Category: Golightly Swaps

The Girl Purls (rav link) sent me this adorable birdie pincushion in her own bag with some candy to boot.  I finally finished the bird I’m sending to her and packaged it up before I managed to take a picture.  I have to say, the Handmade Pincushion group is my very favorite on Ravelry.  Roaming around the boards there is a happy experience, which is a rarity on most forums, I guess.

I rarely remember my dreams, but last night I dreamed of floor looms.  I’ve been e-mailing a variety of helpful people in my quest to understand what I should look for in a loom.  I’ll get a used loom;it’s what I can afford right now.  But, the question to any weavers reading this is: what loom do you use.  I like my rhl, but I want to move on.  Any thoughts on the LeClerc Artisat for a beginner?

Time to walk my dogs.  Poor little Maddie hurt her leg–the same leg she hurt just before she moved from NM to CT.  She’s putting more weight on it, but Neal had to carry her out of the woods yesterday.  Cross your fingers that I don’t have to tote my 55 pound baby over my shoulder while connected via leash to my 50 pound big girl as I walk the girls by myself today.  Please.

(click for bigness).  Well.  There was chocolate, too, but that disappeared.  What remains from one of my favorite Ravelry groups is an adorable German tote bag, a notions case, bibs and bobs for pincushion making, and one of the coolest "to go" pincushions I’ve seen.  I love that I can take this to SnB those nights when I want to embroider.  Thanks (1,000,000), Hollie! 

Ibby Bee created a second swap (remember the fabu coasters from Junie Moon?), this time for bookmarks
and a thrifted book.  I’m so excited about the package that Sarah sent me (thank you so much, Sarah!).  There were three fabulous bookmarks made out of ribbon and fabric held by some adorable embroidery, Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye (a great read!), O Pioneers! (haven’t read since high school but excited to revisit), some crafty booklets, a Holly Hobby pattern (I know a little girl who would adore her!), and beautiful earrings (not pictured because I’m wearing them!).  Sarah is opening an etsy shop, so be sure to swing by.  My favorite thing about these bookmarks?  They’re perfect for the book I’ve dipped into over and over since it came in the mail last week.  I’m smitten, people.  Smitten.

I joined a pincushion swap on Ravelry last month, and yesterday a delightful Breakfast at Tiffany’s themed package arrived from Lori (Ravlink).  She numbered the smaller packages for me to open in order, which included a Starbucks gift card (for a cruller to munch on while I window shop), an amazing red lipstick/pencil from Julie Hewett (coco noir in case you’re curious),  The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, which Neal promptly claimed, a tiara (for wearing while window shopping and eating crullers), and the most fantastic pin cushion of all time–a perfectly duplicated Tiffany’s box.

I’ve been teased at my SnB for my swapping habit.  What I love about swaps, though, is that I get a chance to expand my craft skills by making something different.  I’m not likely to make myself a pin cushion, but I’ll do it for a swap.  And sometimes?  When I get an amazing package like this, I delight in feeling spoiled.

Thank you, Lori!!

I knew amigurumi were high on the cute factor, but until I completed my first critter, Bluebird, from the Birds of a Feather pattern (free), I had no idea how cute.  My crochet could use some fine tuning, and I’m going to have to bite the shipping costs bullet to get "real" eyes.  Over all, though, I’m smitten.

Here are two bad dog news updates:  yesterday I let Maddie off leash in the woods for the first time since her infractions last week.  She repaid my trust by leaving the woods, running through several yards, crossing a smallish street, and generally ignoring me.  I had a cocktail when I got home to keep my head from exploding.  I gave her the cold shoulder most of the evening, but then felt terrible when she gave it right back to me.  We made up with lots of cuddles and kisses. 

Today?  While on I sat on the deck for dog supervision duty,  she ran over with a five-foot long stick in her mouth (she loves to carry a big stick, although not so much on the walking softly).  She whipped her head around, and guess who got a stick thwapping her just above her right eye?  I iced it, and I hope I don’t have a bruise by the end of the day.  Who knew dog ownership could be so dangerous?  Is this why we have a dog rider on our homeowner’s insurance?

This post serves as a distraction from revising my preface.  I sort of hate it right now, but I’m sure we’ll make up again.

Who doesn’t love the blue box?  Especially when it turns up unexpectedly on your doorstep.

Once the silky-smooth white ribbon and box lid come off, there’s the fabulous bag. 

Inside?  Jewels beyond compare. June made the most spectacular coasters for me for Ibby Bee’s coaster swap.  She copied pictures and sheet music onto fabric and even embellished the coasters with real pearls.

Tres fabu!  Thank you so much, Junie Moon! 

And received!  My pal, Helga, seems to like them, too.  I loved the Monkey pattern and will make a pair for myself someday.  The person sending to me is out of the country (so mysterious!), so I won’t look for my package until the end of the month.  I’m patient.  And excited.

Neal and I get hooked on shows via dvd.  This spring we went through all of the Sopranos, and last night we saw the final episode (a friend had a bootlegged copy of the final season).  No spoilers here, never fear.  I had read so much, though, about how disappointing the ending was, and I wonder, did anyone else actually like it?  I thought it was perfect and provoking, and Neal agreed with me.  Anyone else?

One little Monkey on the Adirondack chair means that I finished my first sock of the summer–of course it was well underway before summer began, but it’s still progress on my SOS goals.  This little Monkey means I"m halfway done with my Sockapalooooza socks.  I don’t want to be knitting until the last possible moment like I did for last year’s Sockapaloooza.

I"m about to mix a cocktail and cast on for a second Monkey.  Can I go out on a limb (get it?) and say that I aim to have sock two done in a week?  Anyone want to make a bet on that?  I’m not sure I can do it, but I’m gonna give speed sock knitting a try.  Maybe someday I can churn out socks like a ferret on crack.