Hoppy Belated Easter!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter!  I was looking forward to doing an Easter Egg hunt with Antonio, but his dad had him this past weekend so I just got to give him his Easter basket and clean his mouth and hands of chocolate.....ha, ha!

The good news is that it made for some great knitting time!  Last week, I ordered some yarn from a friend.  I think you have heard me talk about Stacie from MustStash podcast and she owns MustStashSop.  She has some Perfect Sock yarn (and I do mean it is perfect) in a colorway called Anna & Elsa from the new Disney movie called "Frozen".  Well, Celeste is obsessed with this movie and loves all the songs and everything.  So I got some of this yarn and I wanted to make Celeste and her mother a matching pair of socks.

This yarn is my new favorite sock yarn....it is so scrumptious to knit with...I love it!  I ordered the yarn on Tuesday and had it Wednesday (Thank you Stacie!!!!).  I cast on that night and I finished the first sock on Saturday evening.  I was even knitting on them during bike night....Jaime spoils me and lets me take my knitting and a chair to events like this......I was going to do them two at a time, but I could not bear to break this perfect yarn....So I started the second one in pretty much the same spot of the yarn!.  And Stacie put in a snowflake stitch marker with a lobster claw that is too cute.  I put the first sock on a size small sock blocker so you can see it stretched out...but it is just a kids's size sock with an almost 3" leg.  I really think Celeste will love these.  I hope to finish the second sock this week.

I also finished my Hiya Hiya Diamondoid socks....in the Mochren (orange) colorway in wollmeise twin sock yarn.  I love them.

I plugged away a little on the Silver Fern Scarf for the first leg of the Miss Babs Knitting tour....I only have 24 more repeats and I will be done.....which is a good thing because I need it done before the end of April......the new craziness in my life is another shawl.....yup, you heard me right.  Darlene was on facebook one night and found this pattern and tagged me and then a few others commented to make it an official KAL for our SNB group so who am I to say no?  So I said Yes!  The pattern is called Spire and it is by Leila Raabbe.  I am using a skein of Wollmeise lace in the Confident Colorway....Darlene and I started during lunch today.  It is a bit fidly to start.  Mine is not even the size of a quarter yet.  You have to do a circular cast on and then you start off with only 8 stitches...but I am determined to get this baby going!

I know it sounds like I always blame these bright ideas on Darlene.  While this shawl was her fault, sometimes it is me and she goes along willingly....this time, not only did she go along willingly....she made us each special project bags to put this project in.....and, she is offering up a set of these project bags to one lucky winner of the KAL.  The bags are soooooooo cute and have matching zipper pulls!  There was one lady that really wanted to make the Leaves of Grass Shawl instead so we made the KAL to include pretty much any pattern from the Brooklyn Tweed LOFT Collection.....so if any of you out there want to win these two cute bags or just want to be crazy like me and start another shawl.....please feel free to join us!!!!  You can always make a hat or gloves, but try to challenge yourself and make something from the collection that is challenging for you!

These Bags by AwesomeGrannie are the best ever....and remember, there should be an announcement about Darlene, aka AwesomeGrannie, really soon!

Oh....and I have a stash enhancement......I heard about a lady name Cate that teaches Tibetan woman in China's Qinghai Province how to hand spin in China.  She has lots of hand spun yarn at reasonable prices.  I ended up getting some Helix, and while this is a mill spun, the dying is just beautiful.  The color is called Autumnal and it is no secret that it is the color of yarn that was calling my name....perfect pops of burnt orange all around.  The shop is called Infinite Twist....it is interesting to read about and see the pictures of the women spinning the yarn.....

Oh, and the last yarn related item of the week....do you remember going to the library and having to go to the catalog to find the book you wanted and where it was located?  And they had all those cards in those drawers......well, if anyone knows where all the libraries disposed of those card cabinets or a carpenter that can make me one....here is the best use ever for them.....I wish I had one!

I also have to brag just a bit.....remember I told you Paige was going to Barber College?  Well, she graduated back in February....but she was just recently able to take her practical exam (the March class was full) and she passed.....she has applied for her license (they really just want you to send them money) and she should have her license this week......I am soooooo proud of her.  I took her out to eat at her favorite restaurant last Tuesday.....She posted her test and a shout out to me on her Instagram.....I love this girl so much!!!!

Well, I think that is pretty much all I have for this week......I leave you with Aunty Acid......

Happy Happy Happy Knitting everyone.......

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!  How has everyone's week been?  Mine has been grand!  Last week I told you that I finished the Waves Scarf...well, I got it blocked too....I love the stitch definition!  The second picture best captures the color of the scarf/yarn.

It appears I finished it just in time too.....guess what I got in the mail?  The Strickmich!Club package number 2.....it is delightful!

The Welthase yarn is delightful to knit with...it is soooooo soft and squishy!  I took the skeins home to wind them (mine and Darlene's...remember, she is a member of the club too) and she went home and sewed us custom bags just for this project.....remember, I am Darlene's sewing guinea pig so if you ever see something wrong on a sewn bag she made for me....no worries....I love them any way she sews them for me....Here is the yarn and the bags (the small bag has some upside down material)......

Let me tell you how awesome these bags are....I posted them on the Strickmich!Club forum and a lady that is also a member of the group loved then so much, she ordered some from Darlene.....this might have a little bit to do with the soon to come announcement about Darlene...but my lips are still semi-sealed......

I actually want to give a HUGE shout out to Paula Henderson in Tyler Texas......I found out that she reads my blog (we first got to know each other through the first shipment of this club).  In fact, she knew about this blog where Darlene made me the Eiffel Tower Pink Sock Sack!  She placed an order with Darlene for 3 bags.....the bags above (large and small matching) and a sock sack.  Thank you Paula for reading my blog and the awesome order of bags from Darlene!!!!  

The last comment on the Strichmich!Club is my current progress on the latest project....

This past Saturday evening, Jaime and I went to a Hot Rod Car Show.....Back in October of last year, Jaime bought a 1972 Chrysler Scamp.....it is the perfect orange color!  Well, we took the scamp to hot rod night at Soda Pops in Boerne.....it was awesome because Jaime brought me a folding table and chair....I sat in the corner and knitted on my socks (that match the car) and gabbed with the girls while the guys did car talk.....

One of the guys could not believe I was just sitting there knitting....he said "Really?" and I said "Really!"  A good friend of mine, Julie, came out too....I was able to give her the beautiful baby blanket for her grand daughter and she made me this awesome cup....I love it!  It is perfect burnt orange color....Thank you Julie!!!!!

I also got quite a bit of knitting done on the Miss Bab's knitting tour project number 1.....Silver fern.  I have the 1st 1/2 done and have cast on from the other end and am on the second color from that at....I am loving the way this is turning out.

I also got the yarn to start my friend's son's Dr Who Scarf.....I am using this pattern, for the Season 12 scarf....but I cast on 56 stitches instead of 66...it is 10 inches wide and I am sure it will block wider.....so far I only have 8 rows done...but hey, it is started!  I will probably need more yarn later, but this is a great start!

Lastly, I have a little bit of braggin' to do on Jaime....I got to do NOTHING but KNIT on Sunday and I loved every bit of it....he BBQ'd some awesome ribs....I brought some for lunch and I had 3 or 4 ppl stop by my desk to drool at them.....I know they do not look all that appetizing in the bag...but trust me....they were delish!  Thank you Jaime!  :)

Well, that is really all I have for this week......as always, have a great week and Happy Happy Happy Knitting!

Allergies Go Away

I am afraid to say I am late again at posting my newest blog post....so sorry!  Antonio has been sick and I really think it is the allergies.  It is not cedar fever, but it must be oak fever because that is what has been really high lately.  Even I have been suffering a bit with watery eyes and itchy nose.  So Antonio and I stayed home Monday and Tuesday of this week.  Yesterday we went to HEB to get some medicine for him...some homeopathic cough medicine and can you believe that Allegra makes a "Children's" formula...and it covers children only 2 years old.

He is doing better today and is with his other Grandma today (because I had to get to work).  I did have some good knitting time when he was not clinging to me to be cuddled.

I started a new shawl....I am on row 10...on row 9 is a stitch called a nupp...I think it is from estonian knitting...let me just say it is not natural...because on row 10, you have to p7tog.....no, that is not a typo....purl SEVEN together.....it is very hard and makes me want to scream....I will be happy when I am past that part....but I know this shawl will be worth it...it is a gorgeous shawl and I am really loving the colors of this knit picks yarn.

I worked quite a bit on my waves scarf...I just started skein 3 of 4 so I am 1/2 way done.

This past Friday Jaime went out of town on a long motorcycle ride so I was home and knitted only on my socks....I got quite a bit done (at least I think I did).....almost done with gusset on first sock.

Then, there is the Miss Babs scarf....I am on the 3rd color of 7 colors.....so according to my handy dandy chart I made myself, I am 33.93% done...yippee!!

Last August I blogged about a yarn bowl I got myself.....well, I love it!  And recently the maker of that yarn bowl asked me how I liked it...I realized I did not use it very often because I am afraid to break it....so I decided I did not want to be afraid anymore...and I want to use it (what good is it if I do not use it very often)....So I have plans to use it much more often...doesn't my yarn look awesome in it?

What I did not mention is....back in September or October of last year I asked this same lady to make some coffee mugs I saw on a show called "Mountain Men"....the mugs were for Jaime....he loves them....so I want share a picture of the mugs and also point you to Karan's etsy shop...she sells pots and glass and is welcome to take special orders.

I loved these mugs so much...Karan had a second set that she saved for backup that I ended up buying....They will not spill coffee!!!  

I was also contacted about doing some commission work......it is a good fried of mine from Facebook...I have not seen her in about 10 years or so, but I would love to knit this item for her...it is actually for her 12 year old son....he wants a dr who scarf.  She sent me this link and I am going to see if I can get all the yarn and knit this up for him....I told her that it would take a while so not to be in a hurry.....you know how I am with my ba-jillion projects at one time.....I actually did a little bit of yarn organizing in my room....I have 2 bins full of wollmeise yarn....I knew I had a lot but I did not know I had that much...I really need to go on a yarn diet (she says after saying she is going to buy yarn for her friend's son's scarf).

Anyway....sorry I was late...but I leave you with a cute picture of Antonio playing with my stitch markers.....

Happy Happy Knitting everyone!

And we have a contract!!!!!

I am so excited that there is a contract on my house for sale.  I was very excited that it only took a little over 2 weeks.....every month I have to make that mortgage payment, I cringe!  I hope posting it here (and I already posted on FB) does not jinx me!

What has everyone been up to?  I have been plugging away on 3 main things....and they are all KAL's.  There is my Hiya Hiya Waves Scarf KAL.....my Hiya Hiya Diamondoid Socks KAL....and the HyperCrazy KAL for the San Antonio SNB.

We had a tiny party for the Ravellenics at SNB this past weekend.  I made out like a bandit....but I did all of the number generations in front of ppl so they could see it was not rigged......however, there was an awkward moment....before the party started, Shannon was admiring some gradient lace yarn....and I said how pretty it was and now if I could only rig it to where I win it.....then, when my number comes up on the random number generator.....Shannon was like "Weren't you just saying you were going to rig it where you won that?"  Suspicious awkward moment!  I left feeling a little guilty (like ppl really thought I did rig it somehow) but I know I did not and hey.....I have always said in the past that I never win anything....this time all the luck changed and I won a lot....maybe next year someone else will want to take over....I can only wish!

So, we had 9 categories....Cross Cowling, Short Track Shawls, Sock Hockey, WIP's dancing, cable cross country, Junior/Modular Relay, Lace Luge, Single Skein Speed Skate and Stash Skeleton.  Here are the winners names along with a picture of the prizes:

1.  Cross Cowling - Winner is Sara, SerineKat on Ravelry

2.  Short Track Shawls - Winner is Danna, danna217 on Ravelry

3. Sock Hockey - Winner is Steph from MustStash Podcast, SupaSteph on Ravelry

4.  WIP's Dancing - I won, knitphomaniac13 on Ravelry

5.  Cable Cross Country - I won by default, I was the only entrant, knitphomaniac13 on Ravelry

6.  Junior/Modular Relay - Winner is Erin, ceres18 on Ravelry (there are 5 skeins, 3 more in the bag)

7.  Lace Luge - I won, knitphomaniac13 on Ravelry

8. Single Skein Speed Skate - Winner is Steph from MustStash Podcast, SupaSteph on Ravelry

9. Stash Skeleton - I won, knitphomaniac13 on Ravelry

It was tons of fun!  I also want to Thank all the Raveletes, and also a big Thank You to Yarn Barn of SA, Yarnivore, and Inskein Yarns for all their awesome donations!!!!!

I have a couple of stash enhancements...back in February I signed up for the Expression Fiber Arts Insider's yarn Club for March...the yarn was going to be a mystery and based off of one of three possible pictures, there was a gorgeous orange in one of them so I ordered and crossed my fingers....well, I got a BRIGHT b pink and blueish/turquoise and purplish color...I am not sure about this yarn...it is super soft but possibly too bright for me.  It may be a KAL prize for SNB in the future...I'm just not sure.....

My birthday was a couple of weeks ago and a friend of mine got me a gift card to Miss Babs.....so I ordered some Yummy Yarn in Shining City colorway and two small skeins of the Lip Gloss colorway for socks.  I do love Miss Babs Yarn....the first packages of her arm chair tour should be mailing this week.  My bags are packed and I cannot wait to find out where we are going!

I have a couple more stash enhancements.....when I went to Inskein Yarns this past Friday night to pick up their donations...LeiLani from Heavenly Fibers was there....and on the floor was the most perfect colored yarn....I was drooling....turns out she dyed this yarn just for me.....Can you say, "I love you"?  Well, I love LeiLani....thank you so much.  I bought two skeins of the "Hook 'em" colorway, in a gradient!

Now the next enhancement is not really 'stash'.  You have all heard me talk about Darlene....well, she loves stitch markers from Vanessa, owner of Vintage Rose on Etsy...She told me Vanessa was going to start selling necklaces with a large lobster claw that we can use as lanyards (I have to wear my badge around work all day).  I special ordered one with two balls of yarn and no leaf charm and it came in....I love it! Thank you Vanessa for such great items!

Lastly, a friend of mine from SNB had this cute little tin with hand cream in it that she got from a yarn store in Florida.  I loved it so I started looking for it online....she said it was like $24.90 or $24.95 for this tiny tin...well, I found some for $2.49 so I assumed it was a little sample size...so I ordered a few, then my friend was ordering more so I asked her to order me a few more....they came in and they are FULL SIZE....for $2.49.   I really love them and now I have at least one for each project bag....Thank you Carol for turning me on to these awesome hand creams that smell like beautiful jasmine!

Now I have a tip for you.....how many of you out there use lifelines?  I admit I a not that good about using them and I usually regret it later...but you have to go find some thin yarn or thread somewhere and it is never handy and well, too much of a hassle....till now!  My friends Suzi and Evelyn came up with these cute crochet thread holders....you can put the little ziplock baggie in your notions bag and always have an array of colors to use as a lifeline, or pop one of the small individual ones into a project bag and go....now you will never be without yarn/thread for a lifeline!  Lifelines are like umbrellas, you will only need them when you don't have one.

Well, that is all I have.....I am not off to find my ruby red slippers, and tap them three times with my eyes closed........

Happy Happy Happy Knitting!