Warning – this one’s long!
In the end, the afternoon was redeemed by not one but TWO knitbloggers, but seriously, there were some moments when I was like what the fuck?
Yesterday was the opening of the BBG show – I have two photographs in it. A little background – the organization is the Professional Women Photographers group in NYC – I only just joined. I have never been to a meeting. I know only one person who belongs (I joined on her recommendation). So I’m a nobody where this group is concerned. This show is really my one and only association with them.
That said, everyone else’s photographs hung together and my two were hung on completely opposite sides of the room. I mean besides the fact that they were the ONLY TWO matted in black, there’s no way you’d know they were by the same artist. Why? I’m guessing because they needed to fill a couple of spaces and had no idea who I was so they chose to split them up. Everyone else’s work appeared together.
Okay. They didn’t say anything about white mattes or colors. I’ve always matted my photographs in black. Apparently I didn’t get the memo. (I guess they do stand out.) One picture was hung right by the exit. You know. The loser outpost. Fine. No biggie. Someone expressed great interest in it though – so we’ll see how that pans out. It would be the best revenge honestly.
I was feeling really awful for a little bit. After killing myself to get there in time (I thought it started at 3 – it started at 1), leaving super early from Philly, rushing to get G from the airport, I was more than a little disappointed when I got there.
So I sent G out to get something to eat and some sun and I sat down and pulled out some knitting. A woman sitting nearby came over to talk to me. She pulled out her own knitting, a scarf on size 19 needles, and asked if I was making a sweater. I said no, a sock and pulled out it’s finished mate (more on that later.) She asked if I usually made sweaters. I said yes, I’ve made a few. She said she hadn’t tried one. I told her I liked to challenge myself with my knitting, but that sweaters weren’t that hard. She asked me if I had ever knit with fun fur, because it was certainly a challenge.
Confession time. (Remember, I’m sitting there feeling pretty dejected about my skills as a photographer and whether I’m really an artist and feeling disrespected by the committee and such.) I have to tell you, I felt the most overwhelming sense of superiority. FUN FUR?! Challenging? Yeah. Keeping it from bursting into flames IS quite the challenge. It made me feel so GOOD! Isn’t that so awful? I’m a terrible person. The woman meant well and I really should’ve thanked her for helping me out of my funk.
I’m pretty sure I politely said, “No. I’ve never knit with Fun Fur.” I don’t think I laughed, but she never said anything else to me.
The day was soon further rescued out of the depths of self-pity by Cassie and her family! Cassie was so sweet to walk the gallery with me and encouragingly nod her head every time I lambasted another photograph (you know that old trick, knock em down as a pick me up.) And her husband generously commented that he liked my black mattes! And her daughter was equally horrified by some out of focus “arty” photos. Thank you Too Much Wool Family!
Then Mrs. Pilkington appeared! I’ve been wanting to meet Mrs. P forever and she wasn’t alone. Mr. P was there along with Cocoa Pebbles – who is in the running for cutest girl alive (she’s got some stiff competition from my niece though.) Mrs. P did some much needed reconnaissance on some potential clients and admired my knitting and confirmed my feelings that I was in fact being dissed by the committee. We will definitely be getting together again!
Thank you both for coming. Georgie did offer to rough up the committee chair – but he was dead tired and wasn’t in the mood for a fight – no matter what he said. You girls did the trick! Thank you!
Enough already. Are you still here? God you guys are the best.
[ETA: I should be honest – the show is really nice. There are many, many beautiful photographs and if you’re in the neighborhood, totally stop by!]
The birthday party was great. My niece had THE MOST FUN EVER! She was smiley and happy and laughing and loved the food, loved her cake, loved her presents. She made it all worth it.
This is all I got, picture-wise. I was too busy helping with the party. I never even took pictures of the baby – who my brother dubbed Chubsicle – he’s so fat – but in a good breast-fed chubby cheek healthy kind of way! And he loves to smile. Really he just grins away with his cute dimples and he even sort of laughs. Such a sweetie pie! And nephew #1 was sweet and crazy as ever. Did I tell you that the other day one of his teachers was wearing a sweater (my sister said it was kind of an open, webby type thing) and he asked her if she had knit it? She told him no and he asked, well who knit it for you? Gotta love that boy!
A huge thank you to all the comments on the birthday girl’s post – my sister had a good time reading all the comments.
Even with all the party craziness, I managed to finish this:
Check out that TOE!
I immediately (we’re talking 1AM) cast on for the second sock. And then ripped it the next day. Cast on, knit, rip, cast on, knit, rip. It’s finally coming along.
Right now it looks like the stripes are matching up – we’ll see how that goes.
Of course, I’m loving this sock thing. How come you never told me they were so much fun?! 😉 Cassie‘s got her own fabulous pair up today. Thank god I bought all that sock yarn!
Have a good one. I need to eat ate. A salad. And I totally agree with Carolyn. It’s all about the dressing.
I’ve only been reading your blog recently (since I joined up for the recent Knit One Read Too book), and have been admiring your photography! Your niece is absolutely adorable and your photographs are stunning. My sister-in-law is a photographer who does a lot of children; you artsy people make me jealous! But I love to see the world throw your eyes; I’m sure your work at the show was just fabulous.
ok..although i do knit with some pretty yucky stuff by blog standards, i do not knit with funfur. except for a pair of purses i made for my nieces a couple of christmases ago. can i just say that funfur is a bitch to knit with? you should have told that lady that she should throw that funfur and those size 19 needles away and try smaller needles with non novelty yarn. her hands will thank her.
So sorry to hear the show was such a bummer! I know your photos were fabulous as always, and people I’m sure had to notice it, too! And I’m with you…black mattes all the way! And girl, those socks are smokin’!
What a cute sock – great yarn!
I’m glad your day improved with the appearance of Fun Fur Knitter – you could make it a slogan for whenever a bad day turns around – “Fun Fur Knitter Strikes Again!” Mwa ha ha.
; )
Thanks for bringing some entertainment my way this afternoon, the pics of your niece made me smile as I’m sitting here working late (just because I have to be here not because there is work to be done). Great work on the sock, and keep looking on the bright side about Sunday, your work is fabulous. With my credentials as a photographer’s daughter, I don’t tell many people that. They probably tried to hide yours so it wouldn’t be compared to yours, jealousy, I tell you. 🙂
I used to think photos were supposed to be matted in black too! Wonder where we got this idea?? I studied photography in college, and for my first major project, I matted all my photos in black. oooops. Your purple socks look super nice!!
such beautiful photos and love the socks.
Sorry it didn’t go as well as expected. I love that shave legs title. I feel that way about a lot of things in life…
I’m totally in love with your niece. Each picture makes me smile a little wider! Are those twins in her arms? Is she nursing them? Katie & Ali were always so serious about that…
I love Lady Fun Fur, too, because she unfunked you, girl! Very cool about the Wool and Pilkington families, too.
Gorgeous, gorgeous toe. They’re looking like a great pair.
beautiful pics. at the bbg too. your niece is just luminous! glad we could help a little — you definitely made our day.
I just wanted you to know, for what it is worth, your pictures are awesome (so good, in fact, that I am having a hard time deciding which ones to buy). Like all your work, the pictures of your neice are delightful – want to fly to Calgary and take a couple pictures of my boys for me?
Oh, and as for fun fur, I never knit with it. Why? Because the only place I could imagine wearing it is somewhere like Las Vegas where, for sure, I would drink far too much and have that one smoke that would set the fun fur, and everything around it, on fire. Really, it’s not worth the risk.
Your sock looks PERFECT! How funny to be cheered up by the Fun Fur lady — I just had the same conversation about FF with someone yesterday, she swore by the stuff — I guess it’s a big winner for Lions Brand. Your photos are fabby! 🙂
I have only made one pair of socks so far…and the toes looked nothing like that. Did you use a particular pattern or did you just give it a go without one?
Cara – Sorry it didn’t go as planned. I’m glad to hear that Mrs & Mr P and little one brightened things up a bit. And that the bday party went well.
I am sorry to hear about the crap treatment at the BBG, it does sound like you got short changed! Yay for the knitting bloggers coming to your rescue! Those photos of your neice are just gorgeous, I especially like the one from behind.
Hey Cara 🙂 Nothing wrong with that sense of superiority–you deserve it! Great news about the interest in your photograph. I really hope that works out.
Your niece is so cute–I love those facial expressions! and your sock is coming along so well. I like that purple a lot.
Hope you have a good Tuesday, C!
I really love your pictures. If that counts for anything. 🙂
Oh, that just isn’t fair, and it’s hard not to take that personally.
The sock is great! The colors are so bold. Love the toe!
OK. I feel your pain, and I will personally kick the crap out of any so-called member of that so-called committee–just say the word.
But having said that, and meant that, I am LMAO at this post, from the title on. To think that you took it out on the poor Fun Fur Lady! Bless her heart! As Stephanie the Harlot says, the Fun Fur is the Gateway Drug to the real yarn!
Also I love love LOVE the photos of your niece. The auntie love, I know from personal experience for 17 years, is a strong and powerful love.
Do you do the kid-photos professionally?
Just asking. Just wondering. Other people have cute kids too, ya know!
Also love the pinwheel I saw over at Larissa’s. Elevating the humble ASC! Love the moss edge.
Loving everything today! xoxo Kay
even if you are a terrible person, you are not alone —- I got a big kick out of your fun fur conversation and your imaginary answer! flames – tee hee!! ps. I feel the same way about crochet.
Oh you met Mrs. P!? I’m dying to meet her, too and Cassie and well..everyone back there (and now Vicki, too!). Knit bloggers are so cool.
The next time there is a show I’ll bet THEY know who you are. You do the best photos ANYWHERE.
Oh and those socks are pefect!! 😉
The expressions on your niece’s face are just amazing. You’d have to be pretty quick to catch that kind of thing on my kid’s face because as soon as she even hears the camera turn on, the poses begin…
Damn, I wish I lived closer to you. I would have sat on the other side of the Fun Fur lady and made silly faces to cheer you up. I know Steph says it’s a gateway drug, but from what I hear, it’s such a serious pain in the ass to knit with that it would more likely discourage you from ever picking up needles again.
Your photos are stunning, and while one of them may have been near the exit, I am quite sure everyone there has spotted it across the room and run right over to oooooo and ahhh. Wish I’d been one of them!
Love the niece, love the photography, love the sock, LOVE your reaction to fun fur! In your situation, I would have fought to be polite, but would have gagged a little. I am impressed by your behavior — you are a model citizen knitter!