Lemon Drop Bag

I have a customer who requests commissioned pieces from time to time.  He ordered a second bag for his sister who lives in England.  The first bag was an Apple Green Bag:

I used Malabrigo Wool in their Apple Green shade and it shrank so much I had to buy more yarn and re-knit the bag, making it MUCH bigger than the first attempt.  I found a ceramic pin at the Potters' Market that worked perfectly on the bag.  My customer was pleased and his sister was thrilled.  Hence the order for a new bag.

This time I used Brown Sheep Bulky in a shade called Lemon Drop -- just what the customer ordered!  Again I knit the bag quite large, probably around 18" plus the flap.  After felting it was about 14" high and I made two pockets to go inside.  I had found two pins I liked and left it to the customer to make the decision.

Here's the bag, inside out, showing the smartphone pocket:

And here's the bag, right side out, showing the magnetic closures:

My sister Denise liked this dog pin but in the end, it did not win out:

Gerald liked the artsy heart pin instead:

Here's a close up of the winning pin:

I was very glad to finish the bag on time and send it off with Gerald, who picked it up at last weekend's Birmingham Winter Markt.  He was very pleased and eager to surprise his sister for Christmas.  Since she lives in England he was going to have to wrap it up pronto and get it in the mail to her so she'd receive it on time.

Doodle Bug Yarn

I added a new button on the right side of my blog.  I hope you'll take the time to click on it and check out Doodle Bug Yarn.  They have a super selection of yarn -- lots of great indie yarn makers -- and oodles of other fun things for knitting.  Best of all, you can save $5 on an order of $25 or more, simply by typing LoveMyFiber for the coupon code on the order form!

GLHQ Meeting Tonight

Tonight is one of my favorite guild meetings.  We're having a potluck dinner and Holiday Bazaar.  I sure hope there are lots of great things to bid on for the silent auction.  I expect to donate a few items myself, which will hopefully add to the money collected for programs, etc.  Bid high, bid often!

I'm actually working on a couple of things for the auction today -- nothing like waiting until the last moment!  I'll have to bring all sorts of 20th Anniversary logo items to try to sell, too.  I haven't unloaded my car from last weekend's show yet so it will be kinda crowded with all I have to bring with me tonight.

This weekend I should be able to get everything back in order.  My roommate is having a tough time at his new job.  I told him they'd be challenging him but I don't think he believed me.  He usually thinks I'm overstating things.  He has a lot to learn.

Sad Day

My nephew's wife teaches at the elementary school I went to as a child.  A small world, right?  Last week her friend, one of the 1st grade teachers, died unexpectedly.  She was only 33 years old and 32 weeks along in her pregnancy when something went terribly wrong.  The baby girl died too.  Her husband is also a teacher at that school and I can only imagine how sad it is for everyone.

I'm sure all of the students were eagerly anticipating the birth of this beloved teacher's baby.  Now everyone has to try to be brave and help the widower through his grief, made even more sad with the coming holidays. 

I don't know either one of these teachers but my heart goes out to them and their families.  Maybe it's the joy I have in my heart for my grandson that makes a story like this feel like it hits close to home even though I don't know them.  It's just so very sad.

PTO Day -- Yeah!

Slept in, showered, tidied up a bit, had a massage, shopped at Costco, ripped out a sweater I'd been knitting.  Not my typical day off work but it was fine, although I think I'm a bit tender from the massage.

Kevin had a good first day of work at his new job.  He has a lot to learn, in more ways than one.  Getting up early and coming home late is going to be the norm for him from now on.  His biggest concern is what to do about taking a lunch.  At least, he thinks that's his biggest problem.  Navigating around downtown Detroit is a challenge for him too.  He'll figure it out.  I hope.

Show's Over!

I'm happy to say that my craft shows for the year are complete -- phew!!  This past weekend's show was grueling and the weather today was bleh!  Sales were 1/2 what they were last year and this is the show's second year.  Could be that there were twice as many vendors as last year and that spread the money around a bit more.  Not sure.  I sold all eight of the brimmed hats I felted at my Mom's last Wednesday.  I definitely need to focus on making more of those next year.  I'm disappointed that I only sold one of my woven scarves.  I thought for sure those would go over well at this show, where a lot of well-to-do shoppers strolled around.  Hmm......

I had bought three new tablecloths and the cut-out ornaments to make the booth look uniform and festive.  You can see my 'hot seat' in the back -- that heated throw from Costco and the Presto radiant heat dish served me well as I doubt anyone else at the show was as comfortable as I was.

I'm looking forward to my day off of work tomorrow.  Funny thing is, it's my roommate's first day on his new job.  I hope everything goes well for him.  I'm sure he'll have a lot to tell me tomorrow evening.

Sleepy-time

I bet there have been times in your life when you couldn't wait to get to sleep.  That's me tonight.  My hands are numb from too much knitting and the minute my head hits the pillow, I'll be out like a light.  I've finished 8 felted hats, some of which are still drying.  If they don't dry by tomorrow I'll use the hair dryer on 'em!

Tonight I met my sister Denise and her sister-in-law Sue at the  Potters' Market in Madison Heights.  Such a wonderful show -- it's impossible to walk out of there without purchasing many things.  Or at least I thought so.  I had several items in my basket but when I got home and put my items away I discovered something AWFUL -- they forgot to include the beautiful chalice I had carefully selected.  Darn, darn, darn.

Because I have the Birmingham Winter Markt this weekend, I won't be able to go back for my chalice.  Damn!  Maybe I'll find something at the Winter Markt that I'll love just as much, or maybe I'll just have to wait for next year's Potters' Market.