Fall Felted Bag Exchange

This looks like tons of fun, you should check it out just go to: http://feltedbagexchange2.blogspot.com/
And you will notice that this is the swap I was speaking about in my last post :)

Once a week poster.....

Can I accomplish this mission? I have given myself a new challenge. I have decided that I should become a more regular blogger! Is this a good thing? Perhaps. I am now going to try and post weekly because there is a swap I want to participate in and it says you must post weekly. Isn't that a good reason to start posting weekly? I think so. I am new to blogging and swapping but I have found that both are something I enjoy and we should all make more time for the things we enjoy. As a result I am going to be here every week whether you decide to visit me is entirely up to you but I do hope someone is out there reading my ramblings.

Projects in progress:
I am not sure if you can guess what this is going to be? It is looking a little odd right now but this is going to be Baby blanket #2. No not for me silly, I am not having babies, but lots of my friends are and their babies need nice fuzzy blankets to hang out and play on. Hopefully their mommies like the blankets and they find good uses for them.
A close up:



It is a pretty simple design. I am using a yarn called Velvet Touch. It is very soft I think this will make a very nice blanket. No I am not going to tell you who it is for that might ruin the surprise ;)

And while it is fun to make things to give as gifts, I also enjoy knitting things for myself to use here is that project which has currently been moved to the back burner while I am working on Baby Blanket #2.



Reusable shopping bag. Trying to become a better consumer by not using plastic bags. This could take a while to make enough of these bags to eradicate the plastic bags from my household but it is worth the attempt.

And both of these projects will come to a screeching hault when I get tagged for dish rag tag, it really is a fun game. I am amazed at how fast the people are making these dishcloths!!!! What an awesome race! Thanks Emily for being a wonderful hostess of Dish Rag Tag :)


I am off to knit.......

Cheering Up When the Dog Days of Summer Get You Down

What do I do to cool myself off? I turn the AC down to a lower temp and grab my knitting or a book and park myself on the couch!!! A cold ice water can make things more tolerable as well.

Dog Days of Summer Favorite Item Contest

My Very Favorite Handmade Item (that can be used or worn):


As you may notice this item isn't knitted but it is my very favorite. It is my wedding quilt.
My mom Ally B (check out her blog at http://allybthatsme.blogspot.com) spent many hours of love putting together this King size quilt for my husband and I for our wedding. She is so talented, not just at knitting, and though she has made me many wonderful quilts this one is very special because it was given to us for a special occasion. I have several other views so that you may appreciate its visual beauty. It is also very warm and I love that it covers me every night while I sleep.
My most very favorite handmade item :)


Something on another swappers blog that I would like to make:
I am in love with this tote!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check it out here or at her blog at http://shutupimcounting.blogspot.com


This was posted on her blog. I am so in love with it and she said that she was in the process of making a pattern for it. I was confused, how could she make something so awesome withut a pattern? Then it came to me, she must be supremely talented. Obviously she knows far more about knitting than I do because I definitely need a pattern, and hopefully she will make one so that someday I can make this bag as well.

Well I am wrapping this up. I am enjoying this swap (my first swap) in case you didn't already know that. I hope to send my spoilee her package by the end of the week :)

Happy Knitting Ya'll!!!!!

Dog Days of Summer Dishcloth Swap Scavenger Hunt Answers:

Dog Days of Summer Dishcloth Swap Scavenger Hunt Answers:

• Someone who crochets: JoAnn P. http://dishclothexchange.blogspot.com/2007/07/joann-ps-questionnaire.html
  
• Someone who's never made a dishcloth before: Diana C. http://dishclothexchange.blogspot.com/2007/07/diana-cs-questionnaire.html
  
• Someone who has been knitting\crocheting for less than 2 years: Angela T. http://angcraftcorner.blogspot.com/
  
• Someone who has been knitting\crocheting for more than 5 years: Abby C. http://wickedknitter1.blogspot.com/
  
• Someone who is from a non-US country: Marianne http://www.picperfics.blogspot.com/

It's Finished

Mission accomplished. This here is my first item that I have knitted that can be worn. Oh wait a minute, in February I knitted some clogs socks but they didn't fit me. They were too small for my gargantuan feet. This is the first sweater I have knitted. This sweater is a gift I intended to give to my friend for her baby shower 2 weeks ago. I didn't finish it in time so off to Target I went to get something she registered for. I will just have to bring this with me when I go to visit her after the baby is born. She is having a girl hence the pink ties on the sweater. I used Cascade Yarns Luna, it is a Peruvian Cotton. It was really great to work with and in general the project went very fast until it was time to sew the pieces together. I remind you I am a new knitter and have never done this before. I sewed on the sleeves then I had to remove the sleeves because I had placed them in the wrong spot so when I went to sew the side seams together they didn't line up (frustration). So, I ran to target and grabbed a gift and went to the shower without my sweater. It is all fine though now because the sweater is complete. There is nothing that I enjoy more than finishing a project. It also brings much confusion to my life because there are so many projects and so much yarn staring me in the face waiting for me to choose them for my next project. I am not sure what it will be next. I think I am going to make a mini sock for my key chain sock blocker. It should be a quick project, I think:).

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. I mostly relaxed but Winston didn't. He hates loud noises and was very sad all day trying to hide under my chair or on my lap. He is exhausted today he will probably sleep most of the day. He isn't a fan of fireworks, but he is a party animal.

My First Swap

Wow!!!! My first swap, I am sooooooooooooooooooooo excited to be participating. Thanks, to my wonderful Mom who introduced me to swaps, (and blogging)! It's true Mom's know everything!!

I'll get to the point now.

1. Do you knit, or crochet, or do both? How long have you been knitting\crocheting? I knit!!! I have tried to crochet several times let me tell you that didn't go very well :) I had wanted to learn knitting for a very long time. I convinced my mom to take a class with me in October 2006. So that would be less than a year of knitting for me but I am absolutely in love with knitting.
   
2. Have you knit dishcloths or dishtowels before? Only dishcloths so far :)
3. What are your favorite cotton yarns? Is there a cotton or linen you’ve been dying to try but have not? I don't have a favorite cotton yarn, but I do like the peaches and cream.
4. Are there any cotton yarns you don’t enjoy knitting with? I have never met a yarn I haven't liked yet :) I am sure there are some out there though.
5. What type of needle do you prefer using? (Metal/Wood/Plastic) I have a bamboo pair that I usually use for dishcloths but I got some knit piks(metal circulars) for my birthday and I am absolutely in love with them.
6. What other projects do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? I have a tendency to gravitate towards purses and bags.....I have made a baby blanket for a friend that I thoroughly enjoyed. I am currently working on finishing a baby kimono that has been fun too.
7. Do you have other hobbies or enjoy other kinds of crafting? There are hobbies other than knitting???? Says who???? HaHa :) I enjoy reading as well. I have read some awesome novels about knitting, if you are interested I could post a list of them.
8. What kind of treats do you like? Chocolate? Candies? Nuts? Lindt Lindor Truffles-Peanut butter filled are my favorite. My favorite candies are those ones that look like strawberries with the soft goey center typically given out at Halloween time for some reason. Cashews and Almonds are near the top o f the list as well.
9. What colors are your kitchen and bath decorated in, if any? My kitchen accessories are black and white. My bathroom is yellow tile with obnoxiously bright and vivid but not florescent colors.
10. What are your favorite colors and what colors do you dislike? I gravitate towards dark blue hues and earthy green tones. I am not particularly fond of pastels.
11. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Other beverages? Ice Tea is my favorite, I do like coffee as well medium roast coffee is generally my preference.
12. Do you have any kids (human or pet variety!)? None of the human variety :) I do have a canine child. Winston, he is featured on my blog. He is devious and sneaky but so cute. He has several costumes. The blog he is sporting his Hawaiian beach attire. Of course for winter, we have outfits as well. I am sure you will see more when I get them on the blog
13. Do you have any allergies? Seasonal, mold & pollen
14. Please share 3 tidbits about yourself that you think your pal and other swappers might find odd or interesting. I am a project runway junkie!!! I love that show I cannot wait for them to come out with a new season I wish they would hurry. Along with project runway, I like almost all the other Bravo series ie: Top Chef & Workout (i don't watch housewives of orange county or my life on the d list)!!! My mom is my best friend we do almost everything together, she only lives 4 houses away...(sometimes she wishes I would live further I think;) One of my dreams is to meet Ben Wallace in person. I love to watch him play basketball. My husband always tries to change the channel when I am watching sports so he can watch a movie we have seen hundreds of times. Is that backwards or what!!!!