new york city

Why is it that every time I go on a trip, which isn’t that often, I feel like I need to make a new bag for that trip?

I can’t pinpoint where the inspiration for this bag came from. Maybe I dreamed it. I really just wanted to play with some of the home dec fabrics I have in my stash, which seem perfect for bags. I loved this color combination of brown, teal and green, so I kept the outside embellishment simple with random zig-zag quilting lines using teal thread.

I also wanted a tote bag bigger than what I normally make. This prototype came out to measure an 11-inch square, big enough to carry all my purse stuff and fit a paperback inside too.

I wanted a long strap to sling this across my shoulders, but I didn’t have enough strapping for that style. So I made two straps instead, which I think I will like better anyway. It feels more sturdy and I like being able to tuck it underneath my arm. I’m super happy with how this turned out, so I’m hoping to add this one to my repertoire.

Our annual trip to New York City for my birthday bash is upon us, so I hope to see you back here in a few days!

People say there is a difference between a trip to visit family and a vacation. I guess you can’t call visiting family a vacation, but our trip to New York City to visit Dave’s sister and brother-in-law was so much fun. How could I not call it a vacation?!

We live in a small city, more like a college town, so I love being in the big city, especially THE city. Just watching people going about their lives can be an adventure.

I had a small list of a couple places I really wanted to go to, and thanks to my patient husband, we found each one.

There was Purl in Soho:

Check out the inside! Who can’t resist walls and walls of yarn?! I bought that skein of Sheep Shop yarn to make a beret. I also bought two skeins of sportweight yarn by Blue Sky Alpacas to make fingerless gloves. Besides all the luxurious and colorful yarns, the atmosphere at this shop is warm and cozy. It feels like a great place to meet friends or spend an afternoon, lost in your knitting project.

Next stop was just a couple doors down the block: Purl Patchwork:

This is such a wonderful shop, a lovely place I would love to hang out at on a regular basis.

We also made it to M&J Trimmings:

This shop is also amazing – HUGE and FULL of ribbons, rick rack, buttons, beads, and millions of other embellishments. I bought a bag full of various ribbons.

I felt a bit like a tourist when we found this next shop, but it was worth it to see in person.

Can you guess where I was, standing among millions of bolts of fabric?

I didn’t buy anything there because I was so overwhelmed with their inventory. We were lucky to get away with a couple pictures. I’m sure they don’t like tourists coming in and gawking while they’re trying to conduct a professional textile business.

(At this point, I would like to point out the great pictures Dave was taking for me – isn’t he great?!)

Here are a few highlights from the rest of our vacation:

Terri in front of the Guggenheim in front of the Guggenheim Museum

inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art

watching the craziness in Times Square.

the famous Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center – not quite ready yet! (official lighting: Dec. 3)

I took over one hundred pictures, so I won’t bore you with more. We ran into the Union Square Greenmarket, ate at a couple Irish pubs, rode the subway, saw the Christmas window displays at Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, even checked out St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

You may recall, we were celebrating, so we went to a french bistro on the upper West side called Nice/Matin for dinner. FA-BU-LOUS!

Besides being away from work for TEN days (it was heaven), we spent a lot of time just sightseeing and people-watching, had many great conversations and many more moments of laughter and jokes. I’m going to cherish this trip and vacation.

Terri's Notebook

Illustration, Art and Design

A New Bag For a Trip

A Trip and a Vacation