The Bold, The Black & The Bourgeois

...was the name. Nobody Jones Boutique hosted their 2007 Fall Fashion Show last night and I was in the house! I had a really good time. The clothes were bold, fresh and fun! The atmosphere was cool and comfortable. Lot's of beautiful down home people dressed stylishly casual and all looking like family. For a moment I felt like I had stepped onto the set of Girlfriends.

Anyhoo, enjoy the pics. Sorry some are blurry, some of the models were strutting hard and FAST. Just in case you are interested. Nobody Jones is a fun boutique in the heart of the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles that specializes in hip urban inspired femininely kitchy fashions for women. Many of the items are made by local artisans. Check the link for the address.

Kamika

Oh I Think They Like Me!

Whew! I've been neglecting you all. Not intentionally of course. I'm going on my 8th! Say it with me, 8th interview in 3 days for a position. The first day, I interviewed with 2 people, 2 days later I interviewed with 5 additional people one after the other and tomorrow I'm slated to meet with the final two!

Yay!! I'm truly grateful for the opportunity and I can't knock the company for wanting to make sure I'm a great fit. This position is strong on team playing and it shows in that they want to make certain the entire team will be comfortable with me. I'll keep you posted. Wish me luck!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been meaning to send an extra special thanks over to Christie for sending me the Rebecca Baby & Kids mag. Girlie, you just don't know that you have almost single-handedly helped me finish my Christmas shopping for the youngins in my life. Smooches!!

When I write again, I hope to be gainfully employed!

Kamika

With You In Spirit and Mind

Wishing much love and support to all the students and protesters black and white out supporting the Jena 6 today in Jena, LA. Injustices such as this must stop!

I haven't seen a ribbon assigned yet so I co-opted a black one. Check out some of the great blogger commentary and others from my fellow scribes.

• ColorOfChange.Org
• Afrobella
• Clutch Magazine
• Jena Times
• The Black Factor

Kamika

Were I Be

I know some of you are wondering, "What in blue blazes! Where is Kinky Coils?" I've been around but extremely busy. For the last two weeks, I took a temp assignment and have been away from my computer during the day.

The firm that I worked for turned out to be such a blessing in so many ways. It was an industrial engineering firm which allowed me to see the flip side of a certain aspect in real estate. You may not know that I'm a former real estate manager, hence industrial engineering plays a small part. The company was a partnership of two women and the principals really knew their stuff. Upon my last day one of the owners really imparted some wisdom that is going to help me in the future.

On to knitting! Because of my surge in cash flow I have been working on a number of new projects that I can't get too detailed about now, as I have to go but here's a sneak peek:

1. Regan (Rowan 41) - Needs some trim and the sleeves.
2. Rebecca Doll - I think I'll call her Sassy Hotpants or maybe just Floosy!
3. Boobholder - Gift for Arrica
4. Infant Petal Blanket - My own design for baby cousin
5. Test Knit for a well known knitwear designer.

When I come back, I'll have pictures and details on some of the sales I hit. I'll also have the latest installment of The Motel saga. So much has gone on here, you won't want to miss it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The New Fall Knitty 2007 is up!

-Check out the FABO hoodie called ROAM. Too cute, I want to do that one next. Take a peek at MR. GREENJEANS! This would be cute if made a little more fitted to accentuate the empire ribbing and with shorter more blouson sleeves. For those of us who love shawls or at least making them as gifts, MUIR is a great little number with enough same repeats for nearly mindless knitting. Lastly, the yarn in CHERIE AMOUR - Frutos Del Bosque, has great color variegation.

Tahki Stacy Charles Launches NYYarns.Com!

-TSC yarns has created a user website to go along with their new line of yarn, both called NYYarns. They've added an online shop that allows you to purchase directly patterns AND yarn. I put emphasis on yarn because many of your big named yarn makers don't allow you to buy yarn directly from them. If you like TSC, Tahki Stacy Charles, and Filatura di Crosa, you may like NYYarns.

Yarn Harlot in Los Angeles!

- If this is your first time hearing about this then it's probably too late for you. The show was booked almost instantly. RSVPs were strongly recommended but walk-ins are still welcome on a first come basis. Where: Mark Taper Forum (LA Main Library) @ 1pm. http://www.lfla.org/events/yarnharlot.php

Auf Wiedersehen!

Kamika

Wisdom is always useful but not always fun. I had planned to tell you all a drippingly sarcastic story about the goings on here at The Motel but Wisdom, uppity anti-social booger she is, advised me not to. Sorry, I probably should have kept even the mention of the idea to myself. Here's a teaser, "bathing everyday is a GOOD thing." and "if the ants don't pay rent, they should not be allowed to shack up here!"

On the flipside of the script, I had intended to put up a Throwback FO on yesterday but after looking at all of the poor pictures I took of stuff back in the day I decided not too. I may just go ahead and put them up anyways. But I don't want you all to be distracted by the psychedelic lighting effects where the whites look green, the greens look purple, and the purples look like doo doo brown. Consider yourself forewarned!

Not to leave the elephant in the room ignored. I'm bored to the diz-eath with my current knitting projects. Oh lack of money! The bane of my knitting existence has unwittingly kept me away from knitting and posting on my blog. At least I've lost some weight. Yippee!

Here are some websites and great blogs both crafty and lifestyle (irreverant) that I have been rendezvousing at. I'm sure you'll find at least one to add to your blog reader or your favorites. I'm sure that if I notice an undisclosed drop in your blog posts I'll know where to find you! ;-P

• Let's Knit2gether
• WikiKnitting
• Me, Myself an Eye
• Rhymes With Snitch
• Fashion Nette-Work
• MochiMochi Land
• Expert Village
• Yarn Harlot in Los Angeles
• Knitwerk

Kamika

Summer Pain

Tis what it tis... I've been away from blogland. No not really, I've just been away from my blog flat and have been laying on the couch of some other great bloggers through my Google Reader. So much has been going on here at The Motel but nothing actually here on the premises to pique your interest. Everything has been happening either off site, or in my mind.

I've been knitting and languishing, hitting the treadmill, and languishing. Sweating like a greek in the sauna that is my bedroom waging war on the damned ants! The California heat this August is not much different than in previous years, I just can't get to a room that doesn't have wood paneling and be able to layout in my underoos at the same time. And the ants! Oh the horrible ants are taking damn over! We've had so many ants that I think immigration laws are in order.

The ants are coming out of every crack and crevice here at The Motel. They're not even looking for food but have attacked my water! Water! What sound-minded bug runs to the water? I know it's dry outside and we didn't get much rain this past winter but dang! They ain't gonna be saved running to the water. No salvation for ants.

On the knitting front I have been miserable. The worsted weight silk blend I was using to make Notorious just didn't feel good in my hands. I think it was entirely too thick for the top. With a little research I learned that it would thin out after handwashing and blocking, but I didn't want to take that chance. Secondly as you can see from the photos, I made great headway on my Anthro Redux project but unfortunately I had to quit quick fast and in a hurry. I broke out in a rash all over my neck and parts of my face and hands. Why? Because I have wool sensitivities and the wool fibers mixed with the sweat I made from the hot temps didn't mix well. My neck got bumpy and two shades darker (TMI? sorry but I'll save you the pictures). I had to cover those areas with vaseline and shea butter to stop itching and to soothe the burning of my skin. I don't think there was anything wrong with the actual yarn as a milder version of this has happened before when I was wearing a wool hat-- pure wool and I just don't mix. I was chancing it working with the Berocco Ultra Alpaca but I had no problems with it.

The ultimate solution for my wool rash was to bag up those skeins and start all over with some Lion Brand Wool-Ease which is an acrylic and wool blend. It was a great alternative and I was able to get it in one of the hottest colors of the season, grey. My goal is to have the mock up finished by this weekend. From there I plan to use the design elements and confidence I've gained from taking this leap on actually designing and creating my own garments. I have so many ideas in my head. BTW, thanks for all the sweet compliments on my previous posts and on Ravelry. I so appreciate it!


Kamika

Throwback Thursdays ~ FO: Cleaves

Cleaves. A great concept but not truly suited for the buxom knitter. Originally made for myself but ultimately given to some one who didn't want to learn to knit it themselves. Designed by Katherine Summer O'neal for Knitty Spring '05.

Time: Oct. 2006 - Nov. 2006
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky, Lemon Drop, 5 skeins (125 yds each)
Needles/Hook: US 11 circs and dpns

Kamika

Throwback Thursdays ~ FO: Aran Weight Lace Shell

In continuing with Throwback Thursdays, peep the Aran Weight Lace Shell. This was my first lace project (I can be ambitious at times). Originally made for myself but better suited for my older sister so I gave it to her. The pattern is from Elann.com.

Time: March 2006 - April 2006
Yarn: Elann Endless Summer Connemara, Cashmere Blue, 7.5 balls (91yds each)
Needles/Hook: US 7

Kamika

Redux You!

The Anthro Redux is working out nicely. I'm finishing up the right front and will be switching to the left front before the days out. I'm very excited about this project. I've been in an emotional slump of late and usually when I find myself in this place I need to do something fantasmic to pull myself out. There's nothing like creating something fresh and new to do just that.

Yippee! Potter Craft News, the publisher of Annie Modesitt's soon to be released book Romantic Handknits has just released a teaser pattern. It's called Notorious-not quite a tank and not nearly a sweater. A great little number to transition from summer to fall with. This will be the perfect project for me to be able to use those 7 skeins of Rowan RYC Silk Aran I bought last week. Hey! They were on sale for 30% off! I had yard sale money! This was my only splurge, since the rest of my purse went to bills. I'm STASH BUSTING! I will actually be getting the book this weekend as it is being released on the 18th.

Yesterday, I found another great project. It's the Shedir hat from Knitty Fall 2004. Here's a really nice FO from Art Class Failure's blog. I plan to use that aubergine Tahki Cotton Classic I got from my Coffee Swap Partner Ann K.

Ahh! I'm feeling inspired again,

Kamika

Anthropologie Rising

I've been laying low since Thursday. Had a pretty heavy weekend what with the second garage sale and all. I didn't really sell anything this time around. Most items were bought last weekend. But then again I couldn't expect much to sell since my attitude was "I really don't want to sell it but if you give me some cash I guess I'll let you have it." Heck, I made enough to pay a couple of bills this week and buy some new storage. It worked.

I decided to step out of myself and start designing. I was on Ravelry at one of my groups and someone posted about Anthropologie's 2007 Fall Catalog. I immediately went to look and found this great cardigan that I just knew I could recreate. It's the "In Session Sweater" seen here in green. As a mock up I'm using the Deluxe Worsted 100% Wool, I had in my stash. You'll see on my dressform a blue jacket that I'm also using for shaping. I'm working this up so far on size 6US needles, which is going pretty fast and providing a good firm fabric. I plan to switch to size 7 or 8US to work the moss stitch shoulder shaping. I'm writing the pattern out as I go. Wish me luck!

Kamika