Happy Memorial Day!

Well I certainly took advantage of this long weekend to relax and be lazy. We did a ton of gardening and went to the Jones Beach Air Show yesterday. We spent all day at the beach, and I was so exhausted from doing virtually nothing all day but sit my butt in a beach chair, that I slept from 6pm to 6am! A whopping 12 hours! I guess I really needed that! I didn't get much knitting done, but I started another pair of socks, and got about two inches done.

I also took a trip to a new yarn store (new to me anyway), Granny's Yarn Shop. I had been dying to go there for a while now, but it's like 40 minutes away from me and I hadn't been able to get a free Saturday to make the trip. Well I finally did and it was worth the wait! Great selection and very welcoming! I met Katy and Granny and both were so helpful and nice. This is now my ONLY LYS! Woo Hoo! I originally went to get another long circ for magic loop, but they were out, so I settled for two 24" circs and some cool Trekking. Thanks Katy, the two circs are working out pretty good so far!

And speaking of magic loop, and why I went to get another circ for that purpose, my SP was at it again. She is so incredibly generous! Check this out!

turned into this:

First, the elusive Rebecca Baby & Kids mag, which I've been dying for, and is all that I hoped it would be. The patterns are gorgeous! I've also been meaning to try magic loop for socks, so I got the booklet, a size one Addi and GORGEOUS sock yarn. I CANNOT wait to knit myself some socks!! I mean look at this:

All my favorite colors, I'm dying! The best part is that my SP is just the SWEETEST person; we have a great time emailing each other. I don't know if I can wait until the end to find out who she is. We seem to be very similar people, and I am going to figure out a way to meet her in person some day!! She deserves a hug for the chocolate alone! The Lime was delicious and I'm halfway through the Mint...gotta ration it ya know...

Is it abnormal to weep at the sight of chocolate?

*sniff* Secret Pal, I love you man!

Tell me, who'll stop the rain......

Yeesh, it's been so gray and rainy here the past couple of days, and it's supposed to be like this all week. I feel like I live in Seattle. Actually, I wish I was in Seattle, better than being around here these days. This weather is just so freaking depressing....not to mention work sucks these days. My boss is all disgruntled, and there is nothing worse than working for someone who bitches & complains - ok correction, someone other than ME who bitches & complains ALL DAY LONG and tells you how they are going to QUIT everyday (so go already!). Him and the rain are just sucking the life right out of me. *sigh* I need to be on a sandy beach right now. Can't take vacation time though, got to save up for the adoption travel. *sigh*....

Went to the bookstore and couldn't even get inspired by any knitting books. Actually the Knitting Rules book looks cute, but I didn't buy it. I also found "Big Girl Knits" which got rave reviews at Amazon, but I don't know...I don't know if I am THAT big. My bust is about 45-46" which is bigger than the biggest size of most "regular" patterns, and is the hardest part of me to fit. I guess I could make the smallest size out of this book and be okay. I kind of like the simpler pullover and cardigan patterns here...but I'll have to take a closer look and see if I can make any of these without spending a bazillion dollars on yarn. Bleah, I'm just not motivated people....

I do have some FO's to share. The baby gifts are finally done, AND before her original due date of May 31st I might add. She had to go and have the baby 3 weeks early, how rude!! But she is a cutie pie..maybe I'll go see her this weekend, new babies do wonders for a bad mood. Here are the pics:
Pattern: Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater
Source: Knitting on the Net
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby in Pink; way less than 1 skein (maybe half?)
Needles: Size 4 straights & dpns
Comments: Awesome pattern, quick and cheap to knit.

Pattern: Sweet Dreams Afghan
Source: Absolutely Gorgeous Baby Afghans by Terry Kimbrough - Book 4
Leisure Arts
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Pink
Hook: Size H metal crochet hook.
Comments: My favorite blanket pattern, I make it all the time.

I know, I know, they're acrylic. But trust me, mom doesn't know the first thing about fiber, and is more interested in washability than quality. She'll love them, trust me.

That's it for now. Going to bed. Then get up for work. Then listen to my boss bitch. Then go home. Then go to bed... ah you know the drill...

Cash Free SP Revealed

Well my Cash Free SP is none other than the funny and creative Bezzie. I got my final gifty from her last week and it was just great:
I got an AWESOME baby sock booklet and her extra sock yarn, perfect for my sock knitting project. Starfish notepad and cards, "S" post-it notes, a great handpainted pink bowl with flowers (man, I hope we get a girl), adorable soaps with a lamb/yarn on them, and a *ahem* half empty box of Nestle Crunch Sticks (yum).

It was really fun participating in the first Cash Free Swap. Bezzie was creative and thoughtful and pretty darn hysterical. Viva El Cheapo! Usted es una mujer muy interesante! Now I have to just finish up a few things for my secret pal's last package. I am a little behind, I hope she'll find the contents worth the wait!

I did also find a suitable vase for my needles. It matches my little seagull too, that's a plus. Now to find a place to store the dpns. I have to check out the SnB needle case and see if I can adapt it to the smaller needles. That will involve blowing the cobwebs off the sewing machine, but whatever!

Secret Pal 8 Questionnaire

Okay here are the answers to my questionnaire!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I've only knitted with acrylic, cotton and wool. So with that said, I like wool. But I'm open to trying pretty much anything, even acrylic if its very soft. Don't like the novelty yarns. How many eyelash scarves can a person have? Maybe if it were mixed with something else for say a cool bag or funky scarf, just not too hairy...

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Right now they are in a drawer and in a box. I've been looking for a cool vase to display them in.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting seriously for about 2 years. I would say I'm somewhere between advanced beginner and intermediate

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I like peppermint smelling stuff. I also like scents like hazelnut coffee, caramel...desserty kind of smells, particularly for candles. Also like tropical smells like coconut, pinapple and plumeria.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
YES!!! If it has sugar in it, I'll eat it!!
I like anything chocolate and have been recently trying all the fancy organic chocolate bars out there. Love peppermint with chocolate and raspberry with chocolate. Would love to try new and interesting stuff.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I am an advanced crocheter. I am crafty in general, I paint a little with acrylics on wood. I don't spin, and really not interested either.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Adult alternative I guess you would call it...Huge Counting Crows fan (they're touring so if you have tickets in the NE let me know!!), DMB, Mike Doughty, Alanis Morisette...love music from the 90's. CD's would be great...love to download stuff to the ipod.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Love pink. But rich pinks, like raspberry and deep magentas. Love purples, blues, teals and aquas too. Tropical colors that go with the olive skin, you know?...Not so much into red, yellows and greens.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Live in a typical suburban home near the water with my husband of 9 years and our 2 tonkinese cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
NO PONCHOS. I don't wear hats either. But definitely scarves and mittens.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I knit mostly baby stuff...seems everyone is having them around here and I am constantly making gifts. I am also currently into knitting socks. I'd like to make myself a sweater but it's hard to find a pattern that fits me where the yarn doesn't cost a bazillion dollars.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A baby sweater, a baby blanket (crochet) and socks

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
ABSOLUTELY!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I just bought the Denise circ set,so I am currently into circs. I have alot of bamboo, I found they were great to learn on cause it kept the stitches on the needles. I am now learning the value (and speed) of metal.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, but I am seriously contemplating a ball winder...Husband arms are completely unreliable and tend to be whiny.

17. How did you learn to knit?
Taught myself from books and the internet. The aha moment came from Stitch & Bitch where I finally got how to correct mistakes.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
I have a toddler sweater that's about a year old but other than that I try not to start new projects until I finish the ones I'm working on.

19. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas

20. Is there anything that you collect?
I like to buy stuff with crabs, starfish or seagulls on them...our house is kind of beachy so I tend to buy stuff like that. And plus, I'm a crab, in more ways than one.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Some smaller circs for sock knitting would be great, the Denise set starts at size 5. Funky straights are always cool. I don't have any subscriptions (patterns never fit me), although I am trying to find the Rebecca baby magazine.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
This magic loop thing intrigues me...

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes I am! My feet are 10" long; 8.5" around . Wow, they sound like canoes when you write it like that.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
July 15th