I'll Miss Cuddling This

I'm going to be separated from my baby girl for five days. This will be my last post for about a week, because as of Thursday, I've gone shootin'. This is my first airline flight in eight years, and I still have a boatload of laundry and packing to do, and one little sweater to sew snap tape to. Which will require clearing off my very cluttered kitchen table to set up the sewing machine. And, I want to make pie crust dough so I can bake for David, my good friend (and photographer!) when I'm there. So, it will be an early start tomorrow, and pretty much going full speed until I return on Tuesday. I'm bringing the newly repaired digital camera, so I hope to have some fun behind the scenes stuff to show when I get back!

Hanging Her A** Out There

Proof that Piccolo will go to any length for just the possibility of getting people food. That's pizza on the Man's plate. That's Piccolo's little fanny hanging over the sofa, so she can be as close to the potential of food as possible. She might have let out a few sad little whimpers to get the Man's attention. With me, when she wants something, I get a shrill little bark. This image of her, poised about four feet up, just cracks me up. This little scene will be played out numerous times when I'm away, and the Man has complete charge of Piccolo.

It Takes a (Pug) Village

One of the challenges of doing an out of town photo shoot is casting the models from 2000 miles away. Models without an agency. Wouldn't it be easy if I could just make one call with my specifications and get adorable, well behaved dogs who will wear sweaters? My other problem is that I have little to offer in terms of compensation other than a mention in the book, and a copy when it comes out in 2007. So, I decided to use the power of the internet. I had gotten some good results from the classified I had posted to Craig's list, but the pug needed for a breed specific sweater for the book was missing. Which surprised me, because on my last trip to San Francisco, I came to the conclusion that Pugs were the official Dog of San Francisco. Where were they all hiding? This picture is Lemon, a Pug that I knit a custom sweater for in 2004. Her mom, Kathleen posted pictures of the sweater on a Pug community forum site. I reached into the archives of my brain and finally remembered the site. Pug Village.com. So I posted a plea to the Forum, and now have Pugs booked. One is coming from Bakersfield, which is about 4 hours away. Are you sure about this? I asked. One of the Pug people coming told me about a Pug park where all the dogs show up once a week. So now I've been tapped into the West Coast Pug culture. There's one in Chicago, too, which meets twice a year for a "Pug Crawl", where people bring their pets to a tavern and pretty much get toasted. I sat outside of one once with a suitcase full of sweaters and pretty much got ignored. The people were mostly there for the libations. It was a valuable lesson in really being selective about venues.

The Brink

I'm counting down the days until I leave. I'm very close to having all the samples done, after making some decisions about just leaving some behind, even though my preference would be to have a sample done in multiple sizes. Just as insurance in case a model doesn't work out. My fit model for most of the garments, Piccolo, is not coming on the trip. I went shopping today for some personal wardrobe items to take on the trip. My overall feeling is that I'm on the brink of something. But I can't figure out what the something is. I think it's going to be big. But I can't decide if it will be good or a disaster. Things are ready to pop with the book, I think. But there are some changes in my work situation that are a little alarming. These next few weeks are going to be interesting, to say the least. The photo is some incredible yarn I bought at Knit One, called Lobster Pot by Cape Cod Fibers. The red shade is called Boiled Lobster, and the yellow Drawn Butter. Yummy. Some book samples are made in it, although I can't be specific regarding what yarns are used in the book, because it is likely to be printed in other languages and distributed to other countries that can't procure a lot of the materials that I've used. Which is interesting to think about. Consider how often a yarn gets discontinued right after it is used in a design in a recently published book.

One Track Mind

It's All Dogs, All the Time here in the Lucky Penny household. Here's a new item to add to my many dog collectibles. I have a collection of Steiff dogs from the 50's and 60's, the years of my birth and childhood. Not having these as a child, I collect them now as an adult. I remember going to Marshall Field's on State Street with my grandmother, back in the day when they had a toy department (and a yarn and fabric department, too!) a wanting some Steiff toys. This is Mimic Tessie, a schnauzer puppet from 1958 or 1959. I have a few dog puppets, but this is the first one I've seen with legs. I buy my dogs from antique shows, eBay, or a shop near one of my job sites that has antique toys. I love this one--she's so cute!

The Bomb

If you're visiting the blog from the Lucky Penny web site, hello there. This is where I showcase some personal projects and tell some stories about life here in Chicago with a silly Man, an adorable dog, and slogging away at a full time job while I try to keep the dream alive. This photo is a test that was rejected by the publisher. I wanted location shooting with natural light, but was vetoed. So we're doing a studio shoot. Only have a few models confirmed so far. My publisher knows that I'm going to be late with with manuscript. Changing jobs in the middle of this process really kicked my ass, and I probably lost about two months. Being creative on deadline is probably one the the hardest things that I've ever done, but now I sort of feel like I'm in a zone, and could probably sketch out a lot of ideas for a second book. But this one needs to be put to bed before that happens. I found out today that someone I'm very close to may be moving far away. We don't see each other much because our lives are both so scattered, but we talk frequently. So that doesn't need to change. I've known her since I was a child. I don't regret not having children, because I got to spend so much time with hers when they were little. Things like going with for trick or treat on Halloween, and seeing them so often when they were babies and just starting school. Rocking the youngest to sleep when he was an infant. Getting to see them take their first steps, and start to talk. They're all remarkable young adults now, living their own lives, and now their parents are starting to think about what they want for themselves. It's all good. I'll have another city that I can visit, and have someone important to me there. Thanks, M, for sharing it all with me.

Valentine

The Man and I were out to dinner tonight at our Mexican restaurant, Angel's, not too far from where we live. I had one margarita, and now glad I didn't order a second. We were having a conversation about the upcoming trip to San Francisco. He will be overwhelmed taking care of two dogs. So he asked me to delay taking Agnes until I get back. So, I hope this doesn't mess the adoption up. But I know him, and I should have known better about the situation. When I had Penny and went on a trip, I boarded her so the Man wouldn't have to take care of her. Penny really didn't like the Man, so it would have been hard. Piccolo and the Man have a good relationship, but it's not like when The Mommy takes care of her. It should be fine, but he's not as careful as I'd like. He's been told that if anything happens to Piccolo under his care, he will not be forgiven. So, I posted a classified on Craig's list, and got some responses from people with small dogs. Some of the requests for compensation I will save for after the shoot is over. I just may get enough dogs to get this done. Provided that every one shows up. I'm still desperate for a Pug to model the sweater that I've designed for a Pug--so if anyone out there knows a 11" or 13" (neck to tail) Pug in the Bay area that could be available March 3 or 4, please e-mail me. 14 days till departure!

Mad Hatter

I really like the book Hip Knit Hats. This is Nessa, knit in a orphan hank of Noro Transitions. I modified the stitch count on the pattern for a lighter weight yarn. The shape is interesting--a little crown, and then reverse stockinette that curls under a bit for a nice bucket shape. So nice that I've made another in bulkier yarn. Now that I've found hats that look good on my big round head, I can have a proper hat wardrobe than one would expect from a knitter.
Agnes countdown--6 days till landing.
Doggie Knits countdown--17 days till departure.

I'll Knit These

From Rowan #39. I actually liked a few more in the magazine, but these look like things I would wear. I'll knit them in wool, however. For the most part, I'm not really a cotton girl. I don't like knitting with it. I especially detest Summer Tweed, a cotton/silk blend. I love the way it looks knitted up, but can't stand to touch it. The sweater closed with a brooch, Lizzi, I would knit in some Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran that I have stashed. It's fabulous stuff. The dark blue one, Antoinette, I would knit perhaps in Nashua Creative Focus Chunky, a wool/alpaca blend. I've got something in the works in Creative Focus Worsted, and really like how it's turning out. The photo styling in the magazine was kind of interesting to me. I like that the Rowan art directors approach the designs like a fashion magazine. I can't imagine that they expect that someone will wear a sweater just as it appears in the magazine! I find the names of the designs wacky, although I guess you can't just call everything Pullover or Cardigan or Shawl. I've named the designs in my book for pets I have had or known. I have 17 days until I leave for the book shoot! A few more samples to knit and finish, and booking the models. There's a possibility I can get a Chinese Crested puppy to model a tiny sweater for the book! David shot some tests today, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Year of the Dog

That's every year here in the Lucky Penny household. I found this on line, and it looks like Piccolo went to Taiwan to pose for this art! The photo shoot is likely going to be pushed back another week, so my knitting classes at Wigglyville will also get pushed back one week to start March 20th. I'm a little discombobulated because I realized today that I can't find my agenda. A little black Coach agenda that I've owned for about 6-8 years. All my important dates are in it, and my address book as well. The only thing that might be valuable to someone are the stamps that are in the side pockets. There's a photo of the Man in it that I really like, too. I'm wondering if I left it at a job location yesterday--I don't think I'm going to be able to find it. That makes me feel really creepy. So, this weekend I'll look for another agenda to record the events of 2006 Year of the Dog.

Sliding

Just a little lake effect snow can wreak havoc on a city, even one as snow savvy as Chicago. Going home tonight, I drove across a parking lot of virgin snow. The driveway to the lot has an incline, and I almost slid out into traffic on 69th street. I don't get in situations that make me have to use my anti-lock brakes, but fortunately they are still working in my old vehicle (my history with cars is to buy one new and drive it until it's done). I saw an SUV really spin out, 360 + degrees on the Dan Ryan expressway, which at most times of the day or night is a heavily used highway. Amazingly no other cars or trucks hit the SUV. I was almost in an accident when I braked just when the light turned to red, and the van behind me had decided to run the light. And, there's issues with setting up the photo shoot. So I'm tired, and cranky, and I'm going to write this, even though I may up editing this post later. This has been on my mind a lot. It's about the rash of books that have one author, but are the designs of many that have been cherry picked for the best ones. It's about the compensation for those designers, when the author will be collecting royalties in perpetuity. This is what I know based on my contract. I have an advance and a photo budget. The advance is just that, and will be backed out of the royalties that will be paid when books are sold. There is a photo budget. If I go over the budget, those costs will be paid by the anticipated royalties from the book. Nowhere in this contract is a fee schedule for submitted designs. I'm assuming that if I had others submit designs, I would pay them an agreed upon fee. Out of my advance. Or out of the funds I have set aside for added expenses. I asked one person to submit a design, which ended up not happening, and I would have paid her asking price. Out of my advance, not out of a "wee budget." So, if anybody out there is thinking about submitting a design, really consider what the compensation is. I've heard of a few out there where the designers didn't even get a copy of the published book. Is $100 or less a better deal? Oh, the scarf. It's a Grinda! Knit in Noro Iro #55, on size 10.5 needles. It's really long, kind of a Dr. Who type thing. I wore it to a job, and did an Isadora Duncan thing. I rolled a chair over it, and nearly choked. It's dramatic, but I have to be careful!

Did You Stop By to See Knitting?

Why just make one? This is Grinda, from Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton's Noro Book One. A super easy pattern to memorize, and goes really fast, because of the hole factor. There's a lot of pesky ends to weave in, though. The one on the left is Silk Garden #206, and on the right #228. The #206 is left over from my Gloria sweater, and on the right was purchased to be a scarf for my niece Janet, who goes to school in Washington, D.C. This Christmas Janet asked for a scarf a few days before the holiday, and I originally said no, I don't have the time this year. But, how often does a loved one ask for hand knit stuff? I couldn't resist. I just hope she doesn't lose it! Two balls of Silk Garden make about a 6 foot long scarf, knit on size 8 needles.

Little Visitor

On Wednesday, Agnes came to visit in the back yard. I had a lot of apprehension about this, but things actually went much better than I expected. What struck me most was Piccolo's reaction. She appeared to like Agnes, more than Agnes liked her. It made me wonder if Piccolo has wanted companionship all along, and if her position as only dog in the household was not that important to her. The result of this experience is that I am in love with Piccolo more than ever. I am moved that she is capable of so much love and generosity. The two dogs are an odd contrast. Piccolo is all roundness and perfection. Agnes is a little bony, and has a pigeon toed walk, and not as lithe and supple as Piccolo. She stumbled on the step coming down from the back deck. The sweater is courtesy of her foster mom, Sara. It's cute, but not wooly. I think adapting this to a hand knit will be a cute design for the next book. I've already designed a sweater in Agnes' honor for this book. I was hoping to have Agnes in the apartment to test out the two together inside, but the adoption people at New Leash on Life have not gotten back to me. I understand that this is an all volunteer organization, and that their concept of time passing is different from mine, and my deadlines are only important to me. This would have been the perfect weekend for the transition, because I was home both days. I'm working part of next weekend, and my trip to San Francisco is in a few weeks. All this delay will make Agnes' adjustment to my home more difficult as she has been at Sara's since Christmas, and gets more comfortable there each day. The Man is lukewarm to this idea, mostly because of Agnes' assumed age, and doesn't quite understand the foster/adoption process.

Spaced Out Gifting

The Man is not good at giving gifts. Last Christmas, my gift was a George Foreman grill that he re-gifted after he got it from his aunt. I know because he left the card in the box when he re-wrapped it. I thought it was hilarious. He just doesn't have the gifting gene. This year, I was regifted a car vacuum. Christmas this year was a let down overall, as I get older I have learned to keep my holiday expectations low. But this year the regift was not amusing. So, I opened the Man's wallet, pulled out a credit card, and ordered this Space Board from Patternworks. Thank you, my Man! At last, a gift I really want! It's in use here with another Ekeby, waiting to be assembled. The Man doesn't like this sweater. The only one I've gotten a positive comment on is my Gloria. I've come to the conclusion that this vest is a possible candidate for flaming on the You Knit What blog, but I think it's a great shot of color under a lab coat for my hospital job. This is from the first Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton book, and knit in Iro #56. I modified the front by making the center slash a little deeper. I'm on to another one, 60% done, in Iro #47. Reruns and leftovers for me!