TNNA Fun

I can't quite believe it is the last day of January! 2014 is moving right on by. It seems like just last week I was in San Diego for TNNA, but really, it was three weeks ago?! Time to catch up a bit.





I had a booth with Deep South Fibers, my awesome wholesale distributor that helps get my IGK patterns into your local yarn stores. Here I am with Linda and Donna at the end of the weekend- I think we look pretty good for the end of a three day trade show.



\

I shared a booth this time with the lovely Pam Powers. Her designs are just stunning and I loved having time to hang out with Pam a bit more this year. Being able to spend time with other designers is one of my favorite things about TNNA. I always feel inspired for new designs and projects after TNNA.



Hard not to be inspired by Sarah, aka The Sexy Knitter, and her fabulous Downton Abbey-inspired couture outfit. Isn't it stunning?! Plus it is made with Anzula's lovely yarns.



Speaking of Anzula, here is Sabrina, the fabulous owner and dyer of Anzula yarns. I absolutely love working with these ladies and I can't wait to show you some of their new yarns that I came home with. Plus, I've revived one of my designs featuring their heavenly Cloud yarn since I've been home. Hoping to have this finished in time for Stitches West!



a little sneak peek

I really missed my roomies from the last TNNA, Anne and Erica. But I did stop by to say hi to Krist at Shalimar Yarns and was able to see some of Anne's designs in person.



Here is the lovely Sheltie Square (another fabulous pattern from Bare Naked Knits 2012 club, which reminds me to tell you that there is still time to sign up for BNK 2014), knit in Shalimar's gorgeous colors.



Look at Anne's gorgeous Leaving sweater in Shalimar Yarns Breathless DK. So gorgeous! I'm so excited to see more of Kristi's yarn at Stitches West this year (yes, they are coming!! first time!). Plus, they are celebrating 7 years in business with an awesome ShaliMarch event. Read all about it here.



Yes, TNNA is definitely awesome to see everyone in all their fabulous knits! And I loved seeing some IGK projects too. Maridee from The Yarnover Truck showed off her Wish I Might shawl. So pretty!



Here is cupcakefaerie's Silver and Bold in progress.



And SnBLeslie cranked out these Comfort Food fingerless gloves.





I'll admit I was a bit worried about going to TNNA so soon after finishing radiation. But I'm so glad my girlfriends encouraged me to go. It was just the right combination of vacation and IGK work. And I came home excited about new potential designs.

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Reentry isn't easy.

As amazing as vacation was, reentry has been an adjustment. My energy is nowhere near 100%, so that doesn't help either. I still have lots to share about my trip to San Diego and TNNA, but I thought I'd first share what was keeping me busy since I've been home.

First things first. This past weekend was my niece's baptism and it was a perfect day (well, except for my 49ers losing and all, but I'm trying to move past that). Most of these pictures my sister-in-law took and they turned out amazing! Thanks sis!






Magpie was enamored with the Bishop's hat. She's here with her godparents.


She's wearing the christening gown my grandma, Mimi, and Cotty picked out for us three kids to wear for our baptisms. I thought she looked like a Downton Abbey baby, right?

She was such a happy baby during most of the ceremony, I just had to include this picture.





Me and the not so lil guy!

I don't know if any of you remember the little vest I knit for his baptism way back when, but my sister sure did (e.g., "Um....you did knit him something special....."). I kept telling her it probably wasn't going to happen since I can't seem to finish any knitting lately.

But Thursday night I thought, what the heck. Let's see. Plus, I really wanted to cast on the new skein of Anzula Dreamy that I bought at Sample-It at TNNA (new colorway gravity matches the dress just perfectly!).




Friday night she tried to cheer auntie on. Seriously, this is how it looked Friday night. See, not much further than Thursday night.


But here we were Saturday night. I stopped at a decent hour and opted for a "shrug" look.


Ta-da! Worth it, right?! Plus I may even use this as a new design.....see the Cotty pattern in there? What do you think? I purposely avoided the picots because you know, some of you don't like them (I know, crazy, right?).




Such a big poofy dress! My sister and I laughed because Miss Magpie is almost 3 months old and this is only the 2nd time she has worn a dress (the other dress was a Notre Dame one!).

A few other distractions last week that made reentry a little easier....


Seriously cute Puddles!




Lovely evenings for softball, though we do desperately need the rain.




Tea time!


I even had a chance to list my new design, Silver and Bold. It's on sale so be sure to check it out.

Next post will be more vacation fun! It was so great to catch up with friends in San Diego (and new yarn!).

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Relaxing Vacation

Relaxing and a knitting trade show, aka TNNA, don't always go together, but I promised myself that this weekend had to be just that.








The sweet little Knitted Wit baby!











How does it look like it is going so far?

Happy vacation!
Xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Vacation!

San Diego.....knitting...girlfriends...sunny weather...TNNA! What more could a girl ask for!



I'm here for TNNA, The National NeedleArts Association Tradeshow, but really, that's an excuse to hang out with my best knitting friends. A little relaxation! I'll be with Deep South Fibers in Booth 1348 so if you are here, please stop by and say hi!

My new design will also be featured with Knitted Wit's Bling yarn at Sample It! tomorrow night, as well as my BFF Debbi's new design (check it out on here blog). Here's a sneak peek at Silver and Bold....



I'll post more info about it this weekend when it is released online too!



I'm knitting on my sample of it here.....I wish this picture better conveyed the comfy hotel bed that I'm knitting it in!

Happy Vacation!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Making

A year of making.... an interesting idea, isn't it? I follow Miriam Felton on twitter and last year she posted pictures or commented on how she was being present in the moment and making each day. From knitting to sewing to baking. She's doing it again this year and some of us are joining in. Nothing formal. A hashtag really.

#yearofmaking

Sounds simple enough, but I've been pretty tired these last few weeks. My multi-tasking magical abilities seem to have disappeared. I used to be able to watch tv and knit and read and email. Nope. Must focus all energy on one thing. Ugh. Really hoping this is just a side effect. I've been making an effort though to take a few minutes for making, even if initially I'm not feeling up to it. Just need to get going, if that makes sense. It seems to be helping.







I feel like the slowest knitter in the world right now. But a few rows each night....slowly but surely.

I was definitely silly to think I'd get any knitting done the other night when I was babysitting this sweet pea.



Isn't she the sweetest?!?!



My sister said her husband teased that they left her with me just a few hours and she already had her Notre Dame bib on. I clarified that that was the second bib I put on her. The my auntie thinks I'm cute bib was spit up on first :)

And now the end of the holiday season. Monday is looming. Back to work I go. Kind of nice that we can ease into that tonight with the premiere of Downton Abbey!



My mom picked up this tea a few weeks ago for me at Cost Plus World Market. The yarn I picked up from the lovely Amy at Canon Hand Dyes.



Fall at Downton Abbey. Isn't it grand? It'll be waiting for me for when my knitting mojo returns!

I hope you've eased into the new year and it is going well so far. Any making on your end? I'd love to hear.

Here's to a good week ahead for us!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits