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 and 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.

Whickety-Whackety

Last fall, it was the Blooming Nine Patch that took months to complete. (I'll admit to having lots of distractions, as well as the more complex design)  This fall, I took the Stack and Whack class.  I've wanted to take it for a long time, and missed the last time it was offered.  This is a Kaffe Fassett fabric, I believe it's called Persian Vases.  You stack eight identical repeats of a fabric, and then cut your pieces though the layers.  Resulting in a kaliedescope effect.  I put together my first one, with my setting fabrics, and it's a misshapen mess.  So, this will take a long time to finish, and I'm sure that there will be many, many distractions along the way.
I feel like I'm always overcommitting myself.  I take on projects that I don't have time to do to my satisfaction.  Lucky Penny will be represented in three shops starting this week, and again, like this time every year, I find myself short on inventory.  I suppose it's a good problem, but I need to be more disciplined about resolving it.

Keeping it in the Family

A basket filled with doggie warmth and happiness!  These were knit by Rachel and her mom, who live in Seattle, for her sweethearts Lexi, Tyson, and Lilly.  Two Piccolo sweaters, and an Agnes!  I was so happy to find these posted on Facebook, and thanks to Rachel for letting me post them here!

I received this photo in an e-mail earlier this week, that knocked me off my chair.  This is Sailor, with uncle Milo in the background, wearing a sweater knit by Shirley.  Sailor is her son's dog.  The surprise for me, is that the knitter is one of my cousins, who I haven't seen or heard from in years.  She did a little collar modification for a custom fit for Sailor.  I'm just tickled that Shirley has resumed knitting, and reads the blog, and now is one of my Ravelry friends!  Happy to have her along!

Hello Sweater Weather

Here at last, sweater weather.  I wish someone would make this.  It's the Yoda sweater, from Doggie Knits.  A perfect recession proof sweater that can be knit entirely from scraps, like I have done here.  I think I like it better that the previous ones I made with self-striping yarn. 
I think this design kind of appeals to the quilter in me.  The play of little colored bits.  I have been quilting like a madwoman.  I am almost complete with 5/5 Sunshine and Shadow, the last being a ginormous one for us.  I was the recipient of some of Colette at Quiltology's scraps, including some much coveted Denyse Schmidt fabrics, and have two more doggie Spot on Retro quilts in the works.  Some more stash, already cut into seven inch squares, may become a throw for my mom's sun room, or a travel quilt for us.  I hate motel blankets and bedspreads, and I got the idea a few weeks ago for making a quilt to travel with us.  Especially since we're talking about a big road trip that I hope will happen next Spring.
We had a little meltdown at Lucky Penny headquarters, and almost a divorce over the living situation.  I started to look for a new apartment, and am sidetracked due to other commitments, including show prep and some custom work.  I'm having a difficult time getting the Man on board with moving, but if the landlady continues to be stingy with the heat, it may be the deal breaker for him.  The Man hates to be cold.  Keep your fingers crossed for me and Piccolo!