A Long Overdue Update

I never did get to mention that August 3rd (the day after my birthday) marked 10 years since I started this blog!  Thanks to everybody who stayed along for the ride, and the new folks who stopped by.

I did put up a new listing on Etsy recently.  Since Summer is winding down here in Los Angeles, I need to work on some Autumn stuff...long as it ain't pumpkin spice (It's your fault, Starbucks).

And here's that new item I listed.

The "Odds and Quirks" Patchwork Snood

Man, I need to learn consistency so I can get noticed around these parts.  Other than that, I got some crocheting to do.  Y'all be easy!

We Need More Crocheters & Yarn Stores In The Hood

Just needed to throw in this quick mini-gallery above this sentence to make a point.

I'm a crocheter from one of the worst neigborhoods in South Central Los Angeles, an area called Hyde Park.  Yes, I come from what is known as the hood.  And I'm quite certain that other folks who crochet like I do and come from the trenches would say the same thing.

You see, the art and the skill of crochet isn't just relegated to the suburbs.  I've seen some of the most beautiful pieces of handiwork come from the hood; in my neck of the woods, that would be places like Leimert Park and Watts, Inglewood, and Long Beach.  And these fiber artists don't get enough shine, whatsoever.

What I suggest is that we showcase crochet artists and designers from every hood throughout the United States who can just go ballistic with a hook and yarn.  And if they want, they can even set up a weekly marketplace where they can sell their handmade pieces locally.  I would even encourage them to sell their wares online on platforms like Etsy, Payhip and Shopify!

And another thing that was on my mind is that there are no local yarn or upcycling spots in the hood.  The closest thing to a yarn store we had here in LA was Walmart at the Crenshaw Mall, but they shut that one down in January 2016.  Yeah, we've got Michaels in Inglewood and Mid-City (Midtown to us local folk) and Joann Fabric & Crafts nearby (La Cienega & Pico Blvds), but I still have to travel out to buy material and supplies.  Even the nearest Hobby Lobby from me is not that far, but it's still a couple of cities over in Hawthorne (ironically across the street from another Michaels store), and that even takes a cool minute to get there by bus.

This is to all my crocheters from the hood: Y'all know how that goes, right?  Having to burn gas or pay bus fare just to travel out to buy your yarn, hooks, and whatever else you need, only to come home exhausted after the long trip.  This is why I say that there should be more yarn stores in the hood.  If not that, then we should have some local upcycling stores that do sell yarn, fabrics, and other things needed to create.  That way, we can travel only if we want to buy that good-quality, high-end yarn.

Now I want y'all to show them skills off!  It doesn't matter if you come from Brooklyn, Chicago, Philly or South Central LA.  And it certainly doesn't matter if you live in Marcy, Soundview, Pork 'N Beans or even the Nickerson Gardens.  If you come from those spots and you can crochet your ass off, then show off your talents!  Y'all got this!!!

Check Out Cookiey's on Instagram

I met a fellow crocheter here in South Central LA last week while delivering some handmade goods myself.  And let me just say that her work is some of the dopest I've seen!

You can check out her work on Instagram if you want to order some custom-made clothes from this lovely woman.  In fact, let me give you guys the link to her page.

Cookiey's On Instagram

So give her a holler some time.  I highly recommend it!

And don't forget to support your local Black crocheters, wherever you may be in the world!

Àse 🙏🏾👑

And lastly, support your local Black crocheters, wherever you may be in the world!  😊🙏🏾👑

Experimenting With Handmade Bucket Hats

A few days ago, I took my prototype bucket hat to a friend of mine who is also a local vendor.  Let's just say that it was a hit with some of the other vendors and folks in the area.  So now, I've been commissioned to design a number of these hats with various different color combinations and schemes.  That'll give me a chance to bust that big ol' stash of yarn so I can free up a little space.

Right now I'm working on an ocean-inspired piece since it's summer here in Los Angeles.  I've got plenty of ideas up my sleeve for these bucket hats.  This reminds me of the times when I was crocheting fedoras like crazy and they were selling like clockwork.  Now I'm seeing people rocking bucket hats like it's no tomorrow as if their names were LL Cool J or EPMD.  But hey, there's nothing wrong with it.

Àse 🙏🏾👑

Fresh On Etsy

I just listed this mellow tam a few days ago in the shop.  The wonders of the ocean inspired me to make it.

The "Aurora Waves" Slouchy Hat

There'll be more listings to come, so be on the lookout!  😉

Juneteenth 2023 at Leimert Park - The Finale

Just like I called it, the last day of the annual Juneteenth festival at Leimert Park had a massive turnout, so much so that it took me 20 minutes to walk from the K Line station to a bench so I could relax.  As some of you can tell, this is probably the biggest event in all of South Central Los Angeles, maybe even bigger than the Taste Of Soul.

LA Metro K Line, Leimert Park Station

I couldn't even get any decent photos because the whole area was packed, from Vernon Avenue to MLK Boulevard.  Even the local buses (Lines 40, 105, 210, and DASH) had to detour because there were thousands of folks everywhere.  So far, this was the only other picture I was able to snap up.

DJ playing some old-school classics on the 1s & 2s

I got to communicate with some longtime buddies again and score some free Pocky sticks (I love that snack) while at the park, but that huge crowd had me feeling uneasy.  So I jumped right back on the K Line and got outta Dodge.  Big crowds leave me mentally overwhelmed.

So that ends this little miniseries on our yearly Juneteenth event here in Los Angeles, CA.  At least I don't have to worry for another year about the streets blocked off to where it's standing room only.

Y'all be good now!

Juneteenth 2023 at Leimert Park - Day 2

I thought Sunday was going to be the most lively of the Juneteenth weekend, considering that we have our weekly African drum circle in the area, but it was the same turnout as Saturday.  I can't lie and say that I didn't enjoy myself, because I certainly did.

Our weekly drum circle on Degnan Blvd

Local vendor selling Beautiful African garments

I did have a great conversation with another local crocheter who had her booth set up.  She had some of the dopest handmade pieces that I've ever seen in knowing a lot of Sistas who can throw down with a hook and yarn.  This is something one would hardly see in places such as South Central Los Angeles; coincidentally, the woman and I touched base on that topic as well.  Too much talent is often overlooked in the hood, especially when it comes to crochet, so we as the crafters of the hood need to bring it to the forefront.

Today is the final day of our Juneteenth festival in Leimert Park, so there's a good chance that we may have a spectacular jubilee of sorts.  That also means I gotta slap that infamous 3-word phrase on this post since this celebration of our enslaved ancestors isn't over yet.  So yeah, to be continued and all that rah-rah.

Many thanks to TMH and the Ancestors for guiding our people out of the darkness.  May Your glorious Light shine upon those who have not yet been reached.  Àse 🙏🏾👑❤️🖤💚