A Wonder Swap Package from my January Swap

All I can say right now is WOW! A number of weeks ago I swapped with a wonderful partner from Canada. We both missed the deadline for the TowndendSocksKnitAlong swap and the hostess was so kind and suggested we swap with each other. This has been such a wonderful swap and I now have a friend in Canada. My package took so long to get to her that I didn't post my package from her until she received hers. I was so excited with my package. She made it a Canadian theme. I got the cutest bag with knit terms embroidered on it, chocolates which only half is in the picture, the yummiest coffee, a book by the "Yarn Harlet", a Canadian ladies magazine, the most wonderful yarn made there, and the cutest beaded bag she knit. Oh...and patterns she printed from the internet. Because I get so excited with packages like a little kid....you will notice not all of the items are in the picture. I am reading the book, so it is in my bag for work which I read on the train and keep in the car and of course I ate some of the chocolate right away. The patterns are in my planning book to search for the perfect yarn! Thank you Katie!

My Favorite Knitting Tool

Secret Pal 10 has a contest! What is my favorite knitting tool. Could it be a storage bag? That is my favorite tool! I found it in California last August. It had little plastic storage pockets in the fold over pouch with zippers to close off each little pocket. I can store my markers, a small pair of scissors, a tape measure and vaious other little items. This can then be easily dropped into my tote of choice and I am ready to go. I really love it, love it, love it!!!!

My Weekend Wasn't Long Enough

But I did get some things done.....

Friday night I met with friends and we tried a Tai eatery in the large shopping area in the area. Food was excellent, but service was slow. They were busy with several large parties...ours included. It started sleeting and snowing and when we left....roads were okay but side areas a little slippery. By the next morning it was non existent but it put me in the mood not to leave the house or do a thing. I watched TV and movies all day long and I didn't really feel like knitting or sewing. I think I was just so tired from a rough work week that I needed the day to mentally wind down.
Sunday I visited my mom and my daughter and grandson came down from Maryland. We had a really nice time. Mom loves to fuss over all of us. For 81 she is a spry little lady! She gets more done than I ever thought about.

I didn't let Sat. go completely down the drain. I spent "thought" time as to my SP 10 swap partner. I have come great ideas and this weekend I am planning on shopping to start her surprise packages!!! I got my daughter involved in this and she has really made her partner some neat items already......
This weekend she and I are going exploring at some new shops we heard about (yes yarn shops) and well....let the creativity begin!

I hope to post pictures sometime this week....I have taken pictures of some of my projects and just haven't taken the time to post..NO EXCUSE!

I Heard From My Secret Pal 10...YEAH!

I am so excited! I heard from my SSP10 today and I can't wait to be spoiled! On the same note I can't wait to spoil mine. I contacted her today and do I have plans for her! Searching looking through her blog has been sooooooo much fun! It's like being Santa or the Easter Bunny.

I Have My Secret Pal 10 Swap Partner!!!!

I am so excited! I have my SP10 partner. I emailed her this morning and I am ready to spoil her. Wow...for the next three months I am going to have to remain anonymous and that is going to be tough. I have so many little surprises in my little head! Like visions of sugar plums dancing around....whoops wrong celebration!

Anyway.....exciting as it is, I will have to seriously buckle down and get my project done for school this weekend. Just finished my mid-term and my presentation in marketing class is the 22nd so serious business first....then FUN,FUN, FUN!!!!!!

Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire

I am participating in two swaps. Look to the right of my blog and you will see under March the links to each of them. I am very excited about both swaps. To both of my partners I thank you in advance for the anticipation of the fun we will have!

Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire

1. What's your favourite type of yarn?
I love natural fibers. I have in the past knit with others, but I guess I have become a knitting snob. Mixtures for socks are fine, but I really love the natural fibers the best.

2. What's your least favourite type of yarn?
The 100 percent acrylics. I have only used these for afghans which get a lot of use and usually thrown in the washer.

3. What's the first thing you do when you visit a new yarn shop?
I go to the colors that attract me. Then I go to the gadgets and then to the patterns. After that I go back to the yarn and I start to squeeze, smell and rub the bundles to me face. Sounds sick...but it is so soothing. Then I focus as to what I actually came in for and then I buy more than I actually needed!

4. What other crafts do you do / would like to do?
I am a quilter. I love fabrics and I act the same way in a fabric store as I do in a yarn store. I have a new Bernina and I just love to sew new things on it. I can't honestly say which is my favorite hobby...I indulge myself in both.

5. What magazines do you currently subscribe to?
Right now I only get Southern Living and Angels.

6. Put this type of magazine in order of preference:Knitting / Crochet / Other Craft / Food / Home / Fashion / Celebrity Gossip / Garden
Knitting/Home
Crochet/Other Craft/Food/ Garden
Fashion
Celebrity Gossip

7. What items do you like to knit / crochet?
I love to knit socks the best. I like to knit scarves and I plan on working on some lace items.

8. Are you allergic to anything?
Nothing in the food line....only things like trees, grass other things like that.

9. What do you like to smell of?
I love the smell of roses. Brings back very fond memories of my great aunt and uncles house which had loads of roses in their backyard. I also love the fragrance of Freesia or most light floral. Anything with a clean smell.

10. What's your favourite way to relax?
Putting me feel up and knit or sit at my sewing machine and work on a project. When I don't feel like those things, I just relax in front of the TV and watch a good movie or a program that interests me.

11. You're stood in front of a Victorian style sweetshop, an Italian cafe, an old fashioned bakery and a dainty tea room. Where do you go first?
I would go into the old fashioned bakery.

12. What do you come out with?
Yummy pastries, good hearty bread, and scones.

13. Where do you go next?
The tea room. I love tea in china cups and saucers, silver spoons and the atmosphere of a tea room. I love lemon tea and the whole ritual of pouring the tea and sipping it from the china cup. Sooooooo feminine!

14. Any other words of wisdom for your pal?
I am just very grateful for any gift I receive. The fact that someone went to the trouble to look for items to please me is a special gift in itself. I love surprises and I love creativity.

Secret Pal 10

I am so excited about this swap! I have waited so long to participate. My info is below for my pal. This is going to be so much fun!

Secret Pal 10 Answers

1.What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love knitting with natural fibers. The sock yarns with a little man-made fiber is fine, but acrylic is tough to knit with and I would prefer not to knit with it.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Right now I have nothing. I usually put them in the package they came in or thrown in the bag of latest yarn! Bad…I know. I am working on a good storage place for my newest obsession. I recently bought a large tote for my yarns and whoops...not enough room. Need another tote.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I am self taught and that was about 33 years ago. I think I have reached the intermediate/advanced level by now.

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

5. What's your favorite scent?
Roses. It reminds me of my great aunts and uncles home. They had a rose trellis that I just loved to sit by and to this day the smell of roses brings back wonderful memories! I also love the smell of freesia which is what I buy at Bath and Body works.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I love good dark chocolate candy. I love butter or chocolate creams. Of course any type of candy I can’t turn down. I am not crazy about licorice or root beer candy....it is as the kids would say yucky.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I love to quilt. I am such a fabric-holic. I love any type of colors but I really love the soft Victorian country look. I have not learned to spin yet, but my daughter said she would teach me how with the drop spindle.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like all types of music. But the 60’s is my favorite. I love the old groups and Motown groups being some of my favorite. I love soft music and I am really liking some of the newer artists who play the easy listening music. I like country too. I guess you could say I am not really that picky. I don’t like rap or hard core stuff. Yes, my computer will play my MP3.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Blues, purples,some greens and pinks are my favorite colors. I don’t really care for oranges or browns. But if they are mixed with colors I like they are okay.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live alone, divorced a number of years ago and my cat Fluffy died several years ago. My life is so hectic I just haven’t wanted to get another animal and not be home enough to enjoy them.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear scarves. I love scarves…all types. Hats….not so much…and I am not crazy about ponchos. I love mittens, just don't have any right now.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Right now I am knitting socks and some scarves. I have one sweater coat in progress. I am pretty enthusiastic about everything.

13. What are you knitting right now?
All of the above.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, yes, and yes!

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

I love my circular needles and I also love beautiful knitting needles like the hardwood or bamboo ones you see now. I love the way hardwood or bamboo becomes smooth with use.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have a yarn winder but I do not own a swift.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
An afghan I started several years ago. Just kept frogging because I didn’t like the pattern and it was acrylic yarn. Can't bring myself to start is again.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, 4th of July (US)…..I guess all of them. I like celebrating each of the holidays at church or at work.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I collect tote bags and snowmen! I also like any sewing gadgets. Whether it be antique or not, they fascinate me.

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 would love to try the Tofusie yarn I have read about. I do not have any magazine subscriptions for knitting. I just keep buying books.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
The magic loop. I have watched a video on line and it baffles me….but I have promised myself I will try later on a pair of socks. I just bought a book on it so I will have to try it one day soon.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes….I love my socks! My foot is a size 10. The length of my foot is 9 3/4 inches and the circumference of the toe area is 9 3/4 inches.

23. When is your birthday?
I am one of those Christmas babies! I was born December 29th. Thus I either get the birthday Christmas present combination or I am forgotten all together…Boo hoo…really it isn’t that bad now, but I do like to treat myself on my birthday and I usually do.

It's Monday but it's really Tuesday!

These long weekends are killing me. They break my routine and I don't accomplish what I should. Bottom line I goof off because I think I have extra time. I thought I would post my pictures of my wonder swap partners gifts, but I still didn't.

Work was hard to go back to today and I really wanted to just crawl right back into bed. Better day tomorrow I hope!

The cold has subsided and we have warmer weather. Got up to 40 some degrees today. Yeah! Maybe it has melted all of the ice we had on Valentines day. Working in a building that dates back to the turn of the century and was once a warehouse, windows are not the easily accessible....so I don't know what it is like outside but in 10 minutes I will find out! I am headed home on the train!

ICE! ICE! ICE!********and COLD!

Tuesday it snowed and sleeted and the worst was yet to come. I woke up to about 1 and 1/2 inches of ICE! It was very beautiful but it kept me home for 2 days. Now you would think being home for two days a person would accomplish many things. Not me! I got so sleepy and all I wanted to do was to sleep and stay snuggled under my warm blanket and do nothing! I am now back at work and I have heaps of work to do. Now all I can think about is what I could be doing at home! Don't know if this is and "age" thing or just tired of the cold!

I had school last night and I did feel a little more accomplished when I got home. I hope this lasts and I get my "to do list" checked off some!

I have my sewing machine set up on the dining room table and I plan to sew tonight. I have some projects in the works and some ready to go. They are quick projects and I hope that my motivation mojo stays in place!

I know to most, the temperature being in the teens is not much, but us poor Virginians......ya'llllll...this is way to cold for us Southern ladies and gents!

I plan to post pictures this weekend. We have a long weekend....it is a holiday for us and the government has graciously given us off Monday so I can have three days to sleep......whooooooops....no.....accomplish many things!

Keep stitching!

It's Cold!!!!

I know that most people might not understand that when I say it is cold here in good ol' Virginia but it is cold for us Southerners! It has been in the teens for over a week and we did have a dry snow on Tuesday night. For those who suffer with "arther" it is tough. We were spoiled with warm weather for too long this winter. I just wish I had knit faster on my socks, scarves and mittens. They are all in the almost done phase!

I am so excited about a swap that I have participated in. Acutally myself and a very lovely lady from Canada (Katie B) have decided to swap. I am sending her package on Sat. and I received a notice that my package has arrived from her and is at the post office. I am picking it up on Sat. I can't wait. We both missed the sign up day by 24 hours...so we have created our own. I also made it in to Secret Pal 10 and I am very excited about that also. I just love creating things and going to the shops for secret presents and looking for the unusual. It's like being Santa longer than just Christmas time.

I was hoping to have some pictures taken and posted but I just haven't had the time. I am back in school and the reading alone keeps me away from what I love to do....but there will be an end to the student days soon....just haven't figured out exactly when.

But I do slip in some knitting at night and on the train to work if I don't have too much homework to concentrate on! I have a 3 day weekend coming up....yeah....knitting and sewing! I will live for tomorrow! That's when my 3 day weekend starts and I have my happy plans.

I have the Best Daughter Ever!

Coffee Cozy

For Christmas my daughter surprised me with the best handmade items. This is a coffe cozy to help my sensitive knitting hands from hot coffee. This is for when I don't have time to brew my own coffee. I simply slip this on my purchased coffee and it has the homey feel. It has a tiny coffee cup and saucer on the ribbon! I keep it on my desk at work or in my tote bag. I am planning on making more! Yes...I have the pattern!

Picture Keeper
She also made me this neat case for my grandson's picture. You can resize for business cards or whatever your hearts desire. And could it get any better when she also made me this wonder knitting bag. She knitted it and felted it in one of my favorite colors.....PURPLE! Yeah!

Knitting Bag

Newest Knitting Project

I love this yarn....it is so yummy and I just love the colors. It actually shows up better in person. I received this yarn from one of my swap partners in a knitting and coffee swap. Thanks Carin!

Could life be any better? Purple, yarn things, and yarn! I just need more time!

Happy New Year!!!!!!

I started these for knit six. I love the colors and I hope to finish then in time for the deadline. I have started so many projects that I have a hard time deciding which to work on. Looking every one's blog keeps me way too stimulated! My mind races wanting to try and do it all!!!!!!
Today is very dreary...it started raining last night and it is still drizzly outside. I have made a pot of coffee and I am snuggled down in my comfortable chair and will knit the rest of the day. I am off from work tomorrow because of former President Ford's funeral. I work about in DC and the traffic is a nightmare when any type of gathering happens.
I hope all had a safe and wonderful New Years Eve. and that 2007 brings us much happiness and prosperity. I sincerely hope we are able to bring our troops home and will see more peace and happiness in our country.

Many happy stitches to all and keep those needles clicking!

Caps to the Capital

Christmas Eve I was alone and I took a about an hour and half and knitted these 3 caps for Caps to the Capital. I mailed them on Tuesday. I try to do some sort of donation each year. I seemed to be so behind this year, but I hope to be more organized for 2007! I am so grateful for all that I have and am able to share with others.

On a different note, I think I am getting this picture thing down. I have had trouble trying to upload. Any hoo.....I think I will conquer it!

Happy New Year and many happy stitches!

Socks For My Daughter

Two days after Christmas I finally finished the socks I was knitting for my daughter. She loved them! They were a little big but she loved them anyway. I am now working on another pair for her. Of course now I am trying to finish the half of dozen other pairs I have started! But I am still having fun!

Merry 'Christmas To All

It's Christmas Eve and I have all the packages wrapped and things are done. I will go to my daughter's in-laws tomorrow and have a great Christmas with my daughter, my son-in-law, my grandson and her in-laws. I am excited.

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

I finished my Exam

I finally finished my exam for my class. Now I can concentrate on Christmas! Fortunately my family understands that I have limited time because of school.....so gift certificates are fine by them! They like the idea the handmade items sometimes come after Christmas....it stretches out the holiday.

The cards are flowing in so I know what I will spend tomorrow night doing.

Time to shut the computer down and dream of sugar plums and knitting knomes!

I mailed my package!

I finally got my package mailed to my coffee and knitty swap partner! I managed to get the post office just in the nick of time and I was assured it would get there in about 2 days. I can't wait to hear from Wendy about her package! I also picked up a package from the post office yesterday from a swap partner from Swap-bot and what a surprise. Neat stuff from Singapore. (Will post pictures when I get the hang of it.)

I have to admit, I treated myself to a full Swedish massage and I was so relaxed I couldn't get much done yesterday. Even though I took off from work with the intentions of doing a lot....it feel by the wayside. I came home and relaxed and guess what I did for several hours? I knitted and watched TV. Couldn't resist! And guess what...I am now refreshed and came back to work with a much happier attitude!

I bought myself a Christmas present yesterday. It is a yarn winder. I told my daughter it is our sharing present! Have to treat ourselves every now and then....right?

This weekend is my target to try and get pictures posted of my projects and my wonderful package from Wendy. I have almost gotten into the yarn several times.

Happy Stitches!

I did It...Picture posted

Okay...I couldn't resist trying! I got a picture of myself and my daughter posted! Wow! There is hope yet for me and all this technology!

I am still trying to figure out this blog site. I want to add pictures and such but will have to wait till later when my daughter can advise me. In the meantime I have had other issues. The day before Thanksgiving a young girl (only 16) hit my car and did a lot of damage. I was in....of course my favorite place....the Knitter's cottage. Her foot slipped and she backed into my car full force. I was in the shop....and can you believe it...she came in and actually told me! Have to give her parents kudos for raising her right!

I made a hair appointment and when I came out of the shop.....I had a flat tire on the rental! With the wait and having to go back to the rental place to exchange the car for another, my day was shot. I did not get any of the errands done I had planned. So I came home, watched TV and guess what else.....knitted. Another day will come tomorrow and hopefully I can be more productive.

I can't let this ruin my holiday plans! Right?

I was so excited to have 2 of my new knitting swappers contact me on my blog. I am having so much fun with this!

I have my exam to finish by next Thursday and then it is Christmas wrapping and tree trimming all the way!

Happy stitches and Merry Christmas to ALL!

Wow...were has the time gone? I am very busy at work and spend my time communting in the morning and evening. I have knit several pairs of socks (or at least started them) and I have finished one scarf.

I still need to learn how to post my pictures to this site. I recieved my package the other day from my knit and coffee swap partner. It was so wonderful. I can't wait to start a knitting project with the yarn and the coffee....well it smells so heavenly. I am using up some coffee I already had and then I am going to savor it.

I still need to get my partners package to her. Everytime I get ready to mail it I find something else wonderful to add to it. It will be like Christmas once I finish. Can you tell I am very excited about this swap? I have had so much fun preparing the package.

Happy Stitches!