My moment of Silence begins today......

As a native New Yorker and witness to the horrific events of 9/11, the first 48 hours here in NYC before 9/11 changes. It is an energy I have never known NYC to have. The hustle and bustle still flourishes but it is a sad energy, anxiety, anger , tension, it is solemn. We all look at each other differently..we remember without speaking, the pedestrian, the food vendor, the transit worker...we all feel it. Some of us still cry in the street, some of us still come up to those who are crying...we don't have to know each other ..we still care.

As the "Beaming Towers" stretch to the sky every night from the WTC location. They seem to shine a little brighter and stronger the days before 9/11. It is as if the souls of the departed are present and let us know we are here, those of us who believe in God they say "We are ok..do not fret God is taking care of everything"

To me ,The Twin Towers were the most beautiful buildings of NYC. they were a big part of the navigational lessons my mom taught me to help me get around the city on my own. They were the first structure I would looked for whenever I went out of town ..the moment I saw them, I knew I was home again. Call me biased but the Towers 'made " the skyline of NYC famous..no other city skyline looked like ours.

To know that day I would not be here to tell the tale, because GRACE would have it that I had a job interview in Queens and didn't have to go to an interview in the South Tower shakes my soul, to watch from the 59th street bridge in helpless horror as the city shut down, chaos in the streets and only the sound of walkie talkie, sirens, radios talking about the Pentagon attacks and the roar of military planes overheard. How I fell to my knees in sheer grief as the towers tumbled.

But to witness the unified front to SURVIVE & Stay Alive is something I am most proud of. How everyone helped each other..the rich, the poor and all in between. For the animals owned and abandoned who received extra special care. How every store opened its doors to feed the hungry and every hotel lobby became a rest stop for the sick, weary and shaken and a contact point to call loved ones far away..

How buses,trucks and even limos became free cabs to anyone who needed a ride home. My heart filled with pride for the human spirit as I walked barefoot through 3 boroughs and two bridges to the Bronx to get home to my babies, praying every step of the way.NYC became New York United. I didn't even intend to write all this, if at all but I am glad I did. I wanted to share this with you as I know so many of us have been affected. feel free to post a comment or a moment in honor of 9/11. We will never forget;-)

Peace and Blessings, Andrea

Balance - Family Time

I was sitting at home with two slightly swollen feet and a bp reading of 145/90 feeling miserable. I wanted to go out so badly but I was too tired to take the baby for an outing. Then my son's father called: " What are you doing today? He says. "Feeling sorry for myself LOL!" I replied.

"Oh yeah, he chuckled, we just have to see about that, I'm coming over."

Two hours later, I found myself in Coney Island, Brooklyn taping the same ride I experienced as a child for the first time many years ago, the Saturn 6. Just looking at it again made my stomach turn just as it did as a child;-P I had forgotten how much fun this place is for the young and old. I've been so busy working it's hard to schedule in family time. But I do and enjoy every moment if nothing else for the sake of sanity.

It was a perfect 75 degrees, with a few gusts of wind at 20 miles per hour.

The water was so calm you would never think we just an Catagory 2 Hurricane blow past here just the night before.

Though we are separated, I have noticed my son's father has become increasingly active in our lives, esp my son's. I just wish the support was here 3yrs ago when I needed it the most. But I'll take what I can get;-)

I love this little shell;-)

And yesterday was the Wonder Wheels' 90th Anniversary

It was a beautiful day;-) Thanks for visiting

September in New York P1. Pic & Creations

Happy September,

Here is a view of some things we love in New York in September there are so many things that happen in and out of the city. I am not feeling so hot today, so I thought the pics would tell some of things we look forward to;

Something we will always remember..................

Something we can't wait to harvest from.....

Somethings, that still amazes us.....







I hope to go outside and catch some beach /Labor day festivities and post the pic here for P2. Thanks for visiting.


Photo Credits and Links:

World Trade Center:
http://architecture.about.com/od/disastersandcollapses/ig/September-11-2001/Attack-on-WTC.htm

Upstate New York/New England Fall Foliage:
http://www.komonews.com/outdoors/26870434.html

http://photographerdating.com/?p=6


Niagara Falls at Night:
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/night-on-niagara-sean-cupp.html

Farmers Markets in Union Square & Brooklyn, New York
http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/ny169.html

http://sustainableflatbush.org/2008/09/11/east-new-york-farmers-market-celebrates-10-years/

Dyed Peacock Feather Earrings:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SwanRiverStone?section_id=6857261

Bag Making Night at EtsyLabs

Hey family Elcome to Brooklyn - LOL I typed that on purpose;-) I didn't notice I cut off the W in this photo till it was too late. But this is one on the cool Wecome signs you see when you enter downtown Brooklyn just off the Brooklyn Bridge. I took a pic of this one on my way to EtsyLabs Monday Craft Night November 16th.

Hey, who needs building  numbers when you can have a super bright neon sign located right in your building's lobby LOL! This is the first thing yuo can when you reach the address when EtsyLabs is located;-)

Here we are on the fifth floor where Etsy is located;-) My camera battery was dying so I had to limit my pics..so not happy about that;- alot of the pics came out fuzzy and out of focus- these are the best ones I had till I can get he others ones fixed up;-(

Me ironing my bags" wrinkles out the following day post crafting.

Sewn in "Bags for the People " tag that Glen Robinson provided

Glen Robinson and I taking a quick photo together with my large drawstring bag made from repurposed fabric, Glen is an awesome teacher.

Tthis post doest do the Organization justic so I have included some links to learn more about them :

Log onto the website for the latest event pictures, news and information:

http://www.bagsforthepeople.org/

Check out the upcoming events calendar below:

http://www.bagsforthepeople.org/events.htm

***Upcoming Event***

If you are in NYC, come out to Bags For The People's Sweatshop Social -- Monday Nov 30, 7pm – 10pm: Sweatshop Social @ 3rd Ward( www.3rdward.com );195 Morgan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

You bring the fun and the fabric; they'll provide the sewing machines, instruction, Beer by Brooklyn Brews( http://brooklynbrews.blogspot.com/ ), food from Nha Toi( http://newyork.timeout.com/restaurants/williamsburg/36016/nha-toi ) and live music curated by Pendu Org Arts & Actions( http://www.pendu.org/ )
 
Also, you can show your support for Bags for the People with a tax-deductable donation that will not only help us continue, but expand our FREE programming. You can view more info at the link below:  http://www.bagsforthepeople.org/donate.htm


You can also see more EtsyLab Photos on their Flickr Pages

Etsy Labs Photostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/etsylabs/


Etsy Labs Show & Tell Flickr group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/etsylabsshowandtell/

Etsy Labs Meetup group:

http://www.meetup.com/etsylabs/

EtsyLabs Profile Page
http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=8314911


Thanks for visiting!

Be Crafty,

Ny

The Weeks in Review

Hey Family,

just wanted to stop in and show you a few of the things I've been doing for the past few weeks- I have more to post but right now I'm on dial up at my mom's house and uploading is a chore!I finish the rest on Tuesday.

First, I made 10 pairs of Rose Quartz earrings for a Texas bride, and 8 Calla Lilly Necklaces for a Colorado wedding last week.


Finished the Mother of Pearl earrings for the New York Bride this week.. She choose style 1, I liked style 2;-) but it's not MY wedding now is it?? lol!!

Spent some time with the local wildlife- these Canadian Geese have long stopped migrating to the South for decades after the locals started feeding them.

Don't worry they still nibble on all the grass here -trust me we see how well they are eating by the - umm - "presents " they leave behind lol..great fertilizer though ..ok, that's gross;-P

moving on....I helped pull some weeds from a neighbors floral garden

Made some more new jewelry, you know I just HAD to make some feather earrings in purple! Sold the first pair a few hours later. You can find all these new pieces in my Etsy shop

I choose a new wood background for my new and older listings. Gotta re-do your pictures sometimes to keep them fresh.

These acrylic leaf earrings are my favorite. They remind me of the changing of leaves in Autumn.

I've been hearing my use of natural elements make my pics too busy and distracting. Maybe, maybe not..but I love to use natural elements in my pictures. I just can't ..no, wait WON"T do the one color/plain background. It's just not me. The color, textures, seasons, ..all these things I think about when i make a piece or photograph them because these are the elements that inspire me.

From the cotton in our shirts, flowers and trees, the slight breeze,to the metal in our chairs, or the wood bench , patio or tables where we sit. Nature makes us beautiful every day.

How was your week??

Thanks for visiting,

Be Well,

Ny

New York's State of Mind- September 11th,2001

Image from http://massfatality.dna.gov/

They say New York is the city that never sleeps..it is also the city that never gave up.

Sure we stood still for what seemed like days but was only hours.Yes, we shut down our airports, buses and trains.

We did things we have never EVER done ..like stand in horror and watch the signature of our city fall.

We cried tears we never thought we had in us, felt fear we never knew existed.

We saw death like we NEVER want to see again, and felt pain that will never heal right.

It's the day NY stood still.

It was also the day NYC came together..beyond the bright lights , fashion avenue, fame and international brew ha.All that didn't mean squat that day.

It's the day we opened doors to everyone, every limo, truck, cab and carriage carpooled and every five star hotel became free shelter.

Where food and water was free to anyone who needed it, and strangers became friends. Where working cell phone minutes become every one's bill to share to tell a loved one "I'm ok"

Where EVERY shoulder was there to cry on, and you were free to wipe each others tears. Where hugs were in abundance and religions united for protection and understanding.

Class, race, status, age, sex---What was that to a New Yorker that day??...you were a survivor, a helper, a prayer, a healer, a friend, a feeder, a human being who needed you.

I will never forget the day NY stood still..but its spirit was the strength that made her move again.

My 9/11 Experience.

I used to work for a temp agency located right across from the South Tower. I would pick up my paycheck every tuesday. On that Tuesday, September 11th I had a job interview in the borough on Queens, I was lucky.

That morning, I watched the first tower burning post impact as I was riding the #7 train across the 59th street bridge from mid-town Manhattan to Long Island City, Queens,..by the time the train pulled into the queens station, the second towers has been hit and NYC shut down.

I watched from the 59th street bridge as both towers fell, I watched the foot traffic from mid town pour into Long Island City, the street filled with anguish, screaming and fear as F-16's engines flew over the city...

That afternoon, there were restrictions to cross any inter-borough or suspension bridges out of fear the bridges were sabatoged. I took my chance and give my faith to God and crossed by foot,against the incoming flow and the eyes of watching police officers back into Manhattan ..knowing I could have been arrested, I took my chances.

I took off my 2.5 inch heels, got two bottles of water..called my mother to let her know I was ok.. She was hysterical..I took my courage from within me.

Despite the uncertainty , the unbelievable vulnerability I felt..I never gave in.

I took off my stockings and walked barefoot from 59th Street and Lexington Ave, crossed the 59th and the 138th street bridges to the Bronx. It took 5 hours,30 minutes and 56 seconds.

Why?? well, a mother's love knows no limits, a mother's strength knows no bounds. I had a daughter who was in school crying for me. I was going to get to her somehow.

I finally got to the bronx, with blistered feet, thighs badly chaffed, and throat sore in 90 degree heat....but by God I was ALIVE- with my daughter was in my arms and my mother at peace. I went upstairs, prayed for those lost till I cried myself to sleep.

I will never forget. Remember 9/11,

Ny