Something Done, Something Started & Guess What Arrived!

Yes Country Garden Monkey socks are complete! I actuallly finished them up on Tuesday night, but I got so excited about my Secret Pal package yesterday I decided to wait to post on them. I love love love the colors in these socks.

Ya know, you can see how pretty the yarn colors are in a skein but then you can REALLY see how pretty they are once the skein is balled. The color pooling is awesome. I am a big fan of Cherry Tree Hill superwash sock yarn now. I will definitely buy some more and yes, my feet are up on my desk at work. I couldn't resist showing off my new socks!

Now on to a new project I started last night. Back in 2002 I bought this Classic Elite Provence yarn in pale blue that you see in this picture. I had started an afghan with it. I had worked very hard on it and was plugging awayon it when I realized I had been twisting my knit stitches. Long story here but all I can say is that I was a new knitter and the person who taught me didn't catch this. It took my sister Mary Beth realizing this when I sent her pictures of a sweater I was making. So needless to say I never finished the afghan and it went into hibernation for a few years. Last summer I decided to undo all the work I had done on the afghan and reball everything. The balls have now come out of hibernation and I have recasted on to knit the Provence Throw (this is my name for it). The pattern is by Plymouth and they call it Turino Silk (because that is the yarn they used to make it - original hunh?) This project will be one I work on between all my other stuff. It will be something I do when I want to relax and do some "brainless" knitting. I am working a little slower on this because I have to work across 204 stitches. My mother made this throw also in Provence yarn and when I go home it is one of my favorites to cuddle under. Thanks momma for sending me the pattern.

So as I am sure, you have already guessed what arrived today! My landlord delivered me my Knit Picks yarn. Yay!!!! I am so excited. I bought 12 skeins of the Wool of the Andes yarn in colorway Cranberry. I will finally be making the Central Park Hoodie that Shameka turned me on to. I will be casting on for this baby this weekend. I chose cranberry because it was a rich color and when I look at it I feel warmth inside of me. The color makes me happy and I thought it would bring life into my "pale white" skin this winter. hehe

The one thing I decided to do differently with this sweater is to knit the body in one piece. I really dislike seaming and after reviewing the CPH KAL, I found instructions on how to do this. This will be my second piece that involves cables. I am glad I started with cables on socks first.

Besides any item I knit as a gift, this will be the first project I knit for myself that I am setting a completion date goal. I want to wear this sweater THIS winter. In order to ensure this happens I am announcing that I want to have this sweater done by mid October. I am a very goal oriented person and I feel that publicly announcing this date will really help me stay on track because everyone will be asking me about the sweater.

Finally tonight, I show you the Risata sock yarn that I purchased. The colorway is Ash. My sister Mary Beth used this yarn, and color, to knit the Cable Rib Sock from Intereaves Favorite Sock book. Even though I am using the same yarn, the same color as Mary Beth, my socks will be different. How do you ask?

Well I am extending the cuff up to my knees. I wearing knee high boots alot in the winter and I never have enough long socks to wear with them. So this will be my very first pair of knee high socks that I knit. This yarn is soooooo yummy to the touch. It is made up of 42% cotton, 39% superwash wool,13% Polyamid and 6% Elite. It has elastic in it! I'm not sure when I will cast-on for these, but I am sure it will be soon. I do need another travel knitting project now that the Monkeys are done.

Ding Dong! Delivery...

When my doorbell rang tonight I knew who it was, I only hoped he had in his hands what I have been waiting for all week. At the door of course was my landlord. He receives my mail and delivers it to me everynight. It's kinda like having a doorman but I don't have to tip him during the holidays.

What did I hope he had in his hands? Well I am patiently awaiting for my yarn purchase from Knit Picks! I can't wait to start my Central Park Hoodie. Anyway, as I looked out through the door I realized he didn't have a package big enough to be my yarn (I purchased 12 skeins for the sweater and 3 skeins of sock yarn) and I thought maybe the Jiffylite envelope contained a purchase I made for my Secret Pal that I am spoiling in SP11. I received my mail from my landlord and plopped on my couch, where I had been knitting by the way, and took a closer look at the envelope. I quickly realized that this was not the package I had been waiting for, but it was a package from my Secret Pal who is spoiling me. I was so excited I couldn't wait to open it. This was such a suprise!!!

After I carefully opened the envelope I quickly caught a whiff of lavender! Mmmmmm. As you can see from the first picture everything was beautifully wrapped in lavendar tissue. It was a lavender themed package. The card is so adorable. It's of a girl knitting mittens. How appropriate! I was first going to read the card but quickly I realized my pal listed out what was in the wrapped packages. I immediately stopped reading and began to unravel what was inside of this lavender tissue.

From the picture below you can see how fantastic this package is! I love everything. I can't wait to try the Lavender Dryer Bags. It's going to make everything smell so heavenly. The lavender soap was made by a soapmaker near where my pals lives. The Cascade Pima Melange yarn is lavendar in color (I have never seen this yarn and will have to think of something special to knit with it). It's so soft too!! Lastly, my pal included some Peppermint (my favorite) and Tazo Honeybush teas. Yum!


I have to say that my secret pal definitely put a huge smile on my face tonight! Thank you soooooo much Brytomart!

A Knitting Friday

Last night before I went to sleep, I put a plan of action into play for my Friday. First, I knew I wanted to sleep in, even if that only means until 7am or 8am (anything is better than 4:30am). I don't work Friday's so while everyone else is running off to work, I am starting my weekend. So sleeping in without the alarm blarring in my ear was heaven!

Secondly, I wanted to finish the Harry Potter book. I got to a really great part the other night and hated to close the book to get some much needed sleep. So this morning when my body woke up naturally at 8:30am, after taking care of a few morning things, I crawled back into bed and cracked the book open. I told myself I wasn't going to do anything else today until I finished it. I didn't have much left to read, but let me tell you, it was great reading. By 9:30am I had completed it! I now knew what so many other people knew the day the book came out. All I can say is "Wow"!

With the little task of finishing the book done, I moved from the bed to the couch. This is where I looked at all my knitting wanting, and begging, to be worked on. After pondering which project to pick up, I immediately began working on one of my Christmas presents. Yes, that is right, Christmas presents! Right now I have three in the works, along with the stuff for myself. So after knitting for about an hour I looked around my apartment and decided I had to do some chores. With being sick for a week and a half my apartment had been pretty much neglected and was a mess. I couldn't take it anymore, and since I was feeling much better, I had to tackle it.

Now that the chores were complete, I thought I might hit the gym. I need to get back into my running or else the NYC Marathon is going to be going out of my grasp this year. However, it didn't happen for me today. Even though I an feeling better, I am still not 100%. The energy I expended cleaning my apartment was probably what I would have had stored up for my run. Tomorrow it will happen!!!!


Instead, I picked up another one of my knitting projects. As you can see from this picture, the baby hat I am making is complete. It would have been done a couple of days ago but I decided to change the pattern. I didn't like how the original short row crown shaping was turning out. I still say something is wrong with the pattern, but anyway I worked around it. I decided to just complete a stockinette decrease over 13 rows. I have to say, it was a snap and I am happy to have it done. Now I just need to make the baby booties. I was going to start the ones in the magazine, but again, I am not really liking what they did. So right now I am looking for another pattern to use.

Tonight I met up with Shameka and a couple of her friends for a little Friday night knitting meet-up at the Virgin Megastore Cafe. It was alot of fun meeting other knitters and having the opportunity to just sit, knit and chat away! Before the evening ended, I had to whip out my camera to document our event. As you can see, Shameka is beautifully posing with her Snuggle sweater. I was aiming for a candid shot but she caught me. Hmmmm can you guess what her favorite color is?

Chante was busily knitting away on one of her socks when I snapped her pic. She probably sensed the lense on her but remained in her knitting mode. I'm not sure what pattern she is using but the yarn is so soft and stretchy. It's a cotten that has elastic in it. As soon as she said that I immediately thought of the Knit Picks Risata yarn my sister used to knit her latest sock.

Here is Saunielle plugging away on her cape with sleeves that isn't a caplet but more like a jacket. Ooops actually this is her casting on to start it over again. She didn't like the pattern she was doing with the yarn so she decided to frog it and start over. All I knew was one moment she was knitting away and the next time I looked up she had ripped everything out. I guess this is what happens when you are designing something yourself. But you see, she still has a smile on her face!

Lastly, I purchased my yarn today for knitting my Central Park Hoodie. I am so excited and can't wait for it to arrive.

Shhhhh Don't Tell

Today was my first day back in the office since being out sick the beginning of this week. While I am feeling better than I have during the past week, I am not quite a 100% but I can tell I am on my way. My head isn't spinning as much as it has been and I'm not as fatigued.

Anyway, last night I did cast on for my second Country Garden Monkey sock. I only did the twisted rib section before hitting the sack with Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows (I am almost finished!).

So I just have to tell everyone that I really did work very hard today. Honest. During my 10 shift I managed to get four of the six pattern repeats completed. I'm telling you, it really took a lot out of me! I don't know if I can handle another hard day like today. LOL One thing that I noticed about this sock is the pooling of the blues and pinks on the diaganol. I love it. As of this writing, I have completed the fifth pattern repeat. It seems like I'm sailing with this second sock. Yoo Hoo!

So I was reminded a few weeks ago about this blue sweater I started last winter. I am completing the Pretty In The City Romantic Sweater from the Family Circle EasyKnitting Winter 2004/05 issue. I have even had the yarn to knit this sweater since Winter 2004/05. I have yet to successfully knit a sweater that I like on me. So when I started this one I was very optimistic. I was really on a roll with the back. As you can see from the picture below I am actually almost done with it.

Some may ask why I haven't completed this sweater yet? My answer is that I am stuck on the pattern. Fortunately my sister Mary Beth happens to have this exact same issue so when I was having difficulty interpreting the pattern she was a quick phone call away. After three phone conversations, I still couldn't figure out what the problem was. I even checked online to see if there was a correction to this pattern but I had not luck. The Family Circle EasyKnitting website is now someone's blog. Ugh.

When I go home for the Christmas holiday I plan on packing this baby in my suitcase. My sister and I will figure out what the deal is. I really can't wait because I really love the style of this sweater. I just hope it actually fits when all is said and done. So until then, this is my UFO sweater in hibernation!

A Tote, A Monkey and A Baby

I just have to say that I absoutely love my felted sheep tote. This tote has become my new knitting bag. I am so glad that I added all the pockets to the sides instead of just the two end ones (as the pattern originally calls for). Even though this tote is small in size, it just seems I can keep adding more and more to it and some how room is created within it. Almost like a bottomless bag! As you can see from the picture below, I still have room to add more stuff inside. Right now, there are three knitting projects inside this tote. I have decided that I am definitely going to knit the larger tote bag using the two skeins of Manos del Uruguay from my stash. I won't have enough yarn to do all the pockets but that's ok. I just love this bag so much that I can't wait to have a larger version of it.

Speaking of using yarn from my stash, I am in the middle of another project using two skeins of Knit Picks Palette yarn in cream from my stash. I had purchased the KnitSimple Fall 2007 a few weeks ago because I loved the baby sets in it. One of my girlfriends is expecting her first baby very soon and I wanted to knit her something special. While I was entering my stash on Ravelry this weekend, I decided to see what projects people were making with the Palette yarn. Low and behold, there is someone using the very same yarn I had in my stash to make the 3 piece layette set from this mag. I never would have thought to use this yarn for this project. Maybe because my mind has been whirling around in space for the past week or so? So I decided that I am going to make the ribbed hat and baby booties. I don't have enough yarn to make the ribbed pullover.

Last night I finished the first Country Garden Monkey sock. It looks awesome and fits perfectly! One thing that I enjoyed about knitting this sock is that I learned a different way of doing the heel flap/gussett. I found it to be very easy considering the last time I did a cuff down sock a few years ago I dreaded doing the heel flap. Anyway, I am planning on casting on for my second sock sometime today. I don't want too much time passing between these two socks. I have so much knitting to do over the next few months. I don't want the mate to get lost in all my Christmas knitting!

SP11 Kickoff Contest Questions/Answers

Here are my answers to the questions my hostess of SP 11 presented to us. She wanted to kick-off SP11 with a little contest:

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? The one knitting accessory that I can't live without is my row counter. I know it's a very simple accessory. A piece of paper can easily replace it but for me I have to have one for every project I work on.

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project? Considering I just came back from vacation this answer is YES, of course I take my knitting with me. I was actually told by several people, with whom I agree, knitting is the most important item to pack. I took with me several projects. My bag included socks, tote bag and a drawstring bag that I had been working on and each project was in a different stage.

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? As an adult I haven't done nearly as much traveling as I would have loved to have done. Right now my most favorite spot was my trip to Washington, D.C. last year. There was so much to do that I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I'm looking forward to going back sometime to do the things I couldn't fit into my trip.

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it? My favorite knitting book is Interweave's Favorite Socks book. I don't own it and want it very badly. I was able to peruse my sister's copy while vacationing at her place in Myrtle Beach and fell in love with all the socks.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? I do not listen to podcasts.

A Birthday Treat

What is a great way to start a birthday morning that isn't going so great? It's to check your email and see that you finally got your Ravelry invite! It's official now. I'm on. My ID is angelny29. I am so looking forward to getting all my stash and stuff catalogued online.

BTW....I would like to thank Shameka and Kim for making me feel a little special this week with the 2 days of tasty pre-birthday treats from Financier! They were yummy. You both are awesome! Thank you and a big hug!!!!

I'm Not Monkeying Around

So it seems to me that I am back on a roll with my Monkey sock. The picture I posted yesterday was of it back when I last worked on it. Which was I think Monday of last week. My knitting karma was off while I was on vacation and no matter what I knitted, I had issues. It seems I was doing more frogging that anything. The pic of it here was were it stood as of Monday afternoon. I am ready to start the foot.

As you can see I have chosen to complete these socks utilizing two circular needles. I have to say that I am loving this technique so much better that trying to works with four double pointed. I got this technique from Cat Bordhi's book "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles". She basically shows you how to do this. It is sooooooooo easy. What I love is that I can easily try on this sock for fitting. I am hoping to have this sock done by this weekend and cast-on the mate.


Besides knitting I have also been trying to get through the last Harry Potter book. I usually always read on my train ride into work, from work and right before I go to sleep. I am known to plow through an excellent book in two days. Unfortunately as much as I am loving and wanting to finish "Deathly Hallows", it is taking me longer than expected. I started a new work schedule a few weeks ago where I get up at 4:30am to be in work for 6am and it took me a few weeks to adjust to the schedule so when the book came out I couldn't keep my eyes open long enough at night before bed to read more than one or two chapters. Then I left for my vacation and forgot my book next to my bed. So it sat for a week without being cracked open. I have been really good about avoiding any spoilers anywhere so far and I hope it stays that way. I'm up to page 522 right now. I'm almost there!

Isn't this crab so cute? I bought it as a souvenir for myself from my Myrtle Beach vacation. My sister had this crab hanging one of her bathrooms at the house she just moved out of. When I spotted it, I fell in love with it. It just so happens that one of the places I did a little shopping was were her crab was bought from. I got it at a place called Lazy Gator in Murrells Inlet, SC. This place is awesome! There are so many cute and cool things in this place. I had a hard time deciding what to buy for myself. When I saw the crab sitting in a basket I knew it was going home with me. Right now I have it hanging on my cork board above my desk where I scrapbook. I find the colors very cheery to look at and it puts a smile on my face.

I would like to thank Shameka for the yummy tasty treat she gave me from Financier today at lunch. The Raspberry Chocolate Mousse was to die for! It definitely made my yucky day better. What scared me a little was that Kim took one look at it and knew what it was even though by the time she saw it there were only a few bites left. She knows her yummy treats!

Lastly, I received my Secret Pal 11 match last night! I am so excited. I can't wait to do some spoiling!

In My Knitting World

I honestly do not know where the past few days have gone! I've been wanting to get these photos up of all the fun stuff I knitted/completed while visiting my family in Myrtle Beach but I haven't had the time or energy. I've been feeling kinda blah the past couple of days. But alas, I knew no matter what, or how I felt, I would post them tonight.

So here is the before photo of my completed Felted Tote Bag (green) and Felted Sheep Tote Bag (sapphire minus the sheep) right before they hit the washing machine together:


And here are the final results:

I would first like to thank Mary Beth, my bestest sister, for taking the time to felt these bags for me the night before I got on the airplane to come back to NYC! I know we were both exhausted from our day at the beach and evening of shopping (I know it was a "tough" day for us, but hey somebody had to do it, right?). Mary Beth did all the felting work while I captured the experience on camera to scrapbook (Be on the lookout for the completed spread in the weeks to come). The bags turned out beautiful. I am officially crowning my sis as the "Felting Queen". I can't wait to start using them.

So what else did I do while on vacation? Well I completed knitting this small soft drawstring pouch(from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" book). I knitted this little project up so fast that by the time I was going to put up a progress bar, I was already done with it. I knitted this using yarn from my stash. I had one remaining skein of Plymouth Indicita Alpaca leftover from a shrug I made a couple of years ago. I ended up gifting this bag to my boyfriend yesterday. I had bought a couple of Myrtle Beach souveniers for him and wrapped them up in this. I am planning on adding some lavander (his favorite scent) to the empty bag to keep as a smell goodie next to his bed.

Oh yeah, I also worked on my Monkey socks. This picture is the stage my sock was in when I left Myrtle Beach. Country Garden has all 6 repeat patterns completed in this pic. As of right now I have finished the heel, flap and working on the gussett right now. I'll post an updated picture later. I am really loving the way this yarn is knitting up. The colors are truly beautiful. I can't wait to finish the pair so I can wear them.

I also started another Christmas gift while I was away. It's almost done. I ran out of yarn just before the end. Shameka had used the exact same yarn that I am using for this gift so hopefully what bit she had leftover will be enough to finish this project. If so, I will have 1 completed Christmas gift and many more to go!

I'm Back!

Ahhhhh. I have returned from the land of Sand and Sun! Let me tell you it was very hard to leave the beautiful sunshine of Myrtle Beach, SC this afternoon and return to icky ucky rainy 66 degree weather here in NYC. I truly had a wonderful relaxing time visiting my family. Mary Beth and I as usual did our sisterly bonding fun stuff. Ya know knitting, scrapbooking, sunning and partaking in our Mellow Yellow habit. Thank goodness I can only get Mellow Yellow in the south. I'm an addict.

So now that I have returned to the northernly lands, and an unflooded apartment, I need to do that nasty chore of unpacking. Uggghh. I got lots of knitting stuff done and can't wait to update you all with lovely pictures. I will say that last night MB and I did felt my two tote bags and they are lovely. Can't wait for them to finish drying so I can use them.

I'm off for now. Gotta get stuff done so I can rest up for my 5K race tomorrow morning at Shea Stadium!

Secret Pal 11 - The Questionnaire

So I have signed up for Secret Pal 11. I am really excited about it. Here are my answers to the questionnaire I have to post. I am looking forward to receiving my pal.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Right now I am knitting with Merino Superwash yarns for socks. I enjoy working with anything soft - cottons, blends, etc. I can't stand super scratchy itchy wool. I have sensitve skin and I just can't imagine wearing anything like that all day long.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Right now my needles are all in their original packaging sitting in a canvas bag.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting since 2002. One of my girlfriends taught me. After watching her knit everyday at work, I wanted to learn. I consider myself to be an intermediate knitter.

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

5. What's your favorite scent? I like scents that are gentle - not overpowering. Lavendar is really nice.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Oh absolutley. I love chocolate. Nothing with nuts. Peppermint patties have always been a favorite. Non-chocolate favs are cherry Twizzlers.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I am also an avid scrapbooker.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I listen to all kinds of music - pop, rock, classical, disco. I don't care for heavy metal.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? My favorite colors are shades of red and pink. I also love purple. The only colors I tend to stay away from are greens and yellows. It's not that I don't like them, it's just that I don't like the colors on me.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am not married, have no children and I can't have a pet where I live.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves, hats, gloves. I prefer my hats to be a more fitted cap style. Scarves need to be able to wrap around my neck like 3 times.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Hmmmm, I have knitted alot of scarves and hats. Right now I am addicted to knitting socks.

13. What are you knitting right now? Right now I am knitting several things - Socks, Felted Tote Bags and Some Secret Christmas gifts.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Sure.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I prefer circular needles. I use bamboo when I can't find the metal circulars or the yarn I am working with is extra slippery.

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

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Hmmm, I have to say my very first sock from 2003. However, I am planning on knitting it's mate soon.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect? I collect angels.

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 want to get Interweaves "Favorite Socks" book, the "Fitted Knits" book by Stephanie Japel, Knit Picks circular needles in 0,1 and 3 (24"). I want to get some Lorna Laces Shepard sock yarn, Risata yarn from Knit Picks, Schaefer Anne Hand Painted Luxury Wool Yarn #168. I do not have any magazine subscriptions.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Well considering I just started lace and cables patterns I can't think of anything else at the moment.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes. I just recently fell in lve with sock knitting after my very first attempt years ago. Now I can't stop. My shoe size is a ladies 7. My foot circumferance is 8.25. My foot length is 9.

23. When is your birthday? August 17th.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Just got my invite today (Aug 17). ID - angelny29

Third Times The Charm...Right?

Doesn't the saying "Third Times the Charm" ring true? I ask because I am certainly hoping so. On Friday I began my one week vacation visiting some of my family in Myrtle Beach, SC. Since I had finished my second pair of Falling In Love Socks, I wanted to have another sock project to take on the trip with me. I decided to begin the Monkey sock. However, I wanted to do it toe up. I had requested from several people that have done this sock toe up if they could provide me with the pattern. I never heard anything back so I decided that I would attempt to convert the pattern myself. Mind you, have never ever done anything like this. So while I was sitting at LGA at 6:30am waiting for my flight, I casted on for my first ever Monkey sock using my recently purchased Cherry Tree Hill yarn, colorway Country Garden.

This is Country Garden about 30 minutes into my flight.

Around 2pm Friday afternoon, Country Garden had two lace pattern repeats completed.

After reviewing the completed work and discussing the pattern with my sister Mary Beth, we decided that some tweaking need to be done in order to get the pattern to look more like the true Monkey pattern. As a result, we had to back off 26 rounds back to the completed toe. Mary Beth was wonderful to have taken care of this for me.

Into the evening we sat around and knitted. I was happier with the results of tweaking the toe up pattern. It definitely looked more like it was suppose to. I was loving the way the colors were knitting up in this sock. By Friday evening, I had reached the beginning of Country Garden's cuff. While the pattern wasn't exactly like the Monkey, I was happy with the way it turned out considering I was writing the pattern myself. Here is Country Garden before I went to sleep.

Saturday morning arrived and I sat and analyzed Country Garden. I was no longer happy with how the sock was looking. There was something in the pattern that needed to be changed and I couldn't figure out what it was. I was becoming disappointed with how the sock was not exactly like the Monkey pattern cuff down. I decided that I need to start it all over. I was now going to knit the sock the way the pattern was written, top down. Mary Beth snapped this picture of me contemplating what I was doing.

It had to be done. While I was proud of myself for attempting to figure out the Monkey toe up all by myself, I knew in my heart that I would never be truely happy with the way the sock was looking if I had continued with the way it was. So now, I was starting the Monkey for a THIRD time. Early Saturday evening my mom, Mary Beth and I had all started the Monkey sock together. Here is a snap of what our socks looked like by the evening hours. From left to right the sock are Mary Beth's, my mom's and mine. What is funny is that this is a Monkey in three different stages. Mary Beth's had one lace pattern repeat, mom's had two and mine had three. We thought that was pretty funny.

So anyway, today has been a better knitting day. I had started a "no brainer" Christmas gift knitting project last night because I was frustrated with the Country Garden. I had backed off and redone so many pieces of it that I had to put it aside and do something different for a bit. Today I picked my sock back up and have now completed 4.5 of the lace pattern repeats. I will post a pick of it tomorrow.

In the meantime, if anyone has the Monkey sock in a toe up pattern please let me know.

More Than A Knitter

Besides knitting, another creative passion of my is scrapbooking. I have been an addict scrapbooker since 2001. I indulge in this habit with my sister Mary Beth and my mom. We have been known to have scrapping parties way into the night when I come home to visit. As with knitting, it's alot of fun to been able to have someone to share scrapbooking with. Last summer I introduced my bestest closest girlfriend Lisa to scrapbooking. Her and I are very similiar it's knida freaky, but I knew she would love this hobby as much as I do.

This past Saturday, Lisa and I managed to spend the entire day together scrapbooking. We hadn't been able to do this for about a month so we were long overdue for a get together. What's great is that we can bounce ideas off each other and give important advice when needed ("Should I mat this photo? What stickers do you have that will go with this spread? Does this background paper look good?"). We always know when we have a good day scrapping if we get at least 2 spreads completed. So needless to say, we have a fantastic sessions! We both completed three 2-page spreads each (mine including journaling). I have upload the ones I completed. Take notice of the spread I did about my first pair of "Falling In Love" socks! It's great that I can knit and then scrapbook about what I knitted. It's a double pleasure!

• Spread # 1: My completed socks
• Spread # 2: April 06 I competed in the International Hustle and Salsa Competition down in Miami. This spread is when we actually got to finally spend time exploring South Beach.
• Spread # 3: I participated in my first ever biking adventure. I hadn't been on a bike since I was a teenager and decided to complete the 42 mile organized bike ride thru New Yorks 5 Boros with my friend Marck. He's been riding for many many years and I applaud him for sticking by me on this ride.

Here are some pictures of Lisa in action! I don't think she was too thrilled that I snapped them, but I had to capture the moment. I assured her that I wouldn't post any pictures that were not flattering of her. We have this agreement about scrapbooking pictures of each other too. Who wants to look like crappyola in a permanently preserved memories album?

Yea my Spread Counter got to increase by 8 pages! Mary Beth and I presented ourselves with a New Year's resolution of trying to complete 208 pages (That is - 104 two-page spreads, 2 two-pages spreads completed a week) in a year. We had done this the year before and it really helped us get through scrapping alot of our older photos. So we thought we would try again this year, but with a more steeper completion amount. Who knows what number we'll end up with at the end of 2007!