Whats goin' on....

Around here, lots. I worked the weekend at the store ~ which btw is a bear when its dreary outside and no one comes in. ;D I worked today but that was okay. Yesterday, I was exhausted, I think ~ I really don't know what was up w/me. I was tired, achy and just had no energy for anything. I did manage to take pics of the goodies I received on Friday though I need to go over and thank these folks publicly on the group blogs ~ sorry ;D I managed to finished off my first "Not Ped" and start the second ~ no one sock syndrome here. I spent a good deal of time working on the WUA squares and finished off the last charity hat. I didn't get to the wristlets but since it is an ongoing project, I'll get them done. I found a really cool pattern over at knitty's that Sk8Chick has been working on ~ she's done 2 sets and working on the 3rd. The pattern says they can be done in a weekend which she did and some. I may just venture to do these instead of the ones I had planned. They are called "Fetching" and are under the archives for gloves/mittens, if your interested.

Without further ado ~ here are my packages.

First up ~ SP10 reveal: The lovely Kris ~ please stop by and visit here and tell her I sent ya. She is an absolute wonderful woman. I am very grateful that she was my SP and loved everyone minute of the exchange.

Here is the group shot of my goodies:

~ Lovely yarn ~

~ Books & patterns ~

~ More yarn and Brittany needles ;D ~

~ Wonderful treats & chocolates ~

Next up ~ Knitters' Coffee Swap ~ from the lovely Wendy in sunny Cal. She is amazing and it was very hard to shop for this here lady ~ she is a spinner and dyes her own yarn along w/teaches knitting. Man, it wasn't easy but I hope I was able to get her something she could use. You can visit her here and if you are in her neck of the woods, make sure you stop in and see her.

Group Shot (please forgive me, my lovely "Yarn Garden" bag was in use so missed the photo shoot ~ I'll take one tomorrow :D)

~ Delicious yarn in reds ~

~ Yummy treats ~

~ Oh la la Coffee ~

~ Book & more ~

*close of up stitch markers coming

Here are the peds and I'm now off to bed b/c its almost midnight here and I'm tired.

I'll update this post tomorrow w/details of each package but gotta go, please forgive me ;D

I'm seeing red n its.....

beautiful. My SP sent me a package. Whew! I was having a very exhausting day and it was nice to have something waiting for me when I came home from work. She had sent me an ecard to let me know it was on the way ~ it arrived today! She lovingly wrapped each item in red tissue paper and it was in a red package. Red is my favorite color ~ didn't you know?!

Now since the camera is still w/o batteries, and Sk8Chick's is charging (she got one as a b-day present from a family friend today), I'll have to tell you what I got. Later I'll add a pic. ;D

Yarn Love
luxury sock yarn ~ Brown Sheep WildFoote in Blue Blood Red. This is very lovely yarn and I had been wanting to try out some Brown Sheep. :D There was also some LB Micro Spun in Turquoise ~ very lovely and bright. I'm already matching it up with some of my stash to make myself something pretty. I will also need to find a sock pattern for myself too.

Sweet Tooth
delicious chocolate ~ Cadbury Dairy Milk. Yummy, my favorite.

Library additions
two books ~ Not Your Mama's Crochet and Days from the Heart of the Home
The Days is a daily journal ~ I once checked out the book this journal is based on from the library and had planned to add it to my wishlist one day. I didn't know there was a day book for it ~ its great.

I love each and every piece of my wonderful package from my SP. She Rocks! Thank you from the bottom of my heart Knitty Secret Pal ~ you're the bestest!

~ SP10 Bootie ~

"My SP10 Goodies"

Okay, so I'm a little late in posting this, but I have a really good reason for not doing it when it happen. I have been suffering with a major toothache since last week and sometimes I'm not as functional as I'd like. So, I've only read a few blogs, comments, emails between the snatches of peace from the pain. I do get to go to the dentist tomorrow though and hopefully will get some real pain reliever ~ been taking tylenol and ibup with some oragel, all generic. They work when they want. The good news about this is ~ I've gotten some sleep. Yeah me!

Now about that bootie, mates.

My SP really is a gem ~ she sent me the most awesome box and I really needed something to cheer me up because I had been up for almost 24hrs in pain. I am still in awe of the abundance of my package along with the fact that she sent me 3 of the books on my wishlist. ;D How cool is that?! I am soo blessed and my family was too. Hmm, now I need to get busy on my downstream pal so she can receive some of the overflow of my blessings. Okay, here are pics of my bootie and I'll try to tell you whats in each one.

(red peeps, friendship bookmark, sweater shape needle holders, cherry note cards w/stickers, Royal Almond body lotion, baby project bag ~ stitch markers, Jojoba Rose hand n body lotion and #3 5" dpns and yummy chocolate ~ Raspberries in Dark Chocolate (hubby got this one) n Hershey's w/caramel (I wanted to try this one).

Yarn Love ~

Filatura Di Crosa Pure Laine Vierge wool ~ mint green

Fantasy Dark Horse Yarns nylon & acrylic ~ pale yellow

Breeze Heirloom wool, cotton & nylon ~ pale pink
Cascade Cloud 9 wool & angora ~ white and baby blue

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in red & raspberry

(yeah me!)

Book Love ~

Knit Along with Debbie Macomber Bk #3

Candy Babies

Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby

Absolutely wonderful. I'm one blessed girlie. Thank you dear, Knitty SP ~ you're the bestest. ;D

Weekend Projects

I've been working on some firsts for me this weekend. I managed to finish my first Monthly Dishcloth ~ the April pattern which is 3 crosses. Oops, have to update later w/a pic. ;D

I also started making a "Soap Sack" which is worked on dpns. I've never done that before but its coming along right nicely. ;D I am now further then this pic and will probably be done by tomorrow. I would like to make one for my SP10 pal and fill it with some lovely soap.

Nothing much else is happening. I've been outbidded for most of the yarn I was going for but after my SPs comment ~ I'm not concerned because she's sending me yarn love in the mail.

I'm going now, need a nap, work on some writing, more knitting and then I might even post some more. Have fun!

What a week....

Its been quiet around here but lots of knitting happening. I've not had much to say, just enjoying the relaxation of making things with my hands. I've recently started knitting and watching videos. Well, its a lot of fun if you've already seen the movie. I had to frog my dishcloth twice while watching a movie I've never seen and then I tried to make my warm wristlets while watching The Joy Luck Club, which should have been easy since it was simply garter stitch but it didn't work out like that but I don't have to frog it. Thank goodness.

On the yarn front, I've been buying yarn to increase our options while I have a bit of moola. I've ordered some lovely yarn from ebay, picked up some from the LYS and several local stores. One of the stores is having a closing sale ~ yarn was 40% off, it was Lion Brand ;D and I managed to snag a sewing machine for $90. I've needed a new one for quite sometime and didn't have the heart to buy one but I couldn't pass up this great deal. My family actually helped to make the decision since they have mentioned they miss the things I use to make for them. I thought of several things that I could make instead of buying ~ skorts, capris, shorts, tank tops, etc. Its been a almost 5yrs since I've sewn anything and it will be nice to make some curtains and things for the home too. I've listed below some shop pics of the yarn I purchased on ebay and I'll try to take pics of the stuff I got locally.

Before I go ~ here is a pic of what my SP sent me too. Isn't she a doll, they are soo cool and I actually had been thinking about buying these for myself. (sorry this is blurred ~ my camera isn't working right) ~ 2 stitch markers, a button and a magnet.

Have an awesome week!

~SP10 Contest #1~

Please post (on your blog) about your favorite yarn and your least favorite yarn (if you have one!) What have you made with it? Tell us about your experiences!

Until recently, my favorite yarn was Caron's Simply Soft. I loved the feel of the yarn. Its texture and easy of use. I made lots of baby afghans and blankets with this yarn in white, blue, yellow and I used it mostly to make a baby size version of the "Victorian Lace Blanket" by Leisure Arts.

This blanket requires something very soft to make the scalloped edges and ribbon is added. CSS made making this blanket a pleasure and shorten the time necessary to make it. Each time I've made one, it has taken less time since I knew the yarn so well. It will probably always be my first choice for baby items especially when price is an issue.

I'm finishing off a white one now and have used my scraps to knit up different stitch squares. The softness has made the task of learning new stitches very pleasing.

Regarding a least favorite yarn, I would probably say "fun fur". Not that I don't like it and I will be using it for making gifts but I don't like how slippery some of it is or the fact that my stitches get lost and its difficult to determine your stitch counts. Now my oldest dd figured it out but I've not tried her method nor have I tried making scarves which is what she whips up with them in about a hour. Hmm, maybe one day I will but for now, I'll continue to learn about new yarns, sample yarns and develop new favs like my recent pick:

"Debbie Bliss Cashmerino"

SP10 has begun!

SP10 is in full operation now. We have been distributed our spoilee's and I have even received an ecard from my spoiler. ;D I'm looking forward to having fun and will make sure to keep you updated but don't expect details on my gifts to my spoilee. That would "spoil" it! ;)

I hope to a have a button soon but until them,
dear SP my questionaire is in the sidebar under "SP10". ;D

Secret Pal 10 Questionaire

My answers are here.

Thank you ;D