... Purl Patchwork

There is a little bakery cafe in soho I like to visit. It's called Once Upon A Tart. We discovered it during our first trip to Manhattan years ago. This past summer when Amy found ourselves hungry in Soho, we decided to stop in.

After sharing a divine sandwich, we strolled past the neighboring stores. A little shop painted seafoam green caught our attention. In fact, I happen to remember a man on a ladder painting that shop years ago. It's named Purl for the knitting stitch and its filled with rows of vibrant colored ball of yarn. We wandered in and let it improve our moods. The employees were friendly, encouraging us to stay as long as we like though all we are doing is looking up and down the rows of colors, a smile adorning our faces.

We eventually stroll out only to find a similarly painted seafoam shop three storefronts down. Purl Patchwork is filled with the most lovely bolts of material. Amy, a sewer herself, inquired about quality and sizes while I just stared. Every one of those bolts held the most wonderful designs. The urge to learn to sew came upon me suddenly as it's obvious these fabrics need to somehow incorporate their way into my home.

As it turns out, Amy had been asking questions of the owner of Purl and Purl Patchwork- Joelle Hoverson. She is a Stanford graduate and has written books on knitting. Fascinating. What a charmed life it seems she leads. I bite my tongue to avoid telling her that she should have named the sewing shop "Stitch" and practically have to sit on my hands to fight the urge to photograph her store interior (most stores don't like that). It's just simply beautiful. And that, my friends, is how I was wooed into my newest hobby-- sewing.

Have I actually sewn anything? No. But I did find a modest machine on sale for a very reasonable price. Jeff's mom did set me up with all the accoutrements I will need to accomplish the task. And, Amy and I are going to get together next week to choose material and place an order with our favorite find. So you see... I'm practically a pro already!