Love / Hate Event

This past weekend we held our Love / Hate event. We accepted anonymous letters and put a typewriter out for use in accomplishing this task. Weren't exactly sure how to display the letters, but (seen below) is what came to play the night before. Worked out very nicely. It's so fun reading the different letters. I would love to do another similar event in the future. This was one of the more unique events I've held, and now my brain is ticking, thinking of new ways to top it. Feel free to comment if you have any event ideas!

One thing that is in the works is a one year anniversary event. Yes. I have been here almost one year. I cannot believe it either. So much has happened, yet I feel somewhat in limbo. I guess a business is always improving and changing though. But can you believe I don't have a proper logo yet? It has to be just right! Just right is tough though.. I think I need to start pestering my boyfriend (who can draw) so we can sit down and come up with something, because it's about time.

Anyway, now that i am outing myself as a bad business owner, enjoy the photos of the event below. I am waiting on some shots from the dance party that was held at The Coffee Shoppe. I present.. the letters:













Rearranged the shop a bit. That's a Liberty of London Shawl on the shelf. Below are a few gold clutches and these lovely fur collars that someone found in their mother's old hope chest. Variety of vintage purses on the shelves.



Not the best shot of these, but I (and some friendly-friends) labored over sewing the heart garland seen above. I used Valentine theme scrap book paper and old newspaper. It's a nice mix to go with the light/dark theme.



Apologies for the angry look, but here I am taking a non pink and red approach on valentine's day, while still keeping with the cutesy theme. I am wearing a vintage gold heart with floral print necklace (no close up shot, but it's one of my heirloom pieces), a black sheer polka-dot top over a tank top from Urban (bought years ago, but still holding on to), a floofy (sorry, I like this word) ballerina skirt from Forever 21, some cute tights with a bow print (Etsy), plus my vintage black boots and a cardigan to stay warm.

Hope you enjoyed the post! Come check out the show if you're in the area. I don't have an event planned for March, so I may be keeping this up till at least 2nd Sat in March.

In the Works

I have a couple events in the works.. first:

BLACKBIRD ATTIC, in association with THE COFFEE SHOPPE proudly present a fantastic, interactive, proactive evening of art, romance, mayhem, and exposition of the soul, in which your courage to tell that special someone how much you really love them, or your need to stick it to that someone who makes your skin crawl with hate, is our focus and product. The best part of it all, they don't ever have to know its you.

If you find your...self seething with joy or despair, elation or depression, butterfly kisses or middle fingers, then we have an outlet for you. We're here to help you craft a work of passion, be it hate or love; an anonymous proclamation of yourself through the magic and mystery, and nearly lost art called "typewritten word".

Wander into Blackbird Attic and The Coffee Shoppe February 6th through the 10th to participate. We will have type-writers and paper ready and at the go. We're inviting you to stop by, sit down, and pour it out like they did before the interwebs, through a letter. Straight and forward narrative, avant garde, poetry, or anecdotes, everything goes.

You can let them know what you've always wanted to let them know with out letting them know that you're letting them know.

Submissions end on Thursday, February 10th.
All letters will be collected, and displayed on February 12th.

Opening reception will be held at Blackbird Attic 442 Main Street Beacon NY from 5 p.m - 8 p.m. in which the all the letters will be unveiled. Then, after decking yourself out in some of Blackbirds serious threads, stretch and limber up, and join us at The Coffee Shoppe as we celebrate, read a few selected entries, and dance the love/hate away.

"There's nothing in this world so sweet as love. And next to love the sweetest thing is hate."

---h.w. longfellow

And a sewing class!

Blackbird Attic, the Coffee Shoppe and local designer Allyson Vermeulen are excited to announce a very affordable opportunity to enhance your sewing abilities.

We will be sewing a wrap dress, following Collette Patterns Crepe Dress pattern. If you know how to sew but have never followed a pattern before, this is a great place to start! You will learn basic principles of garment construction, interfacing and finishing techniques.

Students will come to class with pattern pieces already cut from their fabric of choice. (The instructor will be available during studio hours or by appointment in the 2 weeks prior to class to assist and answer questions for this part of the process) There is an alternate pattern available for men (Collette Negroni Short Sleeve Button-Down)

Basic sewing knowledge and a portable sewing machine are required.

Class Fee -$75 For two 3 hour sessions.

March 7th 7-10pm
March 14th 7-10pm

$38 deposit is required at sign-up. Space is limited. Please bring deposit to Blackbird Attic 442 Main St, Beacon NY. ASAP.

E-mail info @ blackbirdattic.com with questions or for more information.

More Important Information:

Please purchase pattern (*and tools/supplies listed on pattern envelope) online prior to class:
http://www.colettepatterns.com/shop/crepe
Alternatively- http://www.colettepatterns.com/shop/negroni

Fabric should be light to medium weight cotton.

Studio Hours:
Monday 2/28, Tuesday 2/22 and 2/28 from 7-10, and Saturday 2/26 from 11-1, or by appointment.

Sunlight

"Sunlight" - Harlem Shakes from Matt Broach on Vimeo.

Harlem Shakes- Sunlight

It's freezing & I could use a little sunlight right about now.

Resolution #1

Ahh so I have been putting off updating. I wanted to do the typical resolutions post that everyone seems to do in the new year, but I always have to make things more complicated in my head, and then I get overwhelmed and put it off (resolution to fix this also required). Anyway, I figured I would keep things simpler and just post about one of my resolutions.

Before I moved to Beacon, I gained an addiction to Fresh Direct. It was just so convenient to look up ingredients for a meal, put them in my cart and get them shipped to my door! On top of that, they have really nice fresh produce and fish. We didn't live too far from a grocery store in Brooklyn, but I didnt like walking along a highway to get there and having to lugg back bags that would make my arms feel like they were going to fall off. I even tried bringing my own rolling cart thing, but then I realized they have these short concrete poles in the way so you can't steal their carts. Too complicated for me.

So I was ordering all these fresh ingredients and making nice meals from scratch. I was quite proud of myself and having fun with it. But after the move to Beacon we barely went to the grocery store, even with it being a short walk away. They don't have the freshest produce and it's just an annoying task without a car to plop the grocery bags in.

So for the past year we have been borrowing a car when we can and doing big grocery trips (hauls) of mainly non-perishables. For the most part, our diet has consisted of frozen this, canned that. I am really in the need for some variety and fresh food from scratch.. a real meal! I was googling vegetarian meal plans and came across this website, Veggie Meal Maker.

What I really like about meal planning is that you're using similar ingredients throughout the meals. It can be tough to first choose meals and make sure there are similar ingredients while also making sure the meals arent too alike. I also like that following someone's meal plan will give me ideas for meals that I might not have thought of. If I look up something to cook, I usually end up looking at something pretty complex, so I am trying something different. This site offers simple recipes so that making something fresh for dinner every night wont be a big ordeal.. while also teaching me new recipes so I am not always stuck on the same "quick ideas".

I feel like they are paying me to endorse this, haha, but really, I am just excited to start cooking and eating healthier again. I signed up for the trial first and now the three month subscription. I will let you all know how it goes!

But We'll Have a Fine Time