Time to play catch-up

Oh my gosh, I can't believe it has been two whole weeks since I last posted to this blog. Where has the time flown? There has been lots going on, that is for sure. First of all, if you noticed my previous entry, it was about Knitters Coffeeswap Three. Since posting my answers to all the questions about likes and dislikes in coffee and yarn, I was paired with my new swap pal, Gill from England. We have emailed back and forth and I think we have a pretty good idea what each other likes. She apparently has my package ready to go. I am still waiting on a couple of things to arrive in the mail before I put hers together.

Okay, what next? Well, I promised a picture of the MS3, all blocked out. Here you go.
I gave the stole to its intended recipient last Wednesday. Hope Sherri is enjoying it. Ron took a picture at the party so hopefully I will be able to share a picture of the stole being worn. Here's a shot of the detail from the pointed end.
I know it has taken me forever to post this picture but I really did block the stole only one day after the Yarn Harlot blocked hers. Doesn't that count for something? Of course, she knitted a dozen other items during the time it took me to knit only the shawl but after all, she is the Harlot and I am a humble beginner.

Hmmm, more questions I was supposed to answer. Despite the fact that those of you who voted on the poll about yarn for Secret of the Stole and Secret of Chrysopolis completely agreed with the way I thought the yarn choices should go .... I didn't do them that way. I found out that the intended recipient of SotS would more likely prefer the Campfire colorway so that is what I chose to use. Here is a very bad picture of me knitting at Girls Night Out at Hooks and Needles. If I look like I might be rather out of it, it could be because I had only had about 3 hrs sleep in the past 20.
Lord, that's an awful picture. Maybe if I show off the picture of the baby being slowly brainwashed into becoming a knitter ...
This is Emma and her mom Amanda. Emma is 6 weeks old and has been coming to the Girls Night Out for the past 6 months. Yes, you read that correctly. We are starting them in utero!

Oh, Secret of the Chrysopolis stole. No I haven't started it but I did get yarn for it at the TKGA show in Oakland a couple of weeks ago. Can't show you the pictures cuz it's a surprise. I was putting off the thought of this stole because it looks so complex but after seeing the picture here, I am thinking I am going to have to cast on soon. And as if that is not enough, I am signed up for two more mystery KALs. One of them is Mystic Waters, which started on Wednesday. I finally splurged and got some Zephyr in Marine Blue. This stole is going to be for me. The color is absolutely gorgeous. I hope to have some pictures to post soon. I also signed up for one more stole but this one doesn't start until January. It is called Spring Shawl Surprice and there is still plenty of time to sign up for this one. A great way to deal with those after Christmas blahs.

Well, if you are still reading by now, you are probably tired of my rambling and I don't blame you one bit. I promise to try to get back to posting on a more consistent basis. Right now, I am sitting at Hooks and Needles, watching the shop for owner Kaylee while she is off coaching soccer. I am so happy that I am enough of a regular at my LYS that she considers me trustworthy to keep an eye on the business while she has other obligations. Too cool!

Knitters' Coffeeswap Three

Okay, I have done it. The reason I began this blog originally was to get involved in some of the cool swaps I have seen. I have joined my first swap and here are the questions I need to answer for it.

QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground? I love the smell of freshly ground coffee so whole beans for me.
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully-loaded, otherwise what's the point?
3. Regular or flavored? hmm, not yet a major coffee junky so I am willing to try a flavor or two, just recently tried Danish Pastry, it was yummy. However I have nothing against regular coffee.
4. How do you drink your coffee? with milk, actually preferably cream
5. Favorite coffee ever? don't have one yet
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? again, not hardcore coffee junky so I am not terribly fussy, just as long as it is NOT Starbucks
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? chocolate, of course (cuz I don't think cheesecake travels well LOL)
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? I haven't yet learned to like very dark roasts so a lighter roast for me, I think
9. Yarn/fiber you love? love superfine merino, also baby alpaca, anything soft and yummy
10. Yarn/fiber you hate? don't really hate anything but tired of novelty yarns.
11. What's on your needles? hmm, two mystery stoles (SotS and Secret of Chrysopolis), illusion scarf and a Lily Chin scarf ...
12. Favorite colors? love blue, green, purple, teal, those deep rich colors
13. Allergies? none that I know of, unless you are planning on sending penicillin ;-)
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? Not fond of orange and yellow colors, really love reading mysteries and attending Renaissance Faires, can't think of anything I need to get off my chest. Just excited about being matched up with a partner soon.

Okay, that does it for the swap questions. Now it is time to catch a nap and then head over to the last weekend of the Ren Faire. Next time I will try to post pictures of my finished Mystery Stole 3. Hooray!! It came out gorgeous and I am quite happy with my first major lace project. More details later. Have a great weekend.

This is fun, some might think it rather accurate as well.

What kind of knitting needles are you?

You are interchangeable.Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every eventuality covered and every opportunity just has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and every day is a new beginning. You are good at so many things, it's amazing, but you can easily lose your place and forget to show up. They have row counters for people like you!
Take this quiz!

I know I already posted today but this was too cute. Is it accurate for you too?

Almost done with MS3! Now on to ....

Okay, I am almost done, just 8 more rows to go. Of course, then I have to cast off, and oh yeah, have to block it.... But still, I am almost finished and so looking forward to seeing just how gorgeous this bundle of peacock Jaggerspun looks when it is blocked and then modelled, expecially with the beautiful copper swan pin I got from Romi.

I now need to figure out just which mystery stole to work on next. Secret of Chrysopolis is absolutely gorgeous but it is going to take some serious concentration. It started last week and the second clue came out today. Secret of the Stole started today and it looks like it will be slightly simpler in terms of concentration. This may be the one for me today since I need to be getting ready to head off to the Ren Faire for the weekend. Only one weekend left after this one. I will miss it, that's for sure.

As I am sure you may have noticed by now, I have finally figured out how to include links in my blog. No, not on my own, though it is so simple I should have been able to. Actually, it is thanks to Regina , another blogger who had contacted me to ask how to make buttons on your blog that would link to the appropriate website. I sent her the directions today, explaining that now all I wanted to know how to do was to include links. She sent me back a quick explanation and voila! Isn't it cool how we can help each other out even though we are on opposite sides of the country?

We're having a contest!

Well, not exactly me but I am sponsoring it. As you know, I have been babbling on for a while about Secret of the Stole. Believe it or not, I am still not positive which yarn I am going to use though I deeply appreciate you guys helping me out with votes and comments. Anyway, the contest. Several folks at our local yarn shop, Hooks & Needles, have already signed up to do the Secret of the Stole. I figured it would be fun (and motivational) to have a contest tied in to the KAL that would encourage us to keep on knittin'. Here's the deal: sign up for the Secret of the Stole KAL (knit-along, as if you didn't know) and then swing by the shop to brag about the progress you have made on the stole. For every 25 rows of the stole you complete, you get a raffle ticket. Then, on December 5, after all the clues are out and we could conceivably be finished with our stoles (snicker, snicker) we will have a drawing for a $50 Hooks & Needles gift certificate. Yes, you read that right. $50! to spend on gifts or on yourself, just in time for Christmas.

I realize this is very short notice, since you have to be signed up for the KAL by Thursday, Oct 4th and the KAL starts on Friday, Oct 5th. I would have posted it yesterday but we had a break-in and yesterday was spent dealing with the consequences. Depressing and boring stuff and I don't want to think about it anymore. I am currently scrambling to finish MS3 so I am start SotS (Secret of the Stole). Got 14 rows done already this morning but I still have another 30 to go. I will finish this thing, I will, I will, I will.... Have to because the recipient's birthday is coming up soon. I promise to post pictures before I give it away. Hopefully, I will even manage one modelled by a happy recipient.

Oops, back to the contest. In order to sign up for the KAL, you need to join the Yahoo group "Secret of the Stole". You can go to their site either by clicking on the SotS button on the left side of this blog or you can go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/secretofthestole/ and sign up there. Hope to see lots of you bragging on your stole in the near future. It's gonna be fun!