Blogger SP8's Chocolate Galore!

Early SUPRISE Mail today!
My Lovely Blogger SP8 has spoiled me early! This is her first SP round and shes been great lots of contact & chocolate galore! Some melted but only one badly liquified, the box of truffles filled with liquor was banged up along the way inside the package in bits but whats left are absolutely delicious all the way from Germany!! YUMMY!! I bet you had lots of fun and tasting them before sending me a box full! You had to try them to make sure they were good enough right????? I'm in LOVE with those truffles! Haven't tried the hot chocolate mix in the bag yet...Thank you very much for the note with instructions I wouldn't of figured them out....heehee

but a box of these eggs look what I found inside lined with white chocolate and a plastic eggs filled with these little toys thats in pieces that you put together to make these cute little figures and toys.. What fun!

Thank you for making my week SP couldn't have had better timing either! Love them!!! Now how'd I get so lucky to have an upstream woman after my own heart?? OH BOY! Lucky me! Definately making my pain feel much better....;o))
Sending {{hugs}}from Cape Cod to Germany!

Happy Memorial Weekend!?! Fo...

Not much during the long weekend but did manage to make 2 ball band washcloths from Mason Dixon Knitting...Used less then 2 sks of Peaches and Cream worcested Cotton on US size 7 needles. Quick knits in between projects are great!

I've been doing alot of reading. James Frey's book A Million Little Pieces..... So much controversary over the book I had to read it..Even though he exsagerated about some things it is definately a page turner. Haven't been able to put it down much this weekend..

My DD fell off hte back of a motorcycle Saturday evening cracked the helmet a little on the back visor shattered she bounced a few times and then refused to take the ambulance when it arrived. Has had numbing pain down her legs, badly bruised, scraped, etc. the whole nice yards.. Good thing she had that helmet on thats for sure and they weren't going very fast at all. So Sunday morning after waking up I picked her up and took her straight to the hospital after I paged the our DR on call! Lots of sprains, strains she flipped off the back and bounced her head about 3 times down the road, right along the beach in front of lots of people.. Anyway her cocox (tail bone) is fractured, her butt's badly banged up and thats an understatement of the year!! The DR took one look and said 'boy thats nasty!' Lots of pretty ugly brusing a variety of colors scrapes cuts here and there her knee is messed up a little which she injured from cheerleading a couple years ago and will need some surgery. Her graduation in Saturday June 3rd.. I sure hope she makes it to do the walk!! errrr! 18 year olds!!! Memorial weekend!!
She doesn't want to go to her senior dinner dance now.. Can't say I really blame her which is a shame but her desicion..

Then my little man tried climbing up his bureau and it tipped over on top of him all the drawers, tv.. I run to him and his trying to hold the TV off his face!! Of course one of last nights news headlines stories too is about children who get killed by bedroom funiture!!!!

Hoping for a quiet day today maybe finish this book and relax pull out one of my WIP!
cousin birthday party later...DH is a vet from Desert Storm and just wants to relax!

Hope everyone enjoys their Memorial Day!

Polls are re-opened again!

Feel free to stop buy try my May recipe it has been kid tested and approved as well as adults. Wuick, simple easy to make Great for upcoming parties & BBQsPolls are open for the next 5 days only! Click heresome contest recipes are also posted here

Good Morning Toe Up Ankles

What a lovely morning it is....Sun is out, beautiful spring day not hot not cold just perfect. You just never know what you'll notice at 5am! The birds are chirping & singing. I found this nest (it was pretty high so picture isn't that great but if you click on the photo it'll enlarge for you) in the tree we were planning to take done but now were not but 2 others will be next week. this nest looks a little fuzzy to me, hmmmm I wonder if those sneaky birds took some of my fiber that was flying around the yard when I was picking my fleece.....

Here's my little friend that usually sings to me with my morning coffee. He doesn't get spooked or anything by me sitting on the deck with my coffee or tea. I swear he's talking to me sometimes. Sometimes I'll even answer.. Still waking up or just insanity. I can be a little weird sometimes in a good way of course. I like to take some knitting out with me and show it off to him and his family/friends more like a tease I bet. Maybe his hoping one day I'll walk away from it so he can snatch up a project of mine for his nests....


Just in time for the spirng/summer or should I say hurricane season....
DPN US 1 toe up
Yarn Knit Picks Dancing color Square Dance

Off for a day/evening for a Spa treatment of Remicade usually takes about 5 hours or so, once in a while I ned up being their guest for the night. It's tough sometimes doesn't get infused properly because I always have allergic type reations so it has to be slowed down and stopped for short periods then restarted.. Pain in the butt but helps me get through the next month or so sometimes less but never more usually wears off quicker then expected. Much more tolerable more good days then bad for the most part anyway. Would be consider somes miracle drug but usually the week of treatment and premeds before and after I'm misable as can be! PAIN at a HIGH too! chrons & fibro can go to the birds.. Hey it's my little vacation away from my life, the nurses wait on me hand & foot, watch soaps, take a nap, a couple like to knit play touchy feeling with my projects, copy some patterns, share chocolate with me bring me food and tea whatever I want how ever many times I want.. I can lounge in bed a recliner or walk around at my will. Who am I to complain about all the great benefits!! it's me ME time!! It's the best the DRs can do for me at this point in my life, I shouldn't complain to much besides it's the only dept. that gives a HUGE discount on parking valet even cheap at $4 for the day overnight $8 at most. (now to ask about gas discounts) I'm on borrowed time after mulitple surgeries, complications, ventilators and other complications. I guess I'm pretty lucky at this point.

STR New Color is here!

It's finally here, am I like the last one to recieve mine or what??? Oh well glad it here. Fairground in the new color also recieved a skein of Scaponia too. They sent it to replace the last one that was full of knots on my Cedar Creeks photos in previous posts. Both are great bright spring colors. Fairground to the right and Scaponia to the left. Those ladies at Blue Moon are awesome!

I've cast on already for the new socks.. It'll be intertesting thats for sure. Will be the first to have buttons on them too. I think I have some neat buttons for them if not will be shopping for buttons. Look it's already starting some pooling of the colors too kinda neat ~ Lots of shades of colors too. Love the new Fairgrounds. Thank you to Catherine for the great name she won 6 new skeins of the New STR spring color line for coming up with the new name! Congrats Catherine!

Book Order Arrived

The books arrvied a few days ago. Mason Dixon, Rowans Vintage Knits & Nicky Epsteins Knitting over the Edge. I couldn't believe that Crafters Choice had Mason Dixons Knitting already..WOOHOO! I was so excited and I got a free digital camera with this months order too. I also get points when ordering and free book too. If your not a member and would like to become one please email me and I'll be happy to send you an invite so I get credit or a book from my wishlist for free! ;o) I love the book club and no monthly membership fee either.....

I couldn't put the book down without giving this a whirl...Mason Dixon Washcloth
I used Sugar & Cream cotton yarn in a soft spring colorway.

Today was the day

Not to much got done today knitting/spinning/fiber wise other but lots of laundry thats for sure. Seems like I'm always doing laundry. Every time I went to the washer/dryer I kept walking by a box full of soap shavings from usng the planer or vegetable peeler to smooth out the edges. Hoping to get to them someday

Today was that day! I put them into a 10 gal bucket, added a box of borax and baking soda. Only used the lighter scents and colored soaps. Addded some citrus essential oils including heavy on the sweet orange (great cleaning properties, degreaser) also smells fresh & clean. I haven't made any in a long while now I thought it was time.
Back to my laudry I went and started to fill the washer added a cup of my detergent. my laundry came out very soft, fluffy, bright clean and smelling great!
I've also decided to make all my soaps in the future without any color at all. Some will color itself depending on the oils used some oils turn them darker naturally anyway. but no more swirls and twirls. No particular reason other then keeping it simple, shorten the labels, etc (I won't go into all the boring details and reasons). Will be making lots of changes and the recipes will differ slightly as well. All for the better of course the rise in different varieties of olive oils alone have been increasing steadily and sky rocketing over the past 2 years thats my stock is running low and just can't justify the HUGE increase for demanding supplies so my soaps will no longer contain a high olive oil content but promise they'll still be good quality soaps. I mean just to make up the difference I'd have to go up to at least $8+ per 5.5oz bar of soap.. Crazy! This is my main concern for all the changes. DH is excited to get rid of all the empty barrels of oil! lol Trash night!....

One Skein Knit -A-Long

The Bath Mat

Instead of purchasing a cone I had a bunch of rolled balls in the stash of the same color of Sugar & Cream in Peaches and Cream colorway. Approx 8 about 4 or 5 full balls and a few partials with a partial leftover afterwards.
Took about a day and a half to make. I don't like to crochet, haven't done it in years only when need to for one reason or another. It was quick and I really liked the way it turned out.
If you haven't made one or didn't have it planned. It's worth the little time it takes to make at least one. ;o) I'm going to definately make more of these in the future. Great in-between quick fix project!

I just received my Sp for June's Themed Spring Fling Candy Swap!! I think all the swaps I signed up for begin in June! Lots of packages going out and hopefully coming in next month will surely be full of surprises!

Spring Fling Candy Swap
Whenever's Bottle Swap
Blogger SP8
Knitty SP7
One Skein SP
also working on 2 RAOK's, a private Tea swap & 200gr leftover sock yarn swap
Busy busy busy!

Green Gable #1

Completed the 36 size from the pattern but it's actually a 32 and actual measurements were a 32. Used 2 1/2 skeins of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Lime Light using needle size 6 and size 4 for ribbing. I did do 5 rows of ribbing on both the sleeves & hem I thought it looked nicer than the 3 the pattern called for. Is a quick knit... Will be steaming and wrapping for a birthday gift for next week. have more BSCF in Oriental Jade yarn to make another one too just a bit worried about the sizing for me....will have to make lots of increases in the chest....

One Skein Secret Pal

Since I haven't heard a word from my SP I thought maybe I should post the questionaire here. If theres anything else you'd like to know or clarify just ask

1. Which yarn is most like your personality (you can be specific or general
with your answer- brand, type, color, fiber, whatever)? soft & lucious of
course not to bright but wait a mintue what does that say about my
personality? hmmm I do favor sock & laceweights and anything other gauge if
I like it and it's soft & cuddly at the same time I'm kinda a yarn
snob!!(but I'm not by any means a snob!!)
This is a bad and trick question!

2. What is your favorite color yarn to knit/crochet with? not sure I have just
one favorite

3. Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns? yes, love handpaints by BMFA
and The Fold

4. Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns? natural fibers
don't care for anything scratchy

5. Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls of yarn?
prefer skein form (have swift & winder for center pull balls but I don't
like my yarn in them until ready to knit with, it strecthes out the yarn)

6. Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in trying
them? sure

7. How many and what projects have you made in the last year? so many will have
to refer you to my side bar. (I don't alawys post everything either a bit
imbarassing all the projects)
8. Will you be knitting any gifts this year? yes

9. What is your favorite one skein project? the tank top & cabled footies
oh and the pillows & rug too

10. How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it? a couple
plastic totes full

11. Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never use it
or part with it? Oh Yes doesn't everyone that soemthing speical I'll
definately use it before I'd ever part with for sure

12. Do you knit less or differently in the summer? not really

13. Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)? yes both

Interesting Tea Findings Fun & Interesting Contest

I've been reading this book my Sp7 sent me 'The Way of Tea' written by Master Lam has Traditional Medicine and was trained by masters in China, Hong Kong & Taiwan.
I've read about some interesting things I thoguht I'd share a few with you all

The Teas

For Slimming: Oolong tea

For High Blood Pressure: Banana tea & Lotus nut tea

For Redusing Internal heat: Yellow Chrysanthemum tea

Tonic Teas: Peanut and Ginger tea, Lychee and Plum tea, Dragon Eye tea, Dry-fried rice tea, Eight Treasure tea

To Streanghthen the Immune System: Shrimp tea

To Restore the Blood: Chinese red date tea

To Replenish Blood Chi: Sesame and mushroom tea

For the Common Cold: Ginger and spring onion tea

For Colds with a Slight Feverish Headache: Sweet Ginger Tea

For Coughs: White Radish tea

For Itchy, Tickly Throat but No Cough: Licorice tea

For Dry Sore Throat: Honey and lemon tea

For Throat Infections or Sore Gums: Sweet tea

For Flu: Lei Ch'a

Summer Teas: Hot chrysanthemum tea, Chilled chrysanthemum tea, tomato tea

For Diarrhea or loose bowels: Mung bean tea

For Bowel pain: Rice Vinegar tea

I will type up some recipes with info each day and post them here Come back to view, try them and/or share your experiences

To make it a little fun & interesting
At the end there maybe a little surprise gift for someone who tries and shares each one with us. Please comment with each one separatly Thank you. If more then one accomplishes this then will put names in a bowl and pick one...Theres a free gift certificate link on my side bar for Adagio Tea in the amount of $5 for anyone who needs or wants one feel free to purchase some teas not all are available through them. You do NOT have to participate to request a gift certificate. Will try to pout a link or so with recipes otherwise for your references.

Mothers Day & FOs

I actually got to sleep a little later then usually, my sweet little girl made my bed for me!! I was very impressed how good of a job she did and at 6 y.o! woohooo! Could this be the start of something I wonder.hmmmm
Then DH took me to the Gourmet Bunch in Hyannis, Cape Cod! I abosultely love it there! Never had a bad meal, been going there for about 10-12 years now. We use to go regular every Sunday before we had the kids. It's not a very big place seats about 70pp. The owner Joe, makes all his customers feel like ole long lost friends. So personable, friendly and will sit and have a nice conversation with you and personal too but yet always maintains totally professionalizion. They keep brown sugar in a sugar bowl on the table not white sugar? Anyway I love the Gourmet Samplers with all the different things to eat on the platter with warm dipping cheese sauce for the zucchini, cauliflower, mushrooms which I dont' eat just the zucchini, a slice of your choice of Quiche, fresh friuts, rolled ham (inside is stuffed with cream cheese & crushed spanish olives spread on ham and rolled up.. hmm so good. I know the recipe of a few things that the owner has shared thoguh the years with me, I used to make them for special occasions parties, etc. Still once once in a while. They also have just about any kind of omelet imaginable from smoked, to veggies even asparagus!.... they keep photos of famous people that have visited on the walls along with all kinds of awards and plaques for his award winning chilis & chowders..Of course got to have that Mimosa!! Portions are perfect, I like almost everything there, never had bad meal. Can you tell it's one of my favorite places to eat. If your ever visiting Cape Cod, MA, definately stop in for breakfast, lunch or brunch. Don't forget the mimosas! heehee He's only open from 7am-2pm open year round 7 days a week in Downtown Hyannis. lots of shopping to walk off all the calories....

Mothers Day he gives out long stem roses but my kids were fighting over it and broke the stem.. The mugs he use to sell not sure if they still do or not. There heavy and great for tea & coffee has the logo on the side. here's a good part of the menu lunch on the other side, not sure if you click on the photo to enlarge if you can read some of it.
Not only that he has the cards they give you that gets signed every visit, every 7th meal is absolutely FREE!

Then onto some FOs later in the day

Finished up a chocolate chenille poncho for Joyce in Ky to sell at her fairs (Adult Med size)
I know I take crappy pictures! Sorry

and a matching hat

STR Socks & Stuff

After finding a few more of these fuzzies















I'm happy to introduce to you STR Rockin Sock Club Cedar Creek Socks!
Not as much pooling on the second sock more striping going on...So I guess they'd be called faternal twins not identical twins

(click on photos to see close up)











Some may remember my incident with my Pony socks needles size 1s. One of the tips broke off all my sts fell off as did the metal piece inside side out while I was knitting my sock.. I was enjoying the needles up to that point. After several months of emailing the company I haven't had a response then after sending an email to a Muench Company divison in NYC. They responded almost immediately at 6:30am! We emailed back and forth for about an hour. They sent me a set of metal needles the same day and forwarded my email to Muench Yarns






Well after Kirsten the CEO of Muench Yarns found out she reassured me that she thought this was an isolated incident and sent me a new set right away!


On the swaps front, some updates and I'm ready!


Candy Swap sign ups ending

Bottle Swap from the whenever swap have my Sp info

One Skein Swap Interweave Press swap(haven't heard from my upline, only downline)

SP8 (blogger) Have my SP info and heard from my upline whos from Germany!! YAHOO!!

SP7 (knitty) haven't recieved info yet patiently awaiting who can it be I wonder~!




So exciting, I've been blog stalking a couple of my SP I've been checking their blogs out for a while now so this is going to be lots of fun and interesting without giving myself away......;o)) My One Skien Sp doesn't have a blog so it' you have one, it's not you sorry! ;o))
Most of the links are at the bottom of my blog. Now have I missed any more summer fun swaps anywhere? lol

Great News! No Frog Pond for this!

YIPPIE!! Great News! NO frog pond for my daughter's cardi.. YEAH!

Very exciting News when Isobel whom I met through the Knitty read my ISO desperate request for some more yarn that I haven't been able to locate on or off line in over a year! She found it in the middle of the UK somewhere.. YEAH! What a sweatie she has no idea! It's means so much to not only myself but my DD as well. She's been patiently awaiting, I didn't want to frog it just yet , it'd break her heart. She's sat with me a many times while I worked on this for her
now this will finally be a reality and NOT on it's way to the frog pond.....
Not only did she send me the yarn I needed but some goodies too! Already ate one YUMMY! Thank you so very much! I was so disappointed that I couldn't find any more yarn I haven't given up toally and you saved the day! Now the next step trying to figure out where exactly I left off...Ekkks!

I sent her some Brown Sheep Lambs Pride in Lotus Pink (which I had to search for as well) popular colors of what???, along with some American candy.. I hope she enjoys her goodies as much as we will! Those Knitty Forums are definatly a great networking system for knitters! Met a few in person very nice people! It's like one family.

WIP & Suprises Too!

It's a work in progress, have lots of hours into this already. It doens't seem like much but it really is most certainly a long way to go too..... This is browns, natural colors, chocolate just neturals basically. I've seen these knit in red/pinks, greens and other colorways.. I'm also collecting blues for myself as well. They are absolutely gorgeous when there done they look a little funky at first. Some are being donated to local churches and other places(which I'm not in charge of but help knit) but this one is my baby, it has chocolate. I can't part with it! lol


I'm working with 15mm needles HUGE! Mostly just using leftover yarns from scarves and other projects mostly had in my stash. Stash Busting.....As you can see from the grab bag of yarns theres every possible imaginable type of weight & fiber from wools, slubs, nice novelties, silks, angora, handspun, sock yarns, laceweight threads, bulky, super bulky, leftovers, everything really. Anything & everything goes... It's so incredibly soft & cuddly and nice to curl up with and knit on at night while watching TV or listening to DH watch it. I only knit one row of each yarn in no particular order.

Then in todays mail I recieved some suprise RAOK gifties.. WOOHOO! Look a skein of Sockotta, lots of really cool beads & a cute little tin of Earl Grey tea along with a very nice note from Wonky on the knitty boards She is fairly new to blog land and I'm sure she like to have lots of visitors.

Thank you very much! What an AWESOME surprise! I LOVE everything!

It's in the Bag!

I did a swap with the ever so sweet & talented Trek SHe makes these cute drawstring bags.. I grew up sewing, my Mom was a Master Seamstress so I didn't have much of a choice but to learn. So now I dont make much sewing wise anyway. A quick pair of Pjs or top quick things, I'd rather focus on knitting & spinning and stuff. I do have 2 machines, 1 older singer & 1 brother. So when I saw them and the neat fabrics she uses. I did a lovely swap with her for one of her bags. She does a very nice job and a silky ribbon for the drawstring, lined with neat seams. She put alot of love in her bags for sure. If you want your very own bag stop by and see what she has left..Shes very lovely and I'm sure you'll work something out.... I have a special project in the bag!
(click on photos to enlarge) link to her blog is in the post title

Whats in the bag........It's a sock project. A special project for a special bag.. I casted on for a fair isle silk socks from the Regina Silk pattern booklet. Everythign fits nicely, the pattern booklets is a litle taller but thats ok...It all fits, 4 skeins of Regina Silk, set of DPNS, small pair of sissors, pattern booklet, tape measure and chibi all in the bag! All ready to go

Thank you Trek! Happy Spinning!

WIP Major Pooling STR and Knots?

One down and one on the needles, some major excessive pooling effects going on with this one for sure... more then the expected usual

part way down there was a knot

and another with fuzzys

and a weak post that was a tad unspun pilling. I just knitted it right in my sock..

I'm going to keep these and not gift them. I don't like knots or pilling in my socks so I'm hoping there hold up. I can't do the spit and rub techinique because it's superwash and I hate knots. Cast on 64sts size US 1 needles, STR new March club kit, Pattern: Cedar Creek
color Rainforest Jasper STR light weight
A little disppointed but looking forward to the new spring color in this months shipment..

Spinning

(click on photo to enlarge)
2 skeins from 4 oz of Merino Top from Susan's Spinning Bunny in Sandstone colorway.. I weighed out the exact same amount 2 oz each and spun from the fold onto 2 different bobbins and navajo plied for a fingering to sport weight yarn approx 220 yards.

Then this very pretty dyed roving which I think maybe mohair. I recieved it from Lulah's Knits recently, I spun up into a fine laceweight. There were 2 colors about an ounce each approx 105 yards each skein.
What to make with the mohair one I'm not sure.. I was thinking a pillow from One Skein but not sure it'll be enough. Any thoughts? The colors are just so pretty, looking for ideas to show them off...

Sockapalooza Socks Arrival

My Soackapoola pal is just the sweetest person from the sound of it following along her blog over the past few months, she never gave up and did it!.. Great job!Kristina definatly surprised me today! Her very first pair of fingeringweight socks for me!! I have to give her lots of encouragement and praise for doing such a wonderful job!! YEAH!!! Congrats! She must be a perfectionist! They are a perfect fit! I couldn't of done a better job myself ;o)) I love the pattern (been on my to do list of socks, the yarn is awesome I love Cherry Tree Hill buy it often myself but the socks always end up getting gifted and the colorway is Green Mountain Madness couldn't of been better choice I love their yarns all of them and there isn't a colorway they carry I don't like (the yarn company is also located in VT as well). I left all the choices up to my SP no hints of anything which leaves it open but also can be difficult as well. I've been in that position before. She also carefully and thoughtfully chosen the extra goodies and kept it local to her town to.. I haven't been to Vermont in about 7 or 8 years I know exactly where she is, passed through there to visit a few times! Lovely place to live! She included a lovely postcard of The historic Bennington Battle Monument which actually stand about 306 feet high with a visitors elevator to the top look out point for tourists. It signifies the batle of Bennington which was faught on August 16th, 1777, when the Green Mountain Boys achieved their military victory! She also wrote a vyer nice note inside a very pretty note card, a maybe leaf pure maybe sugar candy (VT state tree), and last but not least a Benny Bar, Beeny is the chocolate moose, which was created by the local candy makers the Village Chocolate Shoppe. To Celebrate The Bennington Moosefest. (he's 3 ft H, 4 ft 4 in W and 73 1/2 lbs the antlers alone weigh 6 lbs) To close for me to live I'd be there best customer for a daily fix or two.....

Here's a closer view of the socks Pattern: Retro Rib Socks from Interweave Knits. she even sent a few yards of extra yarn in case I need it in the future...So sweet!

I had to try them on for you all but too funny trying to take that perfect picture espeically sitting on a chair with your feet on the table turned sideways.. (I hate feet on tables and chairs!) Good thing the kids didn't see me....lol The toes came out perfectly too!
I will give them a good loving home and wear them proudly for many years to come! Thank You So Much Kristina!{{hugs}}

SP 7 Goodies

It was nice to put a name of who was spoiling me and whos been so very tentative, sweet, kind, most generous & thoughtful SP! Thank you so much Francine! She's been so had surgery and has been laid up for weeks, the poor woman. This last package was so generous and I LOVE everything! I didn't mind at all she always has had such wonderful contact with me. Always checking in and everything. I got a little concerned that she had some comlications and maybe in the hospital. Is doing well now Thank God! My thoughts & prayers are with you and hoping that your on the way to better days!
Check this out..
click on the photos to enlarge

I couldn't believe all the goodies she sent
a cute postcard with a lovely note
Not just one book but 2 books:
The Way of Tea by Master Lam Kam Chuen with Lam Kai Sin and Lam Tin Yu. it's a lovely book and included some healing recipes with tea.. I'll post some soon. Will be time consuming typing them all up
Yarn Harlot the secret knitter by Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee
Toblerone Of Switzerland Chocolate.. YUMMY!
Box of Trader Joes Herbal Echinacea Tea
2 absolute beautiful silky satin bags... The green one is a zippered one and the red/gold one has a very neat closure a frog charm that slides down the two gold paper clip looking things clips and snaps, so cute! I just adore unique things
last but not least 2 skeins of Knit Picks Shadow, in Lost Lake & Grape Jelly
Oh really one more thing a clear tote that everything fits into perfectly.. I like it it's realy neat perfect size and you can see everything in it! It's GREAT!

here's a closer look at what was inside the little red bag....a handful of word & letter beads and the back sides are different..Haven't spelled to much with them yet... I bet they'll make some interesting stitch markers for sure.


Thank you so very much Francine from Chicago, IL! I'm at a lost for words.......{{hugs}}
are you blogless, I can't find it anywhere?

Getting ready for SP 8 now.. These swaps are so much fun.. Hope to see you there

Secret Pal 8 Questionaire

I did this quickly but will update often


1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? mostly natural fibers nothing scratchy I guess I've become a yarn snob over the past few years, but honestly I'm not very picky at all.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? a tackle box organizer

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

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Amazon, Adagio (wishlist is currently down), Knit Picks (just about anything)

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)anything real strong, I have cronic sinusitis so hard to smell lightly fragrant things

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? of course chocolate... dark, Sweet

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? knit, spin, also make soap bath & body stuff

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) country, rock & roll popular music stuff nothing rapish or banging type

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? I know I'm boring nautical & natural colors, but I have been starting to branch out with color! ;o)) Not fussy realy. I enjoy anythign you pick send

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? married with children and a cat

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? yes sometimes but I only like the heavy warm type ponchos, hats not to mcuh I have very thick hair and they don't stay, mitts & gloves are great

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? socks mostly, top down tops, Honestly I like to knit anything really..I really enjoy knitting alot

13. What are you knitting right now? socks, finishing up a poncho (for hire), socks, summer top almost done, sweater, afghan & child fair isle sweater and did I mention more socks, and cardi

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? hardwood, rosewood or ebony DPN & circs

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? yes I love them!

17. How did you learn to knit? grandmother & self taught

18. How old is your oldest UFO? over a year

19. What is your favorite holiday? halloween (candy)

20. Is there anything that you collect? chocolate, sock yarns, fiber, books, tea, unique tea pots, (love to have a clay pottery pot , jixing or something like that) chocolate

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Big Girl Knitting by Amy Singer, a nice lace book, and the first 2 Cat Borduis books, all my mags are expiring soon, looking for ID tags for my circs (addis wear off very easily), always checking out light weight or cotton spindles, glass needles, ewe sockwolle

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? mobeius cast on, domino knitting

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? yes size 8 shoe
8" around the ankle and 9 1/2" foot length eur 38/39... Love my Briks shows off my handmade socks too ;o)

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) 9/12

I WON! I WON!

OMG! I Can't believe I won, I didn't expect it with so many good recipes to choose from....I hope you got a chance to try my new recipe from April's tea of the month If you have let me know what your thought... I love feedback ;o)
Thank you for all your votes and continued support! I must have lots of blogger & knitty friends.. How blessed am I to know that so many are there for me who've I never even met! Knitter & tea drinkers are just the BEST people in the world!
Now I'm at a lost for May's tea it's an oolong... Any suggestions of what I should try to come up with for it? I really need to sit, knit, drink & think for this.
THANK YOU AGAIN!

SockaPaloooza!

Some have asked how I'lll be shipping my package
Well, a long anticipated wait will soon be over for my SockaPalooza Sp! Here's a litle sneak peek..... I did a little creativity thing here for her along with some other goodies. I did wrap the socks with tissue paper first so that'll be a surprise..I also sent along some extra yarn in case her socks ever need mending. I like to include the extra skein whenever I knit sock for gifts. You can see my postcard picture right through the bottle, yes this was intentional the extra skein on the top end, small box of teas, handcrafted soap, candy other teas,etc....It wasn't so easy to place everything the way I wanted. It's truly amazing what one can stuff in a bottle! I wish I could be there to take pictures of her opening this package! heeeheee It'll be fun I'm sure. I hope they fit her and she enjoys them for many years to come! It's been lots of fun! The waiting to ship has been the hardest part... Just hours away! WOOHOOO! Here's a little hint, only going 1/2 way the country. Sorry if your not in MN you won't be seeing this package at your door! I'm looking forward to checking out everyones blogs to see who got which socks and how every one enjoys them! This has been so much fun I'm looking forward to the next round. hmm I wonder if I can sign up for 2 ;o)) I finished my socksfirst (which I was amazed myself!) Then wished I had another person to make socks for the SockaPlaooza! ;o)