Field Trip: Infinite Variety

Silka and I skipped out of work early on Tuesday to see the "Infinite Variety" exhibit at the Park Avenue Armory. Six hundred fifty red & white quilts from one woman's collection hovered overhead in spiraling formations, seemingly weightless. The sight literally took our breath away. It was impossible to absorb the overwhelming amount of texture and detail, leaving us feeling slightly unsatisfied, yet incredibly inspired.

Greenprints

It's finally time to start plotting a garden for this upcoming season. The bleak balcony over the winter months has left me eager to plant even more this year, with a focus on easy-to-grow edibles.

Aloha, Spring!

Picture Perfect

Ronak and I spend a lot of time together, but we also spend a good deal of time apart due to his travel for business. As I type, he is on en route to Switzerland, followed by Singapore, Hong Kong, San Francisco and back to New York. He is literally going 'round the world!

Thanks to modern technology we communicate frequently via email, text, phone, skype and the occasional postcard. For this particularly long trip I wanted Ronak to have a physical reminder of home-- a little memento to warm up the cold and unfamiliar hotel rooms.

I made him this portable, bi-fold frame out of heavyweight cardboard, Japanese rice paper, and cotton for the spine. To protect it from wear & tear I sewed a small linen pouch, finished it off with a button, snap and two photos from our recent travels together.

Market Run

This time of year any temperature reaching above 50 degrees drives New Yorkers outside, some optimistically wearing flip-flops & shorts.  More vendors noticeably pop up at the the farmer's market selling their bounties, products, and plants-- fooling some into thinking that Spring is officially here...

So on this 60 degree Saturday, I took my newly-finished grocery tote for a test run to the farmer's market. The bag is made of a loose-weave linen and lined with lightweight cotton. I reinforced the handles, and to add a little embellishment (and practice my embroidery skills), I chain-stitched a simple floral motif onto the front side. It passed the test, toting home my lettuce, carrots and potatoes with ease.

Field Trip: Pins & Needles

Kari had noticed Pins & Needles from the bus one day and wondered why she had never noticed it before--turns out that's because they're new to the neighborhood. This charming shop on the Upper East Side offers sewing classes, a unique assortment of fabrics, embroidery threads, ribbons, notions... you name it. Purl is still my favorite go-to spot for materials, but this little shop is a great alternative when I find myself uptown.