so...  an update.

i currently have 3 projects in various stages of completion.  what can i say...  i'm obsessed

(1) baby alpaca basket-weave scarf -- done. 
purpose-- momma, for her bday
color - gorgeous tealy-bluey in the softest yarn i've ever felt
error level -- low.  i dropped about three stitches in the first ten rows, so it gets a little skinny.  but then i figured it out. 
this is for my momma for her bday, and my first project ever.  coincidentally, i also bought this yarn at the super chi-chi yarn shop i took my lesson in, and quickly learned -- yarn CAN BE EXPENSIVE.  holy cow.  at least it's for a good cause, right? 
overall: it's made with love, alright?

(2) baby cardigan -- nearing completion
purpose -- educational only, perhaps i'll save it for a future baby lin
color -- kind of a boucle blue with little flecks of silver
error level -- medium.  i couldn't figure out how i kept dropping stitches, AGAIN.  hence the arms are the wrong length.
i figured i'd go ahead and make a baby outfit before i invested the time and yarn in something for myself.  glad i did.  i don't think i can give this away as it's not exactly well shaped...  if i have a child with slightly deformed arms, it will fit perfectly :)  hehehehe.  but i did get my junx together and figure out what i was doing wrong about halfway through the first arm...  and really, i did SERIOUSLY mess up in the beginning and added both arms...  on top of each other.  yes, one VERY LONG arm.  i looked at it, after i had built out that first arm pretty big, and thought, "do babies have much longer arms than i realize?"  oh goodness.  so that got fixed.  in fact, i think i'll go back and add in those misplaced stitches...  once i'm done with that, all i have to do is add the trimming in a contrasting color, and this will be done... 
overall: well...  at least it's for my deformed baby, ok?

(3) baby afghan -- halfway there
purpose -- to figure out how to do larger-scale items, also perhaps saved for a future baby lin
color -- really gorgeous raspberry pinky color
error level -- low.
looks good so far...  i followed the instructions to a t- and somehow don't have the full blanket.  so i'm going to figure out a way to...  add eight inches.  other than that, looks good :)

so... that's my work so far :)  as i said, i'm really enjoying it, and i'm totally that lady in the airport with tons of yarn.  and i figure once i get all the kinks worked out, and if i can still stand doing the work, i will start making things for other people (friends and www.projectlinus.com) 

xoxoox

lin

jc penny

well, i really haven't been blogging at all -- lots of stuff at work, essentially.  but i kind of want to get back on the ol' train a bit. 

has anyone else noticed the new line of jc penny ads out there?  so amazingly well done, but i guess i'd expect that from advertising powerhouse saatchi and saatchi.  and from what i've heard, jcp is working hard to improve the product mix at their stores...  good for them.  i have many a happy memory of growing up in the midwest and shopping at penny's. and honestly, the ads did their job for me -- i'm curious to go back to a store and see what they've got.

this article analyzes the three new ads:
http://adage.com/columns/article?article_id=115625

and here's the third ad that isn't featured in the article:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n17pXMJCpow

does anyone understand this third ad?  can they only come together when they are alone -- and is that why people are hiding?

really great music, really touching cinematography, all around a home run.  man.  i wish my brain was creative in this sense :)