Category: Golightly Swaps

First, there was this, from my Interweave Spin to Knit pal.  Ingrid included a beautiful note in which she told me that the wool is from South America, and that she dyed and recarded it.  She used a cashmere yarn as a binder and added beads, which give it a mysterious, wonderful sparkle.  Most amazingly, she did all of this spinning and plying on a handspindle.  She also included two skeins of her designer yarns–those she makes from recarded bits.  Thanks so much–I can’t wait to knit with it!

Yesterday, upon my return home, I found a box in my door.  I tore it open and had a good laugh when I saw that my kitter was none other than Rae, for whom I made the KSKS kit!  My camera battery was waning, so I didn’t get the best shots of this, but trust me, the bag is fantastic, and all the goodness filling it…amazing!  Rae included two patterns, yarn to make both, roving for thrumming, a needle for trying out magic loop knitting, hand cream, wool wash, nifty highlighter tape (wish I’d invented that), and a milkbone sheep (not pictured because Maddie somehow managed to get it before I snapped a photo…she’s in love with it and has learned the word "sheep" since last night!)

Don’t you just love the fabric she used for the bag?  I may just use this as my spring purse.

Thanks so much, Rae!

Geo (a.k.a. Fig) from Tryst Press and I arranged a swap.  I sent her just a little something, and she, generous lady, sent me a delightful package.  A few items are not pictured–dried flowers have settled into a little vase on the telephone table, near the little gourd pictured here, and her fruit rolls have settled quite nicely in my belly.

There’s some honey and tea and yarn and recycled yarn bras (clever, isn’t she?  She made them from mesh flower wrappers), an adorable butterfly pen, and then there are the paper products.  She sent me two blank booklets, a set of notecards (I’m a letter writer, so these will be happily used), a set of gift enclosure cards, and a journal with a lock.  "And when did you last have a locking book?" she wrote in her letter.  That made me giggle.  It was second grade, Paddington Bear.  There’s a Christmas DVD that I’ll use to get me into the holiday spirit as the season approaches.  I’ve already been enjoying The Chichester Carols by Leslie Norris, as well as a copy of "Pursuit of Excellence," a program that her church’s women’s organization is using.  She also sent a beautifully inscribed copy of the Book of Mormon.  As I often feel that my spiritual life needs more attention than I’ve given it of late, I’m grateful to her for motivating me to attend to it.

I love the work that Tryst Press does.  Thank you, Geo, for sharing so much of yourself with me! xx

I heard the snap of the mailbox as the postman closed it.  I was whining to myself about the cold I’ve been fighting (which may actually be allergy issues as I’m allergic to, oh, just about everything in the lovely woods where the mutts and I stroll), then I thought "hm, maybe I have a package today."  I’ve got a few little goodies heading my way, but the package that was in the mailbox was something different, something wonderful in its fabulous funkiness:  my FSS Scarf! As I opened the wrapping, I’m sure I squealed out loud, because it was none other than the scarf I had admired when Allegra posted pictures on her blog.  Let me tell you, it is just amazing and feels so good wrapped around my neck.  I love, love, love it. 

There was more, though–check out this funky vintage (looking) shawl pin.  It reminds me of the fabu clip-on earrings I used to play with out of my gram’s jewelry box…so very swank!

Thanks so very much, Allegra.  You did a fantastic job, and I couldn’t be more pleased!

On Monday my girly Cheryl and her boys visited us from NY.  We went pumpkin picking first, then on a hike in McLean Game Refuge.  I had hoped for a chilly day since I made mac and cheese and butternut squash soup, but we enjoyed the nice weather and comfort food anyway.  Fresh cider and donuts added to the festivity.

If it had been cooler, I could have worn my new mitts from Chrissie.  Aren’t they pretty?

Neal is hard at work on the bathroom renovation.  Right now the drill is buzzing as he secures the new subflooring.  We’ve got floor tiles waiting to go down, and a lovely new vanity and sink to install.

The hallway, which leads from the living room, dining room, and kitchen to the two back bedrooms, is jammed with renovation-related stuff, much of which I can’t identify.  My camera is in the spare bedroom/office/craft room.  I can’t get to it to show you the pretties that came in the mail for me today. 

I won’t leave you hanging, though.  I got a pair of fingerless mitts from Chrissie for the Warm Hands Warm Heart swap.  They are adorable, fit great, and will be so handy for warding off the chill as I drive to work in the mornings.  Pictures as soon as the hallway is clear again.

And, yes, if you wondered.  I do miss NM, especially when certain people feel compelled to post beautiful pictures.

Breaking news:  There were some renovation problems related to a faulty Saws-All (sorry if I got the tool name wrong, there) this morning.  Neal just informed me that the tool is not a piece of crap as we suspected, but rather, that the little baby snake curled up in the motor may have been the issue.  Luckily, I"m not the least bit afraid of snakes.  ‘Cause that announcement could keep me from ever entering the basement again if I were.

Snakes in the Saws-All. 

…you know the rest.  It really was just an idea to test yarn fibers.  At the Swap.  Yes, it needs a capital letter.  The Scissorinis (I’m being considerate of Ryan) know a thing or two about a swap.  Need evidence?

(from left) Anne, my hero for making me Scout’s fabu veggie baked ziti (thanks, Anne!), Susie, my girlie from back in the music biz days, Jessica, and Ryan.

That’s a lot of yarn.  Big decisions needed to be made.  That was just the start, though.  There was a second swap for notions and books, and a third swap for single skeins of yarn. 

The food was amazing, and Jennie was a gracious hostess, opening her lovely home to all sorts of deviant yarn-inspired behavior.  Such as this.

Yes, it’s a sheep.  Hanging by a string.  To see what happened, head over to Sarah’s. Go ahead, I’ll wait. 

After Christine took the final mighty swing, there was a frenzy for candy of notions. I’ll admit, the sugar rush from the candy was perfect for my drive home.

Thank you so much to Jennie and the other Hat City Scissor Squad members for the hospitality.  They remind me so much of my ol’ Abq SnB.  I had a blast hanging out with everyone, loved that I finally met Christine in person, and was SO happy to see my old friend Susie again…it had been too long, and I’m glad to have reconnected with her.

Wanna see my loot?  I thought so.

Lots of fabulous yarn.

A stitch dictionary from Susie, Ann Budd’s Book of Sweater Patterns (was that yours, Christine?), and one of my most favorite treasures from the table, a 1941 How-To book from Laura’s grandmother.

This lovelies are silk cocoons.  Sarah brought them, and I just adore them.  I’ve looked online to learn how to spin them, but haven’t found good directions yet, so if anyone can point the way, I’d appreciate it.

There was a goody bag, too, as if all this bounty weren’t enough, and it included candy and a candle and a cd with knitting and drinking songs. 

My advice?  If you’re ANYWHERE near Danbury, make an effort to hang out with the Squad.  You won’t regret it!

Granted, the Reeses peanut butter cups and candied ginger (yum!) are not in the picture, and I wasn’t able to get a bright, clear detail of this bee-yoo-tif-ul button scarf (gorgeous handspun beaded yarn, soft, bright fiber, lovely knitting, fantastic button), but trust me, this was the best One Skein Swap package EVAH!  The talented Yvonne from Lavender Sheep was my secret pal, and she spoiled me something silly.  There’s a waterproof bag, there’s 4 oz. of her own hand dyed superwash (she’s been quite encouraging in my quest to spin for socks), there are bookplates.  There is wool wash.  There is In Sheep’s Clothing, a wonderful reference book that I’ve already enjoyed perusing. 

Thank you for all of your generosity, Yvonne.  You’ve been an amazing swap pal–mawuah!

Before I answer the FSS questions, let me just say that I had a spec. tac. u. lar. package today.  I"ll take pictures in the morning and share some lovely goodness with you. 

Here goes:

Let’s get the allergy part out of the way. Are you allergic to any fibers?  Not that I know…although I do have smoke issues (but, hey, I can hang a smokey scarf out to air, really!)

Do you prefer any fibers over others? Truly?  Cashmere always wows me, but anything soft and squishy next to my skin makes me a happy girl.  Fun fur gives me the shivers, but in a bad way.

Thinking back to Scout’s post about what funky means to you, post an image of something that you think is funky!  I need to think about this some more…

Would you prefer funky yarn or a funky pattern?  No preference.  Getchyer funk out however you like!

What are your favorite colors? Black, pink and green have been exciting me lately, as well as pink and chocolate brown.

What is your favorite piece of art?  The Poet’s Garden is my current favorite painting.  I’m a big fan of Jackson Pollack, although I’m tired of defending his work to certain people I live with who think they could produce the same thing.  Don’t even get me started.

What colors would you never have up close to your pretty face?  Peach.  Beige.  Yellow.  When this ravishing tan I have going on right now fades, I will be a pale, lightly freckled brunette.  Blues and pinks and greens and blacks (yes, there are shades of black as far as I’m concerned) are better for me.

Would you prefer an actual scarf or a cowl?  Your choice.  I’m back in the land of cold, so cowls are just as wonderful to me.

When you wear a scarf do you prefer a wider/shorter scarf or a thin/long scarf?  Different scarves for different purposes.  My favorite scarf is my pashmina…wide enough to be a blanket, light enough to be a belt (really).  I have a lot of heavier winter scarves, so something thinner, lighter might be fun.

What is the climate like where you live?  Hot and frickin’ humid in the summer, coooollllddd in the winter (I’m in Connecticut).

Would you prefer a functional scarf (to keep you warm) or one just to funk-up your wardrobe? Funk me up, baby!

I stood at the counter of the moth-ball smelling closet-sized yarn shop as the lovely owner showed me how to cast on the requisite number of stitches.  Armed with the Martha Stewart article and deep purple wool, I was determined to finally learn how to knit.  A scarf.  It was wonky because there were about a million things I didn’t know about knitting.  Nine years later, lots of questions asked and books read later, loads of scarves, purses, shawls and socks later, I’ve got a hankering to return to the scarf.

Maybe it’s the hot weather that has got me hopeful for fall.

Maybe it’s the impending start of the school year making me want to look at my early skills.

Maybe it’s Art Scouts firing me up.

Maybe it’s the idea that I could knit a fabu (not wonky) scarf for a stranger.

Maybe it’s my confidence in my ability to design a beautiful scarf.

Maybe it’s Scout aching for a new swap.

So.  If the idea of returning to what, for many of us, was your first project, but bringing all of the knitting skills you’ve learned to a new version of the project appeals to you, head over to the Funky Scarf Swap for sign up directions.  Hope you’ll play with us!