Whoduknit Swap package

Thank you Karen!! Look what the postman delivered Christmas Day:

The book: "The Mammoth book of history of Whodunnits"; looks very interesting, a magnetic butterfly bookmark, a pattern for a Ballband Purse (should be very fun to make, I love the dishcloths), lots of notecards (love the knit knit knit one) small tin of candy, my very favorite smelling candle, a green dishcloth and 2 postcards, one from Door County, WI and one from the Broofield Zoo. Karen is from Chebanse IL.

Reading

So, I finally finished the "It felt random" tote last night; don't feel quite up to starting to finish the mitts yet, as I have to start making dinner soon; so I'm sitting on the couch, reading a book (something by The Yarn Harlot) hubby says "Aren't you going to knit??"

Update:

Here is the finished tote, wondering if I should shrink it somemore? It is going to be my library book bag.

TA-DA 2 finished mitts!!! The first is big and loose, the second looks much better, though it is about 1" smaller. uugghh. Oh well, first try.

This leads me to how I am going to approach socks...I am going to try making 2 socks at the SAME TIME on some really long circular needles. I am printing 6 pages of instructions...go to the "My first toe ups" blogs to see what I'm taking about.

HA

Star Wars Horoscope for Taurus

You are a dependable creature, but you do tend to be stubborn.You like material possessions and love to win at games.You hate being bossed around or losing.You may succumb to your physical strength when upset. Star wars character you are most like: Chewbacca

What Is Your Star Wars Horoscope?

Hodge Podge Knitting from the last month

I completed many small projects this past month Here they all are:

2 Button Hole Purses (Mason Dixon)
2 Felted Boxes (Mason Dixon)
4 1-Hank hats (Plymouth Yarns)
2 dishcloths (Winterwonderland Swap)
1 1/2 mitts
3/4 of an "It felt random" tote

Must finish these last 2 items, need to learn how to make socks and a sweater. Oh, plus 2 new purse patterns I found and some felted bowls...help me please!!!

Purses----Again

Well, my personal knitting projects have been put on hold, I need to make 2 purses by next Thursday. My LYS had no yarn, due to a big sale, so I ordered from Yarnies...well, 'tis the holiday season and the yarn took a week to arrive, cutting it close. Son #2 was home sick yesterday, so no errands got done, but I was able to make one purse and do about half on the second. I'll do the handles this weekend (between parties) and felt them next week, with delivery on Thursday. whew...

Waiting to mail my Winterwonderland package until after the holidays, it is going to England, and my partner is going away, so she said it would be better to wait.

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Literate Good Citizen You read to inform or entertain yourself, but you're not nerdy about it. You've read most major classics (in school) and you have a favorite genre or two.
Book Snob
Dedicated Reader
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Ok, I have tried numerous times and I cannot figure out the Html code to link to the site, though I copied everything they told me to...so, if you'd like to take the quiz, here is the website:

http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_kind_of_reader_are_you

Winterwonderland Swap

I received the most wonderful package yesterday!!! We came home from my husband's Christmas party; and there was a package in the front door; it was from my partner - Laurie. I received a lovely note, 2 dishcloths: the ever popular snowflake illusion in Spartan green and white, and a MasonDixon in Spartan green. (Can't see this one so well, it is sitting on my Green countertop). Also, some beautiful green stitch markers, a pound of Starbucks special Holiday blend, a sock calendar and Magic stripe yarn (now I have no excuse for not making socks) . Thank you so much Laurie!!!

Now I have to get on the ball and send my package. I've been on my partner's blog, yet I cannot find any clues as to what to send in the package. She is oversea's, so I really need to send it this week. The dishcloths are finished, its the little things that are not ready.

Holiday Survey

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?? hot chocolate, never had egg nog
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrap
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I switched to white lights a few years ago on both
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No
5. When do you put your decorations up?Just after Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Standing Rib Roast and Yorkshire Pudding
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Christmas Eve at our house with Oma and Opa Weishaar
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? We went to Oma and Opa's during the day on Christmas Eve, when we came home at 4:00 he'd already been to our house...nothing new on Christmas Morning
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? yes, lots of them, only Santa's and immediate family on Christmas Morning.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Lights and ornaments
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? love it, only before and on Christmas
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, but haven't for a long time...pretty silly for a Hockey Mom :)
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? All of the present I receive are special
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Spending time with family and friends!!
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? can't recall, but cookies are always good
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Spending time with my family
17.What tops your tree? Angel holding candle
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? both
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? The Christmas Song by Andy Williams, actually I love that entire album
20. Candy Canes! yuck or yummy – yum
21. Favorite Christmas Movie? When Harry met Sally....

Happy Holidays. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Busy Knitting

Well, it has been quite the busy week, knitting-wise.
I made 4, yes 4, cute little hats with Plymouth Handpainted yarn. The first hat took 2 hours, the next 3, only 1 hour each.
I also finished my dishcloth for the Winterwonderland swap, and started on my KAL December cloth.
Still working on the "It felt random tote", it is taking FOREVER.
That 2nd mitt is just sitting and waiting to be worked on and those darn socks...well, that could be New Year's Resolution; finally make socks :)
I sent my Whoduknit? Holiday package, but haven't heard from my partner to verify she received it. Still waiting to receive mine.

It is cold cold cold today, so glad we went and got our tree last Sunday, 67 and partly sunny. Next weekend starts the round of parties...Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

This was in the Sunday paper yesterday...so cute.

Well, I am off to the post office today, going to mail my Whoduknit Holiday Swap package.

Ta-Da

Here is one finished mitt :)

Fans

Well, it seems that I have fans out there that actually read this very uninteresting blog!! Thanks so much for making my day :)

Here is an update:

I received my very dark green felted purse from Becky. It is very nice, also received some light green cotton yarn, smelly soap, address book and tape measure (I must have mentioned my favorite color is GREEN)

Finished the first mitt, still have to make the mate and finish the thumb. I think I will do that tomorrow.

And finally, progress is being made on the "It felt random tote". Only 68 more rows to go. The colors are: purple, green (go figure), red and pink. Once felted I think they will fade/mellow out.

I have given up on washcloths for Teachers, they will receive felted box with Caribou Coffee gift card and Yankee Candles.

Still waiting on socks and sweater. Hopefully over Christmas break.

Update

Well, it seems I have too many things going on at once:

MDK Ballband dishcloth
It Felt Random Tote
Medium Felted Box
Mitts!!!! - yes, I finally got the hang of it, switched to bamboo needles and I'm doing much better. I'm done for the week, class isn't until Saturday, and I don't know how to proceed :)

Only one project completed, Blue Medium felted box.

Received partner for the Whoduknit Holiday Swap, just waiting on her reply as to which books she likes...

Oh, I did finish "The Hound of the Baskervilles", it was very good...but there is NO WAY I can start another project to coincide with the book, one of the above projects is going to have to do.

Next month's book is "A Christmas Guest" by Anne Perry, I have it on hold at the library.
Also sitting on the table; "Knit one Kill two" (or something close to that).

I hate Mitts

I have frogged them 3 times.
I have a stiff neck from leaning over trying to figure out how to knit with 3 (4) needles.
This is not fun.

On a better note, I am enjoying "The Hound of the Baskervilles".

Things to be done ie. KNIT

Well, busy all week, and not a thing to show for it, well, not really:

1-Delivered replacement purse for Deanna (done with purses)

2-Made (1) felted box for Teacher gift

3-Started on "It Felt Random"; you really should check it out, the directions are so funny. I'm hoping to use this as my "Library book bag"
http://turtlegirl76.blogspot.com/2006/03/it-felt-random-bag-pattern.html

4-Signed up for mitten-making class

5-Have yarn on hand for 2nd felted box for Teacher gift.

6-Started reading "The Hound of the Baskervilles" for November Whodunkit, I'm not even going to try and knit a project associated with the book, I have enough projects going...I've never read the book, so that is an accomplishment in itself; and since I started knitting feverishly this past June, I have not read a book (or done any scrapbooking).

7-Socks are still at the bottom of the list :)

Still waiting on:
partner for Whoduknit book/gift swap
partner for the MDK Winterwonderland swap
purse from Knitted purse swap

Knitting is addicting

Ok, what did I learn this weekend?? Knitters are enablers, if that makes any sense.

I found an entire world that I did not know existed out there. I have been reading other knitting blogs and found that they are swaps for just about anything!!!! I found out about a MDK dishcloth exchange and signed up this morning. This is in addition to the Whoduknit swap I signed up for last week. I think it is fun meeting all these new people.

Signed up for a mitten class at my LYS, going to go with my mom. Should be fun. That crosses one thing off my list: Learn how to make mittens.
That just leaves SOCKS.

I did it AGAIN

No, not the felting issue (though the replacement purse is currently in the wash and it's not shrinking UUGGGHHH).

Anyway. I went to a craft show yesterday, customer not vendor, and a friend said she like my purse. I offered it to her, she didn't respond. Her friend said she liked it too, I offered it to her and she took it. I was then left, holding the bag; a red paper bag. Now, I just need to find a home for the brown crooked purse.

My purse swap is ending this week, so I should have my purse from my partner, that is why I'm not rushing to make another one for myself.

Missed the sign up on a fun swap - Knit Mit. But I am in the other ones on Whoduknit.

Going to finish up those ball bands this week so I can move on.

Not much knitting

Not doing much knitting this week. I did receive my Yarnies order today, so I can start on the replacement purse for Deanna.

I started on teacher gifts, but I could not get that into the Ballband washcloths..the first one is just sitting there.

I did join another group, Whoduknit, you read a mystery and knit something pertaining to the book...don't know how that is going to work, but I'll try. This month's book is Hound of the Baskervilles. I also signed up to be in two or maybe it's three swaps in that group.

Halloween has come and gone...time to get ready for Turkey day :)

This would be son #1; costumes are just not so cute as they get older.

A tale of 3 purses

Ok, so today (and yesterday) I am very annoyed with all this purse making. I made sister's brown purse and everything was fine. I felted it and shipped it off, she is happy. I finished Deanna's purse and NOTHING HAS GONE RIGHT. I put it in the washer to felt it; somehow the handles got wrapped around the agitator-thingy and the poor purse strangled itself, this has NEVER happened to me before, 2nd trip through the washer it got straightened out (or so I thought). When it dried, one handle is longer than the other and one side is taller and it is all bent out of shape. Called Deanna, told her the problem, said I would try to fix....3rd trip through the washer, just smaller and tighter, BUT STILL CROOKED AND ONE HANDLE LONGER.UUUGGGHHH
So, this morning I took the purse so she could see it, not acceptable, which is fine, I wouldn't sell it to her as is, but I wanted her to see the colors. She did LOVE my green purse that I made from leftover yarn and bought it off my shoulder!! So I switched all my stuff to the still wet, very crooked brown purse and off I went.
Placed an order with Yarnies for new yarn to make a new purse. My head hurts and I have to go to work.
Here is the crooked purse and the green purse (my favorite, I'll just have to make another, this time with leftover purple yarn).
.

Monday Monday

Busy weekend, we got flu shots and haircuts, a couple of trips to the hockey rink and we were keepers of the class pet - Mr. Cutie - the hamster. He didn't do much, he just slept a lot.
Sending sister's package today, she is very anxious to receive her 2nd, YES, 2nd purse :)
Delivered Patrick's hat, he likes it, hopefully it will keep him warm this winter. Deanna's purse just needs handles and then off to be felted, then delivered by the end of the week. Maybe I'll make a trip to the LYS to pick up the yarn for the boxes for the teachers.

Had a nice dinner with my husband last night (NO KIDS) it was our 12th anniversary xoxo

........and the Tigers won!! so off to St. Louis we go (not us, the Tigers)