Knitted gifts for little Jalapeno.

Our beloved Billie Anne, Loops business manager and crocheter extraordinaire, is due to have her third child very soon. It's a girl and she plans to name her Willow. However, since "B.A." has been craving hot peppers throughout her pregnancy, I have another suggestion.

Jalapeno Grigg.

Doesn't it have a nice ring to it? Sounds like a world-famous novelist or something. They could call her Jallie/Halley for short, right?

Well, since I know my suggestion is not likely to become a reality, I decided that the least we could do is throw a Mexican-themed baby shower at Los Cabos, a local hotspot. Here are the Loops Troops enjoying the traditional stylings of "Mexican Elvis":


Loretta and Mariel were clearly smitten:


We had a great turnout - 18 of the 20 Loops Troops present and accounted for.


And you know what that means...little Jallie is going to be outfitted in quite an extensive hand-knitted wardrobe! Here are a few highlights I snapped. Barbara created this In Threes: A Baby Cardigan by Kelly Herdrich using Blue Sky Cotton. Love the mix-and-match buttons:


Emily and Gina Y presented Billie Anne this amazing Hemlock Ring Blanket in organic cotton Seedling:


Sherri made this darling set herself (psst, she sells her sets and you can contact her here).


Gene did a great washable blanket in Marble Chunky (his own brilliantly simple design):


Loretta created this sweet little hat and sock set without a pattern to follow - shocking, since her motto is "I would follow the pattern into the gates of Hell."


I made this Bunny Blanket out of two skeins Puffin multi and one skein of solid. A really fast project and so functional. (Lucy, in the background, approves):


And last but not least, I know many of you can relate to this: Mariel gave Billie Anne a Sweetie Pie Hat in progress! Like so many of us, she cut her deadline a bit close and was still stitching over our chips 'n' queso. But the hat is done now - luckily a fast knit! - and all is right in the world.


To see a video clip of the party (Elvis sings "La Bamba"!) visit the Loops Facebook Page.

- Shelley
shop online at loopsknitting.com

Hellooo Tulsa!

Hey everybody! My name is Mariel and I've been in Tulsa for about 3 weeks now. Some of you may have seen me around Loops, but for those of you who haven't met me, I want to tell you a little bit about myself.

I am here in Tulsa through the beginning of August doing an internship with Loops! I'll be in the store working, guest blogging on the Loops blog, working on store displays, and any other task thrown my way. I also have a really fun knitting blog that you might have heard about through Loops. It is called “Calling All Cowlgirls,” and I blog about how I am knitting every cowl in Cathy Carron’s, Cowlgirls. I just finished “Wrapsody in Blue,” except I didn’t make it in blue. I used this funky pompom yarn called Dare, and alternated it with Berroco Vintage according to the pattern. It came out really fun, and it’s been selling like hotcakes even though it is H-O-T here in Oklahoma!



Of course, being immersed in all the delicious Loops yarns and projects has been distracting me from my cowl mission! I cast on for this Diagonal Lace Linen Scarf in a Blue Heron yarn that will be featured at the upcoming Blues-y Trunk Show (at Loops South Friday, July 22nd, and at Loops Utica the 23rd).



I’m also planning to cast on soon for my own Roberta’s Wrap, I think in one of these two colors:


Which one do you think? I just can't seem to keep my mind off this Louet Linen

Oh well and on top of my craving for anything linen in this heat, I've already picked out a few colorways I'm yearning for in the new Madeline Tosh sock yarn! I just haven't picked out the pattern yet...



As a senior at the University of Alabama (majoring in Fashion Retailing) and a resident of Nashville, TN, yes, I do love country music. I am super excited to say that I have already been to two country concerts – Justin Moore at the Cain’s Ballroom and Josh Turner at the Hard Rock Casino. For the Josh Turner concert, I tagged along with the ever-fabulous Gina Hills and her hubby Gare Bear plus Shelley, who we dragged out of her seat at the Shock game for some honky tonkin’.

Shelley had never heard a single Josh Turner song. But when she heard that sexy voice, she quickly decided it was all worth it!




The four of us at the show!

In addition to doing all things Loops, I want to do all things Tulsa! Here is a list of all the fun things I've done so far:

- Mexican and margs at Los Cabos
- Lunch at Queenies (twice :))
- Dinner at Wolfgang Puck's
- 2 Tulsa Shock games (I was at the one game they actually won – could I be the lucky charm?)
- Lunch at Lambrusco’z
- Karaoke at Baker Street Pub


Some of the local talent.

- Sushi at In the Raw

Here is me and Sam (Shelley's Sam) after eating In the Raw. The restaurant is on top of hill and has awesome views of the city!

- Fireworks at Woodward Park
- Dinner at the Dilly Deli
- Concert at the Cain's Ballroom



- Dinner at Keo

The most amazing Pho ever!

Now, I want your suggestions! What places and things are a must-do around Tulsa? And I don’t just want the names of restaurants. If you had something fabulous to eat there, tell me what it was! I’m looking forward to a girls’ day with Gina H. and Shelley, and I would love to hear about your best pedicures and that store with the cute dress you can’t live without.

Oh and don’t forget about my sweet tooth! I love desserts of all kinds and Sam would tell you that I can hardly make it one night without something sweet. Sam is my boyfriend and we have been dating for 6 1/2 years this Saturday. Sam may come to Tulsa and we are hoping to take a short road trip one weekend. We’ve been looking into Dallas, Kansas City, Table-Rock Lake, or B&Bs in Arkansas. Where do y’all think we should go? Any other suggestions?

I have been having a blast so far and can’t wait for three more awesome weeks!

Mariel.