TNNA: The Stuff

I've come to the conclusion that I can't fit all the goodies from my trip to TNNA in June into one post. Trying to do that results in me just not blogging about everything, and that's no fun, right?  So, I'll surprise you guys with some of the fun things I received.....bit by bit.

Let's jump right to the yarn, ok?



Two skeins of gorgeous Baah! Yarns La Jolla.  I knit my San Mateo out of La Jolla and just loved it, so am quite excited to put these two beauties together.



This gorgeous skein of Shalimar Yarns Breathless is calling to me to be cast on soon. I just love it!! It was so nice to meet Kristi, the dyer behind Shalimar Yarns, and Lara, one of my online blogging friends, who I finally was able to meet in person. Lara did a great job talking about Shalimar Yarns on her post here.



Anzula Cricket. One of my new favorite yarns. I couldn't resist a few baby girl colors since my sister is going to have a baby girl!! I knit Lilianna out of Anzula Cricket and it is the perfect one skein baby project, if I do say so myself (biased, biased, I know...but that yarn is heavenly!).



I'm about to cast on a solid color version of my Peekaboo Penelope baby sweater.  I just love this color, even though it isn't a traditional baby girl color. What do you think?



Not yarn, but one of my favorites that I saw at TNNA. New cards and gift tags from Knitterella. I bought them as soon as she made them available online. Love love love them!! Jill was kind enough to throw in an extra in my order, so one of our lucky KAL participants is going to win a great prize!!!  If you haven't heard, come join our IGK 3rd quarter KAL...this one is a hoot!!

In other exciting news, I'm hoping to get to knit nite tomorrow nite!! It's the small things, right?!?

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

The Blogging To-Do List

My to-do lists have been a bit overwhelming lately. I finally have lots to blog about, but no time to do it!  So, as a quick saying hi post, I thought I might as well make my blogging to-do list to give you a peek at more to come in the next week or so.

1) Finish sharing some fun pictures from my trip to New Orleans last week. Like how much I love the vibrant and charming aspects of the city.  This building just made me smile :)



2) I released my new design, San Mateo, this week. I promise to tell you all about it but for now you should know that it is on sale for $5.00 through May 13, 2013 and even more on sale if you read #3. There is more info on Ravelry until I have time for a proper post.





3) Mad May!! It is Madelinetosh May over on Ravelry and to celebrate I'm offering 20% off all of my IGK patterns that are $6.00 or less through May 15, 2013 when you enter the code: madmay    

I'm starting Mad May off right with hopefully finishing this version of San Mateo this weekend.



Wait, I just told you about my Mad May special, so I think I can cross that off the list :)  Check.

4) I can't wait to tell you about my awesome afternoon yesterday helping A Verb for Keeping Warm celebrate the debut of their new yarn, Pioneer.



I'm casting on as soon as I finish that scarf above. Who cares if it has been 90 degrees here this week. Give me the sheepy wool!!



And yes, that is my dear friend Debbi in that picture.  More to come :)

5) New books to share. Fun tv shows. Other fun stuff. My happy post.

Hopefully I'll catch up soon.  In the meantime, what have you guys been up to? I'd love to hear! Oh, and thank goodness tomorrow is Friday, right?!?!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Deadlines

I love them and hate them all at the same time. You?

I'm definitely one who can work well under pressure most of the time, and I think that may be why I find myself waiting until the last minute to start certain deadline projects. I think I'm also a glass half-full kind of gal because technically someone could observe my behavior and say I'm good at procrastinating. Ha! I'm going with working well under pressure.


Saturday morning status, BMFA STR, colorway Peek-a-boo Peony

So this week's deadline...was it a super secret project? Nope. New design? Nope. It was a baby shower for a dear co-worker. There's a group of us at work who've worked together for over 10 years and I just couldn't not knit something for the baby.



Here it is this morning, still drying a bit before the shower at lunch.  Down to the wire, that's me. I've been enjoying the stitch pattern on my new infinity scarf design, so I thought I'd try it with a variegated yarn in the baby sweater.







I love the texture here, but for the baby sweater, I'm not sure it was what I had in mind. I'm going to think on it a bit. That's the fun part with knitting this....perfect for a gift and a chance to play around with a potential new design.



The mommy-to-be loved the sweater and especially loved the washing instructions on the Knitterella gift tag.  The best thing she said though was that baby Penelope would now have two IGK handknits to wear, since I knit her older daughter this.  She then said, "Don't worry. Her sister will get hers back when she is older, and now Penelope will have her own when she is older."  She's already thinking baby heirlooms. Now you can see why I knit for her, right?

Even with a last minute deadline :)

Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S.  As with any deadline knitting, there was some marathon tv watching that helped get this project done. This baby knit brought to you by catching up on Law and Order SVU, a new series on the Sundance channel called Top of the Lake, and Wallander (on amazon prime). A bit macabre for baby knits, but hey, whatever works.

P is for

• pink travel mug from Davids Tea

• painful head/migraine stuff today that kept me home from work

• Pom Tango tea from the Spring Collection at Davids Tea.  It is delish!

• perfectly pink yarn from Baah Yarns!

• prize winner!  G Marie (aka Gaylen) won the Sock Yarn Shawls book giveaway!  Congrats!!

• St. Patrick's Day is 6 days away.  That means time for the Annual IGK BOGO free pattern sale!! And I'm so excited to spend time with the family :)

• pattern prizes galore!!  Leave a comment sticking with the p is for....theme and I'll pick three random winners to receive two of my IGK patterns :)  Winner will be announced later this week.

Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

TNNA: The Stuff

It has been a nice relaxing, holiday 3-day weekend so far.  One of my goals this weekend has been to clean and organize a bit.  It is amazing how much piles up when you are on the go all the time.  Time to actually put away all the stuff I brought home from TNNA a few weeks ago.  Especially since Stitches West is coming up this week.....



Speaking of Stitches West, I'm excited to see more of Zen Yarn Garden there.  Roxanne's colors are to die for!!

It is so fun to see all of the new yarns and books and stuff that are coming to yarn stores this spring! I was able to bring home a few fun things.  One of my favorites is my new Namaste purse!



I'm a sucker for a new bag!  Jimmy Beans has a whole bunch of Namaste bags to choose from too. You'll see I also scored some new books that I'll be reviewing here on the blog too! 



These two lovelies are from Baah! A gorgeous infinity scarf in one of these colors will be on the needles soon!  My local yarn store, Nine Rubies, carries this lovely yarn and I'm so looking forward to finally getting to work with it.





These are just a few of the pretties from Sabrina at Anzula.  OMG! I just love her yarns and can't wait to show you the new design I have featuring her Cloud yarn.  It should be released in the next week!  Then Dreamy or Wash My Lace will be on the needles for something new.

With summer coming, I wanted a few lighter weight yarns to design more infinity scarves.  I've found that they are perfect for my chilly air conditioned office in the summer.  These lovelies will also be on the needles soon...


Berroco Captiva Metallic


Lang Yarns Moina

But before I cast on anything with all these new pretties, I have to finish up my new sock design in Bare Naked Wools Breakfast Blend.  Considering I haven't had a sock on the needles in awhile, this one is knitting up quickly.  I blame the lovely yarn :)



So what are you guys up to this weekend?  Anything on your needles you are trying to finish up?  I have two other new things on the needles that I'll show you tomorrow.

Happy Weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits