Secret Pal 12

YEA I got home today after a long hot day and to my greatest surprise a package. At first I thought it was some yarn i had ordered for another swappie but no instead it was for me. And it was all my favorite colors. She did good, real good.

Favorite - Esty

Yea, I figured out how to do a favorites list on esty. YEA. Its under graham27. That was so much fun. Im glad I figured it out.

I have been so busy at work that Im feeling a bit nutty. Its not like anything new or huge is going on but I think all of my clients have just being feeling needy which is ok that is one reason why I do what I do. Its ok really I don't mind being busy. I makes the day go fast. I feel kind of out of the loop on other parts of my life but nothing huge. I love my work I really do. Im lucky to get to do what I do. I get to help kids and see the help actually work out. Rarely in my field do we get to see the good. Im lucky I get to see them do good but then we get to see them leave and try it out there. Out there in the "real" world and they don't do so good. But I know that I have done my best. I got a graduation card from one of my old clients. She taught me how much I don't really know and boy she was so hard. OMG she was hard. But she seems to of settled down. She's graduated high school so that's a start. When a client relaspes it's really hard to deal with but I have to remind myself that their first relapse is rarely their last. Its like they are testing the fates of the gods and need to prove to themselves that they really are addicts. Its a tough world to work with. I had no idea this was going on inside. I started this post talking about my small success of posting a favorites list. I guess I needed to talk about this.

Malabrigo Stash

Ok now i get it. I have so much Malabrigo that i need to start a new swap just to stop feeling guilty about it. We'll not really but I have alot and I love it. I really want to figure out how to use it for the clogs. I wonder if I used the worsted weight if I wouldn't need to double it. Hummmm I think I'll take a stop over to the local LYS and see what they think. Or I could ask on Raverly. I have found that I am having a blast with Ravelry and all the swaps Im in. This is fun and I have yet to recieve a package. I think its the fun of stocking someone and finding out what they really like and getting them things they would like to buy for themselves. I love it. Here are some pics of my new Malabrigo.

Clogs

Yea the clogs are done and I am so thrilled. I am so hooked on felting. Not only can you turn yarn into something great but you can take it another step and felt them into something else. I love it. I want to figure out how to use Malabrigo to felt these. I love them. I can't wait for mom to get them. YEA.

Nice Mellow Weekend

Well it was a nice and mellow weekend. We went to a ballgame with friends on Saturday and then swimming at the rec center on Sunday. Of course we did numerous things in the free time between those but overall it was a nice weekend. I only got one call from work which was nice. I hate the feeling that I always need to keep watch to make sure I haven't missed a call. So only getting one was nice.

I've decided that ice tea that I make from fruit tea is the best summer drink. I love to make it from a variety of different tea bags. I think that most of it comes from Republic of Tea but all are fruit flavored like berry green tea or peach green tea or my new favorite Apai green tea. Its all so yummy.

I knitted 80% of the other slipper which went fast. Of course I made an error so I needed to frog a bit of it but no worries. I hope to have that done by the end of the week, washed, felted and ready for the mail. That would be groovy. I am now playing around with the idea of knitting a dress for the wedding. How cool would that be. I am actually pretty excited about it but am struggling with finding the right yarn without costing too much. Im going to keep looking and hopefully find something soon so I can get going. I also think Im going to make the couple something too so I want to find something hip and cool for the both of them.

Malabrigo Group

Ok all I can say is wow how cool and is it for real? The topics have been such a blast and its just neat to see everyone really contribute and be open about their struggles. I haven't felt the least bit shameful for saying too much or anything like that. I tend to have foot in mouth disease and it doesn't seem to matter in that group LOVE IT.

Ok on that note I have made some great purchases of yarn today. I have purchased for both my swap partners and I think they are going to love it. Its funny I needed to make a spread sheet for myself on the swaps Im part of and the swaps I want to be part of so I can keep them all straight. I just would hate to miss someone. I love looking at the spread sheet and knowing right where Im at.

Im working on not being slighted by my guilty pleasures partner. I am actually choosing to look at it as though she had something come up and wasn't able to fulfill that obligation. In the end really it just things. Don't get me wrong I like "things" but I would hate for things to ever get in the way of me liking or dislike a person. So I hope she is ok I feel a bit bad but really Im ok. I know how to take care of myself. I'll send a prayer her way and hope she finds safety.

Summer Fun as a Kid

Question #2 - What i looked forward to the most I guess was the pool. We didn't do alot of expensive vacations but boy was that pool fun. Eventually my mom let us go with out her and it was fun, maybe too much fun if you get my drift. Either way it was really a good time. We hung out with the neighborhood kids and just played. It seems like that is such a challenge now a days but back then we never even knew to be scared of weirdo's. I hope my son can grow up the same way.

Thinking while tired

I don't think its a great idea to think while tired but that seems to be the only option lately. Im going to work on catching up on some sleep that I seem to be missing. Its not any ones fault I get up so early and feel like I need to stay up later than I should just so I can have some down time. I think maybe I can start to do that differently. As Im writting this I am coming up with some ideas I might try. Maybe on lighter days I can work out in the afternoons allowing me to sleep. Hummmm it might work.

Well enough boobing. I am close to finishing up on the last part of my first slipper. For some reason I slowed way down on finishing it up once I figured out its not too tricky. But with that said I did find the cuff a bit hard to understand so hopefully it will work out once I felt it. I really want to felt it before the other one is done but that doesn't seem like the smartest idea i've had. I think I might start a bag next. I got some really amazing patterns from Noni and have been avoiding them so I would have to say its probably time to face them. They are so pretty. I want to start a new swap that includes a bag knitted for your swappy so that might be helpful. Im somewhat hesitant to jumping into that swap because Im worried about knitting under pressure. Which when I think about it is really silly. So onward we go.

We were so busy being social this weekend that I think that also has something to do with being so tired. I am not a social person so needed to be "on" for that long is not good for me. I don't do well. I hate feeling like i need to "perform" for everyone so I avoid those situations as long as I can. I feel like I have money in the bank right now so I shouldn't have to be social for a while. Ok I better get myself off to work. Good day

Extra Questions - Malabrigo Swap

MYB Q1: Have you pumped up your personal page? Im not really sure if I have or not. I will have to take a look. I also have my other questionnaires on my blog so maybe that would be helpful also.

MYB Q2: Colorways - I like the darker rich colors such as purples, browns, reds. I like most colors but not neon's, pastels or bright orange.

MYB Q3: Ideas for MYB - Im not sure this is my first time and Im having a bit of a hard time imagining how its going to look.

MYB Q4: Tiny Surprises - stick holders, bracelets, circular needles 16" in lengeth, candy

MYB Q5: Lurv it or hate it? I don't like fruit flavored anything other than drinks

MYB Q6: Your dream MYB would be what theme? Cooking, enjoying libations, gardening.

Favorite Drink

If I had to narrow it down I would have to say my favorite summer drink is a grapefruit margarita but also the Oprah Lemon Drop is pretty amazing too. Im not really sure its called a margarita because I make it with Grapefruit Vodka, so its probably not the right name. What it is is grapefruit margarita mix (YUMMY, can't find it any where so I have to use it sparingly) and then some vodka and sparkling water. On a regular day my drink of choice is white wine but when its hot one of the others just hits the spot. On the non-alcoholic level it would have to be iced tea that I make from tea bags through sun tea. I love the idea of having sun tea. What I have just started to do is put the tea bags in a espresso maker, the plunger kind. I put the tea bags in add water and in an hour I have the loveliest tea. Its a perfect amount for two glasses since Im the only tea drinker in the house that works great. Yummmy its all sounding so great. We are suppose to have a very warm weekend so myae I will be doing that. We have our church weekend festival so it should be tons of fun.

Thursday

Ok its Thursday and I can't lie I am so looking forward to Friday afternoon. I started the felted clogs early this week and I think I'll be done with the first one tonight. That just blows me away on how quick that went. I've heard they went fast but I always figured that was due to their knitting skill but this time it worked for me too. YEA. I can't wait to get them done and felted.

SP 12 Questionnaire

1) What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely not like? I enjoy knitting with wool, cotton and just everything but acrylic.

2) What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Nothing in yet which is funny being that I knit you'd think I would of made myself something by now. I'll get around to it someday.

3) How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting for about 2 years. But have been more "serious" about it in the last 6 months. I'd consider myself inbetween beginner and intermediate.

4) Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I don't but I should look into that.

5) What’s your favorite scent? I love the perfume by Sarah Jessica Parker - Lovely. The lotion is amazing.

6) Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Yes I have a sweet tooth, silly. I love milk chocolate. I also like chocolate with chili peppers.

7) What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I don't have any other crafts I do but I do love photography. I am not a spinner but am intregued by it.

8) What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I love music. We have both XM radio and iPod in the house. My favorites are Van Morrison, Big Head Todd and Seal

9) What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand? I love purples and fall colors. Im not a huge fan of pastels.

10) What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am married with a 5 year old. We also have a german shephard who's 7 years old. I've been married for 8 years.

11) Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear mostly mittens, maybe an occational hat but I have a huge head so its hard to find them.

12) What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Felted bags are my current favorite.

13) What are you knitting right now? I just started a pair of felted clogs for my mom. So we'll see how they turn out.

14) Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes I do.

15) Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I just used my first pair of Addi Turbo's and fell in love. Know I know what the fuse was all about.

16) Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Not yet but hopefully for my birthday.

17) How old is your oldest UFO? 6 month old pair of socks

18) What is your favorite holiday? Halloween and Thanksgiving.

19) Is there anything that you collect? No not really other than yarn.


20) Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I get Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits. As for books I love books on felting.

21) Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn? Hummm that's a good question Im not interested in lace yet, but who knows later on down the road. I can't think of any techniques at the moment.

22) Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes I am. I have an 8 1/2 size foot.

23) When is your birthday? July 28th

24) What’s your Ravelry ID? Grahm27

I get it

Ok I started the clogs last night and all was going well until I realized that I had made a mistake some where and need to frog the whole thing. But was really nutty about it is I'm not upset. Why you might ask? Well I now get why people love the Addi Turbo's so much. They are amazingly easy to use I love them. So frogging isn't that big of a deal now I get to knit even longer with them. I can't wait to get back.

A quiet moment

Ok its my moment for quiet but of course that doesn't always work out the way it should. Im sitting in the sunroom and just enjoying a new podcast I found. You got to love the name its called "Manic Mommies". I so get that title. I really should be knitting but instead I am doing other things like typing. I have a new project I am going to jump into. I found out that my mom would like a pair of slippers and I just happen to have a pattern from Fiber Trends for felted clogs. So I need to cast those on, maybe after this entry. Im also starting to really contemplate the idea of doing a sweater. This would be my first sweater and the idea of investing that much money and not knowing if its going to work out is what is holding me back. Or that is at least what Im telling myself. But then again how do I ever know if anything is going to work out I guess its just the big investment that is the issue. I could put myself on a yarn diet and with the millions on save there I would be more comfortable to jump in. I am thinking about doing the Central Park Hoodie. We'll see, but the more I think about it the more I think its really just a matter of time that I jump in. Hummmmmmm

Swap Round 2

I just got my first email that let me know that the SP12 is close to starting up. I can't wait. I love the idea of doing a secret pal swap, how fun. I can't wait to spoil my swappie. I love the idea of doing christmas in the summer for someone who has the same interest as I do. One of the things I think is fun too is learning more about my pal but also more about knitting. As I read on I find more and more information for me. I love it. Its a win win. Fun Fun Fun.

Family Visit

Well we're back from our short family visit. The visit included my mom, sister, her son, myself and my son. It was a nice time to see everyone. We had fun but when I list the things we did its short. Its funny we just spent most of our time hanging out with each other. The boys got along great which was nice. Of course they had their moments but overall it was really nice. I got some knitting done too. I finished my BBQ swap gift right before we left so I didn't cast on anything new. I brought the socks I've been working on for a while. They are my back-up knitting project which reminds me of the back up "girlfriend/boyfriend". But either way I got them worked on. I am close to finishing up the first sock. I have a confession I knitted while I was driving. It was a long straight road so there wasn't any fear of getting in "trouble". I can't lie I loved it. It really helped the time go by fast. I wouldn't do that in town or another other time when there is alot of other cars. This particular stretch of road you only see about 2 cars every 20 minutes. It really helped the time go fast. I also listened to my podcast. Today I listened to She-Knits. I like her she is easy to listen too. I got new yarn when we where in Ketchum which is really nice and will make the socks my son has been asking for. It has all his required colors. He's in to the idea of knitting. I finds it pretty cool that mom can knit yarn and make something from it. So as long as he doesn't get upset about it Im good. We'll anyways its good to be back.