Sparkling Sequins Stun!!!

Darn it all, you can't see those stunning, sparkling sequins in this picture. You'll just have to take my word for it that this is the most eye-catching piece in the store. People gasp when they see it. Really. The pattern is called Wisp and it's free on Ravelry. There are 3 different ways to wear this, but the one shown is my favorite. The tassle-topped wooden shawl pin is a perfect compliment both color-wise and design-wise. I bought a bunch of these from an Australian woman who was visiting a friend of hers in San Diego. Irresistible. Oh, and reasonable too.

I just placed Big Fall Orders this morning, including bags of this gorgeous Kid-Paillettes from Skacel. We are awaiting their new fall colors ... merlot and navy which compliment their naturals beautifully. We'll keep you posted on their arrival!

L.A. Gift Show Treasures

The summer gift show in L.A. is the show where we select our holiday decorations and gifts so it's sort of Christmas in July for us. By the end of a long day, what we've purchased becomes just one big blur. When we receive our orders starting in October, we are always surprised and delighted to remember what we did buy!

In addition to placing orders for future deliveries, we are also able to buy some "cash and carry" items. This time, we discovered an organization called Woman for Woman, a fair trade Cambodian business where disabled women are taught to sew and create beautiful silk accessories to support themselves. . What impresses us about their products is the quality. They are all 100% silk, the colors are vibrant, the styles run from fun to sophisticated and the stitching and soundness of construction is excellent. Silk is one of the strongest fibers available and known for its soil resistance. Okay, so all this is leading up to us telling you ... we brought back a very nice supply with us! Tomorrow we price and display them and Tuesday, you will be able to buy them at the Grove.

The other treasures we picked up at the "cash and carry" are paper products by Little Heart Designs, a California family run operation.
We adore their ultra feminine, glittery gift cards (see "Girlfriends Matter" card above!), journals and notepads. They have over 1000 images and the most difficult part is trying to pare down and select what we can afford. How can you possibly resist these lovebirds?!#

The Perfect Model!

This is Kira, a beautiful customer of ours who was enamored with the Cloche. When I saw her wearing the hat I squealed and she said, "Oh, is it not okay that I try this on?" It's more than okay, I told her! She graciously agreed to pose for this picture and her mom and mom's friend both took pictures and sent them to me. If I didn't need the Cloche as a shop sample, I would have gladly given it to her because she is the rightful owner of it!

Pagewood Farm Hand Spun Bouquet Cloche

So this morning, I get a call from one of my favorite reps, Cia, who also happens to be the rep for Pagewood Farm. That would be Sweet Cia. She got my email re: tomorrow night's Walkabout and sent me a copy of a one-skein pattern for this adorable cloche made from Pagewood's Hand Spun Bouquet. A shop in Florida designed this and artfully arranged the "bouquet" on one side of the hat. Brilliant! It was one busy day, but the minute I received Cia's email, I cast on this beauty and finished right after dinner. Good lord, it's so cute, I can hardly stand it. And Easy Schmeazy! We have several of these gorgeous skeins on hand for the Walkabout and will provide the pattern free with purchase of the yarn (at 15% off). So c'mon in!!!

Pagewood Farm Extravaganza!!!!

For this Walkabout Weekend only, we have over a hundred skeins of Pagewood Farm hand-dyed yarns to choose from at 15% off. Pagewood Farm yarns on sale?#! Unheard of!!! Rustic Spun, Fuzzy Purls, Giant Purls, Handspun with Felted Flowers, One of a Kind Embellished Hand-Spun (incorporating glittery ribbons and other cool stuff!), and more! We also have over a dozen Tinkerbell Needlefelting Silk Scarf kits and bags of hand-dyed roving...all at 15% off. All unsold skeins of yarn will be returned to Pagewood Farm following this weekend so don't miss this opportunity.

Early Fall Knitty Issue

Wow. It's not even July 4th and the Early Fall Knitty Issue has been posted! Mind you, I am not complaining, just pleasantly surprised. As you might imagine, this issue is full of accessories (primarily socks) which suit us year-round knitters who knit through the summer in preparation for fall. Socks and accessories are perfect vacation projects since they don't take up much room and are highly portable. Although I'm not a sock knitter per se, I just love these Double Helix socks. We're discussing have a sock class in August and this pattern is one we are considering. I just don't think I would be able to cover those very cool heels with shoes. Transparent Croc's perhaps?


Good lord, I can just imagine my sister shaking her head in disapproval, saying...why do you always pick out such ugly shoes?

Diagonal Lace Linen Scarf or Wrap

We have just received a new shipment of Euroflax and this morning, I noticed Churchmouse's Diagonal Lace Linen Scarf/Wrap pattern on Ravelry. What a perfect evening wrap for our climate! The pattern is a freebee and can be knit with 1 or 2 skeins of Euroflax depending upon your gauge and size. Churchmouse patterns are tested and retested before presented to the public. Their patterns are one of the few trustworthy ones out there! Maybe we'll do a knit along with this one in August. Let me know if you are interested.

P.S. They suggest Euroflax or an "equivalent sport-weight bast fiber". "Bast"? Huh. Never heard that one before. Check it out! It is a great Scrabble word!