Watch Out For the Yarny Goodness

Yesterday I had a chance to hit the LYS and get a little bit done on the Charlotte's Web. I also caked the skein of Yarn Pirate yarn that Katie got me and it looks even prettier in the cake:

Imagine my suprise when I came home and there was a package. Of course, I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when because it was backordered and had to be dyed. I'd been waiting almost two weeks for this:

It's Socks That Rock in Pink Granite and I think it looks even better in person than on the webiste. They forgot to send both my orders together so I should be getting another skein in the mail today or tomorrow. You'll have to wait and see what I ordered.

Over the Fourth of July we hung out at home and BBQ'd. Dalton wasn't too happy though because we couldn't let him out due to the fireworks. My mom tortured him almost all night:

Doesn't look too happy does he?

Scout had a chance to wear her new pink and white striped jumper, (I think this is by far my most favorite outfit so far):

I've also opened up my new Etsy, (I know, who hasn't). I am lucky to have a number of bead stores in the area and decided that I'd like to make stitch markers. Afterall, I'm creative and I have a following out here in Canyon Country, (I'm pop-ular! LOL). Anywhoo, check it out! Here's one set of my pearl stitch markers:

Check out Ewe Bitch Creations. That's the name of our "company". I will be adding some really cute cards soon, (good thing my mom works for a printer huh?) and postcards. There is a chance I will add some scrapbook albums, but that will be a bit further into the future. And if you are one of my regular blog readers I will offer you a special discount on a set of stitch markers!

My Hogwarts socks are almost done. I turned the heel and just need to finish the leg. I'm almost there! (I'm not including the weaving, because that's the part I dread the most.) I started Wicked last night, but only got through about 3 or 4 rows. And there are two pair of socks waiting in the wings. Maybe three because I really want to get a pair of Cookie's socks done. She rocks!

And for my questionnaire for my Sock it to Me Sock Swap:

1. What are your foot measurements? US 9 1/2 shoe, 9 1/2 circumference, 9" long

2.How long have you been knitting? How would you rate your experience? I've been knitting for about 7 years and would say I'm intermediate/advanced. I still have a lot to learn.

3. What is your favorite color? Your least favorite color? Blues, Yellow and Chocolatey Browns. I don't care for purple.

4.Do you have a favorite fiber? What type? I love Rowan Wool/Cotton, it's probably my favorite tried and true yarn. I also like Blue Sky Alpacas Wool/Silk, Socks that Rock, (lightweight), Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, Koigu...I could go on and on.

5. Do you have any allergies to certain fibers? No allergies.

6. Do you have an Amazon, or other type of, wishlist? I have an Amazon wishlist, but I don't think there's anything on it right now.

7. What techniques, if any, would you like to learn? Entrelac

8. Do you have a sweet tooth? What are your favorite snacks? Oh yes I do. I love chocolate. And I love Werther's Candies. YumO.

9. What is your family situation? (Children, Husband, Pets...etc.) My fiancee, Shawn, and I live together in Canyon Country, California with my son, Jem (9), and our daughter, Scout (6 months). We have two cats, a Siamese named Dalton and a black/white kitten named Pepper.

10. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Metal, plastic or wood? I use both straight and circulars. I usually use the straight needles for baby items and circulars for sweaters, lace or big afghans. I prefer bamboo needles.

11. Besides socks, what are your favorite items to knit? I ♥ baby items because they finish so quickly. And I like making sweaters, (as long as they don't take years).

12. Is there a pattern, (sock or otherwise), that you are dying to try? I'd love to try Cookie's Rhiannon Socks.

13. Do you like to read? What are you reading currently? I ♥ to read. Right now I'm reading the autobiography of King Henry the 8th.

14. Do you collect music? (On an iPod or MP3 player.) Yes I do. I have an iPod.

15. What kind of music do you listen to? My favorites are Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, Bob Marley, Sublime, T.I., Christina Aguliera and a bunch of other stuff. I pretty much listen to everything.

16. Is there anything you collect? Besides yarn? I used to collect Tigger stuff. I don't collect too many things anymore. (We've moved a lot and I hate packing, ergo I don't want to pack even more stuff.) Right now I'm into beading. So I'd say I collected beads.

17. What are your hobbies, aside from knitting? Reading, going to the beach, drawing, swimming, a little bit of crochet, watching movies, cooking/baking

18. Are you participating in any other swaps or knit alongs? I was in the Secret Pal 9 and 10 swap and will be in the 11th and I'm in the Hogwarts Sock Swap; I am in a few KAL's: Rusted Root, Knitting Nature, Cable Along, Knitting Lingerie Style, and probably a few more that I can't think of at the moment.

19. Do you have a favorite scent? Warm Vanilla Sugar from Bath and Body Works

20. When is your birthday? (You don't have to add the year if you don't want to, LOL.) November 27th, 1980

In With The New?

I'm on a sock kick. After finishing the Dalton socks, I started the Stormy socks for Shawn. Guess what? He wanted the same pattern for his socks like the ones I did for the Dalton socks. Guess what? I got the same gauge with the lightweight STR. Guess what? I am making the exact same socks for him, only a little bit longer for the foot. (I wear a 9 1/2 and he wears a 10 1/2.) So these are coming along quite quickly since I already know the pattern and have the notes for a size 9 1/2. The only thing I will have to change is a few more rows for length. Plus, he wants his to be regular socks. Not ankle socks. The only thing I'm not too sure of is the pooling and striping:

The yarn is doing this on it's own, which I wasn't anticipating. I think it looks sort of neat, but I would have preferred to have more variations like with the other socks. But as long as Shawn likes them, (which he does so far), that's all that really matters, right?

Yesterday, I bought these:

I am going to paint and decorate them this weekend and have Shawn drill holes in the back so I can hang them over the crib.

And this came in the mail yesterday too and I was quite delighted!

It's the Little Bunny Foo Foo and I am quite happy that the pink is subdued, because as you know colors vary from monitor to monitor and the STR website shows a much darker pink. I like it as it is.

Have a great Easter weekend for those of you who celebrate. We will be going on a trip to the LA Zoo tomorrow. Later I'll be hitting the yarn shop and Shawn is going to check out the R/C races. Don't know if I'll have an update this weekend, so just in case: HAPPY EASTER!

Ordinary Weekend

I don't know who she is, but my Sockret Pal really rocks! Look at all the loot!

But best of all, looky here:

Those are the handknit socks she made. Just for me! I put them on last night and vowed never to take them off, though I did take them off. They are just so comfy and pretty. Thanks to whoever my Sockret Pal is.

In other sock news, Shawn wants a pair of socks in this:

It's Socks that Rock in Stormy Weather. So it looks like I will be making a lot of socks in the future.

I'm nearly done with the first sock, just a few more rows on the toe shaping. I am hoping that they fit. So far they do. I will finish the first one tonight and I promise pictures tomorrow, (assuming that they fit of course).

They would have been done but I was quite busy with this:

Shawn and Dalton. A love/hate relationship. Why? They are both jealous of each other. But Dalton was spreading this love this weekend and decided to make peace, even if only for a few minutes.

And then of course, I was busy with this:

It's amazing how time flies once a baby gets here. But how in the world did time stand still for those 8 months? *sigh* She's getting so big. But not too big that she can't wear the things I knit yet. I really need to get on the ball and finish the Sweet Pea Sacque and the Elann Pinwheel Sweater. (I am 1 1/2 of a sleeve away on the sweater.)

Last week I also had a chance to pick up a copy of Knit Scene. This was the first time I'd ever thumbed through the magazine and it's a really great magazine. I ♥ the Kenobi Jacket by Norah Gaughan. Looks like I need more yarn. (And maybe some more knitting time.)

I See You, I Hear You and I Feel You

I see you.

I hear you.

I feel you.

Yesterday my Socks that Rock yarn came in the mail. It's a perfect match with Dalton. And he approves. The minute he sniffed it, he hugged it and almost wouldn't let me have it back.

I started the swatch on Thursday, (I think):

And started the ribbing yesterday.

I think the colors are beautiful. They remind me of a river. All the stones and mud and the water. Since my last pair were a bit big, I cast on 64 stitches this time. They actually fit better. I decided to do a simple two row pattern in garter rib: K2, P2 around for one row and then Knit around for the next.

And today, I got my Etsy buy. The colors are very vibrant. I'm glad that I grabbed a skein. They will make very cute and fun socks. :) I'm on a roll me thinks!

I am Quite impressed!

Fawn. Cream. Brown. Blue.

Those are the colors of the Cat.

Quite coincidental that I just happened to email Cindy and asked if she could combine the colors of the Cat and make me some sock yarn.

However, while these are, (almost), the colors of the Cat. They seem to be, (conveniently), the colors of her cat.

The colorway is the name of her cat.

Lucky duck.

I should say, Lucky cat.

If you are looking for the same yarn because you have a cat that inspires you to knit socks, (yup, you heard me right folks, socks), then you should check this place out, because I just might buy every ounce they make of these colors. They are pretty much my favorites. Maybe that's why I like Siamese cats so much.

And while this impresses me, it doesn't impress me quite as much as my nifty little sidebars and the 3 hours it took for me to figure out how to post those buttons that made me want to switch over to Typepad. (The fact that I realized I didn't want to pay $5 a month for a blog that I could get for free settled in too. I mean $5 x 12 months= $60 yarn. Nuff said!) Figure it out I did. And so for anyone who can't figure out this new version of blogger, shoot me a line. I might be able to help you out. Might is the operative word.

I've also joined another KAL. Actually, one KAL and two swaps. I know I should swap less, but I really wanted to give the Secret Pal 10 round a chance. Maybe the person I spoil won't be such an ass. Yup, I said it. I'm sorry but it really ruffles my feathers that I spent the time, effort and money, (I had an International pal), and didn't get a thank you for nearly two months and only got one because the host had to email her, (after a number of my emails went unanswered). It's a shame. And I know it happens to a lot of people. All the same, I really hope that the next round goes a bit smoother.

I also joined the Sock of the Month 3 KAL because I'm hoping to get some incentive in actually knitting the sock yarn that I've been slowly adding to my stash. And lastly, I joined the Favorite Color Swap 2. I suppose in retrospect I am joining these swaps/KAL's/groups because while I love being a stay at home mom now, I need new friends. Ever since moving from the Valley and being in a relationship with Shawn, I've really learned who my friends are. (They aren't the ones who sat on their butts when Shawn and I, being 6 months pregnant, moved a one bedroom apartment in a small pickup truck, 50 miles roundtrip at least 7 times.) And I haven't met many women, (or men), who knit in this area. Needless to say I'm a bit lonely. (Shawn tries to understand my obsessiveness, but he really doesn't get it. Hell, I don't really get it some days either.)

So I'm jumping on the band wagon and hope to have a little fun. Maybe in the midst I'll get some knitting done too! In the meantime I'm gonna order some of that yummy stuff up above and some of this down below:

It's called Black Forest Fudge. Fudge. Yum.