As much fun as this has been, I have gone ahead and renewed my domain and will use that one for all designs, ideas, and progress check-ins.

Please bookmark http://thetygerlily.com/ and you are welcome to visit as much as you like.  The coffee is always on.

Blessings to you all!
 
Remember the last post with that great beginning to the Cloud Chaser vest?  Yeah, well, I'm so smart that I didn't bring any type of measuring device.  Oh, my eyeballing the project is going to be just fine..... NOT!  I was getting nervous last night so went to Target to get a ruler.  Yep, my nerves were right.  I just did 6 inches beautifully on this project, and the gauge is completely WRONG!  ARGH!!  So it got frogged, completely, before breakfast this morning.

So back out to Brown Sheep this morning and getting some more supplies, and get this project restarted while Bill fishes out at Lake Minatare a few miles east of here.  Fishing and knitting, kinda go together don't you think?
 
What a great excuse to start a new project - VACATION!  The Cloud Chaser relaxed cable vest has been in my wish file for some time and figured that being on a trip and staying in hotels is the perfect excuse to get it started.  The problem was finding the perfect yarn for the project.  Before we left on our trip, I went to our LYS to see what they had to offer.  Found gorgeous things and of course the yarn that would have been perfect and gorgeous would have ended up being close to $100.  Left that gorgeous hunk on the shelf but purchased some top of the line knitting needles.  It's all about the tools.  Proceeded to Hobby Lobby, and honestly wasn't sure what I purchased would work or not.  The picture really doesn't do the richness of this color justice.  

So here is the beginning of the bottom back portion of the vest.  The more I work with the yarn chosen, the more I'm thinking that it will work just fine for 1/5 of the cost of my dream yarn.  It's really all about this fantastic pattern from Amy Swenson - Indigirl.  
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It's funny, but I like to remember the special TV shows that are on when working on special projects.  This first part shown was done while watching "The Notebook" and listening to Bill gently snore when he fell asleep during the movie.  
 
So, my dear one hands me back some of our vacation funds saying, "We don't need what we've saved, or we would have FLOWN somewhere for our anniversary."  He proceeded to tell me he almost bought an iPad for me the day before, but knew I was the one who would have more questions on the product than he did.  So he waited, and told me to GO!  Awesome!  btw - I'm totally hooked already on the notes app.  So that just meant I needed a handmade case for it, because that's just who I am.  Here is one of the best downloads, which I purchased, that I could locate on the web.  So my Amy Butler fabric I've been hoarding which was bought with a gift card from a very good friend, will get made up into a WHOLE set of great organizational tools and covers for MYSELF!  ME?  I don't make things for me!  But when you spend that hard earned cash on an item like an iPad, extra precautions just need to be made.  Isn't this a great pattern?
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You can find this tutorial in pdf format over at NapKittenPatterns on Etsy.  Her shop is full of great ideas and downloads.
 
This thing just kept morphing all afternoon until it turned into this:  "Hot Pants Valentino Tote Bag"  Don't ask me why 'hot pants' came into my mind, other than the back of the bag really does look like a pair of pants.  HA!  Well, this is totally different still from the others, so we'll see if it flies.  
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Here's Val taking a little sunbath.
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Here's Val's behind - just ready to hold something special.
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Just another view to show her pleated side gussets.
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I could not for the LIFE of me get a good picture of the guts. But this one is padded good enough you could carry eggs in it.
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Turned the logo into a sort of luggage tag and dangled a gold purse charm that has Swarovski crystals on it from the same ring.
This one was very difficult only because of the vinyl not being as pliable as some.  It's very tall and actually gets more slender as it comes up to the top - fairly feminine I'm thinking.  Has a magnet inside for closure.  Absolutely NOTHING would fall out of this!  Hope you find a good home, Hot Pants Valentino!  :)
 
Had a rough start on this one yesterday, and turning it right side out after forming it into a box was probably the hardest one I have done to date.  Sort of wanted to punch it.  :)  But that certainly wouldn't have gotten the job done.  So here is how it sits this morning with hopefully a better ending to it later today.  The difficult part is at least completed, and the fun and bling can begin!
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The front......... (laying on the ironing board)
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Threw a package in this pic so you could see the back has a HUGE outside pocket on it.
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Doesn't know how to stand up straight yet, but we'll get 'er trained by end of day.
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A really BAD picture of the black and gold brocade that will be the lining. Guess I got in a hurry with the camera.
Get a little creative today and think outside the box!
 
I promised there would be a blog about all the stuff that has taken over my dining room table.  Everything is just sitting there, waiting for me to get busy and get creative.  Wanted to show you what fun things came along in the past week to incorporate into some fun bags, totes, clutches and WHO KNOWS WHAT?  :)
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Giorgio Armani vinyl banner......
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Kenneth Cole (two of these) vinyl banner
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DKNY fabric banner (way cool)
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GoodWill findings - nothing like brand new fabric and some FUN accents for tote bags.
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Small assortment of adorable little girl's clothing - SO perfect for trendy and fun clutches.
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A 5" X 7" oil painting on canvas just sitting there waiting to get put on the front of a purse. Adore the colors and whimsy of this one.
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Perfect heart closure clutch frames from China - SO CUTE!
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Jewelry findings and charms on SALE at Michaels! Yeah, and ceramic buttons - very cool.
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Since when does Swarovski crystal charms end up in a CLEARANCE bin????
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eBay finds - a much needed base pattern for a messenger/laptop bag. Amy Butler to boot!
And this treasure also came this week..........
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Bill's brother and sister-in-law were SO generous to bring the Dale Nichols history and art book that we'd special ordered to Lincoln the other day.  I just noticed this morning that the author even signed it for us!  Dale Nichols is Bill's great uncle - Google him sometime and you'll be able to see some incredible art.  This is a huge book, and will definitely make time to sit and really read this bit of family history.

There, that's all I have for you and it's time to get on with things around here.  So YOU go do something fun, creative, and exciting!  Never know where it will lead.
 
I found this picture on a blog this morning that just had to be revisited.  It's just TOO cute,  creative and just plain ADORABLE!  Check out the Be Sweet Blog and check out all the other knitting articles - there's a lot of fun reading over there.
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What a great idea to serve at a knitting party or get together. Now THIS is talent!
 
Here is the next project on the drawing board.  Just a shot of the Valentino vinyl banner that's been getting designed in my head for over a week.  Hopefully this one will turn out very posh and sophisticated.  There is a black and gold satin brocade that was purchased especially for this bag's lining.  I really hope my head isn't trying to overachieve on this one.  So it's just GOT to be next in line and get it out of my brain.  HA!
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A couple things got worked up this weekend and finally off the drawing board and onto the camera.

Here is a MONSTER of a tote from the Kate Spade vinyl banner I'd collected.  This thing is huge and could hold maybe even a small child in it.  HA!  Not sure I like the flower on it, but it's just pinned on and can come off easily.  As usual, I am so totally spent after completing one of these banner restyles.  But it is rewarding to get something accomplished.  

I don't have real good pictures of it yet because the camera fogged over from the sauna weather we are having outside..... AND I weenied out and came in.  Not meant for man out there today!  HOLY COW it's HOT!  But anyway, here's the back of this same bag.  Yes, it's from the same banner - even though the colors change a little..........

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The second is a set of distressed linen with a lovely washed out lily in golds and blues, made up into a clutch, notebook and mini change purse/wallet.  Don't think I'd put coins in it, but it would work for paper money and ID cards.  
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Too pooped to list anything tonight and it may just have to wait until next weekend.  But then again, it seems that there will be grandchildren to attend to.  So we'll see!  Not holding my breath.....  :)

Have a wonderful week and enjoy something different!