Belgium Goodies

In my life, I have tasted many types of chocolate--the cheap kind that you can find at the supermarket and the one you find at the fancy stores--you know, the one that starts with a G and ends with an A. But, a new top favorite has come to town--I received a little care package yesterday from Jeannie.

She recently visited Europe and she was so kind as to remember me in her travels--she brought me some Belgium Dark-Scrumptious-melts-in-your-mouth-chocolatey-goodness.

The mailman "claims" that he came two times by the house attempting to drop off the package, but I reckon someone knew what was in the package and wanted to keep it for himself...he may even have a sniffing doggy that tells him when a package is carrying the "goods". The two times he "claimed" that he tried, I was home and during the 2nd time, my son even caught him putting the mail in the mailbox. Tricky, tricky...tsk, tsk, tsk. Thankfully, my chocolatey-goodness was most carefully packaged in a little lunch bag with little freezer gel baggies--great thinking Jeannie!!

My lovely package had 2 more wonderful things...for my love of socks, Socks Soar in Two Circular Needles, and custom made Purling Sprite stitch markers!

The yummies didn't last long...here is the last thing we captured of one of them...she couldn't wait for me to open it...hehehehe. Thank you Jeannie--we all enjoyed the goodies.

Look closely at her hand action: one moment, she is sweetly standing there drinking from her little zippy cup, next thing I know, she is slowly reaching in for the "goods". Then, she quickly takes her hand away but she has the "goods" in her hand, as soon as I tell her to put it back, she sticks it in her mouth! Wrapper and all! Watch out--she is coming to eat your chocolate next!

Secret Pal 7

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?

I don't consider myself a yarn snob, however, I do like some of the nice yarns out there. I tend to Loom Knit a lot with Lion Brand yarns, however, when it comes to needle knitting I stick to the nicer yarns. Red Heart yarns are avoided if at all possible.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I do on both. I just learned how to spin so it is a new found love, I like spinning yarns that have Angelina in them.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have 2 needle cases for my straights and dpns, I also have an Addi Turbo case for my Circular Needles.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been knitting for about 9 months. I consider myself an advanced beginner that meddles a bit in the advanced :).

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I have an Amazon wish list on the side bar

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

I don't use candles--little ones like to touch them. Bath products, I enjoy Moonlight Path from Bed Bath and Beyond.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Always game for some yummy dark chocolate.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I *love* loom knitting. I also like to create things with beads but I am afraid I am not really creative when it comes to them.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I enjoy listening to dance music, pop, and alternative. I don't really go for country (sorry, but it has never gotten in my blood).  I can definitely play MP3s

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

Yarns: I usually buy dark colors: charcoal grey, burgundy, dark blue. I guess I am in the Winter colors. I can't wear brown or beige--it kind of makes me look all washed out since I have a permanent tan ;). 

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Married to 1 ;), 2 children--Bryant who will turn 4 at the end of the month, and Nyah who just turned 1. No pets.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I do wear scarves and hats. No mittens and no ponchos (I am a bit tubby and it makes me look a bit bigger).

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I *love* alpaca. I *adore* hand dyed yarns.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Fun Fur--eeek! and anything similar to it. If it feels like plastic, I don't like it.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Socks, cables, and felting

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks and cables

17. What are you knitting right now?

Hmmm, a secret project, but on the side I am knitting socks ;)

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yep!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

It depends on the project, but when knitting with circulars, I tend to only use my Addis

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Bamboo for dpns and single points, Addis for circulars. I have all the larger sizes on Addis, however, I don't have any of the smaller sizes (both number wise and length)

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yep to both :)

22. How did you learn to knit? I took a class

23. How old is your oldest UFO?  A couple of months

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? Eeyore

25. What is your favorite holiday? My birthday, hehehe

26. Is there anything that you collect? Yarn and dust!

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? IK, and Spin Off

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Some more Socks that Rock yarn. Needles: smaller length Addis.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Enterlac

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes, I wear a size 6.5 shoe, measure 9" around the ball of the foot.

31. When is your birthday? 10/17

Gifties, artwork, and me socks

In the past few days, lots of things have been hapenning, but I have been very tired and my body has been aching that I reallly have not had the enthusiasm to do anything as I usually do. Packages and little envelopes have been dropped at my house--for some reason, the world around me knew that I was feeling a bit out of whack.

My darling Secret Pal has been spoiling me every day by chatting with me about life and about LOST. Yeah, I am addicted and she is spoiling my addiction, both tv addiction and my knitting addiction. In the mail, I received 10 luscious skeins of Andean Silk, enough to make a sweater. Yumm! I've got the bestest SP :).

I have been RAOKed via postcards and email. Thank you :) for making me feel a part of the knitting community and for uplifting me during the past week. I really needed it :).

Yesterday, Tina gifted me with some wonderful handspun yarn for giving the Looming Demo at the yarn shop. The basket is full of soft, luscious, scrumptious handspun yarn. These are some of her very first spun yarns--I feel very special.  Of course,  as soon as I got home, I had to wind one into a ball and start a project--can you guess what I am making?

The mail also has arrived with the following. Definitely a good way to get the creative juices flowing, and the mind wondering on yarn and different ways to use it.

At my house today, we had art day. We used to have this all the time, but then life came in between and I put it aside, but it came back today. The kids enjoyed themselves tooooo much!! Lots of cleaning got done afterwards, but it was worth it, my fridge is full of art pieces now.

Nyah got in the action too! Her little paw prints for daddy.

Lastly, I present you all me socks for Quiddity's Contest. They are not many, and not the prettiest. Some of them were loom knitted and some of them were knitted.

I'm so spoiled...thank you :)

The mail came and it brought lots of good things--OK, a few bills, but I am not going to talk about those. First, I was very intrigued by a little handmade envelope, so quickly, I opened it. And I discovered that I had been RAOKed by Julie with a awesome paper crane. Of course, I proceeded to blow into the hole underneath like the instructions said and Bryant right away said "Mum, why are you doing that for? It is not going to fly" LOL. Kids! Thank you Julie-I love it!

Next, I had a package from my Secret Pal--and what a package. Wowzie! Look at all the goodies I was spoiled with--yep! that is a new knitting tote, it even has a little hole where you can pass the yarn through! Amazing! The little scarf was rapidly taken away from my fingers and look who was wearing it-Bryant. He was very happily telling me that it was a nice soft scarf. hehehe, OK, don't laugh too much, he is a boy, but he loves scarves and all things that have to do with yarn--I think it has to do with the closet full of yarn I have and the non-stop projects I have going on all the time. I can't help it, he may be the next yarn connoisseur of his era!

My last surprise package was from Jannette's & Harley's contests. I knew that one of them was the Rowan's Classic Garden book, but I didn't know what I was getting for the other contest. Take a look! What an amazing surprise, 8 skeins of Noro!! If you haven't entered her contests, come and tried them, or take a look at the yarns she offers. She ships in supersonic speed!

Well, I am in hog heaven right now. Feeling very, very spoiled, it feels like it is my birthday :).

Thank you all for making my day!

In knitting news- I finished the cable scarf on the knitting board. It is ready for the demo this Saturday. I still would like to make a shrug with the Softwist Bulky, but time is running out. I'll post pictures of the scarf a bit later, Bryant would be my model and he wants to take a shower first and wear his Sunday best--yeah, he is a bit vain. lol.