This is the skirt I mentioned. I bought this vinatge fabric from a really great store in Brooklyn back in November. The plaid patterns was a little too perfect so I cut it up and pieced it back together with the seams all a little off-kilter. I hope it will make an adorable summer skirt and that I will look chic, not like a walking picnic table.

(Oh yeah, I also had the privelidge of going to see Edward Scissorhands at BAM last night. I think that tomorrow is the last performace. Run, don't walk, and get tickets. Now!)

elephant!
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

The circus came to town on Tuesday night. If you had the gumption to stay up until 1am on a school night, this is what you would have seen.

Elephants, my friends. And buckin' broncos and some ponies. It was, quite honestly, really amazing.

The Ringling Bros. circus actually enters Manhattan through the Midtown Tunnel and parades across 34th Street to Madison Square Garden.

I know that the circus is a controversial topic. Last time they were in town, the streets were lined with animal rights activists and police. Tuesday night was a tame affair, however, with the rowdiest bunch being from the Yeshiva University dorms. I want to add this link for people to visit, just to stay informed.

Personally, it was a magical night. When do you get to see elephants walking down a Manhattan street? Right past the Empire State Building? It was surreal and exciting.

My evening wrapped up with a 30 minute wait for the L Train (big surprise). There was a crowd on the platform, whom, I can only guess, had all gone to see the elephants. I mean, it was 1am on a Tuesday night (or Wednesday morning, whatever).
This incredibly charismatic guy was playing the guitar on the platform - Al Green, The Temptations, Jimmy Buffet, Elvis Costello, Prince. Soon, the whole platform - hipsters, scruffy guys in leather jackets, middle aged women with kids who should not have been up that late, but hey, they went to see the elephants - began singing along. It was one of those odd moments of NYC solidarity that I so adore. It made me so happy and soon, I was singing, too.

So, we bided our time, a whole 30 mintes waiting for the train, singing the chorus to "My Girl". Like I said, magical.

tidying up

pillow detail
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

I haven't just been cleaning up The Works this week. I've been trying to clean up the little projects that have been hanging around.

This is the second in pair of pillows that I started back in January. I have one in orange and one in brown, backed with the most perfect shade of avocado green velvet. Now the velvet and the felt don't feel very Spring-like, but I'm happy to have them finished.

The motif is a Hawaian Ti leaf from a book on traditonal Hawaian quilting and applique. I can't remember what's it's called. I only have the motifs now. I know that's very responsible blogging, but have no info to share.

Up next, a skirt made from vintage fabric I found a while back.

Tonight I'm heading to Mid-town to try and see the elephants on their way to Madison Square Garden. Apparently, they parade down 34th Street.

veggie burgers
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

It seems a breath of fresh (Spring) air has blown through The Works in the last couple of days. After the last post, full of End of Winter Blahs and self pity, I've attempted to pull myself up by my proverbial boot straps.

I've had the windows open for 3 straight days. It's a little chilly, but I throw on an extra sweater and savor the fresh air. Little bit of sunshine have inspired me to start some Spring Cleaning. There's nothing like being home during daylight hours to show you the scary results of not dusting one single surface in 3 months. Yes, The Works is a dirty, dirty place.

So I've been dusting and tidying. And cooking. I'm desperately trying to use up the last of my dried beans and rice and other assorted grains. And I've had about enough of oranges and bananas! I want some real, fresh produce! I cannot wait to take a trip to the farmers market to see what's sprouted!

In the meantime, I made these. I discovered this recipe while watching Good Eats on the Food Network. I just love Alton Brown, but don't usually feel inspired to try his recipes. This one, however, seemed easy enough to execute, and contained the perfect mix of late-Winter ingredients: brown rice, split peas, and mushrooms.

You have to cook them good and crispy on the outside, because the texture tends toward the mushy side. This batch I made tiny, like crab cakes, and I ate them with just a smear of dijon mustard. I think, however, they'd be amazingly good on a bed of baby spinach and topped with a poached egg.

Enjoy, my dears, and look ahead to Spring-ier times!

this is where i live

still life with socks
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

My life has been moving faster than I can keep up with it this last month. I get up, go to work, come home and crash on my couch. With my self-imposed budget restrictions and Master P out of town, I have become more than a little anti-social. This, compounded with the miserable weather, has done little to motivate me off of my couch.

This is my view most days. It's my coffee table and, right now, it's center of my universe. You can see my Speed Demon socks, which I finished and gladly wear every day when I come home (they are lovingly stretched out), a pile of magazines and my handy, zipper pouches holding my various works-in-progress.

I feel like I've been literally hibernating this winter. I can't wait for the weather to finally break and re-invigorate me and my life. Where are you Spring?

futon frame?
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

Ok, ok, so you haven't exactly been clammoring for the return of "Weird Items That I Find In My Building", but I thought I'd give you a little treat.

Since the crazies moved out (or, rather, were kicked out) of my building, I haven't been finding a whole lot of weird items, but this morning I saw this: a futon frame.

I know, I know, it's no plastic Frosty the Snowman, but it's the strangest thing I've seen in a while. Outside from, what I believe was, a toaster oven.

For some reason, folks love to just store things in the hallway. Granted, it's a pretty big hallyway, so it's a good place to hold things until you're ready to haul them downstairs. But, please, this is an eyesore.

I promised myself (as I rushed to buy a cup of coffee before getting on the subway) that if this was still hanging out when I came home, I'd snap a picture.

So, here it is. Where the rest of it is, I couldn't tell you.

oh, yes, I'm still here

last ditcch scarf v.1
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

I've been very, very busy. In freelancing terms, this is a good thing.
Rule #1 of a Freelancer: Never complain about being too busy.

That said, I thought I'd share this. This is my new favorite scarf. It was made from one skein of Cascade Magnum on size #19 needles. In a Fisherman's Rib.

I know, it was nearly 70 degrees today. But this scarf kept me plenty warm last week. Remember last week? This scarf came in handy. Also, I knit it in about 3 hours. You can't beat that.

I have a few other things to share with you. Pictures are a result of the early Daylight Savings Time. Horray for more daylight!

Stay tuned for more of what I've been up to.