Time to put down the hook and yarn for a few minutes, so I can introduce today's Song of the Week. But before I begin, let me just bow my head in silence in respect to the victims of yesterday's naval base shooting in Washington, DC. This song is dedicated to them.
The Song of the Week is...
Let me just say that this song is one of the most beautiful pieces of hip hop to have ever been produced. This is actually my all-time favorite song ever made. Though I was only a mere eight years old at the time of its release, I immediately fell in love with it (during that era I was a big-time Kris Kross head). To this day, this song still gets heavy rotation on my playlist whether I'm on a bus, train, or at home playing my Super Nintendo (Confession: Whenever I hear this song, I automatically think of the classic video game Street Fighter II).
Well, that wraps up today's post. I need to get back to stitching up some more crowns...
And...that's all she wrote.
A blog dedicated to crocheting with a taste of hip-hop, soul, and some spiritual flavor on the side. I even throw in bits and pieces about life in Los Angeles.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
Swapmeet Yarn Store
I somehow came across this yarn store in the Westlake District of Los Angeles while on a search for a new nose ring (I always lose 'em when I get sick). It was located inside one of the many swapmeets along Alvarado, across from MacArthur Park.
The cliché of "kid in a candy store" has been overused per se, so I'll just say that this will be one of many places I plan on hitting up for yarn. Though I don't mind the travel to certain areas to purchase some of the finest yarns my little wallet can afford, sometimes it can be tiring catching six buses and seven trains (it's obvious I'm exaggerating) to this city and that city just for a discount.
On that note, I'll be signing off. Until then...you already know the drill. Now work those hooks!
The cliché of "kid in a candy store" has been overused per se, so I'll just say that this will be one of many places I plan on hitting up for yarn. Though I don't mind the travel to certain areas to purchase some of the finest yarns my little wallet can afford, sometimes it can be tiring catching six buses and seven trains (it's obvious I'm exaggerating) to this city and that city just for a discount.
On that note, I'll be signing off. Until then...you already know the drill. Now work those hooks!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
I'm thinking of selling on ArtFire...
It's going to be quite a few bumps (and potholes if you live in L.A. like me) in the road, but I'll be selling some stuff on ArtFire once I get up off the ground. I mean, really off the ground (school supplies cleaned me out for the time being). So until then, excuse this little blip on the radar while I go home and crochet some stuff...like, yesterday.
Speaking of which, I need to hurry up and stitch some hats faster than blast processing on a Sega Genesis. I've been nursing a cold this past weekend and this sudden drop in temperature hasn't been a large help (Southern California has been going through a nasty heat wave for the past week). So I have a lot of time to make up and plenty of yarn to use up.
But hold up now...don't expect me on ArtFire just yet. There are still some technicalities to be worked out, such as cash (Everybody needs a few Jacksons and Franklins in their pockets, right?) and cards. No, not the plastic...I really mean some business cards. Gotta get my name out there somehow. But first I have to pay bills so I can make sales (and unfortunately, pay more bills), then I can finally establish myself as a seller on ArtFire.
Well, I gotta split. I'll be back like a TV show after a commercial break.
Speaking of which, I need to hurry up and stitch some hats faster than blast processing on a Sega Genesis. I've been nursing a cold this past weekend and this sudden drop in temperature hasn't been a large help (Southern California has been going through a nasty heat wave for the past week). So I have a lot of time to make up and plenty of yarn to use up.
But hold up now...don't expect me on ArtFire just yet. There are still some technicalities to be worked out, such as cash (Everybody needs a few Jacksons and Franklins in their pockets, right?) and cards. No, not the plastic...I really mean some business cards. Gotta get my name out there somehow. But first I have to pay bills so I can make sales (and unfortunately, pay more bills), then I can finally establish myself as a seller on ArtFire.
Well, I gotta split. I'll be back like a TV show after a commercial break.
Song of the Week - 9/10/2013
In tribute to the late Cal Worthington, owner of many car dealerships on the West Coast (including Worthington Ford of Long Beach), the song of the week is...
Now don't start jumping out your Converse Chuck Taylors just yet. Some of you might be expecting me to post somebody like Snoop Dogg up in here, but I'm trying to keep this blog clean (no disrespect to the Doggfather)! (smile) I chose this song because it reminds me of my youth, growing up in Los Angeles in the mid- to late 1980s, watching Cal's zany commercials when we weren't occupied with the radio, and just having fun in a nutshell.
Since I'm paying respects to well-known folks in the SoCal, I also want to say RIP to Mix Master Spade. Thank you for bringing us good hip hop artists like King Tee, Toddy Tee, and DJ Pooh.
Now I shall pick up my hook and yarn again, and resume crocheting. Hopefully I'll have some more stuff to post...and even sell.
Now don't start jumping out your Converse Chuck Taylors just yet. Some of you might be expecting me to post somebody like Snoop Dogg up in here, but I'm trying to keep this blog clean (no disrespect to the Doggfather)! (smile) I chose this song because it reminds me of my youth, growing up in Los Angeles in the mid- to late 1980s, watching Cal's zany commercials when we weren't occupied with the radio, and just having fun in a nutshell.
Since I'm paying respects to well-known folks in the SoCal, I also want to say RIP to Mix Master Spade. Thank you for bringing us good hip hop artists like King Tee, Toddy Tee, and DJ Pooh.
Now I shall pick up my hook and yarn again, and resume crocheting. Hopefully I'll have some more stuff to post...and even sell.
In Memoriam - Cal Worthington
Today I shall put my hook and yarn down to pay respects to a beloved car dealer who made Angelenos like myself laugh with his wacky commercials...and his "dog" Spot.
Ah, yes...Cal Worthington, the man who started with a dealership in Texas in the 1950s and made his way through parts of the Southwest, one of those parts being Long Beach, California. He brought laughs to SoCal airwaves with his random animal appearances in his commercials, and a catchy jingle we misunderstood as kids because if we sang it out loud within parents' earshot, we were guaranteed a pop in the mouth.
Mr. Worthington was just 92 years old at the time of his death.
From the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/business/cal-worthington-car-dealer-with-an-incessant-jingle-dies-at-92.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Ah, yes...Cal Worthington, the man who started with a dealership in Texas in the 1950s and made his way through parts of the Southwest, one of those parts being Long Beach, California. He brought laughs to SoCal airwaves with his random animal appearances in his commercials, and a catchy jingle we misunderstood as kids because if we sang it out loud within parents' earshot, we were guaranteed a pop in the mouth.
Mr. Worthington was just 92 years old at the time of his death.
From the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/business/cal-worthington-car-dealer-with-an-incessant-jingle-dies-at-92.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Song of the Week - 9/3/2013
Here at The Soul Stitchery, I love to listen to music while I'm crocheting my butt off. So what I'm going to do is list one of my favorite songs each week until I'm good and tired of doing it (or until break). Ya dig?
The song of the week for today is...
(drum roll, please)
Ah, J Dilla...best damn producer to have graced this earth. Sadly, he died over seven years ago from lupus complications. But let us not mourn his transition to the hereafter; instead, we shall celebrate his music and his accomplishments.
Now the reason I chose this song is... Okay, there's really no concrete reason except I just like this joint. What other producer can make beats with only a 7-bar break? (ignore this question) Just sit back and take a good listen. Or, if you're like me (wanting to hear a track sans lyrics), here's the instrumental.
The instrumental (from my take on the song) has more of an erotic aura compared to its album version. But hey, that's just me. They both sound almost equally erotic (thanks to Herbie Hancock's "Come Running To Me" as the core sample of the beat).
Now y'all stay tuned for the next Song of the Week, hear?
The song of the week for today is...
(drum roll, please)
Ah, J Dilla...best damn producer to have graced this earth. Sadly, he died over seven years ago from lupus complications. But let us not mourn his transition to the hereafter; instead, we shall celebrate his music and his accomplishments.
Now the reason I chose this song is... Okay, there's really no concrete reason except I just like this joint. What other producer can make beats with only a 7-bar break? (ignore this question) Just sit back and take a good listen. Or, if you're like me (wanting to hear a track sans lyrics), here's the instrumental.
The instrumental (from my take on the song) has more of an erotic aura compared to its album version. But hey, that's just me. They both sound almost equally erotic (thanks to Herbie Hancock's "Come Running To Me" as the core sample of the beat).
Now y'all stay tuned for the next Song of the Week, hear?
Sunday, September 1, 2013
The 4 P's of Crochet
What exactly are the four P's of crochet? For one, it's something I imagined when I couldn't finish a project (or product, in my case). I'd get bored, frustrated, and just abandon the work altogether. These lessons are also what I teach my students if they find themselves at a dead end, or not knowing how to do a stitch. Here are the four P's of crochet: Prayer, Patience, Practice, and Passion.
Prayer: This one is most important, as it is the foundation for learning this craft. As you sit and crochet, you are calling upon God to make something beautiful for people to admire. You want them to feel the love and energy you've put into making your project, so always remember to pray before you begin.
Patience: I try to emphasize this with my students when they get irritated from not doing a stitch correctly. It works both ways because the students learn to be patient with every stitch they've done and will do, and I learn to be patient with my students as they encounter bumps in the road. It's a great experience for both the pupil and teacher.
Practice: Crocheting is easy once you get a feel for it, but it takes practice to make beautiful pieces. It's like learning to speak a new language. Crochet, in and of itself, is similar to a language. One doesn't necessarily have to know all the terminology, but should at least be proficient enough to know the basics. Once she has learned the basics, then she can leave the rest up to her imagination.
Passion: If a person is interested in the art of crochet, she must want to do it. She must also have that drive, ambition, and willingness to learn. And once she learns, many doors will open. Soon, she will have the inspiration to make and design many projects along the way. It can start with a fellow crafter, a book, or the latest fashion. All she needs are a hook, some yarn, and a vision.
And those, my crafting brethren, are the four P's of crochet. Always use these lessons when you start a new project. They will help to strengthen your spirit as you complete each stitch, and you'll even have fun in the process.
Prayer: This one is most important, as it is the foundation for learning this craft. As you sit and crochet, you are calling upon God to make something beautiful for people to admire. You want them to feel the love and energy you've put into making your project, so always remember to pray before you begin.
Patience: I try to emphasize this with my students when they get irritated from not doing a stitch correctly. It works both ways because the students learn to be patient with every stitch they've done and will do, and I learn to be patient with my students as they encounter bumps in the road. It's a great experience for both the pupil and teacher.
Practice: Crocheting is easy once you get a feel for it, but it takes practice to make beautiful pieces. It's like learning to speak a new language. Crochet, in and of itself, is similar to a language. One doesn't necessarily have to know all the terminology, but should at least be proficient enough to know the basics. Once she has learned the basics, then she can leave the rest up to her imagination.
Passion: If a person is interested in the art of crochet, she must want to do it. She must also have that drive, ambition, and willingness to learn. And once she learns, many doors will open. Soon, she will have the inspiration to make and design many projects along the way. It can start with a fellow crafter, a book, or the latest fashion. All she needs are a hook, some yarn, and a vision.
And those, my crafting brethren, are the four P's of crochet. Always use these lessons when you start a new project. They will help to strengthen your spirit as you complete each stitch, and you'll even have fun in the process.
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