Waahhhh!

My computer is acting up at home! My hubby only connected the modem to his laptop in his office, but has been sharing nicely. After I bought a wireless modem, the boy attempted to hook it up and now NO INTERNET for almost two weeks! I'm going crazy!! Feel my pain, send the Geek Squad ... HELP!!!

Fall Felted Bag Exchange - 1st Contest

1. What is your favorite yarn for felting, and why? I've enjoyed Patons Wool simply because of consistent results, great availability and low cost. HOWEVER, I totally enjoy Cascade 220 for the color selection, and am anxious to try some Knit Picks Wool of the Andes.

2. Name one person in the swap who is not from the U.S. and tell us where they are from, and link to their blog. My pal, Nikki, lives in England. She and I have been in another swap before, plus I'm trying to meet her reading list goals. Visit her blog at http://greengreenplanet.blogspot.com/

3. Find one person in the swap who has a dog, and let us know the name of their dog(s) and link to their blog. My dear Vegas friend, Mary posting at http://maryslittlecraftcorner.blogspot.com/, has an adorable dog that she thinks is a lap dog -- what a nut!

4. Find one person in the swap who has a child or grandchild and link to their blog. I cannot read her blog, but Kaili has an adorable child in several shots that just be hers ...http://kayl-tegutseb-ka.blogspot.com/

5. And finally, tell us if you like October or November more, and why! (Yea, I know part of September and November are technically fall, but for this question, only October and November matter!) I prefer October ... a new routine is starting, but the frenzy of Thanksgiving and Christmas isn't quite upon me. I can be super creative for Halloween costumes (which I will of course be hand-sewing the last pieces on the night before the class party - no matter WHEN the party is). And, at this time of year, I still believe that it will be possible to make all 50 afghans or whatever-my-gift-of-the-year-is for my closest friends' Christmas presents. I'm sure none of YOU live in such denial!

Fall Felted Bag Exchange Questionnaire

1. How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn? or from whom? How long have you been knitting? Still can't knit well but I've been crocheting about 30+ years. My mom taught me one summer when I was bored as a child.
2. What was your first felted object, and why did you decide to try felting? I made a shoulder bag with a thread pattern that I made out of wool and novelty yarn. The art of Felting came about while I was on a hiatus from crocheting and I LOVE to try new things.
3. What are your favorite colors? Any you hate? I really like all colors; right now I've been attracted to the new color combos - pink/brown, and blue/lime (but not together).
4. What are your favorite styles\types of bags? (Long straps? Short handles? Handbags? Totes? Embellished? Plain? Include links to patterns or photos if you’d like – give your pal an idea of what you enjoy!) I adore large bags that are functional and embellished - especially Nicky Epstein's bags from Fabulous Felted Bags like the Wisteria, Jacobian Floral, Simply Shetland Fuschias and Terry Ross' May Flowers (pix from ITE4), and Noni Bags like the Cherry Blossom and Bobbles everywhere.

5. What handbag or bag are you carrying today? Do you use a separate bag to carry your knitting/crocheting?I have a large "black hole" for my purse, and several bags for current crochet projects.
6. What other things do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? I love small projects and new techniques. Right now I am doing a spiderman afghan, a felted red/white/blue bag, and several other PIGs.
   
7. What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum) I use in-line hooks, both aluminum and wood. I own several circular needles but haven't used them yet. =)
8. What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make? An entrelac bag.
9. What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? Karaoke soy/wool blend; I have the perfect pattern selected, too.
10. What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? Reading, sewing, recipe collecting
11. Besides yarn, do you collect anything? David Winter cottages, Mary Engelbreit goodies, a teacups (a new collection for me)
12. What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to? Love milk and white chocolate with caramel and nuts; trying to watch my intake because I'm a bit "fluffy" though
13. Do you have any kiddos? (Furry kind count!) Four children (3 in college, one in 3rd grade), a fluffy white dog and an annoying striped kitty
14. What kind of project best personifies you and why? A reversible patchwork quilt ... my life is quite varied and hectic, and flexible too
    
15. What is your favorite part of Autumn? You can also share a special Autumn memory if you'd prefer! Back to school supplies, new beginnings and routines, wearing sweaters!
16. Tell us 3 things you would do if you won 10 million dollars in the lottery. Quit my day job, pay for my entire family to go to college, and plan a family cruise (we'll be gone avoiding the paparazzi). =)
    

Gotta make this bag again!

I'm really excited to make the Beads, Welts and Popcorns Felted Bag again. In the newest magazine called Felt, the bag this one is modeled off of (B4Bag) is shown make out of Karaoke #306, which is 50% soysilk and 50% wool in rainbow colors on page 63 ... and it's GORGEOUS!

New book read

I just finished book #40 this year - The Mill House by Paul McCusker. What a really good Christian novel, with mystery, love and values. Truly a great read.

SP11 First Contest!

Yarn Yenta has a contest going for Secret Pal 11 swap. Just gotta answer these five questions:

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? I am a crocheter, and I love my yarn cutter pendant; it's on a black leather cord and is stylish in addition to functional (if I say so myself)
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If
so, how much and what type of project? I always take crafts with me, usually something small or component pieces. I also really enjoy picking yarn wherever I'm at (found a great sale when we went to Disneyland) and getting a new pattern from the web.
3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? Several years ago, we went to northeastern Oregon, a little town called Joseph, that is quaint, remote and peaceful.
4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it? I'm salivating over Crochet on the Edge by Bendy Carter and Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers, neither of which I own. I do, however, have lots of books so thank goodness for the library!
5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? No podcasts for me yet. I feel so "back woods" but I don't own an I-pod!

New Swaps

I just signed up for a fun Christmas Swap. Just one package to a new friend just in time for Christmas, and a way to share how YOU celebrate the season. Click the image and join me!!!



The second swap is the wonderful Fall Felted Bag Exchange and sign-ups will start on the 15th. I SO enjoyed the Spring Felted Bag Exchange and hope you'll join us!!

SP11 Questionnaire

This is my first SP swap, so I am VERY excited. Here's more than you would ever want to know about lil' ol' me:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Bamboo is wonderful to work with. There is a yarn that I really want, Karaoke #306 by Southwest Trading ... I need two or three skeins for a new felted bag and haven't found a supplier yet. I have a closet full of acrylics and novelty yarns that I don't care to use. I've found that if I'm to invest my time and energy into a project, I want it to be quality. However, acrylic does have its place with kids washable things....

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Lots of places .. but I never have enough! I have some fun holders from other swaps including homemade hook roll, incense and candy tubes.

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 learned to knit three or four times, but still haven't finished one project. I get frustrated because I'm so slow so go back to crochet. There's still hope for me yet.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yep ... http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=yourlists_pop_1/002-8203343-0672834

5. What's your favorite scent?
I don't wear perfume, but love lightly scented candles like peach and melon. My favorite lotion is Hempz, which actually smells wonderful and absorbs quickly.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Big time sweet tooth ... I love chocolate with caramel and nuts best.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I sew and am learning to bead a smidge; I also want to try kool-aid dying wool. No spinning though.

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 Christian pop and gospel, country, jazz, classical, Josh Groban, classic rock ... most everything except hip-hop and funk.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like bright colors, most every one in the rainbow. Earth-tones aren't my first choice.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married for 22 years, four kids (25, 21, 19 and 8) plus an American Eskimo dog, a tabby kitty and a beta fish!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I like soft scarves and would love some homemade mittens!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I am in love with crocheting felted bags right now!

13. What are you knitting right now?
I am in the middle of a Spiderman Round Ripple Afghan for my daughter's college roommate, in addition to about 20 WIPs.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I absolutely ADORE handmade gifts. I so appreciate the time and energy it takes.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I love working with wood hooks, especially hand carved.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes to both, but I haven't figured them out either! I just haven't taken the time with a recent move, etc.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
About 2 1/2 years, when I took up the craft again. It's a gorgeous snowflake afghan, but I'm disappointed because I left the ends too short to weave in (which my mother didn't teach me). I have to finish assembly the hexagon and I hate that part!

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas is probably my all time favorite holiday, since the whole world seems to come to a halt for a little bit of magic, whether or not you are religious.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I love Mary Engelbreit collectibles, David Winter cottages, and pocket dragons; I'm also just starting to collect tea cups and saucers and WOULD love one from you!

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 don't have any subscriptions right now since my Crochet! just expired. I'd love a subscription to the new Interweave Crochet magazine. I have my eye on several Gourmet Crochet patterns like I'd love (Chocolate Sweets and Treats, Cupcake Tree, Amigurumi in the Garden, Natalie Collection felted purses), plus 12 Bags Fulled and Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers that I want to recreate in crochet.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'm intrigued with lace knitting and crocheting, entrelac and tapestry crochet.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I don't know how to use DPN ... I belong to crochet socks group and have yet to make one pair. I'll post my foot measurements as soon as I know what parts to measure!

23. When is your birthday?
May 30, 1965

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
Hah ... I'm #18671 and there are 9827 people ahead of me. Talk to me next summer!