Stash Away!!!

Summer Stash is on its way to my swappee, Priority mail, insured with delivery confirmation. I am just a tad paranoid about the package losing its way, ok.... Hope she likes it. Don't have a lot of stuff in my stash, so had to be a little creative.... And I am really nervous as this is my first official swap package to go out.... Really nervous, kept changing my mind about whether I should mail it or not., but I did and it is now in the hands of USPS. God speed and I hope I don't turn out to be "that" swapper, that all they can say is 'om my god what was she thinking'.... Yeah no am not coping with this first very well... I'm going back to my socks now...

Helping Mom

Was winding up a couple of skeins for my Vanilla Pullover KAL and Joey wanted to help Mama, he came into the office and said 'what you doin' mama' and then 'me help'. He is so cute.

Sock It to Me contest #1 or When I started Knitting

I am a self taught knitter, started about 4 years ago. I already knew how to crochet and was an avid maker of baby blankets, afghans and one sweater. I had received from my MIL(at my request)skeins of Irish wool from her and my DFIL, from their trip to Ireland that year. I had crocheted a sweater from the first offerings and kinda liked, but was not what I envisioned.

I knew knitting would give me what I wanted. So, I bought one of those Teach yourslef to learn Knitting kits from WalMart I think...hmmm, with a book, 2 pairs of aluminum needles and misc starter items. From there it was the obligatory scarves, mainly from fun fur and various other bulky fluffy yarns, but a lot fun fur. These were widely distributed through the Christmas season.

Then it was Harry Potter season again that fall and I thought wouldnt the kids love a house scarf for Christmas. (side note they live in So Cal) So I went out and purchased skeins of Red heart in the colors for Gryffindor and Slytherin and found a pattern on the 'net and round and round I went for several weeks. The kids loved them. Have a pic of the Gryffindor, Slytherin is AWOL -

Dog Days answers

Someone who crochets Tammi W
Someone who's never made a dishcloth before -Karen
Someone who has been knitting\crocheting for less than 2 years Diane C
Someone who has been knitting\crocheting for more than 5 years Linda W
Someone who is from a non-US country Barb N

Well almost set for my three swaps, doesn't that sound like a tv show. Stash is half packed, dont have a lot really so finding all sorts of other things in the house that need a new home that I wont be needing or using, nothing to weird honost....

Sock It to Me, still waiting for Swappe's questionaire to be posted, but have the yarn picked out Cherry Hill in Birch, Have the pattern sort of picked out, leave room for last minute mind changes, yarn is firm though.

Dishcloth is mostly packed as well, just have to finish knitting and pick up a couple of little things. Pics of the yarn for the 2 swaps. My first use of a ball winder, boy that was fun. Followed the advice from KR and wound them twice, definately fluffier the second go around.

Girlie Pearls investigating the shipments

And on the home front sided part of the house as of tonight up to 2/3 done and all but 1 window replaced. Please ignore the mess...

and for those that read to the bottom, yarn p0rn. Shipment from Etsy ashabee in colors carmel apple(4) and Cami(2). They are gorgeous and butter soft, now have to figure out what to make.

Sock It To Me Swap Questionaire

Sock It to Me
What are your foot measurements? (Please give shoe size, length and circumference.) Shoe size 8.5(US), length 9 3/4", circumfrence 91/2" edit 9"
How long have you been knitting? How would you rate your experience? (Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced.) Learned to knit 6 years ago, seriously knitting the past 6 months. Experience: Beginning Intermidiate
What is your favorite color? Your least favorite color? favorite color is red, least favorite any candy/neon colors
Do you have a favorite fiber? What type? hmmmm, anything soft
Do you have any allergies to certain fibers? nope
Do you have an Amazon, or other type of, wishlist? (If so, provide the link.)
Jen's Amazon
What techniques, if any, would you like to learn? toe up and cables
Do you have a sweet tooth? What are your favorite snacks? yeap, chocolate. Peanut M&M's, oreos, original chex mix
What is your family situation? (Children, Husband, Pets...etc.) hubby, 3 kids teenage to toddler, 6 cats, 2 dogs, 1 rat and 1 goldfish
Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Metal, plastic or wood? circular, bamboo
Besides socks, what are your favorite items to knit? dont know yet, still working on my first sweater and first lace type scarf
Is there a pattern, (sock or otherwise), that you are dying to try? there are so many out there I hadnt really decided. The flame wave from IK, one of the ones from Sock Pixie maybe and a shawl havent decided yet maybe cozy or Candleflame
Do you like to read? What are you reading currently? Love to read, for fun Safe Harbor by C Feehan, for learning Human resource management, for Knitting- Dominknitrix and Mason Dixon Knitting and the new HP as soon as it is delivered
Do you collect music? (On an iPod or MP3 player.) both
What kind of music do you listen to? Country and Western, Hard rock, Oldies, Jazz.
Is there anything you collect? uhhhh, lets' see, yarn, shotglasses, hotel room swipes(when I stay someplace neat), chopsticks
What are your hobbies, aside from knitting? PC gaming, scrapbooking, crocheting, trying jewelry making/beading.
Are you participating in any other swaps or knit alongs? Dog Days of Summer Dishcloth Exchange and Summer Stash Swap
Do you have a favorite scent? Green tea and Raspberry
When is your birthday? (You don't have to add the year if you don't want to, LOL.) Nov 7

anxious, fidgity

Well it's July 3. I have signed up for 3 swaps for the summer. I have received the infor for the Summer Stash and well on the way of pulling that together. Now I have to wait 2 more days for the other 2 swaps to send me the info. I keep checking my email and pages to see if they perchance did it early. I am so eager/anxious to get this underway, figuring out what to knit or buy is killing me, cause I dont want to do anything until I get the info for the Swapee(? real word, who cares).

ANybody else ever feel like this. The swaps should be so much fun, but the waiting is killing me....

Oh and I talked to my Mom last night, she will be starting her Summer travel adventure to Arkansas via Salt Lake City and Oklahoma and I have nicely requested with a re-imbursement option, that if she sees any Knit/yarn stores that look unique and interesting or have a distinct local flavor to get me something(min 400yds). Her and Glenn(DH) travel the back roads everywhere possible, so should be interesting. Even left it open to what to pick up as far as yarn(natural fibers only though) and after I explained roving to her, and that that would be ok too. Don't know how to spin yet, but its on my list of things to learn.

She will enjoy the shopping and can't wait to see what arrives. Love my Mom and she shops well adn finds the neatest stuff when she has a mission. Thanks in advance Mom.

Still anxious and fidgity want to go to the LYS, but will wait until Thursday and I have my Swap info... 2 days is a long time isn't it.... Help me....

edit PS. Mom looked at my blog and said I have more pics of yarn than my kids, maybe this is a problem... and the yarn porn thing fell short on the explanation.....