Starting and Finishing

I've started a new project.

I know - you're all shocked, shocked you say (in your best Claude Rains imitation).

I started the Arrowhead Shawl using the Yummy Yarns UK Zoe sent me.


ALERT THE MEDIA - there's a nearly finished item on this blog - the Making Waves Briefcase by Chris Bylsma. I made a couple of modifications. I made it a bit longer and did not include the divider as I want this as a big bag rather than a briefcase. Since I decided to eliminate the divider, I did I-cord all the way around the top of the bag. Otherwise, if one uses the divider, the I-cord is only on the 2 long edges/sides of the bag. This is made from stash - Cascade Pastaza.


I hope to felt this bag this coming weekend. When I knit this again, I'll make the carpet bag size.

We had our first guild meeting after the summer break. Our guest speaker was Cat Bordhi. I really would like to take a class from her - funny and informative.



When I was in Minnesota, while I started my visit at the State Fair, I ended in a much nicer place - one that is especially easier on the arteries - especially compared to a deep-fried twinkie.

If you're ever in the neighborhood, I would suggest a stop at Three Kittens Needle Arts. When I was last at this store, it still belonged to the former owner and was in a different location. What a change a few years makes!









They've got a good selection, a great space, and places to sit and knit.

Plus - really - who can resist the name?

Guilty Pleasures

So the other day, there was a little yellow slip in the mail that said the post delivery person had tried to deliver a package. I picked up the package the next day on my way to work. That package sat in my office taunting me all day. Only the fact that I was in-and-out all day kept me from tearing into it.

My heart did a little Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bou-quet) skip when I saw the postal label. Royal mail.



The excitement builds! The package is from Woolbird (Zoe) as part of the Guilty Pleasures/Good Karma swap.


Can you believe the bounty?


The card she sent is a magnet.


The cats wouldn't leave the package alone, so before I could look at everything in the package, I had to hand out the catnip mice Zoe sent.



Sheep clips!


Montezuma's No. 1 Blend Real Chocolate for Drinking.


Cedarwood & Lemon and Orange Spice handmade soap from Saffron Barr.


She made a beautiful felted envelope in which she placed...


the earrings and stitch markers she also made!


She also made this cowl. (Before taking this photo, I had no idea how hard it is to take a photo of one's self.)


Aren't the colors gorgeous?


The pattern in relief against a window.


And we're still not done!

This is her own handspun - Falkland wool 3 ply with gold thread. It's gorgeous greens, reds, browns with gold specks shining through. Any ideas for patterns worthy of this yarn?


The next is Cariad Yarn's Flimstone Bay in color Celebrate - 80% lambswool, 10% angora, and 10% cashmere.


This is Yummy Yarns UK's Alpaca/Lambswool in color Cuddle Up - a beautiful 4 ply fingering.


This is Posh Yarn's Sylvia in color Ragtime - 50% merino and 50% silk. I can't even begin to describe the colors. Wow!


She also sent an issue of Yarn Forward Magazine and a brochure on Jane Austen's Winchester. Now I've another city on my list of places I'd like to visit.

Blanket On A Stick

Part of our weekend was spent here...



where you could get anything deep-fried...


(including a Twinkie which I admit I was not brave enough to try)...


and anything on a stick...




including lottery tickets.


This was only a small portion of the submitted hand knitted items. There were also separate sections or displays for crocheted items, machine knitted items, weaving, and spinning.


Some of my favorite submissions. (Click to enlarge as it was difficult to take photos of items behind glass display cases.)




On the home knitting front -
the never-ending baby blanket hot off the sticks. The pattern still had two more rows of hearts to go. I decided to finally stop. This is 6 1/2 skeins of Cascade 220 superwash.



OK, it's not on a stick, but doesn't it sort of look that way with DH standing behind it?

Fall In A Box

A box arrived on our doorstep today. This was just the bright spot I needed after the last couple of weeks.

Skedaddleedo, you didn't realize it, but the box arrived just in time for our 7th wedding anniversary. Maybe, just maybe I'll share the goodies with DH.



This was a secret swap and boy, did she do a good job of researching. Stuffed in a box (thank goodness for flat rate) was a couple of Georgia travel guides, a Georgia map, a magnetic shopping list (love those!), Crunch 'n Munch, Butter Rum Nips, vanilla tea, a Georgia apple, and a cinnamon vanilla candle.

And that's not all.

This little box contained


these gorgeous stitch markers she made.


There were witch napkins - love these!


And look at the gorgeous yarn! It's Laines du Nord Korall Fancy - a shrink resistant 100% merino. The colors are truly fall colors. She also sent along the pattern for Diagonal Lace Scarf.


Now, there's a reason the stitch markers are still in the plastic bag. Take a close look at the top picture again. See the little knit items on the Crunch 'n Munch box? Those are little knitted candy corn filled with catnip. Let me tell you, I don't remember much about Georgia from geography class, but I can tell you that they grow some potent catnip down there. I could barely get the box opened and the cats were going crazy. It took a number of tries to even get the photo without a cat head or paw in the shot. I didn't dare take the stitch markers out of the bags for photos.




I think Skedaddleedo did an incredible job - especially considering this was swap on a budget. Many thanks!