I have a few leftover items from our weekend in Chicago. On our way home, we stopped at a fun yarn shop, Idea Studio in LaGrange, Illinois. They have some very nice yarns and lots of shop samples. I especially thought these little dresses were pretty cute.
They made me think of a certain little Bub in Australia whose mother crochets like a dream! The woman in this shop told us all about a sock war they’d just finished (it’s mentioned on their web site). It reminded me of dish rag tag a little bit, although they were knitting fish socks ( I wish I had a picture — the cuff looked like fish scales and the top was shaped like a fish mouth) and not dish rags. And they weren’t in teams — it was every man for himself. Anyway, if you’re in the Chicago area, we thought this place was definitely worth a visit.
Another weekend leftover is my discovery of this fabulous thread.
Am I the only one who’s never heard of this embroidery thread? Ohmygosh, we saw a vendor at the quilt show who had several drawer-fuls of the most beautiful colors. I wanted one of each of them to bring home with me. I restrained myself however, and only purchased a little six-pack of pastel colors, plus a bit of red and blue for red and blue work. I read somewhere that this is the equivalent of using three strands of embroidery floss, so I’m a little worried about using it, as I’m a two-strand embroiderer. I’m thinking maybe the beautiful colors will take my mind off of it though.
And one last weekend leftover, I saw this cupcake fabric in a big pack at the quilt show but didn’t buy it because I didn’t want all the other prints that came with it. I found some at the Fabric Shack. Yipee! I love it! How ’bout a cupcake bunny???
Now, I have some VERY distressing news. You’ll probably want to sit down before I tell you.
Do you see any almonds in this ice cream?
No. You. Do. Not. That’s because we can’t get Chocolate Almond here anymore. According to the Baskin Robbins website, it’s now a regional ice cream and is only available in the southeast. What???? What’s up with that??? Are southern people the only ones who like Chocolate Almond ice cream? Can you southerners verify this — do you like it more than the rest of us???? Are they rationing almonds or something? Or maybe they’re trying to help us fat midwestern Chocolate Almond ice cream lovers lose a few pounds? I’m distraught. My summer just won’t be the same. I might have to send a letter.
Ok, I’m done now. I hope you all have a beautiful spring/fall weekend!
XOXO,
Anna
I have never seen this fabulous floss in person. I usually doodle-stitch with three strands. I am excited to try it out. I will keep my eyes peeled for this floss. Thanks, Anna.
Oh what gorgeous thread!! I see a #12 on it–that’s the size perle cotton I always use (not that I’m an expert by any stretch of the imagination!)) and I know at the country loft it’s what they put in all their kits–so it should be fine :)
Oh my, Anna! The dresses are adorable, specially the left-most with what looks like crocheted leaves. Are you planting more ideas in my mind???
And the thread is utterly delicious…I noticed that they also make crochet cotton on the site. Oh no! I can feel some thread pulling my way.
Sorry for your ice-cream tragedy. Don’t hate me but I don’t like either chocolate ice cream or any kind of nuts in my ice cream. Chocolate with nuts would be like my last pick of flavors ever. BUT it’s always a bummer when a favorite treat disappears! (like years ago when all the TCBY’s in this town disappeared off the face of the earth. Cause I love me some TCBY – altho not chocolate and not with nuts) But I digress. The floss is so pretty and I love the cupcake fabric!! I think I may need cupcake fabric in my life. (I do like chocolate cupcakes, by the way)
Anna
I dont like nuts in my icecream, but subway do that too, have ‘regional’ sandwiches?? what the???? anyways, I buy DMC perle, I use #8 and I only do redwork (well 99.9% of the time) I have seen other brands, but I like the fact that the 815 perle matches 815 stranded.. I often use one strand of stranded cotton with the perle thread.. make sense???
Lissa
That cupcake fabric is as cute as can be…it’s so perfect for you. I’ll have to check and see if we get chocolate almond here…I love nuts in ice cream…I love nuts in anything.
Ohhh baby that floss looks just like candy – am I hungry or what, LOL. I have never seen that particular floss, something for me to check out at quilt market. Cute little dresses for summer frock for a young lady. Don’t you just hate when they mess with a good ice cream or any special treat, always ticks me off – don’t mess with the snacks.
Have a super duper good weekend :)
Hugs – ms. yellowfarmhouse
Loved the Birthday rounds you taught, very cute. I gotta get one of those swell bags, and ok I give, what’s the green ball for?
Sounds like a wonderful time, welcome home!
Never had chocolate almond ice-cream but now I wish I had! Those thread colours are gorgeous too! Lucy x
that’s such a cute cupcake fabric! what’s the name of it? i’ve been looking for an excuse to buy fabric :-)
Methinks that those icecream men got wind of your recent almond glut!!!! Love the thread, very pretty, ice creamy colours. How about pistachio flavour instead?
Kimxxx
Oh, I’m such a sucker for pastels . . . and I love embroidery thread (along with most other raw materials for making beautiful things ;o). I’m going to have to do some Googling on that brand. Their colors are beautiful!
As for the almonds, the prices of almonds are really high this year. Between the colony collapse disorder and the big die-off of hives this winter, I can believe that Baskin Robbins is limiting Chocolate Almond to the southeast–that’s where most almonds are grown, so the prices there would be a teeny bit better, due to lower shipping costs. (Diesel in my neck of the woods is now sidling up to $4/gallon, which makes for higher prices. Ick.) Don’t you just love economics?
At least you have some wonderful, soothing colors to play with in the meantime . . .
ooh, ooh, I just bought some of that cupcake material – is it Makower? If not, it’s very similar!
Thank you for the pics of the dresses. They are very cute, and they have given me an idea …
First off I love embroidery thread. It is so nice to use. I used it for the first time on the clothes lines in my one dress quilt. I’m hooked now. Your colors are delicious. That crochet is so cute. I’ve never seen anything like that. And no almonds! There is one brand of burnt almond fudge icecream locally that is super good but it doesn’t match up to BR. Oh well.
I think those dresses are darling. It seems almost unpatriotic that they regionalized where a person can get that ice cream.
I’ve used that thread and love it! Sounds like you had a whirlwind weekend!
First of all, that thread is yummy! It would be pretty just in a glass bowl as a decoration to look at.
And what is with the ice cream. The southeast? Puleezzzz! They have pecans, not almonds. We have the almonds!!!!!!!
Hey- we’re having a giveaway over at DQ. You should stop by.
Anna, What a wonderful time you girls must have had. I am so jealous. Did I read in an earlier post that you live in Ft. Wayne. I live about 1 1/2 hour east of you in Lima, OH. Such a small world. I guess Ft. Wayne has some great quilt stores?? I haven’t made it there yet. I enjoy reading your blog.
Chocolate almond ice cream is a favorite of mine also!! I do have trouble finding it though…didn’t realize that some flavors are regional!
Deb
I have never heard of that brand embroidery thread – it’s beautiful! What adorable cupcake fabric – I love it! I definitely think a chocolate-y cupcake bunny would be a wonderful idea! You’ll have to name her Cupcake!
Speaking of chocolate, I’m sorry BR is not selling Choc Almond at your local ice cream shoppe! Who knew people in the southeast would be the lucky ones? What’s up with that? I’m sorry, Anna – I know how it is when you have your heart set on something, and it’s not to be had.
I’m such an idiot…the thread that I always use and that CL uses is #8. I was checking a color yesterday and looked at the bottom and as soon as I saw the#8 I was like oh no who did I just tell that I always used #12. I’m glad I figured it out. I know I’ve seen #12 used for something somewhere though lol…besides it’s soooo pretty who cares about the size right?
Pretty, pretty flosss. I would love to give it a try, so I’ll have to try ordering or something. Where I come from, there’s nothing like that. Even the local WalMart discontinued carrying embroidery floss. Thank goodness for internet, I can get whatever I want, even out here in the boonies!
Love those crocheted dresses!!! If I have a grandgirl this summer, maybe I”ll have to learn how to crochet!
Jody
Those colors are yummy! and the fabric is adorable. I’m sorry you can’t get your ice cream anymore. I just found out last week I can’t get my coffee at Sam’s. Darn stores!
I’m from the south and I like almonds. But, I don’t think I’ve ever had chocolate almond ice cream. Perhaps I’m missing out on something good and should get some before they remove the flavor completely? lol.
they always seem to get rid of the good ones, don’t they?