Working for Free

I started a new job last month. It's consulting, something I said I would never do again after leaving it for a full time job two years ago. I did it to have a more flexible schedule, so I would have time to devote to my projects, especially the one due in March. I make my own schedule, which is a blessing and a curse, because left to my own devices, I don't leave the house until very late. Distracted by my dog projects, and my current knitting crack, a shawl in Dzined sport weight. My job doesn't want to know my schedule, which I think is odd. I also don't have a pager after almost two months, also odd, but I don't mind that, really. It would be lovely if they forgot the pager thing entirely. But--my paycheck is late! I have not received my car allowance! Perhaps I have been let go, and they neglected to tell me.
And now, for knitting content--the Ruffles scarf from Scarf Style. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill Silk and Merino dk, purchased at Montoya Fiber Studio. Cherry Tree Hill has been a favorite since I took a sock knitting class at Arcadia Knitting.
This color is Green Mountain Madness, another favorite. My first socks are in it, and a dog sweater for Penny, which Piccolo wears now. After Penny died, I didn't think I would have another pet wear her sweaters. But Piccolo is just the same size, and it's actually a nice remembrance of my Penny varmint.

Channeling Morticia

Lately I have been in love with the idea of black lace. Something so classic and timeless. So Morticia Addams. This is the A Good Bias shrug from Interweave Knits Spring 2005. I saw the finished shrug worn my Michelle at the KIP that I go to sometimes, and it was fabulous! Michelle used the 1824 Cotton that the pattern specifies. Not being a cotton fan myself, I used 1824 Wool, purchased at close out from Arcadia Knitting. All that's left to be done is seaming the sleeves. The pattern is a little funny--you gain a stitch at the beginning and lose one at the end when you finish the row repeats--so compensations have to be made in row 1 of the next repeat. I'm not done with black lace--there's another little shawl on the needles. But wait, you might ask--shouldn't you be working on your book? The answer is--I am, but really can't show anything until my editor has seen it!
This weekend I went to the Renegade Craft Fair for about an hour between downpours. I was a vendor at the first show, with no sales. My sweaters are too high end for a show of this nature, I suppose. Also, most dogs at the show were fairly large, too large to wear the sweaters. This year it was two days, so the display needed to be taken down and stored overnight, which would have been a logistics nightmare, and with all the rain this past weekend, there was a lot of slogging around in mud to get to see all the vendors. After the last few outdoor experiences, I'm glad I didn't pursue participating in this show. I almost purchased some hand spun yarn, but all that was really left was white, and I don't feel like dying my own at the present, or the wrong weight for my projects. Really, I do have enough yarn to last Lucky Penny for years at this point.

Sock Madness!

Design on deadline sometimes gets me distracted. Or often gets me distracted. I still desire the personal wardrobe objects, along with my other booky projects. I lust after new sweaters, and lace shawls. The socks are a nice, quick diversion. These are Herringbone Rib Peddler from 3 Trails Handknit Designs. I modified the pattern by using Lucy Neatby's short row garter heel, and did color contrast heels and toes. I also used a double start cast on, that I learned again from Nancy Bush at Stitches Midwest. I say again because I took an Estonian Edges class from her last March, and quickly forgot this cast on. Perfect for stretchy applications, and has a nice little decorative aspect. The yarn is sport weight wool/hemp mohair from DZined Handpaints. I purchased some little "onesies" from a basket that was at the Stitches Midwest display. Both pictures are the same pair of socks. One side looks like it has more green because of how the yarn pooled. But--I love it. I like the fraternal twin quality of it. I think if knitters are particularly bothered by pooling, then they should stay away from handpaints. I am finding that I prefer sport weight yarn for sock knitting. I usually can get a firm fabric with size 2's, and they of course, are finished much faster. So I can move on to another pair. Someone asked me if I had problems wearing sport weight socks with my shoes--I have gotten into the habit of bringing a hand knit sock along when I try on shoes. Dansko shoes. How I love Dansko shoes could easily fill a month's worth of posts.

Magnificent Obsession

I want to knit dog sweaters. I have all this great yarn that I've collected over the years, and all these amazing combinations in my head. My brain is going at a speed that is much too fast for my hands to keep up with. What's missing is the time to get it all done. I'm still struggling with fitting in full time employment responsibilities, devoting time for my relationship with the Man, and giving Piccolo the time she deserves. There's also the knitting that I want to do for me. The black lace shrug is off the needles, I just need to block and assemble it. Hopefully I can wear it to the Myrna Stahman workshop this coming weekend. The work is still progressing on the exhibit sweater that's an exercise in re-tracing steps. That will be the last time I design something and don't write it down.

Rusty's Sweater

This is little Rusty. The sweater was knit by Rusty's mom, Diane using my Penny pattern at Knitty. (www.knitty.com) The pattern as it originally appears has lots of mistakes! I e-mail a corrected version upon request. I have some test shots from San Francisco, must keep under wraps until my editor sees them. I have a Guild meeting tomorrow night, the topic is charity knitting--I started a blanket for Hugs for Homeless Animals, never finished it, and now I can't find the rest of the yarn to get it done. But, in my defense, I have donated sweaters for rescue groups to auction, and I donated money to the North Shore Animal League for the rescue of pet victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Conspicuous Consumption

I meant to make a brief errand to pick up a handbag that was getting a zipper replaced. One of my favorite yarn shops was on the way back, Montoya Fiber Studio, www.montoyafiberstudio.com, and how could I not stop there? I took lessons on operating my knitting machine there, and always find something different from the other local shops in terms of yarn selection. Just the kind of stuff I love, too. I was thinking of some Cherry Tree Hill silk and merino dk for the ruffles scarf from Scarf Style, and found another favorite DZined hand painted wool/hemp/mohair www.dzined.com. I always buy DZined when I'm at Stitches, and I love now that I have a local source. It's like Cathy Montoya just knows exactly what I'll buy. I also made an impulse purchase (like the yarn wasn't!) of a beautiful woven alpaca cape. It's a charcoal grey, and will be perfect over a sweater for when it gets cold. It will probably go to San Francisco next month. I bought luggage today, too. I think I got a good price on two pieces, just what I was looking for. It's red, so will be easy to spot! The last time a bought luggage was thirty years ago! I finished the day at Knitting Workshop, fulfilling my pledge to sell a Fine Art of Fiber ad, and to get a donation for the raffle. I bought some great new pattern books there. That's the second part of yarn hoarding--you have to get patterns for all your yarn! Working on my new sweater design, two different sizes at once. I have socks and the second part of the black lace shrug for my down time.

The Great and Powerful

My meeting with the Wizard got me back on the right track! Her advice was exactly what I needed to get my design executed. It was fun too--at one of my favorite coffee shops, so good food, dessert and for me, a lot of caffeine. Some good gossip, too. I might have told more than I learned, and what I learned was choice. But that's secret. I've learned over the past few months not to be so out there with my ideas--I saw them taken without apology by another Guild member at a meeting a few months ago. So, I'm not talking. I have another book idea in mind for the next project, but that's going to be mostly secret, too. The photo is a dog sweater that is available for sale. Not secret.

We Live in a Beautiful World (never mind the dust)

The Man found an abandoned moving box with many CD's inside. I've been playing a Coldplay CD in my car--from 1999, but it's new to me. This is a peek inside the Lucky Penny household on a winter's day. There's the Golf channel on TV, and Piccolo in her favorite seating area, so she can see the entire apartment. There's also close proximity to food should the Man decide to have a snack. On one chair there is a needlepoint pillow that I made, and an antimacassar crocheted with the face of George Washington. I think it's from one of my grandmother's, but I'm not sure whether she made or purchased it. Over the sofa is a small quilt that I made in 1982. I signed and dated it! On the entertainment unit are some of my other obsessions--Shawnee, Roseville, and McCoy pottery. Behind the chair is a crock that holds a dog sweater wardrobe for a quick dash outside. Above the chair is a find from 2001 at an antique show--it's an oil painting from the 1930's of Pekingese that look very similar to my Penny and Gidget Alice. On the windows, over the provided mini-blinds, are lace curtains that were purchased at an antique flea market. To the right of the photo, another chair which has become a holding area for knitting projects. Above that chair is a linen embroidery that I had framed that says something like "home sweet home" in German. I drove the long way home tonight from the South side, and was just blown away by how cool Chicago is. It happens to me from time to time. Imagine driving up State street with no traffic--that's how it is south of the Loop. I drove through the IIT campus--and noticed above the student union, there is a corrugated steel tube that the el tracks go though. So many new condo projects, it makes me wonder what people are doing to make all this money. I wish I could find out how. It's all a part of my beautiful world--the Man, the little dog, the cozy apartment, and the incredible city.

A Cry for Help

I made a sweater for an exhibit I was in last year, thinking that one day I would compile all my exhibit designs in a book form. Not knowing the immediate future, when a book is a reality with a very real deadline. So I completely messed up re-tracing my steps to duplicate a dog sweater, along with a chart. I'm hoping a technical wizard friend will take pity on me and help me re-write this thing. She is working on another one right now, along with her stuff. I booked my ticket last night for the San Francisco trip. I haven't been there in ten years! It's my favorite city besides Chicago. I'll be gone for 4 days, and Piccolo will be in the care of the Man, which makes me kind of nervous, because he is not as careful as I am with her. I need to find a nice piece of luggage for my clothes, and the photo samples. I think the samples need to be in a carry-on, and the clothes are okay in baggage check. I'm a little freaked out about flying. I haven't flown since my trip to London in 1998. I think that the flight to California is about as long as I care to be on a plane. I made a non-stop flight one of the priorities.

The Last Outside Show!

Yesterday, it was over 90 degrees in Chicago. In September. Even Dan, who loves summer and heat, described it as "oppressive." My spot was on the West side of the street as I had hoped, but still got a morning's worth of hot sun beating on me. Sunscreen was liberally applied before leaving the house. In the afternoon, a vendor from across the street kept coming near my display to smoke in the shade. I just wanted to scream--hey! Step away from the textiles!! After packing up my display, I realized that I didn't take any pictures. Refer to the previous post, because it pretty much looked the same. If everyone who expressed interest in placing a custom order follows through, then I did well. I think the heat is a deterrent to selling a wool garment on the street. I saw a few knitting friends, and pretty much had a good time. It was a relatively inexpensive way of getting my sweaters out in public. Because of what they are, I have a limited customer pool to begin with, so I approach these things with no real expectations. Except for the Indie Designer Fashion Market--I was really excited about that show, and it ended up being a totally horrible experience. When the show ended at five, I couldn't wait to get in the shower and have lots of water beating on me. I got the most horrible headache, maybe a migraine? I think it was sun/heat poisoning! Moving forward, I don't think that an outside show in summer is the place for me. I hope Dan reminds me next year.

The Old Neighborhood

Tomorrow I return to my old neighborhood to participate in the Rockwell Crossing Art Walk, for the second year. The location is about three blocks east from my former condo. More and more, lately, I am sorry that I sold it and moved away. My life would have been a lot less chaotic if I had stayed. I'll be on the sidewalk, with no sun protection other than the huge quantities of sunscreen that I purchased tonight. I really hope that they don't sting my eyes when I start sweating. I'm hoping to be on the West side of Rockwell avenue, because I think it will have less sun exposure. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'll bring water, and hopefully I can coax Dan into visiting during the show to get more provisions. Piccolo will stay in the air conditioned apartment. I'm not the type of "designer" that tortures her pet by forcing her into public appearances (especially not with a jewel stuck to her head). My set up will be a simple vintage drying rack, with the sweaters attached with clothespins. It will be easy to set up and take down alone. Taking down metal grids that have been in hot sun all day is not fun. However, the last time I used them, I was not expecting to be outside! I had a lot of fun at this show last year, and I'm hoping for more of the same. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Bad Karma that was visited upon me at that last event will not follow me.

Technical Difficulties

I have some great photos on my media card, and on Dan's media card, shows and the most recent vacation, but can't download them! This has been an issue ever since I upgraded computers. I'm thinking about hiring that Geek Squad service to help me. That might be my only hope. Big week--show on Saturday, and preparing for the shoot, and bringing sweaters to a new Chicago shop.

On the Road

Dan and I are leaving tomorrow, with no real itinerary. We have made a few trips like this over the summer, and this will likely be the last this year. During these trips, I get very little knitting time, because I do all the driving. Dan sits and chats. He's good company. We have been to Wisconsin twice, Michigan once. Being summer, we can't take the chance of leaving Piccolo in the car, so I have to board her. After the Michigan trip we were home early, but I couldn't get her home until the vet's office opened on Monday morning. She won't be happy there, and I don't want to prolong the misery. But at least she will be safe. Tomorrow we head west towards Iowa, and the Mississippi river. It's kind of romantic, just wandering with no real plan, just to see what happens. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there won't be a gas shortage in any of our destinations. The projects that I'm taking are some socks, and a dog sweater that I designed last year. I neglected to write the pattern down, and now, for the book, I have to re-create it.

All About the Image

Today, I'm in a coffee shop waiting for my XL skim latte, and I see a discarded New York Times, with the Style section. The article that included the Indie Designer Fashion Market is there, with my little friend's photograph on page 5. I was told that the Times were only going to feature one designer, and not him. Clearly these people had an agenda that I got in the way of, which I'm sure is why I was moved out of the room, so as not to divert attention from their Chosen One. I guess a flamboyant persona feeds into what people imagine a designer to be. Whether or not their work is valid. After belonging to a knitting guild for three years, all I can say is that creativity and artistry sometimes comes in a older, plumper package. I do admire when someone can pull diva behavior off--but they need to have the credentials to back it up! One of my favorite movies of late is the documentary Searching for Debra Winger. It's on cable occasionally, and I find it fascinating. There are interviews with mature female actors, about their struggles to find interesting roles in a culture that reveres the young and unblemished. I loved the words that Holly Hunter used to describe Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon--dangerous, sexual, and unapologetic. Yes, they are. That's what I would like to project. I think I sometimes get the unapologetic right. The other things I'm working on.