Easter Basket Mystery Ball!

Many thanks to Ashleah for my more-than-wonderful Mystery Ball box! I was thrilled when it arrived last night. Made myself wait until today to open it so that I could draw out the pleasure of opening and appreciating each item. Love the bunny ears!!! And the duckie inside the ball is too cute. Can't believe all the goodies! I especially like Burt's Bees products and have been wanting to get an eye mask. Of course, Tootsie Rolls and Mary Jane candies are my weakness. LOL The ginger spice soy candle is perfect as it is one of the few fragrances I am not allergic to. DH and I will share the tea - he likes it as much as I do. Can't wait to read the Joan Hess book - haven't read her in quite some time and this one looks delightful! THANKS ASHLEAH!!!!

Mystery Yarn Ball Swap

Here, finally, is a picture of my yarn ball swap, that I received from Jane, on the day I opened the box. What a great swap! I love doing this! Since then, I've knit up the project, mostly, and have all of the treasures revealed. I'll post another picture once my DH does the photography. Jane sent me two books by an author I've not read before, so I'm really looking forward to them. She sent me a bookmark made for this group (which is now holding my place in The Last Kashmeri Rose), a cute Easter decoration, yummy treats, and do you see the purple yarn, and the purple egg with another tiny mystery project, and the purple bag to hold all the goodies, then later groceries? When the picture was taken, I hadn't opened the pattern, but since then I have, and even the pattern is a mystery! I didn't know what I was knitting until I knit it, and I even get to email Jane for more clues to finish up the piece. So I get to live my own mystery. Thank you, Jane!

Mystery ball

Many thanks to Barbara! Wow this was an incrediubly generous box. I'll write a full post on my blog this weekend (have to go out this evening and will be gone all day tomorrow). But I did want everyone to know that it had arrived and it is fabulous!

BIRTHRIGHT PROJECT

I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to do this but after reading the pattern over I realised there was a way to do it without purchasing flexible tubing. So for my Birthright project I have made DNA.

This is a free pattern. You can find this pattern by Kimberly Chapman on ravelry and online. I even have an idea for The Last Kashmiri Rose project.

Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket Contest!

AND THE WINNER IS.......

A tie! Some of you were sooo close! But Stephanie and Ashleah both got the exact number - 32. So I put both their names in my handy felted bowl - and..the Ukranian Egg Decorating Kit will be going to Stephanie.

As a consolation prize, I'll be sending this egg decorating kit to Ashleah.

Thanks for playing!

Those of you who celebrate Easter probably know that it's going to be an early one this year - March 23. I'm pretty sure the grandkids will be hunting for eggs in the snow! So here's an early spring contest for you. Guess how many eggs are in the basket and win this Ukrainian Egg Decorating Kit!
E-mail me (grammieknits@yahoo.com) with your guess by midnight, Saturday, March 8. I'll announce the winner in my weekly newsletter on Sunday, the 9th.

Mystery Swap Goodies

I'd been feeling poorly this week so it was the perfect time to receive a mystery box from Danielle! She cleverly learned enough about me to start me off with the first Aurora Teagarden mystery by Charlaine Harris. Then, I got beautiful blue-to-purple Lisa Souza yarn (yay, Lisa Souza!) and a great Twist and Lace scarf pattern designed for the yarn. As a fellow grandma Danielle made sure to send me extra strength Memory Mints so I won't have any trouble following the pattern. As a bonus, the 2007-2008 knitscene that I didn't have and am liking enough to consider more of this magazine. Other goodies include a St. Patrick's Day glass, a lamb Pez dispenser, more lambs in the form of white chocolate Mom and Baby, and a couple of bookmarks.
The yarn ball is h-e-a-v-y! I can't wait to see what's inside besides the Pez for my dispenser (see the little pink corner peeking out?) Lastly, there was a great knitting-oriented greeting card. Danielle doesn't know it, but I also collect dolls and if and when I tire of looking at the cute card the needles and knitting will find a new home among my collection. All in all a wonderful surprise package. Thank you, Danielle!

Mystery Ball Swap

Here are the great goodies I received from Sharon!

Joan in West Texas

MYSTERY SKEIN SWAP PACKAGE

Monday I received my mystery skein from Stephanie. Here it is. Here are all the goodies unwrapped.

For a description of all I received go to my blog at: http://pennypurlsandkittyknits.blogspot.com/
My mystery skein is just about ready to be mailed out.

Joyce Laurie's Birthright Project

This is Joyce Laurie's Birthright project. Isn't it adorable? Ty would have loved it!

Mystery Yarn Ball

UPDATE!

I received my mystery yarn ball from Mary today. What a nice end to the week! The yarn is Bernat "Black Lites" bulky acrylic, and the pattern is the Trio knit tote bag from Crystal Palace Yarns. I've been wanting to make this bag ever since I first saw it and now I have the incentive to do it! There were also some extra goodies in the package (I guess she couldn't fit them in the yarn ball!) Some bath fizzies, hand cream, a cute tulip candle, and a note pad. I'll post another picture after I've knit enough to unwind the goodies from the yarn ball.

Thank you Mary!

I took advantage of the snow storm yesterday (you know, the lion?) to knit my mystery yarn ball pattern.

Here are the goodies that fell out of the ball: Some cute tea themed charms, a bag of plastic stitch markers, yarn needles, a cute mini-frame, and some really pretty hand made (by Mary) stitch markers.

I kept going - and here is the finished knitting bag. I love it, and it really stretches to hold a LOT of yarn!

Thanks again Mary!

Birthright Project and Prize

This illusion heart scarf is for Carrie. It symbolizes her illusion about who her parents really were, and also her illusions about her x-husband, who turned out not to be "X" at all! The hearts of course, symbolize her love for her parents, her husband, and her job.

I used Vanna's Choice yarn for the scarf so that it would be washable (it was actually a Valentine gift for my granddaughter) I liked the yarn - it was soft and easy to knit with - actually felt a lot like knitting with wool.

The prize for this project contest will be the yarn and pattern to make this scarf (or anything else you want to make with it of course)

So post your projects before March 15!

Love is... entry (Ashleah from MD)

Love is...

Wearing a horrid sweater, marked with many errors, just because it was the first sweater your girlfriend made and she gave it to you.

Learning to love said sweater over time, and wearing it any chance you can get.

Asking her to make you another sweater, now that she's had about two more years' experience with two pointy sticks.

Receiving the new sweater but wearing the old one more often, because you find you like it better.

Finding the flaws endearing and interesting, just like your girlfriend.


Dedicated to John.

p.s. You said it had to be up by Sunday, February 16, but Sunday is the 17th! Hope I'm still okay.

Love Is . . . by Joyce in NH

Love is . . . DH running into the bathroom every time wife is tossing her cookies/upchucking/worshiping the porcelain god (you get the idea) while pregnant with each baby, to fan her with magazines and lift her hair off her neck. Then one evening while he is away at a church meeting, love is . . . two little boys in nightshirts, with knobby knees, following his example while Mommy is sick, fanning her and keeping her company. They'll make wonderful, caring husbands some day!

Valentine's Day Contest

One of the projects we do in my second grade class for Valentine's Day is a "Love is"...... bulletin board. It is always fun to see what the kids come up with for this assignment. There have been many favorites over the years, but I have to say that this year's favorite tops them all. "Love is.....scooping up the poop!" Now - can you think of any truer expression of your love than scooping up the poop? I think it's a metaphore for all of the things we do for love! So, for this contest, I'd like you to post your own "Love is"..... on the blog by Sunday, February 16. A winner will be drawn from all of the entries.
Prize for Valentine's Day Contest

Three Bags Full Project

For Three Bags Full I made two dishcloths.
There was more than one color of sheep after all!

Love is...by Patty

Love is finding that special "baby" to be part of your family!

Welcome Coco!

Love is...laundry

Love is defined by the person who is giving it and for me that's washing someone else's dirty disgusting inside-out (you mean I have to touch them-bleeeeech!) socks.

Love is.... by Marlyn

When my stepkids do a special celebration for me the evening before Mother's Day (since they spend Mother's Day with their real mom).

Love is...By Diane

My Love is snuggling in bed with my children when they were little andreading the Sunday funny papers!!
By: Diane

THREE BAGS FULL PROJECT

Here is my Three Bags Full project. YUP it is a sheep. What else could it be? This is from a pattern I got at Ram Wools. I had to substitute the yarn as what was called they didn't have but I think it still came out nice. I suggest a metal needle as I broke a non metal needle knitting it.

Love is...

Having someone to hug or to recieve a hug from when life is just the pits...or when life is so good you have to celebrate!

Love is......

Love is going to bed at night, laying down and realizing that there is a wet spot in the bed from a puppy. It just happens to be right where you lay and you have to get up and change the sheets without getting mad..........puppies gotta love um!

Deb

Lindz and Z dressed for dinner

Lindz and Z dressed for dinner
Originally uploaded by mlj1954ohio

Love is . . . allowing your sister to dress you for dinner . . . and coming your hair . . . and then giving her a hug (ick).

Love is:

Having someone to play with !!!!

Love Is....

puppy ears on your laptop when trying to do your homework!

Love is.......By Karen

I remember the old "Love Is..." cartoon that used to appear on the comics page in our newspaper. I bet I even still have some of them cut out and in a folder somewhere.
As for how I would finish the sentence today?
Love is...
washing, folding and putting away laundry so I don't have to.
Needless to say, most of my family could use a little work on this.
Karen Lauterwasser

Project for Three Bags Full

My project for Three Bags Full is.....A bag! The pattern is K1C2's Painted Diamonds Bag, made iwth PaintBox yarn. You can see the picture at this link.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14313111@N06/2252139554/

Joan in West Texas

~ Lovely Prize Package ~

I received this lovely prize package for the Goals contest from our dear Jane last week ~ yes, its been a week so sorry. I've been sick in bed along w/tending to sick dc which the the girls just got sick yesterday ~ keep us in your prayers. The lovely goodies were definitely chosen for pampering. She made my day and I'm so looking forward to enjoying the entire thing when I'm 100%. ;D

Here is a pic and details of what she sent ~ enjoy!

I Love Cookies Original double chocolate chip cookie

Ghirardelli's assorted chocolate squares

Peaches and Pomegrantes ~ body butter, body wash and body scrub

Felted Soap kit ~ oh boy, a new craft

Popup book ~ Angels a celestrial celebration

~ I got something to read, something to pamper myself with, something to eat and something to make. Hey thats at least 3 of my goals. ;D Thank you very much Jane. I love it all.

Whoduknit Mystery Yarn Ball Swap

THIS SWAP IS OPEN TO WHODUKNIT MEMBERS ONLY!

We had fun with this one last year, so I thought we'd try it again. Here is how it works:

You will send your pal:
1. A mystery Book
2. A mystery pattern for a small one-skein project and
3. A ball of yarn to knit the project with.
But...here is the fun part. You will wind small treasures up into the ball of yarn. Some of the treasures can be knitting related, such as stitch markers, row counters, stitch holders etc, but others can be treats to eat, vintage buttons, beads, ribbons, charms, anything at all that will fit into the ball of yarn. We had some pretty amazing things come out of our mystery balls in the last swap! You can check the blog archives (October 06) to see some of them. When you receive your mystery yarn ball and mystery pattern, you will knit the pattern, and as you knit, your treasures will fall out. It is a good idea to put the yarn ball into a basket or knitting bag so that you don't lose anything! When you are done, you can post pictures of all of your goodies and your finished project one the blog. Sound like fun? Here is how you sign up:

e-mail me (grammieknits@yahoo.com) and include:

1. Your whole name and address
2. An e-mail address that you check frequently
3. Your blog address if you have one
4. Your promise that you will fulfill your commitment in this swap, and that if at any time you find that you are unable to do so, you will contact me so that I can find an angel. It's no fun to be flaked out on in a swap!

This swap is open to Whoduknit members only.
Sign- ups will begin now and end on February 10.
Deadline for mailing will be March 10.
Packages should arrive no later than the first day of spring - March 21

Three Bags Full Project

Here is Miss Maple taking a well deserved knitting break! You can find the link for this 'knitting sheep' pattern on the sidebar. More details on my blog.

Three Bags Full - Baa-by (Booby) Prize entry

Here is my baa-by (booby) prize entry...it is one of my knit bags....which took three years to completely finish...and it is full of wool sock yarn and a sock in progress!

KAL scarf finished

I have finished my scarf and it just needs to be wrapped up and added to a gift package I am putting together. When we were told to just grab something form out stash, I grabbed some purple Berroco Cotton 100 and was all ready to go. As it turns out I have someone who is allergic to all animal fibers, lives in a cold area, and her favorite color is purple! I have the perfect gift for her! BTW, don't look for this wonderful yarn in your LYS, it was discontinued years ago. Mission Falls Cotton is very similar though (which was the other yarn I almost used).

Scarf ready to block

This mystery knit was so much fun! Thank you Jane for "cracking the whip" and keeping us on task . . . LOL. The scarf is finished (except for blocking). It feels so good to have a FO in January!! Unfortunately, I discovered my camera is on the fritz when I tried to take photos.

Scarf done but NO picture

I'm still not able to post a picture.. Irks me a bit!

I loved the KAL, and plan on making more of these scarves, for charity! Good idea??

Thanks again!

so much for a photo right now

I loved this KAL.....and my daughter really liked the finished project. She tried it on last night and proceeded to wear it to school today...so I'll get a photo when I can catch her. I used two complete balls of Debbie Bliss Merino Aran. It is so pretty; I'll be making more!

Chris

Finished!

It is cold enough out that I put it on without even washing and blocking it! Might even wear it to bed tonight! Made it out of Woolease - one skein with about 1 foot left over.

Mystery KAL

Here are three mystery KAL scarves, keeping my snowmen nice and warm!

The one on the left is made with Patons SWS, the middle with Patons Classic Wool, and the one on the right is made with left-over Reynold's Boku for the two ends, and a solid Patons Wool for the middle. Hope they don't melt!

Done!

I do not know how to turn the picture, so all you have to do is tip you computer :-)

Knitted in a yarn from Garnstudio: Alaska, in 2 different pink colors. And yes, I have cheated, cause I haven't blocked it. I don't like blocking this yarn. I really liked the pattern and am going to knit more of these one day!
Thanks, Jane! You're great!

Another (last minute) Farewell to Yarns project

Like Jane, I also made a wreath as my Farewell to Yarns project. Since I don't know how to crochet, I knit mine. Then I used beads as the "berries."

AH GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE

For my December project I also finished a granny afghan I crocheted. It was from a swap in the Yarn Lovers Room and has been hanging around for about three or so years. This swap was to send one 10" square to everyone on the list. It could be any color but had to be edged in black. As usual there were some who didn't play nice. Here is my finished Dec project

and some close ups.


Soon on my blog you will be able to see some of the individual squares. I didn't photograph all the squares just some of the more unusual ones.

Actually, I have another bunch of squares from another swap in that same group to put together. I also have a lot of squares knit using wool by the Woolman who lived and had a yarn shop in my city many years ago which I received after he died.

Squares received from people in the Yarn Lover's Room Swaps are all very different and no two people in this swap have the same completed afghan as everyone doesn't necessarily send the same crochet/knit pattern or use the same colors in their squares they send out.

The one I haven't finished is from a blue and white swap and the squares had to be in only blues and whites. In this swap we sent two seven inch squares to each person in the swap. AND again some people didn't play nice. I want to edge these blue and white squares first to give them some co-ordination before I put them together.

This was a fun swap as I got to finish a UFO!!!! and learn how to put my granny square afghan together. I am sure there are other ways to join squares and I hope to learn more ways eventually.

.

My Farewell to Yarns Project

Here is my project for A Farewell to Yarns. One is the back and one is the front. I guess if you can't tell which is which, I did pretty well in weaving in the ends! When I read the story, I immediately thought of this afghan, which I began in November of 2006, while waiting for my son to have a CT scan. I used Red Heart sport-weight yarn in hopes of making it similar to one in one of the treatments rooms at Dartmouth Hospital, but that one was made of cotton thread, and so is much finer. The dark green looks almost black in the picture, but is really green. This afghan still needs a few rows of blocks, then a scalloped edging. Right now it is in use, and is draped over the back of the rocking chair in the living room, with the bag of yarn and a crochet hook nearby, for spare moments. Maybe if I do a block a day, I could get it finished in a few weeks? Oh, and I don't know why the blocks slant. They do that no matter how I spread it out. My friend, Karen, made the same afghan, but with Red Heart worsted weight, and I don't remember hers slanting. Is it the tension? Is it sport weight versus worsted weight? That remains a mystery!

Goals for 2008 Contest

Post your goals for 2008 - a winner will be drawn on January 12.

2008 Goals

My main goal for this wonderful new year is to convert my son's former room into my "Studio." Now that DS {Dear Son} is away at college and planning on moving onward and upward when he graduates, I have his permission to take over the room that had originally been my "project" room. I appreciate the time we had with him when he was growing up and do not regret having to give up the room for 20 years to make way for a bouncing baby boy, mature for his age even at birth.

I would enjoy organizing the entire house more, but I have a feeling that will take a lot longer than a year. This year is my time to concentrate on this one room, making it my place of refuge after long, grueling days at work.

1) Sort thru DS's belongings and box up the things he might still want (he has given permission and an idea of what he wants and what he no longer wants)
2) Repaint the room
3) Change the window "treatment"
4) Change the flooring
5) Set up some organizers for my stamps, beads and yarn
6) Set up a reading/DVD watching/knitting corner

Happy New Year and best of luck to everyone in accomplishing their goals!

Delores aka Knitted Zebra

Goal for 2008!

Well, after a lot of thoughts, I have made up my mind!

For me, there is only 1 single goal for 2008. What it is? I found out that all I had to promise myself was to live my life as best as I can. By doing that I'll be doing my best, won't I?

So no promises of weight-loss, stash-loss, and so on.

But one honest promise: to live my life as best as I can :-)

And Jane? Thank you, for making me think twice about goals :-)

2008 Goals

The long Holiday To Do List has been crossed out, wadded up and tossed. I was avoiding making any new year resolutions, but was challenged by the Goal Setting Contest. As I considered the fresh new days before me I realized they are too precious to waste by failure to consider what I want to accomplish. So after mulling it around, here is my short list:

• Clear out the cluttered spots of my home/office. (This would greatly improve my peace of mind.)
• Complete the kids' personal scrapbooks.
• Focus on a few KALs so that I might actually complete the projects. (Reading the related books is not a problem.)
• Learn to knit the Magic Loop. (My previous attempts have ended in frustration with me muttering, "I'll stay with my dpns!")
• Craft holiday/birthday gifts through the year. (This should prevent the exhaustion from late nights in Nov/Dec working like a mad woman to get gifts done.)

I'd like to learn how to post pictures to my blog, finish two cross stitch Christmas Stockings, develop a regular exercise routine, learn to play the cello . . . (sigh) the days are too short!

My goals for 2008

1. Get back to working on getting in shape and loosing weight. I lost 30 pounds last year and then slacked off on the working at it thing for the last three months or so. The good thing is that I haven't gained any back.
2. Organize my stash (Knitting and weaving yarn as well as fabric).
3. Reduce my stash, either through use, swaps, gifts, or donations.
4. Clean and organize my part of the basement.
5. Knit more socks and prayer shawls.
6. Weave more.

My Goals and Resolutions for 2008

I have a list of resolutions on my blog at: http://pennypurlsandkittyknits.blogspot.com/ but I want to add the following two in the area of personal goals.
1. To try to have a more positive self esteem which is usually very poor. This is a very difficult goal but I hope to be able to chip away at this by repeating everyday in the mirror the following:
I am whole, perfect, strong, loving, humorous, wise, happy and a good person! Maybe by saying this mantra daily I can increase my self esteem which is usually in the toilet.

2. To take off the extra weight I put on over the holidays and continue to take off weight as I was doing before the holidays. Thank-goodness I didn't put on all the weight on I lost just three pounds of it.

I think between what I put on my blog and the above two I have a lot to work on this year.

Farewell to Yarns Projects

For those of you who were not able to read last month's book, part of the storyline was about setting up for a church Christmas bazaar. One of the church members crocheted little wreaths and thought they would sell for $15.00. fortunately she was away on vacation and they were able to mark them down to $2.00


When I read about the "afghan from hell" that Jane Jeffery was crocheting for the bazaar, I remembered the stack of granny squares I had stashed away many years ago, dug them out, crocheted them together, and made my own afghan from hell! Jane thought the afghan had sold, but eventually found out that her children had bought it back for her for Christmas.
I know that some of you are working on projects for this book too - can't wait to see them!

Goals for 2008

I decided to not put to much pressure on my resolutions this year. Basically just take each day one at a time. But the following is just a few that I have been thinking about.

1. Making it through surgery safely. Doing this will make the following easier to do. (I did this one!)
2. Finish reading the books on my unread shelf. (I could open a library!)
3. Cast on my socks mate to the one I completed, and knit it finished.
4. Stream back my hours at work from full time to part time.
5. Find a knitting/crochet project that I really like and make it. (I also did this one too!)

~ Goals for 2008 ~

Hello ~ Happy New Year!

Goals for 2008 ~ well mine are actually goals for life since my birthday in November when I decided I needed to have something to look forward to each and everyday. Here they are in their simplest form:

1. Create and cultivate a simple lifestyle

2. Continue to challenge myself by reading a minimum of 2 books a month and doing puzzles

3. Develop my craft skills to include learning new ones

4. Spend more time developing relationships w/family and friends

5. Take time to pamper myself and rest

I encourage each of you who have set goals for yourself. Remember if you only accomplish one of them, you have done much. ;D

Goals for 2008

The DD and I have been discussing worthwhile goals for the new year, and we've decided to address the physical, emotional and mental aspects of life. (Sounds deep doesn't it, BUT not really--she's in 4-H which was the jumping off point for our discussion.) After that lead in, here are my resolutions for the coming year:
* dump 10 pounds
* make a new good friend
* read 1 new book each month that I'm not reading for something else
* knit everyday
* start planning, knitting, organizing for the holidays before mid-December 2008

My Goals for 2008

Hey all. Hope everyone's new year was great.

My goals are simple.

1) to actually start a book and finish it....not make excuses
2) Schedule some me time every week away from the chaos that is my life.
3) Cut back on my clutter
4) Knit from the stash


I am doing well, as I made some of these my goals before the new year.

Casey

Goals for 2008

My goal for 2008 is to make better decisions . . . about everything, health, money, children, family. And once I make that decision to stick by it and quit second guessing myself.

Happy New Year.

My Goals for 2008

My main goal for 2008 is to get rid of the CLUTTER! I've just got way too much stuff. And part of that goal will involve using up my stash (so I can justify buying more), and that of course involves knitting - so you see, I really like this goal!