Back from NOLA

I have been woefully bad about posting, and I'm going to try to be better.

There's a new pattern in the shop, a sweet little lamb hat especially for people bringing babies and wee ones to Fiber Fests this fall.

Shown here on the shockingly adorable Baby Ben:


Such a cutie.

I have a few finished knits to get up in the shop (hats, booties, 'sabers) so those will hopefully be up shortly.

In the meantime here's my list of my top ten favorite things I got in New Orleans last week:

1) Lovely white lab coat with seafood gumbo pins on the lapels so no one steals it. I finally had enough of the bleaching and phospholipids splashing on my pants to go and score one in NOLA (bonus: while at the uniform store, we spotted a scrub top for Bapi with doxies on it)

2) New phone! I must admit I love having a full QWERTY for texting and the internet with me at all times. Plus, the case is adorable.

3) My ears pierced! Even though the girl before me was 5 and the girl after me was 6 and the girl watching me told me she had to wait until she was 10 to get hers done. My cute little CZ studs can come out in October.

4) My quilted hippie bag. A NOLA Stitches original (I'll put up some pictures)

5) A renewed fondness for Harry Potter and Julia Child. I had forgotten how much I loved the Harry Potter books and movies until I went and saw the newest one (Half-Blood Prince). Can't wait for the next one(s). What happened to the online HP costuming community? It doesn't seem as present as it once was and I'd like more info on that Luna ballgown. Also just loved Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia.

6) My hair cut!

7) A lovely little wristwatch so I can tell the time without pulling my phone out.

8) Quality time with Pickles, She of the Perpetual Yearning for Belly Rubs.

9) Delicious NOLA food: sushi, wedding cake sno-balls, poboys, charcuterie and brie at St. James, boiled blue crabs, banana pie and shrimp at Emerils...

10) Several quilts laid out with the Maps: the Christmas Cow Quilt, the antique red white and blue quilt, the baby boy quilt, the Doxie quilt, the HR Houses quilt, the sushi bag (pictures eventually)

All in all, a terrific trip. Now when can I go back?

Done like dinner.

The knitted slipper bootie pattern is done!!




The pattern is finished and I've proofed it, all that it needs now is a read through by a slightly more technically savvy mathematician/knitter than I am (namely Downtown) to quadruple check.



They were scattered everywhere, but I finally rounded up all the little booties and sockies I knit while working out the pattern and test-knitting things:


That's not counting the ones I pulled back. See that big turquoise slipper? I ran out of pink.

Speaking of running out I need to buy:
(1) More red glitterspun
(2) More black glitterspun for knitsabers
(3) Berroco Plush in orange flash and sweet pea
(4) Trendsetter Aura
(5) Knitpicks Shine for booties

Sidebar: it's actually a little frustrating to have the pattern done, but have to wait to post it in the shop...

Works in progress

Though generally pretty busy with moving, we the ladies of NOLA Stitches do have some works in progress to share:

The Maps is working on a stunning Stacked Coin quilt for Bethi:


Would you like to see the baking fabric? Smees, would you show the backing fabric please?


Thank you Smees.

And I am working on finishing a baby slipper-bootie pattern that's going to include instructions for three variations, shown here:



From left to right: the Not-in-Kansas-Anymore Ruby Slippers, the Prima Ballerina Slippers and the Jingle Bell Rock Slippers.

The pattern and some booties are going to be available very soon in my etsy shop.

Firsts!

A few firsts today. Our first post on the NOLA Stitches design blog (happy birthday, design blog) and (I give to you) our first collaboration as NOLA Stitches!!!



Shown on my couch with my red silk pillows because the colors go so well.

Check out that sexy Eclipse-cover red satin ribbon action.

Wanna see them side by side?

Nice, no?

Breakdown: The Maps and I discussed charms and fabric, the Maps picked the fabrics out and designed and sewed the base patchwork pillows, I sewed on the red satin ribbon and charms (three on each pillow, one of which is a crystal heart)

I'll list them on etsy as soon as I get a bit of time.

See if you can spot the loveliest ball in my yarn basket: