Felted Loopy Purse

Sob.... I felted my loopy purse last night. It FAILED!! It looks like a loooong unusable clutch. :( So, I started knitting a new one using different measurements. I will cut up the felted purse into flowers to embelish the new attempt. My appointment with Lisa is at the end of March. Just in time to use her Winter White purse for about another month before all of the snow melts.

Felting is a very interesting experiment.

Live in the now. I must meditate during knitting to prevent from getting frustrated over this.

Double Ewe and Sideways Sockyarn Sweater

I checked out a dealer today -- Double Ewe Yarn Shop in Circle Pines. It is a cute little shop with some super squishy Misti Alpaca Bulky. Altho I refrained from buying it, I do have it on my drool list. I did buy some items. One was the One Skein book. Another is the Sideways Sockyarn Sweater. Super cute!! I am not a big fan of striping yarn, but this was so cute. Almost had an 80s look to it.

Sport and Mac keep me company. Last night they watched the moon eclipse with me and my sweet son.

Hot Cocoa Swap Package Arrived!! Angela ROCKS!

Just as my sweet son and I drove into the driveway, I saw the package. We ripped it open to partake in the goodness. Angela, a knitting rock star, outdid herself! She 'got me' without even knowing me! First off, we saw the sweet beagle buddy peeking out of the packaging.






Next, I squeezed the 3 skeins of squishy, purple alpaca yarn. NUMMY! She added 2 candy bars, mint chocolate cocoa (which will go perfectly with the new chocolate marshmallows that I just bought at Target) which I plan to sip from my new puppy mug.






Angela did a fantastic job on the Winter Warm Up Buddy, a beagle that was immaculately crocheted. Being a beginner knitter, I am in awe of the craftsmanship and I hope that I can knit something as wonderful as that some day.






The beagle, which my son named Sport after my old German Shorthaired Pointer that I loved so much, is now snuggled up with the mini puppy, which my son named Mac after my old Miniature Cocker Spaniel. It is nice to have dogs in the house again! ;)




An Eiffel tower/Parisian dress tin included sparkly, girly stitch markers that she created and a compact mirror. Very feminine. Very me.


But the kicker was a gorgeous ceramic version of Notre Dame. My son and I oooh'd and aaahhh'd over it and relived our memories in Paris and climbing the Notre Dame. What a thoughtful gift! I really cherish that gift... Merci beaucoup, mon amie. Tu touche ma coeur.





Thank you, thank you, thank you so much, Angela. YOU ROCK!

Knit Out @ Mall of America (aka Stalking Vickie Howell)

I just returned from the Knit Out at the Mall of America. Altho the lines were long, I really enjoyed chatting with other knitters. One woman flew from Ontario, CA, just for the Knit Out. She thought our 35 degree weather was cold. I walked a block from the parking lot in my t-shirt because I thought it was so warm! hee hee.

As soon as I arrived to watch the Dog Sweater Fashion Show, I saw Vickie Howell sitting on the floor awaiting her turn to speak. She was watching the show while blindly knitting on her project. I snapped a paparazzi pic. ;) Um, yes, she is as cute as you'd think... except cuter.



Hours later, while approaching the last of the vendor booths, I saw Vickie again attempting to learn machine knitting. I nodded a 'hi' as I took her picture. Now I felt like a stalker.






With my bag full of free knitting goodies and treats, I lugged them out to the car and headed home.

Felted Loopy Tote Bag

I started the felted loopy purse for Lisa. This is the first time felting a project.

Hearts Washcloth

I finished the hearts washcloth. The varigated yarn doesn't let the heart show thru as much as with a solid color, but I like it anyway. This is the first project that I've completed where I didn't have a single error!!! WOOOOO HOOOO!

Love Stinks Voo Doo Doll

Look what was waiting for me at work today! A cutie pie Love Stinks voo doo doll. I think you could easily modify the design for your knit-loving friends next year.

Poncho at knit n batch

I attended a Knit n B*tch last night. My fellow addict was knitting this poncho. The pattern is stunning, but yet appears quite easy. http://www.magknits.com/chilly04/patterns/frida.htm Check it out.

Washcloth

Happy Valentine's Day!

I knitted my first washcloth and it is so addicting. I finished it in under one hour. Brag here:


I am working on my second one:


I will wrap them around hand-made soap and give them to my friend for her birthday. Today, Valentine's Day, is her birthday. She was upset because she doesn't have a man to share it with her and that she is usually on a beach or ship somewhere at this time. I told her to hop a plane, go to South Beach, and cry her eyes out there instead of here in 40 below zero weather. And that is exactly what she did!! YOU GO GIRL! yeah!

I also captured the cool fish bowl full of birthday wishes to me and my dear son. Birthday cards flank it on our mantel. How cool is this?

Blessed with Friends

Last week was my 41st birthday. I had small amounts of large fanfare with dinner, drinks, and dancing several times throughout the week and weekend. I was spoiled rotten. Other than the incredible amounts of food and drink purchased for me from the best friends in the world, two much-needed/desired gifts were given: a nice coffee pot from sweetest mom and a gift certficate to a great LYS from my enabler gf to Depth of Field. This store is housed in an old building that smells so great--like my GG's old apartment. It has creaking wooden floorboards and the feel of total comfort. The other gifts I received were also soooo me--lots of spa and beauty and pampering products, CDs, wine (of course), and a fantastic J. Jill scarf. I am so greatly blessed to have my fabulous family and friends!! xoxo! Another enabler said that she was working on a project for me. I hope it is a knitted item....



I also held a spa party for my girlfriends by The Body Shop At Home. It was a great time and I highly recommend it.



One highlight of the parties was a fishbowl full of birthday wishes for me and my sweetest son. My friends held a dinner for us at a hibatchi and sushi restaurant, Wasabi. My son's birthday is Groundhog's Day and his favorite food is octopus. My friends wrote wishes on pieces of paper and then folded them into origami fish. I have a great idea: I think I will string them into a mobile to remind me of how lucky I am!! In Chinese culture, the fish is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Altho I am poor in finances, I feel that I am wealthy in friends.

Winter Blah Busting Buddy

Since Katie added me as her friend on Ravelry, I am guessing she received her Cocoa Swap package, so I am going to post a picture of my Mood Busting Buddy that I made for her. Since I am new to knitting, the twists and turns and triple lutzes needed to create legs n ears n stuff intimidated me, so I used a ball pattern and created an octopus. I put some hair on her, added shells and other sea creatures. I also used cocktail toothpicks as knitting needles and had her start on a sweater. :) I am proud of her!