Pictures!

Here's my awesome Scarf Kit I received:
- A cute plate with matching mug
-Ghirardelli Double Chocolate hot chocolate mmm!
- Some cute plastic needles (they got lost in my picture with all the yarn!)
- 3 skeins of this super soft wool/acrylic blend (Gedifra Fashion Trend Yarn) to make My So-Called Scarf . She included a print out of the pattern for me. The color is actually a deep cherry red with black, and oh-so-snuggly.
-2 extra skeins of a fun yarn that is bulky and shimmering to make a quick scarf out of

Thank you, Amanda! It's a wonderful package!

And here's the surprise (and formerly anonymous) gift from my fabulous Sockret Pal:

Custom painted "Needleplay" yarn from Scout's Swag! It's merino superwash sock yarn, and possibly the softest yarn I've ever felt for socks (and I've been squeezing quite a few!) gorgeous colors and like nothing I've ever purchased before. It is taking all my willpower not to cast this on right now. Luckily, since I'm trying to finish my current socks in February, all my circulars are tied up right now. (note to self: get more needles)

Martini Sock Blockers (with little extra martini stitch marker) from Scout's Swag. I have been trying to knit as fast as I can to finish my sock so I can put this to use!

Simply amazing. Thank you for making my week end on such a bright note!

Pictures to come this evening...

I feel behind as I lost most of yesterday to working with Clinique to help them out during gift, and then heading to our local spa for a facial, chocolate massage and pedicure. I knit during the pedicure which I think threw off the pedicurist- I'm not one to dish with strangers but I think she was expecting to chatter with me through the whole thing (as it was there was someone there having a manicure, and I heard about every illness that struck the manicurist's family since January and someone complaining about their job non-stop).

But I wanted to relax and the knitting was perfect. It helped me tune out the other people, and relax I did! Plus I successfully turned the heel on my sockret pal sock.

This morning's been productive, though. I just finished filing my taxes and am heading out for a bit to shop and enjoy lunch with a friend. And then a quick photo session of my mail goodies before working on my homework this evening.

Thank you.

I had possibly one of the worst days of my life today, and managed to hold it together until I left work about half an hour ago. I broke down and cried on the way home, and planned to take a hot bath and just go straight to bed.

I came in and found two packages waiting for me.
I'll take pictures tomorrow night when I'm a bit more clear headed.

One was from my scarf swap pal and she put together such a lush kit for me- super soft, deep red yarn to make "my so called scarf" and some fun yarn for a quick easy one. And Ghiradelli cocoa, with a cute mug and plate. It looks like a lot of fun! Thank you! I really appreciate it and the yarn you picked was gorgeous and so soft.

The second package was from Scout's Swag, with no note or anything identifying the sender. It had a specially dyed yarn called 'Needleplay' (and wonderfully squishy soft yarn it is) and the same sock blockers I have been coveting since they came out. (I had even looked at them today!) I was in shock. I still am. I have no idea who this package is from, and I hope that you let me know.

Thank you. I usually love getting gifts in the mail but today, of all days... you have no idea how touched I am. Thank you.

Knitalongs, Swaps

I've joined the Sock a Month KAL which should hopefully keep me on track to completing my socks and making sure I actually make pairs of socks, and not just random single ones. My goal is to complete 6 pairs of socks, one for each month from February - July. So my February pair will be my Sockret Pal pair, so that I can gift my pal with socks around the first of March in my final package/reveal to her. I'm using the basic ribbed pattern from my other sock knitalong (for novices).

Project Spectrum 2.0 started in February... the colors for Feb/March are blue, white and grey. In April/May, the colors are yellow, pink and green- I'm thinking the Watermelon Tourmaline sock yarn my sockret pal gave me will be perfect for that, and will also fit within my Sock a Month goals. I also have some green sock yarn I was planning to use for the informal green sock KAL, so I think I'm set. Although seeing how gorgeous this Fleece Artist colorway ("Rainforest") knit up into socks, I may have to set that aside for my splurge later on in the year.

My current swaps on Swapbot include a dyed yarn exchange and a scarf kit, both which end this month. I've found the pattern and yarn for the scarf kit. Now all I need to do is get the assorted goodies to accompany the kit (including a mug and hot beverages), and that should go in the mail tomorrow. I'm still deciding what direction to take with the dyed yarn. I'm also doing the international sassy sock yarn swap later this month.

Finally, some pictures!

My camera, finally, is working again!

I enjoyed my gorgeous Saturday sky (the first blue I've seen in about two weeks... lately everything's been in various muted tones of white and grey as it's snowed everyday).

While relaxing, snow and grey skies can also be depressing after a while. So the sun and blue skies are an instant mood lifter.

I also retrieved the pictures of the cute Knit Mit Kit Swap package I received from Terry-Jo. She made the cutest bag which has been really useful as I've been trying to bring my knitting to the office to work on during lunches . The yarn is a blend of Alpaca and Merino bulky yarn, with natural dyes. Sooo pretty! (thank you, again!)