31 July 2008
Dear Swap Partners....
28 July 2008
Summer of Love yarn swap July
Originally uploaded by Saucy Minx Knits
My secret pal is the most generous person EVAH! Who else could bear to part with not 1, not 2, but *3* skeins of Socks That Rock????? Yep, she sent me 3 skeins (Love-in-Idleness, Backstabber, and Pink Granite -- i've been coveting this colorway in particular!) as well as 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn in Pink Blossom. She also included a bazillion sock patterns, a sock keychain, a bracelet, treats for the kitties, and some pretty cloth napkins ( a previous swapper had made some adorable napkin rings for me and these napkins are to go with them :).
Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!
Here is the yarn up close & personal:
Petunia & Basil duking it out for the last treat in the bowl...
Vivi scarfing hers:
Knewbie Kit Swap goodies
Originally uploaded by Saucy Minx Knits
1stitchwonder sent me a PINK-themed package -- how kewl! (In mid-June she had sent me a pick-me-up package of Creative Knitting mag & Wether's candy since I was in the midst of moving --- she's super thoughtful!).
There is a little purse, Orbit gum, hand lotion, bubble bath, Godiva hot chocolate, knitting needles, and loads of Debbie Bliss Cathay yarn to make the Clapotis scarf!! Best of all, she knitted the Airy Scarf for me in such a pretty color! Amanda, you rock!
Books & More swap goodies
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Originally uploaded by Saucy Minx Knits
MSUteachergirl from Ravelry sent me this fab package! How did she know I wanted to learn to dye socks??? Yay, I'm excited to be able to do so, since she sent me two pots of Jacquard dyes and a skein of BARE from Knit Picks :) She also sent me the book Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush -- I love her patterns and I've been wanting this book!
She also sent me a skein of Vesper Yarn in Knit and Tonic as well as a pair of cozy socks for winter that she knitted for me -- I'm touched! Thank you!
Knitter's Treasure swap
Originally uploaded by Saucy Minx Knits
Swamplily sent me this great package of goodies!! Wow, 4 skeins of a pretty pink yarn, a cupcake making kit, Godiva hot chocolate, Nonni's biscotti, Vogue knitting, the Yarn Harlot's Meditations for Women who Knit too much, and she also sent me two book markers that she made as well as some stitch markers -- so cute!!! Thank you so much!
21 July 2008
quickie
i just got the BESTEST package EVAH from my secret pal from the Summer of Love Yarn swap!!!!!
She knew I had joined in the sock knitting craze and so she sent me this MAGNIFICENT package of sock knitting goodies! I just opened before having to rush out of the house, so pictures will be posted later tonight.
she sent me not 1, not 2, but 3!!!! 3!!!! 3!!!! skeins of Socks that Rock yarn!!!! i almost fainted at the sight! miracle of miracles, somehow she must have read my mind or saw that i have been stalking folks with the PINK GRANITE colorway because i have been coveting that for ever so long! YAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!
10 July 2008
Questions someone asked me recently...
Embrace the Night by Karen Chance (Urban fantasy, my fave genre, though she isn't my fave author)
2. What is your favorite tv show (currently on tv)?
Dancing with the Stars and So you think you can dance :)
I'm also a Law & Order junkie (all of them!). Bones, Weeds, and Dexter are a couple of other favorites.
3. Do you have any animals? I have 3 kitties -- two of them you can see on my blog "guarding" some stuff :) I also live with a dog (he belongs to my roommate)
Was there not a 4? Or did I lose it, lol?
5. Where did you go to college? Lol, you sure want to ask this? Ok: I did undergrad at UC Davis (English & Women's Studies); Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Texas State University at San Marcos, and MA/Ph.D. in medieval literature at U Massachusetts, Amherst (I'm still working on my dissertation so am not yet done with the doctorate)
6. What's the farthest away from home you have ever travelled?
Europe -- specifically Spain, Germany, and Austria
7. If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would
it be?
My dream is to tour all the castles in Europe and Thailand :) I'd also like to go to Iceland -- no castles, but it's a great place for medievalists!
8. Do you like to cook or bake?
Both, but my real avocation is baking -- i have fantasies of becoming a pastry chef :) My yarn collection barely rivals my collection of baking pans and tools!!
Any hobbies you have outside of knitting? Baking and Chocolate/Candy making.
9. What is your favorite food? Um, my fave meal is a cheeseburger and fries.....sigh. i also love vanilla malt shakes.
10. Do you listen to knitting podcasts? If so, which
is your favorite? Nope -- can you turn me onto a good (knitting or fiber) one?
11. What is your favorite kind of weather? Cool sweater weather -- i used to say 50s, but now that i'm acclimated to the NE, i like, oh, 35-50s best :)
12. What is your pet peeve?
oh geez, loads of them, hahaha. rude and/or inconsiderate people in general (truly, this covers a lot of them!)
13. What are you knitting right now? Socks for Warm Woolies
Yikes, I thought I had posted this long ago! SP12
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I really like to make socks, so I love the indie/hand-dyed yarns...the usual suspects like Sundara, Zen Garden, Yarntini, Socks that Rock, etc, but am also into trying out lesser know/just starting out folks.
In general, I prefer natural fibers over synthetics, though synths can be ok in a blend. I use bulky weight wool yarn to knit things for Warm Woolies, but other than that my fave yarn weights are fingering to worsted.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? eeeeks!! in random places....they are not at all organized (definitely a project that needs to be done). *AHEM* i can always use more sock needles, i.e. DPNs (bamboo/wood or metal) or metal 24" circs (Knit Picks or ADDIs)....lol
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 as a child, but only recently took it up again as i tended to favor crochet since i was faster at it. Intermediate.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? See the button on the sidebar :)
5. What's your favorite scent? i tend to prefer floral scents....jasmine, lily, gardenia, camelia, magnolia, etc.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? CARAMEL! dark chocolate! Haribo gummies!
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I bake, knit, sew. In the winter I also make candy and chocolate. I"d love to learn to dye and spin yarn someday.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? i have rather eccletic tastes -- 80s, disco, alternative, hard rock/metal, trip hop...
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? Fave colors: pinks, blue-reds, violets, greens, teal/blue-greens, rich browns....I am not at all fond of orange or rusty, earth colors.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am single. I have three kitties and also live with a dog.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves, berets, mittens, gloves, mitts, fingerless gloves. I especially love them in sets!
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? socks and other accessories (see above).
13. What are you knitting right now? socks, dishcloths, and a beret.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? adore them!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I prefer wood or bamboo or metal DPNs and metal circs (in general Knit Picks and Addis)
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? NO, rats.
17. How old is your oldest UFO? about 8 months.
18. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween.
19. Is there anything that you collect? yarn and patterns for knitting :) Wonder Woman and Joan of Arc stuff. Rita Hayworth, Natalie Wood, Doris Day, pin-up girl stuff.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? see wish list on the side. i have a sub to IK and supposedly one for Creative Knitting (it has yet to arrive). As for yarns and needles...see questions 1 & 2 above. I have a huge wish list/queue on ravelry for patterns!
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? yarn dyeing, Fair Isle at some point, i'm sure there is lots i don't know!
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes.
23. When is your birthday? March 13
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? SaucyMinx
08 July 2008
Step 0 -- Upon opening the box, here is what I found: a super cool-looking vintage pattern for a hood (how glamorous!), some homemade caramel and dark chocolates (yum!) and the Mmagic Yarn ball.
Step 1 -- after beginning to unravel the pretty blue Berroco Merino yarn, I found the first yarn ball goodie: a barrette featuring pin-up girls!! (Marilyn Monroe on the left, Bettie Page in the middle, and someone I didn't recognize on the right, though I'd guess Jayne Mansfield cause of the boobage, lol)
Step 2 -- a Rita Hayworth "Gilda" poster-decorated little metal case filled with stitch markers made by Megdoula!! I have this same framed print -- I love this movie and adore this little case!!
My camera does not like to photograph stitch markers, so here's a (blurry) close-up:
They are gorgeous! I"ll have to try for a better photo of them, sigh. This pic does not do them justice at all.
Step 3 -- Coming closer to the center of the yarn ball, I found a Lantern Moon tape measure!! I LOVE it -- it's a cake (ha, ha, ha -- it goes perfectly with the "cheesecake" of the other items ;)
Step 4 -- Cute little tags for handknit creations!!
Step 5 -- The ball is unraveled!!! Within the center of it I found 2 huge hanks of MMmmalabrigo worsted in bee-yu-tee-full colors!!!
Wow, was I spoiled or what?!!!!
Megdoula, you are the BEST!!!!! Thank you for choosing me to spoil, I really lucked out :)
P1010014
Originally uploaded by Saucy Minx Knits
Naturally, after Vivi saw Petunia on my scarf, she had to follow suit. She decided she needed to guard my goodies from the MMmmalabrigo Mmagic Yarn Ball swap. Apparently she is calling the delicious-looking hommade caramel (yum!!!) and chocolate that Megdoula from Ravelry sent me. Ha! The caramel is Mine, mine, mine!!
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Originally uploaded by Saucy Minx Knits
Here's Petunia on the scarf I finished. Of course, she just had to settle down *right there* as I was taking pictures.
05 July 2008
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Originally uploaded by Saucy Minx Knits
My thanks to KnittingAngel on Ravelry!!
She sent me Veronik Avery’s Lace Ribbon Scarf pattern – I love this designer and this is a beautiful scarf! I can’t wait to knit it up! She also sent me some yummy Malabrigo lace in Rich Chocholate (2 skeins) with the swatch knitted up. As a bonus, she also gave me two skeins of Alpaca in another lovely shade of brown! In addition, there’s a cute little notepad, a stitch counter, stitch marker, and – i’m SO excited about this – a Lantern Moon sheep retractable tape measure!!!! I’ve been lusting after one of these and now I have one! yay!!!!!
Thank you, thank you!!!!
Knitter's Holiday Swap for June
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Originally uploaded by Saucy Minx Knits
How lucky can one girl be? Three skeins of beautiful sock yarn in one package!! Thanks to PeachTart on Ravelry for the ice cream-themed package. She handdyed two of the skeins herself, the white, pink, and red one is inspired by Cherry Garcia, yum! The skein to the left of that I've already decided to use to cast on Sockbug's River Rapids Socks. PeachTart also sent my my very fist skein of Lime & Violet's sock yarn!! (It represents Caramel Cone, my other fave ice cream flavor :)
01 July 2008
P1010005
Originally uploaded by Saucy Minx Knits
Look at these beautiful napkin rings i received from the Cotton Lovers BBQ swap on Ravelry! Sunmoon made me 6 of these beauties :)
