Warhol

I was up early again for more meetings. Way too early for Vegas. :) The meetings ended at 12:30 and I headed to the Bellagio to see

In partnership with The Andy Warhol Museum, BGFA is proud to announce Warhol Out West, opening February 8, 2013. Enter the world of pop artist Andy Warhol with the most extensive collection of the legendary artist's artworks ever exhibited in Las Vegas. Covering his different artistic phases from the 1960s to 1980s, the exhibition features more than 60 paintings, prints, sculptures and film. Learn about Warhol's inspiration, and be inspired by his creativity with masterpieces from his Cowboy and Indian, Ads, andDollar Signs series, as well as his celebrity and self-portrait paintings and Polaroids. 

There were about 40 different pieces of his work. I highly recommend going to see it. The show is open until January 2014.

I'm heading out soon to have dinner-California Pizza Kitchen wins tonight.

Meetings Day One

This is on the walk from the casino to the front door of the hotel. I love it in here. It's too bad there aren't seats so you could sit and knit with the plants.

I was in meetings all day today and I'm really tired. I haven't been out partying just haven't slept well while I've been here. It's 8pm and I'm considering going for a 'nap'. The great thing about Vegas is that I can wake up at midnight and everything is still going strong.

The facilitators of our meetings made these awesome diagrams so that we could keep track of what was discussed.

Not to name drop but I got to sit with some cool people today. Some I have known for years (Barry Klein-Trendsetter, Beth Casey-Lorna's Laces, Joel Woodcock-Lantern Moon, Stacy Charles-Tahki Stacy Charles, Betsy Parry-Classic Elite) and some new people who are very big players in the yarn industry. Laura from Jimmy Beans. Sherri from The Loopy Ewe. Craig from Loops.

Mom has been asking what I want for my birthday. Not this year but next year Beth and I are coming to Vegas to do this....

Take a look at www.exoticracing.com. How many times in my life will I be able to drive a Ferrari or a Lamborghini?

Pictures from Vegas

Here are some pictures from my travels last night. This is in Aria. It is totally made of chocolate. Yes, you read that right. Jean Philippe made this display in tribute of Zarkana. I'm not a big chocolate fan but for many of you it might be amazing to get locked in the display for an evening.

And you can't go to the Bellagio without going through the Conservatory. It's all decked out for Thanksgiving.

That is water that shoots over the pathway. They have it flowing fast enough that no one gets dripped on when they walk under it.

The Bellagio does everything big. This is behind the check in desk.

 And the ceiling of blown glass flowers. I have to see this every time I'm in Vegas.

Now it's shopping time. Fashion Show Mall. Nordstroms. Macys. Dillards. California Pizza Kitchen. I could be gone for a while. :)

Hello from Vegas

I'm just about to head out the door and thought that I better post because who knows when I will be back.

My flight last night was good. I knit the whole time and watched episodes of Elementary.

I got quite a bit done on Edge. The colours are off but hotel rooms aren't known for the best lighting. When I pulled it out of my bag the lady beside me commented that she should have brought her knitting too. FYI this is on addi turbos and I had another project in my bag on Karbonz. No questions asked at security.

We landed at 10:30 and by the time I got to the hotel, checked in and my luggage came to the room it was midnight. I was starving so I had dinner at BLT Burger (the fried pickles are awesome) and then played a few slots before bed. It was 2am here (5am home time) so I was up for 22 hours. Yes, I was getting a bit tired and grouchy. Beth texted at 7am here to let me know that they had Roko and he was doing fine. I slept for 2 more hours and got my day going.

The first stop was the Forum Shoppes at Caesars. Donald Pliner was having a 25% off sale. This is on the walk out of the Mirage. It was sunny and 84 here today. I probably should have spent time outside but it's Vegas and there were too many other things to do.

I came home with a pair of purple suede flats. Purple, suede and 25% off. I had to buy them :)

Then onto The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. On the way is a huge H&M store. Wouldn't this be the most awesomest yarn shop in the world??

Then into Caesars. It's Sunday so the sports book was full of people watching the NFL games.

Six huge TVs plus little ones all around. As a football fan it was amazing.

It's just getting dark here (6pm) and I'm heading over to Aria. Some dinner at Todd English's pub and then I might take the tram to the Bellagio. The night is still early and I've had an afternoon nap.

New sock yarn coming soon

This morning I did an order for Opal sock yarn. There are new colours and hopefully we will have them in a week or so.

With Opal Le Petit Prince, the colorwork is done for you! This self-patterning sock yarn, named after the favorite book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, creates interesting patterns and stripes as you knit, it's so easy. Le Petit Prince is a wool and polyamide blend that comes in a great collection of colors.

Beth wouldn't bite on the packing for me. I got most of it done last night and just need to throw the last few things in the suitcase when I get home. The great thing about Vegas is that there is lots of shopping so if I forgot something I can buy it there.

I have the first few episodes Elementary Season 2 on my iPad and I will be watching and knitting for the flight. Or I might sleep. I have tomorrow planned down to the minute. There's a lot to fit into a few days.

New bags on the way

There are three new Arya bags on the way to us.

Audrey. This is close to the bag that I carry every day but there is more red in the flowers.

Catherine. Paisley and purple. How can this be bad?

La Jolla. There were only 7 of this colour made.

Beth and Roko were out the door at 7 this morning. She received a phone call just after 11 that he was out of surgery and doing well. Now I know that I can go away and not worry. He's staying at the clinic until Sunday. Mom and dad are coming home from Myrtle Beach tomorrow and then Melo will move in with them for a few weeks. That way we can keep Roko calm and try to keep him from running around. Try is the important word in that sentence.

I didn't get much knitting done today. The hookers are in town. The Ontario Hooking Craft Guild is meeting across the road at Mount Mary. Many of the ladies knit plus they use yarn for their hooking projects. If you are a hooker, here is a link to the website. You might be interested in checking it out next year.

I don't know if there will be a post tomorrow. After work I need to run home and pack before heading to the airport. I'm trying to think of how I can convince Beth to pack for me. I'm going to think about it tonight and pose the question tomorrow morning after I pick her up breakfast from Tim Horton's. That should put her in a giving mood. :)

Airplane knitting

Somehow I ended up with two projects. Just in case I'm bored in Vegas and can't find something to do then I can sit in my hotel room and knit. :)

The first is the Mitred Square Scarf - a free pattern from Rowan's website.

The yarn is Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe and I'm using colour 361 - the same as the picture - shades of grey, mauve and teal.

The second project is Edge. It's a shawl by Laura Aylor and I'm using Lorna's Laces Solemate. Once you get going the pattern is pretty mindless.

The third colour is very wild. I will try and get to it tomorrow in the store.

My blog writing and knitting have been delayed because I had to take back two rows on Beth's knitting. She has been busy this week. I believe this is cowl #3. She's doing very well with her knitting until there is a mistake or the ends need to be sewn in. I'm afraid how many phone calls I will get while I'm away with knitting questions. She's on a roll and she'll be at home with Roko next week.

I've done my laundry and hope that everything I think I need will fit into the suitcase. I wish I was one of those people who can pack lightly. You never know what you might need or what you want to wear each day. I think I get that from my mom. They have everything they need in Myrtle Beach but their van is always full on the way down.

Grey's is done and the baseball game is on. I would like to knit for a while but it's going to be an early morning. Beth and Roko are going to be on the road at 7am. I'm going to sign off and head to bed. Maybe I'll knit in the morning before work.

Roko

No, I'm not resurrecting old pictures. He did it again. Roko tore the ACL in his other leg on Monday night. Beth saw our vet yesterday and they can't do surgery for 2 weeks so this afternoon they are going to Mississauga to see another surgeon. Hopefully it will be Friday or Monday. He's having a hard time walking because he doesn't want to put weight on the leg that has had surgery and he can't put any weight on the 'new' bad leg. He will go outside and if you mention a cookie he has no problems getting up so we know that he is going to be okay.

It's later in the day and Beth is on the way home from Mississauga. Surgery is scheduled for Friday and he can come home on Saturday. She said the clinic is amazing and that makes her more comfortable to take him there. It's also an emergency clinic which means that there will be vets there 24/7 with him.

Windward is growing and I can't wait to finish it. It is going to be long!

The store is totally back in order again after the Fleece Festival. Signs are on sample garments. All yarns should have price signs. I'm fairly sure that the price book is up to date. Kits have been made. Orders have been done.

I think I'm ready for the trip to Vegas. I'm still going because there is absolutely nothing I can do for Roko. Mom and dad are coming home from Myrtle Beach. We told them to stay but we couldn't change their minds. Melo will stay with them for a week or so. I have done a major grocery shopping for Beth. All the important things like mac n cheese and soup and crackers. Our cupboards were bare because I gave everything away to a food drive in September.

While I was going through the channel guide I found Top Chef. Tonight is episode 4. Beth is kind of upset that no one let us know that it was on. We're going to watch the first few online to get caught up so I need to go. Beth is beside me with her knitting yelling at me to hurry.

Sericin Silkworks

Sericin Silkworks was our neighbour at the Fleece Festival. I didn't have time to walk the show but did take a few minutes to look around their booth just before the show opened.

I don't know how to spin but I can totally appreciate the fleece in her booth. Blends of silk and mink and cashmere and many other fabulous fibres. And her colours are awesome! 

Tabi has an etsy shop if you didn't see her at the show.

Yummy.

If you can't spin she has skeins of yarn as well. Very pretty yarns!