 |
| California Asters - Aster chilensis |
Hey, Purple Asters!
Autumn pollen can be found
Though Windy Hill dry.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Blue-Sky Sewing - Rose Embellished End of Summer Frock
Since I got my sloper done, I look at other woman's frocks with a new eye. I ran into Rebecca, on a toasty day while we were waiting for our devices to get fixed at the apple store, and she was kind enough to let me photo her in this great rose-embellished, gingham summer dress.Looks like maybe six tiers in that nice big rose. It starts above the natural waistline, and extends below the full hip.
This great gingham cotton frock also has bust darts.
I would try to recreate something like this by simply eliminating the front torso fisheye darts in my sloper, and maybe also grading the pattern out from beneath the bust darts?
Following a Unicorn to The Cloisters (NYC - Field Trip)
I came hunting unicorns.
Long ago, in a job far, far away, I'd heard unicorns resided somewhere here in Manhattan. But that was twenty years ago, in a life that sometimes seems like it was lived by another woman.
Had I not known that the ancient Unicorn Tapestries were here, somewhere, in the most populous of modern cities, I never would have sought out The Cloisters. And I would have missed a time travel adventure.
Secret enclosed pocket gardens filled with aromatic, medicinal, and lovely flowers compliment centuries old architecture.
Hidden chambers flow unexpectedly from a corner you didn't see when you entered the room, and have to look sharp to find.
Mystic arts ensure that ancient beings live on.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
More New York Garment District Trims - Embellishing my Newest Tapestry Cap
I posted previously about the denim cap that I took along on my trip to New York to both trim and finish with simple hand sewing. I bought the beads and Swarovski crystals for this project in the New York garment district as well as the trims for the denim cap.
I'd also taken along the tapestry cap I had made to replace the one I began embellishing on my trip to Vancouver last year - and then lost. I talked about that project in the Enchanted by Sewing Audio/Podcast Capping off Summer, that you can still listen to. I've already worn this cap (and it's matching mobile pocket bag) practically all summer. They both came in pretty hand on our trip to England and Scotland, and have worn well. I carried the mobile pocket bag all over New York too - perfect for my MTA transit card, keys and small amounts of cash I carried with me.
Hand embellishment is the perfect sewing project for me to take along when traveling, and it's such a good excuse for some low-key and less expensive shopping! I used things I bought right away, and they didn't take much room in my bag. Also, I don't always take the time to do this kind of work when sewing at home - but I felt quite inspired to finish this embellishment, begun on the trip once I got home. Unlike the pearled-denim cap that I finished, and wore, on the trip. I still had some beading to do on this tapestry cap when I got home. But a few days after my return, it was done.~ ~ ~
Read more about my big city experiences in New York - http://simpleromantic.blogspot.com/2015/09/new-york-field-trip-casual-art-friendly.html
Read more about my big city experiences in New York - http://simpleromantic.blogspot.com/2015/09/new-york-field-trip-casual-art-friendly.html
Lucy Locket's Mobile Pocket Bag Holds my iPod, iPhone, a little money, a few cards and whatever other bits and pieces I need for walks, bike trips and travel. http://meencantacoser.blogspot.com/2015/06/lucky-lockets-mobile-device-pocket-bag.html
This Enchanted by Sewing podcast episode is all about how I make my casual caps. I have another on (dressier) hat making.
Caps Show - http://enchantedbysewing.blogspot.com/2014/08/ench-by-sew-023-capping-off-summer.html
Hats Show- http://enchantedbysewing.blogspot.com/2015/03/ench-by-sew-030-hats-off-to-downtown.html
Grenwich Time - Walking Jefferson Market Garden (NYC Field Trip)
I went part way along with Rosalinda when she headed off to her graduate studies Friday night , then made an abrupt turn at Washington Square and headed for West Greenwich Village. Yah, yah, I know they call it "the village" around here. I was in the mood for a walk that involved more than window shopping, and I found it when I stumbled on Jefferson Market Garden. The garden is one of those hidden gems I always hope I'll discover on a ramble.Backed up by the gorgeous historic Jefferson Market Library building, this secret garden packs a floral wallop in a compact footprint. Even in September the roses are still blooming in the sunny spots, along with varied colorful daises. Hydrangea, a variety of tuberous and wax begonias, and a plethora of shade-loving flowers and ferns gather close beneath a green canopy. There's an inspirational greenhouse and pond as well - complete with water plants.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Fitting Western Winds - Princess-Seamed Shirt M6076 (Journal/Sloper/Pattern Work)
Journaling - Learning to fit and work with my sloper.
I'm also learning to question, my sloper.
I'm starting with a basic princess-seamed shirt pattern - McCalls 6076.
Initially I'm working with the princess-seam in shoulder seam option (view A). (others in line drawing below)
Noted so far
- Learning to compare front or back pattern pieces to my sloper, I have to learn where to place them. Do I line up the base of underarm seam/armscye? If I start comparing at shoulder seam I can get thrown off because I often need to alter this area - except on some commercial patterns, when it's fine!
First time through with a test-garment (that's the one I'll actually wear, one step beyond my muslin) I'm making a sleeveless version. I'm taking careful note of where I
-a- I alter the underarm seam (armscye) to create a tighter fitting armhole
-b- Take the top of the armhole back somewhat, for this no-sleeve version.
Later I'll test the muslin with a muslin sleeve, where I'll test the pattern without both of these (a and b) alterations.
Another benefit to a sleeveless test garment is, I'm getting it out of a piece that is somewhat less than 2 yards. I will be piecing the under collar, and also the front facing. But I don't expect those piecing line to show.
Waistline and Princess Seam Alterations
Working on a very fitted look without overfitting
Would be better to add an extra seam allowance - 1 inch instead of 5/8- for all this playing around
Lots of trying on here! Did same front and back on all 4 princess seams
I made sure to safety pin the front closed matching up the button hole marks, so that I don't overfit. I want the shirt to button and need a certain amount of overlap for that.
- First I basted a 1/4 inch seam along the princess stitching line
- Then increased (still with a basting stitch) the princess line seam allowance to 7/8"
- Then I unabasted the second line of basting below the bust and graded back to the 7/8"
- Finally I took in/graded the waist with a kind of elongated half oval, about 3 and 1/2 inch above and below the waist. Challenging figuring out when to alter waist and when to alter princess seams - lots of safety pin basting helped with that
Altering Armscye/Armhole for Sleeveless Version
I took the shoulder seam back towards the neck for an improved sleeveless style
* Compared to my sloper, and graded in 1/2 inch at bottom of armhole/armscye on side seam for sleeveless. Then I graded back out to original side seam after, hummm.... about one to two inches? A french curve is handy for doing that. I admit, I eyeballed it. I kept the original full seam on the pattern, because I'll probably want it for the sleeved version. I also kept it on the muslin so I can reuse the muslin when testing a sleeved version.
* I also tested raising the side seam up for the sleeveless version (based on what I learned in French Pattern Drafting class going from moulage to sloper) , but it was too tight.
* For sleeveless, I'm raising outside shoulder (taking it back towards the neck line) for sleeveless style - 1 3/8" (11/8") without S.A. - so probably either 9/8 (1 and18) or 6/8 (3/4) " cut back/off - the first for 1/4" and second 5/8" S.A. I'll mark on the pattern what works for sleeveless - but keep the full original armscye on pattern for sleeved version test.
In addition to desirability of a sleeveless shirt for our late-running summer-in-fall weather, this helps me to focus on fitting aspects of the torso. The sleeve adds in a whole 'nother fit challenge, even though it means I have to make alterations when I go between sleeveless and sleeved. A good reason to journal!
Shoulder Seams
* I ended up adding 1/2" (better would have been more - because I only took a 1/4 "seam allowance (S.A.) - so next time add in 7/8") to the back
* I therefore took back 1/2" from the front because of alteration to back. Again because I only sewed the 1/4" S.A., next time through I will add back another 3/8 inch and sew a full 5/8" S.A.
* I've made this shoulder line adjustment many times, the reason I didn't catch it when comping my Master Pattern Trace (M.P.T.) to the sloper? For the back - I forgot that the S.A. is not included in the sloper pattern, as it is in the commercial pattern. (Often forget this). For the front, I don't know. The front of my sloper just looks too high. The No S.A. sloper comes out at the same time as the M.P.T.. So it seems like maybe I should make a tentative adjustment to my sloper front - dropping it by perhaps.... 3/8 or 1/2 inch. It's challenging thinking between with and without S.A. But this is something to think about math 'wise as I continue to work comparing my sloper to patterns I trace.
- I pin basted the muslin to make sure I had a basic fit, but I really didn't see the shoulder issues until I cut out and stitch -basted the test garment. In the future, maybe encourage myself to stitch-baste that muslin. I have a way of not seeing the pattern as real until I move past the muslin. It seems good enough, and I really want to see it as an actual garment. And with the pins in, I'm always in a hurry to get out of it!
I basted with a stitch length of 6 and starting out with 1/4" seams. Then I keep trying it on and increasing the S.A. up to 5/8" . Alternatively, I could have added a full 1" S. A. on the first pass, but I figured since the muslin was OK, I didn't need to.
Right now I'm happy with accurately placed shoulder seams - which gives a shirt a custom fitted look. I took in the 2 side seams more, but they are still a little loose. However, I haven't yet basted a deeper princess seam (4 actual seams). Once I check those, I'll know if I want to grade in - all or some of - the side seams to increase the fitted look.
 |
| M6076 - Three princess-seamed shirts |
I'm starting with a basic princess-seamed shirt pattern - McCalls 6076.
Initially I'm working with the princess-seam in shoulder seam option (view A). (others in line drawing below)
Noted so far
- Learning to compare front or back pattern pieces to my sloper, I have to learn where to place them. Do I line up the base of underarm seam/armscye? If I start comparing at shoulder seam I can get thrown off because I often need to alter this area - except on some commercial patterns, when it's fine!
-a- I alter the underarm seam (armscye) to create a tighter fitting armhole
-b- Take the top of the armhole back somewhat, for this no-sleeve version.
Later I'll test the muslin with a muslin sleeve, where I'll test the pattern without both of these (a and b) alterations.
Another benefit to a sleeveless test garment is, I'm getting it out of a piece that is somewhat less than 2 yards. I will be piecing the under collar, and also the front facing. But I don't expect those piecing line to show.
Waistline and Princess Seam Alterations
Working on a very fitted look without overfitting
Would be better to add an extra seam allowance - 1 inch instead of 5/8- for all this playing around
Lots of trying on here! Did same front and back on all 4 princess seams
I made sure to safety pin the front closed matching up the button hole marks, so that I don't overfit. I want the shirt to button and need a certain amount of overlap for that.
- Then increased (still with a basting stitch) the princess line seam allowance to 7/8"
- Then I unabasted the second line of basting below the bust and graded back to the 7/8"
- Finally I took in/graded the waist with a kind of elongated half oval, about 3 and 1/2 inch above and below the waist. Challenging figuring out when to alter waist and when to alter princess seams - lots of safety pin basting helped with that
Altering Armscye/Armhole for Sleeveless Version
I took the shoulder seam back towards the neck for an improved sleeveless style
* Compared to my sloper, and graded in 1/2 inch at bottom of armhole/armscye on side seam for sleeveless. Then I graded back out to original side seam after, hummm.... about one to two inches? A french curve is handy for doing that. I admit, I eyeballed it. I kept the original full seam on the pattern, because I'll probably want it for the sleeved version. I also kept it on the muslin so I can reuse the muslin when testing a sleeved version.
* I also tested raising the side seam up for the sleeveless version (based on what I learned in French Pattern Drafting class going from moulage to sloper) , but it was too tight.
* For sleeveless, I'm raising outside shoulder (taking it back towards the neck line) for sleeveless style - 1 3/8" (11/8") without S.A. - so probably either 9/8 (1 and18) or 6/8 (3/4) " cut back/off - the first for 1/4" and second 5/8" S.A. I'll mark on the pattern what works for sleeveless - but keep the full original armscye on pattern for sleeved version test.
In addition to desirability of a sleeveless shirt for our late-running summer-in-fall weather, this helps me to focus on fitting aspects of the torso. The sleeve adds in a whole 'nother fit challenge, even though it means I have to make alterations when I go between sleeveless and sleeved. A good reason to journal!
 |
| M6076 - Test Garment Fit In Progress |
Shoulder Seams
* I ended up adding 1/2" (better would have been more - because I only took a 1/4 "seam allowance (S.A.) - so next time add in 7/8") to the back
* I therefore took back 1/2" from the front because of alteration to back. Again because I only sewed the 1/4" S.A., next time through I will add back another 3/8 inch and sew a full 5/8" S.A.
* I've made this shoulder line adjustment many times, the reason I didn't catch it when comping my Master Pattern Trace (M.P.T.) to the sloper? For the back - I forgot that the S.A. is not included in the sloper pattern, as it is in the commercial pattern. (Often forget this). For the front, I don't know. The front of my sloper just looks too high. The No S.A. sloper comes out at the same time as the M.P.T.. So it seems like maybe I should make a tentative adjustment to my sloper front - dropping it by perhaps.... 3/8 or 1/2 inch. It's challenging thinking between with and without S.A. But this is something to think about math 'wise as I continue to work comparing my sloper to patterns I trace.
- I pin basted the muslin to make sure I had a basic fit, but I really didn't see the shoulder issues until I cut out and stitch -basted the test garment. In the future, maybe encourage myself to stitch-baste that muslin. I have a way of not seeing the pattern as real until I move past the muslin. It seems good enough, and I really want to see it as an actual garment. And with the pins in, I'm always in a hurry to get out of it!
I basted with a stitch length of 6 and starting out with 1/4" seams. Then I keep trying it on and increasing the S.A. up to 5/8" . Alternatively, I could have added a full 1" S. A. on the first pass, but I figured since the muslin was OK, I didn't need to.
Right now I'm happy with accurately placed shoulder seams - which gives a shirt a custom fitted look. I took in the 2 side seams more, but they are still a little loose. However, I haven't yet basted a deeper princess seam (4 actual seams). Once I check those, I'll know if I want to grade in - all or some of - the side seams to increase the fitted look.
~ ~ ~ Web Resources ~~~
An interesting related fitting post, that journals some of the challenges of fitting a basic princess-seamed pattern http://artisanssquare.com/sg/index.php?topic=16322.0Saturday, September 12, 2015
New York Garment District Trims- Pearled Denim Cap
I focused mostly on visiting trim shops in this famed area. Trims are small and light to carry back. They're also something I could make use of while traveling. This pearled denim* cap - I bought the pearly beads and lace trim in the garment district- is one of two cap projects I purchased trims for in the garment district, and worked on during my trip. I was able to quickly cut it out and do some fast machine stitching before I left town, then did the embellishment and a little hand sewing to finish it off while I was there. I completed it early on, so I was able to make good use of it's sun protecting character during my visit to the Big Apple.
I'm considering adding another line or two of pearls....
~ ~ ~
Read more about my big city experiences in New York - http://simpleromantic.blogspot.com/2015/09/new-york-field-trip-casual-art-friendly.html
Read more about my big city experiences in New York - http://simpleromantic.blogspot.com/2015/09/new-york-field-trip-casual-art-friendly.html
This Enchanted by Sewing podcast episode is all about how I make my casual caps. I have another on (dressier) hat making.
Caps Show - http://enchantedbysewing.blogspot.com/2014/08/ench-by-sew-023-capping-off-summer.html
Hats Show- http://enchantedbysewing.blogspot.com/2015/03/ench-by-sew-030-hats-off-to-downtown.html
* The denim was a remnant from the Summer Essentials shorts I blogged about last month
Hats Off to Public Transit (NYC - Field Trip)
If you follow my sewing blog, and/or listen to my sewing podcast, you know I love hats. So on the way back, I hopped off to check out these subway tile beauties.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Ench By Sew-36: Fiona, the Irish Laurel Dress
Dress creation brings out the romantic in me. When I looked ahead to my summer sewing, I thought if I could sew only one garment for the season, it would be a dress. Fiona, the Irish Laurel dress, satisfied my yearning to design and sew the perfect summer frock.
Hey let’s listen to the show! To do that you can either download the ‘cast from iTunes - Click on this link to iTunes ,
*OR* listen directly on the web, by clicking on this link
* * *
This dress was a very satisfying project for my arty romantic style.
In between sewing summer essentials - shorts and tees - I worked off and on to determine what design lines spoke to me about summer, mock up a miniature sloper pattern to test my ideas, draft a pattern from my sloper, and then finally to sew up Fiona, while summer was still on!
Hey let’s listen to the show! To do that you can either download the ‘cast from iTunes - Click on this link to iTunes ,
*OR* listen directly on the web, by clicking on this link
* * *
This dress was a very satisfying project for my arty romantic style.
In between sewing summer essentials - shorts and tees - I worked off and on to determine what design lines spoke to me about summer, mock up a miniature sloper pattern to test my ideas, draft a pattern from my sloper, and then finally to sew up Fiona, while summer was still on!
* Pensamientos Primeros - Thinking through my idea for this summer dress
- Part 1 - Planning Fiona
- Part 2 - Farewell to Summer Romancing Fiona, the Irish Laurel Dress
- Part 1 - Planning Fiona
- Part 2 - Farewell to Summer Romancing Fiona, the Irish Laurel Dress
*Technicos - Pattern Drafting and Kissing Zipper using a Prick Stitch
*Pensamientos Finales - Fiona's Design Lines have roots in my own history
Finians Rainbow was a modern American fairy tale. It expressed late 1960's dreams for racial harmony and folks coming together. Fred Astaire (Finian McLonigan) and Petula Clark(his daughter Sharon) added in the romance of America seen, and idealized, fresh from Irish eyes. The story of Finian's determination to plant himself a crop of Irish gold, intertwined with romance of countryside and a new happpily-ever-after love for Sharon draws me in as well today as it did when I was a kid who'd only recently arrived in a new place myself. Any wonder that the movie's costumes inspire my pattern work and sewing today?
Visit Me Encanta Coster/Enchanted by Sewing - my regular sewing blog for other summer sewing I enjoyed along the way... in between time spent bringing Fiona to life
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Farewell to Summer - Romancing Fiona, the Irish Laurel Dress (Part 2/2 -Termindado!)
 |
| Fiona, the Irish Laurel Dress |
Fiona is made from a yellow green Linen-Rayon blend, lined with Bemberg rayon.
This dress has a one piece front and one piece back.
It includes front bust darts, back shoulder darts and partial darts that open like tucks in the torso front and back. The bodice above the dart/tucks is quite fitted.
The kissing zipper is prick-stitched.
I got more serious about my romance with this dress. I began playing around with a small pattern replica, imagining how I might manipulate my sloper*. Since then, my summer frock dreams came true. I drafted a pattern for my Irish Laurel Dress, and sewed her up too. I've worn this perfect summer frock several times and really enjoyed the feel and flow of the garment. I'm already looking forward to using and altering this pattern again.
I talk about creating Fiona in my September Enchanted by Sewing Audio Podcast** - Remember you can either download Enchanted by Sewing audio shows from iTunes OR you can just listen right on the web (while sewing perhaps?). Links for both will be in the show notes, as they always are.
(Listen to the Fiona Show right on the web by clicking on this link)
~ ~ ~
* Initial Blue Sky Plans for Fiona - http://meencantacoser.blogspot.com/2015/08/romancing-my-summery-irish-laurel-dress.html Playing with a small version of a sloper pattern was a great way to envision the actual pattern work.** Stop by the shownotes for the Enchanted by Sewing Podcast and sign up to get an email abouut new monthly audio shows. Or subscribe in iTunes. http://www.enchantedbysewing.blogspot.com/
Farewell to Summer - Romancing Fiona, the Irish Laurel Dress (Part 2/2 -Termindado!)
|
| Fiona, the Irish Laurel Dress |
Fiona is made from a yellow green Linen-Rayon blend, lined with Bemberg rayon.
This dress has a one piece front and one piece back.
It includes front bust darts, back shoulder darts and partial darts that open like tucks in the torso front and back. The bodice above the dart/tucks is quite fitted.
The kissing zipper is prick-stitched.
I got more serious about my romance with this dress. I began playing around with a small pattern replica, imagining how I might manipulate my sloper*. Since then, my summer frock dreams came true. I drafted a pattern for my Irish Laurel Dress, and sewed her up too. I've worn this perfect summer frock several times and really enjoyed the feel and flow of the garment. I'm already looking forward to using and altering this pattern again.
I talk about creating Fiona in my September Enchanted by Sewing Audio Podcast** - Remember you can either download Enchanted by Sewing audio shows from iTunes OR you can just listen right on the web (while sewing perhaps?). Links for both will be in the show notes, as they always are.
(Listen to the Fiona Show right on the web by clicking on this link)
~ ~ ~
* Initial Blue Sky Plans for Fiona - http://meencantacoser.blogspot.com/2015/08/romancing-my-summery-irish-laurel-dress.html Playing with a small version of a sloper pattern was a great way to envision the actual pattern work.** Stop by the shownotes for the Enchanted by Sewing Podcast and sign up to get an email abouut new monthly audio shows. Or subscribe in iTunes. http://www.enchantedbysewing.blogspot.com/
Monday, September 7, 2015
New York Field Trip - Time Travel, Casual Art, Friendly Folks NYC Move How To Notes
I got to go along to New York, to help my daughter move there for graduate school. Good thing this worked out, as just before leaving she developed a stress fracture in her foot. So we learned about accessible transportation* in New York as well!
We spent two weeks at a budget hotel in Queens, waiting for Rosalinda’s Upper East Side Manhattan apartment to open up. Luckily we found it on the first day - we used a broker, which is common Saw a number that would have worked. Hers is a little more old style/classic first Manhattan apartment than others we saw. Little less costly than the others, but similar rents to those around here in San Francisco Bay Area. Ikea guys came first evening with bed and table and chairs!
Front of Rosalinda’s building. Pre-war construction. High ceilings.
She has a “fifth floor walkup”. That means no elevator and you schlepp your groceries and stuff mailed from home up, up, up. It took me 2.5 hours to move up the stuff from boxes at home. With Rosalinda’s busted foot, she stayed below with box cutter, repacking in our essential Target handled bins. and had them ready for me upon return trips. Highest humidity day. I had to stop and rest from heat both top and bottom!! I sure appreciate my health in a situation like this. Good to know I can do a hard thing.
Great family scene in Queens - where we stayed in hotel. East Indian (Punjabi and Gujarti speakers), Latino and African American neighborhoods side by side. Lots of languages to hear. People sit on their stoops at night and visit. Very friendly and I could always say ‘hi’ when taking my after supper walk. Practiced my Spanish nearly every day on my trip- walking, on subway, and with one of guys assembling bed (who spoke no English). Interesting to see Italian and Indian heritage workers speaking excellent Spanish with coworkers. I didn’t know before that 25% of people there are Spanish speaking. On bus Rosalinda observed that my Spanish was much improved. Starts to flow naturally when I use it casually like that.
Bodegas about every two blocks in Queens. Really good produce and meat. Lots of high quality produce all along streets too. Also all-fruit smoothie carts. Often fruit in carts better price than in stores. And good.
Queensboro Bridge from the hotel window, I watched the commute traffic morning and evening. They definitely go into work later. Traffic moves pretty well still at 7:30 a.m.
Kinda Christmas’y look in the evenings.
We DID get tired of the hotel - refrigerator and microwave, but only one chair and a desk other than bed. Rosalinda elevated her foot and ate on the bed often two meals a day. It was so great to have a table and chairs when we moved to apartment.
Might have been worth paying 40$ to have somebody else ‘pick’ the Ikae furniture. We had two carts like this. It meant Rosalinda did things with her foot she shouldn’t have to avoid having me get knocked to floor by boxes.You have to go TO Ikea to get delivery date you want. Otherwise it takes 2-3 weeks if you online order.
Moving to Manhattan with an incomplete foot is challenging - but there are a lot of payoffs. The East River is a five to ten minute walk from Rosalinda’s new apartment. There is a walkway and a park with a dog area BUSTLING with cute little dogs, sunbathing and benches all along the river. It’s a real neighborhood scene both day and night.
Central Park is very accessible from Rosalinda’s place too. Six and a half blocks. Easy walk or, when you are minimizing walking, - as Rosalinda is working to do now - you take a cross town bus and can keep the walking to about a half a mile to see Central Park scenes like this. You can rent these wind powered boats, or bring your own. You can also rent a sloop in the boathouse to keep your own boat. This is the “Conservatory Water”. The Alice and Wonderland statue is at one end. Also the Hans Christian Anderson statue, where there are weekly H.C.A. readings. I had a nice talk in Spanish with a man from Argentina (his home language is Italian but he was happy to speak Spanish) about H.C. Anderson when we were both photo’ing there.
Lot of great tile art in the subways.While Rosalinda in class, I got off at 23’rd street station returning on the R Line (back from the free Staten Island Ferry) to photo many hats at the 23’rd street station.
There are many excellent opportunities for time travel at The Cloisters and next door Fort Tyron.
I’ve always wanted to see the Unicorn Tapestries. But I had no idea what a wonderful museum they live in. I went back to “The Cloisters” for a second visit on one of the days Rosalinda was in Orientation all day. Fort Tyron Park next to the Cloisters is right on The Hudson - gorgeous gardens, benches and views. I ate my lunch there on my second visit before heading into Cloisters. The museum itself is a fantasy of an Abbey, created from pieces of monastical buidlings from all over Europe, transformed into the sense of one building. Beautiful secret enclosed gardens too.
Plus I got to fully enjoy the Unicorn Tapestries collection.
It’s part of the Metropoliton Museum of Art and I used my Met ticket from another day, to get in. Both museums have a ‘recommended’ price, so you can offer less and they take it with a smile. Same with Natural History Museum and City of New York Museum - both of which I squeezed int when Rosalinda was resting foot in the afternoons.
Museum Record for Unicorn in Captivity tapestry - http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/467642
~ ~ ~
*To locate accessible Bus and Subway info - use the MTA trip planner and check the Accessible box. Currently about 25% of subways are accessible - but we found that rerouting and maintenance can alter that. Busses worked best for foot injury for my daughter. Pleasant riding busses too and it helped us learn the geography of the city better.
http://tripplanner.mta.info/MyTrip/ui_web/customplanner/TripPlanner.aspx
We spent two weeks at a budget hotel in Queens, waiting for Rosalinda’s Upper East Side Manhattan apartment to open up. Luckily we found it on the first day - we used a broker, which is common Saw a number that would have worked. Hers is a little more old style/classic first Manhattan apartment than others we saw. Little less costly than the others, but similar rents to those around here in San Francisco Bay Area. Ikea guys came first evening with bed and table and chairs!
Front of Rosalinda’s building. Pre-war construction. High ceilings.
She has a “fifth floor walkup”. That means no elevator and you schlepp your groceries and stuff mailed from home up, up, up. It took me 2.5 hours to move up the stuff from boxes at home. With Rosalinda’s busted foot, she stayed below with box cutter, repacking in our essential Target handled bins. and had them ready for me upon return trips. Highest humidity day. I had to stop and rest from heat both top and bottom!! I sure appreciate my health in a situation like this. Good to know I can do a hard thing.
Great family scene in Queens - where we stayed in hotel. East Indian (Punjabi and Gujarti speakers), Latino and African American neighborhoods side by side. Lots of languages to hear. People sit on their stoops at night and visit. Very friendly and I could always say ‘hi’ when taking my after supper walk. Practiced my Spanish nearly every day on my trip- walking, on subway, and with one of guys assembling bed (who spoke no English). Interesting to see Italian and Indian heritage workers speaking excellent Spanish with coworkers. I didn’t know before that 25% of people there are Spanish speaking. On bus Rosalinda observed that my Spanish was much improved. Starts to flow naturally when I use it casually like that.
Bodegas about every two blocks in Queens. Really good produce and meat. Lots of high quality produce all along streets too. Also all-fruit smoothie carts. Often fruit in carts better price than in stores. And good.
Queensboro Bridge from the hotel window, I watched the commute traffic morning and evening. They definitely go into work later. Traffic moves pretty well still at 7:30 a.m.
Kinda Christmas’y look in the evenings.
We DID get tired of the hotel - refrigerator and microwave, but only one chair and a desk other than bed. Rosalinda elevated her foot and ate on the bed often two meals a day. It was so great to have a table and chairs when we moved to apartment.
Might have been worth paying 40$ to have somebody else ‘pick’ the Ikae furniture. We had two carts like this. It meant Rosalinda did things with her foot she shouldn’t have to avoid having me get knocked to floor by boxes.You have to go TO Ikea to get delivery date you want. Otherwise it takes 2-3 weeks if you online order.
Moving to Manhattan with an incomplete foot is challenging - but there are a lot of payoffs. The East River is a five to ten minute walk from Rosalinda’s new apartment. There is a walkway and a park with a dog area BUSTLING with cute little dogs, sunbathing and benches all along the river. It’s a real neighborhood scene both day and night.
Central Park is very accessible from Rosalinda’s place too. Six and a half blocks. Easy walk or, when you are minimizing walking, - as Rosalinda is working to do now - you take a cross town bus and can keep the walking to about a half a mile to see Central Park scenes like this. You can rent these wind powered boats, or bring your own. You can also rent a sloop in the boathouse to keep your own boat. This is the “Conservatory Water”. The Alice and Wonderland statue is at one end. Also the Hans Christian Anderson statue, where there are weekly H.C.A. readings. I had a nice talk in Spanish with a man from Argentina (his home language is Italian but he was happy to speak Spanish) about H.C. Anderson when we were both photo’ing there.
Lot of great tile art in the subways.While Rosalinda in class, I got off at 23’rd street station returning on the R Line (back from the free Staten Island Ferry) to photo many hats at the 23’rd street station.
There are many excellent opportunities for time travel at The Cloisters and next door Fort Tyron.
I’ve always wanted to see the Unicorn Tapestries. But I had no idea what a wonderful museum they live in. I went back to “The Cloisters” for a second visit on one of the days Rosalinda was in Orientation all day. Fort Tyron Park next to the Cloisters is right on The Hudson - gorgeous gardens, benches and views. I ate my lunch there on my second visit before heading into Cloisters. The museum itself is a fantasy of an Abbey, created from pieces of monastical buidlings from all over Europe, transformed into the sense of one building. Beautiful secret enclosed gardens too.
Plus I got to fully enjoy the Unicorn Tapestries collection.
It’s part of the Metropoliton Museum of Art and I used my Met ticket from another day, to get in. Both museums have a ‘recommended’ price, so you can offer less and they take it with a smile. Same with Natural History Museum and City of New York Museum - both of which I squeezed int when Rosalinda was resting foot in the afternoons.
Museum Record for Unicorn in Captivity tapestry - http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/467642
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*To locate accessible Bus and Subway info - use the MTA trip planner and check the Accessible box. Currently about 25% of subways are accessible - but we found that rerouting and maintenance can alter that. Busses worked best for foot injury for my daughter. Pleasant riding busses too and it helped us learn the geography of the city better.
http://tripplanner.mta.info/MyTrip/ui_web/customplanner/TripPlanner.aspx
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Still Holding a Torch for You (New York - Field Trip)
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| Remember folks, The Bronx is Up and the Battery's Down |
One of my favorite discoveries was learning that we got an excellent view of that celebrated Old Lady - a.k.a. The Statue of Liberty - from the cafeteria window at Ikea! Hey, don't you think the Old Gal must be getting tired of holding that torch up for everybody by now?
~ ~ ~ How to Acquire Apartment Furniture in NYC ~ ~ ~
Many of us are familiar with that new-apartment dwellers-shopping utopia, Ikea. Back home in California, we use our own car to load up our purchases. Over here in the land of 8.8 million people, it works a little differently for those without a car - which seems to be the majority.Here's how my daughter acquired an assembled bed, compact eating table with two chairs, and a desk.
- We called ahead to get advice on ordering on-web versus going to store. Nice man told us that if we ordered on-line, it would take two or three weeks, but that by visiting the store we could get a delivery date of our choice. Not wanting to sleep on the floor in Rosie's new apartment, we went to the store. - Give yourself a solid day. We went late morning Tuesday and it took us about four hours - though we did eat lunch first in the cafeteria. Yes, my daughter had already identified the names and product numbers for the furniture she wanted. Thank goodness.
- Locate the various free Ikea shuttle stops in (our case) lower Manhattan. You can take a bus or subway to those. The MTA website might help you find them. There is also a water taxi which, I believe, leaves from Wall Street. Sounds fun but we were too exhausted to locate it after we heard this fun fact in the Home Delivery line.
- You might want to pay to have your items pulled from the shelves in the self serve warehouse area. We did not. The mattresses were really shoved in tight and I was glad I'd had a nourishing lunch, as I slammed my body repeatedly against one to make way for another to come out. Other bed pieces were pretty durn heavy. Between the two of us we just managed it - oh and my daughter had a stress fracture on her foot. Normally here, I work on being her feet, but there we were - us and those big heavy cartons that had to get into the carts. I do not recommend moving in this temporarily disabled condition. Given that fracture, we should have paid the forty bucks to have somebody else pick the furniture.
- Once Rose paid for the furniture boxes we'd struggled to load into and onto two carts, we thought we were all set.
Har de har har.
It took an hour and a half to get through the Home Delivery line. Funny, it didn't look that long. But we moved at a snail's pace. It was like a Disneyland queue were they forgot to keep folks going.- Rosalinda got the date and delivery window of her choice. The two men that came, schlepped the stuff up her five flights of stairs, assembled the furniture, and carted the boxes back down to her recycling area, were really nice. I practiced my Spanish with one of them. The other, who spoke English as his first language, communicated effortlessly with his non-English speaking helper. He looked to be of Italian ancestry. I've noticed many, many non-Latino folks in the area speak excellent Spanish. No, I didn't know before that 25% of people in the area are of Hispanic ancestry.
- Flat delivery fee at this time was $99. What a deal! Rosie also paid for the assembly - I think it's calculated based on weight. I've seen my husband assemble Ikea beds before and knew it was a big job, so I was really glad we didn't have to deal with it on our first day in.
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