Long Time

So it's been over a month since I've posted. I have no excuse except laziness. I have been knitting and crocheting a lot in preparation for a craft faire that I am going to be selling items at. I hope to make some money with my crocheted shawls. I love making them and everyone that has seen them likes them a lot.

I got a giftie from my Secret Pal. I received some Aracuna Wool yarn in a peachy color, a green and a purple. A set of stitch markers, some chocolate that was a little melty when it got here and the most divine smelling candle. I also received a neat book called Knitting Pretty. I haven't started anything with the wool yet, but it will probably become some sort of felted bag. Thanks so much Eyeleen

I should get around to pictures of my stuff in the next century. I hope. All for now.

Back Tack Arrived

Yeah, I finally recieved my back tack giftie. I have no camera currently so you will have to use your imagination. I got a notions holder made out of toile blue fabric and some folding scissors and floss and variegated thread. Then she sent me four fat quarters and a flower pin made of mohair. And two balls of wool yarn that will be perfect for a hat. Pictures will be forthcoming. I'll take pics of the stuff my secret pal gave me at the same time. I claim amnesia. I use the items but forgot to take the picture duh.

In other news, I am trying to start on Christmas stuff. I'm crafting at twice my normal speed, normal is about sloth speed. Now it's Ninja Sloth speed which is much quicker. I've been making hats and some other easy projects, because I know that by the time it gets to Christmas I will have forgotten someone and that way I'll have a backup. After the spate of small presents I will move on to bigger stuff, like kids and husbands. They always warrant things like...sewing. I'll probably spend more making everything than if I bought it and I don't care. I love giving things that I've put an effort into.

Back Tack

I finished my back tack project and sent it off to its eager recipient Absinthe Knits this last week. I made my own unique version of a notions holder.

Say Hello to the Craft Monster!


This little guy holds needles, stitch markers, pins and any other assortment of small notions items. I had so much fun creating him for this. The fabric I recieved was just wonderful for what I had in mind. I have to make a few more of these for Christmas. I need to make my own little buddy soon too.

I also finished the haversack for my husband. Here are a couple of pre-felting pics.



Even after felting it hangs to just past his hip. I knit the strap way too long. It will get a nip and tuck in the future. Before the boy has to use it again.

I also whipped out a crocheted shawl and 3 hats this last weekend. I will hopefully have pics of them soon.

Secret Pal: What would you recommend I make out of the yarn you sent me. I haven't found anything that I think would suit it well. I love it but I want something other than a hat or scarf that is easy to knit and useful.

More later.

Giftie in the Mail

I got the most unexpected package just this weekend. My secret pal had sent out a gift to me. I was so excited when I saw a package sitting on the desk when I came home from work. I got 3 skeins of Koigu in a gorgeous purple mixed color. I have to figure out what to make with it now. I feel some insane urge to maybe try to make socks out of it. I don't even know if I could make socks, but they seem like that's what they should be. I also got the coolest mints, those new altoids fruit ones and some neato Burts's Bees stuff. I would have a picture but the computer is currently in the shop and I'm using a different one that isn't mine. As soon as I have it back I'll post a picture of my loot and some of the stuff I've been working on lately.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I am getting to the point that I prefer natural fibers for the most part. I have kids though and ease of care for some items is what I need. I love most yarn, but I do avoid scratchy yarn, if it would make me itch I don't buy it.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I own a drop spindle and quite a bit of roving. I haven't done anything with it in quite a while though. Crochet, yep. I actually learned to crochet before I learned to knit. It has it's merits also so I am prone to switching back and forth to suit my needs.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Nothing that would cause me an issue. I don't think you'll be sending me mold or alder trees, they don't make yarn out of those things yet.

4. How long have you been knitting?
Probably about 4 years. I can't remember for sure. I know I wasn't knitting when I had my first baby, but I think I started picking it up around the time of the second one.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do but it is horribly old and I should probably just make a new one.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Clove. I got the most delicious soap, a clove and mint ZUM ZUM Bar from an exchange this year that I love to death.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
All of them are sweet. I like chocolate in any form. Sour candy is my weakness currently and the more sour the better.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I sew, dabble in jewlery making, and am just getting into some clay work.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
My tastes vary widely and I'm open to checking out whatever you might like. I could find something new that I never would have found on my own.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I'm drawn to reds and purples. Autumn colors, though I can't wear them. I am not very fond of yellow or baby shades.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a husband, 2 kids, 2 cats and one dog.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
To be able to not worry about every little thing and spend more time doing what I want with the people that I love. I would love to work for myself someday.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I am fond of Lamb's Pride for felting. I like Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, it is a lovely cotton and I love Paton's Cha Cha since it is such a soft novelty yarn. I have a love affair with silk yarn and I have a bit of quivit that I have to spin up. I like my fibers touchable and not rough.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Anything rough. I also don't like paper yarn and most flag or railroad yarns are just itchy.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I want to make a sweater but am only about 4 inches into it. I am also committed to making my husband a bag. I love things I can knit in the round because I don't have to concentrate too hard to make anything.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like making felted bags, hats, scarves with unique yarns, and stuffed toys.

17. What are you knitting right now?
I am knitting a bag for my husband, 2 different sweaters and a care bear.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
Not for me.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I prefer circualr needles. I also prefer metal over any other material they can be made out of.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Addi turbos are my favs. They all have a use, but I prefer metal.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
No

22. How did you learn to knit?
My mother and my best friend both taught me.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
4 years I think.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I love the pink panther and I collect sheep things.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn, fabric, sheep.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don't have any but I keep thinking I should just subscribe to them since I always end up buying them anyway.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Can't think of any. I am a prolific book purchaser and usually buy the ones I want as soon as I see them.

So there you go. A little bit of info about me. Feel free to ask any questions you may have. Now off to work and fighting my cold some more.

Pictures

So here are all of my current projects, I think. I'm suffering from more startitis.
This pile of raw goods is my starting point for backtrack which I am so looking forward to working on. I'm currently forming ideas.

This is my mother in laws' backpack. I may use this pattern again. It works out really well. Visions of this bag made out of cherry fabric or the cool pin-up cowgirls keep going through my head.

I made a buttonhole bag...and altered the pattern to suit my knitting quirks. I used my rusty skill of picking up stitches, note to self...you knit too tight loosen up.

Yet another felted bag, still missing it's zipper. It's a gift for a good friend. This bag and the buttonhole one are Lamb's Pride. Felting your knitting in the shower is next to impossible by the way.

This is the Cotton Ease sweater, which may be done by next year. I couldn't make it in just one color...noooo. I'm going to have a million ends to work in.

This is the abandoned sweater. I keep trying to like boucle yarn. Too bad that it hates my knitting and crochet style. I think this will become a shawl worked on big needles. Note the very cute llama and sheep stitch markers my mommy got me for Christmas.

These are Peruvian Highland Wool from Elann in a lovely burnt orange and twilight blue. I also indulged in the vogue knitting book and now must make a sheepy backpack. These things were courtesy of my secret pal, Allie.

This is going to be my new carebear. I am excited to make these for the kids. I even took them to the yarn store to pick out their own yarn. It is currently on hold since I'm devoting all of my time to R's haversack.

And these are my soon to be stitch markers. I am having more fun making markers. I'll probably never need them all. But these called to me, I especially like the little kitty heads and the eye beads. Quirky stitch markers are my type of thing.


Within the next couple of days I'll post more pictures. I forgot some things and now I'm too tired to take more pics, load them up, copy them over, type more. It will wait for another day. Maybe a finished haversack if I keep knitting it, and the stitch markers from the exchange which I forgot to photograph.

Silly test

Freya
Indeed, you are 83% erudite, 91% sensual, 50% martial, and 66% saturnine. Freya, twin sister of Frey, is a member of the Vanir family, the Norse clan of Fertility Gods. Like her counterparts, Aphrodite, Isis, Venus, and Ishtar (Greek, Egyptian, Roman and Indian mythology), she concerned herself with sex and all that goes with it.

She was quite fond of cats, by the way. In fact, she was said to travel
about in a magnificent chariot drawn by her two regal black cats named
Bygul and Trjegul (Pronunciation? You're on your own...) that were
rumoured to be possessed. After serving Freya for 7 years, the cats
were rewarded by being turned into witches, disguised as black cats.
Even many of her personal traits seem cat-like. For instance, she
always wore a brilliant jewel studded collar symbolizing her authority
over the fiery aspect of sexuality.

Besides being the Goddess of love, cats, the moon, magic, and
of course sex, Freya was also skilled in a form of magic called
"seithr" (meaning "sayer" or "seer") which consisted of putting oneself
into a deep meditative trance so that the secrets of the future might
be revealed. She also owned a feather coat which she could use to fly
between the worlds.

Isn't that amusing. I'm a fertility goddess. I always knew that was what I was, now someone's silly test thinks I am too. On another note I am taking pictures tonight. I received my fabric for BACK TRACK and now need to get started on that. Haversack is a pattern of my own making ie, I'm freeballing it. We'll see how it works.

Long Time No Post

Right now the camera is charging. I have stuff to take pictures of like my cute little stitch markers from the exchange. The yarn and book I got from Elann courtesy of my secret pal and a buttonhole bag that I made in the interim. I have currently laid aside all of my knitting projects to make my husband a felted haversack for a historical recreation event. I'm also working on a backpack for my mother in law and an army of choo-choo kitties for various people. So tommorow pictures of all my crafting mayhem.