Mr.Bob new Summer Bag Collection

In case you've missed the stories of my designer cat (Mr.Bob), he is an aficionado of the paper bag. Especially the yarn shop paper bags. He puts a lot of time, thought and teeth into each extraordinary paper creation.

This is one of his early creations. Note the subtle use of his techniques along the top edges of the bag.




On this bag he used his full body weight to give the bag some textural interest as well.




This is his "stand by" edition of his most popular and favorite kind of bag. More surface area to work with.



I'm still trying to get across the concept of less is more, but sometimes the artistic flair just can't be stiffled.



As always, commission pieces can be arranged. A 2 to 3 week wait will be needed for the adequate time needed to create and dry your one of a kind, limited edition Mr.Bob bag. He only works in the wee hours of the morning to get the full effect of his artistic genius. Mini glossies with his own special 'signature' are available with purchase upon request.

latest projects pix

Here are the pictures of the latest projects. I finished knitting the baby surprise jacket this afternoon.



This is the Handsome Triangle Shawl from Victorian Lace Today. The yarn is gossamer from Knitpicks and the color is called Red Hat.


And last the Muir shawl from Knitty in Kidsilk Haze in the color fern. I'm enjoying this pattern more and more as I get used to the pattern repeat. One and a half down, eleven and a half to go, on the first side. (I didn't realize, until I read the entire pattern, that this isn't worked from the center out. I thought there would be a total of 26 repeats. It's worked from end to end with only 13 repeats. I'm now on the 7th repeat)

New projects galore

It's been a busy couple of weeks since I last posted. I've started 2 new shawls ("Muir" from Knitty and "A Handsome Triangle" from Victorian Lace Today). I'm using Kidsilk Haze (Cracksilk Haze to some) in the color Fern for the Muir shawl and Knit Picks "Red Hat Ladies" fingering weight for the triangle. The Muir shawl is going slowly since it is mohair and I don't want to have to rip back if at all possible. I've already had a couple of mohair moments. On the other hand, if I drop a stitch along the way, the mohair makes it easy to pick it back up since it's not going to run like the slick yarns tend to do.

I've altered the Handsome Triangle pattern a little borrowing the braid center and cable edge from the Mystic Light shawl pattern. I just thought the plain stockinette stiches down the center of the triangle looked a little plain.

I also started a baby surprise jacket this week, which is almost finished and I started a matching EZ Snail hat last night since I had a skein left over from the jacket.

I'm still working on my socks for the Needle Nook/Numma Numma sock contest. It's going slow since I ran into some logistic issues with the pattern at the gusset... I'll probably just fudge a little on the first sock and then the second sock will be the 'demo' for the pattern picture.

Of course I haven't taken any pictures of any of these yet so I guess I know what I'll have on my calendar tomorrow.

I had grand plans for my stimulus check (the Kromski wheel was calling my name) until my car heard I had some extra cash in my pocket... easy come, easy go... but at least I have new brakes on my car. It all happened so fast. I got the check on Thursday. The brakes started making some noise on Friday. By Saturday it progressed from a little noise to a horrible, metal on metal grinding that is a sound worse than nails on a chalkboard to me. Sometimes it just really sucks having to do the 'responsible' thing with your money. I guess having reliable stopping equipment on my car would be classified as a required need.

Sooomedaaay my wheeeel will cooome. *sigh*

Mystic Light Shawl

It's finished! I blocked it Wednesday morning. I'm ready to go for the next one which will be the Muir shawl from Knitty. I'm just waiting for the yarn to arrive at Knitch.

Socks, Clematis & Daisy

I finished my two way striped socks this morning. The sideways striped sock was fun to knit, but you'd better be comfortable with kitchenering, it took two hours. There is also some short row shaping at the top of the cuff to add more room for calf stretch. I do plan to make a complete pair at some point when I find sock yarn that inspires me for this particular pattern.

I'm now working on the final clue of the Mystic Light Shawl and have just started on the second skein of yarn. The pattern called for 1000 yards, so I bought 2 skeins of 550 yds each. I think there may have been a little miscalculation. I thought about adding another repeat, but the idea of figuring out the rest of the chart made my head hurt. I'll just have some extra yarn leftover for some short socks. I'll post pictures when it's done and blocked (hopefully I'll have it done tomorrow).

The clematis vines out in front of our house are now in full bloom. They are very happy this year. The white blooms are about 6-8 inches across. The fuschia colored blooms are smaller, but the color is so intense. We have another variety planted along our driveway that doesn't get as much sun, but it will be blooming a few days too. I'd tell you what variety these are if I knew. More pictures are in my Flickr account if you'd like to see them.





There was a puppy shower today at Knitch for Haley and her new adorable puppy Daisy. Daisy is so lucky to have such a good mommy in Haley!


And the question of the day... which one is Doug and which one is Lou? It's not a tough call, but a lot of people get us confused. Short hair, glasses and a beard. We are modeling a hat made for Claudia by Brett.

My dinner with Annie (and Lou)

Lou and I had dinner this evening with Annie (the Knitting Heretic) and it was great to get to sit and talk with her over some great burgers at Atkins Park restaurant. I really don't see how teachers like Annie can travel so much, have the stamina to teach several classes in a row and not return home an exhausted mess. I know I certainly would. I'm sure the success of such work/travel has to be attributed to doing something you really love and it really shows through Annie. Lou took some pictures of us with Annie and I'll post them when he sends them to me. I did take one picture of her hamming it up in Knitch modeling a bonnet, but I want to keep her as a friend, so I won't post it for the world to see. It is cute though. Regan said "It's like Little Knitting House on the Prairie".

I took some more flower pictures today. The weather was gorgeous today and the flowers seem to be just exploding everywhere. These are from the yard today.

This is a helibore. I'm not sure what variety it is.

Camelia

Not sure what these are. I know Famous Steve will know what they are. (Steve said they are Spanish Bluebells. Thanks Steve.)

This is a pink azalea that I saw on the way to Knitch this afternoon.
I stopped and took a few shots.

I'll take some shots of the knitting that I'm working on soon. I just need to do it. I've finished the first three clues of the Mystic Light Shawl now. I joined the Mystery Lace Shawl KAL too and that starts next Friday. I'm also trying to come up with a design for a sock contest at Needle Nook using Numma Numma sock yarn. I now have a new appreciation for knitting pattern designers. I now see how difficult it is to try to come up with something that will work and resize easily.

There are still a few of the movies on the movie meme a couple of posts back that haven't been identified yet. Take a look and see if they jog your memory.

The Harlot returns

The Yarn Harlot was here in Atlanta promoting her new book today.

(Be warned: lots of pictures.)

Here is the line waiting to get into the theater for the Yarn Harlot program. We waited in line for about 45 minutes and we were even interviewed by the AJC while we waited.




Friends waiting for the program to begin.
From left to right: top row - Drue, Steve (Famous Steve) and Kate
bottom row - Katey (Snarky) and Lou




A very Blurry picture of Diana (blogless) and Sandy (HockeyMom) as we waited for the show to start.




The Infamous and beloved Chicken Goddess!




Does the Chicken Goddess know something about cake that I don't!?



Snarky Katey after she won a $300 ball of vicuna yarn in the raffle! Congratulations!!



The Yarn Harlot taking a picture of the crowd with her sock.






Diana (still blogless) and Meagan at Atkins Park restaurant/bar after the program.



Claudia and Phyllis at Atkins Park.



Lou (also blogless) and Sandy taking a picture for her blog at Atkins Park.



And lastly, on the way home I saw these cherry blossoms all over the ground in John Howell park on Virginia Ave. So I stopped and took some pictures. It was so cool to see the entire ground around the trees covered with little pink petals and the contrast with the dark roots of the trees.