Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I have been really lazy with blogging because I am spending a lot of time on knitting.  It is usually the cast around Christmas as I have this vision of getting all my friends and family members a hand-knitted gift.  While I am frantically knitting every spare minute I could find, I still find it impossible to make hand-knitted gifts for everyone in my social circle every year.  So here is the rule I made up three years ago: Every year, a few people will receive a hand-knitted item from me, and they won't get another piece until everyone has got something.  I am slowly but surly making my way towards everyone in my social circle, but what I did not anticipate was that my social circle would actually expand, and that the number of hand-knitted gift worthy people would increase over the last three years.  Trust me, this is very mind boggling for someone who is not very social like myself.  Anyway, I am blogging now, it's all good.

What I would like to tell you today are some amazing products I found at Target.  If you have not already discovered, Target is now opening stores in Canada, and I must say I have been very pleased with my Target shopping experiences in Canada so far.  This positive shopping experience was further reinforced when I found the treasures I am about to tell you.  For those who know my love of Petunia Pickle Bottom, bags, and geometric patterns, it should not be hard for you to understand why I felt head over heels for these Orla Kiely products for Target.  When someone in a PPB chit chat group posted pictures of the Orla Kiely makeup bags she found in her trip to Target (she is from the States), I was praying for Target Canada to carry them.  And my prayer was answered.

It took me a few trips to three Target stores to find all the styles that I want; it was evident that these bags were selling fast.  The Target Canada site does not have prices for products, but the price points for these products are fairly similar to Target USA.  In fact, the Sweet Pea Double Train Case was only $15.99 in Canada, which is $4 cheaper than the States.  It could very well be a pricing error on Target Canada's part, but I got the same price at two Target Canada stores so maybe the Canadian price is better after all.

I want to draw the attention of all you knitters to the Sweet Pea Beauty Organizer:

This bag measures 8.5" H x 3.25" W x 12.5" D, and it features multiple organizing compartments which are really handy.  This is a logical choice of bag for organizing my knitting notions!

I put things that I do not use very frequently into the large zipper compartment.  The middle pouch which is just slightly smaller can actually fit quite a bit, and that's where I keep lose things that I need access to all the time.  My cable needles, scissors, and stitch holders fit in the other slots nicely.  I can also hit my HiyaHiya knitting needles into the bag; all I have to do is the fold the plastic above the zipper down. (Are they even called zipper? Well you got the idea!)  This is very nice because I can pack my double point needles into the bag!  This is pretty cool, right? ;)

There are many other bags from this line if you don't find this one suitable for your needs.  Since this is sort of a "budget" line of Orla Kiely products (as with a lot of designer collaborations with Target), you do want to check the bag throughly before making a purchase.  In my experience, the "problems" with these bags are with the fabric.  Some of them were not sewn on flat, making the bag looks a little warped.  Another thing to watch out for is the colour on the fabric; sometimes there are white or black dots over them and they cannot be removed.  Of course, pattern placement is always a good thing to look out for if there are multiples of the same bag for you to choose from. ;)  Aside from this organizer, I also have a Sweet Pea Double Train Case for my make up, a Graphite Double Zip Beauty Organizer for my travel toiletries, and a Graphite Train Case for my daughter to carry her toys around when we go.  I am very happy with the quality of the bags for the money I paid, and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do. (A little Boxing Day shopping perhaps? :D)

I wish your very merry Christmas and a happy new year!