Things We’re Doing Besides Knitting and Crocheting: Travel Edition!

Here in the marketing department at Lion Brand, we talk a lot about knitting and crocheting and yarn and magic loops and swatches and yarn weights (we know our DK from our super bulky) and and and … bottom line is that we’re all experts in one way or another when it comes yarn. We can talk about it all day — and we do! You may however be surprised to know that we’re also fairly well-rounded with an excess of interests, hobbies and obsessions that go beyond the hooks and needles.

We thought you might enjoy a peek into our inner worlds. Have fun and please share some of your own personal interests outside of knitting and crocheting in the comments below.

Margaux – I went to back Bordeaux, France where I’m from to spend some time with friends and family. “Slow life” was my watchword. I even did some yoga and Pilates in front of the waves, on the beach for a fully relaxing vacation! I also had a quick escape to Sicily (pictured) reminding me that you can’t go wrong with Italy; every single village has good food, nice wine and gorgeous postal card landscapes.  It was really nice to be away from the Big Apple for a while but it also feels great to be back!

Ilana – I love to read in the summer, especially when I’ve got a long flight for vacation or business. You never have to worry about a paperback book’s battery running out, unlike reading you do with an e-reader, and it is a pleasure to hold a real book in my hands.  I just picked up another book by the author I wrote about last month, Haruki Murakami, called The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, which I’m really enjoying. I bought the book when  I was on my way to a meeting in San Francisco, where I got to tour the YouTube offices.  It was very exciting to be there.  What most of the people do in the office is sit at a desk, just like us, though and the main difference is that they have a two-story sliding board in the middle of one of their hallways.  I also caught a movie about Brian Wilson, the lead singer of the Beach Boys, called Love and Mercy.  Growing up when they were popular, I always thought of them as the lightweight, sort of frivolous band at a time when the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were making more “waves.”  But when you see the story of the brilliant and troubled lead singer, you can really appreciate their music and see that their contribution to the early days of rock & roll was no accident.

Brandyce –  I’ve been doing a little bit of traveling within the U.S lately, which has been very enjoyable. I recently went to Dallas, Texas and explored many historical sites including the JFK memorial and Pioneer Plaza. I also had a lot of fun at the Dallas Aquarium and Zoo. It’s a small city that gets extremely hot in the summer, but it’s easy to navigate and walk. For a recent work trip to the Knit & Crochet Show in San Diego, I extended my stay a little longer to see more of the city. San Diego was so pleasant, clean, and sunny – quite the difference from gritty NYC. I absolutely loved La Jolla Cove and the sea lions (pictured), and also going to Coronado Island and watching the sun set over the Pacific, it was magical!

Lorena – I finally got to visit Nashville after years of talking about it. I grew up in Atlanta, a mere four hours away, but had never visited Music City. It lived up to every expectation I had and more — music poured out of every honky tonk on Broadway, there was fantastic food, and a rich history. My favorite stop on the trip was the Johnny Cash Museum. Not only did it feature the incredible story of the Man in Black, there was also an exhibit on the artists of legendary recording label Sun Records: Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash, of course. On the way to and from Tennessee, I read Modern Romance, a new book on relationships in the digital/millenial age by Aziz Ansari (fans of the show Parks & Recreation will recognize him as Tom Haverford.) The book had me cracking up everywhere I read it, with many passersby asking what was so funny. His honest advice and zany humor will keep you reading for hours!

Shira – Where has the summer gone?!  I feel like I have had to pack and unpack my suitcase so much lately and let me tell you, my cats…not into it!   On one of my recent trips was a trip to San Francisco!  I had never been and I went to go catch up with some friends.  I only had a weekend there but I think I got a real taste of city.  With walking hills ( and those hills are real!) I went to Sausalito, Presidio Park, and of course the look out and took the classic photo! I love traveling but let me tell you there is nothing better than sleeping in your own bed!  As much as I love summer I cannot wait for fall so I don’t feel crazy knitting a wool hat in 100 degree weather!

Sarah – I also went to San Diego for the Knit and Crochet Show. I had a lot of fun exploring the city! Balboa Park was amazing. It makes Central Park look like a patch of grass! You could spend an entire vacation there since there are so many museums, gardens, and public events going on. The San Diego Zoo was so impressive especially the pandas and, of course, lions. After the zoo, I relaxed in the shade at the Spreckles Organ Pavilion and took in a free concert on the world’s second-largest outdoor organ. And to top things off, Shira and I ran into a couple of princesses!

Danielle – My family and I recently explored Dead Horse Bay at the bottom of Brooklyn. Known as the weirdest beach in New York City, it’s not the easiest place to get to without a car. We took the opportunity to zip down there one Saturday morning when we found ourselves with a few hours left to kill on a rental. Here’s why it’s weird: one of Dead Horse Bay’s past incarnations includes a stint as a landfill for NYC trash and that landfill is now leaking! It sounds gross and it is, but in a complicated and fascinating way. Some of the stuff that’s washing up on the beach is really beautiful – I saw tiny antique perfume bottles (intact too, I was lucky), old ceramics, oddities like shoe soles, and …  lots and lots of broken glass. You really can’t understand how much broken glass is there until you experience the place – even the ocean waves tinkle. It’s the perfect spot to find beauty in the broken, like this clump of wires I spotted, which had self-formed into a heart shape. Pro tip: sturdy boots and gloves are a must!