Monday, August 04, 2008

Sunshine Day

Hi Knitters,
Good Monday morning to you. I think today feels like the first real day of summer. Summer swim team is over and now the kids get to sleep in beyond 6am. It all feels a little slower and lazier right about now. Unfortunately for me everything is closing in a bit more as far as deadlines go but I am determined to enjoy this slowdown in activity as much as possible.

At the final day of the swim meet I started another pair of pom-pom peds using Nature's Palette. Oooh la la, this is dreamy yarn. Two skeins makes two pairs in reverse, that's pretty good. They are just so simple and fast. What fun. You should really try a pair.

Yesterday we hung out on State Street for awhile kind of meandering about and stopping for little treats here and there. It was a perfect finish to a hectic weekend. We ended up in a new sliver of a shop snuggled between the old Orpheum theater and Goodman's Jewelers (where my husband bought my engagement ring). You could miss it entirely if you blink your eyes but it is worth keeping your eyes open. It is called Anthology and be sure to click on their site for some inspiration.

The shop is owned by two creative sisters. Anthology is difficult to describe other than it is filled with handmade items, things for you to make like buttons and magnets, sewing creations and patterns, paper products, altered books, aprons, felted creations, tons of featured Madison artists, mosaic work, etc. It is a burst of imagination, an explosion of sorts. We stayed in there a loooong time and could have stayed much longer. I hope and pray this little shop can sustain itself and I think the owners are being smart by having a large crafting table and offering classes and spur of the moment making opportunities at all times. If you are in town be sure to check it out and buy a little something if you are able, it is a super fun spot.

Betz again (love her!) sent me this link. This is about the coolest thing I have seen in a long time. Love it and I will definitely be supporting this amazing new venture. Listen to this to learn more about it. One of my favorite designers is behind the entire thing.

I have some more sunny news. Itty-Bitty Hats has just gone into its 4th printing. That is pretty cool, too. Thank you.

We'll talk again soon:)
best, susie