AtomicKnits

Autumn Swap

This week I received my Autumn swap package from Maggie (mfangmann on Ravelry), and I love everything in it!  I got two cute scarecrow things that I put in my houseplants, and those also inspired me to get out the few fall decorations I have and put them around.  I also got a super cool needle case that I think she made!  I think I'm going to try out putting my addi click set in there.  She also gave me a skein of hand-dyed KnitPicks Bare that she dyed herself in autumn colors.  I am torn between knitting socks out of it, or weaving it into a wide scarf.  I also got cute fall magnets, fall collage ephemera and embellishments, and fall note cards and note pad.  Thank you, Maggie! I really love it all!

Fall Envelope Swap!

Since I work from home and am alone most of the day, getting stuff in the mail becomes extra exciting.  I joined the Super Swappers Group on Ravelry, so I could increase my chance of awesome mail.  I also really like shopping for swap partners, and the spending limits for this group are quite reasonable.  I got my first swap package this weekend from wtrmlni!  This was a 6x9 envelope swap, and look at all of the stuff she stuck in there!  Here's a summary of the loot: a skein of Opal sock yarn, 3 packs of cherry Flavor-Aid and yarn dying instructions, a wood shawl pin, a Virginia magnet, a pin, and a postcard.  Thank you, Melanie!

My Valentine Swap package from Kari!

On Valentine's Day I finally got to open my package from my swap partner from the Be My Valentine Swap on Ravelry.  I was so excited to open it and I love everything I received from my swap partner, Kari (CoggieTM on Ravelry).  The thing I'm most excited about getting is the AWESOME PAIR OF SOCK BLOCKERS.  I did ask for these, but I didn't think I would get them.  I have been wanting a pair of real sock blockers FOREVER, and I'm so glad Kari picked out such nice ones.  I am knitting a pair of socks right now, and I can't wait to block them on these babies.  I also got a WPI thingy from Hornshaw Woodworks, also something I wanted but didn't know it!  The fiber treats are some white spinning wool local to Michigan, and some roving from Briar Rose Fibers. I also got a skein of Tofutsies, some chocolate, and the winter 2008 issues of both Knit 1 and Spin Off.  I'm looking forward to reading Spin Off.  Thank you again, Kari!!

P.S. I am destashing a bunch of my yarn!! Please take a look at my Ravelry Destash page for details.

I won some yarn!

It's almost February, so it's time for the Be My Valentine swap once again!  I have been shopping for my swap partner, and her package is almost complete.  This swap is run by a group on Ravelry, and it was so much fun last year.  There are always a few contests that go along with the swap and I won the first one, which was a photo contest using photos of your FO's that you completed with yarn from last year's swap package.  As a prize I won this gorgeous skein of yarn from Yarn Chef!  The yarn is called Creme Brulee and I choose the colorway, Atlantis.  It's lace weight merino/silk and it's the prettiest blue!  It also came with a recipe for Minestrone soup and a tiny blue stitch marker!  Thanks, Yarn Chef!

A surprise 'Thank You' gift from Andrea!

I was very surprised by a package I received in the mail yesterday!  I had sent Andrea a package for the Valentine's Day Swap 2008, and she sent me a small 'Thank you' package in return!  There is one skein of Colinette Iona which I will probably use for Evangeline per Andrea's suggestion!  I still am so surprised that I hadn't thought to look at queues to come up with ideas for yarn gifts.  What a GREAT idea!  There are also some sweets - malt balls and a lollypop.  The small bottle is Eau de Toilette from the Body Shop in White Musk.  It's such a lovely scent!  I don't wear perfume that much, but I will definitely be dabbing a bit of this on sometimes.  The NOW magazine is so fun too!  I can't wait to read about the Spice Girls' problems.  Thank you, again, Andrea!!  This made my day!

My Valentine's Day Swap package arrived!

I finally received my Valentine's Day Swap package over the weekend! I was taken care of by my angel, KintPixie from British Columbia.  She was so thoughtful and actually looked at my queue on Ravelry and bought me three whole skeins of Dream in Color Smooshy for Jeanie!  I think I also mentioned in my questionnaire that I wanted to do a shawl project.  The light blue color is really gorgeous.  I also received a skein of Noro Kureyon in this cool colorway I have never seen before, an old standby that never disappoints.  I ALSO received a skein of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock yarn.  I have always oogled this sock yarn at stores, but I have never wanted to shell out the dollars for it.  This is a real treat!  Other things in the package include stitch holders, a postcard, chocolates, maple fudge, and loose leaf tea!  THANK YOU SO MUCH KNITPIXIE!  Even though I didn't get my original package, the generosity and kindness of the group makes me really eager to do this swap again next year, and also ease the pain of others who won't receive swap boxes.  It has been really hard to restrain myself from eating all of that fudge in one go.

A surprise gift!

I received a package slip in my mailbox the other day.  I was so excited, because I finally thought my Valentine's Day Swap package had arrived!  I went to the post office and picked it up, then brought it to work to open it up.  It was not my swap box, but a surprise gift from Starstruck Cat  Designs, a hand-made craft business by Jill in Indianapolis, IN.  It is a handmade vanilla soy candle.  I burned it a bit at home last night and it smells wonderful.  Jill included a note that said that this is something just to tide me over until my swap box arrives.  Isn't that sweet?!  Thank you, Jill!  The members of this group are so thoughtful, and everyone has worked together to take care of the people that didn't receive packages.  It makes me even more happy to step in and help out the next time someone else gets the short end of the stick.

TAKE ME TO ANOTHER PLACE

TAKE ME TO ANOTHER LAND
MAKE ME FORGET ALL THAT HURTS ME
LET ME UNDERSTAND YOUR PLAAANNNNNN

Yes, tomorrow morning I am heading on a plane to Knoxville, Tennessee to visit Justin's parents.  Justin will be arriving there a few hours before me.  I am really excited.  It's going to be awesome to spend time with him for 4 whole days.  It's also going to be nice just to get out of here and spend a few days in a place I have never been.  I'm staying up a bit late tonight to finish some things up before I head out.  I love this part.  Making the list of stuff to do before a trip and then doing each thing and getting more excited by the minute!

I finished the dishcloth set for Justin's parents just in time.  I really hope they like it.  You'll see there are two extra yellow cloths included.  I ran out of yellow yarn as I was about halfway done the 4th corner of the larger towel, so I ended up buying a whole other ball of yellow yarn to finish it up.  I used the rest of the ball to knit a woven washcloth and a butterfly lace washcloth.  Washcloths are cool to make because they are so quick, but I think I've had enough of them for now.  My sock has not progressed much farther than the last picture, but I will be able to take it with me to the airport and hopefully get some good work on it done tomorrow morning.  Maybe I'll take the October Tofutsies socks too, just in case I finish the Summer Daze.

Well, I participated in the Valentine's Day Swap on Ravelry, and my recipient loved her package which makes me super happy, but I am sort of bummed, because I didn't receive a package for myself. :(  My recipient was not support to buy for me.  The person buying for me remains a surprise before I open the package.  There are angels that I'm sure will be very good to me if my package does not arrive, but it's kind of crummy to participate in a swap and do a good job and not get a package in return.  I didn't get a nice gift in the mail, however.  Along with the swap, the Ravelry group had a Valentine's Day ravatar contest and I came in 2nd place!!  My prize was a package from Pick Up Sticks in Canada!  I won a skein of Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn in a beautiful muted blue/purple color, a CUTE mini sock blocker keychain, and a pattern to knit a tiny sock to block of the keychain.  What an adorable package, and thank you SO MUCH Connie and Pick Up Sticks!

I probably won't post again until Tuesday when I get back, but I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day and have a great President's Day weekend (I hope you have the day off)!

Summer Daze socks started

So, I ran out of yellow about 10 rows short of being COMPLETELY done with the Pick-Me-Up Dishtowel.  Since I don't have to give this gift for about another week and a half, it immediately went into The Basket (never a good sign), and I cast on the Summer Daze socks - the Tofutsies Sock Club August yarn and pattern.  I love the color of this August yarn much better than I liked the June colorway.  It kind of looks like Saved by the Bell, but I am into that.  I also like the pattern much better.  The little cables are really cute and really easy.  As you can see, I am knitting these socks on two circular needles.  These are the first socks I have done using this technique and the two circs totally pwn bamboo dpns.  I have not left dpns forever, though.  I still want to knit some socks using  *metal* dpns.  After the Wild Kat Sock Not Fitting Catastrophe, I decided to go up a needle size (I'm using 2's) and knit the larger size offered in the pattern.  Now, I'm kind of afraid that these socks will be a little too loose.  We'll see

I have also found out that my Valentine's Day Swap package made it to its recipient, so that's great!  I still haven't received a package.  I can't wait to see what I get!

More FO's and Swap Complete!

Today was a beautiful day, and I while I was outside, I took some nicer pictures of my new FO's.  Here are the Wild Kat socks all dry and pretty.  The Tofutsies yarn feels really great after it has been washed and dried.  I am really glad these are out of the way.

I love my Argosy.  The color is one of my favorites, and it is so soft and drapey after it has been blocked.  It also wraps around my neck twice, which I like a lot.

I wore it during my errands and walk today.

During my errands, I made a trip to the Post Office and sent out my Valentine's Day swap package!  Hopefully the recipient does not read my blog, but if she does, she can see that her package is on her way!  I had a lot of fun shopping for it, and I hope she likes it.  I am excited to get mine too! 

Because I gave blood yesterday, I'm not supposed to be too active this weekend.  I did go for a long walk, and then I did some cleaning around my apartment.  I took down my little Christmas tree (finally) and put it all away.  After doing those two activities and not drinking enough water, I felt a little light headed and run down.  So, this evening I'm looking forward to just sitting on the couch, knitting my dishcloths, and watching figure skating.