Currituck BBQ Company North Carolina BBQ- Road Trip Part II

To read Part I of our road trip click here: Antique Road Trip Post.

Now as my cousin would tell you, "You simply can not come down South and not have some good old Fashioned North Carolina Bar-B-Que."  I love that road trips allow you to get a taste for local culture, instead of just a view of the tourist hot spots.  So when my cousins told us we would be stopping at the Currituck BBQ Company for lunch I was one happy camper.  Its right off of the main strip heading down to the Outer Banks so it makes a great stop for family's traveling to and from the beach. 

The menu has a nice selection of BBQ favorites along with southern sides like green beans, potato salad, and fried okra.  The prices were very reasonable for the serving sizes too. After much debate I ordered a regular sized pulled pork platter with baked beans and mac and cheese. Once you decide on what you want you can either grab a table in their dinning room or a bench right outside.  Since it was raining when we stopped we opted for the dinning room with the great cozy country kitchen feel.  There are booths as well so don't worry about coming with a large group.      

Despite the constant flow of people the staff was very polite and managed to keep up well with the rush.  We received our food quickly and it was everything my cousins promised it would be.  The pulled pork sandwich comes without BBQ sauce so you can choose one of the six they provide you with on the table and customize the sandwich to your liking.  There were too many good options to just pick one so I decided to split my sandwich up and give a few of them a shot.  Of the four I tired (North Carolina, Brisket, Sweet Brisket, and Larry's Original) I thought the Larry's Original was the best.  The mac and cheese was creamy and flavorful and the baked beans were the perfect combination of smokey and sweet.  I loved everything I ordered but I think my favorite part of the meal was the fresh hush puppies.  I didn't order them because in the past I found most places serve mushy oily corn balls.  I decided to take the word of a local when they said these were the best hush puppies around and give them one more try.  Wow were they right! These tiny little snacks were perfectly crisp on the outside and bursting with moist rich flavor on the inside.  They were so good you don't even need the butter they give you.






















This BBQ joint will be a definite stop on any future North Carolina road trips.  I may not be an expert on down south BBQ but I do know that this food tasted great, there was a constant line of locals looking for their regular BBQ fix, and the large map by the door shows that people have traveled from all over the US just to get a taste of this North Carolina BBQ. What to do if you fall in love with the food but don't think you will be back anytime soon? Not to worry they have a shelf just for you filled with their BBQ sauces and other goodies.  Just because you don't live in the south doesn't mean you can't take a taste of North Carolina home with you!

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!

 

Creative Christmas

This time of year a lot of people reflect on what they are thankful for.  While there is a very long list of things for which I am grateful, among the things at the very top of the list is my family.  For more reasons than I can count my family has allowed me to grow into the woman I am today, they have supported me in my goals, and have shown me unconditional love.  They have also taught me that imagination is not just for kids, dreams can become a reality, and I can create anything I put my mind too.  It is because of this that I have been able to see my hopes for Handcrafted Holidays come together with each piece I create.










My mom is one of the most talented and creative people I know.  She used nothing more than her imagination, a pair of scissors and  floral wire to build Window Designs by RoseAnn (windowdesignsbyroseann@msn.com).  While she exercises her talents year round, Christmas is where she truly shines.  Each tree she decorates is a work of art that captures the fun and magic of the holiday season. Recently, she was asked to do a live TV segment for Arise 360 Entertainment to share some decorating tips and tricks.  Take a look at the Christmas Decorating Segment.

Singing the Party Planning Tune

Well aside from a recent influx in custom order requests I have also been helping my mother and sister plan for a big day coming up in March.  My sister Stephanie is a vocalist and will be preforming for 1 full hour on her own.  Following the concert we will be hosting family and friends to celebrate Steph's achievement with some yummy desserts and refreshments.  Seems simple enough but when you are as detail oriented as our family everything turns into a project.

Seeing as how it is a concert we are sticking with the music theme.  Who knew how hard some of this stuff would be to track down?  With our lives a little chaotic right now post Sandy we unfortunately will not be crafting as much as we would like at home but so far so good.  We have found some adorable items but still have a ton to do before the middle of March.  I will be sure to share photos of the finished product and a summary of Steph's special night in the coming weeks.

Valentine's Day 2013

Happy Valentine's Day to all our readers.  Maybe I get a little too excited for today but life gets pretty hectic and having a day that reminds us to stop and think about the ones we love is important.  So I hope everyone has a love filled day.  I emphasize love, not just romance, because it seems like so many people are depressed today since they don't have a significant other.  To me Valentine's Day is taking the time to appreciate those you love; that includes friends and family.  Besides why limit yourself to one Valentine when you can have a whole bunch? :)
I am lucky enough to have a great man to share dinner with tonight, but I have a few other Valentines as well. My siblings are now and forever will be my special little loves (yes I know they are growing up but they will always be my baby sisters and brother).  My mom was my first Valentine and therefore holds the title for life.  I know I can count on her being the first person to wish me a Happy Valentine's Day every year. And last but not least my Aunt Maria is my special Valentine.  After a very tough past few years I think she, more than anyone deserves a day to remind her of all the love and support that surrounds her.  So to my Valentine's (and my other family and friends) I love you with all my heart not just today but everyday.

What will you be doing to celebrate Valentine's Day?

Post Sandy

I know that for the most part I have been missing for a few months now.  In the beginning of October my mom got really sick (she is ok now) and then Hurricane Sandy hit.

I come from a town in New York that is right on the water and the amount of destruction and devastation can not even begin to be described.  After months of clean up most of my community is on the road to repair.  I have to say that it may have been one of the most tragic and traumatizing moments in my life but also one of the most inspiring.  The level of kindness, compassion, and strength shown in my community, and  so many others like it, is something I will never forget.

We lost a lot in the storm, but we were luckier than so many others. We are slowly piecing our lives back together, trying to regain normal.  During this time I attempted to continue my crafting (some days it was the only thing that kept me sane) but unfortunately I did not have time for this blog.  Please continue to bare with me and the frequency of posts will once again pick up as things at home continue to progress.

Etsy Shop

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The Modern Day "Liberated Woman"

The other day I had the pleasure of running into an old friend.  We spent some time catching up and I was happy to spend some time hearing about what she has been up to.  Today I receive an email from her entitled "I had to get this off my chest."  Apparently, according to the email, my willingness to cook, clean, craft, and care take for my loved ones is an affront to the entire female gender.  Many unwarranted and vicious statements were made, including her claim that  I am "single handily undoing the struggles of the women who came before us which enabled our generation to be liberated women."  While my original inclination was to ignore the email all together, after thinking about it I could not let this go.  The email did not make me feel insecure in the life I live, but I can't help but to wonder how many other women and young girls feel they have to live their life as either the career woman or the housewife? How many feel that if they are not filling a single role that they are failing their gender? When did these two worlds become mutually exclusive?!?!

I am a woman in my mid twenties, living in New York City.  I am an educated young woman and am proud to have obtained my Bachelors degree,  Masters degree as well as a number of other certificates.  I am a certified New York State Emergency Medical Technician.  I work in the predominantly male field of security and supervise an operations staff.  I have started and continue to grow my own small business. I like sports, the outdoors, reading, and traveling.  So yes I can say that I am a  modern woman.  I am proud to know that the struggles my mother, grandmothers, and the women who came before them have made it possible for me to hold the success I do today.  Their struggles though mean more to me than the ability to do things that in the recent past were limited to the male gender.

To me the Modern Day Liberated Woman is so much more.  The women who fought for our rights, our equality, our dreams were not trying to force us into the cookie cutter shape of what was previously the "man's world."  They sacrificed and aimed to LIBERATE us! To allow us the freedom to choose our own dreams and pursue them.  Who are we to look down on the lives they lived?  When did caring for those we love, cooking, and cleaning become an insult to women.  I CHOOSE to hold to tradition while living out my dreams.  What better way to honor these women than to become strong role models to the next generation and what better way to develop our strength than by understanding where we came from and expanding our horizons.  Even the tallest and farthest reaching tree needs its roots to allow it to stand tall.

I am happy and secure in my identity as both a career women and a tradition based home/care taker.  Handcrafted Holidays, my craft company, is a perfect example of how our liberation allows me to combine the previous male world of business with the feminine traditions my grandmothers' embraced, like crochet.  While every woman must find her own path, and follow her own dreams I think it is appalling that one woman should attack another for not being exclusively career "liberated."  Instead of picking "sides" I choose instead to embrace the woman's choice; the choice to work or to be a stay at home mom, to craft or to play sports, and perhaps even more to the pride of our fore-mother's, the choice to be whatever wonderful combination of these roles our Modern Day Liberated selves choose to be.

A Finished Cross Stitch

A few weeks ago I told my readers about a very special project I was asked to finish.  A wonderful and supportive woman had started a "Footprints In The Sand" cross stitch for her nephew.  Unfortunately she did not have the chance to finish the piece.

While I had no experience with cross stitch I was honored that I was asked to finish such a meaningful craft. I began right away, and learned as I went.  Thank you to any of my readers who left comments and private messaged me with tips on how to make the cross stitch come out right.  After many nights adding (and sometimes removing) stitches, the cross stitch is finished. 

I am proud that the piece is complete, but it is also bitter sweet in a way.  Ending that last stitch in a way was like letting go of another little piece of Donna.  She will always hold a special place in my heart and I hope that when her family looks at this cross stitch they are reminded of all the happy memories.  It may have been my hands that finished the project, but it was her heart behind this beautiful gift.  Her sister told me Donna was so determined to give this gift that she wore three pairs of magnifying glasses so she could see the stitches she placed on the tree tops.  While she could have easily bought a finished product it was a labor of love.

Once I finished stitching the canvas, I looked it over once more, making sure I did not miss any stitches.  Then I ironed it, back side up, on my iron's linen setting. It didn't take much, just enough to get rid of any of the wrinkles cause by the tension loop.  After, it was ready to be placed in a frame.  Take a look below at the finished cross stitch hanging in the home of Donna's loved ones.

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 :)

A Cherished Cross-stitch

I would first like to start by apologizing for not posting recently.  A lot has been going on in my personal life, good and bad, some of which I will update you on in future posts. One of the more difficult parts of the past few weeks has been the loss of three incredible women.  Each taught me something about life: to live every day as its your last, to find pleasures in the small things, and to believe in yourself and your dreams no matter how bad the situation may seem.  


Dealing with these loses has not been easy, but as always I have found comfort in crafts.  Working with my hands and that simple piece of string gives me the chance to be alone with my thoughts and feelings.  While looking for a new project to fulfill this need I was asked to take on a very meaningful craft. 


One of the women I lost, Donna, was incredibly supportive of my crafts.  When I doubted anyone would want something I made, she helped give me the courage and confidence to pursue my passion.  This is what Donna did best, she saw the good in each person and nurtured it.  Donna's last few years were troubled with health problems but she put her own challenges aside to better the life of others.  In the days after she passed I was struck by how a woman, who could often times not even leave her bed, was able to reach out and touch so many lives in such a unforgettable way.  It was clear the Donna's faith in God was the driving force behind her strength, compassion, and understanding. She shared this faith with her family in a special way, especially with her nieces and nephews.  


For all these reasons and more, when her family asked me to complete a project Donna had started I couldn't say no.  Donna had begun a Footprints in the Sand cross-stitch.  For those of you who don't know Footprints in the Sand is a beautiful prayer showing how God is always by our side, especially during tough times.  Donna believed in the words of the prayer and was working on the cross-stitch for her nephew.

While I have worked on many crafts in my life I have never attempted a cross-stitch.  Despite my lack of experience the meaning behind this project has me ready to give cross-stitch my best shot.  I guess Donna is still pushing me to tap into my creative potential.  Donna started the tree tops and I have started to complete her unfinished work.  Wish me luck as I stitch this cherished craft.  

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!    

Refinishing Lawn Ornaments

On my last trip to the country I was upset to see my aunt's familiar lawn ornament had taken quite a beating over the past few years.  For as long as I can remember the happy little boy had stood guard a the corner of my aunt's house, right below the humming bird feeder.  When I asked my aunt she said the cement boy was passed down to her and had been in the family for around 100 years.  With his chipping paint and cracked cement he was beginning to show his age.  I decided it was my turn, like my aunts before me, to give our little boy a makeover.  I'm sure man of you have family heirlooms that need a little work, but the history they bring is well worth the effort.

I went the next day to Home Depot and bought my make over kit.  First things first I needed sand paper.  I was also going to need something to repair the deep cracks and missing pieces of cements.  Last but not least I was going to need paint and brushed to complete the refurbishing of our cement lawn ornament.  Once I got everything I needed I set to work.

I had chosen a fine grained sand paper to remove all of the paint chips fro years of layered repairs.  The paper could not be too course or it might remove some of the details of the statue.  After sanding away the chips I took the outdoor cork I had purchased at Home Depot and began to fill in the deep crack around his neck, as well as using it to resculpt the missing cement pieces.  It is important that the cork you use says it is paintable.  Once applied it will need a few hours to dry well before you can begin to paint over the cork.  While the finish will not be as perfect as actual cement it will diminish the look of wear and it is easy to use.

A few hours later I was ready to begin the repainting portion of the project.  I had purchased the Baer indoor-outdoor paint samples with paint and primer in one.  They were inexpensive, provided for great coverage, and left plenty of paint for future touch ups.  I started with the larger portions first and then returned with a smaller detailing brush to finish the fine lines and details.

A few hours of painting later and our little boy was ready to retake his rightful place on my aunt's country lawn.  I'm happy a little money and a little hard work has helped preserve this little guys for years to come.  Helping keep a family treasure alive is priceless :) 

Prom (or Wedding) Accessories

Well as promised in Girls Day in the Garment District I wanted to share the accessories we made for my cousin Alexis' prom.  It was this past Friday and she looked stunning.  Now that she made her debut, I can publicly share what a little trim can do to accessorize an outfit.

When it comes to picking the right trim to make your accessories pop, it is important to bring a sample of the actual dress.  Many people forget this important step and end up unhappy with the trim they purchased. While you may think you know the color in your head, you might be surprised by how many options are just a slight shade off from your outfit.  Even a black dress may be hard to accessorize without a sample to match (yes even black has shades).

With that said, my Aunt Teresa (another incredibly crafty member of my family) asked us to find trim for Alexis' prom.  She was wearing a blue dress accented with feathers and sequins.  With our mission set and sample in hand we set out to find the perfect trim items to make a matching hair accessory.  The first thing we needed was to find matching feathers for the dress. It took a while but we eventually found the right color match. They came in a bundle attached at the end to a ribbon.  While lose feathers might have worked as well, they are much more difficult to work with.

Once we found the right feather match the next thing we needed was something sparkly to attach the feathers too.  The trim shop we were in had a large selection of rhinestone buttons, beads, ribbon, and pins.  Ultimately we decided a pin would be best since the feathers could easily be attached. The pin also made for an easier attachment of the finished accessory to her hair.  We looked at a number of pin options and decided a large open rhinestone pin would work best.

We delivered the trim to my cousin and Aunt when we saw them at the Autism Awareness Fundraiser.  With less than a week before Alexis' prom my Aunt Teresa set out to make the perfect hair piece.  The end result was simple yet stunning. Alexis wore her hair to the side and the hair clip was an attention grabbing accessory that looked like it was a perfect match for her dress.  The clip brought a small burst of color up by her face and added that little bit of glamour every girl wants to feel on their prom night.

Not only were the feathers a great addition to Alexis' hair, there were enough feathers left over for the florist to add them into Alexis' corsage.  One of the finishing touches of every girls prom look, this corsage was not only a lovely gesture from her boyfriend, but also a unique and notable accent to her dress.  While in the past a plain rose or carnation was customary for wrist corsages, it is becoming more common for these floral pieces to now be a matching accessory.  Glitter, spray paint/dye, rhinestones, and additions such as butterflies are now popular corsage accents.

Even without all of the glitter and glam my baby cousin would have looked beautiful but there is nothing like a great dress, and stunning matching accessories to make a girl feel like a princess for the night.  Take a look below at the complete look.

 

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.     

Girls Day in the Garment District

Yesterday my sister and I planned a day in the city with my Mom as an early Mother's Day gift.  A high school friend was amazing enough to get us afternoon tickets for a tapping of the ABC show The Revolution.  Since we didn't have to be there until the afternoon we thought a morning in one of our favorite Manhattan neighborhoods would be a great start to our girls day.  

As I explained in my post Picking Up the Pieces my Nannie was seamstress.  It is only natural that the Garment District feels like home for my family.  While we have made many trips just for the fun of creating new projects, we had a mission (or two) yesterday that made our morning in the Garment District even more fun.  Two of my family members have there prom within the next few weeks and there is nothing we love more than unique accessories (Nannie spoiled us).  We arrived in the city early and began our plan of attack to accomplish our mission.  We needed to find trim materials to make a custom headband as well as trim for a custom shawl/pocketbook.   

It just occurred to me that some of you may not know about the Garment District (it is a must for crafters and fashionistas alike).  The Garment District, which is sometimes referred to as the Fashion District, is a concentration of material and trim stores paired with fashion show rooms.  Located between 5th and 9th Avenue from 34th to 42nd Street, this is the place to go to find the tools to create anything fashion related.  For generations this little slice of Manhattan has been a fashion epi-center.  I love walking into these stores and finding myself shopping along side of big time designers.  If you have never been, it is a must see on your next trip to New York City.  Visit the NYC website for some more information by clicking here. 

  

We focused our attention on trim shops and began the search for the perfect finishing touches. There are so many shops, each with their own specialties. Two of my favorites that never let me down are Hai's Trimming Inc. (website offers limited selection of items for those of you too far away to visit) and B & Q Trimming. These shops seems to have the largest selection for the most reasonable price when it comes to trims and appliques.

After a little bit of searching we found the perfect pieces to create the custom hair piece, as well as a beautiful trim for the shawl and pocketbook... Mission accomplished!!! I don't want to ruin either of the girl's big Prom night reveal so you will have to wait until after their special days to see the finished products.  

Happy with our Prom accent finds (as well as a few items here and there for our own personal craft fun) we continued our Pre-Mother's Day Girls Day.  I have to run but keep an eye out for a post about the rest of our fun day in the city (The Revolution tapping etc), as well as pictures of the outcomes from our Garment District excursion.

Handcrafted Holidays Facebook
Handcrafted Holidays Etsy Shop

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.