THE BIG BAG KAL and QUESTIONNAIRE

The Big Bag KAL and Swap Questionnaire

So I did join this KAL and swap and I did put the questionnaire on the swap blog under comments as required BUt I thought it would be good to put it on my blog also.

Do you knit, crochet, or do both? For how long?
I do both BUT mainly KNIT. My crocheting is very limited to non shaped items, mainly granny square. I have been knitting for years and years and years and years.

What other crafts do you do, if any?
I like to sew especially children’s clothes, bags and to quilt. I have been known to do needlepoint and embroidery but not for a long time and have tried cross stitch but haven’t finished anything yet.

What are your favorite colors? Colors you loathe?
I love love PINK PINK PINK. Other favorites include reds, blues, purples some greens, black and white. Even grey is fine. I do not care for orange, yellows, browns and certain greens like olive and lime. Mainly I am not fond of autumn or fall colors. BUT those colors can be nice occasionally in combinations with other colors such as pink and brown. It is just they are not my favorite and I have nothing to wear them with.

Favorite yarn brands? Fiber types? Yarn you can't stand?
I really don’t like PENTEX. There is use for all other yarns and yes I guess PHENTEX has it use for slippers that will never wear out and maybe scrubbies. I love sock wool, cashmere, alpaca, lace weight yarns, wools and wools that felts.

What is your favorite type of item to knit/crochet?
My most favorite is socks but lace shawls is coming in close behind. I do have to admit I also love to knit little toys and novelties, bags and totes (felted and non felted) which are tied with lace shawls. You can tell by looking at my raverly projects and not everything has made it to the page.

What kind of needles do you like? (i.e. circular, straight, metal, bamboo, etc.)
Any knitting tools you lack but crave?
I am trying to collect the Knit Picks Harmony DPNs. I have one pair of 2.25mm so far. I love bamboo DPNs and also have some of the metal Knit Picks DPNs which I also like for certain projects. I would like to have the Knit Picks lace needles also and all the Harmony DPNs. I love my Denise needles and use them instead of long needles. I have the blue set as the pink set wasn’t available when I purchased mine. I would love to have a ball winder and swiff but I don’t expect anyone to send that. Oh and I would love more of those little sock key chains. I haven’t figured out how to get them alone without the pattern which I now have. I have lots of small bits of sock yarn I could use also. I think they would make lovely Christmas gifts.

Patterns you've been dying to get but haven't yet?
Noni bag patterns, Plentiful Tote Pattern from Cloverhill Yarn Shop in Baltimore MD, more Cookie A sock patterns and and and….

Do you drink coffee, tea, cocoa? Flavors you love/hate?
YUP I drink coffee and tea, both hot and iced, flavored and regular and all colors of tea including chai. I only don’t like Irish Cream flavor coffee for some reason and abhor anything with black licorice, fennel or anise flavor. I like the premium coffees in bold roasts and also Dunkin Donuts coffee.

Favorite sweets & snacks?
I love JELLY BELLIES and cookies, ice-cream, chocolate, dark chocolate and Hershey’s chocolate with nuts. I have a bad sweet tooth.

Any pets, kids, spouses? Spouses that act like pets or kids? (j/k)
I have one feline furtoddler Solara who was two this past March.

Favorite things to knit/crochet for the above, if applicable?
There is a pattern of a hoodie I want to knit for Solara called Puppy Love Sweater in the Knit with Beads Beautiful Gifts book by Scarlet Taylor. I have the book so now I just need the yarn and beads for it. I also plan to knit her some socks.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Favorite authors or genres?
I read mysteries and am collecting Anne Hamilton of which I have two and read her first, the Sue Grafton alphabet series of which I have two but want to get them all before I start reading them. I read knitting mysteries. I have read all and have all but the latest Patricia Murphy Joe Grey PI cat mystery series. This latest book is due for release in Feb. I also read other books just stories type books such as Annie’s Fabulous Funeral which was excellent. I am looking forward to getting It Itches a Franklin book.

Do you collect anything? (besides yarn! LOL!)
Books, knitting accessories, patterns, fabrics, fat quarters, kitchen, cooking and baking items, magazines (cookbooks, knitting, recipe, sewing, quilting), cats, angels and fairies but now that I moved and no longer have a plate rail I don’t’ know where I will put those things.

What, if any, are your non-craft related hobbies?
Cooking, baking, gardening, playing on the computer, and I do some crossword puzzles but NOT sukodo as I have yet to figure out how to complete one.

Scents you adore? Scents that make you gag?
Karma from Lush is my new favorite, sandalwood oil from the body shop.

What is your idea of a relaxing time?
Knitting it soothes the soul when I am stressed

Oh yeah, are you on Ravelry and if so, care to share your Ravelry ID?
pennala

I RECEIVED A PACKAGE and ....

This week my whoduknit tag sale swap arrived. It has been a very busy week for me with the pouring rain, the rain, my Avon, an ultrasound of my thyroid and my girlfriend's dad's funeral that I am now just getting around to posting about this. I tried to post it on the whoduknit blog but for a couple of days I wasn't able to access it??????? This is the second year we have done this swap. In this swap we are only allowed to spend $10 not including postage or what we we have in our own possessions we wish to share. We have to check out garage sales, tag sales, second hand shops and do some destashing. Where I live I find the best time for garage sales is usually in the spring but we do have some great second hand stores to shop.

So here goes Knitting Goodness

My partner outdid herself. Look at all the goodies I got. Here is a lovely tote bag.

AND some patterns. I wanted the pattern for the shawl. It was a free insert in the British Simply Knitting magazine but at the time I couldn't afford to buy it. AND now I have the pattern WOO HOO!!!!
Of course, there were yarns.
a clear plastic backpack, a basket can you see the prices?),
a dishcloth that says USA and has a map of the US, a sun visor, a bird feeder, a cup, a postcard,
a "P" note pad, sheep socks, candy, pencils, and and and
and hints for cleaning, controlling, growing, information on recycling plastic bags,
a set of crochet hooks, a crochet hook holder, two yarn bras, sewing needles, a booklet with 250 Expert Tips for Knitters,
information on the 10 most wanted Bugs in Your Garden, a garden calendar, a "P" notepad with a pen and some Mary Engelbriet stickers.
What a haul!!!! Danielle you sure went above and beyond. All I can say is WOW!!! AND Thank-you.

How is my new townhouse doing you ask since it has been a while since I wrote about it. LOL

I have a vacuum cleaner now. It was a gift from my girlfriend Genie. She is my friend whose dad passed away and the funeral was this past Thursday. I am letting her sister park in my parking space while she is here so in return Genie said I won't need to pay her for the vacuum. It is a Shark. It is the smaller one and boy does it have suction power. I even heard from several people that this one is better than the more expenseive Shark vacuum cleaner. I thought it was going to suck the carpet off the princess's condo and toy. It is a bit noisy (but for the price even if I was paying for it which I originally was ) I can live with it. It is very light weight and great picking up cat hair. It sells for $80 but was on a 50% off sale when I got it or should I type when my girlfriend picked it up for me. Here is what it looks like. I also now have a new book shelf. What a fiasco that was. Sauder shelves, the ones made of saw dust (LOL) were on sale for $34.99. A good price for the tall book shelves so I got two. I got them home and last Thursday (a week ago already, where does the time go?) before my Avon came I made a go at it putting them together. I did fine in the beginning. I even thought I had them put together properly. The shelves were sturdy and seemed in solid. I stood it up. It seemed a bit wobbley but I didn't think anything of it. I walked away for a minute and when I came back it just fell nearly killing both my furchild and me. It fell with a loud thud and we just got out of the way in time and there it was lying on the floor in pieces. Those make believe wood shelves are heavvvvy. So now what do I do? I had to return them and get something else. Of course, not having a car makes all this very difficult. Once I had a ride I had no problem returning both of them, the one that fell and broke and the one still in the box. I also went and purchased a really nice wood shelf made from pine (lacquered) at JYSK. Even on sale it was more money but not much. My girlfriend put it together for me. It took her three hours. It is so pretty.
The top half of the shelf.
The bottom half of the shelf.
The books on it are from the empty metal shelf in the top photo. I am going to put my magazines on that one. The shelf that was where this one is now I am putting in the basement to put my plastic containers on which I hope I will eventually put in my kitchen cupboards but that won't be until I can get a hutch and buffet for the dining room.

While I was at JYSK I found a really nice hutch and buffet. Even on sale I can't afford it now but if I save and it goes on sale I will purchase it. It is oak and not lacquered. I only would have liked more glass on the cupboard. They even have a table and chairs to match the hutch and buffet. ONE DAY. My washing machine comes first and after that I will need to get new cordless phones. YES I am learning patience.

Who else is watching the Olympics? Michael Phelps has now won 8 gold metals surpassing Mark Spitz. I don't like all the sports but I do like a lot of them. It is great knitting watching them.

Oh and here is the photo of the Diane's bag felted. I will have to look for D rings to attach the handles with and decide on what type of closure to use. I was thinking of just using a large snap. There are more flowers and leaves than needed so I can choose the ones that look best on the bag.

While Vickie was putting my self together she put some of her groceries in my fridge emptying a large bag. Solara decided she needed to check it out for herself so here she is in Vickie's bag looking pretty.

SECRET PAL 12 QUESTION OF THE WEEK #10

At first I thought this weeks question was going to be a tough one to answer but after giving it thought I realise it isn't that though at all.

What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style?

I would have to say the events I would be in include swimming, diving, jumping, fencing, 100 meter race, marathon running and the relay races. I jump or dive right into a project most times without swatching. If you can't find me look in the frog pond as I can often be found there swimming. AND I just love those pointy sticks I knit with especially those DPNs which would qualify me as a fencer. Lately, I have been entering into marathons with projects that are more time consuming such as lace shawls but I think the small food items and dishcloths I knit would qualify me for the 100 meter race. The different round robins I take part in would be equivalent to the relay races.

MY NEW MODEL

I have a new model for my knitting. She is quite adorable and sometimes she doesn't even mind modeling for me. Here she is wearing my most recently finished project, my Be Still My Heart Rock Star Scarf which I have completed for the ravelrymypics for the Scarf Stroke event. Again the yarn is Tilli Thomas Rock Star in color Hope which I received in my second package from my SP.




You have to admit she sure is pretty and makes a great model!!!

So I have finished my first of two projects I am doing for the ravelrymypics. I am presently working on project #2 for the Sock Put event. I am knitting with the Flat Feet yarn I also received from my SP in my first package. I would say I am about 30% finished.
You can see the yarn is quite curled while you are knitting it. I certainly hope it evens out when I wash it after the socks are completed. I wish the colors in the photo could be more accurate. I am knitting the socks in a 3/2 rib with a 2/2 rib cuff.

I am almost finished with the bag I am knitting and felting for a friend of a friend. Well I know her also. It is all knit and felted now. It just needs to have the flowers sewn on, the pocket sewn in and the handles attached. Again here is a in progress knitting photo and a before felting photo.


I haven't taken the after felting photo yet but will soon and show it to you. Boy did it felt and shrink. I used a friend's washing machine as I don't have one yet and my oh my!!! I will finish this after I complete the socks for the ravelrymypics. I also have my whoduknit project for the August read to knit. I won't say what it is as I am not sure I will be able to do this project BUT suffice to say it has to do with Greg Iles book called Dead Sleep. It was a really great read by the way.

I have gone and joined the Mystery Stole KAL #4 and will be using this yarn to knit the project. It is from my stash!!! It was sent to me in a swap. It is luscious. It is rubi + lana. It is shade #222, dye lot #2228 and from information I was able to find on ravelry it has 600 yds in each skein. I am sorry the photo color doesn't do it justice. The color is actually a deep wine red/burgundy. I won't be doing a swatch until my socks are completed. I also need to purchase beads BUT I will check my bead stash first to see if I have a good color.
YUP I have my work cut out for me in Sept also. In addition to working on the shawl KAL, I have a birthday gift to knit for a girl in in one of my groups and then there will also be the Sept whoduknit project. We will be reading a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book but that project will for Oct. In September the project due is for Plains Crazy which I read in August. I didn't read them when I was a "youngum". I did read all the Cherry Ames Nurse books, Little Prairie books and other books including a lot of adult books. Oh yes the next monkey sock swap will also be beginning (well in the fall and I would think fall means Sept). Find that swap here http://monkey-sock-swap.blogspot.com/. I am also thinking of joining the Big Bag KAL and Swap where you knit a big bag and send it off with goodies. You can find it here http://bigbagkalswap.blogspot.com/. AND before you know it, it will time to knit for the holidays.

BUT it is summer and summer means garden. Look what I got from my garden. I have had three bunches already. They taste so good.
AND look at the size of my tomato plant. It is now taller than me. I took the photo inside so you could see it in relationship to the window to truly get an idea of it's height.
This was how big it was when I purchased it.
I have to admit the few cherry tomatoes I have tasted were really very good.

Speaking of tasting it seems the little missus would rather drink her water from the plant container than her own "glass mug" on the coffee table. As you can see I haven't planted that lantern plant yet.
I have been picking the the daisies in my garden and putting in vases on the entertainment unit and they look so nice.

BE STILL MY HEART

BE STILL MY HEART!! OH MY G-D!! I received my SP package #2 and almost had a heart attack when I opened the package and saw the yarn I received. Look at what I got.
Here is a close up.
AND here is an even closer up photo.
YUP you read that correctly. It is Tilli Thomas yarn. It is called Rock Star and it is spun silk with pink glass beads in, of course, PINK. It is gorgeous beyond words. It comes with a scarf pattern called Rock Star Scarf and I will make it also for the ravelrymypics. It is going to be called the Be Still My Heart Rock Star Scarf. Something I never expected to receive in a million years. I had to sit down and take a big deep breath after I saw it. I was in tears. I wasn't sure if I had died and gone to heaven. What can I say except I am one lucky swapee. Dear Solara wasn't exactly sure what was happening.

The yarn is already caked and ready to start knitting as soon as the Olympics begin. I may be tackling a bit much to complete in the time of the Olympics and I have another project I need to complete for the end of the month BUT I am going to try.

I am just getting way ahead of myself. That isn't all my SP sent me. Would you believe, in addition, to the Tilli Thomas yarn there were other goodies in my package?

I also received this cute little velvet pouch.

AND inside the pouch I found these fabulous stitch markers. This first one s a little felted ball of yarn.
Here is a star and a butterfly.
AND a sheep stitch marker.
Here are two more stitch markers.
BUT that isn't all that was in my package. I received some tea flowers that blossom when hot water is added.
Here is a close up of tea nuts. I have never had these before and they certainly do look interesting. I can't wait to try them and I wonder what flavor they are.
Here are some more goodies and a lovely card. How does anyone use these tissues with pretty pictures on them? I know I have sent some and wonder if they will be used.
Of course, dear Solara wasn't forgotten. She knows they are hers but the first thing she did was get into the empty box and sit in it and look pretty. I wish I had my camera close at the time but, alas, I didn't.
Well I have received two packages now and I have sent two packages.

There is still one to go yet in Secret Pal #12.

HMMM seems I am behind on answering Secret Pal 12 weekly questions so I will start with Secret Pal Question of the Week #8

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

I love BBQs. I love potato salad. I love salad. AND most of all I love WATERMELON. Watermelon is my most "favoritest" fruit especially when it is sweet sweet sweet and wet. Actually, I don't mind BBQ anytime of the year and the same goes for potato salad, salad and WATERMELON. Unfortunately watermelon is not available except for the summer. I have to admit I love cherries too. It seems I love summer fruits the best.

The second part of the question is:

For added flavor (Get it?..."flavor"...I crack myself up!), post a photo or recipe link.

I will post that in another blog entry so I can get on with posting the next weekly question and be one up on myself.

Secret Pal Weekly Question #9

In many communities, "the fair" is a great place to visit and spend time with your family. It's also where many have entered one product or another (jams, cakes, even knitting)... Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair? Would you ever consider it?

I have entered rose hip jelly, my fudge cake and shortbread cookies in a fair. I won in all the categories and would have won a higher prize for the cookies if I had followed the instructions and put in one cookie but I wanted to show how I displayed it. I also entered some of my garden goodies and won in those categories also. As for knitting I don't feel I knit well enough to enter into those especially after what I have seen entered. I want to and maybe one day I will. I have a project I am considering entering which is my 10.000 bead shawl when I finally complete it. As of now there is about one or two inches completed and I think I may have to restart it when I go back to it.

I will try to get another post in this evening when I come back from knitting with my friends.

In this photo I am outside and Solara is inside looking at me through the screened window.