AGAIN I AM A HAPPY SWAPPER

****** OH DEAR*****

This post has been in my draft waiting to be completed for a very very long time and I do apologise. I am now working on a new post which should go up shortly.

In the meantime I have done a Hilltop study using the money to pay my VISA bill. Once that was done I was able to order some most luscious yarn which I will tell you about in the next post. AND again am not feeling great. I have another cold this time with a cough, sore throat and no voice. I thought I had a cold before Halloween and just before my FLU shot. What the heck is going on? It is Tuesday and a knit night at Mona's but I won't go as I don't want to pass this on and I feel like, you know what.

Last week (well check the date of this post to see when last week was) I received my Ravelry Color Swap package all the way from England. What a wonderful package it was. Did I hear you ask what the color was? MY MY What color do you think? PINK, of course. Look at all the goodies I got.

This what I saw when I took the lid of the box off.

AND then I took all the gifties out of the box.
AND then I opened all those pink packages to reveal this.
AND here are some close ups.

This first yarn is to "dye" for. My partner Michele first dyed some white tencell a rose pink using dyes by Omega. She then carded it with some angora from her friend's bunnies and finally added a strand of pink lurex when she spun it. You really can't see how nice it is or the sparkle in the yarn. As you can see she even sent me the yarn knit into a tiny swatch.
More pink goodness included: this pink roving,
pink mohair and there was other pink mohair in my box,

pink rayon yarn that Michele also dyed for me using Omega dyes,

a skein of Paton's Cotton Pearl in what other color than PINK,

AND this most lovely PINK and grey Colinette ribbon yarn.

I also received this cute little felted pin.
There was also other little pieces of yarns, pink buttons, a couple of pink beads, a beautiful pink heart, some very delicious tea (Michele's favorite), pink tacks, a piece of sheer pink ribbon and some pink material from her wedding dress which I will be able to use as a lining for a bag. There was even a package for Solara and the part of the container of her treat was also PINK.

Last but not least was a lovely book Knitting New Mittens and Gloves I had been eyeing for quite a while but didn't put it on my wish list.

I do want to leave you with a photo of Solara. Here she is checking out the big bag I knit two times as the felting came out awful the first time and I do know why. There is another photo of Solara checking out the bag post felting. She approved the bag as she promptly went to sleep inside it.

AMAZING AUTUMN COFFEE SWAP WEEK #4 Topic

Week 4 topic is to check out the blogs of some of the other participants, and find someone you have something in common with - post a little on your blog about the common interests or loves you both share and tell us about them! Don't forget to leave a comment on their blog saying hello!

AND I did just that. I found some blogs are not up to date. I should talk or type. I did leave a couple of messages.

What did I find out?

I found out that cyclingknitter Angie likes to not only knit but to sew and so do I.

Camilla of Camillaknits likes to quilt in addition to sewing as does Susan C of Blackberry Creek Home Arts. AND Camilla likes POLKA DOTS and I do too. I love them. I guess I just love circles. Oh and there is the most darling quilted basket on Susan's blog I think I must make. There is a link on her blog for instructions at Pink Penguin Blog which I will have to check out to find out how this basket was made so I can make one too.

Marie E has music on her blog. I like some of her music. I will have to learn how to put music on my blog also.

Jill of Jill's Journey also is knitting the TLL Socktoberfest Mystery Sock KAL. I am working on Clue #4 which is the foot. I have finished Clues #1, #2 & #3 of both feet.

Krystle whose blog is The Princess got to go on the Hershey's Chocolate Factory tour. How I would love to go there. As much as I love expensive chocolate I just love Hershey's and Hershey's with nuts. YUMMMY. American Hershey tastes so much better than the Canadian version. Maybe that is b/c I am originally from the states. I certainly was pleasantly pleased to discover that Chocolate is actually originally a fruit. Now imagine eating your five serving of fruit each day.

A hello to fellow local knitter Rebecca of Toddler S'Pairs and if you are at knitting this Tuesday at Mona's I won't get to see you as I will knitting at McNally's.

Lastly reading Lea's blog Knitting Sprouts, it was fun to read how she has all her grass mowed and even planted more veggies. Looking out my window I see only white, snow that is. Of course, Lea lives in Canberra Australia.

AND I will close this brief blog with a photo of my princess.

AMAZING AUTUMN COFFEE SWAP WEEK #2 Topic

Weekly Topic #3!
What is it that you love about your first cup of the day? Are you a daily drinker? How do you take yours? Tell us how you love to enjoy your first cup!

Oh I have my first cup of coffee of the day when I get up. It isn't the caffeine it is just sitting and having the coffee with my biscotti usually at my computer or with the TV on. I use honey and Splenda in my coffee along with whitener. I have been known to put flavored coffee whitener also but that would be a special treat, something I don't buy too often.

When I go to my knitting evening at Starbucks I will usually have a coffee there especially during the colder months.

Occasionally, I will have a second cup during the day.

SECRET PAL 13 QUESTIONNAIRE

Here are my answers to the SP13 questionnaire.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I absolutely abhor Phentex. I never made those Phentex slippers. I am becoming a yarn snob. I love the yarns I can’t get locally such as the the indie dyed yarns, STR, Jitterbug and would love to increase my lace weight yarn collection. I also enjoy knitting with Knit Picks yarn and yarns from Elann.com. I love sock yarns, wools that can be felted, wools that can’t be felted along with angora, cashmere, mohair, alpacas, cottons, even fun fur has its place as do some acrylics for baby items of which I have more than enough of. BUT I truly love sock yarns and lace weight yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I keep my round needles in a bag since I really use them anymore. I mainly use my Denise needles even when knitting projects that call for a straight needle. At present the ones (tips and cords) not in use are in a plastic clear cosmetic case since the actual Denise container BROKE. The long straights I no longer use are in a big basket with matching sizes rubber banded together and I do use them occasionally but very occasionally if it is a size I don't have in my Denise. The shorter straights are in a basket nearer at hand as they seem to get more use. One day I hope to get another pair of Denise and who knows maybe even the PINK ones.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting ever since I can remember (school age) and I can’t believe how many years that is now but I still consider myself an advanced beginner - intermediate as there is still so much for me yet to learn.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have a wish list on ravelry.

5. What's your favorite scent?
My newest favorite scent is from LUSH called Karma. I find it very earthy. My all time favorite after bath splash is Jean Nate which I now know is by Revlon. I haven't been able to find it here anymore so I only get it when someone sends it to me of if I can get someone going to the states to pick it up for me. Other favorites include sandalwood oil (from the Body Shop), rose, ocean, fresh scents, some musks, and lavender. AND I sell Avon and now am in my 11th year.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I most certainly do, unfortunately. I love chocolate, dark, chocolate, expensive chocolate and "American" Hershey’s chocolate especially with nuts. I also love Jelly Bellys especially popcorn, margarita, garlic, watermelon, and jalapeño flavors. PLEASE no Black licorice YUK YUK!!!! AND I do drink coffee and tea, hot and cold flavored and plain except for Irish Cream flavored coffee.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I would love to spin. I tried using a spindle but wasn’t very successful. I don’t yet own a spinning wheel but certainly hope to one day. I even took a spinning workshop in the hopes of one day getting my very own spinning wheel. I don’t have carders either. I crochet a little as long as there isn’t any or much shaping involved which means mainly granny squares. I sew and quilt and now that I have finally moved into my townhouse I can sew and quilt again. YEAH! I love to sew children’s clothes and bags also. Now I can even check out all my needlepoint, embroidery, cross stitch and ribbon craft which was up in the storage unavailable but now will be easily accessible in my new place. This is all so very exciting. BUT I don't know if my eyes will let me do the cross stitch anymore and I do have a project with a few rows started I would like to finish eventually.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I am not a big fan of country although there are a very few songs I do like and I don't care for any Christian music but I enjoy Christmas music. I have a DVD player and a Walkman that play MP3’s . I have a new computer which plays them fine. I love the oldies from the 20's to the 60's & 70's and even a few of the 80's. The older the better. I also love to listen to blues and jazz. I like classical and symphonies but not opera of any kind.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
PINK PINK and more PINK. I have always embraced my feminine side. I also love purples, reds, blues, black, white, and even grey and some of the deeper greens. I really do not wear orange, yellow or lime, olive or drab green or any of those fall colors that don't include reds. I have a hard time even knitting or working with those colors and do so only when I have to. Some brown is okay if it is a nice deep brown with PINK. I am not a fan of neon.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have one feline fur toddler who will be three in March and that is basically it for family.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear scarves, mitts, gloves and should wear hats. I live in the great white north which has a very cold winter climate.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks, bags/totes, shawls, toys and whimsical items. I also knit dishcloths since I am in a lot of dishcloth groups and hope to turn them into a dishclothghan one day. I knit scarves, afghans, baby items and hats as the need arises. I am now learning to knit from a chart.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Some of what is on my needles now include the MS4 KAL (I have completed clue #1), TLL Socktoberfest Mystery Sock KAL (I have completed clue #3 which was the heel on both socks), Cavendish Serape Shawl from Simply Noro, a couple of gifts for swaps so they can't be mentioned and a couple of dishcloths.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Most definitely. I love when someone takes the time to make something just for me.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I love my Denise and even use them when straight needles are called for. I even knit dishcloths with my Denise especially if I am knitting more than one at the same time but when I knit only one I use either short straights or my Denise. I love bamboo (both DPNs and round) especially when I knit slippery items. I have done the 2s2c method but with the cirs ends the same color I find that difficult and didn’t like the painting one set of ends with my nail enamel. I have one pair of Knit Picks Harmony DPNs and can't wait to get more. I also would love to have another set of Denise but the PINK ones. I have two sets of Addi Turbos that I really like but think the Knit Picks Options or Harmony would be just as nice.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No but I would love to.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
It is too much of an embarrassment for me to say. I am slowly finishing my UFO's and gradually hope to have no UFO's. LOLOLOLOLOL

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?
I always loved my birthday (HMMM love cake and ice-cream & pressies of course) and Christmas even thought I am not a Christian. Since I live alone most of my pressies are from swap exchanges although I do receive a few gifts from a few friends. I like the happiness of the season, the lights and the fact that most people are kinder to one another than usual which should be an all year round occurrence but… Living alone does make most holidays lonely. Not only b/c I am alone and these are family gathering, gift giving, food holidays but b/c I love to cook and there is just Solara and I. My next favorite holiday would be Thanksgiving. AH another food holiday. BUT of course there is Valentine Day, Easter and Halloween which are candy holidays. I had a really fun time at Halloween this year in my new home.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn, angels, fairies, cat stuff, did I say yarn, fabric, books, patterns, magazines, yarn and cooking accessories. I am a bit of a textile, yarn and magazine junkie.

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 have no subscriptions to any knitting magazines but wouldn't mind having knitting magazines come directly to my home. There are so many others patterns I also would love to have. I love the NONI patterns and have a couple only so far. Yarns I would like to try include Socks That Rock, Jitterbug, indie yarns and yarns I am unable to get here locally. AND to have MORE Tilly Thomas (with beads and crystals in it) would be like WOW WOW WOW!!! BUT I am not expecting to receive that from any one as it is so expensive. I keep reading about smaller yarn companies that make wonderful hand dyed sock yarns that I am unable to get.I would also love a pair of sock blockers and more mini sock blocker key chain to give as gifts since I now have one and the pattern, stitch markers and any of the latest knitting goodies that are out. There are sooooo many books and patterns I would love to have. Basically I feel I am very easy to please.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Most definitely I am a sock knitter. I wear a medium size sock and a size 8 – 8.5 shoe. The circumference of my foot is 9”, my ankle is 9” and the length of my foot from heel to toe is 9” – 9 ¼”.

23. When is your birthday?
Feb 4

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
YES pennala

AMAZING AUTUMN COFFEE SWAP WEEK #2 QUESTION AND......

With Halloween coming up this Friday, tell us what you think of when you think Halloween! Do you love it? Hate it? See it as a sign of Fall? Are you a total sucker for candy and little kids in cute costumes?
This was my first time in ages in giving out candies to all the little ghosts and goblins knocking on my door. I just loved giving out all the candies to the trick and treaters who came to my door and I loved seeing all their costumes. I waited until after Halloween in case I had some cute photos to share and I do. First of all my Solara dressed up as an elephant thanks to her auntie Janice. She didn't mind when I tried her hat on her on Wednesday.
BUT when Halloween rolled around and she actually had to wear her elephant hat costume this is the result.

If she wasn't on the card table like this she was on the floor like this. When I picked her up for the ghosts and goblins to see and pet she was fine, letting them pet her but once I put her down she hung her head down. She definitely wasn't impressed with having to wear her elephant hat costume.
I did manage to take a couple of photos. This first photo is my neighbor's daughter and granddaughter. She is four months and was a pumpkin.
I don't know who this is but it is original.
I even decorated my window. I hope to have more decorations next year. I wasn't even sure I was going to get lights since they were on sale but when I went to Canadian Tire they NOT only were on sale BUT on clearance. Each box of 10 pumpkin lights cost only $2.43. I purchased three boxes. I would like to get the pumpkin lights you can stake into the ground next year. I found the blue mat at Dollarama and even though it was only a dollar I didn't want to walk on it so I put it in the window. Solara even checked out the boxes the lights came in and she seemed to think it was a good fit for her as she was in there most of Thursday evening the night before Halloween.

In front of the door on the trolley that held the candies I gave out sat my singing cat I got from Avon a year or two ago. When you press the cat's paw it sings Black Magic Woman and the eyes blink on and off, the tail moves and the pumpkin by its side has eyes which also blink on and off. I have to say that it was a big hit with all the trick or treaters who visited my house. I had 121 visitors. Most were in groups and most were accompanied my parents or older siblings. Even some of the chaperones were dressed up. The weather was wonderful, the children were polite and in just an hour and a half it was all over.

I haven't done a lot of knitting b/c I haven't been feeling that great. In addition to the cold I have had all week which I think is slowly going away my left eye is now all red. I don't think it is from coughing as the coughing I have been doing is NOT that hard so I think it could be from blowing my nose or rubbing my dripping eye. My vision is just fine. No I haven't been to the doctor. This happened another time and it was the same eye. The end result was over a period of time the blood was reabsorbed and my eye went back to normal with no lingering problems. I am sure it is the same as the last time.

BUT I did finish the one leg of TLL Socktoberfest Mystery Sock KAL which can be found in ravelry groups. Thus, I am half finished with clue #2. I have also restarted my project for my Ravelry Starbucks Swap. I am also back working on my Cavendish Serape Shawl. Solara really enjoys resting on it.

I will put it on my ravelry project page as soon as I get the close up photos from the camera in the computer.

Now I know people are always asking for me to show a photo of myself. AND I agree it is nice to know what someone looks like you correspond with or whose blog you read. I know I have a sparkly personality and here is a photo I took of myself to prove it.
Or did I break the camera? Even if I didn't break the camera taking my photo you wouldn't get to see my PINK hair as there is very little left and since I totally decolored my hair prior to putting the PINK in it, there isn't even any brown or black except for the roots. It is some disgusting yellowy blond color with smidgens of pink in the front that haven't faded yet. So you will just have to use your imagination and the photo above. HEE HEE