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May 27, 2005
Stitch 'n Bitch 'n Longest Post Ever
Are ya'll sick of hearing how much I love Stitch 'n Bitch yet? Well, don't answer that cause you know what's coming right? Seven gajillion pics of girls gone wild with nothing but string and sticks!!
Sweater Update
Last night was the best gathering yet, in spite of the fact that several key folks were missing, but it was seriously the best SNB ... BECAUSE I DID NOT SWEAT!!! I am either so tired from all this socializing that I am too worn out to sweat, or I am finally more comfortable around these folks, or it was freezing up there. I do not know. And even though I blabbed and blabbed on and on, at least I wasn't a sweaty over-talker, and that is an accomplishment of ginormous proportions in my life.
(Click on any small images to see big,
huge, bandwidth-hogging pics.)
Yarn gluttons. Yup.
Also, Ellen had the brilliant idea of moving all the tables ahead of time into a long, Last Supper-type formation and it worked out great and the fung shui was good. We had the knitting chi, ya'll.
But I have a question. Do you think Carrie didn't show up to SNB because me and Jennifer scared her away with the sloppy drunkenness that occurred late in the evening of the BBQ Party? Maybe we frightened and annoyed her to such an extent that she now has to miss Stitch 'n Bitch. Carrie, if this is the case, or if I accidentally poisoned you with "ground" burgers at the party, I am infinitely sorry. Promise I'll be sober and serve good food next time! Come back to SNB!
We'll Miss You, and Thanks For The Yarn!
It was also a very sad Stitch 'n Bitch because Laina is leaving us to go off to Boston and become a Bahstun knitter. Hey! There are some amazing knitbloggers in Boston, and ya'll know who you are (some drive mini coopers, some are lawyers, some are runners, some are spinners, I'm just saying!!) and so I hope you'll welcome Laina and email her and stalk her in person for me. I miss her already.
Regina and Laina; Regina, Gaby, me, Laina at the end of the night.
This Is Where The Talking Occurred
Maybe because I was so mellow (read: tired) or unsweaty (thank you, God!!!) or maybe just because after a while you feel more comfortable with people, I felt like last night I got to learn more about folks individually. Tami brought her son and you could see her in the Mom Mode, which freaks me out because she's so young and laid-back, but then, like magic, she has the mom voice. FREAKY! And Natalie is finishing up her dissertation in Anthropology and her project and the research involves Las Vegas, and all I can say is that the minute she publishes it I want to read it. With a cocktail.
And Lori, who I just met last week, has the most open, generous smile and I like her EVEN THOUGH she tried to give me irrefutable proof that Tom Cruise is gay. WHICH HE IS NOT. Shutup! Maverick is so straight. And by the way, I don't even like Tom Cruise that much, but I LOVED Top Gun and when you start telling me Maverick is gay, you're flying to The Danger Zone (hah!)
Natalie with her pink shawl; Tami and Lori and part of Laina knit and talk.
Crystal, who never finishes any project ever because she is a Perfectionist and Hilarious and also maybe Totally A Nut, finally completed a project! It's a perfect red hat (that she only frogged four times heh heh). Crystal, do you know why I love this about you? Because you understand my needs, as a Control Enthusiast myself, to have a perfect hat. So, congratulations on finally finishing a project!!
Faith crocheted the very last stitch of the Talking Stick afghan squares all together and she was so happy she about did a cartwheel. It's done! Fini! Finito! She's been working on that project since January (which is when I started knitting!) (!!) And Christie came to SNB and got to stay longer this time, and I am so glad I met her. She's very glam and down-to-earth all at the same time.
Faith knits, Faith so happy! All done! Christie is all about superstar knitting!
Oh! Look! I met another celebrity!!This is Shannita Alleyne, she's a fiber artist and she was on Knitty Gritty and also had a pattern in Stitch 'n Bitch Nation! She created the newsboy cap. Last night she unvieled this beautiful hand-knit sweater with a gorgeous brooch and modeled it for the camera:
Gorgeous. And the sweater ain't bad either.
The Valley Is Coming To Get You
There were actually THREE other Valley Girls at the West Hollywood SNB last night! Proving that my theory of Valley Supremacy is coming true and before long we will take over the WeHo SNB. I could write an entire manifesto on this, and in fact I think I will. Look for that coming soon to an Internets near you.
Kate and Teri both live in the Valley and we got to compare notes about all the local yarn haunts. Here they are, Teri on the Left, Phyllis (not from the Valley, but cool enough that she COULD BE from there) in the center and Kate on the right side. Notice the two-buck Chuck!! Kate is also a self-proclaimed cat lady, although with only two cats, she does not get the "crazy" in front of her title just yet. You need at least four to be buckwild crazy cat lady. Debra, Cool Valley Girl, brought her adorable daughter Gaby (who knits better than I do!) with her to stitch 'n bitch, so technically we had 3.5 more Valley Girls in attendance. Ya'll just wait. Before long we'll be "totally, like for sure" taking over the world. Farmer's Market is just the first stop.
Debra with Gaby, smile, ya'll! Teri, Phyllis, Kate. Hi! The Valley RULES!! Bow down to us and our one-thousand-degree summers!!!!
Felting, Cute Kiddos, and Leg Warmers. Perfection!
Laina made a camera case out of Debbie Bliss "SoHo" and felted it by hand and it was the ooh and aaaah of the evening, such a big hit! Here she is with Gaby, Master Knitter Kidlet, showing off the bag. And Ellen made me an amazing spa cloth that I took a picture of but it came out blurry. BUT! She made it for someone named "red-cheeked girl" hah hah. Yes, I know. Me and my red face are now infamous on the Internets. (Note to self: never post party pics when slightly hungover and maybe still drunk from the night before.) So instead, here is Ellen posing with Laina and the Shut Up candle I brought her.
We also had two Saras! Sara #1 came to Stitch 'n Bitch straight from some kind of sporting activity she does (I didn't ask because I avoid sports, and even the mention of them) but nevermind, because this girl never takes a bad picture. And Sara #2 had on the coolest leg warmers ever!! She made them!! I am relieved and happy to find a hot chick reviving the legwarmers trend, It's about time, dammit! Regina and I already started talking about how we should wear legwarmers, too.
Sara #1 strikes a pose; Sara #2 wearing leg-warmers, too cute!!
Crochet, The New Pilates
Regina manages to drink wine and still crochet using tiny little thread that is so small it's practically invisible, and she uses a crochet hook the size of a toothpick. How she does this with no mistakes is a complete mystery. I believe the answer lies in the wine. Here she is with Ellen, they're displaying some of Regina's amazing Crochet Monsters. She is such a talent. That warped sense of artistic beauty had me at "hello." (P.S. TOM IS NOT GAY.)
More Mystery, and Possibly I Need Therapy
Below is an image of Kathy teaching Laina and Gaby about hand-spinning. Now, OK. Bear with me here. But remember the class I took with Knit Goddess Annie Modesitt? (You can read about my class here. Go on, go look, then come back. Pay special attention to the pictures.) So, see how Kathy, pictured right here, is the SAME EXACT Kathy who sat across from me in class? Well, I was so excited to see her. I was all, "Hi! Hello! I was in Annie's class with you! Hi!"
And ya'll, she did not remember me.
So, you know, either I am A) so completely unmemorable that I fade right out of someone's head two minutes after they meet me, or B) I just have one of those faces that people sort of think they've met before but can't remember where, or C) She saw my pictures online and thought, "That can't be the same girl, she's so fat in person!"
Now, I realize Option C doesn't totally apply here because Kathy already met me in person. But in general I fear that people will meet me and think, "Yeah right. Nice photoshopping job, there, Purl." Or maybe I'm just not momorable. Or maybe I'm just PARANOID and should up the meds. Pass the wine, please!
The Medication Arrives
Speaking of wine, Michele and Darcy came all kinds of prepared for the night... ya'll they brought wine and strawberries and chocolate and they are now officially the favorites of the whole group. So! Good thing to know! If you do decide to get out to your local SNB, take chocolate!! People will think you hung the moon, and love you and try to adopt you. Here is Darcy with her super-cute blue knitted handbag, and look! Michele is knitting! She learned how to knit last week and this week she is just grooving along like a knitmaniac!
Don't Mind Us, Folks
There was a lady at the SNB last night who I didn't get a chance to meet, she was very busy working on ... actually, I have NO IDEA what this is but man oh man is it cool, and also spooky. She was at the other end of the table, but of course I imposed myself upon her and Ellen as they chitchatted so I could document forever on camera Whatever That Art Was That She Made and We Liked.
Ellen talking to the performance artist whose name I did not get; the creation is mastered by its master.
The best part was the looks of the faces of the quiet family in the corner, who were already a little scared by so much craftiness in their presence, but I believe The Art sent them over the edge:
Even Perfect Evenings Must End
After SNB, I was driving home on Ventura Boulevard because I hate to take the freeway. And at night it's a nice, empty drive of storefronts and Valley goodness. Very soothing. And for whatever reason I am on a huge Tupac kick right now, all I listen to is Tupac, night and day (who by the way has accomplished more since he's been dead than I have accomplished in 33 years of living).
And I'm in my car and I'm singing, with the windows down on my Jeep -- because I am alone in my own personal Valley -- and a carload full of teenage boys pull up to me and here is what they see: One slightly chubby thitysomething blonde woman, so pale she glows in the dark, who is on the way home from her knitting group and she is singing "The blacker the berry the sweeeeter the juice..." at the top of her lungs, with her hair held up by a knitting needle and no singing talent whatsoever.
Heh.
Posted by laurie at May 27, 2005 02:25 PM
Comments
Sounds like my kind of evening. Go Aunt Purl!
Posted by: Geogrrl at May 27, 2005 02:50 PM
Laurie, You have a great smile!
Posted by: Brad at May 27, 2005 02:50 PM
Looks like you had fun! That performance artiste is freaky!
Nathan is memorable, I am not. They remember him after meeting him once and forget me. Must be the blonde thing.
Posted by: Lynne S of Oz at May 27, 2005 02:52 PM
Sounds like a parTAY!
Posted by: ~drew emborsky~ at May 27, 2005 02:53 PM
Alright, I didn't have time to read all of this yet, but I have to say that I am jealous that you get to go to SnB and I don't. I don't have one close enough. So I live vicariously through you and just stitch and also bitch at home.
Posted by: Mary at May 27, 2005 03:10 PM
Hey! You're such a superfreak! I love your freaking blog best of all!!!
Faith
Posted by: faith at May 27, 2005 03:13 PM
Oh, and don't worry that what's-her-face didn't remember you. Likely she was preoccupied with something else when she last met you and you just didn't register (and I'm not being insulting here). Hell, when I've been preoccupied, I've walked right by people I know well--I just don't see them.
Actually, when someone has met me briefly, I'm always surprised that they DO remember me.
Posted by: Geogrrl at May 27, 2005 03:33 PM
I'm jealous that you get to go to a stitch'n'bitch that you love... and that you drink ALCOHOL there!
Posted by: Dianna at May 27, 2005 03:54 PM
oh my god, this looks like so much fun. So, so sad I missed it. And no it was neither food poisoning nor drunken fun on Sunday. I like drunken fun. It was work. But, I shall be there next week by God, I will.
Oh, and Gwen couldn't make it because of a wedding. But, I believe she plans to attend next week as well.
Posted by: Carrie at May 27, 2005 04:02 PM
ok, that's it. Pouty hubby be damned! I'll be going to one Thursday night in WeHo sometime very soon. That is if I am still welcome to come
Posted by: La at May 27, 2005 04:04 PM
I love the song at the end and the knitting needle in the hair, and the tunelessness and the joy.
You just did joy there, did you know that??
Posted by: laurie at May 27, 2005 04:09 PM
I have a feeling in a few months you guys will have to take over that entire room! Looks like everything (except that family) had a fun time.
Posted by: Karyn at May 27, 2005 04:44 PM
I only skimmed because I am in a massive hurry to free up the computer for the best friend. However! Some quick points!
1. You have the best smile! It's so friendly and cheery and warm!
Erm...well, I guess that's my only point. But it's a good one!
Posted by: Josephine at May 27, 2005 05:38 PM
We shall welcome Laina to Boston with excited enthusiasm! Another nice person in Boston! HURRAH!
As a side note, I thought of you today, which officially makes me a weirdo stalker. I mean not really, but even I had to admit it was a little scary where my mind immediately went. I went to the eye doctor and had an emergency dilation because the doctor thought I was going blind (THANK YOU DOCTOR FOR REMAINING CALM! Not.) and panicked. And while I was wandering around the mall waiting for the dilation to take effect, I was sweating.
Like you read about. Dripping, awful sweat. And I actually thought, "Laurie THINKS she sweats, but let me tell you SHE HAS NOT SEEN SWEAT UNTIL SHE HAS SEEN THIS"
Like you were going to be there, or something. But it wasn't pretty. Or delicate. I sweat, I didn't glisten.
And I'm not going blind. Thanks, Doctor X.
Posted by: Jonna at May 27, 2005 05:39 PM
See? You are getting used to being out in public! Stitch N Bitch is fun fun fun. You stopped sweating.
Everyone loves you!
Posted by: Janis at May 27, 2005 05:53 PM
I was once caught (by a carload of teenage boys) headbanging to L7 in a business suit. Why the hell do the teenage boys stalk us?
Posted by: Pam at May 27, 2005 05:57 PM
OK, I generally like art and all, and at times may be accused of being fartsy, but that art is scaring me. I think I need that family that left to give me a hug right now.
Posted by: Amy at May 27, 2005 06:39 PM
i cannot wait to visit this snb when i visit michele later this summer, you guys look like a great group! everyone's projects look so fantastic!!
Posted by: another amy at May 27, 2005 06:47 PM
I bet the carload of boys remembers you. For a long time. Everytime they hear that song...they'll remember you. Bwwwuahhahahhaahah
Posted by: Nancy at May 27, 2005 07:09 PM
I'm telling you this right now: Laina's gonna be disappointed in Boston knitting groups. We don't have a thing on you Valley Girls. Wine, nope. Performance articles, ummm, no. Wait, chocolate! We can give her chocolate.
I hope that will be enough.
Posted by: Colleen at May 27, 2005 07:19 PM
Don't worry, there are lots of nice Boston knitters and bloggers to soften the blow for poor Laina! (Like me!) Sounds like a great evening.
Posted by: Anne at May 27, 2005 07:46 PM
Wonderful SnB entry!
I'll second (or third) that you shouldn't take offense that the lady didn't remember/recognize you. Some people just don't retain certain information or information from specific contexts. I almost ALWAYS remember who I see a movie with, and I used to have such hurt feelings when my best friend would forget that he saw a movie with me. Eventually, I just accepted that he doesn't make a mental connection between a movie and a companion.
You are VERY memorable!
Posted by: Erica at May 27, 2005 07:49 PM
Let's get together for doggie bones and water tomorrow before I go home! Mommy says she doesn't know what time she is getting up but that she would really like to see you again too.... Uncle Nick is just too cute though - it is so hard to leave!!! I think Mommy still has your phone number - I will tell her to call you in the morning...
Posted by: Minou at May 27, 2005 07:51 PM
soo much fun! too bad i have other engagements on thursday and tuesday nights (cant attend the santa monica snb neither)... hope the culver city one will launch soon on evenings or mornings when i'm available to join... ur blog is always so funny and full of energy! =)
Posted by: i Neat & Pearl at May 27, 2005 11:39 PM
It's great to hear you sounding so happy.
In December last year, the man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with told me that he'd changed his mind. He didn't want to have children with me or share his life with me after all. So I'm living far from home, in a house I can't afford, getting older by the minute, seeing pregnant women all around and getting sadder and sadder and sadder.
But, as I found out, as I am sure you know by now, it gets better. I am now feeling like the best years of my life are about to start and am really glad this all happpened. I am seeing that in all your posts, too, and that makes me happy.
Posted by: Katy at May 28, 2005 02:06 AM
i, too, have one of those faces that people just can't seem to remember. i have a good, dear friend named gabe. i have known him since i was six years old (that's twenty years for anyone who's counting.) his sister christine had no idea who i was until i was 22. i met her at least a half doen times before it stuck.
by the by - slightly drunken knitting might be the greatest thing ever!
Posted by: jenn at May 28, 2005 05:20 AM
I love my stitches and bitches too....there are two in town now...but hubby wants to stay married and only lets me go to one a week. Yep there's another thing about being single thats good.
Ps thanks for the comments on my site...it was kinda like a movie star had visited!
Posted by: Ingrid at May 28, 2005 05:46 AM
Way to end a great evening -- scare some teenage boys! That looks like a great group of knitters you've found.
Posted by: Jo in Ottawa at May 28, 2005 06:15 AM
Definitely longest post ever, but it was fun so that's ok. I think she didn't remember you because you're so normal that you don't stick out. In a good way :)
Posted by: Vicki at May 28, 2005 08:16 AM
Tupac RULES!
Posted by: Valerie at May 28, 2005 11:49 AM
Laurie: I did too remember you! I just couldn't place where I'd met you for a moment, whether you were someone who'd come to my knitting class once, or one of several newcomers who came to my spinning guild meeting last month, or someone I'd met the one-and-only other time I'd been at WeHo, or what. But I recognized your face immediately! And once you mentioned the Annie Modesitt class, I remembered you being across from me just fine! So sorry you thought otherwise. I'm glad I found your blog, and glad I got to WeHo again. Gotta get there more often!
--Kathy H.
Posted by: Kathy at May 28, 2005 01:25 PM
Whoa, my post above says it was posted by "Valerie." I'm not Valerie, I'm Kathy. And if you want to know how weird this is, I have a sister named Valerie, very close to my age. We look NOTHING alike. Most believe don't believe we're sisters. So to have to deny that I'm Valerie feels REALLY weird! --Kathy H.
Posted by: Kathy H. at May 28, 2005 01:42 PM
Oops, I misread. Sorry for flooding your comments here, Laurie, but my last comment made it sound like something was screwy with your blog, when in fact it's something screwy with my eyes! I see, now, the poster's name is *below* their post, not above it. Jeesh... --Kathy H.
Posted by: Kathy H. at May 28, 2005 01:58 PM
yay! i'm the one who drives the mini!
Posted by: maryse at May 28, 2005 07:53 PM
Along with Tom possibly [POSSIBLY!] being gay, I think Tupac is still alive. Hee hee heee...besides being an in-training superstarra, I'm a conspiracy theorist. Thank you for the lovely compliment! I'm so glad that I got to chat it up with you! You are every bit of the funny, wonderful person that I thought you would be from reading your blog. So addictive, you are!
See you Thursday!
BTW: The performance artiste was a bit strange. I asked her what she was making and she said a costume. I asked for what and she was very cloak and dagger about it. It made me very uncomfortable. What is she doing with that thing that she can't discuss it at 8pm on a Thursday night with a complete stranger? If it's secret, don't work on it in public!!! Ok...all done. ; )
Posted by: Christie at May 29, 2005 02:34 PM
OMG, I just had a chance to read this after a very LONG weekend...Hi-lar-i-ous as usual my dear! Hey, are you gonna call me and we can go out and drink some more wine or what??? Kisses!
Posted by: Regina aka LadyLinoleum at May 31, 2005 10:48 AM
I love the SNB idea. I need a crochet one, because so far I can only make flat things like scarves and afghans.
Also, the visual in my head of what those teenage boys saw when they pulled up - OMG - friggin hilarious.
You are too funny for words!
I think that way all the time. Here I am now 29 a bit frumpy with messy hair and I constantly sing to horrible music outloud with my horrible voice, and in my head I look gorgeous and appealing in my cool car, but I must really look CRAZY!!!
Posted by: 28goingon40 at June 1, 2005 10:01 AM
OMG - you are a riot. The visual in my head of the car full of teenagers looking at you....hilarious. I do that kind of thing all the time. I of course think I look beautiful in my cool car singing along to Elvis and dancing away - occasionally forgetting that people can see through my windows.
And the SNB - I need one for crocheting, I can only create flat things so far and I really want to make a felted bag, but 3D just ain't my thing yet!
Posted by: 28goingon40 at June 1, 2005 10:04 AM
The Performance Artist, sewing her latest costume at the SnB was my friend, Johanna Went. Just "google" her name and many items on her varied career will come up. Johanna has been in many movies, performed all over the country and is quite well-known in punk rock circles.
For awhile she had a business where she made pillows, lampshades and other decorative items for fancy schmancy boutiques here in L.A. As you can see from her mask-making skills, she's an extremely creative and inventive person! I hope she'll be joining us again at the WeHo SnB. We always need a shot of creativity!!!
L.A. Ell
Posted by: L.A. Ell at June 8, 2005 11:09 AM
