My To Do List

After browsing the http://www.knitpicks.com/ site I have added a bunch of things to my "To Do" list. One of the first is going to be this http://www.knitpicks.com/Queen+of+Diamonds+Gloves_PD50554220.html because I have the Gloss yarn in my stash in 3 different colors. So its perfect, one for myself, one for SP10 spoilee and one possibly for a gift...maybe Christmas or something.

On other knitting notes, I am on the last 7 rows of my blue/green shawl. Its just garter stitch at the end so I am hoping it will breeze by this weekend and I can CO and block soon. I'll put a finished pic up when its done :)

I turned 30 yesterday! Dh took me into the city and we ate at MESA, Bobby Flay's resturant http://www.mesagrill.com/newyorkcity/ and it was Soooooo good. Afterwards we went to Carolines Comedy Club. And to top it off next week I'm getting inked. SO 30 is looking pretty good :)

Get to know you Q&A

1. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? 7am
2. GOLD OR SILVER? White gold
3. WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? Hannibal Rising
4. FAVORITE TV SHOW? One Life to Live, LOST & Jerico
5. WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? usually cereal
6. WHO WOULD YOU HATE TO BE LEFT IN A ROOM WITH? people who talk about the weather
7. CAN YOU TOUCH YOUR NOSE WITH YOUR TONGUE? nope
8. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? getting out of the house
9. WHAT'S YOUR MIDDLE NAME? Elizabeth
10. BEACH, CITY, Or COUNTRY? Alaska
11. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter
12. FAVORITE ICE CREAM? B&J Fossil Fuel
13. BUTTERED, PLAIN, OR SALTED POPCORN? LOADED!
14. FAVORITE COLOR? Purple
15. FAVORITE CAR? Something with a stick would be nice again
16. FAVORITE SANDWICH FILLING? turkey
17. TRUE LOVE? Don
18. WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DO YOU DESPISE? close talkers
19. FAVORITE FLOWER? roses
20. IF YOU HAD A BIG WIN IN THE LOTTERY, HOW LONG WOULD YOU WAIT TO TELL PEOPLE? I woudn't wait
21. FIZZY OR STILL WATER AS A DRINK? water from my fridge
22. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM?Against my dh better judgement its pink
23. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR KEY RING? too many
24. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO? not sure
25. CAN YOU JUGGLE? no
26. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK: saturday
27. RED OR WHITE WINE? red
28. WHAT DID YOU DO FOR YOUR LAST BIRTHDAY? A trip to the tattoo Palor
29. DO YOU CARRY A DONOR CARD? no, but my dh knows I would
30.WOULD YOU EVER SKY DIVE? the Air Force took care of that

Finished 2nd pair and SP10

As it turned out, my food poisoning was actually a stomach bug that got passed all around my house so I have not been able to update in a while but here is my second pair of knitted socks. These fit much better than the first pair but I still see room for improvements. Definitely going to try size 0's once I get my hands on some knit picks cir's in that size since I am convinced I will only use Magic Loop for socks.

I have made contact with my spoilee and I spotted a comment from my spoiler so SP10 is officially in motion! This is my first exchange like this so I can already see this being a great time. I already have some ideas for my spoilee, I'll just have to go cyber shopping on my fav sites to get the juices flowing.

Don showed my how to work the flash on the camera so I really want to put up a better pic of the shawl I'm working on. I think since I'm snowed in today I may put a longer cable on the needle so I can stretch it out a bit and get a better shot.

The All Over Lace Faroese Shawl

I haven't been able to update recently since I had a bout of (what I think was) food poisoning these last few days. I don't wish that on anyone!

but here is a pic of the lace shawl I have been working on from Heartstrings. http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/a16.shtm I LOVE that company :) Their patterns are so well written. My next shawl will also be from them I have the pattern to the Scottish Lace Thistle, but I am waiting to find the Ann yarn in the colorway that is shown on their site. Beautiful purple and greens, but it seems to be sold out everywhere so I will try to search for it again when this one is complete.

This is a very enjoyable lace pattern to knit and I love the turquoise with yellows and greens. I think I am about half way done in row numbers, but since it is increasing every row I know I have a lot more than half the knitting to do.

I really have to learn how to size my images. I'm sure its real easy once you figure it out.

I just got the info for my spoilee for the secret pal 10 I am participating in. I can already tell this is going to be fun :) I am pretty sure its closed for new people now, but I'd bet there will be a secret pal 11 so here is the link if anyone wants to check it out http://secretpal10.blogspot.com/

Secret Pal 10 Questionnaire

I am participating in my first Secret Pal so here is my homework

The Questionnaire
Here are is the questionnaire for SP10. Please be sure to post it in a spot on your blog where your pal can easily find it. Since your pal will use this to help create your packages.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Opal sock yarn, Merino and most lace yarns
What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Cotton

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? 2 kneedle rolls, a zippered case and the Options storage case

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? My Grandmother taught me when I was 12 so its been almost 18 years.

Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Advanced

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? no

5. What's your favorite scent? Vanilla or any kind of "baked goods" smell, like pies or cookies.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Carmel with chocolate or chocolate covered pretzles or chocolate covered crackers

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I just got the book Spin to Knit, but have only just begun to read it, no spindle or anything yet.

8. What kind of music do you like? pop and classic rock Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? yes (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Purples, greens and blues. And pinks too. Bright turquoise and fushia's also. Any colors you just can't stand? not really

10. What is your family situation? Married with a 2 (Gage)and 4 year old (River) boys. Do you have any pets? Yes a Black lab named Sebastian, and 2 cats Suzie and Sweet Pea

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? All of them except mittens.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? baby blankets, lacy shawls or stoles, and now socks. Lots of lace stuff...doilies too!

13. What are you knitting right now? A Heartstrings shawl.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? of course :) they are treasured

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? mostly circs I just got the options set and love it. But I do like to use the short straight needles for scarves and things but I only have sz 10's so far. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? aluminum or sleek surfaces

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes both

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Coming up on 10 months!

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas and Forth of July

19. Is there anything that you collect? Pill boxes I ahve wanted to start collecting little sheep, but haven't yet, hehe

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Book- a Treasury of Magical Knitting, I got the 2nd treasury for Christmas and now I want the origional. I am also waiting to get my hands on the Schaefer Anne yarn in the model from the Scottich Lace Thistle.
What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Knit1, I like Interweave press, and Vouge Knitting

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Yes! fair Isle using slip sts

22. Are you a sock knitter? Yes! But I am a newbie only 2 pairs so far! I am waiting to get a chance to get the knit picks size 0's 32 in circ before I start my next sock project. What are your foot measurements? I wear a sz 8 1/2 I', 9 1/4 inches long from heal to toe and 7 3/4 in around widest part of foot.

23. When is your birthday? On March 30th..I'll be 30!

Plans can change as ya knit.....

So I had originally intended this yarn for the Scottish Lace Thistle Stole, but as I was knitting up a swatch that was in the lace pattern, I realized that one of the things I liked most was the purple and greens in the model (scroll down for link). SO I decided to wait to get that yarn, BUT since I really enjoyed working with this lace yarn I wanted to use it now that I had a taste. The moral of the story is that its on to my current project OTH http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/a16.shtm still being swatched at the moment.