New Orleans Signs

Well, I am busy packing - 9 days to go - and can't wait!  I have put my Etsy Shop on vacation because even if someone did buy something, I would be hard pressed finding the shipping materials and possibly even the item!

Before we bought the new house, I had planned and paid for a trip to New Orleans at the end of October.  I do hope that I have things organized enough in the new place that I will actually relax and not be thinking about everything that still needs to be done at home!

So my mind has been on New Orleans a lot.  The Saints have started the regular season with a win over Minnesota and we are going to see them play Pittsburgh when we go.  A Saints game is always fun, and this year they have a new open air plaza next to the Superdome built specifically for tailgating N'awlins style.   I thought they already did a pretty good job!

WHO DAT!

And, I thought I would just post some pictures of some of the interesting signs you see in the French Quarter.

Art shop on Decatur Street/

Famous Oyster Bar at the Royal Sonesta Hotel.

Art Gallery on Royal Street

Very good food here.  The name is a take off of the walkway along the Mississippi called the Moon Walk.

"Famous" bar on Bourbon at Conti

Another Art shop - I think the sign itself is beautiful.

A Mask shop - go figure!

Book shop - I love these places with the old books.

This was at the top of a building just outside the French Quarter off Magazine Street - imagine - Asbestos!

This is a great Restaurant on Decatur.

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They have these flip signs on the tables - when you don't need the waiter for anything - leave it flipped as above.



But when you need the waiter for something.......



 And although I have many more signs to share with you, I think the advice above is good for tonight!

See you all next time!

Beads!

I was sitting in my knitting room a few weeks back, looking around and thinking about what to make next.  I have so many ideas for projects I would like to make and I have to admit, way too large a stash of yarn to choose from - I have a hard time deciding what pattern to use, what colours to make it with, what size .....  I want to make everything and I want to make it all NOW!  

And my eyes landed on a little pot of beads I have and the idea hit me - knit with some beads! 

And now honestly, who doesn't think of Beads when one thinks of New Orleans? Beads are just one of those iconic things that automatically come to mind when you think N'awlins - Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, Jazz....... Beads!

I have never been to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but I do have quite a collection of beads.  AND, for those of you with "Enquiring Minds" - NO - I have never bared any body parts to get any beads!  I have my Saints Beads and my Margaritaville beads, plain old beads from the French Market, and believe it or not - Oktoberfest beads from the (what else?) Oktoberfest parade we saw on Bourbon street -- it was so much fun to watch!   

Don't you just love seeing the tractors on Bourbon Street? 

And of course, every souvenier shop has thousands of beads to choose from.....all colours - all sizes - some naughty and many nice...

And no matter what time of year it is, you will find the trees on St. Charles Avenue festively adorned with beads tossed from Mardi Gras floats in February.

You can see trees like this all down St. Charles Avenue while riding on the Streetcar.  In summer, they are more hidden by the foliage, but the glimpses of bright shiny colours through the leaves bring a smile to my face!

Now, back to knitting....

I made a summer dress/jumper in a black acrylic yarn with a raised stripe in muted green, blue and lavender.  There is a small triangle of multicoloured glass  beads that echo the colours of the stripes on the bodice of the dress.  There is a matching headband with three beads.

And, I have made two pairs of infant socks.  The first pair is almost like a little ankle bootie with a scalloped edging with opalescent beads incorporated into the edging.

This second pair has a folded over ribbed top with various colours of glass beads worked into the ribbing.

These and other new items will be listed in my Etsy Shop (find the link on this page) before the end of this week! 

And now that I have put that in writing, I cannot procrastinate any more!  Gotta go!