Nearing the end of September

Looking back over the month of September I can say that I feel satisfied with the progress I have made. I actually had TWO finishes. Amazing, for me!

First, I finished the Knit for Kids Sweater I had started months ago. That will be shipped off to Guideposts as part of the Knit for Kids Project. This project provides sweaters for needy children all over the world. After I finished it, I started a second one. My goal is to complete two to send off by the end of the year.

Second, I finished the Penelope Blouse, by Oat Couture. I am modeling the newly finished blouse in the photos here. I used Lana Grossa, "Basic" yarn that I bought in Germany last year. This blouse took me months to do. It was frogged over and over again, until I finally "got it." I am not very experienced at lace knitting, so it was a big challenge for me to do this. After many starts and frogging escapades, I finally got it going and finished it. I will definitely make the next one in this pattern in the small size, instead of the medium you see here. This yarn is stretchy, and the pattern runs BIG. I have already started a second one using a fine wool blend by Dale of Norway.



September has been a pleasant month for me in many ways. I have worked at my research on Hildegard of Bingen, and I have been working like mad on my encrusted bead works. When I am reading about Hildegard, I can barely stop my reading to pursue the rest of my day. I keep saying, "Just one more chapter." She is giving me insight into life for a young lady of noble birth, in the High Middle Ages. I love it.

I am using the months of the year as motifs in my bead work. I am picking up on images and colors that are particular for the month. I have completed a couple of pieces for "August." They are periwinkle purples and lively vivid hot pinks with ameythist and Mother of Pearl.. That is the colors I see here in Western PA in August. The colors of chicory blooming along the roadsides amid the Queen Ann's Lace, and other blossoms. Each lit by the brilliant sunshine.

I did a stunning bracelet for "September." In September things become more subdued. The fields retain a deep blue green, but at the same time the landscape becomes golden, a pearly pink mingled with the very soft tans as the flowers become softer and the plants turn from strong greens to russets. Punctuated here and there are the soft ivory whites, and the softest pinks of the wildly blooming morning glories on the hillsides. I have posted the September bracelet for you to see. It is created using gem stones, fresh water pearls, lots of crystals and Japanese and Bohemian glass beads.

I plan to create October next - and I will be watching the landscape to choose my palette of colors. October will be blazing and ROARing Oranges and Reds, I would think.

I am so thankful that I am a creative person. What would our lives be like without ART? Art is everywhere. It is in every direction that you cast your eyes. It lives and breathes in all seasons. Art is life. And, life is art.

19 Years

Here I am enjoying my life on a trip to Puerto Rico last year. My daughter Heidi snapped this photo. I was feeling good because my Life is good and I am glad to be an active participant in it.
Well, the real topic of this little message is that there is LIFE after tragic events and physical difficulties. I want to share that a little bit here today.

I went to Pittsburgh (PA) yesterday to have my annual breast exam at Hillman Cancer Institute. It has now been 19 years since I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I had surgery and then radiation treatments in 1988. At that time I worried that I might not have another five years of life. There were so many things I still wanted to do. I wanted to complete my education.I wanted to make lots of art and work in my studio. I wanted to travel to Europe and other places I had only read about in books. Most of all, I wanted to see my grandchildren growing up. I wanted to celebrate with my family members and be here for them to spend holidays with them and to be around to give some motherly advice and encouragement. I wanted to uplift other people and give encouragement to those I met who were struggling. I just wanted to BE. And, I was so afraid.

I am delighted to report that it has now been 19 years of good reports. I never take it for granted. And, I try my best to be an encourager of people who need it. Each year I wait anxiously for the results of my mamogram. I sit there in the little waiting room along with a few other patients, and we wait. There is not usually much interaction among the ladies waiting. Sometimes, the group is talkative and jolly. But, yesterday it was a very quiet group. But, we smile at each other. Somehow, we know, we have something in common. We have a bond. We are waiting and hoping for a good report. I got mine. I went away very happy.

My husband always accompanies me on these yearly trips. After we left the hospital he took me to my favorite bead shop, the Crystal Bead Bazaar in Lawrenceville. I did a little shopping for beads to make something special for me. I love the color orange - the flaming brilliant color of orange. The kind of orange that screams. I bought a lot of orange beads and I intend to make a nice orange celebration necklace. Every time I put it on I will be thankful for my 19th year of good reports and healthy living. I have been blessed beyond measure.

If someone you know is facing this dreaded disease, please let them know that I am now in my 19th year - it will brighten their day. I am always willing to talk to anyone who might need to be in touch with another Breast Cancer survivor. I am glad to help in any way I can.

And, here is a website that might just help someone else, too. CLICK HERE

If you like to knit or crochet, or even weave, then you might like to make a scarf for a Chemo patient. My cyber friend Shelly has organized a wonderful project called Scarves from the Heart. People from all over the country are making scarves for these patients who so desperately need the love and comfort they give. You can read about it all - HERE
Shelly recently lost her sister to cancer. And, Shelly's daughter is also fighting for her life as a cancer patient. Maybe you would like to make a scarf and give some love to another person who needs it. How about it?

Knitter's Treat - Thank You!

Knit Picks Simple Stripe Yarn, so much like a favorite of mine, Regia from Germany. I will love this yarn - I know it.





Check out this new book I received from my Knitter's Treat Secret Pal.



How can I express the joy I felt when I opened up an unexpected package. It was here waiting for me when I returned from a trip to NYC last week. What a surprise. You see, it was from my Knitter's Treat Treater, someone with the last name of Donahue from Manassas, VA. I cannot read the signature on the lovely card, so I don't know his/her first name. Nevertheless, this person sure knows how to do it up with a bang.

My package was so wonderful There was a book, Sensational Knitted Socks, by Charlene Schurch. I am a beginner at knitting socks, and it has been slow going for me. This book will really help me so much. I have only knitted two pairs to date. But, I do have two more on the needles. I will really enjoy this book. You can find the book HERE.

The box contained so many things that I love. There was a skein of my favorite yarn, Mountain Colors Hand Painted Yarn in the color, Huckleberry. You talk about JUICY colors. Oh, My! I will greatly enjoy knitting up this yarn.

Then there were THREE skeins of Knit Picks "Simple Stripes." This yarn will be another joy to work with. You can follow the link and read the review in Knitter's Review, of the Knit Pick yarns and this one is covered there. I cannot wait to find just the right project for this yarn - maybe it will become something nice for a Christmas gift to someone on my list this year. It is cheerful colors and should work up so nice. It is so soft, I am thinking of a little sweater for a grand child - or maybe some socks and mittens?



Of course, I cannot forget the other things such as a PASHIMA SHAWL...I took it out and WORE IT immediately. It was a chilly morning, and it was just the right thing to wear on my little excursion to a local yarn shop that morning. So comfortable, light weight, and the color is a deep maroon. I am crazy about it. It will have a place in my heart for years to come and I will wear it proudly.

There were some hand-blown glass beads - the person must know I am a bead worker. You can check out my other blog to see some of my recent projects. I am studying the work of 12th Century fiber artists and doing work in my studio in response to those ideas. I will put these gifted beads into something exquisite in the near future.

There was a lovely Harmony candle, by Crystal Journey Candles. Let's not forget that lovely Dionis Gardens handcream in Cucumber Mint scent - nice! I love creams made with Goat's Milk so I will really enjoy and appreciate this so much.

And, some Susan Bates circular needles - always a welcome gift.

Again - THANK you my secret pal, Donahue.

78 SKEINS OF YARN

I have returned from my trip to Austria and Germany the past three weeks. It was wonderful, of course. And, I am happy to report that I purchased 78 New Skeins of Yarn. They all fit very nicely into the two duffle bags that I had taken with me just for that purpose. I packed a couple of pattern books in my suitcase so that when I found some yarn shops I would be prepared and know exactly what I wanted the yarn for, and how much I needed to buy. No more buying yarn blindly with no goals in mind.

I have been doing the Stashalong since January 15. My one exception would be that I would do some yarn shopping when I was on my trip and I had planned it carefully.

Here is what I bought:

5 skeins Gedifra Socks Color (for a sweater and scarf for my grand daughter for Christmas)

7 Skeins Fortissima Socka, just to have for socks later on
1 Max Cotton, for Socks
1 On Line Supersocke 100 Indian Color
1 Regia Canadian Color

12 Skeins of Gedifra Akona in Charcoal and 2 in Cream, for a Trachten sweater pictured above. Isn't it wonderful???

10 Skeins Trachtenwolle for another Trachten Jacket in Loden Greens

4 Skeins Gedifra Fashion Trend Onda, for a scarf


5 skeins Austermann Indian Color, Alpaca Wolle, for an Irish Hiking Scarf


4 Skeins Schachenmayer nomotta Two in One - don't quite know for what, yet

4 skeins Schoeller & Stahl Popcorn - to give to a friend

4 Sachachenmayr nmotto Princess for grand daughter as a gift

4 skeins of another yarn which I cannot recall, for another granddaughter as a gift

and 14 Skeins of Scachenmayer nomotta for a sweater for ME...

There you have it - my yarn binge for 2007. There will be NO OTHER yarn shopping days for me in 2007.
I have more than enough to keep my hands busy for a good long while.


Here is one of the things I plan to knit with my new yarn:

My Secret Pal 10 has sent me her final surprise package. I arrived home from my three week vacation in Austria and Germany to find a nice little package from Alissa, my Secret Pal. Whe has treated me with so many nice gifts. My favorite color is ORANGE, so all my gifts have been in various shades of Orange. This final package was no exception.

My very favorite yarn is PLYMOUTH YARN, ENCORE COLORS, Knitting Worsted Weight. I have done several things with this yarn and it remains a favorite because of the softness of it. It is 75% acrylic and 25% wool, which is a wonderful blend for making things that are so soft and knit up so easily. The two skeins that Alissa sent me are Color 7510 a nice variagated orange and Color 1316 which is an orange melon color. I will really love making something from these yarns.

The skeins are 200 yarns, 100 Grams (3 1/2 oz.) so you can do a lot with a skein of this yarn. It makes up into a dream of a scarf. And, I have used it for a baby blanket that was wonderful too.

Thank you Alissa for your thoughtful and caring packages. I have truly enjoyed them.
You can visit Alissa here and see what she is up to.

Penelope is Becoming

Let me present the beautiful and elegant "Penelope Blouse" by Oat Couture ! She is in the process of Becoming. I am so excited as I knit away. This blouse started off with many blunders and false starts. But, I have persevered and now I can see it is going to actually BE a blouse. I have knitted up to just beyond the arm openings. Now I will work on the front, and when that is finished then I will do the back. Once the front and back have been knitted. then she gets stitched together at the shoulders and the arm opening lace will be knitted and applied. Then, I will be actually wearing her. Since I am leaving in two more days, I know I can't get her finished up before I leave. I will take her along and finish her up in Austria or Germany. I am thinking that her first debut will maybe be on the trip to Munich for the day, or maybe even standing atop the Untersberg (mountain) in Austria. I expect her to look great and to pose well for a photo shoot!

I won't be posting to my blogs until I return in July. I will have lots to share then. I will be yarn shopping and I am selecting some patterns to take with me so I have a PLAN when I go to the local yarn shops in Austria and Germany.

I have to go pack now.

Penelope Full Speed Ahead

I am happily knitting away on Penelope by Oat Couture. After about 6 false starts and lots of time spent int he Frog Pond, I am finally "doing it." I am very excited with this blouse. I never really did much at all with lace knitting, so I have learned some things by being tenacious and refusing to give up on it.


The first thing I have learned is to put a stitch marker at the end of every pattern, regardless of how many I have going around that blouse. This is how I finally managed to get the pattern. Before, I did not have anything to remind me of where I was in the pattern then I would soon be lost and beyond the point of going on. Now, as you can see, I am successful by doing just this one thing.

The other thing is that I had made a mistake in reading the pattern, time and again. I finally saw my little mistake that I kept repeating consistently. Now, I am making good progress and I am thrilled.

SP10 - STASH PHOTOs

We are asked to post photos of our stash for Secret Pal 10. OK, no big deal. I will just go take a couple and that will be it. So, off I went to my fiber arts studio to take a photo of my nicely organized stash wall. Then, of course there was more on another wall, but this time in a basket and a covered container. No problem. Snap and Snap. The photos were taken. Then, I walked through the living room. Oops, I forgot about the STASH in there. Dining Room? Yep, MORE in there but very neat in two beautiful baskets. Then, the den, too held some stash in Yarn tainers. OH, YES, there was a bit more in another corner of the living room, too. OK, NOW I think I have recorded it all for you. It wook SIX photos to caputre my stash. But, on the good side, you can see I am ORGANIZED and it is NEAT and looks good. At least, I think so!

But, then after taking the six STASH photos, I saw I had a number of UFOs that I photographed too. I have 9 UFOs currently. I am working on that.

Lavender from Taiwan

Can you tell how excited I am this afternoon? I came home from work to discover a package here that had arrived while I was away. OH, how can I ever express the joy I feel with this most beautiful present I received all the way from Taiwan? The color of this scarf takes me back to my childhood when lavender was my favorite color in the box of Crayola Crayons. I am a child again, touching and looking at this beautiful scarf. My Secret Pal is yet unknown to me. She did not put anything else in the package, so I don't yet know whom to thank. But, Pal, if you read this, please know how happy you have made me today. I absolutely love this scarf. The knit work is so fine, the yarn so soft and dainty. I appreciate this more than I can say.

In two weeks I will be leaving for Europe for my annual vacation there. This scarf will be the only scarf I take with me this year. I had been wondering just which scarf to take, and now I know. It is this one! The light weight of it and the soft color will just be perfect. I will feel like the Empress herself, walking about Austria and Germany wearing my divine new scarf from Taiwan.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. My pal from the International Scarf Exchange #4 - you are the best.

UFOs to Go - COUNTDOWN to STASHBUSTING

OK, I have finished up Month 4 of the Stashalong. I joined up January 15th. My goal is to go one year only knitting from my stash. I KNOW I can do it. It is a fun challenge and worth the effort to use yarns up that are in drawers and baskets all around the house.





I looked up all my UFOs at this time. Pulled them out of their little corners, under tables, behind couches, and in baskets and yarntainers. I found that I have 10 UFOs currently. Some are barely begun, but yet they ARE begun so they counted in my quest this afternoon. At first I thought I had only 7, then I saw two more yarn tainers under the coffee table. Those two held socks. So, I put them in with the group for their official "GROUP PHOTO" for May 30 2007.

OMG! This makes me accountable, right? OK, I take full responsibility for these 10 projects. After I photographed them I wrote down (should I say I 'recorded' them?) each project and the yarn I am using. Now, I will make a list in order that I plan to finish them. I think the top of the list will be the one that is closest to being finished and we'll go from there. I will list them in order that I plan to finish them up. I guess I better put some dates for finish with them, just to keep me on track and to make me accountable for a finish timeline, too. (I am taking a deep breath just at the thought of this.)

1. Scarf out of Paton's Pebbles, in Sandstone color. This will be a Christmas gift for a grand daughter who will recieve the sweater that I made out of the same yarn. The scarf is just a garter stitch pattern, very easy, yet pretty made from this yarn. I love this yarn!
FINISH DATE: June 5 (Completed May 31st)

2. Caryl's Kerchief, Designed by Marian Nelson. This is made from Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino. I have it about 2/3 finished. It is a lace pattern and I am very new to lace, so I have to go slow and count every stitch. Sometimes, I have to count a LOT, over and over again.
FINISH DATE: June 12

3. Sweater for the Knit for Kids project, sponsored by Guideposts Magazine. I am pledging to knit 2 sweaters a year for donations to this worthy project. I was so thrilled to get a post card showing where my sweaters were sent - to children in Africa. The post card showed one little boy wearing one of the sweaters I knitted. Talk about proud. I was so proud that a child will have a nice warm sweater that was made by me. Last year, knitters and crocheters sent 74,983 hand made sweaters to this organization for distribution all over the world to needy children. I plan to continue working every year on sweaters for children.
FINISH DATE: June 18

4. Egyptian Cotton, Dishcloth. I have one finished, and have yarn for a second one. This ball of yarn was sent to me last year in the One Skein Knitalong & Exchange. I am just getting it made up into something now. It is wonderful to knit with and talk about nice to touch. WOWeee.
FINISH DATE: June 25

5. Penelope Top by Oat Courture
I am making this out of Lana Grossa Basic, hp No. 31 Print. It is a luscious light lime green which I brought home from Austria a year ago. I have started this top five times, and had to rip it out every time. I am going to give it a go again - I refuse to quit. I am determined to knit this top, for this summer. I am beginning it this weak, but a realistic finish date would be in August as I will be traveling a lot. I don't think this is something I can work on while I travel. But, I do have two weeks now before I leave, so I just might get it going really well. We'll see about that. I am just CRAZY for Lana Grossa yarn, and this is my first time to use it for making some clothing. I cannot wait to get it going.
FINISH DATE: August

6. Dish Cloths out of Lily Sugar and Cream, in Midnight Magic color. I am making a stack of dish cloths out of the very beautiful yarn for Christmas giving. I have a couple of drawers in my STASH ROOM just for stashing away my knitted Christmas gifts as I make them throughout the year. This way, I am prepared because I have been working on gifts since January. I won't have to be in a frenzy trying to knit my a** off in December, but should just keep a nice leisurely pace all year long making some gifts for family members. I have two 1/2 balls of this yarn yet to be knitted into dish cloths. I am using this pattern for the cloths. It is so beautiful and the cloth it makes is very durable. I am giving myself a generous deadline as I will be knitting these as I am traveling in Austria and Germany during part of June and July. This should be a good evening project, in my room, relaxing.
FINISH DATE: July 10

7. Lion Brand Cotton: I am making a stack of towels and wash cloths out of the two colors, Wedgewood and Basil. They are so stunning! I love these colors and I love this yarn. These, too, are going into my gift giving drawer for Christmas 2007 giving to family members.
FINISH DATE: August

I am not setting finish dates for the final 3 items. No use setting myself up to fail.

8. Socks: COLORI SOCKENWOLLE Superwash. I have the yarn and needles in a yarntainer, so that means they are started, no matter how far along. These are NOT far along as they are on size 0 needles and after I started them I lost a lot of my vision. I will have to work on these under a magnifying glass, and that will take some discipline for me.

9. Socks: Climbing Vines pattern by Rebecca Perry. I got this yarn and pattern from the sock a month club...contact this address for it. After getting two packages I decided that there was no way on earth I could knit a pair of socks a month. I have one sock finished and will have to do the other one using the magnifying glass and I have not had the umph to get it done yet.

10. GALWAY "Pure Wool Knitting Worsted Weight" yarn. This is by the Plymouth Yarn Company of Bristol, PA. It is wonderful yarn. It will be for my tenth project which may take me a number of months. I signed up to begin the Master Knitting Program through the Knitting Guild of America. I have one year to complete part I of this program. There are THREE LEVELS. I am signed up to begin #1, which is the Advanced Beginner level. I am very excited as I love to challenge myself and set goals to work towards. This gives me a goal. I bought the yarn yesterday so I can begin work on it now. I have until April 23, 2008 to finish it all up, for Part I. I would love to hear from anyone else there who might be working on this program, too. Contact TKGA here.

There you have it - my top 10 UFOs...now, I am committed to getting them turned into FOs and QUICK.

7 Random Facts

Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those who are tagged need to write on their own blog those 7 facts as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Here goes...I am super tired, so know telling just what might come out of my head right now...

1.) I move FAST most all the time. People have a hard time keeping up with me. And, I am so annoyed when I have to stop and look back for the person to catch up with me. Yes, I am agressive and I thrive on speed and quick action.

2.) I just signed up for weight watchers. I have a nasty fat belt around my midsection that just has to go.

3.) I have created the life I love and that I am living. I do now wish to be anyone else, or do anything else than what I am doing. I am an artist, professor, author and I invented the life I live and I encourage others to do this, too. We make our own "life" and we order our own life. No excuses for not being exactly who we choose to be. I am very happy with the life I have.

4.) I am the oldest child in my family. My mother and father have passed, and so has one brother. Mother and brother were this year. I now have one sister and one brother.

5.) I am am partially blind - it happened suddenly in January, with no warning. Nothing can be done, it is permanent. Yet, I continue to make my very intricate and complex jewelry and knit, ride my motorcycle, and do everything else I love to do.

6.) I'm a a person who puts everything in order. I like to organize the chaos in my life. Yet, I still have so much clutter to deal with, makes me crazy. I absolutely hate clutter and disorganization.

7.) I travel to Austria and Germany every summer. It is my home-away-from-home and where I love to be. I spend time in the winter months just feeling good to know that when summer comes, I will return again. I am crazy about Germanic culture and life.


Who am I tagging?
If you read this and you want to play, consider yourself tagged by me! I don't know very many people here on the blogs, so I won't try to tag anyone...just go ahead and do it.

Kimono VICTORY

I have VICTORY over my fate. Yes, at last, I have taken my UFO in my hands and I committed myself to it's successful finish. Here you have it, Ladies and Gentlemen. The long awaited Kimono is now a FO and I am feeling satisfied with my VICTORY over my stash today.

My dh photographed me in it tonight so I can put it on my blog, at last. I forgot to tell him to be sure I had it on so that the color bars down the front were lined up. But, even though they are not, you can still get a sense of what this kimono is like. I love it.

You can find the pattern here, if you are interested in this project for yourself. Yours can look very different by choosing a different yarn than I did. Mine is made from Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair which I happen to have a love affair with. I am crazy about mohair anyway, and this brand has a brilliant metallic thread running through it that gives it some oomph, in my opinion. I love a little razzle dazzle!

Now that the kimono if finished I doubt I will be able to actually wear it for a few more months since weather here in western PA is now quite warm and sunny. But heck, I have it waiting for me once the fall weather arrives and the cool winds blow. I am a happy girl today.

Secret Pal 10 - How I knit, and When?

OK, I am IN the contest. How do I knit? and When?

During the winter months I sit on my sofa in the living room, where I can watch TV as I knit. It keeps my mind occupied and keeps my attention while I while away the hours at my knitting. I like to knit all day long, but that is not usually an option. I find that the best time for me to be knitting is in the late afternoon and evening, and into the night, during the winter months. I work full time as a professor, so during the week it is in the evenings that I can find time to knit.

Summertime, well that is another deal. I like to sit outside on my patio on a chair. From there I can see squirrels, birds, chipmunks, and any other little critters who come to visit my yard. There are LOTS of little critters because my husband feeds them. I sit there under a nice old tree, where I can see everything that is going on with the little creatures. It is absolutely heaven on earth for me to spend my mornings there surrounded by wildlife and flowers, grass, and trees.

Sometimes, when the afternoon is hot, I move to sit under the enormous Maple tree just beside the pool. I can knit there and if the grandchildren are here swimming, then I can talk to them while I knit.

I also knit on planes. I go to Europe every summer and spend most of the entire 9 hour flight knitting, in between little naps.

The Kimono

After nearly a YEAR of lying in wait, my Kimono is nearly finished now. I just have to complete the last sleeve and sew that seam together. Yep, I will be wearing my new Kimono tomorrow and I will post a photo of ME wearing it. Another UFO that is nearly FINISHED UP. Stashbusting is working so great for me. I have completed 3 months of NO YARN BUYING now. I am working from stash and completing UFOs only.

You can see the Kimono pattern here. In the picture it is of Crystal Palace Merino Frappe. I am making mine out of Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair so it looks VERY different than the one pictured...mine is MUCH nicer.

The Untersberg in Austria

What does your drawing say about YOU?

Meowwwwwww WOW

You Are: 0% Dog, 100% Cat

You are are almost exactly like a cat. You're intelligent, independent, and set on getting your way. And there's no way you're going to fetch a paper for anyone!

Are You More Cat or Dog?

She LIKES it!

My Favorite Color SWAP 2 PAL has received my gifts in Sun City, Arizona. I was on pins and needles, waiting to hear her response. I am not a great sock knitter, and she is. She wanted sock yarn. I thought a long time about just what to send her. I have no real experience with it. But, I decided to choose some yarns from different countries. She is happy. I am happy. She is a really nice lady and I wanted to please her with my choices. I think I have done that. You might like to visit my downstream pal, Ollie, at: whatchagotknits.

She strikes AGAIN...

My SECRET PAL 10 has struck again. There it was, in my mailbox...another package. What a great surprise it was. I opened it to find, CHOCOLATES but cannot post a photo of them. Well, I ATE them quickly, before I had time to take a picture. I love the TWO yarns she sent me, too. And, the white bunny. It is not often that a 63 year old woman gets a stuffed animal, I tell ya. I will enjoy these things so much. She even sent me some hand cream, which I am already using, too. THANK you for the nice surprise my pal.

Secret Pal 10

Dear Secret Pal 10,

I want you to know how much I loved receiving your package this week. The luscious GHIRARDELLI Dark Chocolate 60% CACAO bar was opened first. I mean, RIPPED open! It is nearly gone after a feeding frenzy. OMG, It is so good. So good. sigh

Then, I recovered enough to briskly open up the delightful, soft, and wonderful yarn. SOCK YARN.
This yarn is Hand Dyed Especially for Article Pract from Oakland, California, by Pagewood Farm. It is a denim colorway and I can envision wearing these socks, once knitted up, with a nice pair of jeans.

Finally, amid the brightly colored tissue papers and squiggly little packing papers, there was this INDONESIAN TEAK scented candle from World Market. It was made in INDIA and I LOVE the scent. I am crazy about murky, musky, exotic scents like this.

Dear Pal, I just LOVE everything you have gifted me with. Thank you for your generosity and it was joyful receiving your gift.

From you pal in Western Pennsylvania.

Please visit my blogs at Beadznyarnworks and Knitty_Prof.

My FAVORITE THING

Favorite Accessories?

My favorite accessory for knitting are my handy little Yarn Tainers. I believe the vendor is SNAPWARE. You can find them on SALE right now at this website. They transparent tubes, with a lid and handle for carrying my projects. The lid and handle is in colors that are sharp and contemporary. There is a hole in the TOP of the lid so you can put your yarn through it and you are ready to go anywhere with your handy little (or bigger) Yarn Tainer.

They feel great to carry and the are so practical. Each one holds ONE project. I have several of them sitting about. When I want a project, I just select which one I want to work on and take that little yarn carrier with me. I bought them at JoAnn's and they only cost about $8.00 or $9.00 each. But on the website listed above, you can get TWO for a better price. I think they are just beautiful to look at, very practical, keep my yarn and needles together, keep my yarn from rolling about on the floor, keep the yarn clean, etc. I have bought them for daughters and grand daughters. Everywhere I go, people remark about how nice they are. I love them!!!

The are most fantastic for traveling. Have you ever lost your ball of yarn while sitting on a plane. It is an embarrassing situation - this solves the problem nicely.