Weekend in Atlanta

It was jewelry shopping at the Mart, yarn shopping at TKGA Market and eating pizza from Target for me this past weekend when I spent 4 days with my dearest friend Coco and her husband in Atlanta.

Wanna hear/read about it?

I had no problem finding parking at Norfolk International Airport on Thursday. It was the first time I have parked my car in long term parking since the new terminal was built. It's really nice and no more lugging luggage out in the weather.

Made it through Security with my US #1 Addi Turbo's with the baby bonnet Leaves in my carry on. I was able to knit during the entire flight. I did put them away during take off and landing since I have been asked to do that in the past. Flight was uneventful and my luggage arrived in Atlanta with me. The luggage carousel brought it out to me just as I arrived at the baggage claims area.

MARTA took me right to the North St exit (2 stops after 5 Points) where Coco was waiting for me. A quick stop by the bank to say "HI" to the Atlanta group and it was off to Coco's house.

We had a lovely "cocktail" hour with diet Dr Pepper and cheese while waiting for R (Coco's husband) to come home from work. Dinner was THE best frozen pizza! Now Coco has raved about these little pizzas for a while and so I was quite anxious to try them. She was right! From the Target Superstore, Target brand, $1.99 each, Roma tomatoes and cheese. With a side salad that was dressed with Green Goddess! (look for a pizza pattern here)

After dinner we sat on the porch ( a great Southern tradition) and caught up while Coco read Star magazine and I knitted. We are multi-tasking women!

Breakfast on Friday was bacon, egg beaters and coffee and then it was off to the Jewelry Mart where I purchased a pair of gold huggy earrings, a travel bag and reading glasses and only spent $100. And that included lunch for both of us: egg salad sandwich, pimento cheese sandwich, chips and 2 diet cokes!

After the Mart we found our way to one of the Atlanta LYS, Strings and Strands on Wieuca Rd. Coco decided she wanted to relearn to knit. Specifically a felted hat. So after checking every bit of wool in the store she decided on a beautiful light blue wool with a knitted in band of off white.

Strings and Strands is a nice what I would call "quaint" shop. Yarn is floor to ceiling. The shelves/cubies go from floor to the ceiling. And as a short person, I had a hard time seeing what was waaaay up at the ceiling. They have a nice selection of yarns...wool, novelty, acrylic, etc. Not as plentiful (to me) were the patterns and notions and easily read prices. It was also about 4:00 when we arrived and I was feeling that "it's time to leave" vibes from the yarnseller by about 4:30. So we took the wool and needles and left for home.

Since R was working until 9:00, Coco and I decided that another pizza was the right thing to have for dinner. Another Roma tomato and cheese for each of us and a side salad.

After dinner again found us on the porch with Coco relearning to cast on and knit.

Friday morning we were up early and had a breakfast of Taylor Pork Roll on a bun and fruit. Now I understand Taylor Pork roll is a real "treat". I'm not so sure. Sort of reminded me of ground bacon....

Another friend "R" joined us and we were off to the city again for the TKGA Market. This was the first year for me (and for my non-knitting friends) and truthfully I expected many more vendors...more like 100 than the 25 that were there. I think MS&W has ruined me for smaller shows....LOL

Great Yarns was the first shop. Beautiful samples and yarns. Their site doesn't look "complete" yet but does show some of the samples. One thing they had that was new to me was a "bleach-gel" that is used to fade a finished garment. Their scarves sample used Trendsetters "Sunshine" in a simple knit every row pattern. The gel was applied to make a decorative wave around the edges. I did purchase this gel and plan to play with it soon.

Second stop was at Skaska that sold knitted gossamer shawls. JUST BEAUTIFUL! I left with a skein of lace wt merino, 1 skein of lace wt merino/silk and the book Gossamer Webs. (look for lace shawl pattern beginning here)

Stop number 3 was Just Bags where I splurged and bought a double point needle holder in what they call the tan oriental design.

Yarn Barn of Kansas pulled me in for my next purchase....Stahman's Shawls and Scarves, Lacy Knitting by Mary Schiffman (yea I know...) and US #1 & 3 bamboo needles. This store has a great selection of knitting and crochet books.

At Interlacements their Seeds in a blue/green colorway and Rick Rack in purple went home with me.

My last purchase was at Habu Textiles for 2 small skeins of bamboo yarn....a dk wt in charcoal and lace wt in off white. You have to see and touch to really appreciate this yarn. And the finished garments are incredible....I wish I had more time to talk with the representative...she was so busy answering questions I just stood around listening.

So those were my purchases...what else was interesting? Lantern Moon needles, a new-way-to-me to add beads to knitting, "R" finding a sale table of $5 a skein yarn, and Coco asking "a really nice lady" to help her choose needles for the skein of Interlacements yarn she purchased....the "really nice lady" was Lily Chin.

The evening found Coco and I back on her porch knitting and chatting and the weekend coming to an end.

We had Target pizza's for dinner......

Sunday morning I packed all of my treasures (carried on the yarn and needles) and headed back to Norfolk. Stopped at Harris Teeters to replenish fresh food stuff, ran by the kennel and picked up Bailey and headed home.

So now it's Monday and back to work day.....but hey! KnittaPalooza is right around the corner!