Clean and Simple

I used to sew. A lot. Once upon a time I crafted jackets from tapestries with intricate collars and cuffs. I made custom Hawaiian shirts for Mr. Larry. I even sewed trousers (with zippers and plackets) for myself! Yes, I was the original Renaissance woman...sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking, painting, playing banjo and guitar and more. The years and other obligations have taken much of my free time. I became more obsessed with yarny pursuits over the years and sewing fell by the wayside. It has taken me reading a knitting blog to make me want to sew again.

My new patterns by Sonya Philip

A couple of weeks ago I read a post by guest blogger, Sonya Philip on the Mason-Dixon Knitting blog. It's an article about color and wearing colors that make you happy. It wasn't so much about color for me. I always wear color. It was the style of clothes that Sonya Philip designs and her sewing patterns that inspired me! Sonya designs clothes. She also knits. Her clothing designs are clean and simple. She uses colorful fabrics that delight her. She layers her clothes. The different fabrics she uses become a painter's palette of color. 

The simple, easy to read instruction booklet

I spent much of my birthday week vacation shopping. I was looking for a few cute summer tops to pair with my go-to black slacks and jeans. I found one or two items that were just OK, but not fab. This is when I decided to go back to sewing and choose my own fabrics and styles, just for me!

It's summer. I'll be starting my sewing expedition with a few stash fabrics I've been hanging onto for years!

Another impetus back to my Elna machine is that my friend, Natalie is helping with the grand opening of a new fabric and sewing shop called SEW TOGETHER. It's conveniently located right next door to my favorite yarn shop in Los Angeles, THE KNITTING TREE. Perfect! Sew that outfit then find some yarn next door to make the perfect scarf or other accessory to go with my new ensemble!

Carnival Colors

Carnival Colors!

I wanted to make one more Welcome Blanket to contribute to this CAUSE. I've sent in two blankets, using diagonal squares as suggested. I do love making diagonal granny squares, but I REALLY like crocheting the Willow Square. I've used it so many times in projects. I just love the pattern and the lacy look.

I combed through my stash acrylic yarn and found that I had enough "carnival" colors to make one 40-inch square afghan, the recommended size for the #welcomeblanket. Yowza! This is certainly bright and colorful!

Willow-Carnival Welcome Blanket

Just a few more squares to crochet, then a couple of rows for a border around the entire piece and I'll be ready to send my third Welcome Blanket to The Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago. You can see more blankets HERE for this great project. 

I am so thrilled that this project has become so popular with fiber artists across the country. By helping new immigrants when they come to our country we are instigating conversations around issues of human rights, immigration and the legacy of craft-activism.

Another Word for Hot

SCORCHING. SEARING. BLISTERING. SWELTERING. ROASTING. SCALDING. Yes, this is what I expect to experience this weekend. My long-time friend, Jan recently purchased a home in Snow Creek Village, near Palm Springs. She chose this coming weekend to host a house-WARMING party. It will be interesting to see just how many of Jan's friends decide to take a trip out to the desert during the hottest time of year. Larry and I are loyal friends, so we'll be there!

Snow Creek is at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains. It's purported to be a rather Bohemian enclave. Even Huell Howser visited a few years back.

One of my favorite parts about driving to the desert is going through the area where all the windmills are located. I have a feeling that this is close to where Jan lives....Whitewater, the windiest part of the desert!

OK, I'm packing sunblock, hat, cotton clothes, wind goggles and water. See you on the other side!

Vintage Ellen and Jan during their wild years

Wonder Woman Knits and Crochets Too!

Wonder Woman, Knitting by Karl James Montferd

On my birthday last week, Larry took me to see the new "Wonder Woman" movie. It was great. Gal Gadot in the title role was perfect. 

Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, 2017

Of course, I remember the TV Wonder Woman portrayed by Lynda Carter in the late 1970s. She was wonderful too!

Lynda Carter as TV's Wonder Woman, 1975-1979

Naturally, the popularity of Wonder Woman has reached the yarny community. I searched on Ravelry for some WW patterns and found quite a few!

WW Fingerless Gloves. How could we make these bullet-proof?

Wonder Woman Wrap

The Wonder Woman Slip-over Sweater

Wonder Woman Crocheted Headband

Wonder Beanie

Wonder Woman Amigurumi

I don't know what to make first!! Wonder Woman is awesome!

Neon Tour of Los Angeles

Neon in Chinatown, L.A.

On Saturday night, Larry and I boarded the double-decker bus with docents from the Museum of Neon Art (MONA) in downtown Los Angeles for a tour of some historic neon lights in the City of Los Angeles. We knew a few people on the tour as well as our tour guides, Eric and Celeste. 

Larry with Celeste Hong and Eric Evavold of MONA at the entrance to Y.C. Hong's Law Office

It wasn't quite sundown at 7:15 when we arrived in Chinatown. The neon outlining the fanciful architecture of this area is quite wonderful at night. We were in Chinatown for a rare viewing of Y.C. Hong's law offices. Celeste is the granddaughter of Mr. Hong and arranged for us to see his pristine 1938 offices in the center of Chinatown. 

Y.C. Hong was the first Chinese-American attorney in Los Angeles. He also played a major role in the development of "new" Chinatown when the original Chinatown was displaced by the construction of Union Station in the late 1930s. You can read about this amazing man HERE. We were not allowed to take photos inside his second floor law office, but it was a perfect example of art deco and moderne office design with a Chinese aesthetic. Thank you, Celeste for arranging this historic visit as part of our tour!

Restored neon at the Hotel Californian

For the remainder of the excursion, our tour guide, Eric told us stories of 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s Los Angeles with regard to its architecture and neon signage. 

Hotel Normandie, home of the resurrected Cassell's Burgers

We traveled through the Westlake section of town, past MacArthur Park to Koreatown/Mid-Wilshire and more. 

Park Wilshire Apartments

Iconic Bullock's Wilshire Department Store

Wiltern Theater

We stopped at the former Windsor Restaurant (now The Park), next door to what was The Ambassador Hotel. The decor of this place is frozen in time. LOVE that red-flocked wallpaper! Some of us had a cocktail and surveyed the interior before boarding the bus back toward downtown.

Interior of The Park Restaurant, formerly The Windsor

Here are a few more of the beautiful signs that we saw, ending up in the theater district, riding down Broadway.

Oh yeah, THAT sign!

Mayan Theater

Nice to see that this store maintains this gorgeous neon marquee

The best part about this neon cruise was sitting in the top of that convertible double-decker bus, viewing Los Angeles from this vantage point.

Here's a cool video of our bus riding through the Second Street tunnel!

Marciano Art Foundation

Scottish Rite Temple aka Marciano Art Foundation

Today we visited the Marciano Art Foundation in the former Scottish Rite Temple on Wilshire Boulevard in Windsor Park...just east of the Miracle Mile. I've admired this building for decades, being an admirer of its designer, Millard Sheets. We been on extensive Sheets building and art tours over the years, so I was super interested in seeing the inside of this building. There are very few windows in the Temple, alluding to its air of mystery. The Masons are a "secret" society...more mystery!

3rd Floor Gallery

Yes! The art inside is fabulous! There were duplicate pieces and modern artists that we saw yesterday at The Broad Museum. The building is rather large. The main auditorium seated over 2,000 people at one time! Everything, the seats, stage, etc. has been removed to provide space for the art collection. 

There were paintings done on the various stage backdrops. These were mammoth installations!

Painting on existing stage back-drop by Jim Shaw

My new fave, Wonder Woman!

Artist, Jim Shaw, re-imagined the "Wig Museum." Read about it HERE. 

Jim Shaw's re-imagined wigs

Now THAT'S a Bee-Hive Hair-Do!

Emma Diamond is a Visitor Services Associate at The Marciano! I know her folks.

After checking out more of the first floor, we zoomed up to the mezzanine to see the actual collections left there by the Masons. The Relic Room was fascinating. There were wigs, costumes, notebooks and records of the Free Masons in Los Angeles, as well as photographs. 

The Relic Room of the Free Masons

I spied one particular photo of the Masons of 1960. I thought I might recognize a name or two and I did! Over on the left side is the comedian and band-leader, Mickey Katz! (No relation to my Katz family), HOWEVER, I knew Mickey's wife, Grace. She was the aunt of my former boss at 20th Century Fox, Lee Zuckerman. I used to talk to Grace on the phone all the time. I even visited her once at her apartment in Westwood. Mickey Katz was the father of actor, Joel Grey. It's a small world!

Actor, Comedian, Band-Leader, Mickey Katz was a Member!

We proceeded to the third floor of the Museum to view the rest of the collection. WOW! This is quite an interesting place to visit. 

Painting by Takashi Murakami

Once again, we were most interested in the actual building and asked about a mosaic that designer, Millard Sheets had created. We found the mosaic of woodland creatures BEHIND a huge wall. I was sad that we could not get a great view of this work of art. Really, come on, Marciano Brothers, I know you have a big collection, but this permanent piece deserves some love!

Mosaic by Millard Sheets, 1961

After seeing a beautiful mural in the bookstore, also by Millard Sheets, we were ready to leave. 

Bookstore Mural by Millard Sheets

I definitely recommend viewing this museum!

Free Mason Mosaic by Millard Sheets on the east exterior of the building