Still in Boston; Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionarre

1.What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
Ravenclaw
2. List your favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length. Or would you prefer circulars?
I like all the bamboos regardless of brand.
3. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?
I’m open to anything; I’m always looking for new sock needles.
4. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?
The movie, blue and silver
5. Do you have any allergies?
Pine nuts and Burt’s Bees Chapstick

What to knit, What to knit...

I'm leaving for a conference in Boston tomorrow and I don't know what to bring with me. It needs to be something that I can easily fit in my laptop bag. Since all the projects I am working on right now are quite big, I'm at a loss for ideas. Any suggestions?

I finished my SFBE (Spring Felted Bag Exchange) bag this week. I wasn't able to fix it. It's very cute, but completely impractical. You can cinch the front, but the back gaps open. Here are some pictures (in black & white because she certainly has color preferences).

I decided to make my old standby the One Skein clutch in her favorite color. I'm going to include in the package and hopefully she won't hate me.

By the way, what do you think of our brand new fence? It's a godsend when it comes to The Idiots.

Finally finished bag

I finally finished the stained glass bag. I attached the handles and sewed in the liner today. Here are the pictures.

Also, after surgery, refelting, and blocking, I think I made my SFBE bag passable. I'll post pictures when I'm through.

Stuff I Want

Dear Person who has me as a spoilee in any of the swaps I'm enrolled in,




I try to never ask for gifts. I'm always happy with what is sent to me. But, I found two patterns that I totally want. Both of which will help me reduce my half stash. The first is from CraftyAlien.com. Check out these cute bugs.

The second is from Fiberspace. I totally love these felted fish. I could make them out of any color my little heart desires.

So, if you're looking for stuff to get me and are coming up at a loss, I'm totally digging these.

Bad Bag

Dear Spring Felted Bag Exchange Spoilee,

I am so sorry. You're bag has not turned out well. It looks very cute but, is completely non-functioning. The front and back flop around and there is no way anything can be stored in it. I brought it to Sit'nStitch last Friday and all the knitters hemmed-and-hawed about it. We came to the consensus that the Rowan pattern book placed the bag in such a way that the flaws couldn't be seen. We discussed various options for ways to easily fix the flaws, everybody had an opinion. However, I believe that it has come to the ultimate option; knitting surgery. I will be performing the surgery today. If this last resort fails, I still have two skeins of the main color and about a half of skein of accent color to make a new bag.

Apologetically,

Kristan

Virtual Vacation Swap

1. If you could visit any state in the US, which would it be and why?
I don't know if there's any state that stands out. I LOVE the Florida Keys and got married in Key West two years ago.
2. If you could visit any country in the world, other than your own, which would it be and why?
I would love to go on a safari in Africa (preferably a country not currently having civil unrest), or go to Fiji or Java and stay in one of the resorts where your hut is over the water. As for reasons, they are both things I've never done before. I dislike zoos because I pick up on all the nervous behavior of the animals (pacing, attacking windows). I want to see them in their natural environment.
3. Have you ever driven across several states/providence/countries?
I driven the entire Eastern seaboard of the US (from Key West, FL to Maine). I driven into Canada but, only for day trips.
4. Have you ever visited someplace you consider exotic? Where was it?
Nope, but I'm trying to convince my husband to take a vacation in Belize this fall.
5. What was your favorite "travel" vacation? Why?
It was my wedding/honeymoon in Key West. We rented a one bedroom house with it's own pool. We lazed around most days, went snorkeling, ate excellent food, and swam in the pool every night.
6. Have you ever played tourist in your own home city/state (if international, country)? Explain.
We just moved to Kentucky in September. But, we have gone to Mammoth Cave, which is touristy.
7. Are you a museum visitor, beach comer or an amusement seeker?
All three. Beach, museum, then amusements.
8. What's your favorite type of yarn?
I like most yarn. Right now I'm fascinated by the bamboos.
9. What's your least favorite type of yarn?
Fun Fur.
10. What items do you like to knit/crochet?
I like to knit everything. However, I have fully decided if I like socks that need to be handwashed.
11. What do you pack, knit/crochet wise when you go on vacation?
I like to bring stuff on circs when I fly. I can do just about anything in the car.
12. What other crafts do you do/would like to do other than Knit/Crochet?
rubber stamping, card making, wine drinking (yes, that is a craft)
13. Are you allergic to anything? (Yarn wise or treat wise)
Burt's Bees chapstick, pine nuts, and penicillin (Not that I expected you to send me pine nuts or penicillin.)
14. What is your favorite color? Least Favorite?
My favorite color is purple. My favorite color combo is purple and lime green. I look horrid in corals.
15. Sweet or Savory (Treat not personality)?
Hard question...I think both and sometimes at the same time.
16. Anything else we are forgetting to ask that you think your partner desperately needs to know?
I hate all things banana and I'm not a big fan of melon scents.

Nut and Bee, I love you

I ordered the cutest knitting related stationary a few weeks ago and it came in yesterday. I originally ordered it to send to spoilees but, it's all so cute that I don't want to part with any of it. And the best part was that they were super nice. They sent me an email letting me know that my order was coming in two parts and included a letter in the order with free stickers!This is my favorite one and it's about to be discontinued.

Anyway, all this cuteness is from nutandbee.com. If you decide to order something from them, please put in 10CZ18 in the comments box. They'll give me voucher good for 10% of your order.

Roses

Here's a picture of the rose bush in the backyard that I had to beg Greg not to cut down. Pretty pale pink roses that smell wonderful.
Just so all of you out there know, it is NOT a good idea to try to stage a picture of your yarn in the rose bush. It just doesn't work. Trust me.

Addison's blanket

I've taken a break from bags and started knitting a baby blanket for a coworker. She's having a girl and the baby is going to be named Addison. I had a whole bunch of Crystal Palace yarn leftover form the last baby blanket so, I'm trying to use it up. I'm using the bath mat pattern from Knit 2 Together. I'm pretty happy with it and will probably knit it again, although in a single color. The pattern in knit in the round so the picture isn't really doing it justice.

Also, I've signed up for a whole bunch of swaps and exchanges recently. I'm totally sicked because I'm in this Hello Kitty Swap on Swap-bot and both my partners are from outside the US. One woman is an American living in Okinawa (score on the Sanrio loot!). And, I've signed up for the Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap. I hope I get a quilter because I do live in the Quilt Capital of USA (or is it the world?).

Bags, Bags, Everywhere

First, I have to say a big THANK YOU to my Spring Felted Bag Exchange Secret Pal!!! I got the coolest package in the mail today. It had two back issues of Vogue Knitting, a cute little peridot cupcake, a mini sock keychain, and some of my favorite candy. The candy was promptly given to my husband to hide because I have absolutely no will power over strawberry Twizzlers. He hides it and doles it out to me in normal human increments. Seriously, I once ate so many strawberry Twizzlers in one sitting that I vomited. That's how much I love them.

Last weekend I finished knitting my bag for the SFBE. I finished sewing it up last night and it's ready to be felted. We have A LOT of laundry to do so it probably won't get felted until tomorrow. I really really wish I could post a picture of it; I'm kinda proud of it. I'll be sure to take a picture before I send it off. Today I went to Hancock's (the legendary Hancock's of Paducah, not the chain) to buy a lining for the stained glass felted purse. That place is so amazing, I was totally overwhelmed by choices. But, I think I picked one that suits it. I'll post pictures once I get the bag together.

Also, I bought all the yarn for my International Tote Exchange IV purse. I'm having the handles special ordered, so I should have them in a few weeks. I'm really liking the color combination. From looking at my person's blog, she seems to be into brighter colors. I hope she likes it.