Secret Pal <3

My secret pal has revealed herself with yet another wonderful package. Carol has been absolutely amazing, and I've been very lucky to have such a great pal.

Check out the package:
Animal Crackers, Gummy Bears (that did not last long), a beautiful shawl, Creative Knitting magazine, pattern for sock shaped bookmark, two skeins of marks and kattens clown sock yarn, piggy shaped soap, a little pillow of potpourri, and a crossword dictionary!

I am lost for words to express how amazing my secret pal has been. And, to make it even more special, we're birthday buddies!





In other news:

Started my roommate's sweater. It's based off of this pattern, but I've changed a lot. Mostly, made it cabled. It's bright pink. I've only made it through a couple of inches of the back, but I'm very, very excited.

While she was trying to decide what she wanted, I started on my razor cami. I've been dreaming of it for quite some time, and finally decided it was time. Mine is black and a little bit sparkly. I've not done much of it, but I'm hoping it'll look good.

There will be pictures when I make enough progress to make cell phone pictures worthwhile.

I really need a camera.

<3 uhlissa

My Freakin' Awesome SP!

I received one more package from my Secret Pal, who revealed herself to be Ms. Beth C of Numerical Knitting. It pretty much goes without saying that it is freaking amazing.



Three KP 32" circs, in 0,1 and 2, THREE skeins of GLORIOUS handdyed superwash merino (about 600 yds total), a cute lil quilted heart-pocket, and Nicole Miller fanciness. WHAT!! Too awesome. Mum tried to steal the Nicole Miller, but I caught her.

Beth, you are too amazing for words. Be on the lookout for a package of your own soon!


In total awe, Ambrrr

OH, I almost forgot that I cast on for my Chevron Scarf. Here it is when I'd first started out:





It's about 14 3/4" long now. Wheee!

SP LIKE WHOA!!!

OH MAN, YOU GUYS. OH MAN. SECRET PAL IS AMAZING. I AM STUCK IN CAPSLOCK LAND.


I have received the most amazing Secret Pal package in existence. YOU CANNOT ARGUE.*

For some godforsaken reason Blogger will not let me upload photos. So you must venture, dear friends, over to my Flickr page and start from this photo:

Secret Pal 10 Package!!, originally uploaded by Wakeful Dreamer.

You can then click on my photostream to see all of the wonderful, yarn pr0n-y shots I took of the STR. I almost melted all of my chocolates, they're chillin' in the fridge. Literally.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU SECRET PAL!!!!

Compulsively squeezing her STR, Ambrrr (<3)

* I mean, you can disagree, and I'll nod to pacify you, but you will not be believed.

SP Is Unbelievable!

Thank You Thank You Thank You Secret Pal. You are beyond amazing.

Just check out all this awesomeness I got today:









What you are seeing is a beautiful Estee Lauder gift set, three skeins of awesome red Kolibri ( I think?) yarn (it's Norwegian), a picture frame, Knit Socks! Book, Vogue Knitting Felting On the Go Book, and a very cute pattern and blocker for a mini sock. This package is so unbelievably generous and wonderful. Words can not express. Here are some close ups.









I haven't been knitting much. School's getting a little crazy here at the end. I want to knit, but feel like the minute I start something, I'll refuse to do any school work, and that's really not ok. I've been knitting a little of the Hufflepuff scarf, but really haven't made any progress.

Ambrrr on the other hand is amazing. Check this out:









It's Ambrrr and her currently blocking Clementine Shawlette. Check out more here.
Also, so she doesn't get mad that I put up this ridiculous picture of her, here's an awesome one of me that she took while I was trying to talk to my mom.









<3 uhlissa

I am simultaneously spoiled and cursed.

Wow, another amazing present from my SP - a Papa John's gift card! Whoo! Now I don't have to worry about food while I'm putting my final document together for Studio. Thanks so much, SP! :D

The "cursed" part of the title is the fact that my final review for Studio was cancelled today, and moved to Friday due to massive printing errors and plotter failure. Normally people are excited when their due dates are pushed back, but Studio is another matter. I have been up for many days, working very late hours and working very hard to prepared myself for today. It's almost a slap in the face to everyone who worked so hard. But I digress.

This schedule rearrangement doesn't bode well for me. That means... I have to go to work on Thursday and finish up some sketches there, and review on Friday. I guess knitting is put off until Friday night and Saturday! Boo.

<3 Ambrrr, who is going to take a nap.

Not even poking my head in, just my hand...

Quick update from Studio - I got my SP10 package today! Some really beautiful stitch markers, beaded to look like little flowers. They're amazing. Thank you so much, SP!

Again, here is my foxy friend (whom I have named "Kitsune," and the first person to tell me why in the comments gets a post dedicated to them), this time looking at the stars. I got this image at 2:30AM. D:

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Edited: Some quick photos of the placemarkers and the awesome card that came with them!

A Reasonable Explanation

Y halo thar, guyfs!

I am bad at posting. So here are the two things that are just mega:

ONE: I got my first SP10 package, and my SP is AWESOME!!!


What you see here are a very sweet card, two skeins of Patton's SWS in Natural Earth, One Skein, a ridiculously funny bunny-stacking game, a candle, a row counter, a tape measure, assorted stamps, a cute spool of ribbon, place markers (green and purple! eee!), two Easter Egg ornaments,a pile 'o choco eggs, a choco bunny and lots of plastic eggs, which hid most of the choco eggs. I am eating some of the chocolates as I write this. Uhlissa and I have been going through One Skein, trying to decide what to make. I'm wobbling between trying to figure out crochet to make one of the purses, and the Cable Footies. Hurrah! A start to my knitting book library!




TWO: I'm halfway done with the Clementine Shawlette! Knitpicks Shine Sport is amazing to work with, very smooth and pleasant. Since, as mentioned before, I have gross sweaty hands everyone once in a while I have to take a break and let it cool down a little, or else it starts to get a little resistant to knitting.

This was before I finished the first half. Two skeins of yarn per half, it seems. So I was right on the money with 4 skeins.


A closer look at the stitch pattern. The second photo washes out the blue, which is deeper. The first photo is a better. It's a quite fun and easy pattern, I'd recommend picking up Interweave Knits just for it!

Have a Happy Easter, everyone!

PS Here I am being a turtle on Uhlissa's bed. TURTLE!!

Hedera Socks & Updates

I finished my Hedera socks today!









Pattern: Hedera from Knitty
Yarn: Knit Picks' Palette in Hyacinth

Also, check out the following posts that have been updated with pictures:
http://bhnpks.blogspot.com/2007/04/glorious.html
http://bhnpks.blogspot.com/2007/03/thank-you-secret-pal.html

<3 uhlissa

Glorious!

I was very excited when my accounting professor let us go early, because it's a long weekend, and no one wanted to be there. Then, my day got even better when I checked my mail and got a package from my secret pal! She has outdone herself. It's so amazing. Yarn spun especially for me, mints, a very cute picture/card holder (hard to explain, but adorable), piggy tissues!, a book of crosswords and a very nice edition of Willa Cather's My Antonia. And once again, everything was wrapped beautifully. I'm absolutely in love with the whole box. It's so springy and fun.
Ambrrr should be available this evening for pictures, so hopefully I'll finally get pictures of this box and the last!
Thank you so much, Secret Pal, you have made this one of the best days ever.
<3 uhlissa

Update! Pictures:

Thank You Secret Pal!

I arrived home last night, and found I had received a package. I finally got a chance to pick it up today, and it's from my Secret Pal! I'm so excited. It's soooo cute and St. Patrick's day themed (which just happens to be one of my favorite days.)
I got a wonderful candle, Jelly Beans (!!!), Cascade Sierra, a teddy bear (!!) and stickers,all in delightful shades of green.
I wish desperately I could post pictures this minute, but that can't happen until I steal ambrrr's camera, perhaps nearer the end of this week.
The yarn is absolutely gorgeous. I don't actually think I've ever seen Sierra. I have no idea what I'll do with it, but it's already inspiring me to hunt for the perfect pattern.

Thank you so much Secret Pal! You're amazing.

<3 uhlissa

Update! Pictures:

Secret Pal Questionnaire

So, ambrrr convinced me that Secret Pal looked like a lot of fun. So, I too signed up and am now totally psyched. We know that it might be confusing to our pals because we share a blog, but I promise we'll do our best to make it obvious who's doing what. In fact, we created a fancy side bar just to help make things clear. Check it out.

Now onto the fun part:

The Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love just about everything. I like merino wools a lot. As long as wool is soft, I'm all for it. I also don't mind cottons, or even acrylic blends. There's nothing I can think of that I don't really like.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
My needles are in a couple different plastic bags that live in my box of yarn. Nothing too exciting, though fairly practical.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit when I was about 8 from one of my neighbors. I got back into it in high school when I re-taught myself with help from books, the internet, and my best friends' mom, and have been unstoppable since. (Which has only been about 5 years). I'd say I'm an intermediate knitter.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Not at this moment, but if I come up with one, I'll be sure to post it.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Vanilla

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I like hard candy, and don't really like chocolate. My favorite candy is jelly beans. I'm also partial to jolly ranchers, swedish fish, taffy, sweet tarts, and various other candies along that line.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I sew sometimes, though I don't have my machine down here at school. I cross stitch, but not much when I'm knitting something cool. I also make t-shirts and paint a little.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I'm very ecclectic in my musical taste. Mostly punk/pop punk, but I like all things from the 80s, like some pop, rock, country and hip hop. I'm going to guess that if you took the time to send me music, I would not be disappointed.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Purple and green. I don't like browns or orange. I like yellows in combination with pretty colors, but not usually by it's self.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live in a dorm room currently, and when I'm at home I have parents and a stepsister. There are dogs at home, but nothing even remotely resembling a pet here.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I love love love scarves, hats and mittens, but ponchos aren't my thing.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I'm currently on a sock binge. I like making mittens a lot. I used to enjoy hats a lot, I've just gotten distracted lately by other options. I've also been exploring the world of lace knitting, and love to make soft, cuddly things.

13. What are you knitting right now?
I'm knitting quite a few things. I'm bad at finishing things. Well, no,I finish things, but I like to have a variety of projects going simultaneously. Right now I"m finishing a pair of socks, making my mom a shawl and making myself a Harry Potter scarf.

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

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like straights and dpns. I use a lot of bamboo and plastic. I'm not opposed to aluminum as long as they're not particularly slippery.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Not yet. I've been contemplating buying a winder for a while.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I have scarves I started years ago, and was uninspired to finsih, but they're in a box at home. Here at school, the oldest UFO is probably two months or so old.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
My birthday. Though I'm also partial to St. Patrick's day and Halloween.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Pigs. In all shapes and forms. Plus, of course, yarn.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
not that I can think of. I have a subscription to Creative Knitting that my friend gave me for Christmas.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Not particularly. I tend to try to teach myself new things if I pick a pattern that requires new skills.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes. I'm a US women's 10. My foot is about 9.5 inches long from the heel to the big toe.

23. When is your birthday?
February 26.


Well, that's it. I'm really excited about all of this.

<3 uhlissa

Secret Pal 10! Oh boy!

So I've decided to stop being such a lump and participate in Secret Pal 10. I think it'll be fun! Plus, I love to get mail. I also love to fill out surveys, as seen below!!

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

I'm just starting to explore what fibers I like. But I cannot stand 100% cotton. After Marilyn's Fetching I'm very very wary about knitting with that again. I'm a fan of merino wools, and as long as acrylic is blended with something I don't mind knitting with it.

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

Right now they're all in a tub with my v. small yarn stash. I've been thinking about getting a tin or something, but I don't have that many needles here at Tulane.

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

I've been knitting since I was 8, so that's 12 years under my belt. Nonetheless, I would consider myself an "intermediate" knitter.

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

Yes, you can find it here and another one here.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I love lemongrass, grass, and green tea. Also very light floral scents, like cherry blossom.

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

You cannot go wrong with chocolate, and my favorite candy is the Skor bar. I am also partial to anything Kinder makes, and have a devestating attraction to Nutella.

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

Knitting is pretty much the only crafty thing I do, besides a little drawing. I cannot spin, and don't have access to a sewing machine. :C I also do a little cross stitch.

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

I am open to pretty much all kinds of music, excepting country and heavy metal. You can check out my Last.fm here, which tells you what kind of music I listen to and how often. I also have an iPod for MP3s and my laptop can play CDs.

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

Green is my favorite color, followed closely by black, blue and purple. (Why am I a bruise?) I have troubles liking yellows and oranges, but I'm open to them. Browns..... I guess it all depends. :D

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

Right now I live in a dorm room at Tulane University, so no pets and luckily no roommate. I don't smoke, either. During May and June I'll likely be living with my Mum in Ohio again, where I have a Chihuahua. But he stays out of the stash and she doesn't smoke either. Neither does the dog.

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

Scarves, hats and mittens yes, ponchos no.

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

I am a sock lunatic right now. I just bought some Addi turbos (my first pair!) to knit another pair, as soon as I find a pattern I like.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Socks, socks, and Fetching. And also a camera cosy, which I am weary of.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes!!

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

For knitting flat I like straight, but in the round I'm used to DPNs. I'm going to use the Addis to try Magic Loop for the first time, which I think will be exciting. Bamboo or aluminum needles, as long as they aren't the crappy aluminum kind.

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

Unfortunately no. :C

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Only a few weeks. It's that wretched camera cozy. Unless you count the fact that I still haven't found a button for my Calorimetry, in which case my oldest UFO is about 2 months old.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Easter! Chocolates and bunnies, hurrah!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Not really. Other than yarn, that is.

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 haven't really perused the knitting books out there. I don't even know what the fuss is about EZ. (*ducks flying objects*) No knitting 'zines here, either. I am like a blank slate.

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

Hmm... I'm giving Magic Loop a go, soon.

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

I am all about the socks right now. I'm a 9 1/2 US Woman's, and my foot measures about 9 1/2 to 10 inches from heel to toe.

23. When is your birthday?

October 2nd.



Wheee Secret Pal! Sekkrit Pal, even.

<3 Ambrrr