Njoya presents-"The Harlem Knitting Circle": An Afteroon Tea at The Harlem Knitting Circle!

Hello! Thank you to everyone that participated in the December 17th, 2005 Harlem Knitting Circle's "Afternoon Tea Winter Event!" It was spectacular! Everyone came dressed according to our "Old Word Theme". Some came in velvet Edwardian styled jackets, old time jewelry dripping from their ears or draped around their neck. Some wore their hair twisted in French rolls with gold sparkles in their hair. Other ladies sauntered in with long flowing skirts, hightop boots, white silk gloves, and hats topped with bows or blooming with flowers! It was a glorious sight to behold! Some ladies bought their own tea sets to share with their table. I bought my set from home that I'd been dying to put to use and don't you just love my fire red dessert dishes with matching red candles!

I'd like to say first-"Thank you to The Most High For The Blessings Bestowed Upon Me and for Allowing My Vision To Come True!"-Anntoinette S. Njoya Angrum/Founder & Director of "The Harlem Knitting Circle"(click on pictures to enlarge!)

Ms. Annie of "Annie's Delights" in Brooklyn, NY is one the HKC's brilliant crochet designers! She brought her delightful dolls for us to admire and display! (click on image to enlarge pic) Ms. Annie crochets the most exquisite doll dresses, creates her own patterns, and can crochet copies of the doll dresses into real size garments! Ms. Annie is currently working on wedding dresses and they are a dream! She crocheted the black and white skirt she's wearing, her white shrug, and her fingerless lace gloves too! Ms. Annie is a phenom with her crochet needle! Anyone interested in having some work done by "Annie's Delights" please email HKC for further information.Our husband wife team came out to support our event. She's a beginner and he watches every stitch she makes! He'll be picking up a stitch or two soon..., I assure you! We had two young ladies, Angelique Angrum(my talented & gifted college bound niece!) and her best friend Ashley, both from Frederick Douglass Academy, help with the logistics of keeping everything running smoothly and they did a wonderful job! I love you girls!

We were serenaded with Smooth Pantheistic Jazz by the group "National Boulevard"! I "put out on the airwaves" that HKC was having an event to celebrate all the hard work that the members did for HKC's Hurricane Katrina Charity Knit/Crochet Project and I was looking for a group who could "volunteer" their professional services and donate their time.

We were blessed with a wonderful group called "National Boulevard"! They were excellent! An hour was not enough! We were serenaded by Karla Harby-on flutes, Jimi Durso-bassist/composer, and Patrizia Scascitelli-pianist/composer. This trio held the audience spellbound as they played familiar jazz tunes and then their own great compositions which we loved! (I have their CD playing in my computer right now!) My HKC ladies can get very animated, but this group held their attention! The music was smooth! My members were able to knit crochet, sip tea, and have their low conversations laced with the smooth sounds of "National Boulevard"! I have to admit I was enchanted by the sounds of the flute! You've got to get their CD "Last Cigarette"! For more information on this group go to http://www.nationalboulevard.com
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This Winter Tea Event was further enhanced by great Opera singer, Cooper Union Knitting Teacher, and one of Interweave Knit Magazines favorite knit designer Ms. Lisa Daehlin! She was accompanied by the scintillating tunes of the distinguished Mr. Roy Assaf, a superb pianist who voluntarily donated his professional skills to our event! He started with some jazz tunes and the volume of the ladies conversation immediately lowered. As his fingers graced the keys many of us had to stop and turn in our seats to watch. Listening to Roy was fantastic and soothing! Then Lisa and Roy began their duet and it was magic! We were held spellbound! You could hear a pin drop at one point and no one wanted them to stop! Needles slowed and conversation ceased as her strong voice rose and dipped upon Roy's musical notes! I was astounded and honored that they'd graced us with their magic! Go to Roy's website to hear his fantastic music at http://www.royassaf.com. The music flows like water through your soul! Ms. Daehlin can be contacted at lisadaehlin@yahoo.com!

What would I do without the consistent support of my "HKC's Supervising Wonder" Ms. Gloria?! Ms. Gloria has been a God send! She's my official supervisor and keeps me on the straight and narrow! "Ms. Gloria is my right hand..., no my right arm, no my...,oh my, without Gloria there would be no HKC!" She keeps me on my toes and my creative chaos down to a minimum! Running HKC is a lot of work! Now I see why Oprah has Gale! You need someone to be the "the eyes in the back of your head!"

Thank you to Ms. Gibbs and Ms. Linda! These ladies keep me on my toes and watch my back! Thank you ladies!

Ms. Linda Waddell, a professional photographer, and sister of HKC's resident Quilting teacher-Ms. Dawn Nellis, took the pictures of our entire Winter Tea Event! She also added to HKC's "surreal vision" by using her wonderfully high artistic insight to help arrange the tables! Thank you Linda, it would not have looked as it did without your insight! As you can see the pictures and table arrangements are phenomenal! Ms. Linda Waddells skills are of the highest caliber! Ms. Waddell can be contacted at Sunblessmoon@aol.com!

This event could not have occurred without the support of my mate Mr. Sayeed Ibn Abdul Samad. He picked up items, talked to caterers, and dove into his "money belt" to make sure my dream of having this Winter Afternoon Tea become a success! He's been my personal support and HKC back bone since the beginning! All thanks and blessings to the Creator for bringing this man into my life! He's been such a help in making so many of my dreams come true personally and at the Harlem Knitting Circle!