Spoiled

I have been spoiled by Rachel of pseudobunny & co.!



It's kinda hard to tell from the picture, so here's a list of some of the wnderful items:
*Light-up Knitting needles!
*A beautiful needle case
*Origami paper
*Sheep-shaped magnetized clips for little papers
*Hedgehog-shaped push-pins
*Adorable puppy notebook
*Sew Subversive - a book on making neat sewing projects - looks interesting.
*Of course, yarn: but not just any yarn - ALPACA SOCK YARN!! So amazing. It's a beautiful colorway, and she also sent me a choice of two awesome sock patterns for it.
*This is a picture of the japanese candy that was also sent my way:


An amazing package.

Who doesn't love new yarn? I know I do. I received my 2nd Rockin' Sock Club package today, and it's beautiful! My photo of it doesn't do the colors justice - rich greens on a wide spectrum. I can't wait to work with it. I must confirm my needles and everything before I dive in though. I also have to finish the Knucks that I promised to one of my students. I should be able to know those out tonight.

Speaking of work - all my students started coming back in today. They were all on Spring Break last week, so there are lots of stories, tans, and presents. One student went to his parents' place in Seattle, WA, and came back with a pound of Stumptown coffee for me!! So wonderful. He also shared that the coffee made his entire suitcase and contents now smell like coffee. I could only be so lucky.

Also, this weekend, I got a new tattoo:

I'm really in love with it. It's on my right arm, just below my elbow. Yes, each of the stars has meaning to me, so I collectively call them my Guiding Stars. I went to the tatoo shop with a friend of ours, and we both got some work done. It was nice being able to share that with him. Such great times lately.

PRGE Contest

From my spoiler, her three favorite songs are:

Behind the Green Door, by The Cramps
California Uber Alles, by The Dead Kennedys
Elvis Needs Boats, by The Dead Milkmen

I have to admit that I've only heard the Dead Kennedys song, and neither of the others :(

For corresponding patterns, here's what I got.

Behind the Green Door
I actually want to knit a door - well, a screen door - myself one day. For that, I have already found a pattern in AlterKnits by Leigh Radford.


I also think I found an appropriate nylon thread:
Available in Olive GREEN.

California Uber Alles
For this, I already love the line, "Suede denim secret police."
To that end, I give you the Police Tape Scarf.


For Elvis Needs Boats, I was stuck for a bit. Then, I realized what I needed - a wig.

So, knit a wig, and hop in a canoe - Elvis no longer needs a boat.

Woohoo. What a great contest. Totally fun.

After 4 inches on the CPH, I already had to rip it out. Oh well, I'm already almost back to where I was.

I re-tooled this blog a bit today, and I already think it's looking better. I really liked my old page, but it was doing funny things that I didn't like.

Tonight, I am finishing up a complete makeover of my knitting area(s) of my home. I had bins, boxes, bags and a cabinet - and I was still spilling all over. Yes, I have been taking pictures, so this should be a nice long post when it happens.

This is why I join swaps/KALs

Because then I actually spend time on the interactive/technology side of knitting, and not just fretting over what's still on my needles. I surf Ravelry (way too much), check out other knitters' blogs, and find new and interesting ways to mentally bond with that projects that I'm slowly churning out. I feel a sense of responsibility to keep on chugging.

I'm getting past a mental block, too. I read more and more about certain projects that I or other people may get so excited about knitting, and something goes awry with it, and suddenly, it's unbearable to finish. Unbelievable. I used to think that made me a disappointing knitter. Now I've come to realize that it just makes me more realistic about my projects. For example: months and months and months ago, I started a Lucky Clover sweater. I got lots and lots of it done - one sleeve, back, and one front - and then stopped. I looked at it one day and honestly saw that I was never going to wear it. I had made it out of a cotton yarn that was rather stiff and heavy, and it only drooped when I pinned it together. I still have the pieces that I finished, since I'm just going to wait to frog it until I see a use for the yarn. I have officially discarded it as a WIP though.

Of course, over the weekend, I decided to start a new project. A Central Park Hoodie. Lots of people on Ravelry have knit this one, and I really like it. I just happen to have enough stash worsted in a deep purple color, too. It's a sign.

Gearing up

I'm in this state of waiting to Knit. Not fun. I'm waiting for the next Rockin' Sock Club package, and I'm also slowly putting together a box for my PRGE giftee. However, I don't want to start anything new, since I know that as soon as I get my RSC yarn, I'm going to want to cast on those new socks. Also, as soon as I get a package from my PRGE spoiler, I'm going to want to tear into whatever is in there as well. So, for now, I will display my finished January RSC socks:

PRGE Upgate

Everyone changes, and so do I, so I feel like my answers have changed a bit since the last time around.

1. Why did you join PRGE?
*I have participated in the last two rounds of this swap, and I feel like the punk-ness of it matches my alternative views toward Knitting.

2. What are your five favorite things? (these don't have to be knit related)
*1. Reading - all the time.
2. Music - listening, learning
3. Coffee
4. Lounging all day with a good movie, a good book, a sock to knit and good coffee.
5. My husband - my best friend.

3. What are your three favorite things that you have made with knitting/crochet?
*1. Socks - always a sense of accomplishment.
2. Adam's Octopus Sweater
3. Dishcloths

4. What five things would you love to see in a swap box someday?
*1. Hot-pink light-up needles.
2. Something small knit just for me.
3. My spoiler's favorite yarn.
4. Baby Surprise Jacket pattern.
5. Knitting-related accessories, like a necklace - so great to wear to work.

5. What are your three favorite yarns? What are your three least favorite yarns?
*Faves: Wool, Merino, Noro
*Foes: Red Heart, anything scratchy, anything furry

6. What are your five favorite delicacies?
*1. Dark Chocolate
2. Dark cordial cherries
3. Cupcakes
4. Coffee that I can't normally get.
5. Location-specific treats.

7. What are your three favorite guilty pleasures?
*Naps, plush yarn, playing hooky from work.

8. What are the five things you look forward to every week?
*1. Grocery shopping
2. Yoga class on Wednesdays
3. My job
4. Getting the mail at work
5. Friday-night date night.

9. What do you collect?
*Pigs - in quirky ways. Like, I just found pink pig luggage tags - adorable.

10. When is your birthday?
*July 22.

11. Do you have any wishlists?
*Yes - amazon.com - Kathleen in Newington, CT

12. Do you have any allergies or health related conditions that your pal should know about?
*I'm allergic to tobacco smoke.

13. What do you do for work and what do you do for fun?
*I'm the manager of a recording studio, and that's pretty fun. I go out with my dog - which I'm look forward to doing more of now that it's getting warmer. I also like to go on short road trips around New England. Also for fun, I'm on a softball team.

14. What would you like your pal to know that is not covered here?
*I'm really easy to please.