Antique Road Trip

O'Neil's Antiques

I know when I set out to write this blog I wanted to focus on crafts, family, and life in NYC. Well I can't help it is my love of crafts and family are also tied into my love of travel. This Thursday (yes during the blizzard) my family and I started out on a road trip from New York to North Carolina to visit some family. Since the weather was bad we decided to drive about half way and spend the night near some of our favorite antique stores around the Delaware/Maryland border on Rt. 13. If you haven't figured it out already I am infinitely interested in tradition. I am a firm believer in understanding your roots before you can grow and spread your branches. So I guess it is no surprise that antique store amuse me. Walking through an antique store is like walking through a mini time capsule.

Loving all the books I found

One of our family's favorite antique stops is O'Neil's which is a few miles before you hit Maryand.  We have been coming here for years and absolutely love the big collections of estate jewelry, antique furniture, and treasures spanning a few centuries worth of nostalgia.  We were saddened to see that within the next few weeks the store will be closing.  The lovely couple who owns O'Neil's have decided after over 25 years they will be retiring.  On the bright side appointments can still be made to view their jewelry at their home.  Since everything was pretty much on clearance I went to work digging through each section looking for treasures. (Yes that is me sitting on the floor exploring craft books... the owners did say to make myself at home :)

Maybe I'm addicted, but at least its a healthy addiction

While there are so many beautiful things I would love to buy I decided I would focus this expedition on finding craft books, patterns, tools, and supplies.  I love looking through books to get ideas.  Many of the crafts I grew up with in my family seem to have faded as video games and computers have become the way to entertain so its pretty difficult sometimes to find resources.  Antique stores are a great place though to find these lost treasures.  Usually I feel lucky if I find a book or two but this trip I guess I was rewarded for braving the winter weather.  I  found so many craft resources that I actually had a hard time picking which books to buy and which I had to leave behind. With just two antique store stops I had literally piles of new craft goodies.  If you are looking for a cost effective place to load up on supplies antique stores, thrift shops, and yard sales are a good place to start.

Holding some of the new craft stash!

As for our followers, you can look forward to many new items in our Etsy Shop within the next few months.  The hardest part is going to be deciding where to start!  There are so many good ideas that inspire new items for my personal collection as well as the shop.  I even found some patterns I remember my Nannie working on when I was a little girl.  I love when we find little trinkets that remind us of our past.  Nannie was such an important part of why I am the crafter I am today so those things that remind me of her are extra special.  Antiquing turned out to be a successful part of the trip but we still had a few hours drive until we could begin our weekend getaway with some of our Southern relatives so we once again hit the road.  While flying is definitely a faster way to travel I wouldn't give up our road adventures for the world.  There is nothing like meeting new people, discovering hidden sight seeing gems, and spending time with your family.

We continued driving down south and decided to take a route that would bring us over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  For those of you who have never traveled this strip it is a combination of tunnels and bridges with a beautiful view of the water.  We were lucky enough to hit it just as the sun was setting.  The view was so colorful that we decided we couldn't just quickly pass it by.  Instead we stopped at their rest area.  There is a restaurant there with water views as well as a gift shop and convenience area. It is also a great place to stop and take a few family photos or just enjoy the spectacular view.

After all the snow we have had in New York this year it was incredibly refreshing to stand by the ocean on a warm day, listen to the seagulls and the churning of the water, and watch the sunset.  On that note, I will update our readers next post on the rest of the trip!

A sunset so perfect it almost doesn't seem real

For Part II of our road trip adventures click here!

 

Successful Snowday

A few days ago I wrote about my crafting plans for Blizzard Nemo.  I am happy to report that my relaxing snow day was a success.  After work on Friday I made a quick stop at the supermarket (I am still dieting and I was determined that even Nemo would not get in the way of me reaching my goal weight by this summer).  By the time I left the market 20 mins later the roads were covered in ice and snow was beginning to fall.  I made it home safe and sound and vowed not to leave the house until there was no longer a risk of me slipping on ice (I had one run in with black ice already this week and my knee is still paying for it).

I made myself soup for dinner, put on some good tv and enjoyed the view of the falling snow from my warm couch.  It was only a matter of time before I broke my vow to remain indoors.  The snow was just too beautiful and I couldn't help but to go take a quick walk with my best friend through our winter wonderland.  While we could have enjoyed the snow in the morning there is something special about the fresh fallen snow before its marked by children's footprints, car tracks, and plows.  

When all was said and done the next morning we had about 10 inches of snow.  Other parts of New England were hit by 30+ inches so we were lucky we didn't have that much snow to shovel.  After a quick clean up I spent the rest of the day catching up on tv shows I haven't had the time to watch, and crafting.  Despite the howling wind, freezing temperatures, and snow covered EVERYTHING I was in a bright springy mood.  I completed some bright citrus colored wash cloths and then decided create a top for a set of towels. The linen towel set has a beautiful bright sunflower with two lady bugs embroidered  on each.

A Single Thread: Book Review

I think I have made it pretty clear that I have a passion for crafts.  I am also a reading/writing addict. I have always found a connection between the creativity required for crafting object with your hands and the creativity required for crafting a story with your mind.  It is because of this connection that I cant help but to be drawn to reading books that bring these two creative worlds together.  When A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick popped up on my recommended books list I just had to read it.  

A Single Thread takes place in a lovable old fashioned New England town.  The reader is given a pass into this tight knit community and asked to come along for the emotional ups and downs of four special women.  The main character, Evelyn Dixon, finds that the cure for her heart ache may be to finally follow her dream of opening a quilt shop.  Her first big event at Cobbled Court Quilting, a Breast Cancer Awareness Quilting Day, establishes a connection with three strangers, soon turned family. It is through tragedy and challenge that these women learn together to grow and conquer.    

While A Single Thread is set in a quaint town, has a cast of likable characters, and a plot that will have you routing for these incredible women, it is so much more.  Bostwick was able to put into words so much of what I love about crafting.  She highlighted the tradition, the sense of community, and the love and care that is behind every handmade treasure.  It is a great read for anyone interested in reading about how friendship, love, and community help us through the obstacles in life (not to forget the quilting aspect which makes it a great read for my crafty side).  Oh and did I mention the best part?  This is just the first book in a series so we have the chance to follow the characters we have grown to love through a few more books.  I cant wait to get book two.

Aside from being an inspiring read A Simple Thread has renewed a dream of mine from many years ago.  As a little girl I received a Furby as a birthday gift and I absolutely treasured it.  I treated the adorable electric toy as if it was a real pet.  Of course every pet needs a bed of its own, right?  Well my nine year old self was determined to create the best bed ever for my Furby.  While some of my friend's parents had purchased doll beds etc for their Furby counterparts, we were going through a bit of a rough patch and ordering a doll bed was out of the question.  My grandmother had the perfect solution for our dilemma; Furby could sleep in her box and we would make her a pillow and quilt to keep her warm.  

We went through the closet and found a few pieces of clothing my baby sister had outgrown.  Carefully we cut the material for the pillow and my grandmother began to teach me to sew the seam by hand.  We even make a ruffle to make the pillow look more like a decorative sham.  Next we cut a bunch of little squares and she showed me how to join them together in a pretty quilt.  We used the scraps from cutting our squares to stuff the pillow and a larger piece of a shirt to make a back for the quilt.  

When we were all done with Furby's set I knew it was better than any of my friend's Furby bedrooms.  I might not have had a canopy or a bed with drawers but I had something better.  I was able to reuse something, and with my own two hands (and a lot of help from Grandma's) make a quilt that was all my own.  Even the mistakes were special because I was able to see how far I'd come and how much I learned about sewing by hand.  Sixteen years later though the reason I remember that quilt was not because of the Furby, but instead because of the time Grandma and I spent together working on it.  That little Furby quilt was not very big but it was special and I dreamed of  one day making a quilt of my own.  One that would represent little pieces of important moments in my life and one big enough to wrap myself in.  I know now that hand stitching a full sized quilt is no where near as easy as Furby's so I forgot about my dream for a long time.  This book has reminded me of how special the quilting experience can be and I am once again determined to make a hand stitched quilt.  It might take me a while with the holiday season (AKA crafting crazy season) so close but look forward to some quilting experimentation in the near future :)

Countdown to Family Road Trip

As my mother always says, "The family that plays together, stays together."  She takes our family time very seriously and has instilled in us the importance of spending time with family.  Whether it be dinners together, movie nights, or family vacations I would say we are closer than the average family.  Perhaps the "secret" to our success is the many road trips we have taken over the years.

When we were younger my mom would wake us up, often before sunrise, and pack us into the car, pjs and all.  We would fall back asleep pretty quickly and when we awoke we were in some distant place.  Day trips to Providence Rhode Island, Mystic Connecticut, the Poconos, and the Catskills were not uncommon.  We would stop at a rest stop, change and begin our adventure.  While these day trips were packed with memories all their own, the road trips to places like Virginia, Florida, and Texas make or break a family.  Hours jammed in the same car can lead to pointless bickering over who is on whose side, what radio station to play, and what temperature is appropriate.  Those hours can also lead to shared memories, unforgettable laughs, and new understandings.

While there are an incredible number of stories I can share about our road trips, I think I will save those for another day.  Today is about our family's latest vacation.  We began planning a few months ago to go to Florida for my sister Stephanie's 21st Birthday (Yes, while most 21 year olds would choose Vegas, Atlantic City, or some other party town, my forever-child-at-heart sister wants Disney).  We rented a large house and planned for our July getaway.  Initially we were flying down to Florida, but what fun would that be.  It was decided that we will instead once again be packing into the family Suburban and driving all the way down the East Coast.  Stay tuned for details of our crazy road trip!    

Mother's Day Celebration Part II

I had every intent of making it online yesterday to post, but I didn't, so I want to start by wishing all the moms reading a Happy Belated Mother's Day.  The unconditional love and support you provide truly makes the world a better place.

Mommy, Me and Stephanie

In keeping with the Mother's Day theme, I finally got the pictures from my sister so I can share Part II of our early Mother's Day celebration.  In Girls Day in the Garment District you got to read about the earlier part of the day.  After exploring some of our favorite shops we stopped for lunch and then began our walk over to one of ABC's studios (of course stopping in a few more stores along the way).  My mother is a fan of the show The Revolution so when the chance to see a taping came up, I jumped at it. 

A friend from High School was able to get us VIP tickets which added to the excitement.  It was the first time my sister or I had been to a TV show tapping and being "VIP" made it extra cool.  Once we were let inside we were met by an incredible staff.  We took an old fashioned freight elevator up to the studio floor and were lead to our front row seats.  When you watch a show on TV it is easy to forget all that goes into making each segment.  Aside from the massive amount of planning, writing etc, the actual tapping requires an amazing level of coordination and skill.  For those of you who have never seen a tapping, if you get the chance you should go.  It will give you a new appreciation for your favorite show.

The Revolution Set

We were able to be a part of the tapping of two different episode segments.  They have not aired yet, but keep your eyes open for my mom, sister and I on May 24th and June 12th.  I would have to say my favorite part of the day was seeing the hosts in person.  Not so much because I was star struck but because it reminds you they are regular people just like us... regular people who were able to see their dream come true.  All of the hosts made it a point to say hello to the audience and make us feel like we really were an important part of the show.

Tim Gunn

Since the episodes have not aired yet, I cant share details of the segments but I can tell you that we did receive a copy of a new book.  I have added it on to my "To-Read" List and I will post a review once I'm done.  And for those of you who treasure fashion design as your craft, here is a picture of Tim Gunn right after the tapping.  While I haven't ventured into fashion deign (beyond accessories) I do love to watch Project Runway.

Anyway, our Pre-Mother's Day celebration ended in true New York style, with a trip to Penn Station.  Since it was rush hour and we didn't want to have to squeeze into a packed subway car we decided instead to have a family dinner in Penn.  Over all we had a great day, especially my Mom, and that was the most important part.

   

Autism Awareness Fundraiser

Today is a very important day for my family; it is our annual Autism Awareness fundraiser.  This is a cause very close to my heart.  My Uncle Patrick, my father's brother, struggled most of his life with being different.  Growing up in a time before general awareness, he was classified as "retarded" and was treated as if he was somehow a lesser human being.  While so much of the world saw Uncle Pat this way, to his nieces and nephew he was fun, intelligent and loving.  It was not until his mid fifties, a year before his death, that a doctor looked beyond the "retarded" classification and realized Uncle Patrick was Autistic.

Uncle Pat and I- My Sr. Prom

Watching the way Uncle Pat was treated by outsiders hurt.  They were too caught up on the fact that he was different to see  how special he really was.  They didn't care to take notice of how he was always reading and probably knew more about World War II than anyone else I know.  They never noticed his appreciation for music, or understood his talent with numbers.  Uncle Pat could memorize war and weather statistics with a memory far superior to mine.  Our fondest memories were of Christmas time, Uncle Pat's favorite time of the year.  He was happiest when decorating, listening to Christmas music, watching Holiday movies (cartoons were his favorite) and counting how many homes had Christmas lights (a yearly statistic he could recite back to you from decade prior).  Uncle Pat truly was special and I wish more people would have left their prejudices behind and taken the time to see it.

Mikey after last yrs. walk

While spending time with Uncle Pat taught me a lot about living with an adult with Autism, our family would soon be faced with the challenges of an Autistic child.  My cousin Jennifer was the first in my mother's side of the family to get pregnant.  Everyone was thrilled when she gave birth to a handsome baby boy.  As Mikey grew it became clear that he showed signs of Autism.  My cousin and her husband immediately began to get Mikey the best treatment available.  It has not been an easy road, communication was especially difficult when he was younger, but he has come such a long way.  Every time I here about how great he is doing in school, or watch him with his little brother I appreciate how amazing he is.  It was watching the struggles of this amazing little boy that made us decide as a family to do more.

One of the first things we realized was Autism Awareness hadn't come very far despite the large number of people affected.  The same confused, and at times nasty looks my Uncle received, were thrown at Mikey.  I think so much of this comes from a lack of understanding.  Looking for a way to spread awareness and understanding we came across the organization Autism Speaks.  This organization provides valuable information, services, and fundraising for the Autism cause.  My cousin Jessica organized our family and we participated in our first Autism Speaks Walk in Manhattan.  In order to raise money for Team Mikey, and the millions of people also affected by Autism, we also hosted a Team Mikey Fundraiser night.

This fun night out has become a tradition, and every year we host a night out with music, food, drinks and fun.  Tonight will be our third annual Team Mikey Fundraiser and it promises to be a great night filled with memories.  We have collected donations for months and there will be a wide assortment of raffle prizes.  For one of our raffle prizes this year we created a needlepoint patriotic place mat and napkin ring set.  We chose the patriotic theme because we felt it represented Mikey and his family.  His mother Jennifer was in the Army and his father Michael is still an active member of our military.  Even with all the personal struggles they face, as a family they continue to be devoted to America.  My mother, sister Stephanie, and I all worked on making this set extra special and filled with love.


With the Autism Speaks Walk in Manhattan only a few weeks away, on June 3rd, we still have a lot of money to raise to meet our team's goal.  Hopefully tonight will make our fundraising goal a reality.  I will post pictures soon of tonight's fundraiser.  In the mean time, you can follow my fundraising efforts, and our teams by clicking here.     

A weekend to recharge

Most of last week I had one of the worst head colds of my life.  I woke up Friday feeling a world better and decided it was a sign I should do something with my weekend.  As soon as I got out of work I hit the road and headed for my aunt's country getaway.  I had been resting all week, but I needed a different kind of rest.  Don't get me wrong, I love modern technology but there is something so alluring about disconnecting for a few days every now and again.  It takes a little getting use to but having no cell service isn't always a bad thing.  Not to mention the wide open space is a nice reprieve from my family's small NYC (yard lacking) apartment.  I try to get to the country as much as possible and spring with all the flowers and baby animals is a great time to visit.

The ride up was great and I even got to see a few little critters by the road.  I am a huge animal lover so even a little rabbit hopping along puts a huge smile on my face.  After the long drive I finally arrived and  every second in the car well worth it.  I am always amazed by how many stars twinkle in the country sky.  In New York City with all the lights we are lucky to see a handful on a clear night.  What a difference a few hours up north can make.      

Saturday morning I slept in, woke up to a great breakfast and then moved to my favorite spot, the porch.  I love sitting there drinking my coffee watching the birds, rabbits, fox, chipmunks, and even the occasional deer grazing on the lawn; all against the backdrop of the mountains.  This trip brought another beautiful surprise.  We have a new little visitor, Rush (as I named him) the hummingbird.  I have never seen one in person and to watch how these tiny little birds seemingly float, and then zip away is incredible.  He just kept buzzing past us all day long running for a quick snack before rushing off again.  If it wasn't for the buzz he made I wouldn't have known he was there half the time.

We ran into "town" to get a few things later in the day.  I discovered a few new antique stores that were already closed, but they are a must for my next trip up.  While I love the small organized commercial antique stores, there is something about the random "antique barn" you come across in the small country towns.  I love exploring the rooms upon rooms of random, unorganized, seemingly forgotten stuff.  When you find something you want, its like you personally discovered a treasure waiting to be taken home and brought back to life.

When we pulled up back at the house it had gotten much colder.  A group of clouds had rolled in and with the help of a beautiful big full moon they created ripples in different shades of blue across the sky. The picture does not do it justice but I thought I'd give you a glimpse.  The way the blues blended together inspired a new blanket idea.  I have a bunch of projects lined up but I'll let you know when the project is complete.  As for the rest of my trip, since Sunday meant a return to the city I tried my hardest to soak in enough country to hold me over until my next trip. I spent the rest of the night rocking on the porch wrapped in a blanket, enjoying some quality time with some people I love, and admiring the simple joys in life we so often are too busy to notice.   

  

Picking up the pieces

I am often asked how I began to crochet?  I'll admit it is not the typical young New York woman's hobby.  I had been fascinated with crochet since I was young.  My Nannie was a seamstress and she also enjoyed crochet.  When I was little I would love to listen to her tell stories of when she was young while watching her create beautiful handmade items.  My favorite was watching her create delicate detailed embellishment designs with the fine thread.

Despite my fascination, I had never asked Nannie to teach me.  The magic she created with her hands felt like a  skill I could never accomplish.  As I got older Nannie spent less and less time with her needles and thread, and even less time crocheting.  She was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease and was slowly losing parts of herself.  Her crafting was just one of the many pieces slipping away.  As Nannie's disease progressed it was hard for the whole family.  The farther away from us she drifted into her mind the more I wished I could find a way, any way, to keep her close.  Sure we had incredible memories of late night talks, watching musicals and times filled with the joy of her singing and dancing, but it wasn't enough.  I needed something that I could do to make me feel close to her something that I could take with me forever.

After years of struggling, the doctors told us Nannie was at her last days.  Spring had just begun and it seemed wrong that a time of new beginnings would have to be a time of goodbyes for us.  It was during those last few months that I decided I felt closest to Nannie in crafts.  It was while she worked with her hands that her mind was free and she shared the most.  I went home one night after the nursing home and picked up one of her crochet hooks she had left at our house.  I found a skein of yarn intended for one of our projects and began the quest to crochet.  I had watched Nannie's hands in awe for years and now I was determined to make my hands look like hers.  It was by no means an easy task.  I pulled apart that first scarf time and again and no matter what I did I could not get my stitches even.  I just kept trying and trying and as the days went on and Nannie came closer to the end I came closer to picking up the pieces.

Nannie's smile- one of the many trips to the park with her grandchildren.

Nannie eventually was taken away from her suffering and our family all found their ways to deal with the loss and to begin healing.  I found peace in working toward making my hands like Nannie's, the things she had made with her two hands had wrapped us all in love.  Whether it was her blankets that kept us warm, the details she added to our communion dresses, or the Halloween costumes that made us feel like we really were Glenda from the Wizard of Oz, Scarlet O'Hara from Gone with the Wind, or Raggedy Ann...we spend our lives wrapped in Nannie's love.

Though it would take me months after I had started, I eventually learned to regulate my stitch tension, how to make the ends even, and finally how to finish a crochet product I started.  When I finished my scarf  and wrapped it around my neck I felt as if I was receiving a hug from Nannie.  There really is something special about an item made by hand.  And so began my love of crochet and I cant help but to smile every time I think about how something I made carries on a piece of Nannie and wraps someone in love.