Packages in the mail!!!!

Well, I'm happy to say, my Tea Swap 3 package AND my No Sheep for You Secret Pal package has been shipped. Phew!!! This has been a roller coaster of a week for me and I'm surprised I got them packed, wrapped and shipped!! Good News!! I AM moving to a new house soon!!! I've been like a gerbil on a wheel lately but this has made me surprisingly efficient. I think that is because I carry a notebook around and have been writing everything down! It's great, aside from the fact I have NOT been knitting at all!! Even at night. I am just so tired!!!

I also want to say thanks to everyone for the response to my Argosy knitalong!! If you haven't seen it, it's here and EVERYONE is welcome to join!!! I need to make some Argosy dishcloths for my new kitchen!!!!

So Secret Pal......with all your blog surfing lately, have you figured out who I am????? :)

Summer Knitting Goals

Well, there is one thing that is good about a blog, and that it makes you set goals, and for some strange reason, I think if I blog about them, I will actually finish them. So there is a contest, sponsored by Skeins Her Way and I read about it on B's Blog!!! Now let me say this, I'm going to keep it realistic people. Ok, semi realistic. I know I am not going to find the time to knit an entire aran sweater, matching tam and scarf. Maybe the scarf, but seriously. And I really do NOT need another sweater. I have a drawer FULL. So with that, I give you My Summer Knitting.

1. The Chevron Scarf. (Yes, my STR finally arrived and now that I have colors to work with that I like, I'm there!!)]

2. Thurmmed Mittens. (I got the kit form B and dang it (sorry I just went Southern on y'all) I will make them!!!)

3. Fetching Gloves for ME!!! (Somehow I make them, and I can't keep them. So I would like my OWN pair!!)

4. Gillie's Dog Sweater. (I have started one, so either I must finish it or make somethign for the poor little thing to wear!!)

5. TWO Argosy scarves (Those will be Christmas presents)

6. Finish the lace scarf I have been designing.

7. The Friday Scarf

So that's it. Small, and realistic. Did I mention that I will be looking for a new house and possibly moving too?? So if I do half, it will be a miracle!!!!

PS. If you do decide to enter, Be sure you mention MY blog in your email to Ali!!!! Thanks!!!

Show and Tell Sunday!

Here is my new scarf I am working on, until my STR arrive.

And a close up of the colorway, which is Lemongrass. I really, really like it!

This is my "newest" project bag! I confess, I LOVE totes and bags and knitting just gives me an excuse to buy more. This is from Etsy! Inside there is a section for dpns, a pocket for patterns and plenty of room. There is even a grommet on the end, for your yarn to poke through.
What a great idea!

And last, I ordered MORE yarn from Cider Moon!!! Not only is the yarn beautifully done, they are nice people too!!! The darker more "purpley" color skein is a ONE AND ONLY!!! I can definitely see that in an Argosy scarf, could you???

STR on the Way!!

My STR from Blue Moon Fiber Arts got shipped today!!! Woo Hoo!!! I will be able to start my Chevron scarf again!!! Maybe I will actually get it finished BEFORE I need it! That's a novel idea!! :)

That's all.....I just thought I would say t!! Honestly, it made my day!!!!

More tomorrow, and pictures!!!

Warning, Long Post Ahead......

OK, I'm back.....still playing catch up with it all (mail, email, bills, laundry, stuff) but I am here. Did we have fun, you bet! I will post some pictures on my "other" blog soon. I just finished them up and now just need to make a little album. Did I knit, yes!!! I started this scarf, with Lemongrass medium weight "STR" and I LOVE it (picture to come soon!) It was the perfect travel project!!! I even was knitting before Mark's big event. I could fit it in my evening bag!! OK, so it's alarger than normal evening bag, but I could still carry it around. I even took a picture of Mark all in his cap and gown holding the knitting, ala The Yarn Harlot and her travelling sock. See??? He was a bit embarrassed to hold the knitting, but he did it anyway!! I married a good sport!

And I am in two swaps this Summer and I am really enjoying them. It's going to be a busy knitting season!! One is the "No Sheep For You" Non Wool Swap. Shhh...this one is a secret swap. I have been getting to know my "swapee", and it is fun!!! Honestly, I LOVE wool, so I am hoping this will help "broaden my horizons" as they say to new fiber. Yes, I do knit with cotton and I love it, but I am looking forward to trying something new and funky!

The second swap is the Knitter's Tea Swap, right here on blogger! I was in this last year and really enjoyed it. The one difference about it this time is we KNOW our pal and trade with each other!! My partner is Amy (HI AMY!!!) And oh I have great plans for this package of gifts!!! I already ordered yarn that I "hope" she will love. I just need for it to arrive soon!!! I plan on shopping this week for other goodies.

Next, the Argosy KAL is now underway. Please sign up!!! This is my first time hosting a KAL and would love for it to be successful!!! Go check it out!!!

I guess that's all the knitting news I can think of for now. It's a GORGEOUS day so I think will head outside and take some knitting pictures!! I have some new goodies for show and tell and of course, the scarf. (It's no where near done, but it's a start)

Quick Update!

Thanks for all your comments!!! I am definitely going to rip that out, and use the yarn for socks!!! Hopefully by the time I return from my trip to Washington, I will have a new box of "Socks That Rock"!! I did get a wonderful box of yarn from Cider Moon this week, although the weather has not been conducive to great photography so I will save that for later too!!!

The Argosy KAL is all set up and it will go "LIVE" when I come back. This will be fun. It is the first KAL I have ever hosted, so hopefully there will be more than just the pattern designer Vyvyan and myself participating!! Get out that DK weight yarn and your needles and give it a go!!! It will be fun, I promise!

OK, enough procrastinating on the computer, time to get my act together here. Hmmmm, four days away, how many projects should I pack??? :) LOL!!!! (I only have two!!!)

The Chevron

Here it is!! You be the judge! (No seriously, leave a comment and let me know what you think!)
Now MY feeling on this is, while it is NOT ugly, it just doesn't scream "Wow, is that AWESOME". It kind of reminds me of the sea, which I love. I am definitely undecided. I think I will hold off on knitting any more, until my NEW color combos arrive!!!

The yarn: STR in Lunasea and Downpour. I LOVE Downpour and it is probably my favorite colorway!

Close up of the colors combined!

May I be excused???

OK, people. What is it about the Chevron Scarf from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" that makes my brain hurt. I ordered the Socks that Rock from the good people at Blue Moon Fiber Arts. Great People, Great Yarn. I wound it in a ball, and commenced knitting. The pattern, love it. Small needles, love it. The yarn combo I chose, not so much. It's pretty but not "Oh My GOD, Where did you get that scarf" pretty!!!! I'll get a picture of it today.

So, back to the Blue Moon website and the Flickr group to search for inspiration. I sat so long, I felt like this:
Why is it so impossible for me to come up with the "perfect" color combo for this project. After all, it is only a scarf, not a fair isle sweater which I will have for the next 50 years and hopefully hand it down to some well meaning recipient who will continue to wear it for another 50. It is a SCARF!!!! Sigh...... It is my stubbornness to come up with a unique (ie. MINE) color combo.

So, I ordered MORE yarn. And (hanging head in shame), I "borrowed" some color combos. If I used your combo, I am sorry. I am desperate here. Chances are very slim that we will be in the same place at the same time. And if we are, I will give you FULL credit for the fabulous colors!!!

And for those of you who I interested, I am starting an Argosy KAL soon. Next week to be specific, after I return from my trip!! Anyone in??? More on that later........

The Best Compliment

Three NEW posts in one week?? Someone call the "Guinness Book of Records"!!! Well, that means I have spent way too much time focusing on knitting and not blogging on the "other" blog about personal stuffs and jewelry!!! Note to self: Get your jewelry rear in gear, bills to pay!!!

Anyway, I got the best compliment yesterday! I made a friend of mine some "ballband" dishcloths from the Mason Dixon book. Well, she remarked yesterday that since I gave them to her, she cannot use anything else and she just LOVES them!!!! That is the BEST compliment one can give a knitter!!!! Thanks Alice! Sometimes I wonder if the items I spend slaving over (granted I LIKE doing it but still...) ever get used. I just might have to make her some dish towels now!!!! :)

The Argosy is growing rapidly and I am plotting MORE for gifts. Perfect summer knitting!! It is going to be OVER 80 degrees today!!! (What is up with that???) The pollen is very heavy, and I have a migraine so it might be a winding yarn kinda day instead!!!

Meet my new love......

This is my "Argosy" scarf from Knitty!! I just love this pattern and why I have not done it sooner, heaven knows!!! And the specs in case you need to know:

Yarn: Rowan Calmer in Chiffon (a discontinued color) (I will probably use two skeins)
Needles: Clover Bamboo Size 6

Look at this!!! This is the hand painted yarn from Cider Moon!!! My very first order from them and it will NOT be my last!! This yarn is GORGEOUS!!!! It's buttery soft and the colors are to die for. They even included samples of the other yarns they offer. Enough to knit a few rows with to see how it is. What a nice touch!!!

And here are the colors close up. From left to right, are Taos, Istanbul and Sweet Potato Pie!

Works in Progress Part 1

The current works in progress, the pictures!!

Gillie's Denim Dog Sweater from "Doggy Knits". This is super cute with a little seed stitch border and collar. I am really enjoying knitting with Rowan Denim too!!

The Lace scarf Pattern I am designing. This is just a small swatch. The full pattern will be available HERE on the blog once I finish!! Oh yah, that's Sea Silk in Paris!!!

Tea Cozy from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" in pumpkin colored Mission Falls 1824 Wool. My favorite washable wool of all time! It matches my kitchen PERFECTLY!!! I just have to sew this little bugger together, which is why it is NOT complete yet. I hate sewing!!! :)

More pictures coming soon of Argosey!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this addicting pattern!!! Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas this year??? (wink)

Ladies and Gentlemen......

The perfect knitting bag. Oh yah, I have been eyeing the Lexie Barnes and Namaste bags now for quite sometime. It was love at first site. Unfortunately, I have a TON of bags and would rather have MORE yarn, than a new bag. But I was checking out the new Vera Bradley collection that is a direct link to THE bag, in case you want one too!!) and found this:This is the outside, The large pocket in the bag can fit a paperback and wallet, because hey sometimes you feel like reading!!! And the straps are great over your shoulder.
Not too big, or too small!!!

This is the inside. I even got pictures of the works in progress for another post. (Hmmm maybe tomorrow) What you cant see is the three little pockets along the side. They are big enough for a skein of Rowan Denim to fit in. And on the other side, there is a large zippered pocket. I keep my pattern copies and extra needles) in there!

This is Lucy guarding my knitting. I don't think she could understand why I was taking a picture without her in it. She is a big ham!

More later, complete with Works in Progress Pictures!!!!

Stash from Hell

You know your stash as grown to GIGANTIC proportions when your husband remarks about the two large boxes in the bedroom of yarn and says they look like they should be on a loading dock waiting to go on a freighter!!!! Naturally it didn't help matters when I casually remarked, "Oh that's just the wool". Meaning to him, the house is overrun with yarn. Um, yes, but I have hidden it so well, it doesn't look it. I will get a picture of "just the wool" as soon as I dust the bedroom and vacuum. I also collect pug hair...ha ha!!!

So, I have been trying to organize "the stash". It is overwhelming. So, in Fly Lady fashion, I am doing it bit by bit, 15 minutes at a time. I got all the cotton in one box, dishcloth cotton in another. Novelty yarns all together. So, why on earth do I buy novelty yarn, blech, but I have some, should the need for something totally frilly and useless arise.

I also got a copy of the latest Yarn Harlot book!!! I LOVE it!!! There is a section about stashes in there as well. I also ordered my VERY OWN copy of Barbara Walker's Treasury (Volume 1) because I checked it out of the library so often, I think they were starting to wonder about me. I consider that $30 well spent!!!

Back later with some stash pictures!!!!