Secret Pal 9 Strikes!!!!!

I was soo excited to get a package tonight from my Secret Pal!!! I was a little concerned at first cause the package was soaked on one corner... but thanks to the bubble wrap lining nothing got damaged. Luckily the Siamese Security Agent was on the job to inspect. Thank goodness cause check out the loot!!!

My pal got my the new edition of the book of Gnomes!! I've wanted this book since I was a kid.. and just never got around to getting it. Everytime I would see a Gnome I would remember this book that I only signed out of the library a trillion times! So the point where the librarian would say "Michelle, just brought this book back last week. Let someone else have a turn." : )
I love the pictures and Gnome information. If I see one in the woods I need to know these things. For years I looked for them... still looking. This book makes them seem soo real and possible.I almost ordered this book from my book club this weekend but I forgot all about it! Everytime my ceramics teacher gets a new Gnome to paint.. I snatch it up first! I painted one this Summer for my mom, I'll have to look for the picture. I can't wait to show the book to my 5 year old nephew! Well not to overshadow the rest of my goods. I got some gorgeous yarn from Cherry Tree Hill. It's perfect cause I have a sweater in my WIP pile that is nearly the exact colorway and I get off my butt and finish it I could have matching socks too! Also in the loot pile was a a Black (my favorite color of sheep ) Sheep measuring tape from Lantern Moon! Soo cool. A really pretty bookmark, that I almost didn't see in the book and awesome Gnome stationary and a notecard. The stationary is such a coincidence because I was just taking some pictures of my too large, lifetime love, obsession collection of stationary. Its true I love stationary... and I have some very old pieces of stationary from when I was in grade school. Leftover envelopes and sheets of paper... and I know where each came from and theres a story to be told behind all. More on that later...
But Secret Pal you rock! Thanks Secret Pal!! I hope you get spoiled too!!

ps. Did you notice the tissue paper matches Berkley's new collar?? How cute. >^- - ^<
Meow Meow

Stash Enhancements

Today I thought I'd post about my new stash enhancements in the last couple of weeks or so. I got the latest copy of Interweave Knits of course. Some neat patterns but nothing I absolutely must knit right now. What I have really enjoyed is the new book Modern Classics by Louisa Harding. There is definately some things in there are now at the top part of the "to-do" list. Especially the sweater on the front. I was searching through my stash to see what I had for possibilities for this pattern. I found that the gauge requirements of the pattern and my Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool is the same! I think I have enough too for the my size. Of course I havent swatched yet but hopefully I can find something in the stash that will work! Of course none of this is happening until AFTER Christmas. Or at least when my presents are finished.
Also I signed up to knit a Meathead for Larissa which I will be starting this weekend and probably finishing. More on that as it happens.

Also new to the stash are 10 skeins of Himilayan Sari Silk yarn. I got it from ebay. Turns out the seller was right here in my area. I able to drive over and pick it up and save on the shipping costs! Then theres 18 skeins of Elanns Sierra Aran in Blackberry Wine, 1 skein in Garnet and 13 skeins in Walnut. I plan to use the Blackberry Wine in a cabled pullover or cardigan... so I had to make sure there would be enough. I'm glad I got it when I did, that color is soldout. The Walnut is gone too, thats for a cabled V neck vest. It will go so nice with some blouses I have. I thought I'd use the Garnet (which looked darker on line) with any leftovers and make a scarf or mittens to match. The three colors looked good together online.. but now the Garnet seems kinda bright next to the others. I guess I thought it would be more of a Raspberry color. Oh yeah and cause I had finally spent enough at Elann I qualified for the $50.00 credit, 17 skeins of the Blackberry was FREE !!! How awesome is that! Oh and I used some bonus points from my book club and got the book for $12.00. Christmas is around the corner.. I have to economize ( and I dont feel guilty this way ) .

Knit Mitt Kit Swap Questionaire

The Questionnaire:What are your favorite colors?
Blues, Greens, Purples, Deep Burghandy/Wine shades. I also like warm browns too.

Are you a new mitt knitter?
I've knit a couple pairs of mittens.

How long have you been knitting mittens?
a year..maybe longer

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn?
I like both.

What fibers do you prefer in mitten yarn?
I like wool /wool blends or at least a soft wool. It drives me nuts if they are too itchy. Superwash is always good.

Where do you usually knit mittens?
anywhere/everywhere

How do you usually carry/store small projects?
I had differant sorts of things from bags to baskets. Whatever is handy.

What are your favorite mitten patterns?
I've only used one so far.

What are your favorite mitten knitting techniques?
I have none so far

What new techniques would you like to try?
Fair Isle or any multi color pattern

What are your favorite needles for knitting mittens?
I've been using wood dbl points.

What are some of your favorite yarns?
wool, merino, wool/alpaca

What yarn do you totally covet?
no preferance.. I want it all!

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object?
none that I know of/found yet

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)?
I'm partial to wood, bamboos are ok. I use mostly circulars and dblpt. so straights kill my wrists.
If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be?
something practical and soft. Like maybe merino, wool/alpaca blend.

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack?
anything in chocolate and Jelly Belly Jelly Beans

Whats your favorite animal?
cats

Would you prefer super warm mittens or something more like fingerless mitts?
I like both.

If you were a color what color would you be?
deep blue

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature?
a blue/green mountain lake with Pine trees and wildflowers all around at the base of a snow capped Mountain

Do you have a wishlist?
Yes, Amazon. Its not much


Anything else you like to share with the group today?
This will be fun.

Still making Socks

I'm still plugging away on the socks for Christmas. I'm slow when it comes to socks.. or they seem slow anyway. My dad, brother and nephew are getting some simple basic designs for socks. I find that any pattern takes me forever to do with socks. Mostly cause I never get the chart/pattern memorized. I have to keep checking every row or few stitches to see what I'm supposed to be doing. Slowly they take form.
I started a worsted weight wool boot sock for my brother on Friday. I got past the cuff today.
I started the second sock for my dad. The other one at the heel waiting for me to pick up stitches. I thought that by working on them both I could keep the second sock syndrome at bay. Today is all about the cuff on that sock too. I cast on and did the cuff in the size 1 needles for those. When that is done I can maybe at least cast on for a mate for my nephews.