A sweet contest

Ursula is having a contest at her blog. She just got engaged and wants to know all of our engagement stories! Go tell here I sent you!

Another contest!

Sharon is having a blogoversary contest! Go on over and enter to win! Just make sure to tell her that I sent you over!
Happy Holidays!

Question 7

Last weeks topic, we wanted to know what is your favorite activity during the "Wintery" months. Please post what would be the perfect vacation during the Winter Season? Would rather you head to the beach, to escape all the cold weather or want to pack your ski's and head to the mountains. You tell us what vacation you prefer during the Winter Season.

I wouldn't want to escape the winter weather. I really like the snow and being able to curl up with my knitting! The only vacation I would like in the winter is to spend Christmas with my family. This is the one time of year that it is tough living so far from them.

Hoppin on the Holiday Bandwagon

I thought I could hold out on joining swaps, but there are just too many good ones out there! Go on over and check out the Hot Cocoa Swap. Signups begin on the 16th. Yumm-o!!! Tell them I sent you! :)

Question 6

For many people, Winter is a time of cold weather and snow - and many fun outdoor activities that can only be enjoyed during those times! What's YOUR favorite activity in Winter, and is it even outdoors??

This year my favorite activity for the winter is baking. I have been having a lot of family come in from out of twon and cookies and coffee or tea or cider have been really nice to have when they come to visit. That and it makes the house smell so good! I have also been knitting more that the weather has cooled off. I haven't made mush progress on my sweater, but it's cozy having it puddled on my lap!

Question 5

I want you to make coffee talk with someone new either by blog post or email where available that you don't know and make a post on your blog about what you have learned about someone else other than your secret pal or the friends you already know. You can talk about projects they are working on, coffee they like to drink or this Wintery Season in your part of the world right now. Some of my best blogging friends I have gotten to know, were from just going down the roll and checking out blogs and leaving comment on their post. So, that is it. Go, fix you a hot cup of coffee and find you someone to chat with.

I visited Melissa B. just by chance. She sounds very nice! I got a kick out of the fact that she got hooked on coffee in a Starbucks. Makes my seattle-bred-heart happy! We seem to have a bit in common: both being sahms and have younger and multiple children. Her Calorimetry is really pretty! I wish the one I made last Christmas came out that well! :P And I do have to say that a white chocolate peppermint mocha makes my mouth water!
Also, for Melissa, if you read this, I hope your foot is all better! That looked really painful.

Silliness and Procrastination

You Are a Gingerbread House

A little spicy and a little sweet, anyone would like to be lost in the woods with you.

What Holiday Food Are You?

I couldn't help doing this quiz! It was on Lara's blog a few posts ago and I got a kick out of it! lol :P

As for knitting...I have been procrastinating on my shrug. The ribbed edging is killing me. It is taking forever! It's almost done, but 250+ stitches per row makes is stretch into eternity even when you only have 5 or 6 rows left! Okay, enough whining. Back to knitting!

P.S. Go to food network and make their Pistachio Biscotti. I used pecans instead and they turned out fabulous. Happy Holidays!

Question 4

What is the ideal setting for enjoying the perfect cup of coffee? Who would be there - or would you be alone? Inside or out? Morning or night? With food or just the steaming cup of joe?

I've really thought and procrastinated on this question. I still don't have an insightful or inspiring answer. The best times I have had that involve coffee have been with my family, usually after a meal, sitting and bs-ing around the dinner table drinking bottomless cups of coffee until the late hours.
This does remind me that my Dad is coming to visit next week and we will be able to have this scenario again! (Just insert tea for me!)

Knitting content soon. I am still finishing my Blackberry shrug. I swear, the ribbed edging is taking as long as all the pieces put together. Or the seaming. That was painful. I do have to day that Stephanie (Yarn Harlot) has a point. A glass of wine is a great thing when seaming. Unfortunately, I had to sub this with sparkling cider. Not the same. Festive, but it didn't dull the act of seaming! lol!
Trust me, pics soon! I found my camera, but now am in the process of finding the usb cable. (Darn thing.) Then I will lay everything out, tackle the friends and family that have been given some of these projects as gifts before photographing, and take some crappy photos for you all. :P

Quick Update

Finally did my sonogram this last week...
It's officially a boy! (Yes, another.) And we will be expecting on or around the 15th of February.

Question #3

The Thursday upcoming is Thanksgiving in the U.S., so let's all - American and not alike! - just share a post with what it is we're thankful for. A wonderful thing to do any time of year, I thought it'd be a nice thing to share for this week with the group!

There really is a lot for me to be thankful for right now. I am constantly thankful for the fact that my eldest is happy and healthy. I'm tickled that my dad and step-mom are able to come and visit us this year. (I can't travel right now - wouldn't get to see them until next year if they couldn't come down!) I'm excited that I get to cook Thanksgiving this year. A little overwhelmed, maybe! I'm also thankful that even through the hardships, we have been blessed with enough that we can share with others less fortunate. In my church there was a giving tree. Karma, or what? I had to take a tag. (It was for a 2 yr old little boy. How could I not?) I'm really looking forward to the holidays and I hope they are special for you all, too.

Question 2

As the cold of winter approaches, do you change the projects you work on? Do you work on gifts for others or do you continue working on projects for yourself?

Now that it is getting colder, the sweater patterns in the magazines look more appealing! I am also making more hats and gloves. I may also try some knitted ornaments. I work on things for others sporadically through the year, so it doesn't change much now that it is getting close to Christmas. (I am NOT knitting all my presents this year!!!) I think this winter I will end up working on items more for myself. I need good maternity tops and shopping for maternity stuff is just downright depressing! Who knew that you had to look frumpy and pay a lot of money to do so when you are expecting?!? I have bookmarked several shrug and cardi patterns on Ravelry and in magazines I have at home and am determined to have a cute pregnancy wardrobe! :P

Contests!

Nope, still not from me...I'm having too much fun participating in others'!
Anne is having a contest to gather favorite patterns. Go on over and enter - just make sure to include that you heard about it here! I will get another entry!
Cass is also having a contest. You get to brag about your fav knit gifts! And again, please tell Cass that I sent you over!
Happy knitting!
I will post pics of my FO's soon...I think I have almost reached the box of miscellaneous computer stuff at the back of the garage. Hopefully... :P
(There are only a few old pics, but you can see what I'm up to on Ravelry also! I'm under ksknitchic.)

Question 1

When did you first start drinking coffee? What age were you? Was it about the caffeine, or do you love the taste and smell? Tell us how your passion began!
Coffee was always ingrained in my life growing up. I grew up in and around Seattle for my first 20 years. My parents probably have some cute stories about me and coffee, but I didn't actually start drinking coffee until I was in high school. I think I was a junior when I was actually drinking steadily. I love the smell of the brewing coffee, it will always bring up a million cozy memories for me. I can't think of a family household I have spent time in that didn't have a coffee pot! Getting back to the coffee...taste and caffeine are about 50/50 for me. I drink my coffee frou-frou. I love lattes and even the processed stuff you get a QuikTrip! (nifty gas station) My fav is when I take the time to pull out my espresso machine at home and make them myself. Mmmm... lol! Even though I am unable to drink coffee now, I am looking forward to when I can indulge in a latte soon! (Yep, pregnant!) I will miss out on all the yummy holiday flavors at the latte stand in town, but thank goodness for chai and hot cocoa!

Another contest!

Go on over to Tangled up in Knots and enter her contest! If you do, please tell her you read about it on my blog... I get another entry that way!
Happy Halloween!

Winter Coffee Swap Questionnaire

Coffee

What are your favorite kinds of coffee? (Brands, Roasts, anything at all you'd like to share!)

The favorite roasts that tend to be repeated around the house are french or dark roast blends. anything deep and rich and smoky. (I am going to be giving the coffee from this swap to the hubby! I am currently pregnant and cannot drink coffee. I do drink tea, though!)

Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee?

Right now we are doing ground coffee as the grinder was lost in this last move!

This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee?

I haven't ever found an actual flavored coffee that I adored. When I do any flavoring it is either in the creamer or I will drink flavored hot cocoa. Mmmm... peppermint and chocolate are a weakness for me!

Do you enjoy special blends?

Nope!

How do you take your coffee? Cream and Sugar? Straight up? Decaf?

When I am able to drink coffee, I take it with cream and sugar. The hubby drinks it dark, full-caff, and straight up, so no frills for him!

Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer?

I can really go wither way depending on a whim. I enjoy most anything that is unique, whimsical, funky, and/or cute. I am a big fan of tea and cocoa through the winter and the tea tends to get me feeling a little more girly! (Although, I won't hesitate to steal one of the hubby's big mugs!)

Winter and Holidays - PLEASE be descriptive! Your pal will need this information to be sure to put together a package you will enjoy!

What is your favorite part of Winter?

My favorite part of winter is the snow. I moved to the mid-west in the last decade from the west coast and am reveling in the snow! I adore how you can wake up in the morning and everything looks all white and sparkly like a christmas card.

Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday?

Chirstmas!

If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree?

YES!

Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package?

I would love items of either genre. I put up christmas decor through my house through december and then I do just winter items through january. So, either or both types of items would be used and loved!

Do you collect anything? Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snoflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect?

I don't specifically collect any one item, yet. I seem to go after whatever catches my eye at the moment. I am not super traditional, though.

Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats?

I wear scarves, I like the fingerless gloves (can't wrangle children in mittens!), I wear the warm headbands or cloche-style hats.

What is your favorite holiday or winter treat?

Frangos! Or, for those of you who didn't grow up on the west coast, chocolate mints. Peppermint bark or hot cocoa comes in a close second. Or anything gingerbread!

Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory.

My favorite memories seem to alwasys be centered around snow and family. Watching the snow fall, waking up to a white christmas, making cookies with my mom or grandma, having christmas dinner with the extended family, etc...

Yarn and Crafting

Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long?

I learned to knit as a child, but I did not keep at it for many years. Almost two years ago I retaught myself how to knit. I recently (a little under a year ago) taught myself how to crochet.

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight?

Needles really depend on the project. I am somewhat indifferent. The only ones I won't use are wooden dpn's. I have been drawn to cute, embellished needles, but have not had the available funds to indulge myself! If I did, I would have an assortment of glass ones, too!

What sort of projects do you enjoy making?

I really do adore a lot of the sock yarn on the market right now and am finding lots of projects to do with that. I am working on a Dream Swatch Head Wrap right now. I plan to make some fingerless mitts and maybe a cloche-ish hat also. I would also like to try my hand with lace-weight yarn. I have a pattern for a lace scarf, but haven't tried it yet!

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with?

I love superwash wools, alpaca, silks, tweeds, anything that has beautiful colors and textures.

Do you spin or dye?

I have dabbled a bit in dyeing. Gotta love Kool-Aid! I had a lot of fun with it and hope to do more soon! I am dying to learn how to spin. A gal in my knitting group is soing to teach a class on spinning and I can't wait!

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else?

I have sone some scapbooking, tried painting, did cross-stitch for many years, still do some beading...really whatever catches my curiosity at the time!

General

When is your birthday?

July 25

Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!)

I have a 3 1/2 year old, a two year old, and one on the way in early spring!

What are your favorite colors?

I tend to lean toward saturated hues for myself. I enjoy neutrals, also. I love a lot of the colorways in handpainted yarn. My Ravelry account (ksknitchic) shows a few good examples of colors, etc. in my stash and favorites.

Do you have any allergies?

None that I know of!

Happy Wishes

Happy blogiversary Robin!
Go on over the The Knittin' Coop and wish Robin a happy one!

Lovin' the Internet

Thanks for the pattern J! I have begun the Dream Swatch Head Wrap. The lacy stitches were a bit of a trick at first, but it is coming out sooo well! I am using a skein of Claudia Hand Painted Sport in Peppermint Mocha. Check me out on ravelry to see a pic of the yarn! I will hopefully have pics of the head wrap when it is done...it is so smooshy and soft!
As for lovin the internet...I have been chosen to do test knitting for Knit Fit Knitting! I am really excited to be doing knitting on a semi-professional level! It's almost a job! :P I was freaking out a little bit...recently I had developed an odd tweak to my knitting. My purl rows were getting twisted and throwing off my gauge. Seriously, this took me weeks to figure out. Drove me crazy. Apparently I was wrapping the purl stitch backwards. Backwards. This has to be the hormones. I didn't do this before. And I was so relieved when I figured it out! (A little sheepish, too.)
Thank god that got fixed. I am now stuck on my shawl. Three rows of raspberry and no more yarn. I have to pick out a few new colors to finish the last three rows and the edging. I can't find a combo that thrills me. I am probably going to stash it for awhile and wait until I can get the rest of the yarn from the hubby's grandmother's house to see if there is either more raspberry yarn or maybe a better color to go with it than what is here.
More soon!
:)

I'm back!

Let me start off with the fact that my internet was down for approximately one week. Yes, one week. You can imagine the secreaming, wailing and hair-pulling involved in this, can't you? I am still catching up on email and reading blogs. I missed you all!
On the yarny front...I am about halfway done with my crochet shawl, but am almost out of my raspberry yarn. I am thinking of finishing in grey and edging in black...or maybe adding purple or blue...lol! Since I haven't reached that point, I really haven't decided. Any suggestions?
In other news, I have been slowly emptying boxes from the garage and trying to put them away in the house. How is it that I can't find space for all my stuff when I have more room than I had before?!?
lol
More later!

Flu Shots.

Poor Jenny. Jenny is the pediatrician's head nurse. She is a wonderful lady that has worked hard and been very helpful to us through all of the eldest child's sickness. Unfortunatley, the only time my two boys ever see Jenny is when they have to get shots! Hence, poor Jenny. We had to get flu shots for the boys today, and as soon as they saw her, both knew they were going to get stuck. Needless to say, they both howled. (Don't worry, they recovered in about 10 seconds!)
As for knitting, I'm still kind of stuck. I am crocheting right now. I started this shawl. I'm really liking it so far. I am using a worsted weight hand-me-down acrylic in a raspberry shade. I don't know if I will have enough, so far I've just closed my eyes and hoped for the best!
More soon!

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap

Mmmmm....coffee and yarn. Go check them out! Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Registration opens on the 24th.

Still here.

Not knitting much, though.
We moved into our new house (yes house. not duplex, apartment, or whatever else would cause you to share a common wall with other insane people.) on the 28th. Hence, I have been doing everything but knitting. Lots of unpacking, organizing and cleaning. Yuck. :P
I have not finished my hubby's birthday socks.
I have not finished my Breeze socks.
I have not finished my M-I-L's fuzzy scarf.
I have not finished my cardigan.
I have not finished my crocheted owl for the baby.
Or any baby clothes.
I have started an afghan.
Go figure.
LOL...pics soon! (I just have to unpack the camera...it's in there somewhere...)

Ravelry

This could be addictive. I got my invite to Ravelry last night. lol
Knitting pics soon! I have a FO and everything! I completed Bauble for the MIL yesterday for her b-day, but haven't taken any pics yet.
Soon!

Belated Thank you

Dear Stephanie,

Thank you for coming to Wichita and sharing and speaking and laughing with us! (And for fondling my hubby's sock!)

Home, almost.

Yesterday, my oldest was finally allowed to come home from the hospital. (Yea!) Unfortunatley, we are not able to take him home to the house that he knows as home. Because of his illness and the medications that he was given in the hospital, he can't go back to the house with the wet basement. Thankfully, we have found another (newer, cleaner, for sale not rent) house in the town that the hubby is now working in to move into. It's just not available until the first of the month. So...we are staying with the in-laws for a week.
In knitting news...
there is no knitting news! I haven't barely knit or even got close to thinking of finishing a project in a month!
More soon!

Stagnant.

It really is appalling how lazy I have been. I've gotten past the uber-nauseus stage of this round of pregnancy to the sleepy stage. I seem to be moving slower and slower. It is really an effort to do more than a row or two on anything. I will get my butt in gear and do something soon! I hope. lol I have found a bunch of really cute baby patterns online. This will be the first baby that I will have the time and ability to knit for! Oh, yes, can we say overdressed baby? I am dying to see what sex the baby is! I don't like having to worry about what yarn is "unisex" or not. :P I'm really getting into baby socks. Well, socks in general. I have a pair otn for me, fro the upcoming baby, and for the hubby. Yes, yes, I have left out the boys. For those of you who have seen the chaos of my house, they don't need socks. Well, not yet at least! :)
Hopefully there will be pics soon. The camera still is dead. Somehow batteries can be on the shopping list but not make it to the house! I may break down and try to steal some from something else in the house.

Camera Angst

All the AA batteries in the house are gone. I have searched, but to no avail. Hence, no pictures of the loverly Sockapalooza socks from M. i really do like them and will take lots of pics when I scrounge up some batteries.

Thankfully, K, took pictures of the socks I sent her. Here is her pic:

Catching up

Jessica nominated me several days (?) ago and I haven't had a chance to post about it! This is great. Thanks Jess!

Now for my nominations:

J. Denae

Lia

Pantoufle

Lara

Pictures soon! I hope to finish my Sockapalooza socks over the weekend.... :)

Birthday Stuff

Yeah! I finally got around to taking more pictures!

Here are the flowers the hubby surprised me with yesterday!

Here are a few pics of the new knitting bag that I bought with my birthday money. The rest is going to Twist with me this weekend!

The picture isn't the best, but here is a sort-of detail photo of the inside. There are several pockets and it expands quite a bit! This is going to be great for traveling!

And last but not least, I have finished one of my Sockapalooza socks! Sorry, no model available to try this on. My partner has much smaller feet than I do. One week left to finish the other and than I can mail them out!

Yarny Birthday

LOL!!!
My birthday isn't actually until next week, but all the yarny goodness I have been getting in the mail lately has me feeling celebratory!
This is my Fabulous bag from the Spring Felted Bag Exchange. KM made it for me and even posted the pattern on her blog. I love it! I have had it for a while now, but have been awful about posting lately.


Included with the bag was this cute little champagne colored makeup pouch. With yummy lip gloss! (And Satin Lips, too. How cool was it that I got hooked up with a Mary Kay gal?)

Here is a close up on the satin stitching on the edges of the bag. Nifty, nifty! KM, if you see this, the gals in my knitting group love the bag!!!
And now for more recent yarny yummies...Bubblesknits picked me (with the help of the random number generator) in her contest! I am so thrilled! I recieved some amazing stuff. A whole bag of Softwist in a pearly color, a knitting themed novel, sock yarn (!), panda cotton (more sock yarn!), stitch markers, and postie notes!
I am giddy! This will be the yarniest birthday to date!
It is really something, though. Before finding the online and hometown groups of knitters, I never realized how sweet people could be. Knitters really are great people. The generosity in the gifts I have recieved and the enthusiasm for the gifts I have sent is amazing. I am really glad and proud to be a part of this community of amzing and talented women.
More pics soon! I promise!
(I'm almost done with the first Sockapalooza sock!)

Lazy.

Ugh.
I have done nothing lately. I don't know why. Usually I have several projects that I can't keep my fingers out of. Not right now. Well, I do have projects OTN, but I have no desire to do anything at all with them. I haven't even wanted to play with my new yarn. Yes, for me even.
I am stressing over my sockapalooza socks. I can't seem to find the right yarn for the project. Hence, I haven't started them. And yes, I should be mailing these out by August 2nd-ish. I may even give in and go to Heritage Hut and spend way too much on yarn just to get it out of the way. Although, I have been tempted to wait until Twist is open and just send out the socks late, but that wouldn't be fair to my partner! If only they opened sooner! lol Well, since they are opening after my birthday, I should have some money to spend when they do open! Can we say Panda Cotton?!?
In other news, Sarah (the designer of the Stafford bag) posted a comment! I am just silly over this! I haven't ever had a designer comment on a FO before. I am gratified and tickled that she liked it! :)
Well, pics and maybe a sock soon. :P

Done!

It's done! I am so absolutely thrilled with how this purse came out! I had so much fun making it. I am usually not a fan of seed stitch, but once this was felted, it came together really great. I did almost get myself into a bit of trouble. Being as I hand-dyed the yarn. I ran a bit short. By the time I had sewn together the bag, I had only a few inches of yarn left. I was so happy that I had enough to finish the bag that I didn't think of what I was going to use to sew on the handles! Of course, I got to scramble on that a little, but I found satin ribbon that matched the purple polka-dotted lining!
Here is a shot of the dotty lining! Oops....is that chocolatey goodness peeking out?














A better picture of the (dark) chocolate and the last fun thing I found for my partner! I hope she likes it all!















Here is half of hubby's birthday socks. I still have to knit the second one.















And a belated thank you to Cathy! I really like the stitch markers and the knitterly note cards! The pictures don't show them well, but the markers are a pretty pink and clear.














Soon (I hope!), there will be picks of the yarn and such for my Sockapalooza socks! I NEED to start those!

I heart german stockings.

Oh my goodness, I stumbled across this pattern on CookieA's website. I am so going to make these when I have the money to buy this pattern and suitable yarn! I don't think I will use the Louet yarn that is recommended. Something superwash, I just don't know which yet! The Loopy Ewe sells the pattern. I will probably buy the yarn through them also. Anyways...droool!

Lots of Pictures!

Here are pics of what I have been doing for the last week. I finished knitting my Stafford bag for the Spring Felted Bag Swap. Here it is pre-felting. The front is green with purple and the back is purple with green.








Here it is post felting. I really like how it came out! It retained quite a bit of the original texture. It is knitted in a double seed stitch and looks all woven and bumpy. The felting softened the lines and gave it a rounder look, but thankfully I didn't lose too much size!

These are the stitch markers that I got in the mail a few days ago. The large turqoise markers are from Jen. They are so pretty! Each on is a different shape and they have a great layered texture that doesn't come out in the pic. The little blue markers are from Knit Girl. The beads are cute little swirls. They look like little candies! And last, but not least are from Robyn. Very pretty! I love the stacked beads! They remind me of the shell jewelry I used to always see in the cute shops back in Washington. Five sets down and one to go! I can't wait to see what it is!


Here is the prize pack that I got from Anne with the Felted bag swap. I actually won one of the contests. How cool is that? I have had this for a little while and only now got to posting it. It is so great! She included SWS in plum, a sheepy pad and yummy lemon-y soap. Because of the soap, the yarn smells and yummy lemon-y also! :)
I am just so spoiled!!!
lol
more soon!

More Thank Yous!

My internet has been wonky to non existent for about a week now. Thankfully it is fixed and I can post yummy pics of the latest stuff that I got in the mail!
Here are the stitch markers that I have gotten so far-















Pretty tiger striped from Laura and nifty green from Marion. I like Marion's design - they are strung over a loop of plastic (?) cord and fastened at the end.

















And now for a huge (and belated) THANKS! My felted bag swap partner is so sweet! She sent me all kinds of yummy stuff. Coffee and coffee accessories! And Chocolate. (yes, with a capital C.) She also sent very pretty lion suede yarn that I will be using with this pattern.

Belated Thank You!

Here is my Dishcloth Swap package! I recieved this last week and it took me forever to sit down and take pictures!

My pal, J, picked fab colors for my cloth and yarn! (I took the pic on one of my new dish towels for reference!) The chocolate is long gone, do are the candies, my hubby has stolen the espresso cup, there are notes in the sheep book and the markers are happily dangling from my cardi in progress. Yes, I know I haven't mentioned THE SOCK YARN. I am doing my best not to play with the sock yarn until I am done with my selted bag and the other pair of socks that I have on the needles. I need to finish the first pair. I am supposed to have them done for hubby's b-day on the 21st. This may not happen. I mean, how am I supposed to resist yarn that is named Peppermint Mocha? (yum.) I have found the pattern that I think I will use. It is the Errant Ankles Lace Socks from the Socknitters webpage. I really like the lacy-ness of the pattern and I hope it will stand up to the colorway of the yarn. I don't want plain socks, but I don't want really busy socks either! Hopefully next month I will be able to tackle this project! Thanks again J!

More photos!

I finally found the camera and good batteries at the same time! (applause) Here are some of the FO's and stuff that I have been and am working on.
Here is a sock bookmark I made out of leftover Bernat Sox yarn. I started using this up for other stuff since I did not have enough for a whole pair of socks. (Only bought one skein!!!)
Here is my bag for the Felted Bag Swap!
I am so crazy excited about it. I wish the colors had come out better in the photo. The purple streaks are variegated violet and lavender and the green is shades of lime, lemongrass, and teal. This bag is a lot of fun to make so far. I got to dye my own yarn! My swap partner is a big fan of green and purple and I just could NOT find pretty wool in that combo. So...I dug out the gel food colors, lemon juice and crossed my fingers! I have only dyed wool one other time. For the bag I am using the Stafford pattern from Magknits. It calls for a worsted weight yarn and my dyed stuff is leaning more toward DK, but hopefully it won't shrink too much when it felts! (Will only partially felt...I looove the texture!)
Here are my washcloths for the Spring washcloth exchange. They turned out soooo soft! I used Bernat cotton. I forget which one...threw away the labels! I got a little carried away, but there was so much yarn! I need to finish pulling this package together and get it sent out! i have until the 21st, but I already got my package from my partner!







Another cloth I made from scraps for myself!
The homemade goodies I put in the package for my Felted Bag Swap partner. An itty-bitty Bernat Sox sock-keychain, and a Peridot cupcake! (August birthday!)

Contest 2 - Final Question

Kristan W. and I are both participating in the Knit with Phillis KAL.
Laurie D. and I both have to deal with cottonwood trees in our yards and are coffee drinkers!
Anne M. and I both like Linkin Park and coffee!

Knitted Purse Swap

Yay! My partner from the Knitted Purse Swap finally got her package! I'm so glad she likes it! She posted some lovely pics and praise on the swap blog, but here are a few more pics that I took before sending it out.
The bag and lining.















The crochet red squirrel fridgie.

Beaded wood needles.

I am so glad all of this made it out to L safe and sound!

As for other knitting, I will be starting on my felted bag swap bag soon...I need to round up the yarn for it. I am thinking of doing the Hip-Hop bag from Crochetme.com. I also have to finish the package of goodies to be sent out to this partner also!

Soon I will get to order the yarn for my Sockapalooza socks! I am going to do the Snowflake Lace socks from Magknits in Mistletoe (sage green) Wildefoote sock yarn. This will be my first real gift socks! I have made ankle socks for the hubby, but that doesn't count!

Back to knitting!
(More pics soon!)

Contest 2- Question 3

My absolute favorite place to knit or crochet in my house is the big red chair. This is an overstuffed 1 1/2 chair with the big cushy pillows for the back and side cushions. I love this since I can dump all but one of two of the cushions off and be able to curl up with my knitting! And, of couse, the chair is lipstick red. With chrome feet. Cool, huh?

Update to Dishcloth Contest

I have gotten hooked on a new show. (Well, at least it is new to me!) Man vs. Wild on Discovery. I just saw the episode where the host simulates being lost on a desert island.
So....
My one food would be coconuts, beyond being a source of water, it is high in potassium - it is supposed to be an electrolyte.
Also, I'm kicking the hubby off the island and will take the host from the previously mentioned show. No offence, hubby, but this is an expert survivalist and a hottie with a british accent! :P
lol...
A few knitting projests done...
I finished a dishcloth for a swap and have finished a small bag that whould be the right size for a cake of sock yarn.
Pics someday! Still can't find where hubby left the phone....

Survey from Lara's Blog

This is a knitting survey……

Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan (still on needles)
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl (still on needles)
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan (still on needles)
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book (why not?)
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching (yes, I know I should....)
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public ALL the time!

What have you learned to do that has marked a definite change in your knitting life?
I have learned the hard way that sometimes swatching is not a bad thing! I still don't do it though. :)

HOW ABOUT YOU?!!

Crafty Stuff.

I have been so busy posting stuff for all the swaps that I have joined, that I haven't posted anything about what I am doing right now.
1. One-ball half moon shawl from lion brand. This is in a pretty mohairish purple variegated mystery yarn. This was a ball that I got from a yarn swap at my KIP group. I am almost done with the patter and will probably have to knock off a couple of rows for lack of yardage.
2. Office-to-Casual Cardi from Creative Knitting Magazine. This pattern uses red heart soft yarn! Yea!!! I am using up some of my stash of this in a great plummy color. They named it grape, but it is much prettier.
3. I sewed my first piece of clothing! Last year I bought a bunch of material but could do nothing with it since the sewing machine was dead. I finally pulled it out and wrestled with a new pattern. And voila! I now have a faux-wrap front top in a cute cotton print. The seams are a little wavy, but who cares! It fits and I love it.
I promise to take lots of pics when the knit and crochet are done and the top is out of the wash!

Dishcloth swap contest

If you were going to be whisked from your home and taken to a desert island to live out a year of your life....


What one CD of music would you take? I wouldn't take a cd of music, I would take my ipod shuffle! I am really bad when it comes to music...I will buy a cd for one song only! But, if you all really want to limit me to one cd, I would take my Seven nations cd. They are a great group! Modernized tradaitional celtic music...
What one book? Hmmmm....I usually have a romance novel stuck in a nook or cranny of the living room or bedroom at any given time for good fluff reading, but I burn through those so quickly that I don't think I would want that for my only reading amterial. i would probably like to have either the Lord of the Rings or the Mists of Avalon or something along those lines.
What one hobby-related item? Either knitting or crochet and lots and lots and lots of yarn. This could be exchanged with spinning equipment, but there would have to be an instruction manual!
What one person? I would take my hubby. Conversation and,well, ahem, you know!
What one food? (no, you couldn't survive on a single food, I'm just SAYING) Pomegranates or oranges. I really am on a citrus-y kick right now. Happens every year when everything starts coming into season!

Contest 2 - Question 2

What always signifies the beginning of spring to me is that I can put away my winter clothes. Once the winter hits late January, I am pining away for my summer clothes and the weather to be able to wear them! Winter weather is just not condusive to floppy straw hats!

Funny.

Swap Stuff

Contest 2 - Question 1:
I became interested in felting because of the physics and mechanics of the felting process. How neat to make a solid fabric from one with many little holes in it! Originally the fascination lent itself to hats (I'm a bit of a hat nut!) but I have seen some gorgeous bag patterns, too!

Sock Talk:
Seriously psyched to knit socks! Like anyone should need an excuse! :) I am thinking of something in shades of green...I really want to play with something handpainted. My partner is so nice, she really has no preferencs. It does sound like all she has so far is boot socks, so I want to make her something pretty! I like the Boudoir socks from Interweave or maybe a pair of the lacy ones from the last few issues of Knitty.

Dishcloth contest

Aside from all the little and trivial day to day niceties that we are afforded every summer, I will truely be thankfull if me and my family have a healthy and accident free summer. That is all I could ask for. Last summer, shortly after he turned two, my eldest son was diagnosed with a childhood form of hemolytic anemia. Thankfully it was treated and cured and there have been (and should not be any more) no relapses. Scared the life out of me. It of course happened on a weekend and we took him to the local emergency room. Not fun. Apparently, when a child has cause-unknown anemia, the first thing that comes out of a doctor's mouth is leukemia. I am truely amazed that I am not as starkly grey-haired as I feel I should be. But, thankfully, after the blood work they did they found what was wrong and were able to do what they needed to do. A year later now, and I am hopefully looking forward to a happy and peaceful summer. (If only broken by the occasional Band-Aid!)

"Spring into Summer" Dishcloth Swap Questionnaire

When did you learn to knit? Who taught you?
My great-grandmother taught me a million years ago, but I didn't stick to it for very long. i recently retaught my self and have been knitting for a little over a year.
What was your very first completed object? Your most recent?
My very first completed project was Bubby from Knitty. Most recent was a few fuzzy scarves for family members. (See further down on blog.)
What was the very first thing you sent to the frog pond? (pulled out and started over) Your most recent?
About 85% of my projects started get frogged. (Either partially or totally.)
What is currently on the needles for you?
I am working on a fuzzy scarf for my mother-in-law, a pair of cabled knee-highs in wool-ease, the cover cardi from Creative Knitting, and I have to finish sewing up a pair of booties for my cousin's new baby.
What types of needles do you enjoy working with? What have you tried and hated?
I really like circular needles. I have a tendancy to misplace one needle out of a pair. The only circs that i really did not like were the Boye needles. The cable would never unwind and the join was funky.
Have you knit dishcloths before?
Yes. I have knit the ballband dishcloth and the star shaped washcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting.
What was your favorite one?
The ballband.
Least favorite?
The star shaped. The bobbles on each tip ended up odd...
Do you use homemade dishcloths or face cloths yourself, or give them as gifts, or both?
Only for myself, so far!
What are your favorite and least favorite scents? (For your body, such as soap/lotion/etc)
Please nothing frou-frou!
What are your favorite colors?
Right now I am into melon, apple green, robin-egg blue, etc...I found a great dish towel with the colors on it. I will post a pic soon! Any happy colors will work!
What colors (if any) are your bathroom and kitchen decorated in?
Kitchen still has 70's decor (rental), bathroom is white and apple green.
What other hobbies and crafts do you enjoy?
Chocolate: Dark? White? Milk? Ew?
Any chocolate is fabulous! Not a huge fan of white.
Do you like salty treats? What kinds?
Hmmm...popcorn, chips, snack mix, trail mix, etc.
If you could go anywhere in the world for one day and spend the day any way you wanted, where would you go and what would you do?
I would adore going to Scotland. I am part scottish and have never been! As for what I would do? Anything!
Do you have any allergies? (Yarns, foods, etc. that might impact what your pal can send)
No allergies!

Goodies!

My fabulous knitted purse from Lia! She made it out of Royal Bamboo. It is so soft. I may have to buy some for myself to make a summer top out of.







Here is a jumble of all the nifty little things Lia packed with my purse. I love the stich markers! The stitch markers were tied to the card with a length of cord. at the end of the cord was a little charm in the shape of a sun, on the back of the sun was "Made with a smile"!




















And my candy! A whole box of violet crumbles!!!! I am giddy! lol Thanks Lia!!!!

More Markers!

The note cards and fimo markers from Dana.













The jewel toned markers from Elizabeth.















I am so tickled with participating in the swap! I am so going to have to do the summer round also!

As for knitting, here are the fuzzy scarves I have finished! Thankfully, I only have one more to do!

Stitch Markers!

Thanks again Sulah and Caroline!

Happy Day!

*doing a little happy dance*
lol....I am just so happy that the weather is finally nice! It is supposed to get up to 70 today. I have the windows open here at home and I am wearing short sleeves!!! Also, I got my Knitted Purse Swap package in the mail ON TIME! I am looking forward to my partner getting it, and I am dancing in anticipation to get my package! I am looking forward to the next swaps I have signed up for: Spring Felted Bag and Sockapalooza! The last was J's influence...I wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't read about it on her blog. I am looking forward to socks! I still have to finish the pair of knee-highs that I started. At least I won't be needing them for awhile!
I promise to post pics soon...I have pics of the finished swap purse and of the stitch markers I have recieved from that swap also, but I now have to find the usb cable for my camera! :)

Spring Felted Bag Questionnaire

1. How long have you been knitting or crochetting? How did you learn?
I have been knitting for many years - my great-grandmother taught me when I was about 10 years old. unfortunately, I did not knit for the vast majority of that time! i retaught myself about over a year ago and have been knitting steadily since. I do also crochet now. I taught myself from a book a few months ago and have made a few projects. It's more fun than I thought it would be!
2. What are your favorite yarns to knit\crochet felted bags with?
I have only made one felted bag so far, and used a recycled wool for it. I do have to say that it looks much better as a bag than as a cardigan!
3. What are your favorite needles to knit\crochet with?
My favorite needles any more is circular needles. That way I don't lose one! :)
4. What are the last 3 bags you knitted\crochetted (include URL for Yahoo! or flickr album or your blog if you have them!)? You can also link to patterns if you don't have pictures of your finished objects!
Retro Stripes
5. Do you carry the bags that you make, give them as gifts, or both?
I haven't made one for myself yet, so only for gifts!
6. What is your favorite felted bag that you have made for yourself?
See above!
7. What are your favorite colors? Do you like bags in these colors or choose other colors?
I love most colors, anything with a rich hue! (Not so much with black and white) I am usually drawn to tweeds and heathers, I love the subtleties! I wear a lot of neutrals, so I like to make a statement with my bag!
8. Chocolate: White, Milk, Dark, or not so much?
Milk chocolate, please! (Unless it is mixed with mint...I will take any kind of chocolate mixed with mint!)
9. Coffee, Tea, or Milk?
I am a Seattle girl, so i have to have my coffee(real coffee...espresso! cafe au lait!), but I love tea, too!
10. Do you prefer sweet or salty treats? What kinds?
I am more of a sweets girl. I seem to love the obscure and odd. Pastilles, Frangos, the little hard candy bon-bons, you know...things you can't find! Lindt truffles are rather lovely, too.
11. If you went into Bath and Body Works and could only come out with one item, what would it be and what would it smell like?
Just one? I am a bath and cosmetic junkie...not makeup, but lotions and balms and lip glosses. As for scent, nothing heavy or frou-frou. I love their more natural scents. I like the Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Pomegranate, Clover and Aloe, the tea scents are great, the ones with cucumber are yummy, I really like Citrus and Grapefruit scents also!
12. Do you enjoy any other crafts or hobbies? Do you collect anything?
No other crafts right now! I would like to learn how to spin. I do collect tea pots and tea stuff. I am also partial to anything cletic or scottish!
13. Are there any bag patterns you have not yet knit, but hope to someday?
Too many to choose from! Just nothing itty-bitty! The only time I have looked for something itty is to put it in something big!
14. What is currently OTN (on the needles) for you?
A fuzzy scarf for my grandmother-in-law.
15. What is your most recent finished object before that?
The Retro Stripes bag from Interweave Knits.
16. What's cutest: Puppies, Piggies or Pixies?
Pixies!
17. Do you enjoy reading? Books, Magazines, or both?
Both! Anything! Everything! LOL
18. Do you have any children? (kid-kind or pet-kind apply!)
Two boys - one two and one three.
19. What are some of your favorite yarns for other projects?
Superwash wool, or wool-blend, or cotton-blend. Inexpensive and machine washable! Although, I would love to experiment with other natural fibers....
20. And for the final question, one I see debated all over: Novelty Yarn: Love it! Hate it! or It depends!
Depends! I haven't used it for myself, but I have used it for gifts! (I don't think I would enjoy a really fuzzy bag, but there are great yarns out there besides eyelash!)

Wow.

On may 27, this blog will be a year old. A whole year. I can probably count on one hand the things I have stuck with for a year or more....LOL!
Pics and knitting stuff soon! (have to finish something first!)

I am home!

Nearly 4,000 miles and many days on the road....I am so glad to be home!!!
LOL
more soon...

Movie Meme

Here you go J!

"It’s been alleged that if you’ve seen over 85 movies you have no life. Mark the ones you’ve seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste it in and put x’s by the ones that you have seen. Add them up, figure out whether you’ve got a life or not, and post it."


(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
( ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
(X) Boondock Saints
(X) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
(X) Neverending Story
(X) Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
(X) The Princess Bride
(X) AnchorMan
(X) Napoleon Dynamite
(X) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
(X) Anger Management
( ) 50 First Dates
( ) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
(X) Scream
(X) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
(X) Scary Movie
(X) Scary Movie 2
(X) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(X) American Pie
(X) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
(X) Harry Potter 1
(X) Harry Potter 2
(X) Harry Potter 3
(X) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(X) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
( ) The Village
(X) Lilo & Stitch
(X) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
(X) Signs
(X) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
( )13 Going on 30
(X) I, Robot
( ) Robots
(X) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(X) Along Came Polly
(X) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
(X) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
(X) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(X) Joe Dirt
(X) King Kong
( ) A Cinderella Story
( ) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(X) Dumb & Dumber
(X) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
(X) Halloween
(X)The Ring
( )The Ring 2
( )Surviving Christmas
(X) Flubber
( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(X) Practical Magic
( ) Chicago
(X) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
(X) I Am Sam
(X) The Whole Nine Yards
(X) The Whole Ten Yards
( ) The Day After Tomorrow
(X) Child’s Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
(X) Bride of Chucky
(X) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
(X) Gothika
(X) Nightmare on Elm Street
(X) Sixteen Candles
(X) Remember the Titans
(X) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(X) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
(X) Bad Boys
(X) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number SlevIn
(X) Ocean’s Eleven
(X) Ocean’s Twelve
(X) Bourne Identity
(X) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
(X) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(X) Ice Age
(X) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
(X) Curious George
(X) Independence Day
(X) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
(X) Christine
(X) E.T
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
(X) Maid in Manhattan
(X) War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
(X) Rush Hour 2
( ) Best Bet
(X) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
( ) She’s All That
( ) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
(X) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(X) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
(X) Big Trouble in Little China
(X)The Terminator
(X) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
(X) X-Men
(X) X-2
( ) X3
(X) Spider-Man
( ) Spider-Man 2
( ) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
(X) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
(X) Freaky Friday
(X) Reign of Fire
(X) The Skulls
( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2
( ) Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street
(X) Old School
( ) The Notebook
(X) K-Pax
(X) Krippendorf’s Tribe
( ) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
(X) The 40-year-old Virgin
(X) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
(X) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(X) Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(X) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
(X) Base-ketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(X) Elf
(X) Highlander
(X) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Three
( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
(X) Hulk
(X) Dawn Of the Dead
(X) Hook
(X) Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
(X) Waterworld
( ) Kill Bill Vol. 1
( ) Kill Bill Vol. 2
(X) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
(X) Army of Darkness
(X) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(X) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(X) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(X) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(X) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks: Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
(X) The Matrix
(X) The Matrix: Reloaded
(X) The Matrix: Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
(X) Team America: World Police
( ) Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal


Seriously, if you have made it this far....just count those that I have not seen.

LOL!

FO's

Finally got around to posting my finished stuff...

Back view of finished sock.

Front view. These were from the Vogue Knitting on the Go: Socks. The pattern called for worsted weight wool and size 2's and 4's. I used Wool-Ease Autumn Print and 3's and 5's. Ended up a bit tight and a bit busy. I think I need heavier yarn!

My first crochet project! Ooooh a coaster....lol!

Here is the shrug I crocheted for my mom. She is teeny! This is a small/med. I forget the name of the pattern, but is is from SnB Crochet. It is done in white Caron (1 pound ball).
Well, I'm off to Seattle for spring break! See you all when we get back!