Trick or Treak Package

Bonnie wins the award for the speediest swapper in the East! We do both live on the East Coast so it didn't have far to travel - and just look at all the goodies that arrived.

The yarn is Euroflax Linen, which I have been wanting to try forever, and the pattern is for the Ilene market bag - a perfect project for this yarn. And she also included the two pairs of circular needles needed for the project. The book is Where There's a Witch by Madelyn Alt. It looks like a really fun read and I can't wait to start it.

And the Treat - Oh my- a box of Godiva Chocolates! The box is so beautifully wrapped with a fall-colored ribbon that it would be a shame to open it, but then again.......the box will look just as pretty when it is empty and re-wrapped!

This cute little Beanie Bat was also in the package. Love it!

And the trick - a small box with a label on it that says "Beads & Silver" which looked like it probably would contain a piece of silver, beaded, jewelry - and, UGH - a nasty old spider! Well, not really nasty - he's kind of cute actually!

Thank you so much Bonnie - I love everything and I'm so excited to be the first to receive my swap package!

Sept Project

My project for September is socks. I knit one sock so far and the cuff of the second sock. I started with Knit Picks Bare Yarn.

I then dyed it yellow using lemonade Kool-Aid I received in the whoduknit group when I wanted to knit yellow toddler socks for the book by Mary Logue but was unable to find any here where I live. I have to admit I couldn't find all the Kool-Aid packets I had so I added a few drops of yellow food coloring and it still wasn't completely evenly dyed.



These socks will have to be completed by the end of Oct They were done for the 2009 Sock Pentathlon. They are sock #4 of the five.


I know they aren't toddler socks but they were dyed using lemonade Kool-Aid.

Whoduknit Trick or Treat Swap

Sorry! This swap is for Whoduknit members only!


Are you ready for another swap? Here's how the Trick or Treat Swap goes -

You will be sending your pal:

1. A book with a Halloween theme (this doesn't have to be specifically about Halloween - any scary theme will do. Witches, ghosts, monsters, vampires, villains - you get the picture!
2. A skein of yarn, enough for a one skein project, in fall colors.
3. A pattern for something to make with the yarn. (this could be tricky!)
4. A trick and a treat!


Sign-ups begin today and end Friday, the 25th. You will receive your pal's name by Sept. 30. Packages should be mailed out by October 21 so they will get there in time for Halloween.
To sign-up, e-mail me at grammieknits@yahoo.com with:

1. Your name
2. Your e-mail address (one that you check frequently)
3. Your mailing address
4. Your phone number (won't be given out)
5. Your blog address (if you have one.)
6. Ravelry name (if you are there)
6. Your promise that you will fulfill the guidelines of this swap or else notify me if an emergency prevents you from doing so!

Let the Tricking and Treating begin!!!

UPS Truck Yarn Delivery Murder

Hugh Dunnit is back again with a murder mystery to solve and he needs your help!

John Harmony has accused UPS Delivery man, Merlin Granite of murdering his wife. Harmony claims that he had been outside watering his backyard garden for half an hour when he noticed a UPS truck parked in his garage. He went over to investigate hoping that it was not another package of yarn for his wife. They were quickly running out of room to store all of her yarn stash and he had warned her repeatedly not to order any more yarn. He walked through the open door of the garage and into the kitchen where he found Granite strangling his wife with a piece of extra bulky merino wool. He called 911 but the medics were not able to revive Mrs. Harmony. Granite was arrested and taken down to the station house where Lt. Hugh Dunnit was questioning him.
Granite claimed that he drove to the Harmony's house to deliver a package. He knew the package was from Knitpicks and that Mrs. Harmony would be anxiously waiting for it. He had delivered many Knitpicks packages to her in the past. He spent a couple of minutes in his truck filling out delivery reports and then got out with the package. As he walked past his truck he noticed that his front wheels were parked on the garden hose which ran from an outlet by the garage round to the back of the house. Granite claims that he got back in the truck and pulled it into the garage a few feet so that his wheels were not on the hose. He noticed the door between the kitchen and the garage was open and he saw Mrs. Harmony lying on the floor by the stove. He ran over to her and was trying to untie the yarn around her neck when Mr. Harmony came through the door an accused him of strangling his wife.
Which man was telling the truth? Help Lt. Dunnit by e-mail your answer to me at grammieknits@yahoo.com before midnight, on Friday, September 25 for a chance to win a reward!

Angel's Wings

For my September project I made Angel a some wings. I know she has white wings in the book, but she is so little and has been through so much I think she deserves a pair of more colorful wings! This pattern is adapted from the pattern "Gabriel's Wings" (see Angel Experiment projects on sidebar), using leftover patterned sock yarn in-between solid color rows of sock yarn.

WHODUKNIT BOTTLE

Well it seems I am doing an awful lot of apologizing today in posts about being so tardy in putting in photos. I try to make sure I acknowledge my packages when received but I must get better at putting in the full posts with photos.

I received a wonderful bottle swap package from Danielle. She did include a bottle.

BUT the bottle was in a BOX. She wrote she was glad I had won the prize for my handcuffs and chosen what I did as she was not only my bottle swap partner but was sending me my prize. Since she sending me the prize she was able to ship in a box and NOT have to stuff everything in the bottle.

Look at what I pulled out of the bottle.

Here is a close up of this wonderful bag in PINK stripes with cotton yarn.

I also received these wonderful items. YUMMY candies. Can you guess how long the American Hershey Bar with Nuts lasted? AND most of the Jelly Bellys are gone also. There are just a few remaining and, of course, the black licorice are still in the box for anyone who comes to visit and likes black licorice. We won't even mention the length of time it took to eat the Ghiradelli candy bar as large as it was.

Included in my package was a mystery I haven't read yet which is now on my to read list, a case to put my straight long knitting needles in, some fiber wash, tissues with my initial, a notepad, and a lovely card.

BUT that wasn't all I received. Here is more goodies. I found a small Americana emery board which has been put to use already, another note pad, a small 2010 calendar to clip on my bag, Brittany DPNs another favorite brand of mine (I can never have enough DPNs) and then three skeins of wonderful yarn by Twisted Sisters.
Here is a close up of the yarn which is a combination of rayon (52%) and cotton (48%). Just look at the color.

I chose the crossword puzzle book Over 70 Murder Mystery Murder Crosswords as my prize for the handcuffs. It is a very interesting crossword book. I dived right into it as soon as I received it.

Again thank-you Danielle for a great package.

Bottle Swap

Everyone was excited when we found a bottle in the mailbox today!


In it was the book Funeral Food, Some wonderful Pirate Colored Yaaaarn and Dark Chocolate with Carmel!



But the best thing in the bottle was this cool face cloth with a skull and crossbones made just for me!



Thanks Joy!

Thank you Penny!

I stopped at the PO this morning to mail some things and noticed a bottle in a tote with the other mail that was being sorted. "Is that my bottle?" Would you believe that I was the only person in town getting a bottle in the mail today? LOL. The mailman gladly handed it to me - one less thing for him to deliver! It did look a little bit odd though -

Then I realized she had taped two bottles together - very ingenious Penny! It was taped securely, to say the least and it took some very careful cutting to get it open.

As soon as I was able to pop off the top goodies started falling out.

Penny is an expert at stuffing bottles! There were some Avon goodies (from the Avon Lady!)Moisture Therapy, body lotion and shower gel, plus a cute little pen that looks like a tube of lipstick and an emery board. A tape measure (never can find mine!) and some tapestry needles, a tube of glass beads (can't wait to start another beaded knit project), a cute little book "Words of Wine and Wisdom" A 'bendy pencil", Cat on the Edge by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, which I haven't read, some Magpie wool yarn in a shade of green that I love (a felting project for sure!) some well wrapped chocolate candy and the cutest little lamb that I just love!

Thank you so much Penny for a really great bottle swap - you are a spoiler!!!!

Bttle Swap

I received a bottle full of wonderful goodies fro someone??? (time to reveal yourself)--there's a lovely ball of sock yarn, a tube of matching beads (hmm, the possibilities...) a set of lovely stitch markers, the cutest little notepad with a sheep on it, some chocolate(which didn't last long enoughtto get into the picture), cable needles, lip balm, hand sanitizer, and a beautiful tatted bookmark in my favoirte color! Thank you, thank you!!!

Joan in West TExas

MUDER MOST CRAFTY PROJECT

I am putting a project in for the Murder Most Crafty book project. I do have to admit I did it several years ago but I knit it myself when my eyes were better.

I have even used it several times. It is now on my ravelry project page.

Thank you Barbara!

Look what I found when I got home from the movies tonight????

My bottle! From Barbara in MN who sent me a lovely bunch of goodies!

Lots of teas - which is great - I love a variety and it is great to get new ones to try (like the Ginger Energizer!!! I will be needing that when I get back to work in a week and a half).

A book that I am looking forward to reading - by Charlaine Harris - one of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries - A Bone to Pick. I enjoy that series and havent read many of them so it is very nice to get a book I have never even heard of!

Tootsie rolls - are those gumballs Barbara? - some chocolates which are in ther refrig right now - it has been over 100 degrees here yesterday and today! Some mints in a nice little tin which whill make a great stitchmarker holder when it is empty! A great little purse which I have already put to use holding my clover tapestry needles.

See the cute little ducky? and the lovely GREEN yarn???? I hope I havent missed anything but I am melting right now....

BTW I highly recommend seeing Julie and Julia - Meryl Streep is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bottle Swap received from Joan

As many of you know, I have packages delivered to my office. This is mostly because we aren't home most days AND our mailbox is out at the street.

So, it is great fun when I got my bottle yesterday. Actually, Lily who delivers our mail, had a parade of people following her wanting to know what it was that I was getting. My fun was that I didn't open it right away. The bottle was handled by several people all of whom were trying to figure out what exactly was in it, followed by how did the stuff get in there. Ha!

So, this morning, I opened the bottle from Joan in Texas! It is a great bottle jam packed with great stuff!

There were two skeins of Noro Silk Garden (Color No. 284, in blues and purples with touches of brown and green . . . all my favorites).

Also there were many wonderful other things best described in Joan's note which says:

"The bookmark is, of course, to keep your place in the latest WhoDuKnit. Thekeychain and emery board are souveniers of Texas. The Wise Little Owl timble is in recognition of your prowess in the Trivia Challenge. Keep your hands clean (soap) and soft (lotion) while you nibble on chocolate . . . ."

Plus there was a magnet, a tape measure and a little bag to hold many of the goodies.

Thank you Joan for all these wonderful things.

Ah, ha! I pulled the good straw AGAIN.

Thank you Nate. Can't say I mind a bit that you went to the puffy! The spoils have been divvied up.....and life is good. I love all of it. The sewing kit will go to work with me. There's been more than once I wish I had one with me. You wouldn't believe some of the things that I see getting worn...and broken, at school. Stapler repairs aren't always good. I look forward to listening to the Christmas CD. Looks to be a good one. The yarn I will stare at for awhile until the perfect project pops into my head (and it will). Katie took off with the gum, Dee with the candle (and both are as thrilled as can be for teens---I even got bear hugs...you ROCK). The hand sanitizer they explained they just couldn't live without (or, of course, they will die of h1n1.....not to be dramatic or anything) and the sunblock....well, I'm fair skinned and my hair isn't the thickest and always has a part, so my anti-lobsterness is very thankful.

thanks so much for brightening up my Monday!

Shelly

Two projects for August

Here are a couple of projects for this month. The first one is a tea cozy I made for my Mother. But I thought it would be good for The Ice House, which we read in May. This takes place in a little English village, and they are always drinking tea. And it's cold, so they need something to keep the tea warm.

The next project is a cashmere scarf, made from Ellie's Reclaimed Cashmere. Ellie scours thrift stores, flea markets, and other second-hand shops for cashmere sweaters. She then unravels the sweater, washes the yarn, and re-spins the yarn (two, three, or four plies, often all different colors) to make skeins of yarn to be knit into other lovely items. I made a scarf for my Father, who is a very elegant man, and who might wear it to the symphony. Except for how the character turns out in Interred With Their Bones (being the murderer), my Dad's personality in many ways reminds me of Sir Henry. I think both of them might enjoy wearing this scarf. At least I hope my Dad does!

A bottle in the mailbox!

Early last week I got this email:

Hi there, Barbara!
Just wanted to give you a heads up that I will be putting your bottle in the mail this evening.
But, I forgot to put the card in that tells you who I am . . . LOL . . . so, once you get your bottle, let me know and I will REVEAL ALL!!
Your whoduknit bottleswap person

A few days later I had a 2-liter bottle in my mailbox and was able to send this email:

I got my bottle in the mail today! It is really wonderful! Thank you, thank you , thank you!
(Now can I know who I am saying "Thank you " to?)
Barbara

 

Yesterday I got to learn the answer with this email:

Hi Barbara,

It is me . . . Mary Lynn . . . I am so glad you got the bottle! I didn't take pics before I sent it. It got sooooo confusing.
I hope you enjoy everything. I wanted to put lots of things in it and forgot the note . . . go figure.
Have a great day!
Mary Lynn

Now for all the wonderful stuff she sent me!

 

KnitPicks Imagination yarn, in Munchkin colorway (very pretty!), some Harmony cable needles, more Harmony needles to knit socks with (she has been paying attention to how much I like my Harmonies!), a summer sock pattern to knit, small scissors and a retractable tape measure, stitch markers and row counter bracelet (I have been wanting one of these!) from Jed Joy, a Knitter's Kit from Slipped Stitch Studios (also really cool and extra handy!), a double pointed needle case, and some Strawberry Rhubarb Soap from Smoky Mtns Apothecary.
What a wonderfully stuffed 2-liter bottle I got from Mary Lynn! Thanks again!

Murder Most Crafty - Crafts by Mary Lynn

Okay, to be honest, I get this craft habit from my Mom. Although I have to admit that she was definitely more of an artist than I!

I can tell you though, like my Mom, I am willing to try just about any craft and reading the book, I would have tried any of the crafts . . . well maybe not tying flies . . . but I assume if I fished, I might appreciate the craft of the thing.

After my Dad died (in 1985), I took my Mom shopping most Saturdays. Usually, the shopping consisted of groceries but often, we did other fun shopping. And, often went to craft shows or for workshops. We learned how to hook rugs (not latched . . . we did that as kids . . . but punch hook and regular rug hooking). We learned how to do pottery and uphostery and quilting.

Anyway, the tree of life is a punched needle rug that is in my son's bedroom. He loves the colors and textures.

The bag was designed by my 15 year old and made by me. She had seen a purse like it in Canada but refused to ante up the $80 for it (and I wouldn't either . . . LOL). She was surprised at the amount of work involved. She and I cut out the squares, I did all the sewing and she got to press all the seams. On the other hand, she has had several of her friends ask her were she got her bag.

Bottles

I sent my bottle on its way last week . . .

I am hoping it got there . . .

Where or where could it be . . .

Murder Most Crafty Project

In "M Word" the basket competition turned deadly (or did it?)






The competition. was intense...................

And the winners! (That's me on the left, in case you didn't guess).

Bonnie's Beaded Scarf

This is Bonnie's Murder Most Crafty KAL beaded scarf - isn't it gorgeous!

Beaded Scarf Murdery Most Crafty KAL

I finished my beaded scarf and love it! The yarn is

Zen Yarn Garden handpainted merino/bamboo/nylon and the beads are from Earthfaire. I loved doing the beading and if I knit this again I would add more beads than the 9 rows on each end called for in the pattern.

I decided it needed some fringe and added beads randomly to each strand. It took forever, but was very relaxing, stringing beads while listening to an audio book (Heart Sick by Chelsea Cain).

I haven't blocked it yet, and I'm not sure that I need to. Maybe just a little bit.

Is this your bottle?

All ready to be mailed...

Could it be yours???????????

Thank you!

I just wanted to thank Jane for the awesome prize - a gift card from KnitPicks - that I won on her blog. I just ordered 2 books from them!!!

danielle

Murder Most Crafty KAL Progress

Here is my progress on the beaded scarf KAL we are doing for MMC. I'm using Zen Yarn Garden handpainted sock yarn - Superwash Merino/Bamboo/nylon and beads from Earthfaire. They don't show up tht well against the yarn - but you can see the sparkle and I like it a lot so far. (if you click on the picture you will be able to see the beads much better).

Finally! My tell about my Scavenger Hunt Swap package goodness!

When I got home late Friday night, Hubband showed me where my Norwegian box was waiting on the table. I have to admit, since it was almost eleven at night, I had been gone for ten days and traveling for hours that day, had a spouse and three pets that were all happy to see me, I decided to wait until Saturday to open it.
It was so worth the wait! There is wonderfully soft blue-gray alpaca yarn, books, treats, notions made by Vigdis, a couple of items made by her neighbor, and last, but very far from least, there is beautiful yarn dyed by Vigdis as well! A truly wonderful package that I am enjoying so very much! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

My scavenger hunt swap box

has arrived to my home from Norway, according to my Hubband. I am on vacation away, but am looking forward to opening it when I get home on Friday.

Whoduknit Bottle Swap

Swap is Open to Whoduknit Members Only

Okay - back by popular demand - The Bottle Swap! What is a bottle swap? This is how it works. You buy a two liter bottle of soda. Then you drink it (or pour it down the drain). Wash it and let it dry. Then you take off the label and cut an X in the bottle. Here comes the fun part. You fill it with goodies for your partner. How do you know what to put in it? Well - you are a member of Whoduknit, right? You read mysteries? You know all about stalking? So e-mail your partners from an anonymous e-mail address, go to their blogs and do some research, google their names - never know what you will come up with! Yarn, books, patterns, handknit items, knitting accessories,bookmarks, candy etc. But nothing breakable please! Then tape the opening shut, glue the top onto the bottle, tape a mailing label on it, and take it to the post office to mail it.
Penny has suggested that you first line the bottle with tissue paper before filling it so that it will not be too tempting for someone to decide to keep for their own, and that sounds like a good idea.

The Rules

1. Sign-ups begin July 7 and end July 15. Partners will be assigned by July 24.
2. Everything you mail MUST fit into a 2 liter bottle.
( Exception: If you are mailing international, you will have to put your bottle into a box or a padded envelope to mail it. Please check with your PO for size and weight limitations.)
Bottles must be mailed by August 24 (but certainly can be mailed earlier). You will need to get a delivery confirmation number and send the number to me. (For international mailing please provide the custom number).

This is a secret swap - the person you are sending to will not be the person sending to you. It's up to you if you want to remain anonymous - but it's really fun to do that.
Want to Play? Of course you do! Here is what to do:

Send an e-mail to me, grammieknits@yahoo.com with the subject line "Whoduknit Bottle Swap" and include the following information:

Your full real name
Your e-mail address
Your mailing address
Your blog address if you have one

Your Ravelry name if you are on Ravelry

Your telephone number (this will be kept confidential and only used in case of a communication breakdown)
Willing to mail international : Yes __ NO __

home environment : pets___ smoke ___

allergic to : pets ___ smoke ___other____

Thank you Judy Brown!

Got home from our mini vacation to find this great box on my doorstep.....had to tear into it right away!!!!

Let's see...there were a couple of regional items - the green yarn, and a box of yummy candy!

Silly items included an Arthritis magazine and the Chinese take out for two box!

The yummy yarn really is yummy...Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud in the most yummy color - Tide Pool!!!!

Two great books - Medicus by Ruth Downie and The Cat Who Moved a Mountain by Lilian Jackson Braun.

Some great knitting magazines.....and a fantastic journal to keep all my projects listed....been looking at those!

And best of all - a drop spindle, made by Judy, along with some lovely roving - I dont think the phot does the colors any justice - a lovely teal blue, a coral, and a mixed pastel!!!

I hope I havent forgotten anything - this was a fantastic surpise box!!!!! And I love everything - thank you so much Judy!!!!!!!!!!!!!