Jammin at the zoo with Coachella

Last week we went to the Jammin at the zoo concert series in Lincoln Park. We went to see Toad the Wet Sprocket. It was the perfect night to debut Cocahella.

I used just under 4 skeins of Filatura Lanarota Summer Soft and discovered that if I go up 2 needle sizes when knitting in the round after I have already knitted (knat?)flat rows, there is no gauge change.

This was a very quick knit and not difficult at all.


Largest free zoo in the world


I said not tonight, honey!

Drinkin, as well as jammin at the zoo:


Last week was a friend's birthday and I made her earrings. Pink and green are her favorite colors:

Wolfen Cam Monday

Island in the sun
Originally uploaded by skillj.

Craftiness ensues...

I've found my crafty mojo! I started Coachella for me and a leaf tie cardi from Fitted Knits as a belated bday present for a friend. And I've gotten some sewing done. I have a dress all cut out but I'm hesitant to begin sewing because I never really know what size to cut. The measurements on the pattern don't really help me much, they actually kind of confuse me more. But while I get the nerve up to sew the dress, I worked on other projects.
Here is an Amy Butler Frenchy handbag. I used Denise Schmidt "Katie Jump Rope" fabrics. I love that entire collection.




And, a Built by Wendy top for your viewing pleasure:

I love this fabric too! I found it at Hancock's and they had only a little left, just enough for this top. It's by a Japanese designer...can't remember the name and the name was written in Japanese characters on the fabric.


I might make another top soon, but wish me luck on tackling the dress!

Don't worry, I'm still alive!

Hello all! It's been a while, huh? Well, I can't say that I've been doing much. This has truly been a summer of leisure. I haven't even really crafted all that much. I knit way more when I was working full time than I do now and that's insane...because when I was working, I always said that it was working that got in the way of my crafting and that hasn't been the case. I went home to visit my sis and her family, I've spent almost all the other weekends with Christian's family, and we spend as much time as possible with Wolfen at the dog beach.

He really loves going there. The first few times we would be there for hours cause we couldn't figure out how to get him back on the leash (all of his obedience flies out the window where there are other dogs frolicking about in the sand & water)but we finally figured out that if you get in the water when he's swimming back to shore to grab him, he can't dart away. (Can someone please sign us up to have Cesar come and whisper to Wolfen to come back to us when at the dog park/beach?)
But I do have a couple FOs to share. Both of them were started when we moved back in the end of April and just recently completed.

Here is the Juliet cardi from the Debbie Bliss Rialto book. I used an 80/20 pima cotton/angora blend by Ardadia. It's a smidge too big but I can still wear it.


This is a bag pattern from Suss that I made with Suss Sparkle and lined with some fabric I found on Ebay. The button and handles are from M&J Trim.

New Attitude!

Short hair!
Originally uploaded by skillj.

Got my hair cut...no more ponytail!

Friendship afghan

I just got my blanket that the crew at the SnB/The Point in Manhattan made for me as a going away gift. They started it while I was still there and how they did this without me knowing about it, I don't know...I love it!!!
Me modeling it:

Here's a close-up

Great isn't it? Thanks everyone!!

Wolfen Cam Monday

Wolfens Who Lunch
Originally uploaded by skillj.

The girls at Bar Louie let us have lunch with Wolfen out in the patio seating. Here he is checking out the view.

It's so good to be reconnected!

View from the Van Buren/State el stop
Originally uploaded by skillj.

For about a week I was without internet and I almost went crazy...I'm so glad to have it now and wireless to boot! I haven't gotten much crafting done. I attempted to start the Print O' the Wave stole...about 10 times. And on the 11th time I got through one repeat, put in a lifeline and promptly screwed it up only to get the lifeline tangled in with everything else. So that's on a backburner. Then I started a little cardi by Debbie Bliss but it's nothing but garter stitch on 203 stitches for almost 11 inches. I'll spare you the boring pic of my progress but here is the pic from the Rialto booklet I am working from. Who knows if this will ever get done cause I'm only about a quarter of the way through the sea of garter goodness. Hopefully, today our stuff will get delivered and I can find another project to start work on, or maybe even finish something that's been languishing on the needles...hey, finishing something, what a concept!!
Since I don't have any crafting to show you, above is a pic from the el near where our temp housing was. (Van Buren/State St stop )

My First FO in Chicago

This is my first clapotis ever! Can you believe it? I'm not sure what took me so long to make it...it's simple, goes rather quickly and is beautiful! I used the Blue Heron that I bought with a gift cerftificate that I won at The Point during Vicki Howell's visit.


Can you see the sparkle? I intended to have this done for a wedding last weekend, but it didn't turn out that way.


Here's what I wore instead...I really love this Flair cardi!