felted things I love

A few items I just picked up on Etsy that are adding more color to my studio. And a little birthday present for Madison. How girly is that?

Walk About at the Grove

Saturday night was filled with standing, sitting, selling, showing off slouches, scarves and simply sumptuous wrist jewelry and chatting - sorry couldn't think of another "s" word! It was so good to see Gail's DH Joe and to have my DH patiently wait until people cleared the way to get our "Five Girl Shot minus One" and the displays.

Val we missed you - but know you were having a great time celebrating Greg's Birthday in the very glam Palm Springs.

The night buzzed with "French Music", people stopped and watched the Paris, London and Milan runway shows and laughed at some of the most outlandish couture designs. Not something we would be wearing in our little South Park neighborhood..as Susan says "the hood"! Lavender filled the air, courtesy of the lavender plants adorning the table set with Pink Lemonade and little white "melt in your mouth sweets" and people stopped and handled all the yarns on the two display tables.

The displays took a month to pull together - many questions - "do you have an eiffel tower" "does anyone have anything French", "should we buy a eiffel print" "does anyone have an easel for a print" and of course many trips to IKEA for rose petals, and San Diego Floral Supply for birdies, nests and a candalarbra Susan turned into a bird nest holder to show off the new Spring yarns for our "Spring Time in Paris" promotion.

A big Thank You to Marcia - who kept adding great props -- eiffel tower door stop, print, toille purse for yarns, and a magnificent hat for the dress form that was purchased and worn for a special anniversary. And of course for her help setting up on Monday after a great breakfast at the Mission to give us energy! We have to have either "food or drinks" to start or finish most of our "get togethers"! A thank you to Gail for checking out the details during the week and bringing in her Louisa Harding sweater (a perfect addition!) for the "new spring yarn's" table. And of course, giving up the "cupcake" sweater for the dress form...it would have looked empty without it! I know how you wanted to wear it that night...know your sacrifice has not gone un- noted!

We sold copies of "French Girl Knits" - many questions about yarns and could have sold the slouches that Marcia and I were wearing. Hmmm - could that be annother business? Marcia? Susan? One young couple came up to me (as I was sitting in our chairs) and asked if the chairs were for a knitting group...of course I said "yes"...then he asked if we made the covers and if the initals were members of the group! Smart guy! Said he loved them and wanted to know where we got them (the chairs)! Other than the little kid who sat in Gail's chair (on his feet) and the "BIG" man, who also sat in Gail's chair...the chairs managed to go unscathed. Gail - time to put "crime tape" across your chair!

At the end, Richard sat down with Susan and I and rubbed my feet - should have forgone the "heels for vanity" and worn flats...but the foot massage was worth every inch of the heels!

All in all it was a great night - with lots of fun with four of our special five!

luv judipatuti

two days, two parties, three birthdays, more to come soon

We start with Madison and Ashley's (aka AJ (Ashely Jo) party last night at Tumbles just before walkabout. It was a very girly affair. Princess plates and all. Big cousin Spencer thought he was the mascot. The cousins have a love fest.

Then we move on to Spencer's party this afternoon. A jumpy as big as the house. No image necessary. The rest of the pictures tell the story with a couple comments from yours truly. Love, love the one with his pal Charlie sticking his finger up his nose while Spencer worked on cupcake frosting. The beautiful little girl snuggling with my boy is his betrothed Maddie. Her birthday was the day before and he told his mother he wanted to give her a dress. Maddie's mother's response was "that boy is going to make a great husband."

Slouch

Thanks to Susan being the fast knitter she is, she was able to finish slouch before Judy and I committed the same design mistake....Turns out this really needs to be decreased at the top. I took 4 stitch decreases on two different rows and also switched to a 10.5 needle from the 11's I cast on with and I'm pretty happy with the result. Although the bottom edge does have the tendency to curl.....
















And I love the pretty colors in my ribbon and bead trim!



See you tonight...

It's Greg's birthday

And Val is going to Palm Springs. She is all decked out with appropriate jewelry and looking forward to a fun weekend.

Have a great time!

Marcia

A Grove afternoon....

I needed to be among friends, good positive energy, lots of laughs and the Grove is just it for me....

Jeffrey came and lightened up the day with his unique humor, gotta love the camo pants with silver aqua ribbon yarn on the lap

And enjoying the stellar work of Judy, the wonder stager, isn't this the most beautiful of displays. Several customers commented on the prettiness, and how couldn't they? (is that proper english?)

Gail gave into public lace knitting but did a good job of sorting through her issues,

Marcia switched into customer service mode in Susan's absence and sold a needle worked scarf kit. I tried to sell Val's class, but when I triumphantly announced the March 21st date the customer informed me that was already passed....guess I need to hone up on the customer service skills.

Melody came in a for a visit and Gail and Jake sparred as is usual. It was all good.

Susan was busy on saving her slouch, including a crochet edge and beaded trim. Rather wonderful since she's already given up on it for her and is gifting it to Marcia.

I had to tear myself away, I love the Grove.

Slouch Sorta Sucks

I don't want you to think that I dislike everything I make, but I have had a bit of a bad run lately! Finished the slouch last night and it made me look like a large slouch with gigantic girls. And, I feel like I'm in a straight jacket. The top of the sweater is saggy. The bottom is snug. No way to wear it like in the picture. If I wear it high and gather the top by weaving a ribbon through it, it looks better (still not to be worn in public) but what a dated look that is!

My greatest disappointment is that I can't use the beads Marcia put together yesterday. I was going to start beading the bottom edge as soon as I got home, but something told me to finish it first. Whew. I think I will use it as a shop sample. It is in the same color family as much of our displays.

Well, Jake is on his way over to do some more gardening. David is snuggling in bed with Scoutie after having his coffee and cereal. The Cox crew is expected to arrive between 10 and 12 to coordinate the alarm system with the cable telephone. I've got a dining room table full of yarn (from the five tier sea grass tower we returned to the shop), a huge basket full of laundry to fold, floors to wash, bread to make (yum), and a refrigerator to clean. On the fun side of things, Jake and I will be getting those herbs today and I am looking forward to planting this afternoon.

Had another wonderful day at Marcia's. Love you guys so.

Laughing, sharing, kitting and the end of my day

No pictures to post. I hate that, it is like getting a Christmas card with no picture. What is the point? Well, the day flew by and I missed the photo opps at Marcia's. Many, many possibilities, especially the bead wall which just makes me happy to look at. Loved our day, kitting, eating, sharing and then beading and knitting. Sorry I had to run, the the little boys arrived home much to Joe's surprise before I did! He handled it well, but I cannot understate the chaos those two bring to the picture. They were little angels for Joe, because they live in terror of his look. 

I somehow jumped into the picture in spite of really wanting a nap. Nothing like these two screaming, hugging and throwing them selves around me to wake me up. Then it was dinner. Pepparoni pizza and watermelon, glass of wine for Gaga, oh my god, I was sweating and not from hot flashes. How do the parents do it 24/7? Briana always says the five a clock hour is the worst. They are hungry and Lewis is desperate for his brother since he has not seen him all day, even though all he does is try and beat him up. You guys have all gone before me, but I just think giving them their boundaries is the key. They are really quite good if I am on them like glue telling them what I expect and threatening consequences for bad behavior. I am on my third glass of wine and it is not yet seven. How could you have kids and not drink? I got the most love you could dream of on departure. Well, I am easy, if they love me I adore them and so it goes. Marcia, I know you are with me here.  Spencer loved my bracelet, go figure, the kid amazes me. I think I have just taught him an attention to detail. Jake says I should worry.

I will now go do my domestic miracle, heat the soup Joe brought home from the club, and serve in really lovely soup bowls. I know, I am scattered and not as domestic as I think I should be, but I will let my girls (not you girls, the family ones) fill that role. I did it for way too long. I am tired. As in tonight. It is still light out and I am wondering when I can go to bed.

Loved our day, thank you Marcia for hosting us. 

Love,

Gail

things I love today

Rain, the fire Joe made this morning because I begged, knitting on Kiri almost all day. And my beloved T Comme Terre de Provence dishes. Joe started buying these for many years ago and I brought back bits and pieces on my annual trip to Provence. I have quite a collection and I love to just look at it and move it around the house. My next goal is to paint from  the images.

All in Orange

Well, here it is. My beautiful orange Kristina Logan ring, all stretched out so I can finally wear it (thank you, Jane, from Taboo!). It is so lovely that I had to paint my fingernails to match :o) Only problem is that the polish outshines the ring (must find lighter shade of orange polish). Just prepping for our big birthday weekend in Palm Springs. Greg's birthday is Monday, and two friends have just recently turned 50, then Nalini and my birthday's in August (babies). Tomorrow, Austin's Gallery, then off to shop for resort clothes for Greg. Isn't that what every 50 year old man wants for his birthday? Either that, or a funky watch... perhaps in orange :o)

Whew!

It's been so long I thought I forgot the password, but no, here I am. Just a really short post to say Thank You for being in my life. Yesterday at the Grove was such a treat. I know we can't be all together, all the time, it's just impractical, but missed you Judy!

Gail, thanks for the mugs, and Jake for giving me the pear and Val for being, well so 'cute' and Susan for giving the best hugs and being such a supportive listener.

Love you all!

marcia

Cutes and Thank Yous

You thought it was 'Please and Thank you's? Well, today, for me, it's cutes and thank you's!

I won't repost from my blog, though am tempted to. I just have to trust that you all might take a gander at my latest blog, so as to save me from a bit of repetition over here in blog post land. But, in case not, then just a wee bit of

 repetition is in store. Bear with me here...

1. Cutes. Okay, dang! Cutes have got ahold of me today. Love, love, love those cutes! Now, I'm not repeating, I promised I wouldn't. So, to find out more about cutes, visit me in my blog space. But I will post a different photo of the glitter house. You really just need one more view of this special 'cute'. BTW, it's a box. cute, huh?!

2. Thank yous. To David. Okay, I know! He's not a five grove girl. (though he secretly would like to be) But he's

infiltrated! He's given me 'twitter tots'! I love that. It's really cute. (So, #2 is actually thank yous and cute)

3. Thank yous. This one is for Marcia. One of your blog

ladies ordered a pincushion. She lives in Puerto Rico. I thought she found me on etsy, but then had trouble with Paypal, so she just called me up. Then she told me how she found me. I will start you on commission if your beading ladies start wanting pincushions. Might just have to make up a special beading pincushion... got to think this one over... hmmm.

4. Cutes. Last one for the day. ('m getting a bit worn out here) I have been so busy doing flat needle felting, that I completely neglected NF in the round. Well, except for the beading on NF beads. In any case, I started experimenting with a stand alone, and Miss Harriet QT in Orange came to be. 

Please pay attention to her backside. She's got a little (dare I say it?) ...cute! button tail!!

So, that's it for the day. I think the cute factor has run it's course. Kind of like... well, best not say. Let's just leave it at that. Also, I am going to try to clear my decks for a lunch visit at the Vag tomorrow. Must hear all the latest from our resident globe trotter...

Have yourselves a great rest of your day!

French Girl Knits

Susan's gorgeous Veronique modeled by me. We need some more close ups. The addition of Habu edging is more spectacular then the pattern ever was and then Judy altered the odd fitting jacket to fit me. Lucky me!!!

Shalom

Love this amazing yarn and finished sweater. A little big, but what the heck. I still love it and especially Susan's perfect glass button.

The five year old beads

Not quite sure what his father will have to say, but the kiddo got me to buy out Joanne's with gemstones and beads for him to make a masterpiece for New York Nana, cause she has no jewelry and in his view all the ladies in his life need to be as well provided as his hero, Papa does for me. He seems to have a lot figured out for his young age. 

Orange Breasted Tweeter Tot & Volunteers I & II

For the first time in weeks, David's back felt better and he decided to clean-up the back yard (such as it is). He hacked down 3 trash barrels full of dead banana palm leaves. I know because my job was to cut them up and fill the trash barrels. While I was out there cursing out Nature for being such a pain in the batungee, I heard a songbird. Perched above me on a telephone wire, I saw the Orange Breasted Tweeter Tot and ran in to get my camera to get a picture of him for Val to see. Here he is. This little guy was pretty far away so he's not all that clear (nor are his colors as bright as they are in person). He really is quite orange and that doesn't fit the finch category (they're raspberry color) so I'm not sure what we have here. Val, what do you think?




The next encounter with Nature was to tie up Volunteer. I'd say she's 4 1/2' tall right now with quite a few flowers. AND turns out there's a number 2 Volunteer also.
And here she is growing in the grass. Look at that little bugger. Now if I had planted seeds, I guarantee you, nothing would have grown. I turn my back, and they're out there doing their thing on their own in adverse conditions. Go figure. They grow despite neglect. Ah, there are so many lessons in Nature.

So good to see all of you on Tuesday! Marcia we truly missed you! BTW, David has promised to take the fabric (for the dining room chairs) to Dunn Edwards and get matching paint today! Very exciting.

Now, on to work.

Love you guys,

Susan

Family picnic

Bill called in the morning and asked us to join them for a picnic on the bluffs above the ocean at Point Loma Nazzarene College. Briana's mother was visiting from New York and Diane (Bill's mother) joined us also. What a setting! They boys were wild and crazy flying down the concrete paths and roundabout in their plasma cars. No photos of that, they were way too fast for me! Man, did they have fun. We shared a lovely dinner of chicken and salads and lots of laughs. Yes, Spencer is eating a honeysuckle flower, telling me it was so delicious that I must have one, assuring me they were not poisonous. I made him go clear it with his mother. Their final feat of the evening was to ride off and disappear. I mean really disappear. Bill was running through the grounds calling them. Briana headed out in the car. What is it with little kids that don't answer you when you are calling them? Bill came back with them, chins down, eyes wide, looking very repentant some time later. Boys will be boys.