Evil Eye

Want a unique gift for the yarn lover in your life (or yourself)?  May I suggest the limited edition YarnCon poster, hand-printed by Chicago artist Alex Uribe?

 Proceeds from the sales of these prints will go towards promoting more local fiber artists in the upcoming year.  You can read more about it at the YarnCon Blog.  Thanks!

Without fail, I always leave the DIY Trunk Show with a little less inventory, and a whole lot more inspiration.  Chicago has some amazing crafters! And I had some amazing helpers, thanks so much Scott, Sara and Victor for making it a great day.

I always like to hunker down and make stuff as the temperature drops, and that includes baking of course!  I just visited a site that is perfect for making some crafty cute cupcakes and candies: Bake It Pretty!  And, as if that shop is not sweet enough (yes, pun intended), they are having a contest over on their blog, every little thing.  Of course I entered the contest, I need more of those gnome decorations!  If I had seen that site yesterday, I think the tasty pumpkin muffins I made yesterday would have been embellished somehow.

Dear Mayor Daley,

I know you are looking to cut costs, and I have a little suggestion.  You don’t need to supply areas that already have blue recycling bins with blue recycling bins.  I hope that helps.

Kind Regards,

A bemused South Sider

This morning I woke up to a lot of noise in front of the house, what could it be?

Yup, that.  Except, that picture was taken in March of last year.  We were part of the pilot program, so we have been using our bins for a year and a half.  Oops.  I wonder how much it cost to give each of us that extra bin, hmmm….

I couldn’t think of a title, so I’ll plug the DIY Trunk Show, which I’m honored to be at again this year.  It’s on Saturday at the beautiful Pulaski Park Fieldhouse from 10am to 5pm.  It has been a challenge to get ready this year, but thanks to a supportive husband, I have managed to pull it off.

Yesterday Victor and I went hunting for historical figures.  I just finished reading Sin in the Second City, and recently remembered that Big Jim Colosimo, a Chicago gangster who was a major player in the Levee, the Red Light district in Chicago at the turn of the last century, is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery.  So, off we went to find him.  I had seen the grave before, but didn’t know anything about him, so I didn’t think much of it at the time.

We also found someone along the way I hadn’t expected to see, James R. Mann, the author of the Mann Act, or the White Slave Traffic Act.  It was “drafted to prevent interstate commerce to facilitate prostitution or concubinage, or other forms of immorality.”*

When I saw it, I thought it would be funny if Colosimo were nearby.  See the dark gray mausoleum in the background, to the right?  Yup, that’s Colosimo.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_Act#History,

More about the Mann Act: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88104308

More interesting people at Oak Woods Cemetery: http://www.findagrave.com/php/famous.php?page=cem&FScemeteryid=173554

It’s time to get out there and vote if you haven’t already.  We’re going today, and I’m pretty excited.  Not only do we get to vote for the president, here in Illinois we will vote (yes!) for IL Con-Con.  I just wish I lived in the 39th precinct in Hyde Park so I could vote against the referendum to make the area dry.  If you do live there, please vote against that move.  I completely understand wanting to support the union, being against the demolition of Doctor’s Hospital (although, really?  It’s just not that interesting, and keeping it empty is not useful at all, but that’s just my opinion), and wanting someone else to develop the hotel, but making the area dry for at least 4 years is a mistake.  I know any precinct can choose to do this, but by actually doing it, no restaurant or hotel will consider moving into the area without taking this action into account.  The 5th ward (which includes part of Hyde Park and Woodlawn) needs more businesses, it needs jobs, please don’t sabotage this area.  Just today I read this story about the economic state of affairs in Woodlawn.  A hotel on Stoney Island could employ a lot of local residents, and make that area less lonely at night.  If you don’t like the way things are going, keep negotiating, but think of the area beyond your little precinct, we are all affected by what happens with Doctors Hospital.  How many more large abandoned buildings does this area need?

So, get out there and vote, it makes a difference.

RIP Studs Terkel, Chicago is a richer place because you were a part of it.

Yesterday Victor and I went for a walk in the local cemetery.  It just so happens that our local cemetery, Oak Woods, is Chicago’s oldest, and has all kinds of interesting people buried there.  Yesterday we went to look at the restored monument on the Cornell family plot.  Cornell* like the college?  Well, yes in fact, but that has nothing to do with its importance to this area (Woodlawn/ Hyde Park).  Paul Cornell founded the Hyde Park Township, which was annexed by the City of Chicago in 1889.

We had never seen the monument, which was off site being restored.  Last month when Victor and I went for a walk at Oak Woods I noticed it was back, but I was already heading back home, so I didn’t take s much time to look at it as I would have liked.

Not only is it the marker for the founder of this area, and of the first railroad suburb, it is also significant because it is made of white bronze, not a common statuary metal.  You can tell right away it looks different for some reason, it is just not a color one is used to seeing in statues and monuments.

Cornell’s monument is of white bronze (zinc), and, at about fifteen feet tall, is the largest of this material to be found in the Chicago area. The lowest step is buckling from the weight, its sides visibly bulging outward.**

I should contact them so they can update their page, the monument looks as good as new.

A few shots of our walk yesterday:

It was a beautiful day to be out and about, see the fall colors, both in the cemetery and across the street from my house.

I find that if I have a camera handy, I am much more observant of my surroundings, of course.  Yesterday I noticed that a stone block I have been walking past for four years has writing on the side.

If only I could salvage that block.  I don’t know what I would do with it, other than put it in my yard and sit on it, but I like it.

*Cornell was founded by Paul Cornell’s cousin, Ezra.

** http://www.graveyards.com/IL/Cook/oakwoods/cornell.html

Nothing like a couple of bright, sunny days to get me moving again. I feel like I just woke from a long slumber. The short winter days always make me feel like I am moving in slow motion, and sap the motivation to do anything about it. But this weekend it was Spring! I planted more seedlings, re-potted a couple of houseplants, cleaned up my sewing table at long last, and actually got some sewing done for the first time in far too long. The sewing machine and table had been buried with clothing needing repair or alterations for so long, it was daunting. But once I cleaned it all up, and got to work, I didn’t want to stop! Pants are hemmed, a dress was turned into a skirt, tears were mended, and now I am thinking I want to get to some of the patterns I have laying around.

I love feeling motivated like I did this weekend. I started a new knitting project (yes, I know I have 2 blankets in the works, but I want to wear the “Blue Ribbon Scrap Wrap” from Knitalong at Yarn School) too. I am excited to be knitting it with yarn that I spun myself.

On Sunday we met Khurshid and Amy for dinner at Siam in Uptown for some yummy Thai food. We decided to head over early so we could walk around the neighborhood, and take in some sunshine.

Don’t forget to visit your local yarn store this Thursday, April 10, to celebrate Bobmas Eve!  We have a list of participating stores on our YarnCon Blog.

prices for vinyl fencing test

Inside:

Outside:

Goodness, I have neglected blogging this month. But, you get into a routine, and there is not as much to write about. Or, you do want to comment on things going on, but are busy with said routine and don’t get around to it. Such is the state of this blog.

But it’s not all just routine, there are Monday nights at the Stitch n’ Bitch, 33.3rd birthday parties to attend, seeds to plant in hope of Spring, and a fabulous birthday dinner at Alinea last night for Scott’s 35th birthday.

Last weekend we helped stage a very successful surprise party for our dear friend, Dan. Brandy did an amazing job putting it together, all we did was carry out the plan.

How is that for a cool looking cake?

On Sunday I started most of my seedlings, and have been meaning to get the rest started this week. It was good to start playing with dirt again, not that I can see dirt outside anymore underneath the snow. Phooey.

The birthday fun continued this week with Scott’s 35th birthday celebration at Alinea last night. We had the tour menu. I don’t care how small the portions are, that was a lot of food! It was an accomplishment to eat it all, and it took 5 hours. The fastest 5 hours I have ever experienced! Time just flew by as we had a most entertaining and delicious meal. Each serving came with an explanation, as did the wine pairings. The wait staff were wonderful, and I think we entertained them as much as they entertained us. It was truly a dining experience.

I’ve been busy in the yarn front as well, but not just knitting and spinning. Sara and I have been coordinating Bobmas Eve celebrations with Chicago’s local yarn stores. What? Why, Bobmas Eve of course! If you are a knitter or crocheter, I am guessing you have heard of Ravelry by now. Well, on April 11 it will have been one year since Ravelry was conceived. Bob is the creators’ pet, and Ravelry mascot. Therefore, April 10th has been declared Bobmas Eve, and cities all over are planning celebrations. Here in Chicago we are talking to yarn stores, and many of them (I’ll have a list for you soon) will be open that evening for your yarn enjoyment. Each one will be celebrating in its own way, and we urge you to visit your local yarn store that night, or more than one, and meet fellow Ravelry members, or go find out what the fuss is all about. I’ll keep you posted here, and at the YarnCon Blog with more information soon. (Hey, did I mention we are taking applications for YarnCon? Well, what are you waiting for?)

We are also already making plans for World Wide Knit in Public (WWKiP) day on June 14, 2008 in Millennium Park here in Chicago. Mark you calendars!