Thursday, June 29, 2006

Goodies Galore!

Goodies Goodies and more Goodies. It was the package that kept on giving! So much to tell you all about. First off, the wonderful yarn you see below. It's made in China and is a lovely shade of a darkish Salmon. I can't wait to cast on with that.

The goodies above are some very cool chocolates and candies from the land of Singapore! I can't wait to feast my choppers on those especially since I just got my braces off yesterday! More on that later.

Here are some fancy knitting needles, candles, special teas, folding paper for origami that my husband thinks he is getting his hands on and some seeds to plant some beautiful flowers.


Here I have two beautiful braclets that fit just right. I have a small wrist and these are perfect!

Followed by potpourri and these fab stitch markers. Look at this necklace!
And below is a very funny drawing that she included with a note inside the box.

I love everything Secret Pal thank you thank you thank you!!!!

To my delight!

Yesterday evening when I arrived home, this was waiting for me! My husband was equally curious and stood by my side to see what had arrived in this wonderful package from Singapore. My secret pal is from Singapore! Sweet.

More details later....

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Vacation ...

In all her glory.... Montana speaks to you in pictures.

Friday, June 23, 2006

Vacation's Over - :-(

Unfortunately vacation always has to come to an end. My husband and I got back from Montana on Monday night and it has been an insane rest of the week. I wanted to share a cool yarn that I got in MT. It's made by a company called Mountain Colors which is based out of Corvallis Montana. The yarn is hand painted and is absolutely beautiful. The color is called "firestorm" and is shown below for your enjoyment!

I purchased this yarn from a little shop in Bigfork Montana called Whitty Knitters. They don't have a website...they are super small. They lady that I met in the shop was named Annie and she was very nice and helpful. She assisted me with my purchases and some local chit chat. Oh how I wish I had a knitting store like that to call my own! I'll post up some pictures from our wonderful vacation later when my husband gets home with my thumb drive!

Most of the trip was spent visiting but I had lots of time for knitting. I was able to work exclusively on a blanket that I have been hoping to finish. The picture isn't very nice but here it is. I've only got 4 more balls of yarn left.. not sure if you can see but I've "turned the corner" so to speak and are towards the end of the project. This is knit with GGH Samoa yarn and is very soft. The pattern I'm using is out of the Stitch and Bitch book. My friend Susan is making this blanket as well with two strands of Koigu and it's absolutely beautiful just like the picture in the book.

Oh.. I also read two books. The two Maggie Sefton books - Knit One, Kill Two and Needled to Death. I absolutely loved them. What was pretty funny was that Kelly (the main character in the book) is from Washington DC (me too) and is teleworking to her office to this fabulous place in Colorado that is across the street from a very fun knitting shop and the fun continues. Sure wish I could telework all the time. If you haven't read these books, you really should. They are mysteries but the fun that surrounds the shop and how Kelly learns to knit is great. I'm going out this weekend to buy the Debbie Macomber books The Shop on Blossom Street and A Good Yarn. I hear they are great as well and I am looking forward to that.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Progress.... and things.


Okay-- So a couple of things.. Here is the beginning of my very first sock. I'm well on my way. I've stopped at this point to get the rest of my instruction which will be on Wednesday but wanted to show my progress.

I went to a knitting store this yesterday in Maryland that is closing down. Everything in the store was 30% off. It's a damn shame that that they are closing because they were really nice in there. You know when you go to a store and just don't get that warm and fuzzy feeling from the people, well.. I got the warm and fuzzy feeling in there so it's pretty sad that they are closing and I just only found them!

Here are some of the goodies that I purchased! This book really caught my eye. It has some beautiful things in it to knit from Rowan. I love that yarn! This blanket really looks cool and I am going to make it. They didn't have the yarn for the blanket but I ordered it online as soon as I got home!



The yarn that I bought: Two sock yarns (one is the exact brand and color of the yarn that the secret pal that I have just completed a sock of on her blog which is totally weird!) and three cotton yarns. I'll have to wind these by hand since I don't have a swift yet. Don't think I need one yet.



I also bought the recent Interweave Knits magazine, a pamphlet called Yarn Requirements and a book called The Knitters Handy book of Patterns. This book apparently is one of the books that should be in every knitters "library". So far I like it.




Of course, some needles to add to my ever growing collection. When I got home I created an Excel spreadsheet of all the needles I have, the type and size and length of each one. I printed it out to keep with me at all times while shopping.

Am I a geek?