It's begining to smell alot like X mas, if you know what I mean

For it being a holiday that i wanted to call out of, and feared that knitting would not be done, and that none of my presents were "good enough", it turned out not being that painful.

Guess who got a spinning wheel?

:-D

I'd have pics, but the wheel is at the DBF's house, awaiting a drive band, but will be at my house on Friday, and prolly taken on the road to West Virginia for the New Year. There looks to be a spinning store in Owings Mills, so well as Chesapeake City (where ever that may be). So we may be able to stop in and get some roving and such to play with while on the road. he, he. I got a pretty wheel :)

My mom got me a tea kettle and will be ordering me a boat load of books for Knit Picks, along with a ball winder. When I told her that I got a spinning wheel, she asked "do you still still need a ball winder?" She saw that in the the catalog, and she just thinks it's the "neatest idea".

My mom is not a fiber junkie, and when I took an interest in yarn at a young age, she took me to all our neighbors that she knew who knitted, crocheted, or needle pointed. And to their credit, they all let me watch and tried to teach me, and even gave me their left over yarn to play with and make Barbie items out of. But she never really took an interest herself. But she does brag about my knitting, and asks for blankets and sweaters. And since I don't have any Grandma types in my family, it's a bit depressing for me to not to have someone to share my passion with. I did find out that DBF's Aunt Janet knits and such, so that was nice on Christmas Eve, to have someone to talk to, and to Ohh and Aww over my new wheel :)

AAAANNNNDDDD, I got my Winterwonderland Coffee and Yarn Swap package. It came with some Cherry tree sock yarn, which I've been dying to buy, but can't since I'm being good :( And some Opal sock yarn that is named for the Blue Poison Dart Frog, so of course, me and my frog loving self is really excited to see how it lookes knitted up. And I got espresso coffee. What more could I want? (of course there is more - and everything had the cutest "snow kisses" design on it!!! Well, go look at the pic below!) And I know that my Knit it Forward buddy got her package and likes it. I'm still waiting on my Knit it Forward Item, and the holiday Swap item from the swap I'm hosting over at the Myspace.

So yeah. Over all, it was a good holiday. I'll be a lot happier once I get back for West Virginia. So I'm just faking thru work till Friday. *la sigh*

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this time of year.

I got Presents!!!!

THANK YOU NATALIE!!!

Lunchie enjoyed getting mail too :P

more later

knit on, knitter!

With possible icky weather coming this weekend, i'm hoping that i can get some good knitting done. the BF live too far away to want to come visit in bad weather, so i might have a chance to get my christmas knitting done. here's the list
*finish birthday toe up sock by monday (for BF's B day)
*knit three head bands (at 6 hours each)
*2 pairs of fingerless gloves
*knit two toy monsters
*dishrags for my mom and BF's dad
*shawls for BF's Sis and mum
*finish brookes' converable mittens
i have to order/buy yarn for two Lace KAL (one's on clue 2 - 3 will be posted this week) and for two swaps, and a pair of lace needles (i think) *not worried about getting these knitted before chirstmas.
*finish the baby balnket (for the baby born two months ago)
here's hoping for a snow day on monday. good thing i don't sleep :P and i still have a week and a weekend to go. Does this look do-able?
God i wish i could leave work already and get started!

Weekly Topic

What is the ideal setting for enjoying the perfect cup of coffee? Who would be there - or would you be alone? Inside or out? Morning or night? With food or just the steaming cup of joe?

It really depends these days. The last three months or so, DBF and i have discovered our shared love of the all might bean, so we've had many a great morning or evening having coffee together. Most recently, we sat outside a Starbucks (which we both hate, but was the only coffee to be found at 8 o'clock at night) and drank on a very nice, clear autumn night, on our way to get our Halloween pumpkins.

I can also really enjoy a nice mocha on the rainy days at work when the big bosses' are gone, and it's just me and Alec, eating chocolate covered espresso beans, him telling me about the latest adventures in suburbia, me telling him of my latest knitting misadventure or night out.

i rarely eat while drinking coffee. If i get a cup at lunch, i don't tend to eat much else - maybe a cookie. Again, too many years of working at a dessert place where all there was is cookies, ice cream and coffee.

oh

Sorry for the lack of updates. i know that i have at least one swap that checks here for status, and i haven't mentioned my poor little Harvest Sock in forever, let alone much else. I'm kinda drowning in knitting right now - all my own doing. Everything is beeing worked on at one time which means that nothing is getting finished.

I've finally made some progress on cathy's bag, and am going to for go sleep tonight to finish it

- but i also casted on for the DBF's birthday present, so i'm not making a dent in the knitting pile. *sigh*.
But Cathy's bag will be finished tonight. Then my harvest sock. I want to have that shipped out by the end of the first week of December. I also have the Knit it Forward swap that is due the same week, but that is *much* closer to being finished. I might pick that up tonight after i finish the bag and get that done.

i'm just knitting my life away.

argh.

Having home computer issues this week. Can't really post from the work computer. Should be fixed sometime over the weekend.

Just so you know.

Winter wonderland Weekly Topic

When did you first start drinking coffee? What age were you? Was it about the caffeine, or do you love the taste and smell? Tell us how your passion began!

I had the joy and luck to get job at an Italian Bakery at the age of 14. They only served Coffee and Desert. Working there smelled W*O*N*D*E*R*F*U*L, and that's where the coffee lust started. My mom drank coffee in the evenings, but i never much cared for the taste. After working at Vacarro's for a while, i did develop a taste for espressos, cappuccinos, and of course, my goddess -MOCHA!!!

it's really just gotten worst from there. I will still take espresso over coffee any day, but it all comes from the all mighty bean, so i still love it.

One day, i will get my "nerd" tattoo, of the chemical makeup of caffeine, as a mug.

It's scientifically accurate too!

OMG!!!11 It's a F.O.!

Well, there's something you don't see everyday! I actually finished a project! Gave Rachel her long awaited, highly anticipated blankie. She seemed very happy with it, and i know that she will love it. It was great timing on my part, since her birthday is Friday and her office is moving this weekend. Since Rachel is my "office buddy" this means I won't be able to see her nearly as often as I am use to. (hm!) I won't be able to stop by on my breaks and get a much needed hug, or have a friendly face wave to me on the street in the morning as i'm running, to get to my desk on time. No one to have girlie gossip with...

*la sigh*

Well, i crocheted that blanket with love, damn it(!), so if Rachel needs a hug, there's one or two in the blankie, i'm sure. and if i need a hug... well i'll guess i'll have to go visit her after work :P

Enjoy the blankie, girlie! Happy (early) birthday!

It's dying...

I have a sweater that i love. It's not hand knitted, nor does it even fit me exceptionally well. But it was a gift, and the exact type of sweater i had wanted for a long time - a basic black sweater with big pockets. After wearing it for more years then i'd care to admit, it's dying a slow sweater death. It's been steadily getting holes in it, by yarn breaking in spots, and it's come apart at the seams, but now it's getting bad



Just means that i'm going to have to be more motivated to get knitting out of the way, so i can knit myself a replacement. *la sigh*

I really do love this sweater

I'm in!!!!

Got my invite for Ravelry. Screen name is sskstacey. Go add me!

I don't have ANYTHING loaded on there yet, but i'll be nerding it up over the weekend, so keep an eye out for it :P

Because i prolly am kinda crazy

As i've declared this weekend -FINISH UP weekend (notice the all caps on that), I've decided that i need to get something off the needles and done cause A. - i want to knit me a sweater/hoodie, and some gloves and would feel bad doing that before i finish some promised projects B. A few of them are due either soon or should have been done by now. and C. Make room for more yarn!!!! Not to mention, I've joined a Helping hands for homeless animals group over at the myspace, and would like to be able to knit for the homeless fuzzy animals.

So what do i do? i find another swap and join it! Luckily, there's no knitting required but that doesn't mean that i won't end up with some sort of crazy idea to knit up a house cozy - ya know -just cause.

So, as a start for this swap, here's the questionnaire for the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap
Coffee
*What are your favorite kinds of coffee? (Brands, Roasts, anything at all you'd like to share!)
I don't have Brands that i prefer really. I don't like Starbucks Coffee if i can avoid it. And cause i grew up in Little Italy, i prefer espresso to coffee, most days

*Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee?
Ground, only cause i don't have my own grounder!

*This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee? Do you enjoy special blends?
I'm up for a flavored coffee. I don't have a favor in mind though.

*How do you take your coffee? Cream and Sugar? Straight up? Decaf?
Decaf defeats the point of coffee! Cream and sugar for coffee, and i tend to make hot chocolate for my espresso

*Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer?
I love mugs. like A LOT!!!! the bigger, the better!

Winter and Holidays - PLEASE be descriptive! Your pal will need this information to be sure to put together a package you will enjoy!

*What is your favorite part of Winter?
Snow, snowman, and cookies!!!!

*Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday?
I do the whole Christmas thing, but i tend to decorate for more of a winter feel - lots of snowman, snow globes, snow flakes. Very non-religious (though i do have an angel that i put on my tree and love dearly) i can't say no to a fat, jolly Santa. And lights!!!! Lots and lots of lights!!!!

*If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree?
Yep.

*Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package?
Either or. Like i said, non-religious is good, but i do appreciate an nice angel here and there.

*Do you collect anything?
Yarn. and knitting books these days :P

*Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snowflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect?
I don't really "collect" anything. but i do like all the things listed above.

*Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats?
scarves and mittens more than hats.

*What is your favorite holiday or winter treat?
getting to wear scarves and mittens and playing in the snow!!! Putting up lights. Looking at other peoples' lights in/on their homes.

*Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory.
Staying up all night with the BF, putting decorations on our first Christmas tree and being happy that my house smelled like Christmas, cause he went out of his way to make sure i had a real tree.

Yarn and Crafting
Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long?
i do both, avidly, for the last two years

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight?
i love hand me down metal needles best, and am getting to like some bamboo needles for sock knitting. I don't have a preference for either straight or circular - i can knit with anything!

What sort of projects do you enjoy making?
Socks, today. I just look at patterns and make what i think that either i will like, or someone i know would like.

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with?
i'm still playing in the world of fibers, so i haven't used much other then wool and some alpaca

Do you spin or dye?
still learning to

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else?
hahahahahahahahahahahaha. i hardly have time to work 9-5 and keep house. all spare time is spent on the knitting. BF hates me for it :P

General
When is your birthday?
11/25

Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!)
2 kitties (Lunchbox and Emma), a froggy (Monkey) and a gold fish

What are your favorite colors?
these days? Blues, purple, Chocolate brown, deep, rich reds

Do you have any allergies?
only to answering too many questions :P

Where to start...

Well, i've added a few more things to the "On the needles list" in the past few days and haven't finished a project, so the knitting is starting to out number me and may soon consume my house. I did a really nifty job of sorting and storing my yarn a week or so ago, so i might still have a fighting chance and may not end up drowning in yarn. Maybe.

Here's the list so far

*Carter's baby blanket - My boss, Alec, just had his first son Carter. Carter was due to arrive on the 25th, so i had planned on having the blanket done by then. I'm working on making a blue and off-white blanket with stars done in relief. I would like four rows total. I have one blue row done and just started the white one a few days ago.

*Brooke's mittens - I *finally* got around to figuring out this pattern. these are convertible mittens worked flat. For the under mitten, i decided to work this fingerless gloves in the row instead, with k1, p1 ribbing at top and bottom. I used my hand as a model, but i'm hoping brooke will come visit tomorrow and try it on. It only took a few hours to knit this glove, so if it is too small, i will frog and redo. in the mean time, i'm following the pattern for the over mitten, and have stared the Left one, and am about halfway thru that already.

*Rachel's Blankie - a work in progress, as always. I will finish this once i get Carter's blanket done

*Paul's Wolf Sweater - I've gotten a sleeve done on this, and haven't even casted on for the second one yet. I've really been working on Carter 's blanket

*Harvest Sock Swap - Just stared this sock sometime last week. It's got some YOs in it. i've lost a stitch here and there and need to sit down and frog a few rows, but i' scared cause i haven't done that with YOs. Wish me luck.

*Cathy's tote - just started this last night. Already frogged totally once, and need to rip back a few rows when i get home. *sigh*

So that makes for 6 WIP. not too bad i guess.

Blogging, blogging, blogging ...

Being the nerd that I am, i decided to get a "Grown up" blog, and start a blog outside of myspace. Of course, I also signed up for Raverly today, and by the time i get invited to that, I'll prolly stop posting here. I'm a flake like that. In the mean time, I'll do my best to make this spot kinda cool and keep you up to date on all my knitty adventures.