And the secret pal is....

Look at all this amazing stuff from my secret pal!! My secret pal is Sheryl Hahn! She sent me the most awesome package: Hip to Knit, Knit.1, a sheep measuring tape, a cable and bobble hat pattern, new Daisy knitting needles in size 11 (I like the pretty blue), brass pin stitch markers, The Little Snowman Kit, a pad of snowmen sticky notes, a Yankee Candle Car Freshner, a snowman book mark, 2 balls of Regia sock yarn, 2 balls of Plymouth Galway Colornep yarn in blue tweed, and a package of Victor Allen's coffee. Whew! I hope I didn't miss anything. Sheryl, you are the best!!

I wanted to get some cute pictures of Yoda for our Christmas cards, but I am just not happy with these....Doesn't she look like the dog from the "Grinch"?

a different angle...

What's up with that tongue?

She wasn't so happy at this point!

poor baby!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

At least I didn't buy a casket...

I found both of these kits at Costco yesterday for $13.99 each. Who says you can't get knitting stuff at the Wholesaler Superstore!?

This kit is put together by the same person who does Sublime Stitching. I loved the patterns, so I knew I would like the kit that has some different ones.

This was made from the Knit Knack Kit's ribbed hat pattern. I used Cascade 109 LE (bulky Puruvian Highland Wool) in color 4923 (it is actually more of a blue than purple...). It is very soft and stretchy.

This is a London Beanie for Jeremy for Christmas. I used the same yarn, but in a grey color. The lighting is making it look brownish.

Some Finished Objects

Being off work sure has helped me to finish somethings up and to take pictures:

Pattern: Yarn Girl's Guide to Easy Knits hat pattern
Yarn: Lion Brand's Imagine in White Sparkle

Pattern:Inspired by Rown Babies scarf
Yarn: Unknown in Grey & White

Pattern: Irish Hiking Scarf
Yarn: Classic Elite Lush in Black

Pattern: Pick Up Sticks Lady Bug
Yarn: Cascade 220

Pattern: Reverse Rib stitch
Yarn: Unknown wool in Brown

Pattern: Seed Stitch scarf
Yarn: Paton's Melody in Peacock

Mitten Pattern

Click picture for bigger detail
Here is the pattern for those thick mittens I made about a week back. I am sure any bulky weight yarn will suffice if you are not a fan of acrylic.

I think 11 months is long enough....

I have not taken any vacation time this year. Next week I am going to combine the usual two Thanksgiving days with a couple of vacation days. Mmmmmm. I am so ready for some time off. My eyes hurt.

On the knitting front, I finished knitting a baby blanket for a co-worker last night. Today is sewing in ends and passing it on to the person who is putting a basket of baby stuff together. Made with the idea that the baby is going to be a girl, I bypassed the usual pastel pinks and went for Melon and Lilac:

 

I just keep getting comments on the colors.

I bought two more bags of Elann's Peruvian Highland wool. At $18/bag how can you go wrong? I envision a couple more ribby cardis.

I hope everyone has a great day. I'll be focused on 3:00pm--when vacation begins!

Great deal!!!

Elann is having a bag sale on their Puruvian Highland Wool at $18/bag (10 balls/bag)!! Go SHOPPING

How has knitting affected my shopping habits?

I saw a topic over at Knitter's Review the other day that said, "How knitting has changed my shopping" or something to that effect. I started thinking about it and my shopping habits have changed. I am more aware of what things are made of and the costs associated with them.

Example: I was shopping with my sister at Ralph Lauren. They had tons of beautiful sweaters--cashemere for close to $200 (which I find to be about right). They also had some very nice cabled pullovers. I looked at the price-$70. I looked at the label-acrylic! Now I don't mind acrylic--it can be washed at home, some hold up very well. But I know that I can make a very nice sweater in an acrylic and wool blend for much less than $70. I realize most of that cost was the "label", but seriously folks! I find it is a little harder for me to part with my money on something like that.

There is a flip side, too. I was at Gap and they had wool, acrylic, cashemere, angora blend cardigans for $14. Um, I bought two. I could never make something in those fibers for $14.

Maybe I am a little bit more fiber saavy?

The plan was for pictures

Seriously, it was. But then Jeremy's mom broke her ankle, Jeremy had a test, and he stole the card reader for his brother to borrow. So, instead I took a trip to Home Depot to buy paint...you would think that more than one person would be working the paint counter. Maybe that was just me and all the people waiting in line to buy paint...

I had been working on a baby blanket off the knitting machine, but everytime I attempt a blanket on that thing, it never turns out. I have resorted to hand knitting doubled fingering weight on size 17 so I can be done by Thursday. Not sure it is going to happen. I just want to work on the Ribby Cardi! and the other cardi, and the glove....

Yes, I am still working on the glove. I'll soon be to the thumb part. I don't want to hear it. I am only finishing this glove so I can finish my socks. Damn me for being smarter than myself! I hate tricking myself! Ok, so I hate it now. I'm sure once I have both projects done I won't be so pissy.

Happy knitting?

It's like 6-in-1

Ever since I saw the Ribby Cardi on the ChicKnits website, I couldn't wait for the pattern to become available. When Bonnie Marie did put it up for sale it sort of coincided with Elann getting more Peruvian Highland Wool in stock. Coincidence? I think not. Anyway, this pattern is such a deal for $4.95. First, you can virtually make 6 different sweaters (plain front, ribbed front, rolled neck, crewneck, and mock neck options). Also, the Peruvian Highland wool is only $2.25 a ball! So an entire sweater is no more than $40. This first one I am making is similar in colors to the prototype--blue with brown. I think it is very "Martha Stewart". I'll try to get some pictures tonight. This weekend was just too eventful....

So our heat is fixed, but not after a slight fiasco. The original guy we had fixing it got the part he needed, installed it, got paid, left, and the heat still didn't work. We woke up on Saturday to about 60 degree weather in the house. Um, that's not right. So we called another company who promptly charged extra for the weekend, but this time it is fixed. The sound of the furnace kicking on it so wonderful...

Yoda is one year old!! What a big girl! She received the gift of heat for her birthday!! We were so busy dealing with the furnace, there had been no time to get her presents. She'll get them, and I doubt she'll know the difference.

Hope everyone's week go wonderfully!

My totally cool Secret Pal!!

My secret pal is pretty cool--she sent me a video card! It was BNL singing the Chimpanzee Postcard song. How did you know I want a Chimp instead of a child?!?! That really made my day!! "Chimpanzeeeeez! And everyone is addressed to meeeeeee..."

It's cold IN my house

It's official. The furnace is broken. We've been dealing with an HVAC guy for a couple of weeks now, and he finally has the part we need (I hope!). I couldn't get the heat to turn on last night, so I turned up the electric blankie, added another down comforter and had Yoda jump into bed. It was very close to the being in the fifties this morning when I woke up. Too cold for tropical me...

I had a small finishing party last night--gotta love weaving in those ends. Most everything I finished was a gift, so you'll have to wait on the pics...

Tomorrow is Yoda's first birthday. I need to go present shopping. She is very good at "killing" her stuffed toys--and they are her favorites!! So, I have some I can replace. Don't worry--no puppy party.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

I'm kind of mad at the USPS

I was hoping to have some yarn for you all to see that I purchased from Elann, but I was the dumb one and chose the regular USPS shipping instead of the express. Now I am waiting. Then it is Veteran's Day, so no postal service today. Poop! That's the rant for today...

Christmas Knitting

I don't have any pictures of progress because frankly, I've been trying to finish up some Christmas Knitting. The Yarn Harlot had to go and remind everyone that there are only 46, um, 45 days left to Christmas. Doesn't sound that far away. I think next year I am going to just stick to the purchasing route!

Stitching Away...

Sublime Stitching sent my Tea Towel Starter Kit on Saturday

The kit has everything I will need to begin embroidering. Can we guess where I will be using these skills?

They can't be any easier

The Lion Brand Jiffy Thick and Quick Mittens only took an hour and $3.50 to make. Very quick and very cute. They are knit flat and then seamed on one side.

FO!

Sock #1 is done! Now on to Glove #2

Featuring Bobbie...

Someone over at Knitter's Review was talking about how great the Yarn Barn's new catalog is. That day I recevied it in the mail. I know everyone is loving Audrey from Rowan 35, but Bobbie was featured in the Yarn Barn catalog. Also done in Calmer, I think Bobbie is very classic. Add it to the list...

I'm not sure what I think of Bloglines. It is nice to see all the blogs that have been updated, but I think it is slow. I also miss some of the good blogs I used to read because they don't have an RSS feed...then you have to make an extra click (I know I sound lazy) to leave a comment. So I leave less comments...

Anyway... I am still working on my sock, glove, cardi, and felted bag. I think I may finish the sock either tonight or tomorrow while waiting at the oral surgeon's office. Then I must work on the second glove.

We got our NetFlix dvds last night and Van Helsing was among them. I was so excited to see it. Then it couldn't be over quick enough--what a very boring action movie. It seriously felt like the movie would never end! I think tonight might be Supersize Me. I need some motivation to not want fast food. Not that I have eaten at McDonald's in several years, but you get the idea.

It's still not over...

And election results are on hold. This could go on for weeks....

My neighbor and co-worker Sarah had a Homemaker's Idea Company party last night. It made me move away from the tv. It was fun. I met some people in the Accounting area that I might never have met before.

Since I was not home last night, I was not able to get any knitting done. Which is ok, since my left wrist has been bothering me. Typing all day doesn't help. Tonight I have to get prepared--Jeremy is having his wisdom teeth out on Friday. I need to get his prescriptions filled, buy soft food, get the couch ready...you know all the stuff that a big baby will need. I hope to get some knitting done on Friday while I am sitting in the office waiting.

Happy Election Day?

Remember this sweater I said that I was going to do?

Well, I began it last night. I am about four inches up the back. I like working on my socks, and sort of like the gloves, but I needed to start a bigger project. I also figured I could get rid of some of the yarn in my stash to make room for some new stuff...

I hope everyone gets the chancce to vote today...I don't care which way you go, as long as you go!

Happy Day After Halloween!

Here is my Happy Bumble Bee!!

Aren't her wings adorable?!

Here she is with her antenae. Those really didn't stay on very long

Back view of the fully dressed bumble bee!

Yoda did really well with the kids we had come to the house. She only barked at two or three of them...


Bonnie Marie of ChicKnits has put up her Ribby Cardi pattern. It's so cute for one of those wear over everything type cardis. It is made using Peruvian Highland Wool from Elann.com which is one sale today for $2.25 a ball. I figured it would be a $27 sweater...Hmmm.

I also wanted to send a shout out to some KD sisters I hear are visitng my blog, but not leaving messages!! I know who you are! :-) AOT

Hope everyone has a sugar filled day!!