New Year, Old Me
Hi everyone, welcome back to Worn In, Worn Out! Happy 2022!! 🥳
I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions — time is a construct, every day is a new beginning, etc. etc. — but I do believe in lifelong learning and acquiring new skills at any age. Sure, I’m not gonna be able to master every single human ability out there (I might not even be able to master one), but by God, I can certainly try. So here are some new skills I’m planning to add to my arsenal this year; I may not have the experience, but I’ve definitely got the enthusiasm.
(Btw: I know this isn’t the first Wednesday of the year, but I ran into some technical difficulties last week so I gave myself a pass. If I were the superstitious type I’d be a bit spooked by this inauspicious start, but thankfully I’m not, so I’m choosing to write it off as a fluke; I expect nothing but kittens and sparkles in the year ahead!! ✨)
Get Your Hands Dirty
INTRODUCTION TO STAINED GLASS - CRAFTSMAN AVENUE ($225)
Whenever I’m home my mom and I watch The Repair Shop, a soothing British show where a charming team of specialized craftspeople rebuild, restore, and revive old heirlooms in need of some TLC. Their deftness and dexterity while soldering old clocks and sewing up teddy bears displays a proficiency I’m in awe of, and one I’m sorely lacking in, considering the only objects my fingers are tapping away at are my keyboard and my phone screen. Luckily I live not too far from an education center in Brooklyn called Craftsman Avenue, where artists and educators lead hands-on workshops to teach skills like woodworking, knifesmithing, welding, and jewelry-making. Personally I’m most intrigued by the stained glass course — I’m obsessed with the look of stained glass flowers and would love to eventually be able to craft a bouquet display for my nightstand.
One Tough Cookie
ANTIQUE CAST IRON PIZZELLE MAKER - SUNFLOWER HILL MARKET ($145)
I made a few fitful attempts at baking last year, and the results were……… not a triumph, exactly, but certainly better than expected! (At the very least, they were successful enough not to completely discourage me from the endeavor, which is a win in my book.) In 2022 I’m on the hunt for new treats to try out, and I recently learned about the existence of pizzelles, a delicate, lacy Italian cookie that sort of resembles a miniature doily. Apparently the cookies’ intricate design is not shaped by hand (perish the thought), but through a special engraved iron reminiscent of a waffle iron. Pizzelle connoisseurs will insist that only an authentic vintage maker can achieve the perfect wafer-like crispiness, but considering those can run you hundreds of dollars, I think a modern Cuisinart will suffice for this baking dilettante.Â
Ice Age
BAUER LADIES FIGURE SKATES SIZE 6 - BOZ UNIQUE GOODS ($70)
I didn’t grow up playing any winter sports; I don’t know how to ski, skate or snowboard. Mostly I’m not too bothered by it — I’m not really a thrill-seeker and the thought of slaloming down a steep, rocky mountain breaks me out into a cold sweat — but after watching the TikToks of Colorado photographer Dave Kozlowski gliding smoothly over pristine frozen lakes, I was filled with fervent regret for never learning how to ice skate. The couple times I’ve attempted it at an indoor rink, I spent the entire time clutching onto the railing, intimately aware that one wrong move would send me sprawling with a sprained ankle or bruised tailbone. But hey, no pain, no gain, right? Time to spring for a pair of skates, like these vintage Bauer ones that are just my size, lace up, and head out onto the ice with all the other 6-year-olds.
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!