I was going to post some really cute pics of me & Master P at Rockefeller Center last night, but I stupidly selected "format card" on my camera menu and all the pictures were erased. I could cry.
Instead, this is a picture of the beautiful necklace that Master P gave me for Christmas that I've been wearing, um, every day.

My favorite part are the apples. If you like this, the guy who makes them has a table on Prince Street, outside of the Apple store. I have three of his necklaces now and they are always a conversation piece. Each one is one of a kind, made from found objects.

(Do you remember that interview? Well, I got the job!!!!!!!! Yay!)

After knitting exclusively on Master P's Christmas Present for nearly 3 weeks, I couldn't resist some serious swatching on New Year's Eve. Above, witness the beauty that is Mission Fall's 1824 Wool. It's my first time working with this yarn and I adore it! It's incredibly soft and machine washable, of course.

Just before Christmas, two friends of ours who live in Paris had a baby! I was itching terribly to knit him something, but it had to wait until Master P's sweater was complete. Of course the Mission Falls is for him, little Nathan. I started a little top-down, pea coat style sweater for him. My calculations were off, so maybe he'll be able to wear this in about, oh, a year and half!

(More photos as soon as I buy more yarn to finish the sleeves on this sucker.)

My absolutely perfect day....

• Woke up, cooked the biggest breakfast ever and celebrated the first day of the new year with Master P.
• Drank an excellent bottle of champagne while munching on this bread, which I made this morning.
• Watched Zoolander and Dude, Where's My Car? on TV.
• Took a nap.
• Woke up, watched Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
• Ate entire pint of Ben & Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie.
• Watched Star Wars (episode IV, which is the first and the best and will forever be referred to by myself as simply, "Star Wars", so when I say, "Oh, I watched Star Wars" don't ask me, "Which one?" because I won't answer you, but will roll my eyes and sigh.)
• Knit sweater for new born baby of dear friends in a far away land.

It's my 2 year blog-iversary, ya'll! I can't believe all of the cool, talented and lovely people that I've met through this amazing thing called the internet. Thank you all for reading and keeping me inspired day after day!

sweet bounty

cosy company


christmas mouse

one tired puppy...

Christmas 2007

Christmas Mosaic
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc.

I figure it's safe to post some pictures of my handmade holiday gifts. There are a few that are missing because they aren't finished yet!! But I'm not seeing the recipients until later this month, so I have a grace period.

Here's wishing everyone the happiest, warmest holiday season and nothing but love and good cheer for the new year!!! Thank you for all the lovely comments and support you've given to my humble blog all year long! Merry Christmas!

This incredible package brought to you thanks to Kimberli New York. Kim is a super hero, Martha Stewart-like, wonder woman who I met by mere chance. (I was assisting the stylist working on a catalog of hats that Kim designed.) She immediately sniffed out my yarn and the rest is history. Isn't that just a knitter-ly holiday story to warm your heart? (Visit Kim's blog for a tutorial on making these boxes.)

p.s. Sorry for the blurry pic. Can we get some sunshine, people?!!!

The view from where I sit these days....

The last two weeks I've been making batches of candy, the recipe for which I found at Orangette. I made a bunch last year to give out to important people (you know, the UPS man, my favorite bartender, etc.) and it was a huge hit, so I decided to make more this year. Much, much more.

It's just so easy to make. You literally put all of the ingredients in a bowl and let it sit in the fridge for an hour and you're done. Easy.

The recipe calls for one and 1/4 pounds of chocolate, but I was buying the ingredients from memory and I only bought a pound. The result was more of a chocolate bark, whereas last years batch tasted more fudgy. It's tasty either way!

It's finally Christmas at The Works!

We trimmed the tree on Tuesday and found we were sadly lacking in ornaments. The original ones we had were from, believe it or not, our first tree together from when we lived in France. They all managed to make it Stateside without breaking. (I attribute this to my awesome packing abilities!) Well the Christmas trees in Paris are quite small and so we didn't need quite to many. And our last tree, when we lived in a shoebox on the Upper East Side, was quite tiny as well. This year we bought a nearly 10ft. tall tree! Luckily, Macy's had Martha Stewart Everyday ornaments at 40% off!

In this picture you can get quite a peak at what life at The Works is like. See our concrete floors and super high ceilings? It makes it very hard to heat but thanks to the area rug, that was an early gift from my parents, and some new space heaters and new double-paned windows, things are just about cosy these days.

The gift-making is at about 80% complete. I'm quite proud of myself, but trying to not be too cocky. I still have some work cut out for myself. All but 2 or 3 people are getting handmade gifts this year.

There's still sewing to do and candy to make! Excuse me, I've got to go get busy!

Master P had a rare Saturday off so we had lunch at our favorite spot in Williamsburg.

Then we bought ourselves a big, ol' Christmas tree. We have to wait until the branches fall and bit (and until we both have off from work together again) to decorate. Update soon! (And, no, those candles aren't really as close to the tree as they seem.)

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Adventurer. You are through those knitting growing pains and feeling more adventurous. You can follow a standard pattern if it's not too complicated and know where to go to get help. Maybe you've started to experiment with different fibers and you might be eyeing a book with a cool technique you've never tried. Perhaps you prefer to stick to other people's patterns but you are trying to challenge yourself more. Regardless of your preference, you are continually trying to grow as a knitter, and as well you should since your non-knitting friends are probably dropping some serious hints, these days.http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!








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(I found this quiz over at My Early Granny-Like Tendancies. Thanks, Devon!)

I've recently been blessed with a regular freelance gig. I know it sounds like an oxymoron, but I'm working at this place, as a freelancer, indefinitely. It's actually a pretty sweet deal. The result is a very, regular schedule (and lots of money).

Normally, I'm a roll-out-of-bed-at-the-last-minute, grab-a-coffee-on-the-corner kind of gal. Anyone who knows me, knows that if they call me on a day off, at anytime before 10am, I'll be asleep. But recently my circumstances have changed.

The regular gig, in combination with the cat problems, has me getting up, oh, around 6:30am. Normally, this is NOT COOL, but I'm getting used to it. I've realized many things this past week, like, getting up early allows you to accomplish things you normally didn't have time for. Also, getting up early allows you to feel calm and awake when you get to the subway (rather than frantic and sucking down caffeine.)

I can't tell you how long this will last. Probably about as long as the gig. (Didn't I say that was indefinite??)

This is just a quick update on the kitties:

Penelope is going to the vet tomorrow. We can't figure out what is wrong with her.

The rug is gone and just when she and Monk seemed to be settling down, everything escalated this morning. The fighting was so viscous that we couldn't get between them. I was actually scared and covered my head with a blanket!! It seemed like the couldn't be stopped!!!! Penelope lost control and fell out of the loft! (6 feet off the floor!!) She's not injured, but she and Monk cannot even be near each other.

She's been in quarantine in the bathroom since 6am this morning. Whenever I go in to sit with her, she purrs and rubs against my leg like a normal happy kitty! She just can't be near the her brother. Maybe we need to give him a bath? But Master P and I *both* handled the rug and she's happy as can be when we come around!

I'm so stressed out and I haven't slept soundly for 4 days because of the hissing and growling! Wish us luck, dear ones!

Can you believe that on Wednesday I took this picture, and now we have this? I'm kind of happy, though. I love a serious winter - I get to break out my wellies and all of my hand knits! I also get to wear my new vintage coat that' s been sitting in the closet for a couple of weeks!

So, an update on the cats:

As I type, they're still hissing and growling. All day on Friday the rug was in the hall so I brought it in Friday night. I tried to get Penelope adjusted to it by putting her on top of it. I even (don't hate me) put her in the bathroom with it, thinking she'd have no choice but get her scent on it or whatever. No go. She freaked out if she even had to go near it! I mean, hissing and clawing in mid-air, hovering inches above the Voodoo Rug, as Master P had taken to calling it.

So I gave up. I put the rug in the hall again and I was up until 2am with the cats hissing and clawing over rights to the bed. They finally called a truce and both snuggled up with me, but on Saturday morning they were at it again. I picked Monk up and physically carried him out of the loft and downstairs with me. Penelope stayed in the loft all day and only came down to eat at about 8pm. Then, there was still much avoidance and growling on her part and a lot of sad, misunderstood meowing from Monk. I don't think he knows why he can go near her, you know?

They slept alright but started in again around 6am. They finally calmed down and let me sleep until about 10 o'clock, Penelope by my pillow (which is usually Monk's spot) and Monk curled up behind my legs. I fed them and now they're fighting.

It's not as bad as it was, but I can't believe that she still won't let him near her. While she laid next to me in bed, she would alternately growl at him and purr like crazy when I tried to calm her down. It's so weird. I'm hoping that by the time I get back from work tonight, they will both be curled up together on the couch. Here's hoping.

This picture was taken at the intersection of east 36th Street & Lexington Avenue at 7am. The photo is very blurry (I tried twice), but the yellow leaves of this tree were on fire with the rising sun and looked so pretty against the quaint buildings on that street.

Now for a serious matter that I need some help with. I'm having a little problems with the kitties at The Works that I thought I would put out there. You guys may know Monk from his various appearances on the blog. Monk has a sister, Penelope, who has been very troubled the last two days.

We inherited an area rug from our neighbors on Wednesday night and Monk took a liking to it right away. He spent almost the entire evening sitting on the rug. Everything was fine. Late Thursday afternoon, he and Penelope started to fight with each other in way that is truly disturbing and very new.

Whenever he comes near her, she growls and then attacks him viciously. Master P thinks that the rug must smell like some other animal and she doesn't recognize her brother or like the smell. It's really very upsetting and more than a little unsettling. The cats are about 4 years old and we've never seen them fight like this before.

I sprayed the rug entirely with Febreeze but they are still at each other's throats (literally). All I've read about aggressive behaviour in cats suggests that I cat will act out suddenly if it feels its territory is being threatened. Could this be from the rug? I'm a a real loss, here. Tonight I put Penelope in a "time out" in the bathroom and Monk just sits by the door meowing mournfully. It's as though he wants to be near her, but she won't have it.

Has anyone had an experience with this kind of behavior?!

Happy Thanksgivink Dah-links!

I've been making soup like it's going out of style here at The Works. Last week was lentil soup, that wasn't a huge hit. I froze most of that. Yesterday, however, I made potato and leek soup.

I can't emphasize enough how easy and really practical is is to whip up a big pot of simmering goodness. I usually make quite a bit and freeze half the batch. I always have stacks of soup in my freezer to make a quick lunch (if you keep it frozen, it will keep the rest of your lunch cold!) or to defrost for an informal dinner party when I'm at a loss. (Some fancy garnish can make you look like a rock star!)

Also, and this is the most important, it is cheap. Potatoes and leeks? How much did that cost me? Like, $5.00. Seriously folks, do yourself a favor and make some soup.

Potato & Leek Soup

You will need:
about 4 leeks, cleaned well, sliced lengthwise and chopped. White and light green parts only
4 medium sized potatoes, peeled, and sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
5-6 cups of chicken stock or broth, or vegetable stock
some nice olive oil, enough to coat the bottom of your pot
plenty of salt and pepper

Cook the leeks in the olive oil over medium high heat for around 5 minutes or until they start to smell yummy.
Put the potatoes and stock in, season generously with salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to simmer and cook until the potatoes start to fall apart, about 25 minutes.

You can use a blender to make the soup smooth or leave it chunky and rustic. I like it somewhere in between.
Garnish with sour cream, creme fraiche or plain yogurt. (I also added a splash of apple cider vinegar right at the end, but this step isn't necessary.)

Enjoy this with a big salad with bacon and a poached egg or as a start to a meal featuring fish or chicken. Instant rock star!

What happened to October? Or November, for that matter? This week was a blur of work and crafting, much like the past month.

That interview a while back? The position is still hypothetical at this point (something about budget, blah, blah), but I went in this week, freelance, to see if I might be a good fit. I can't really tell you who I'm working for, but I can tell you that if you read the New York Times, you will be seeing some ads that I styled with some handbags. Very cool.

In the weeks until Christmas, I'm going to be crafting mostly gifts, so they won't make an appearance on the blog. I thought I'd take a shot at a more life-style blog, though I already have catching up to do.

This is what my week looked like:
Sunday: work at The Point - all day
Monday: emergency evening shift at The Point. Knitting season is in full swing!
Tuesday: crash at home. Cooking, knitting, catching up
Wednesday: Project Runway Night at Kevin's house in Queens. Lasagna and Heidi Klum!
Thursday: quality time with Master P. Much TV: The Office, 30 Rock, My Name is Earl
Friday: date night. "No Country for Old Men" & Italian food
Saturday: much knitting & martinis on the Upper West Side with a special friend visiting from Boston (regulars at The Point know who I'm talking about!).
Today: yummy brunch with Kevin and his man, browsing around The Container Store, and hot chocolate at The City Bakery. The week is off to a good start!

There I was, bleary-eyed, drinking a cup of coffee before heading to work and reading all of your blogs. I thought, "I haven't posted in a while. Danged dreary weather."

Then it hit me (it was only cup #1, OK?): daylight, sunshine, pictures!

I managed to get this pic of the latest incarnation of the felt pillows I was working on a while back. Felt on felt. I think these will come out a lot more like I envisioned. That's often the case with my projects, I find. It takes more than one try. I love how the monochromatic circles look kind of like a Lego!

I'm madly knitting and sewing what I hope will be holiday gifts. Everything else will be put on hold for now. I kind of like it, too. Just fun mindless, TV-watching knitting. Mindless is about all I can handle about now anyway. I'm starting down the barrel of 12 consecutive work days, so wish me luck!

(And a shout out to my dear friend, Lynn, who doesn't have a blog, but reads mine and, apparently, tells other people to read it, too! You rock, Lynn!)

It's been a real, long while since I had a serious visceral reaction to some yarn. Since I swooned and squealed and Had To Have It!!! I thought that maybe I was a little burned out. To much knitting on demand and not for my own pleasure. That is, until last Sunday.

There I was, minding my own business, working at The Point and labeling some yarn, when I encountered a bag of Claudia's Hand Painted Silk. Oh, I had labeled the fingering weight sock yarn easily enough. No temptation there. "I don't even knit socks!" I thought silently, calmly putting all of the lovely yarn on display.

Then, from an assorted bag of 24 colors, came this baby. I mean I yelped, people! I squealed in delight. I brought the poor skein up to my cheek (an action that, frankly, I deplore in others) and then I hid the yarn behind the desk, in case any one else should see it and then I'd have to fight them for it.

And so, I bought that skein of 1,100 yards of 100% Silk lace yarn on the spot, not being able to be apart from it for even one more moment, and I DON'T EVEN KNIT LACE! Nope. Not a stitch.

This cannot be a shawl, folks. It just can't. I won't be able to do it. I may become a slightly wide stole-type thing in a nice 4 or 6 row lace repeat with a lot of purl rows. Something dreamy and luxurious just for yours truly. Oh, man. I can't wait.