I AM MELTING, KNIITTING and MORE

It is so blasted hot in my apartment. The heat has been on full blast most of the last few days and it is quite warm outside. Thus, it is a steam bath in my apartment and I am melting. The caretakers certainly either don't know how to regulate the boiler or don't want to. I have either been wearing shorts and a tank top or a summer halter outfit in the apartment. The windows are open and my fan is on. It sure makes figuring what it is like outside difficult.

Last week was spent at Hilltop on a study. I was quite busy with three visits and day and doing Avon but I got it all done. On Friday after the study was completed off to the bank I went with my check and put part of the money I received on my MTS bill which is now paid up for last month. I also put some more money on my VISA. VOILA no money left!! It seems I am forever robbing Peter to pay Paul. Wednesday morning November 14 I am going back to Hilltop and pick up soap for an arm wash which will run from Monday November 19 - Friday November 23 if I make the study. There will be only two visits a day for this study. Then I can pay most of this month's MTS bill.

BUT on to more interesting things.

This past Sunday I took the first of a two day spinning workshop. The class was held at Mona's (Woseley Wardrobe). It was a lot of fun although I don't think I did a great job. My yarn is quite lumpy. First I spun on an Ashford spinning wheel and then I tried the Lendrom wheel. When the day was over Francine from Rovings who was teaching the class wound the yarn into two small skeins which she then wound together. Look at all that lovely yarn at Mona's who now has Manos del Uruguay in stock.
Here is a close up of Francine winding my small skein of spun yarn.
AND here is my yarn. It looks really interesting. I will keep it as a remembrance of my first attempt at spinning yarn. Now to be able to afford my own spinning wheel BUT I also know I need to save for a new computer system since mine is about eight years old. It is still working well BUT I want to be prepared for when that new one is needed.

I have also been busy knitting. One bag has been completed. I hope my partner will like it. Here is a close up of the flap and the flowers which were all hand sewn on. I hope they don't fall off. I didn't put a snap on the flap since the flowers make the bag flap heavy and hold it down.
I am also working on another bag for a partner in a swap but it isn't ready for a photo yet. I am deciding on whether I should line it, if I should put pockets inside and what type of handles the bag needs.

I have also dyed my yarn for my Hand Dyed Yarn Swap #2 but can't show a photo yet so the yarn is a surprise. I hope she likes it. I am not a professional dyer. I think it is nice BUT it sure doesn't look like all those nice ones I see on Etsy. Maybe their cameras take better photos and they certainly make a skein from the dyed yarn better than I do. It was my third attempt at dyeing. It was fun. I used Kool-Aid. Here are two different views of the second skein I dyed also using Kool-Aid. The yarn was Dura Sport Briggs and Little and there was a bit a glitter to it which could have possibly been b/c of the nylon content in the yarn.
This is a photo of the socks that my partner made with the yarn I dyed for her.
OH and here is a photo of the first yarn I ever dyed rolled into a ball. I dyed it with Kool-Aid too. This is also Dura Sport Briggs and Little yarn. These colors are very dusty and muted (lighter) which you can't tell in the photo but I really like it. I need to make some socks with it. I have knitted a couple of other small items but I can't say or I would give it away. So that will have to wait for a later post.

Avon has these neat rubber kitchen gloves for sale in their Home Expressions flyer. Unfortunately they are only in size large. They are black with rhinestones and ruffles. Here they are along with Solara. The gloves sell for $9.99 and you can also purchase a little black velvet apron with ruffles and rhinestones for $14.99.

I received an email from my Monkey Swap partner. She has misplaced my address so my package has yet to be mailed out. Also, everything is ready to send but the Monkey socks. I couldn't quite understand if she has started the socks and they are just not completed or has yet to start the socks. The swap started in Sept as sign ups were until August 31 and packages were to be received by November 1. My partner told me earlier she was running behind apparently due to some health problems and a new job. I do hope she is feeling much better now and she didn't have a serious health issue. The package minus the Monkey Socks is going to be mailed once she receives my address which I did send her and the Monkey socks will be mailed as soon as she is able.

I haven't received my Knitters Tea Swap 4 either. I was told I should be receiving it very soon last week. BUT with the holiday in both countries and the fact that the Canadian postal system is overly busy and bogged down due to lots of people purchasing from Ebay with the change in the US dollar who knows when it will get here. AH HA since I have written this it will show up tomorrow morning. Isn't that the way it is? I am sure it has to do with Murphy's Law. HEE HEE

I myself have a few swaps that are ready to be mailed if I can sit down, pack and label them. What is waiting to be packed is the Harvest Sock Swap, Knitters Coffee Swap 3, my third and final package for addictedtoknitdishcloth group three month swap partner, and my knitnplay package. I hope to get them packaged and sent out tomorrow or Thursday the latest. I still have other packages that are not quite ready to be mailed but will be soon.

I was very disappointed to read that there will not be a spring felted bag exchange due to the failure of so many swappers to fulfill their obligation to the swap and mail out their partner a package. It seems that the ITE4 also had a lot of people not fulfilling their swap agreements. Why join if you are not going to play fair? I find it fun not just receiving pressies and gifts in the mail but knitting and shopping for someone else.

And to close for today here is my Solara resting on the arm of the chair.