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!