I got my final package from my SP3, Carriebelle Knits!
I got a bunch of sock goodness in this package - some handpainted sock yarn from Mountain Colors, some space dyed sock yarn from Lion Brand and Lucy Neatby’s Cool Socks Warm Feet book!
I squealed with delight when I opened this package yesterdat afternoon. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I see many more pairs of socks in my future 
Look what was waiting for me in my PO Box today!! Wheeee, what fun!! My secret pal sent what looks like a great book, called Exquisite Little Knits: Knitting with Luxurious Specialty Yarns. I haven’t had a chance to look at it in depth yet, but it looks great. Even though they use novelty yarns for a lot of the projects it doesn’t look like the projects will be that dated and they are all smaller, portable sorts of projects - just what this instant gratification gal tends towards!
Those three balls of yarn that came with the book are a fun cotton/synthetic blend boucle-like yarn in a nice warm off-white with hints of browns and blues and even a small touch of sage from Filatura di Crosa. All colors that look great on me. Each one is about 82 yards. I’m not sure what I’ll make with them yet, but I’m excited! And, if I have some left over from knitting something, it’ll make some great addition to some fabric/fiber art work as well.
Thanks, Secret Pal! It makes the day much better!
I got through the first skein of Silk Garden on the multi-directional scarf. I’m thinking my fears of it not being quite manly enough are probably coming true. But, DH loves the design - as do I. I’ll reserve judgement on whether it will be giftable to my FIL or not until it is completed. But I have to say this pattern really does look great in these self-striping yarns!
The colors don’t look great in this picture. Hopefully I’ll have better lighting and display for the final picture.
I’m also closing in on the end of the leg portion of the first sock for my dad. I’m debating stoping the single circular and switching over to my dpns. I think I’d move faster. But I’d like to do a whole sock on the single circulars so I get a feel for whether the heel and stuff is in the same location with respect to the cast-on as it is when I use the dpn’s. I think the big problem I’m having is this 47″ circular. It’s just too long and unwieldy. I’m not casting off the idea of doing the single circular method, just not with 47″ cables… And, I’m kind of in a hurry as there are a few other projects I’d like to complete for the holiday gift giving season… Hmmm… Decisions….
I keep forgetting to mention that last week I got a lovely e-card from my secret-pal wishing DH and I a happy aniversary. I also got a post card from California marking the places she had been for work. What fun!
I’m still alive and mostly well. I ended up taking an unplanned, but well enjoyed vacation from the computer/Internet last week. I don’t normally disappear for a week or more from the blog, but I only logged on for a few minutes each day to check on my on-line classes and then went about non-technology driven activities like reading, baking some yummy quick breads for the freezer and more.
Wednesday night we usually spend at Scimoria (a house owne by two of our friends, but three others also rent rooms in it) playing games. Last week our good friend from Wisconsin was visiting so we brought him with and had a good time. I had hoped to have a pic for you all of use playing the great gift I got from my Secret Pal about week ago now - a vintage bookshelf game from 1971 called Lie, Cheat and Steal. But, we ended up with such a good turn out last week that we didn’t get to play it.
I’m debating whether I want us to play it now or not, LOL! DH remembers playing it when he was younger and is raving about what a fun game it is. I’m worried I won’t get to use it for my art as my Secret Pal had intended, LOL! It also caused me to spend $30 on a vintage game DH also remembers playing and enjoying - 221B Baker Street. It’s another bookshelf game based on Sherlock Holmes. It sounds fun and I *love* clue. So, I bid and won on one of those and an expansion pack for it. I think that will be his anniversary gift…
Yesterday we had to head to CO Springs for SIL1’s birthday and I completed the first rectangle of the poncho. But I still have the ends to weave in and then I need to block it. I’ll weave in the ends tonight at Stitch ‘n Bitch and if I’m lucky cast on for the second rectangle. The evenings are definitely poncho weather right now and I’d like to finish it soon. Everyone is ooohing and ahhhing over it so I’m excited about that!
I’ll have pics tomorrow…
On the off chance that someone other than my own secret pal III will stumble upon my site, can anyone share some sites for knitting/fiber related e-cards?
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I would love to be a yarn snob, but since I do not make much money I do use the discount craft store yarns somewhat frequently. I do stay away from anything 100% acrylic though and mostly only use the funky Lion Brand yarns. Though I’m finding CottonEase a pretty good yarn to work with that holds up well to washings etc.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
At this time I do not spin or crochet (other than finishing edges if required). I am getting sucked in with the spinning though. But I haven’t caved in just yet… I do have books and tools for tatting and hairpin lace but haven’t put down the knitting long enough to give those a try yet either.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
I am *very* allergic to smoke and cats. Some scents can bother me as well. I do not wear purfumes as they tend to bother me the most. Instead, I use scented body lotions and the like.
4. How long have you been knitting?
I have only been knitting since November 2003! Okay, not 100% true. I learned to knit as a young adult (maybe 12-14 years old???) but never got the hang of purling and tired of the Red Heart yarn being the only yarn we could get in my small town so I stopped.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes! I even went in and tweaked it and updated it. I had fallen behind and not removed all the items I had since purchased. But, it is now all up to date! You may find it at http://amazon.com/gp/registry/1ADW9ERXH5VWO - and I am more than fine with used books, CDs, DVDs etc.
6. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
For bath and body products I’m a sucker for citrus. I especially like anything that is heavy on lime or grapefruit. Bath and Bodyworks’ Citrus Punch had been my favorite until they discontinued it. I prefer it to be just citrus and not have herbs mixed in like ginger or rosemary but those are okay as well. For candles I like “spice” or “rain” - something very fall-like (pumpkin pie, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger etc.) or something very clean smelling.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yes, I have a sweet tooth. Though I’m trying to not indulge it too much 
I love Kit Kats, Watchamacallits, and Ritter Sports (esp the lemon). I’ve had a real chocolate tooth as of late, LOL!
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Well, I’m an artist and teacher. Most of my art is mixed media or bookbinding. You can learn a lot more about the DIY and artsy things I do by checking out my main web site. I’m always on the look out for thrift stores finds of old classic board games (Scrabble, Clue, Monopoly, Life etc.) to use in my art. I also have a great idea for using old metal knitting needles but haven’t had any luck running into any at my thrift stores just yet. But, I’d need ~6 that are within 1 or 2 sizes of each other…
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if you want to make her a CD)
My computer can play MP3s. I like a fairly wide variety of music. Some of my favorites to listen too lately include Keri Noble, Vanessa Carlton, Indigo Girls, Melissa Ethridge, Joshua Kadison, Allison Krauss and Union Station, Rent Soundtrack, Save Ferris, Dressy Bessy, The Czars, Tonic Sol Fa, Dave Matthews Band, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Buena Vista Social Club, Bebel Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jabim.
In general, adult alternative (this is the LaunchCAST station I listen to a lot), jazz and bluegrass. Both my DH and I love to be introduced to small, local sorts of bands so if you support bands from your local area we’d love to hear about them!
10. What’s your favorite color? Or-do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?
I *love* purple if you couldn’t tell from the colors on the blog. I’m especially partial to deep, rich colors - plum, burgandy, olive, mustard, coffee, rust etc. I’ve been using red a lot in my art lately, though I can’t really wear it much. Oh, I also love sage and pretty much nearly any shade of green.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married with one fur kid, Emma (a rescued chow, lab, corgi mix whom we love to death). DH and I celebrate our 2nd anniversary on October 5th…
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
My dream would be to be able to support DH with my art and classes so he could pursue his own creative interests of writing and recording music and writing screenplays and novels.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I *loved* working with the Opal sock yarn I had. I haven’t had a large opportunity to work with a wide variety of yarn types though.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Acrylic! I don’t mind there being some acrylic content in my yarns, but I prefer there to be more natural fiber in a yarn than non-natural fiber. I’ve found the 100% cotton yarns to be tough on my hands so plan to avoid those as much as possible in the future.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Lace and socks! I’m brand new to knitting lace, but I’ve been on a mission. I’m not one to knit a pattern exactly as written. I knit how I cook - the pattern is a guideline and jumping off point. So, I’m in the planning stage of a poncho for myself. Since I’m plus size I want a fairly openwork one so you can see that I still have some curves underneath so I don’t like a big mountain of yarn. So I’ve been reading up on lace patterns. I also found I loved having a sock to carrying around with me. Though I haven’t cast on for my third pair just yet. I had some issues when I tried so I put it aside for a bit but am getting antsy to pick it back up again.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I’m mostly into the accessory phase - hats, mittens, scarves, socks… Partially because being plus sized it costs a fortune to buy enough yarn to make a full sweater, plus it takes forever to finish. But I plan to tackle that at some point. I haven’t fulled anything yet, but I have two bucket hats to do for Christmas for my mom and sister and I’d like to make a Booga J bag…
17. What are you knitting right now?
I’m sort of at the inbetween stage. I’m still working on the Miami Waves scarf as I haven’t been feeling well so haven’t gotten much knitting done lately. Then as I mentioned above I’m working on designing my own poncho. I want it to be openwork, but it will use a variety of yarns similar to the Collinette Poncho so I’m struggling a bit with what would not be too busy for a variety of different yarn textures and colors.
18. What do you think about ponchos? (this is really a curiousity question for us)
I think it’s a fun and useful article even if it is likely to be a bit of a fad…
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I definitely prefer circular, though I inherited a ton of straight needles from my grandmother so I don’t have an extensive collection of circulars. If I have the proper size in the straight needles and can make do with them I do so. It leaves me with a larger yarn budget…
20. How did you learn to knit?
My grandmother and my blind mother helped me learn as a young adult. Then one fateful Saturday DH took me to brunch at a restaurant that is connected to our LYS. We popped in there as DH knew I like to use fibers in my art work. I took one look around and decided I wanted to start knitting again. So, I signed up for their beginning class (mittens) and promptly went home and started on a garter stitch scarf from Homespun just to practice getting an even gauge before the class started. After that mitten class I was doomed… LOL!
21. How old is your oldest UFO?
My oldest is the Shapely Tank. I think I stopped working on it sometime in May. The yarn I was using was really bothering my hands and then I got the idea to make a tank top for my SIL2’s birthday so I put it aside. Then there was my trip to MN and starting socks and … and…and…. I’d like to finish it, but it will probably sit until next spring since soon I won’t get any wear out of it this season.
22. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I’m not really into cartoons. My favorite animal would have to be dogs. Though I like cats, but try to tell myself I don’t because of the allergies…
23. What is your favorite holiday?
Probably Christmas. I have lot of fond memories of Christmas celebrations from my past. We also incorporated a lot of our heritage into the celebrations so I always look forward to enjoying those special foods we only eat at that time of the year - lefse, rosettes, ostkaka etc.
24. Is there anything that you collect?
I used to collect rabbits. But having an aunt give you a stuffed rabbit every year for your birthday - through your 21st birthday sort of kills that. Plus, DH wasn’t too keen on the cute-factor of having rabbits everywhere, LOL! I’d say I collect old things - I love old books, vintage photographs, old game boards and pieces. Most of these things eventually end up in my art work (in the case of photographs, not usually the original)…
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