DIY Trunk Show VII: The Seven Year Stitch, This Saturday!

The Chicago Craft Mafia Presents:

The DIY Trunk Show VII:  The Seven Year Stitch

This Saturday, November 21st, at Pulaski Park, 1419 W. Blackhawk, Chicago

10 AM-5 PM

90+ mostly local exhibitors, yummy food, music, and lots of fun!

Find Lucky Penny Hand Made, booth #30 in the auditorium!

This holiday season, think about supporting your local economy instead of some corporate big box enterprise.  Let's keep our dollars in the community!

It Was Just an Old Sweater

It was just an old sweater that I had draped over a chair while I worked.  To any one else, just an old sweater, and why not take it? 
To me--my favorite sweater.  I had made it nine years ago, and it was perfect.  Length, drape, thickness, color.  I could wear it under a coat when that extra layer was needed, and even wore it to bed on occasion.  It's just an old sweater--no shaping, except for the imprint of my body, v-neck, modified drop shoulder sleeves. No other garment I've made for myself possesses the magic that this one does. 
I'll go back to the work site today and look for it again. 

The Motha Load

I had fun today.  I went with Mary to a shop in Naperville, Stitches-N-Stuffing, and hit the mother load of Denyse Schmidt fabrics on sale.  For a few, I just took what was left on the bolt.  I've been hunkered down knitting dog sweaters, and found myself just itching to sew.  I'm putting the finishing touches on this super large Sunshine and Shadow for our bed.  I've got some ideas for the back using scraps from the front along with a bolt of the beige colored fabric with daisies (bought what was left on the bolt, 8+ yards, a few weeks ago.  I'm also thinking about and making more Piccolo quilts, and cooking up our travel quilts in my head. 
We had a yummy lunch at the place next door, Katy's Dumpling House.   It seems as if the best quilt shops are also near by some great places to eat. 
So much left to do!  More dog sweaters, and binding two gift quilts for Christmas. 

Bert Enjoys Sweater Weather

Little eight pound Bert, who lives with my friend Lynn, steps out in her Lucky Penny Sweater!  I knit the body with Mountain Colors Twist, bands are green Polwarth wool from Rovings, and tips are yellow variegated Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride.  The Polwarth wool is so lovely that I decided to keep what's left to make gloves for me.  If I can ever get back to knitting for me, that is.

Working on World Domination

This little photo is of my display at last month's Yarn Con.  My biggest sale was the wire display racks.  I'm still contemplating a move, so I was really happy to not have to bring these monsters back home after the show. 
I postponed looking for a new residence/studio, because, well, things are ramped up, Lucky Penny wise.  Including the addition of three new stores, one on the other side of the planet.  I'm working up a wholesale order for them now.  One of the new shops is local,  ReArrange at 2064 N. Damen in Chicago.  It's such a cool shop, kind of a lifestyle type enterprise.  The people who own it are just delightful.  In the next few weeks I'll have sweaters in a new shop in Houston, Texas.  So, once again, I find myself low on Lucky Penny inventory.
The Doggie Knits experience is once again on the road.  I'll be at SisterArts Studio, 721 W. Wrightwood Ave., Chicago, tonight at 7 pm, signing copies of the book.  Samples of book projects are in the shop to see and touch.  Then, I return to the studio to make more dog sweaters.

Happy Halloween!

Creepy!
I am so doing this for Piccolo next year.
It's so freaky here in Chicago.  Temperatures near 70 degrees today, and the evil landlady has the heat on.  No heat when it's actually cold.  She's messing with us.
Working all weekend.  Don't forget to fall back tomorrow night!

It's Not Work, It's Pleasure

I'm in the checkout line at Whole Foods, and the clerk asks what kind of dog I have when he sees the dog food I'm purchasing.  I tell him, and the comment is, "she must be a handful."  I reply, "no, not at all.  She's just cuddly."  There's really no aspect to Piccolo care that I find to be a chore.  Even picking up stuff.  I often feel so full of love for her that I'll just explode. 
My work schdule is suddenly lighter, and I will have more time to devote to Lucky Penny, finally.
It's a good thing.  I was hooked up over the weekend by someone to a new store.  It's the coolest place, ever.  I guess you would call it a "lifestyle" store.  It offers decorating and event planning services, and lovely gifty items, and tasteful locally made decorative items and furniture.  I dropped sweaters off there last evening to find a little impromptu party.  I like a few glasses of wine when I'm calling on a shop, I've found.  Sort of resisting the desire to go there every night.  The proprietors are delightful company.
The shop is called ReArrange, and it's in Chicago at 2064 N. Damen Ave.  Phone 773-583-4703.