MY SECRET PAL ROCKS!

I am so totally unworthy of my Secret Pal! She is totally awesome! Look at what I got yesterday when I got home!

Clockwise from left to right: A really great scarf kit, My absolute favorite thing from the Bath & Body Store!! The Ginger Orange Spray and Body Wash!, Chocolate covered graham crackers - yum! 2 skeins of Lorna's laces in my favorite colors! and more dark chocolate and a Burt's Bees lip balm!

Not only was this a great suprise, it was my Birthday on the 6th and so it seemed even more special if that is possible. I love doing this swap thing cause I get to spoil my pal! But I think I could learn to love being spoiled too!

Anyhow, she didnt' send a card or put her name on the box.....so......Thank you and I would love to know who you are so I can read your blog!! THANKS!

I Love Chocolate!

Whooo Hooo! I got my box today from my Candy Swapper Pal - Libby! She is great, her theme was Spring time in Paris! Only my favorite place in the world! She sent yummy truffles and chocolate with hazelnuts! Yum! I havent' tried the one with strawberries & black pepper, but it sounds interesting. This swap is really fun and I want to give lots of Kudos to Libby!

I love the mail!

I got home last night from a stress full week and what did I find? A gift from my Wonderful Secret Pal! It was a perfect gift! I took it to bed with me and read a couple of chapters! It was just as funny and infomative as I had hoped.

I was reading parts to my husband when we got to the part where Stephanie talks about wool not being a fire hazard, because it tends to just smolder and and not really flame up, my hubby was quiet and started laughing for no reason. I asked him what was up and he said he was imagining flaming sheep running across the field..... and that now he knew why you never hear about that, cause they just smolder....... He is a quiet guy, but he is really funny sometimes.

Anyway, Thank you secret pal.......This was great suprise!

SP8 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Right now my favorite is Socks that Rock by Blue Moon Fibers I like Merino wool the best. But all natural fibers are good.The only think I really don't care for is rough acrylics and mohair, too fuzzy.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Lucky me, my Hubby bought me this from Bass Pro Shops It it so huge, it has two sides, with bags for my needles, dpns on one side and circs on the other, the bags have metal reinforcers and lots of little pockets on the inside cover and it has 2 zippers. I have 90% of my knitting accessories in here and it is great! I don't have too many straights and they are in a jar.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting on and off since I was about 10. I will be 42 this year. I would consider my self between intermediate and advanced. I have knit everything from socks to sweaters, and can fairilse and knit with both hands, but I haven't tried cables yet or lace.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yep. Teresa's Wish List

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Ginger or Lemon (citrus) or a combination of those. Bath & Body Works has a Orange Ginger scent I love

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Dark Chocolate, Gummy Stuff

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do spin, and dye roving, I do have a couple of fleeces waiting to be processed. I crochet, in the last swap I got stuff to learn how to tat. I paint, scrapbook, you name it I have probably done it.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like country music. And I can play mp3s. I got an Ipod for christmas!

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Fusica, purple, turquoise. Anything in the hot pink/purple/turquoise family. I don't care for orange too much.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
It is me, my hubby, my 85 year old dad. We have 7 cats, 2 dogs. no sheep yet :)

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I do wear hats and mittens and ponchos, not scarves.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks or anything for my 3 year old grandaughter Lilee Mae.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Socks, a sweater for Lilee, a sweater for Hubby.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Oh yes. They are the best type. All that thought and love put into the gift makes it more special

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I am a circular girl all the way, I even do socks on 2 circs

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have a ball winder, a skein winder, but no swift yet.

17. How did you learn to knit?
In summer school in 4th grade

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
about 1 1/2 years - really boring but beautiful sweater for hubby

19. What is your favorite holiday?
4th of July - my birthday is the 6th and when I was a kid, I used to pretend the fireworks were for my birthday.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
Old glass bottles, turtles

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
a subscription to Wild Fibers or Interweave Knits What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Spin Off

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Lace knitting, cables

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yep. My foot it 10" long

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
July 7th

Clearing out My Stash

In an effort to get ready for what I want to buy at the Black Sheep festival I am posting pics of some of my yarns that I am willing (barely) to part with to make some room. These are all 100% wool and were all hand spun by me. Some were dyed be me also, and some were already dyed when I bought the rovings. I tried to put like colors together. I have the yardage and weight on most of them and I will measure the others as soon as I have time.

If you are interested please email me a Darlinatfireservedotnet. I do have an paypal account with that email as the ID. Shipping will be $4.05 for priority mail flat rate. If you want insurance or tracking, that will be extra. If you want to buy more than 1 lot I will combine them and let you know the actual postage. Thanks for looking.




This is the first bunch - Left to right

Tan colored wool 2 ply - 10 wpi (bulky) - Yards - Unmeasured

Orange wool - 2 ply - 15 wpi (sport) - 74 Yards

Rust Mulit wool - 10 wpi (bulky) - 59 Yards

Price: $12.00









This is the second bunch - Left to right


Blue Multi wool - 2 ply - 9 wpi (bulky) - 58 Yards

Purple/Blue Multi wool - 2 ply - 12 wpi (worsted) 59 Yards

Rust Mulit wool - 10 wpi (bulky) - 59 Yards

Price: $12.00







This is the third bunch - ALL Wool

Left to right

Tan 2 ply - 10 wpi (bulky) - Yards - unknown

Orange/Brown Multi 2 ply - 10 wpi (bulky) - Yards - 90

Brown - 12 wpi (Worsted) - Yard - 105

Brown/Green Multi - 12 wpi (worksted) - Yards Unknown

Price: $20.00







This is the Fourth bunch - ALL WOOL

Left to right

Brown Multi - 2 ply - 11 wpi (worsted) - Yards - 64

Purple/Gray Multi 2 ply - 10 wpi (bulky) - Yards - 49

Rose Multi 9 wpi (bulky) - Yard - 36

Dk Brown/Pink Multi - 9 wpi - (bulky) - Yards - unknown

Price: $15.00

The white you see in some of the photos is the paper that I wrote the info about the yarn on, such as wpi, yards, etc.

Thanks so much for looking and please leave a comment if you think my prices are off. Have a great week!

Finally - Some finished stuff

Spring is finally here and boy is the weather nice this weekend. I finally got around to posting some pictures of some of my lately finshed items.

This is the sweater I made for Lilee from the Spring 2005 Issue of Interweave Knits. I very rarely make anything in the colors that patterns show, but this pattern caought my attention and I loved the colors. I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, expensive I know, but her Mom is good about hand washing stuff and it is soooooo soft.

It was fun and came out lovely. Lilee like it but for some reason I was unable to get a pic of her smiling. I am currently working on a princess dress for her from the book Adorable Knits for Tots as well as the pink kinda lacy sweater. I love knitting for her because since she is small they don't take much yarn and she always gets excited when i tell her I made her something. I can't wait until she is big enough to teach to knit.

These are Opa's socks made with Socks that Rock! My new absolutely favorite sock yarn( I can't remember the name of this colorway, nor can I find the band, Sorry). I did these toe up on two circs. It is a dream to knit with. It is close to Kogiu, but a bit thicker and not spun so quite so hard/tight (if you know what I mean) and the colors are delightful. I will be making many more pairs of socks with this I imagine. I thought color way might be too girly for Michael with all the pinks and purples, but he likes them. I did a slip stitch pattern from the bottom of the heel to the top of the heel, which i learned from the Queen Kahuna's Book. If you have any interest in learning to do socks on two circs toe up or down, I highly reccomend this book. It has revolutionized the way I do socks. I don't know if you can tell, but there are no holes in the gussest, and you don't have to pickup stitches while doing the heel either. Anyway I love this sock yarn!

Next is the mysterious missing shawl, I know I made it. Here is the photo to prove it, but it is no where to be found. I made it last summer for my best friend for her christmas gift. I even found a beautiful brooch to go with it. But to date I still have not found this shawl.....

I have made other socks and a couple of things for Lilee that I need to photograph. But this seems like a good start.

I hope everyone is enjoying spring......FINALLY!