Monkey Pics

Warning this is a picture heavy post!!

First it was a little wet and rainy on the day of delivery and sat on the porch for couple of hours.

Then on opening and a few cups of peanuts later.... cool everything was in ziplock bags, psychic moment!!! Linda must have known it was going to rain!! or else as she commented afraid the chocolate would melt all over the place, either way, dry goodies!!

The socks are in Knitpicks Memories and as soft and comfortable as could be. I lost the blanket and pillow to Joey, there are residing in his nest and he will not share. Thank you again Linda for such a wonderful gift. The book is at his bedside bookshelf as well.

The Barrell of Monkeys is residing in my office currently.

The candy is all gone. The needle organizer full of my DPN's and stitch markers are zippered away with a measuring tape and stuffed in my knitting bag.

The file of patterns is sitting on my desk and as I have been to busy to really have an effective Socktoberfest this year, I will be having the Winter of Socks, where I will do my best to make a dent on the 50+ skeins of sock yarn I have acquired. ps more notes after the pics....

Answer to Bethany's question, How do I manage all my swaps....

I keep file folders. each is labled with the swap, the front has the dates and minimum requirements for each swap and inside are the printouts of the questionaires and emails with addresses and contact info and anything else that may need to filed away, patterns, etc...

Then a Priority mail box is put together and labeled with a sticky as to which swap it is for. As I pull things together, in the box they go and then crossed off the list in/on the folder.

I also have the list on a white board by my computer with the names and dates of each swap. I check mark each as it is mailed and cross/wipe it off when I receive my package.

Side note Sock It to Me is doing another round for all interested. 50 participants, long run, through March to compensate for the holidays. Look forward to seeing everyone.

Will eventually tell the tales of Stitches East, didnt take a lot of pics, but will have some yarn p0rn to post as I did get to visit with Blue Moon Fiber Arts and picked up some STR, and a few skeins from a wonderful indie dyer named Storm Moon Knits. Went to Webs booth... I think I am still in a system overload over the massive quantities of yarn and information I was exposed to at Market. I meet lots of wonderful people, some from Ravelry, some random, wonderful classes....

Will post more after I decompress a bit....

I have been blessed again - Monkey Madness Strikes

I have been blessed by another generous swapper. out of 8 swaps so far this year I have received wonderfully generous packages from 6 of my upstream partners. Note 2 swaps are still pending shipping and receiving on both sides :-)

I received another wonderful generous package today from Linda and took pictures. Uhhh one small problem. I left the camera cord at work, darn it... I did take pics and will post as soon as i can get the cord. Hopefully tomorrow if I have time before I leave for Baltimore. Stitches East YIPPEEE!!!! If not will all be posted first thing Monday morning. Joey is sleeping with his new monkey blanket(made by Linda) and his monkey book, wouldnt let go, at least he wasnt jumping on the bed all night, lol.

The Reeses Peanut Putter cups with Banana cream(al a Elvis) are gone(side note I read Linda's blog post about these and laughed, wondering why I can't get the neat short run flavors up here) One bannana taffy is gone and the socks fit like a dream. Lot of other candy in the bag too...lemonheads, cherry heads, orange heads, Gummy Krabby patties(confiscated by the hubbie) Boston peanuts.. all great to munch on. Ahh yes and Laffy taffy in banana and Mango.

The pillow, I dont know if Joey will get it or I will, we may share.(Pillow case also made by Linda adn covered with pics of sock monkeys)

And the patterns, Good Lord there are a lot of sock patterns out there and I have a whole expanding file with some of them now. I haven't seen the Monkey sock Monkey pattern one in 20 years(my Grandmother made them for the kids once). It will be fun sorting through them to see which one to do first. The yarns are so soft and squishy. I love the Bannana Chocolate, the yarn too... and the opal I love how it works up glad to have another colorway in such warm colors. Cute magnet monkey too wrapped onto the yarn. And a barrell full of monkeys game, haven't played that in almost 30 years, my grandmother had it in the toy basket for all the grands to play with. Ahhh and last but definetely not least by any shot 4 handmade stitch markers with 2 monkeys and 2 with knitting themes in lovely shades of yellow and a set of 1.5 Brittany birch, I love the birch needles!!!

Thank you so much for a wonderful swap Linda!!!!

Two-fer post today, and other stuff plus Joey

Okay today is going to be a two-fer post as I cheated just a smidge. Yesterday I baked SCONES!! First ones ever.

Scones are made with semi-sweet chocolate chips and I used the football shaped cookie cutter. So now I have snacks for the NO/Colts game tonight. Creativity at it's best you know...

I also tried a "clotted cream" recipe using heavy cream and cream cheese that came out good as well. Will post the recipes on the google group later on. Will be trying gingerbread biscotti today when joey goes down for his nap..

Speaking of Joey...

In knitting news, finished the socks for my hogwarts pal, Ophelia, a few more owls to bring in goodies and that will go out. Started the Monkey socks this monday, almost ready to turn the heel on the first, my they do knit quick. her box is almost packed, a few treats and it will go out as well soon.

Picked up some materials for a couple of sock bags for swaps and stuff, won't tell what materials cause it's a surprise, sshhhhh....

Then there is SOCK WARS. It has a Ravelry group and a Yahoo group. I probably shouldn't have signed up(I say that a lot lately) but it was irresistable - "A place for only the hardiest yarn warriors in the original and bloodiest death-by-sock tourment.There can be only one survivor!"

See why I couldn't resist it. you knit a pair of socks for your assignee as fast as you can. As soon as you are done you mail them off to them and bam... their done/dead. Then they mail their incomplete pair to you, and you finish them and mail them off. Assuming you dont get a pair in the mail in the mean time, knocking you out.

I'm weird I know, we just live with it and adjust...

Monkey Swap Three

Monkey Sock Swap THREE Questionnaire


The basics:
Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep? I am edging towards intermediate. Simple stockinette have down.Have done 2-3 more complex type patterns.

The measurements:
Shoe Size: 8.5 US
Foot circumference: 9"
Foot length: 9 3/4"

Yarn Preferences:
What colors do you love? anything but candy/neon colors

Do you prefer solids or variegated? either

Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn? wool or wool blends (tencel/Silk/seaweed)

What colors would you never wear? candy/neon colors

What are your favorite brands of yarn? Cherry blossom fibers(wool Girl), Chameleon Color Works, Tofutsies(SWTC)

Are there any new brands you would like to try? anything I love trying new stuff

Cookie A. Patterns:
Which of her patterns have you already knit? none

Which pattern(s) would you like to knit and don’t already own? Listed in order of preference: Millicent, Baudelaire, Gothic Spire, Twisted flower, Pomatomus

Other pertinent information:

Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US? yes

Do you have any allergies? environmental only

Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? cats and dogs, no smoke. I try my best to keep yarns and projects away from the animals, ziplock bagged or in plastic bins when not in use.

Are you on Ravelry yet? If you don’t mind having new friends, what is your Ravelry name? YES!! name: JenC