A quest, an FO, an upcoming adventure and a few contests!

Still no luck finding the Fabel yarn I need to finish my SP4 sock pal's sock ... I am getting a little tense about it (it is due in at the LYS, but so far, hasn't shown up!) The deadline to send in the mail is August 2nd ... getting very close! I might have to make a new pair of socks, in the event that the yarn doesn't turn up in time ... shoot, the colour I have is really quite pretty. I don't know if I will find another I like enough for my pal!


Just finished the second Breeze

... finally, after several weeks of not much knitting, an FO! I think I will make another pair soon!

I found another contest ... Adrienne is celebrating having her sock pattern published in the 2008 pattern a day calendar -- you could win a skein of Tofusies simply by telling her the one part of knitting you don't like -- but hurry, she will be drawing a winner on Monday! Remember -- you could have your pattern published too ... just submit it before December 2007 and you have a chance to be in the calendar for 2009!

And another contest is going on here at Knitting Sutra ... she is looking for a pattern that will defy pooling ... if you mention you found out about her contest from my blog, I get an additional entry (the prize is incredible yarn ... not telling what - you gotta go see for yourself!)

The ADD Knitter is also running a contest too! (it is a contest-a-paooza out there folks! people are generous!) For some reason I can't get blogger to just let me select her contest post -- so you will have to just scan through and find the Saturday, July 21st (today's date) post to enter.

I am going to the Fisheries Museum tomorrow to learn how to spin using a drop spindle ... very exciting (in anticipation of it, I have been browsing the 'net looking at roving, fibre and batt ... but have decided not to order any until I actually know what each of those things are! LOL!) I am really looking forward to learning how to do the spinning thing, but don't have a sweet clue yet how to do it, or anything else about it -- J. did give me a quick demo of what she learned last week, and asked me to try, but I was timid, and declined (I will dive in tomorrow!)

(and the Yarn Harlot is coming soon ... only 16 more days!)

All sorts of miscellaneous stuff

I made the mistake of visiting our lys -- where Lexa works, and look what sneaked home with me (nope, not the kitty - he lives here, and follows me everywhere!)

I couldn't just leave them there -- the SWS Natural Pink was in the discount bin because it was the only ball in that dye lot, and the That's Pink Classic Wool is a new colour they just got in yesterday - so it had to come (plus, it matches my new knitting/beach bag so well -- I needed it!).

I can't recall if I mentioned that I have a sock finished ... the Breeze pattern from the Summer Knitty is done, and I am getting close to half done the second one. Hopefully will be done by the weekend. They are a cute pair of socks - I really like the heel detailing, and the cable/laddering on the front of the sock is cute too, and makes for a very "unboring" knit. I don't think they would take very long to knit if you could just sit and work on them , but I have been quite busy with work and home stuff, and haven't had any time to just sit and knit, so I have grabbed a row here and there. The details re: the yarn are here (can you believe it is that long ago since I bought the yarn -- I was so excited to start them, and am STILL working on them ... man, where does the time go?)

Oh, I am so jealous/excited for of my friend J. (remember J.? She went with K. , Lexa and me to the Lucy Neatby workshop) -- she got a drop spindle and some fibre over the weekend and learned to spin! She brought it to work to show me on break -- very nice! I might go with her on Sunday to learn how to do it and buy my own gear (for learning, she is spinning natural coloured fibre, but when she gets the knack of it, she has some hand-dyed stuff in "Gummy-Worm" colourway (orange, blue red -- really pretty). She is pretty good at it already -- and so sweet to ask me if I want to go with her on the weekend to learn (well, I am not sure if she asked, or if I said "Can I go with you on the weekend?" LOL I hope I didn't invite myself! eek! I might have!) Regardless -- we will have some fun - I have been contemplating learning to spin with a drop spindle, and now, here's a chance.

After 2 days of vacation from work, I returned today to find an envelope on my desk this morning from K. -- stitch markers that I had admired way back in May at the Lucy workshop! (I will try to post a picture of them a little later - the macro on the camera is giving me grief today!) very pretty pale pink beads on silver wire (and a clear bead one too for special markings!). I am lucky to have such a good friend! (and she might come with me to see the Harlot in Halifax on Aug. 7th!)

She's coming ... She's coming!

It's true ... she is coming! In less than a month, she will be here! Ohhhh ... I hope I can get the day off work! (I wonder why she's coming to Halifax? I wrote to her publicist several month ago, telling her about how great Nova Scotia is, how many knitters there are, and some of the cool local dyers there are in NS and NB -- but never heard anything else back -- and then wrote her again -- but still nothing! It would be cool if I helped to make the decision! I probably didn't, but I will tell myself I did! LOL!)

Did I mention -- She's Coming?

In other exciting news -- I won a contest! And found another blog with a contest -- the winner can choose the colour they would like Shelly to dye their skein! Sweet! I am also making good progress on a pair of cotton socks (more on them later!)

It's my Job ...

and I love it!

No, I am not a hooker (although, I can see how that might be your first guess! ;) ), I work in Municipal Recreation and today was Diva Day (the outfit I am wearing is not my regular work-wear -- but I probably should wear it everyday based on the number of "Love your outfit" coomments I got today -- of course most of them were from 6 year old girls! ~ Edit: in case you are wondering, the outfit is "cheetah" print, right down to the last detail - headband, waist scarf, babydoll top and 3 inch platform shoes. And I went to the grocery store on my way home from Diva Day -- I hope no-one I knew saw me! And if they did, I'm sure they thought I was Mariah Carey or Paris Hilton! heheh!)

Diva Day is a day we plan for little girls aged 5 - 8 years in which we treat them like a diva for a day -- we go for all the girlie stuff (on-site hairstylist, manicures, makeup, glitsy glam crafts, make your own BLING bracelets, and a decadent strawberry shortcake tea party.) We all dress in our "Diva Finest" -- glitz, bling, and showy all the way baby -- and have a blast with these little darlings! This is one of the reasons I love my job! (It doesn't get any better than this!)

Edit: I have a knitting enabler ... I sent T to the LYS to remedy the knot problem I encountered with my SP4 pals socks (btw, my finger is still sore to type with, but I am suffering on in spite of the pain!) and he came home without the yarn I needed === but he did come home with these

none of which look like the yarn I sent him for. He tells me they are out of the colour I need (will be in a week from Monday) and that he couldn't come home empty handed from a visit to a yarn store with me expecting to get yarn. Even though the yarn I got isn't what I expected -- I wasn't expecting anything since what I needed isn't in stock!

FYI the Fabel is colour 671, and the Austermann is colour 07 (which looks nothing like the picture in the colour chart!)

I got me a keeper, ladies == and , no, I don't share!

Now what?

ok ... so you may have read my crabby post from last night , and thought -- Get over it and move on -- 'cause that's what I thought as I walked away from the computer. Easy problem to fix -- just go get more yarn. A bit inconvenient, but doable!

Still a bit miffed by the knot, hereafter to be refered to as 'it", off to the laundry room I went, fuming about "it" and trying to wrap my head around the clothes I needed to wash for an event the next day (today). Distracted by cranky thoughts of "it" , I plunged my hands into the wooden bin hamper to retreive my dirty clothes for the wash, (If you are queasy, or found the toenail story of a month ago traumatising, look away now, or go play with your kitty, or knit, just don't finish reading this blog!), missed the inside of the bin, and bashed my left index finger very firmly down on the 1 inch plywood edge of the laundry bin.

I nearly passed out, it hurt so much . I am not sure if it is broken, cracked, or just really sore ... too scared to go to the doctor ... hurts to not have constant pressure on it and the nail is broken horizontally half way down across my nail bed. I ran to the kitchen to show T, once I got my wind back and was sure I could still see. He said the appropriate comforting things, had a look-see and determined I would live through it. As I turned to go finish the laundry , and curse "it" for causing yet another disaster, I tripped over one of T's workboots, and tore the afore mentioned toenail completely off. (warned ya! you should be playing with yer kitty right now!)

In case you are keeping score, "it" is 3, Heddy, a great big zero !!

Unfinished socks, a finger that I can't type, knit, or do dishes with (well, there is at least one bright spot!) -- now what?

Anyone want to be my surrogate knitter?

** I promise - tomorrow will be a better post -- 2 posts in a row with no pictures, and a negative vibe in them, is just not right!! Tomorrow will be a cheery post with lots of pictures, I swear on a stack of merino!

Hmmm .... how can I put this delicately?

CRAP!!!! Big stinky piles of crap!!!

Now that I have that out of my system -- ahhhh, I feel a little better. Not much better, but a little bit.

The reason for my crap-fest is that I finally got inspired (shamed, actually) into deciding to finish my Sockapalooza 4 Pal's second sock (I had stalled in the gusset decreases for about a month, and today got word from the person knitting socks for me that my socks are now done and waiting to be mailed -- so I felt guilt, embarrassment and a bit ashamed of myself for procrastinating.) So picked up the pattern and needles and was knitting away quite happily on the pattern -- and looking like I would be done in 2 evenings of leisurely, unhurried knitting -- then the crap-saster happened.

There is a knot in my second ball of yarn.

A *&$%)!@# knot!

And to make it worse, about 5 yards of yarn are missing following the knot. How do I know this, you ask? Well, I desperately wound off the remaining yarn and measured. Crap! The LYS that I bought the yarn in is a 90 minute drive away (round trip) and they are closed this evening, and I am working all week (and a few evenings this week too! (Have I mentioned my feelings about the knot?!) And the first ball was perfect -- no stinkin' knots, nothing to lead me to think this horror would happen to me! (too dramatic? maybe a little!)

Shoot! I had a really good flow going, and was sooo totally back into the pattern, and psyched about having them done by bedtime tomorrow nite. I hope I can get back my mojo again when I get the yarn on Saturday (I am not evening considering the possibilities if they don't have any of the colour/dye lot left -- not allowing that thought to enter my mostly happy mind -- La! La! La! ... crap! now it is in there! Shoot -- I hope they have it in stock.

*** Let's see, I hate to complain ... leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and is really no fun for anyone reading/listening to me -- so let's wind this down on a positive note -- Did I mention that my Sockapalooza 4 Pal contacted me today to announce that my socks are done? My Pal lives in Canada (like me), likes chocolate (like me), and has knit me a pattern from Knitty (I did that for my pal too!) .... we are so much alike, we might even be related! (heheh!) Or maybe I am my own partner! (heheh!)

Nah! My pal is too organized to be me or related to me -- my pal is done the socks already! Wow! How cool is that? I am feeling very lucky and content in my world (and of course, if you know me, I am absolutely beside myself with curiosity and the burning desire to KNOW WHO IS MY SECRET KNITTER and WHAT THEY HAVE KNIT FOR ME!!!!!

Another bit of pleasantness - Last week, I had been feeling a bit neglected and unloved (hang tight, I am ditching the negative again!) because my ISE4 Pal had some unexpected life issues come up and was unable to meet her commitment to knit me a scarf -- so lowness had ensued. But I got word from Stripey Tiger , the hostess, that an Angel was being sent my way ... there are a bunch of sweet knitters who offer to save pals like me, who end up with no scarf because life intervenes for our knitters! Can you believe there are people out there who are that kind-hearted? My Angel has already knit a scarf for a pal, and most likely received one from her pal, and now has knitted something lovely for me! People really are good hearted, eh?

There ... now I feel better about the incident I was raving about earlier, and am confident it will work out!

(and now I want to pay forward all the niceness I feel about my SP4 Pal and My ISE4 Angel!)

Edit: I found a few more blog contests ... this one (seems easy enough if you read her books), and this one (awesome prizes, and all for just knitting a project!), and there is this one too (the contest is on until Friday -- SO GET OVER THERE AND ENTER! be sure to mention that Heddy sent you, and I could win too! - you know it's all about me! LOL!) and of course, I mentioned this one before, but it is still on until Monday, July 16th (same deal -- mention where you found out about the contest, and I could win something too!)
Those are all the contests I am aware of now -- but I will let y'all know if I find anymore!

And the winner is ....

Sorry folks - I am a day late getting the contest wound down (I stuck to the deadline for submissions, but was slack about getting the winner chosen -- I will blame the kitty - he was cranky when woken from his nap to judge a the contest) !

I am really pleased with the results -- 13 people took part in the contest - way, way more than I thought! Well, as I mentioned, the winner was selected in an very traditional, highly scientific method - guaranteed to be totally random and truly unbiased

Decisions, decisions! This one looks like "the One" ...

And the winner is .... Monica!

Congratulations Monica ... and thanks to everyone who entered my first contest! It was so much fun, I will definitely do another one sometime soon.

The Sights, the sounds, the pagentry ...

I am going to the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo tomorrow night! It is a pretty awe-inspiring event -- I have been 2 times before, and always end up in tears or a big ole lump in my throat (one word -- bagpipes! The music makes me very sentimental). Plus, there is usually a tribute to fallen soldiers or RCMP officers killed in the line of duty. Even though I end up crying, I still love it -- it is almost like a circus, there is so much activity going on, and acts from all over the world.



This is an event I organize through work for the public to take part in and is generally one of the most popular events of the season. If you ever have a chance to go -- go, you will not regret it!

Long Weekend Accomplishments

It is mind blowing what you can get done on a long weekend!

I didn't even knit constantly -- I blogged, visited with family,had a normal life, AND managed to get some knitting done ... all in all, a great weekend!neither of these bags existed before Thursday! (and before bed tonight , I should have a 'Feather & Fan' dishcloth done in Bernat cotton. (if it is done, I will post a picture). I had plans to work on socks ... but it was more fun to make the blue Booga for my friend ... socks can be anytime!

So far, there are 11 entries in my contest ... so your odds are good to win! Scoll down the page a few days, and you'll see the contest rules -- tell me what you knit on the Canada Day weekend, and be entered to win!

Did I mention that I ran into the very patriotic Spiderman yesterday? He LOVES the Canadian flag, and was very obliging when asked to show off his tats!

Happy Canada Day!

Today is a day to feel proud to be a Canadian ... and with that in mind ... I did a little 'vestigating, and discovered a few things about Canada (some that I knew and some that I didn't know!)

There are a lot of cool inventions that originated here, we have exported musical talent, actors and comedians across the globe to meet with international fame and success, our food is well known . I discovered that I have met, carried on a civilized conversation and had a Diet Coke with the richest man in Canada ... and also flirted with his little brother at an art show at a gallery I used to work at (who knew?).

What did I do on Canada Day? I finished the SWS Natural Blue Booga Bag for my friend ... started at 11 p.m. last night while Lexa was visiting, worked on it til 2 a.m., then on and off through Canada Day. At 8 p.m. tonight, I finished the I-cord. Now I just need to weave in all the ends and felt it! That will have to wait until morning -- it is after 11 and I think I will try to get a decent nights sleep tonight (2 late knites knitting and I am tired). Pictures of the before and after tomorrow!

My siste, her husband and my 2 nephews are visiting my Mom for the weekend. I hung out down there for most of the evening -- they are so cute!