There's More to California than, say, Bikinis

I just called my girlfriend who lives in what they call a historic home in Long Beach to ask her what type of historic home she lives in. "Is it Spanish Revival? A Revival Bungalow? Is it Mission Style?"

"It's a Spanish Revival. The one next to me is a California Bungalow."

Then I asked her how to tell the difference between her home and that bungalow next door.  "How am I supposed to know? I have a Spanish Revival home. The bungalow has more windows and wood. I just got home from a run and I'm sweaty. Mine is Spanish Revival. That's all I know." 

"Real quick and by the way: What's a Hoosier cabinet?"

"Hell if I know."

Actually the conversation didn't go exactly like that but it was close. Who'd have thought that California had more to it than beach babes in sweaters (gasp) or babes posing on couches with pool boys in the background? (double gasp).

Turns out, there's a whole other world out here. And it has little to do with beaches and babes. It's all about the California Revival Period, something that you don't hear very much about unless you're an architecture buff or someone who is more well versed in art history and design than I am.

Stephannie Tallent, in her book, California Revival Knits, focuses on the style, lines, design elements, and history of early-ish turn-of-the-century design of California architecture including the tiles, textiles and colors and applies all this to the design of her 14 patterns in the book.

What I like most about this book is that she talks about how she studied this architecture and took all the inspiration and created knit designs that reflect the period.

I say this because, as someone who has written books on the subject of knit design and who has also sat through endless speeches and lectures by and about other designer's design process--speeches that were so tedious and so lengthy that I wanted to eat my pantyhose--is that the refreshing (and pithy) essay at the beginning of Stephannie's book was worth the price of the e-book or physical book alone.

I'm serious when I write this. Stephannie is so clear and succint about the design process that I can say that I have learned from her. Even her brief discussion about mood boards is a revelation.  

Meanwhile . . . I have this yarn from Cephalopod Yarns. This one is Bugga! I must do something with it but I still haven't decided. Thoughts from readers are totally encouraged.

I was thinking about a cap for my Pilates instructor but I love orange so much I just might have to keep it.

Comments

[mbt prix]

Ich mochte Ihr Blog. Es ist leicht zu lesen, ist der Inhalt gut, und du bist ein Kultautor Gegensatz zu den meisten Blogs, die ich bei der Suche zu diesem Thema bin. Ich werde noch einmal überprüfen und in der Zukunft sehen, wenn Sie mehrere Elemente haben. Vielen Dank für dieses Posting, ich schätze die Informationen und die Mühe, die Sie in die Stelle zu setzen.

[Princess Di]

You simply MUST keep the yarn. After all, tangerine tango is the color of the year.

[Jennifer]

This is a really helpful review - the book sounds wonderful, and I've been on the fence about purchasing it.

[Kathode Ray Tube]

I think the term is historic homes, not historical homes.

[Judi A.]

One option for the yarn is to send it to me. :-) The color is gorgeous.

[Elizabeth]

I live in historic home in Long Beach too. Mine is California Bungalow.

[lapdogknits]

My house is just "california old"
you're funny Wendy...I'd bet you have fun friends.
knit the orange hat, I want to see how it turns out

[Victoria]

That is a fabulous color you should keep it and there are way to many possibilites cap, lacy baktus, socks, cowl. I know that you will think of something great.

[samm]

Thanks for reviewing this book! It looks great! And now my curiosity is needing to go look up California Bungalows and Spanish Revival homes! And, of course, Hoosier Cabinets..... :)

[Tamara Lin]

Chuck <3

[AudKnits]

I can attest to how terrific this book is. I pre-ordered it, and am delighted to have the digital version while I wait for the print version to come out. There are so many beautiful patterns, and the theme is great. I love, love, love the photography, too.

[Maureen J]

You don't have enough yarn for this, but I'd love a pattern along the lines of Jordan (a beautiful design), but with sleeves that cover the older upper arm. I can't see how Jordan's sleeves could be lengthened and still look good or I'd try it.

[Dorothy]

Keep that yarn for yourself! I'm feeling evil today. (Also thinking how my gift recipients sometimes react.)And thanks for the heads-up on the book.

[Kathy S]

Make a cap for yourself as a "prototype" for the teacher's one, then choose a color more in keeping with the teacher's taste for that one. (as in, a color you won't want to glom onto and never let go!)

[georg]

My folks have hoosier cabinets. They're about 6 foot tall and 4.5 foot wide. There is a metal counter space over the bottom half, three drawers on the right and a big door underneath, and the top half is half as deep as the bottom. There is an opening for the right 2/3 and a cabinet door for the left, then above that three doors for the cabinet space above, which often has a shelf in it. In my sister-in-law's hoosier, she has the metal bins for flour, sugar, and coffee built into the open space.

[Oakley frogskins]

This blog is provide lots of good idea and your blog are very usefull for me.Thanks a lot.

[Kasia]

I am so glad your dog (the big one!) is back... I can't remember his name, it seems so long since we've seen him there, lingering in the background... I love those photos!!

[Sue]

Great post as always! By the way a Hoosier cabinet is what people used to use as a fridge before they had electricity. As described in an earlier post (very well) it has many different spaces to keep things. You could also put a block of ice in it to keep things cooler. It was usually kept out on the porch for food storage.
I have and antique one at home that I have converted into a TV / book case.