Lucky Me

I also received a swap package from my Unofficial Pal....Here you will see two skeins of oh so soft knitpicks alapaca, a "Run-a-go-go Tshirt, a pink ceramic easter egg, and a pretty pink ceramic easter egg, which contained a sweet pink bunny (not pictured). Also there were hershey kisses (eaten by the dog) and a tin of dark chocolate truffles (eaten by me). THANK YOU UNOFFICIAL PAL!!!

Oh Official Pal

La La La...I got a package last week. Three glorious skeins of wool in the most glorious combination of ruby, gold, and garnet colors (Hmmm I'm in a gemstone mood). My lovely pal suggested that I use it for a scarf, but I have a sneaky idea- I just bought a Noni Unfurling Roses pattern and I think that it will make a lovely shaded rose. See for yourselves:THANK YOU CHIA :-)

Um...Finished Project...

You folks will not believe this. I finished something else. I think I'm going to have to quit this, because it might become a habit. This is my felted bag. I had to wash it twice to get it to felt correctly- but it is done! Voila: before and after!


Front & Back



Front & Back

Felting

Can't figure out how to get my washer to felt...I (thankfully) attempted to felt my test swatch last night and it was only slightly fuzzier and smaller this morning. I have a washer with no center agitator- I washed the swatch with some woolite and a beach towel- But no felted love. It was such a dissappointment. I HAVE FINISHED THE STINKIN BAG AND DO NOT WANT TO RUIN IT IN THE FELTING PROCESS. And I am thouroghly irritated that my swatch did not felt. Now I have to knit another swatch and try again. Has anyone had experiece with this sort of situation? GRRRRRRRRRRR. Happy Monday.

OUCH

I am a dumb a$$ who decided to "get pumped" and stay for step at the gym tonight. You know tomorrow is going to be bad if my legs are already hurting and its only been what, like three hours. Sheesh. Tomorrow night will definately be a sit on the couch and work on my momma's day present and not move any more than I have to. Sheesh.

Rainy Day

The nice thing about rainy days and no babies to birth is that you get to do things that you wouldn't ordinarily have time for. Like baking. Here is my absolutely fabulously plump juicy bannana nut breat. No walnuts here-we're a straight pecan family. MMMMMMMM

ooh new project

Well, I've suddenly found myself with no project (other than previously unfinished red sock). So I did what any good ADD knitter would do and got myself another one. MMMM new yarn. This is a felted bag that really didn't take long to cook up. I still have to do back and handles but I don't think it will take too long. It was cool to work on the front panels because they let me do patterns, beadwork, and some color work, all of which you probably can't see with the far away style picture. We're talking two knitting evenings here. The pattern is from a book I received from my SP9 pal- Easy Knitted Accessories- and it is a super awesome book. I covet many of the patterns AND all are within my reach. Look out world, there may be some finished projects in your future- maybe.

I've been tagged!

In a recent email my Offical Pal challenged me to share six things about myself that others may not know...So here's my list:

1. I love a good pedicure- toenail polish will fix anything.
2. I can and have eaten a whole bag of double stuff oreos in one sitting.
3. I do a darn good impression of the Brittney Spears Hit Me Baby One More Time dance.
4. Cooking is not my strong point.
5. I've been known to skip events and classes to go to the beach.
6. I absolutely cannot subtract without a calculator.
   

I've got some 'splainin to do...

I must say that this round of secret pal has been super interesting for me. I was initally assigned two spoilers (on accident), which has all been worked out and is totally no longer an issue. My assigned secret pal is awesome, totally supportive, and really encourages me to actively participate in blogging. I love it because I really look forward to her(?) comments. My other pal (who was re-assigned to someone else) is also awesome because she (?) has kept up contact with me- we apparently have bunches in common. So, as a result I've made two new friends and look forward to checking my email twice as much. I'm calling them Official Pal and Unofficial Pal. Both are total mysteries to me. Oh, and Unofficial Pal and I have agreed to do a small unofficial swap on the side. Spinnoff style! I'm going to do my best to keep them straight for your understanding. So I got a package from Unofficial Pal on Saturday. I have since used and abused all the items in the package, so please excuse my slightly modified photos....

This is what I found in my package: A gorgeous needle roll that my Unofficial Pal MADE HERSELF. I'm super impressed, and the fabric is totally my colors. I added a pair of my own needles here for effect. Above that please note the two balls of glorious blue cotton. I've already torn into them and used them for a couple of grannies. Along with the yarn and ne needle roll came a delicious easter bunny. I know it was delicious because, well, here see for yourselves...

I know I left the head, but I have this thing about eating eyes and noses, but don't worry, my husband will be happy to help out in this crisis. So a huge thank you goes out to my Unofficial Pal for a great unofficial package.

Oh Snap!

OK! I have been busy. Not too much time for knitting but busy nonetheless. First I joined the Granny-A-Long in a stash busting effort. Those who know me well know that I will buy blue yarn anytime. Cheap, expensive, its a terrible weakness. The result is a HUGE stash of blue yarn. All differnt shapes and textures. I don't even like blue that much outside of yarn. Anyhow, here's one of the nine grannies that I've done. I do one every night before going to bed (on the nights when I'm at home.) Hopefully, in about two months, I'll have a blanket and a whole lot less blue yarn!



I've also recently completed my purple chevron shawl. It was endless rows and rows and rows but the end result was really quite beautiful. I'm totally psyched that I actually finished a project, and that it turned out OK. I even put the edging on it. The best part about finishing was getting to start a new project. I bought the yarn yesterday for a bag I've had my eye on forever. I will post those pics as the progress happens. For now, I'm one totally satisfied knitter.

Where I've Been

In the past 48 hours I've been in Delaware, Illinois, and Wisconsin! It has been a whirlwind trip. All because my little brother has graduated from boot camp this weekend! Here is our fine sailor:

This photo was shot just minutes after we found him. We arrived at the ceremony location at 7am to get a good seat on the hard, cold, backless metal bleachers. The event did not start until 9:30. Unfortunately, nobody had told us that this graduating class was ONLY 380 sailors as opposed to the regular 800! Nonetheless, we had great seats. My brother has never been camera shy, so as the weekend went on we got some great photos.

Ok, so his eyes are closed here, but this is a great picture of his girlfriend. She is fabulous and really supportive of my brother. He was soooooooo happy to see her! Doesn't she take a great photo?

This one was taken on day two of liberty. Its our little family spoof on a prom picture! From left to right: Me, his girlfriend, mom, and sister. Yes, we are in a hotel room, and yes, that is the hotel room door behind us. I do have to credit my husband for agreeing to take this super silly photo!

Here are my boys! Posing again next to the bathroom door. We really did take other pictures, its just that the silly hotel shots are all on my camera. We visited a really large mall called Gurney Mills and tried to tour the Jelly Belly Factory. The line for the jelly belly factory went out the door and around the building! Maybe next time....Anyhow, congratulations to my little brother!

Works in Progress

Here are my two major projects. The first is the pair of socks I've been working on since november or earlier I think. The first sock went really really fast. This one drags on and on and I don't really want to work on it. It is done on two circular needles and I'm only part way done with the cuff. So... Here it is:

The next item I'm really working on is the purple chevron shawl which was a gift from my last secret pal. I try to work on this every night. It has grown to massive proportion and takes forever to do one row. I'm planning to add this one to my list of completed projects sooner than later:

Thank You to My Super Pal

Here are some much overdue photos of only some of the things my super pal, Emily, sent to me over the course of SP9. In addition to what you see here there were needles (very small ones, double pointed, straight ones, all beautiful bamboo), a beautiful bookmark, another book called easy knit accessories, and I don't know if I left anything out, but it was all fabulous. She sent two packages in tandem... they came two days apart. Here is a pic of some of the stuff...MASON-DIXON KNITTING!!!! Mister Joe yarn with a pattern for a breathtaking circle sweater (I'm gonna do it...) and Rowan cotton tape (lots more than you see here) for this awesome chevron shawl. I've already started this project, more to come on this one. Its getting sooo big. THANK YOU a hundred million times Emily!

SECRET PAL 10

Here is my SP10 questionnaire!


1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love anything. I can find a use for any material. Wool, silk, acrylic, even fun fur has a place in my stash :-).


2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

A giant tupperware box

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting for a few years now. Seriously knitting for at least two, but it might be three. I'd consider myself an intermediate knitter. I can do cables, very basic lace, follow a pattern. I just get bored really ease and quit projects before they are finished...

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Nope.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I love citrus smells, actually I like just about anything that smells like a food. I really don't care for musky smells.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Is the grass green? I love it all. Dark chocolate, heath bars, oreo cookies, anything with peanut butter.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I've recently taken on sewing due to the "new house, no curtains" phenomena I'm experiencing. I'm a creative spirit at heart and will try anything if it catches my eye. Lately I've been hanging out at sherwin williams trying to coordinate paint colors. Oh and I crochet too!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I love music, all kinds. My iPod is heavy on country music and pop music. I love to sing (poorly) and dance (lots of space for that since I have no furniture) and all music is welcome.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love pink and green. In fact, all bright colors are appealing to me. But, pink and green are the all time favorites. I've never actually knitted anything pink and green- I used to be in a navy blue yarn rut, but my last pal cured me of that!


10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have a darling husband and two adorable dachshunds.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves, Yes! Hats, Yes! Mittens, Yep! Ponchos, NO! I've tried. It just looks silly. You have to know your limits right?

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I like items that go quickly, not endless repetition- otherwise I'll quit the project. I've enjoyed socks and a shawl and a small purse. I need relatively quick gratification.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I'm working on a purple shawl that was a project from my last secret pal. It is made with Rowan cotton tape and is phenomenal. I'm actually almost finished with it.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Love them, actually prefer them.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I never was a circular needle person, but I've become addicted to Addi Turbos. I secretly plot how I will purchase my next pair without my husband realizing what I'm buying. I've never knit with bamboo, but I do enjoy straight aluminum needles. (old skool)

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

No! and have only recently figured out what these items are. I think it is genius. One day, when I do enough knitting to really need one I might invest.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Oh should we even go there? My life is a UFO...In fact, I think my first knitting project is a UFO. I probably have more UFOs than finished objects.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Easter. Best candy time. Plus it has the best colors. Best meaningful significance.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Besides yarn? I have a beautiful collection of Fenton silver crest glassware. If you know what that is then we really have something in common here. Basically it is white glass with a clear rippled rim. Its a little nerdy indulgence that I've had for years.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I love knitting books and magazines. Sometimes I take myself to Borders and just thumb through the pages and dream of what I would make if I could knit like lightning. I would really love a copy of Itty Bitty Hats, even though I don't have any or know any children. I think it is just adorable. Knit Fix is another book that I think would be pretty usefull. I always thumb through the Interweave knits or crochet magazine, but most of the projects are just too expensive/time consuming/difficult for my lifestyle.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I was having a discussion with a fried the other day about this. I've never felted anything. I need to do this. My next project will probably be a felted item, but I don't know what yet. I'd also like to do some simple lacework.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Officially yes. I made one sock and got tired of the second one about three fourths of the way down the cuff. I do socks on two circular needles though...

23. When is your birthday?

May 20th. Right smack in the middle of Secret Pal.

Things I promise....

1. I promise to blog more frequently. really.
2. I promise to post photos of my sp9 packages, they were awesome, tandem style packages that make me giggle every time i look at them still.
3. I promise to post photos of my stuff, because even though I've been crazy busy, i've been knitting too. It is my last stronghold to sanity.

Here's another list of things that I've done in the past month....

1. Moved to a new house. I still can't find half my stuff.
2. Delivered 10 babies. It is amazing.
3. Covered the workload for two colleagues while they were out sick.
4. Study Study Study because you can't deliver babies if you don't know your stuff.

I think that is enough. I'll post photos soon. I promise...

SNOW

SNOW SNOW SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it has finally really snowed. There are two little inches of snow on the ground, but I think it is beautiful! I love the way the whole world looks a little less rushed when there is a fresh coat of snow over the ground :-) I wish my class had been delayed or cancelled this morning, and I could sit home and drink hot chocolate and knit and watch the TODAY show...It doesn't matter though, because I'm going to get to take a 20 minute walk through Penn's campus to class from my parking spot. That will be beautiful, and I will arrive to class frozen and happy. I'd like to use this public space to personally thank my husband, Clif, for removing the snow from our driveway and from my car. You have saved me 15 minutes this morning! Happy Friday!

the coolest

No, I have no pictures, I have only words for you. Today I delivered a baby. I handed her to her mom, and I clamped her cord. I even delivered the placenta. That was all very cool. But the coolest was that I got to witness a woman be strong and courageous as she brought a life into the world. I guess it wasn't just the world, it was her world. The hardest part of having a baby is still left to be done:parenting. But she was so excited to hold that little girl in her arms, and she worked so hard all night long to make it happen. It was slow and the baby was slippery, but it is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen in my life. the coolest.

not unbusy

so... I may not have been blogging all holiday season, but you can be sure that I was knitting. It has been slow with small amounts of progress, BUT I have completed one sock. And yes, that is me in my scottie dog pj's. The best part about this sock is that I made it with two circular needles. I got the idea from my secret pal spoilee, and thought that since I am terrified of the dpn, this would be a great alternative. I used a 100% wool German yarn, SOCKA, in a lovely cranberry red color. I even made a killer kitchener stitch at the toe. And yes, I have started the second sock. I'm about four inches into the six inch ribbed cuff. So we'll see how much I get done of that one. This may be one of the few projects that I ever finish. Just one question, Do you block a sock? and how?

life update

Bad bad bad blogger. I promised myself I would blog more about everything in the new year. Well whoops, because I've really been awful about it. I think this time I can blame it on the Holiday season and really make more time to blog. My house is almost finished. We settle on February 5th and I'm really really really really excited about it. My husband and I go look at almost every single stinkin day. I should probably post pictures but I really think its only interesting to the two of us....

More than Generous

If there is an award for best pal, mine should get it. Hands down. The original package my secret pal sent on Nov. 14th got lost in the mail. Once we figured out that it was lost my pal SENT ANOTHER PACKAGE!! And it was a super package. Look at what I got!!!

Yes you can believe your eyes. You are looking at one copy of "The Happy Hooker", a skein of Rowan Big Wool (in shade 32), a skein of Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash , One skein of Two Waters Fiberworks Cashmere Sock Yarn(so soft, and such amazing bright colors), a set of six double pointed needles (size 2), one anonymous skein of some gorgeous chenille yarn, SEVEN skeins of Catania Color sock yarn (100% cotton, very silky), a pack of daisy post its, knitting note cards, and a very very funny card with three sheep on it that says "Pass slipped stich over" My favorite thing to do with it right now is a little thing I like to call the "stash stack" and it looks like this:

I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful pal. I love all the yarn, and it is all so luxurious and special to me. This is ths sort of stuff that I pick up in the LYS, hold it, covet it, but never purchase it. The whole package was such a treat. I'm already scheming of the projects I will start! THANK YOU to my most awesome pal!