Thank You One Skein Pal!!!!

I returned from Maine yesterday to this nice OS surprise. I'm going to hang the angel in my classroom. I'll try to plant the lavender once it cools off a little. (Geeeezzzzz, it's hard to believe anything can grow in this heat.)

I really love the Luna Endless Summer yarn, and LOOK! - TWO skeins. Green and black are great together. I'm trying to think of something I can make with the 2 skeins or some way I can use this to enhance another project. Thank you so much Secret Pal.

Secret Pal 8 Contest Questions

Here are my answers for the Secret Pal 8 Contest:

1. What is your favorite season?

Fall or Winter. It's too $%&# HOT in Florida during the summer.

2. Where is or would be your favorite place in the world to take a vacation?

Maine, USA

3. If you could have any job in the world and not worry about finances (everything would be taken care of), which means you'd be doing something you actually like, what would it be?

Well, I love being a teacher, but I've always thought it would be cool to have Christiane Amanpour's job.

4. What is your favorite project to knit or crochet?

I love socks, fingerless gloves, mittens, and felted objects.

5. What is your favorite food - whether it be a main dish, dessert, snack, whatever?

Chocolate goes well with everything. So does red wine.

6. What is your favorite way to relax and unwind?

Knitting, of course. I also like walking, listening to my iPod, and geocaching.

Winters Gone Farm

Visiting these beautiful animals made me want to start my own alpaca farm. Sunday was "Open Farm Day" in Maine, so I herded the group (my husband and friends, Trish and Rick) together and convinced them that it would be worth the trip. They loved it! We visited the Winters Gone Farm in Wiscasset, Maine. It was delightful. We watched a video about alpaca, and earned our Alpaca Diploma signed by Snowball (above left) and Harry the dog. Then, we visited the store where I HAD to buy some yarn. (below) It's pictured here with some flowers from our yard in Maine.

Big thanks to my secret pals

First, I must send a belated thanks to my One Skein secret pal for the nice note and "Twining For You" sock pattern. I'm looking forward to finishing all these UFOs so I can give them a try.

Also, in the mail this week...a Chinatown surprise from my other secret pal. These are all little treats from NYC. The goodies were great fun. I had to wrestle my son for the Chinese gummies. Also included here: Issues of "The Village Voice" and "The Onion" as well as a groovy little tape measure. I heart NY! Thanks so much secret pal.

For my One Skein Pal

Before and After Felting...
Here's the One Skein project for my One Skein Secret Pal. Shockingly, it's finsihed early. I won't be sending it until August. It was another quick knit and fun to make. I really enjoyed picking out the buttons. I purchased three from my LYS, then added some vintage buttons I have in my collection. I really hope she likes it. I completely understand if she doesn't want to carry it as a clutch. It would also make a great bag for DPNs. I used two strands of Cascade 220 held together on size 13 needles. I also added two additional rows above the opening. I picked up this tip from fellow bloggers who thought the top was too thin with only two rows above the opening.

Fetching Left Finished

Fetching Red left is finished. The most hilarious part of this FO shoot was trying to play hand model while my son played photographer. Even more hilarious would be the look on anyone's face who saw me wearing this coat in Florida in July.

These knit up VERY quickly. If I knit another pair, I think I would knit them more tightly across the hand and top bind off, rather than more loosely as is called out in the pattern. They are oh, so soft.

Join the Fetching KAL here. Knitty Pattern can be found here.

Fetching Progress

This is so much fun to knit. I decided to go with red (since it's the "new black" which means it will go with everything). My LYS did not have the Debbie Bliss, but Louise Herding Kashmir Aran gave me the same gauge. So far, so good.

Flip Flops for Winter

The Flip Flap Mittens (pattern by Tatyana Mirer) are finally finished. I felt compelled to get these done before embarking on the "Fetching" KAL. These are the mittens I started at the BAKG Retreat back in April. I had to put them on hold when I ran out of yarn. Now I have to wait months to wear them. :-( Oh well, one less project to haunt me. They'll be so cozy when I visit Maine.

Is she out of her mind, or what?????

I can't help it. The Knitty Fetching Gloves are just too cool. I have to add one more thing to the needles.
Check out the Fetching KAL here.

Sponsored by Chrissy, from Chrissy's Random Life Blog.

Independence Day in PA

The 4th of July trip to Pennsylvania was quite fun. My cousin liked the baby booties, and she had a great time at her shower. Somehow, the yarn didn't exactly match Gram's poncho. So there you go, dye lots. But, it was close enough.

I couldn't leave without visiting Victoria's House of Needlecraft, Duncansville's own local yarn shop (no link available). I enjoyed chatting with the owner and managed NOT to leave empty handed (even though I DO NOT need any more yarn. I hope to make a tank out of the three skeins of Wool in the Woods. This yarn is hand dyed in Biglerville, PA. The Gypsyknits Travel Sock Yarn has a little stretch zig-zag to it. It is SO soft when knit into socks. And finally, very pale pink yarn for some future project, no clue what. I have way too much on the needles. I really need to finish something. I am taking a felted clog class at Knit n Knibble starting Monday. That will be one more unfinished item in process. UGH!

Off on another tangent...I'm psyched about knitting some washcloth gifts from Vogue Knitting's Stitchionary I. There are so many interesting patterns in the book, and I hate to knit swatches that aren't going to be used for something. Honestly, I don't use knit or crocheted dishcloths, but I thought it might be cool to knit some cotton facecloths and package them with some handmade soaps. More holiday gift ideas for those who won't be getting a pair of socks.

Going to Maine at the end of the month. I definitely will be going HERE! Is that cool or what? I'll take some pictures and post about it when I go. It's right down the road from Boothbay Harbor and Wiscasset. Might have to stop at Red's Eats on the way.

Finally, I want to thank the 5 or 6 other people in blogland who actually read my little journal of projects. I SO appreciate your comments and kind words.