GPGK 2011

Look at all I recvd!

RSE7

TEST

TESTING UPLOADING PHOTOS.

NEW SCARF

Here's my new scarf!!

I used the 2-color trick with circs with 3 colors. "-) I think it turned out neat! I hope my ISE5 pal likes it!!

I know...one other thing I'm behind in is putting buttons on my sidebar!!

NO MORE DISASTER!!

I forgot to post this good news here!!

I made another scarf!!! I started on my flight to Las Vegas....met up with my son for turkey day....worked on it when we were in our room....worked mucho on the bus trip to Grand Canyon...worked on it during my return flight....and will finish it tonight!!

YAY!!!! Should I even tell my pal I was Ms. Disaster???!!!! I like this one even better!

But, now I'm behind on my project for the other swap I'm in. :-( Phew!! No rest for the mucho swapper!!

I thought I would post photos of my disaster so you could see what I was talking about.


Not only did it come apart, but it's fuzzy. :-(


I've bought more yarn which is now trying to decide what to be.

DISASTER!!!!!

OMG!!!! I was finally done my ISE5 scarf except for blocking. Well....disaster has struck!! I have no idea what happened!! Part of the scarf has come apart!! :-( Also, the yarn in part of the scarf is now "yucky"....fuzzy...just part of the scarf!! How does stuff like that happen??!!!

I have another scarf started for another swap pal that I need to make something for so I hope this will be ok for my ISE5 pal. Fortunately, she was pretty easy as far as preferences. I just hope it's not too bright for her.

Plus, I promise...here in writing....to make her another scarf after Christmas.

I'm so sorry this has happened! I will try my best to still mail out on time!

Am I a bad blogger or what??!!!

I vote for me being the worse blogger of all time!! I'm so sad I don't even deserve the title of blogger.

I'm going to try to do better. Starting right now with my posting of my KTS4 package I received from Laurie!! Man oh man!! Are all Canadians such wonderful spoilers??!!! Look at all this stuff!!!!
Some white tea, green tea with ginger, several other samplers, Christmas napkins, maple sugar candy! Gluten free chocolate cookies! The only reason they are still around is that I recently had dental surgery and still hurting some. A cedar maple leaf! Hand made stitch markers! A card with a nice note and explanation of things which is also a pattern! Neat idea! A Santa cookie cutter with a tea towel that has a cookie recipe. A cute Santa mug! Some wildflower seeds! Some wine flavored gummy candy. A cute teapot shaped tea bag holder. And last but not least!!!...Some Hacho merino wool yarn in variegated pinks, purples, grays. Gotta think what I can make!!

Thanks so much!! I think I may try those cookies tonight. Oh...almost forgot!! Something that I didn't take a picture of because I brought it to work already. She gave me a CD of guitar music by Canadian residents of African descent! Beautiful music! The company she works for produced it. I'm really enjoying it.

HIDE THE BUTTONS! FOUND THE BUTTONS!

I'm learning how to add live buttons! Check'em out! It only took me an hour each! :-) I have several more to add but I'm shutting it down for tonight.

Am I still a newbie???!!!

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Are you religious? I consider myself spiritual.

2. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? Just came back to knitting a couple of years ago. Advanced Beginner

3. Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting? Reading, 'Net surfing :-), Music

4. Favorite color(s)? jewel tones: red, purple, royal blue, hot turquoise, kelly green, black. I love variegated yarn!! No orange, yellow, brown, pastels.

5. Do you collect anything? kokopelli, books, music, yarn

6. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? no

7. Do you have any pets? no

8. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? Tea! I drink a lot of herbal and different flavored green teas...DECAF please. No chamomille...just can't take the smell. I've been trying different white teas, but decaf is hard to fine. I've tried rooibois red tea, but don't like it.

9. Cookies or Sweets? I love both. But I am ALLERGIC TO WHEAT AND STRAWBERRY. So my snacks have to be GLUTEN FREE. Not crazy about nuts in things. Love chocolate anything!

10. Do you knit socks? Not yet.

11. If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits) scarves, baby blankets, afghans, shawls, things I can design as I go.

12. Do you put up a Christmas tree? If not then what do you do? Used to. Now I usually have a bunch of poinsettia plants around.

13. Favorite holiday treats? Chocolate Rum Balls, :-) Pies! (used to be)

14. Favorite holiday smells? pine, food cooking

15. Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? Please elaborate. Very traditional Christmas growing up and when my son was young. Not as much celebration these times.

16. What are your favorite holiday traditions? Turkey with all the fixins including fresh green beans with melted butter,

17. Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....” Giving.

18. If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….? A shining star.

19. What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Or given? The ones that come quickly to mind are when I used to save my money as a kid and buy gifts for my family. I would really have to sacrifice to get nice things for them. I remember getting my mother a hair dryer which she wanted and couldn't afford.

Also when my son was young and Legos came into being, I used to buy him a big set and a little one every year. He loved those things!!

He and I have a tradition which he started when he was young. He buys me a calendar every year. Beautiful color photos of something he knows I would ilke. A few years ago, I started getting him one every year too. For the past 3 years, he has had one created with photos he has taken on his travels.

20. When do you start your Christmas? I'm a late bird.

21. Do you send Christmas cards? Do you make them or buy them? ecards

22. What is your favorite Christmas dish? Fresh homemade cranberry sauce.

23. Carolers are at your door. What do you do? Join in! Request my favorite: The Little Drummer Boy.

24. When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning? Morning

25. Do you celebrate with family or friends or both? Now it's friends unless my son comes to visit.

I just entered a contest!

During my afternoon surfing, I found a contest to enter. It's at Tea Time Ramblings. Hurry up if you want to enter!

This is hard stuff!!!

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 8/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

Is this really me???

Your Birthdate: January 23

You're not good at any one thing, and that's the problem. You're good at so much - you never know what to do. Change is in your blood, and you don't stick to much for long. You are destined for a life of travel and fun. Your strength: Your likeability Your weakness: You never feel satisfied Your power color: Bright yellow Your power symbol: Asterisk Your power month: May

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

IT'S SEPTEMBER ALREADY!!!

Can you believe it's September already???!!! It's just not fair that time goes faster the older you get!! I'm supposed to be able to enjoy it!! But whoosh!! There it goes! Are there any weekends any more??!!

Oh well...just a post to let ya know that I was a good swap partner and left comments for both my partners on their blogs letting them know that I was thinking of them and working on getting their goodies!!

STUFF ABOUT ME

I thought I would write more about myself and then invite my swap partners to check it out. OK here goes:

I'm 57 with 1 adult son who lives in San Jose, CA. My son that is...:-) I live in Houston, TX and it's hot as ____ here!! I'm originally from RI.

I started knitting again about a year and a half ago...don't know why and don't remember why I quit. I do a lot of design as I go stuff. I'll start a pattern and find that I don't like it so I just change it. Of course, this means that I don't make sweaters or anything like that! I make scarves, blankets, potholders, afghans, a couple of hats, shawls, coasters, stuff like that.

My faves are merino, cotton, alpaca, mohair, blends. I also like the new acrylic blends they now make and stuff like polyester that feels so soft!

I love bright colors!! Jewel tones: purple, red, kelly green, royal blue, black, did I say purple! Bright turquoise, aqua, gray. I love variegated! I love hand-painted yarn! No orange, brown or yellow.

I love chocolate of course!! But I try to only buy the good dark chocolate...usually plain but sometimes with raspberry or ginger in it. No nuts! But it is not a good time to send me any chocolate! It will melt before it gets to me. :-( Maybe in October and November it will be ok.

I love sweet snacks. But I am allergic to strawberries and wheat. So my snacks have to be gluten free please. It's quite easy to find this stuff nowadays. Whole Foods usually has a good inventory as do other supermarkets. I love cookies...especially peanut butter. Of course, chocolate is always good. No nuts please...just don't like them in things.

Let's see. I don't really collect much...of course not counting yarn, books and music. :-) I do collect kokopelli. He's a neat character.

I'm a tea drinker. ... decaf please. I drink a lot green tea and herbals. At work it's mainly tea bags, but at home I do brew loose tea. I would like to try more white tea since they now make a lot of different flavors. But herbals are excellent too! and they are all decaf! A previous swap buddy from UK sent me some Twinings that I have never seen before...Excellent!! Fruity herbal combos. Delish.

I like candles and aromatherapy. I like lavender, eucalyptus, lilac, clean smells.

I guess that enough. Ask me if you need any more info!

Busy Swapping!!

Boy am I gonna be busy!! I joined 3 swaps!! I just received my pal's name for the 2nd swap. One more to go! I already contacted 1 buddy and will contact the other one soon. I've been contacted by 1 of my spoilers. But she gave me her name and location! :-( I like it when it's a secret. :-( I was kinda flip in my response to her so I hope she emails me back.

Another swap!!

I just joined another swap!! Am I addicted or what??!!! I just love getting presents and love trying to pick out just the right gift.

This new swap is the Christmas Around the World. They haven't yet published the questionnaire. But I now know how to post the link on the sidebar!! :-)

Knit 1 Tea 2 Color Swap Questionnaire

1. Do you like loose tea or bags, or both – something you want to try?
I use both loose and bags.

2. What is your favorite kind of tea (Brand, flavor, variety, etc)?

I drink mainly decaf green tea of different flavors. I love Stashtea, Republic of Tea to name just a couple. I love herbals also…except chamomile. Can’t do the smell. I received a Twinings sampler from a pal in another swap that we don’t seem to have here. She’s from Wales. It was wonderful! Fruity herbals.

3. Favorite color in regards to tea or one you would like to try? (black, green, red, and white) (keeping in mind that this is how this swap is set up).

I would like to try more white tea. They have lots of different types and flavors now.

4. Would you say you were a tea pot kind of person or just a hot water heater kind?

At work, I’m a hot water heater but at home I’m a teapot kinda girl.

5. What tea accessories would you like but have never purchases for yourself?
Cute tea bag holders. More tea for one sets.

6. How do you prefer to be pampered? (examples: mani/pedi, bubble bath, yummy treat, etc).

Yummy treats!! But I have allergies. I’m allergic to strawberries and wheat so I have to have gluten free snacks.

7. If you were a kind of yarn what would you be and why?

Hmmm…interesting question. I would like to be a really, really soft merino. A lot of people would want to squeeze me.  More people would be able to afford me than would be able to buy cashmere.

8. If you had to knit/crochet baby booties, a fun fur scarf, or a fair isle sweater, which would you choose and why?

I would knit the scarf. I don’t like fair isle and never have done booties. The scarf is easy for me to design as I go using different colors and types together.

9. What other event would make you skip a tea party? (A garden party? A book club meeting? A yoga class? Opening night for a new action thriller? etc?)

I’m now into Zumba!! Latin aerobics! It’s so much fun and such a good workout.

10. What treat would you consider essential at your tea party? (Sweet? Salty? Scones? Those petite pastry trays with a couple of all sorts of things? Little crust less sandwiches?)

Sweet of course!! Pastries, cake, muffins, fancy cookies, scones! But alas they all have to be gluten free which Whole Foods (and here in TX HEB) now has quite an inventory.

11. When buying yarn for a project how do you choose - do you buy the one called for or do you substitute?

I do a lot of design on the fly knitting. But with a pattern I usually would substitute to something I had or liked.

12. What do you carry your knitting/crocheting in when on the go?
I have quite a few tote bags of various sizes.

13. Favorite movie to watch while knitting/crocheting?

I’m not much of a movie person…i watched Dance with Me and French Kiss again over the weekend while I worked on my shawl.

14. Are you a traditional tea cup kind of person or a mug type of person? Do you care if they match?
Match?? What’s that? I love mugs!! The bigger the better!

15. Favorite childhood birthday party?
I only remember having 1 birthday party.

16. Favorite type of scone and jam?
Fig or blueberry jam with scones with raisins.

17. If you use candles, what is your favorite scent?
I love eucalyptus and lavender.

18. If you could choose 3 people to have 'tea' with, who would they be and why? (famous or not, living or dead).

Isaac Newton (I once did a school report on him and wondered how he thought about stuff), Maya Angelou (a fascinating person whom I have had the pleasure of hearing speak), and my son (because he’s my bud).

19. You've been invited to a tea party, what 'props' will you wear (formal or casual)?
CASUAL ALL THE WAY!!! I can wear jeans right?

20. Any allergies/preferences you have or are willing to admit to?

The strawberry thing, the wheat thing (need gluten free yummies). I love chocolate! But try to only eat good dark chocolate. No nuts though. Drink mainly decaf and herbals.

21. Anything we missed that you want your pal to know?

Ask me whatever you like!! Did you ask my favorite colors of yarn???? Jewel tones: purple, kelly green, bright blue, aqua, turquoise, red, black, gray. I love variegated!! No orange, yellow, brown, pastels.

SECRET PAL 11 QUESTIONNAIRE

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love soft merino wool and different blends....wool/cotton, wool/mohair, alpaca blend, cashmere blend. I don’t like plain acrylic any more....even though that’s what I used when I first taught myself to knit. I’m working on a shawl using some Noro that I received from another swap and I loved the colors!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have several tote bags.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I taught myself to knit in the ‘70s and stopped...have no idea why. I started up again a couple of years ago. I consider myself a low intermediate or high beginner.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I have an Amazon list but haven’t updated it in awhile. Let me know if you would like me to do that.

5. What's your favorite scent?

This is a toughy. I like lavender but also like lilac. It’s not common here where I live but we used to have bushes on either side of our front porch when I was growing up and the smell walking out the front door was wonderful! Then again there's eucalyptus.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Doesn’t everyone have a sweet tooth??!!! Chocolate of course!! I try to eat only good dark chocolate. No nuts. Just as an FYI – I am allergic to strawberries and wheat. My snacks are gluten-free.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

Knitting is the only crafty thing I do.

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

I love a variety: jazz, jazz fusion, latin jazz, reggae, steel drum, andean, african. Can you tell I like mostly instrumental music??!! Yup, I can play mp3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love jewel tones...royal purple, aqua, turquoise, royal blue, kelly green, red, black, gray. I don’t like orange, brown, yellow, not into pastels much. I love variegated!!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I live with my boyrfriend...no pets. I have an adult son.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I live in Houston so there’s not many days one can wear this stuff. But I try to wear whenever I get the chance! I like scarves, hats...maybe a light poncho. I like shawls and can’t wait to finish the one I’m working on...a design as I go. I like light-weight scarves...kinda lacy but not necessarily “true” lace...just a lot of Yos, and increases. I would love some fingerless mittens!! My office is always cold!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I like scarves, baby blankets, wall hangings, shawls.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I’m working on that darn shawl I keep mentioning, a scarf for red scarf project, fingerless gloves. That’s about it.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

YES!!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

My faves are bamboo circs.

6. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I wish!!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

I guess about 2 years old....a shawl that I started when I first got back into knitting...it keeps staring at me.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Whichever one I get to see my son. He lives in CA and we’ve been meeting for either Thanksgiving or Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Kokopelli.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I don’t subscribe to anything. I just bought Lacy Little Knits so I’m dying to try to make something from it. Of course, it recommends Artyarns since it’s the author’s company. I love her yarn. I also love other soft merino, love silk too. Don’t think I mentioned that before. I think rosewood needles are gorgeous!

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I went to Stitches West in February and took a class on continental knitting. I just can’t do the purling! I need to practice but get frustrated quickly!! I would love to do slip stitch and double knitting work with lots of colors.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Not yet. Size 7 shoe.

23. When is your birthday?

January 23rd

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Am I on what?????

I wish I knew how to use blogger!!

I have another swap questionnaire to post!! What to do!! What to do!! I can't just post everything on the side, can I? That would look odd.

I guess I'll try to make my questionnaires a regular posting and then try to learn how to list them as a link on the side??? I've seen that on other blogs and still wonder how they do it!

Help me Help me!! If someone reads this and knows how to do this stuff, please help me!!

Thank you for your support.

STUFF

I seem to be quite bad at this stuff....blogging that is. I pledge to do better. I have photos of a couple of swaps that I never posted!! My apology to my pals.

I also have photos from my recent trips. I have a new camera and they came out pretty good actually.

Any way...at the moment, I've posted my Secret Pal 11 Questionnaire at the right. I hope it's ok there. I didn't know how else to post it and keep it on the main page. If anyone does read this, let me know if there's a better way.