More fun in Detroit

I can't believe it was a little over a week ago that I was hanging out with Erica, Melynda, Debs, and Jill.  After our lunch, we went to a charming yarn store, Ewe-nique Knits, in Royal Oak, Mi.





A skein of that lovely Spud and Chloe yarn came home with me.  I started a baby version of The Snowboarder Hat that Rocks for baby Padraig!

 

I trimmed the hat with a lovely gray from Shepherd's Wool, a yarn made in Michigan.  I really love how all of the shops I visited last weekend featured locally made products throughout their stores!



It was so nice to spend more time with Jill after all of our emails the past few years.  She has helped Irish Girlie Knits expand so much with her awesome graphic designs and pattern layouts and knitterly advice.  So nice to give her a big thank you hug in person!!!

The next day Erica took me to The Rust Belt.  Such a cool experience.  Local artisans set up shop there on the weekend...like a farmer's market for crafters and artisans. 









One of the best treats there was from Evil Foods.  OMG delish!  The brownie we had was so overthetop it made Erica smile like this..





There was also lovely tea.  Really, a perfect shopping experience at the Rust Belt.  I could see it being a great place for last minute holiday shopping too.

After The Rust Belt, we just had to stop at a local cupcake shop.  Have you heard of bumpy cake?  It's a Detroit thing I'm told. So of course we had to try the cupcake version :)



Such a fun weekend!! It really went too fast.  But it was so nice to finally meet Buddy...



and sweet baby Padraig!  Oh, the smiles this little guy has! Too cute!



After lots of fun traveling the past month or so, I'm really looking forward to staying at home for a bit and catching up with things...knitting, pattern writing, blogging, swimming, etc.  We'll be home for Thanksgiving which will be nice. 

Oh, and just in case you hadn't heard...this. 

Go Irish!!!
Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S. Next post is all about knitting.  I promise.  I've actually finished things that I can share.  And our annual after Thanksgiving sale is coming up too.  Fun week ahead.

More Good Things

1.  Hanging out in Greektown in Detroit with Disco!  Yummy food and a little casino fun, which included one awesome spin on roulette! Go 11!






2. Fun new yarn clubs like this one from Among Friends, featuring American wools.  I loved designing for their last Among Friends club and their next line-up of designers looks fantastic too!  But hurry, sign-ups close on tomorrow Nov. 15!

3. Babies.  Goodness I miss this bundle of joy :)



4. Just one week until Thanksgiving.  I know, I know...the holidays are upon us, which means lots of busy, but I love the spirit of the holidays.  I have a lot to be thankful for this year.  Plus, I'm looking forward to a few days home and relaxing :)

5. DavidsTea.  OMG!  I'd heard lots of good things from the knitters in the Ravelry Cuppa Tea group, but it is even better than I thought.  A new store just opened up in Burlingame and I stopped in the other day.  They were so helpful and knowledgeable and made it easy to enjoy a few samples.  So far my favorites are Forever Nuts, Stormy Night, and who would have thought...Cookie Dough! Delish!!!!





Any good things happening with you guys?  Oh, and how could I forget!  Gotta love friends who fly from Australia to finish watching Breaking Dawn.  We'll be seeing it next Tuesday :)  Hope it isn't as bad and cheesy as the last one...

Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Babies!

I've had a great long weekend here in Michigan!  My flight leaves in a few hours and this is the first chance I've had to blog :)  I thought I'd get lots of knitting done hanging out with Disco and Erica, but who I was I kidding!  Cute babies abound and I got lots of snuggling!

Saturday morning was brunch with the girls!  Jill, Disco, Melynda and her new baby Sam, and Erica and new baby Padraig!  It was too much cuteness!





The boys are just a few days apart in age and it was soooooo cute to see them together!  Baby smiles!!

Then we all got our snuggles in...





Melynda made baby Padraig the sweetest sweater, and of course, it had the perfect gift tag!





Baby Sam is content after brunch :)

Lots of more fun to share from the rest of the weekend...including yarn stores, cupcakes, and more baby pictures!!!

Happy Monday!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Good Things

1. It is late Friday night and it is the weekend!!

2. Tomorrow night is the local designers night at Nine Rubies, my Local Yarn Store.  It was a lovely event last year, and this year in addition to myself and Hillary Smith Callis, Romi Hill will be joining us too. It is going to be a great evening!   Please stop by if you are in the neighborhood!

3.  Seeing Lil' Snowboarder perform in her first show choir performance tonight!!



Not the greatest picture because we were in the back and it was dark, but she looked so cute in her Italian costume! 

4.  This time next week I will be in Michigan with Disco and Erica!!!  A bit decadent after a week of vacation in Tahoe, but it'll be a quick weekend trip and I've been dying to meet baby Padraig.  And really, I need another girls weekend already....it was a long week this week!

5. A new David's Tea is opening up close to use soon.  Have any of you tried it?  I haven't, but have heard such good things that I can't wait!!

Happy Weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Trick or Treat

It was a great Halloween today!  In addition to watching a bit of the SF Giants Victory parade (so proud! wish I could have gone!), there was a werewolf in the house!



That werewolf also insisted I dress up for trick-or-treating tonight too.....she even did my makeup!



A happy happy Halloween!!  Hope you had a great one too!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Just what the doctor ordered

A week away in the snowy mountains with your bestest knitting friends is exactly what I needed last week.





And the sun came out too.







Although we were there for SOAR, I didn't take any classes because I had a pretty big to-do list already.
1) knit, write, and photo a design due this week. Check. Done :)  Lots of knitting by the fireplace.
2) exercise.  Lovely walks and a wonderful snowy swim in this pool.



3) Maybe, just maybe, try to actually learn to spin.  While I didn't take a class, Tricia did and look at her go!



She inspired me to maybe try, while Cupcakefaerie pretty much insisted that I sit down when Mr. Ashford, the Mr. Ashford of Ashford Spinning Wheels encouraged me to try.   See, I do have an Ashford traditional spinning wheel sitting in my garage.  That's a story for another day.  But I have to say, Mr. Ashford was absolutely lovely and a wonderful teacher!  And, I think I actually got the spinning thing :) 





4) Make a wee little pumpkin for Lil' Snowboarder.





She liked it so much we made one together tonight for her teacher.  They are super quick to make....hurry, there is still time!

5) Cast on something just because.  My because reason actually became cheer for the Giants and knit something orange!!!  I even finished it, but that's for another day too!





So proud of my Giants!! WORLD CHAMPS!!!

Have a safe and happy halloween tomorrow!  And all my east coast friends, I'm keeping you in my prayers this week.  Stay safe!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Snow!

We arrived in Lake Tahoe yesterday and this was a view on our walk. 



However, this morning.....A perfect morning to wake up to in the mountains!! 



This is the view from the porch this morning.



When the plans for your day include knitting and sitting by the fire, you don't mind that this is how it looks outside.



I did bundle up to walk down to the main lodge for breakfast, but it was delicious and so well worth the walk.





Don't worry Mom and Dad, they are already plowing our walkway.



Now time for a cuppa tea and some pattern writing by the fire :)

Happy Vacation!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Good things.

1.  Art projects.



2.  Happy kids and ice cream.





3.  Feeling better each day.  Still no word yet on the test results, but hoping for the best.  Thanks for all your get well wishes!

4.  Honeycrisp apples.



5.  The Fightin' Irish are 7-0!! Undefeated and ranked #5!  Go Irish!!!

6. Pumpkin bread.  Delish.

7.  Tea at Lupicia.  Caramel and Rum came home with me :) as well as a few others.



8. Call the Midwife and the new Upstairs Downstairs.  They are tiding me over until Downton Abbey!

9.  Vacation!!!  7 days of vacation starting tomorrow!!! I'm going here for SOAR.  I've been to Grandlibakken a few times in the winter with Snowboarder.  I absolutely love it there, so when my friends asked me to go, I jumped at the chance.  To be honest, I'm not going for the spinning.  I was on the fence about taking a spinning class, but with everything that has been going on the past month or two healthwise, I'm going to just relax! Swim (heated pool!!), knit, blog, and finally, finally get some time to finish writing the shawl patterns from the wedding.  Plus of course, my best girlfriends will be there and five of us in a condo spells fun, drinking, movies, knitting, and fun!!!  And if by Thursday I want to try the one day spinning class, I will.  But I'm not adding any pressure to the week!

10.  I sure will miss this cutie.



Happy Vacation!!  And Go Giants!!! 
xoxo Irishgirlieknits