Cripes! Where Have I been?!

       So yeah, I have been very naughty (busy really) and have neglected my blog... :( Bad Squib!!! >:P But in an effort to recap the last couple months here are some updates. The holidays were very busy with the swappin. Not only did I do a Christmas swap with Skeinqueen7 (see previous post), but I also did Christmas swaps with Dreamsinfiber, Maylin, and Emil. Of course I'm a dunce and did not get pics of all my swaps. ::sigh:: But here are a few that I did. 

   In addition to Xmas swaps, I also helped moderate and participate in the Love Bites Valentines Vampire Swap 2009 on Ravelry. We had over 50 members sign up internationally!! All in all, I think it was a success :) There are also pics listed here of the parcel I sent to my swap recipient, and the one I received in turn. 

This pic is of the amazing package I received from Maylin in France, yo! For our Xmas swap/True Blood  vamp swap. There were so many amazing goodies inside!!! And since we are both hardcore Twilight fans as well, She was sure to include some also Twilight items, too! Here's what I got: 

• 2 hanks of the Opal Harry Potter sock yarn in the Ron (luv ron!!) and Dumbledore colorways,
• two super soft and squooshy hanks of Malabrigo worsted (hooray! My first Malabrigo!)
• Lavender wands that Maylin made herself, that when you rub in your hands, releases the scent (I stuck them in with my stash!)
• audio books
• music
• the pattern for the Bella Mittens by Subliminal Rabbit
• friggin espresso from Italy!! no, srsly!!! (ZOMG!!!!)
• Freesia scented soap and honey/olive scented soap from Greece 
• Russian Earl Grey tea
• dried mango yummies
• and three hanks of her own hand-dyed colorways!! Friggin' gorgeous and luxurious I might add; "Claudine", "Bill", and her amazing lace in her vampire blood colorway.... LOVE
• Dood yo, I so gots spoiledz!!!! ^_^

 

I also got a phat package from Erica that had the most amazing collection of books. I have already used the Creepy Cute Crochet book to make the Nosferatu!! ^_^ She also sent 2 hanks of malabrigo sock yarn in the most gorgeous red that are destined to become the "Hoor Hose" using the "Zum Dirndl" pattern by yarnissima. There was a lavender sachet, as well, and another hank of pretty variegated sock yarn, and some stitch markers. Oh! and she also knitted me a set of the most adorable HP house colors Xmas ornaments!! There was more, but I can't remember right now. Bottom line; she spoiled me too!! :D

And then Emil sent me a lovely package from Finland that included samples of Finnish yarn, a cute little owl purse, the most beautiful pair of fair isle fingerless mitts, and some Finnish candy!!! Oh, and an adorable lil Santa ornament!! ^_^

And here is  pic of all the cool goodies I received from my swap sender in the Love Bites Swap. :) I got a hank of Maylin's gorgeous Merino tencel in the "Forks" colorways!! Yay!!, the most delish whole bean coffee, the most awesomest lip gloss that I LURVE, some rad tunage, some yummies, and necklaces, and other little bits and bobs of cool! 

And Finally, here is a pic of the package I sent to my swap recipient in Finland for the Love Bites swap. I was a doofus and forgot to take pics before sending everything out, so photo  credits go to my recipient!! ^_^ I think it's so cute, too--she named the dragon, "Lars" and the Nosferatu "Bruce" hehe... I also made her some nice thick "Bella Mittens" --and FYI: "Lohikåårme" is Finnish for dragon. ;)

shop update: new colorways coming soon

Okay, 4 new colorways will be added to the shop, tomorrow. I've got new bases and wanted to give 'em a whirl. I have 2 merino/bamboo, and 2 Kona superwashes:

1. The Scooby Doobies, From the Laff-a-Lympics part of the Saturday Morning Cartoon Series. --Kona Superwash 2 ply fingering weight.
2. Thebes of Egypt from the Globe Trekker series --merino/bamboo 3 ply fingering wt.
3. The Burrow, (Harry Potter inspired) from the Flotsam & Jetsam series --Kona superwash 2 ply fingering wt.
4. Queen Mab from the Once Upon a Time series --merino/bamboo 3 ply fingering wt.

*All skeins are 400 yds/each. They'll be listed on my Etsy shop by 2 pm EDT 5-24-08

Good Grief, Charlie Brown!

Well, I just realized that I'd been so busy with dying yarn, test knitting and making swaps, that I haven't posted any of my recent WIPs or FOs! :/ So, here's the 411: I finished my "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes" socks with my Sunshine Yarns in the corresponding colorway. I used the pattern "Mad Color Weave", by Tina Lorin. I also whipped up a pair of socks for little Zach with some scrap yarn today. It's the "Toddler Socks" pattern by Bonnie Franz. Additionally, I worked up a couple test knits (more info in May), and began the birthday swap for Dreamsinfiber. Above is a photo collage of the WWW socks and Zach's pair. 

Fresh From the Cauldron--update:

Coming soon: 

I will be offering four new colorways for sale in the next couple weeks! These exciting new hand-dyed yarns are all 462 yds of fingering weight superwash wool, and are each a part of the various Fresh From the Cauldron original colorway series. I will be making the following yarns:

1. "Strawberry Shortcake" from the Saturday Morning Cartoon Series
2. "Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid" from the Once Upon a Time Series
3. "Wicked" from the On Broadway series
4. "Ginger Kitties" from the Flotsam and Jetsam series, inspired by my three favorite fictional cats: Crookshanks, Garfield, and Azriel

*If multiple requests are received for the same colorway(s), I will make arrangements to make a "batch" of that/those colorway(s).  Yarns will be listed at $20 USD + shipping each 

Ginevra Molly Weasley

Pattern: "Simply Ginny Socks", by Anna Peck

Cast On: 3/14/08

Cast Off: 3/17/08

The Big Tease

Here is a sneak-peak at the "Simply Ginny Socks," designed by Anna Peck. 

Cast on: 3/14/08

Bellatrix socks are done.

Here are the final pics of my Bellatrix socks. Now I'll just be concentrating on finishing Kim's Uzumes. Official stats:

Title: "Bellatrix at the Department of Mysteries"

Cast on: 3/2/08

Cast off: 3/8/08

Pattern: "Bellatrix", by Gigi Silva-a.k.a "Monkey Toes"

Modifications: Size 1.5 circs for cuff and instep, size 2 for  sl1/k1 reinforced heel, size 1 for leg. 

One down, one to go

I'm 75% done with this project. After Bellatrix, I still need to finish Kim's Uzume socks and then I will be working on some projects for my Ravelry groups. Luckily, some of the projects will fill requirements for multiple groups. I want to make Anna Peck's "Simply Ginny!" socks in either Sweet Sheep Sweet Sock "Pink Cherries" or Claudia Hand-painted's "Peppermint Mocha", and from there, probably Monkey Toes' "Nagini" socks in Knit Pick's "Leprechaun."

update on: "Bellatrix at the Department of Mysteries" socks

"The woman stepped forward, away from her fellows, and pulled off her hood. Azkaban had hollowed Bellatrix Lestrange's face, making it gaunt and skull-like, but it was alive with a feverish, fanatical glow."

--Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, chapter 35, p. 783

WIPs

I've got two pairs of socks on the needles right now. One is the Uzume pattern by Monkey Toes, being modified into ankle socks (in the CTH "java" colorway), and knit up for my friend Kim. The other is a pair of Bellatrix socks by Monkey Toes, I'm knitting up for myself. The Uzume is fairly tedious and slow going, where in stark contrast, the Bellatrix is knitting up like a dream! I've been wanting to do this pair in this colorway ever since I saw the yarn and the pattern. I originally wanted to use this yarn for my Monkeys, but I had trouble with pooling and gauge, so I used the CTH "earth" instead. I'm glad I did, because I think that this colorway and pattern are the perfect match, now!

Are those angels' trumpets I hear?

Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, 

by Sunshine Yarns

I swear I can faintly hear the sound of angels trumpeting amidst my euphoria for my new FANTABULOUS  yarnie greatness! (... all of a sudden feel the urge to hyperventilate...) 

 XD

Quote of the Day- 2/29/08

  "Mad-Eye Moody?" said George thoughtfully, spreading marmalade on his toast, "Isn't he that nutter --"

   "Your father thinks very highly of Mad-Eye Moody," said Mrs. Weasley sternly.

   " Yeah, well, Dad collects plugs, doesn't he?" said Fred quietly as Mrs. Weasley left the room. "Birds of a feather..."

--Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling p. 161

Fire & Water: harnessing the elements

Here are the finished pics of my Fawkes socks. It was a tumultuous struggle, but I think I came out on top!  The pattern was easy enough; but the yardage scared me to death, all for not. I actually get to walk away with several leftover yards! How's that for irony!  I'm pleased, however, with the end result. I would have liked to have added a repeat or two of the lace pattern to each sock, rather than have the leftover yarn, but... on the other hand, I completed a pair of socks in only 4 freakin' days! hah! ;)

Isn't it pretty!

Just got my new Sweet Sheep, Sweet Sock yarn today! (squeal!) I think it's so pretty! This is destined to become "Simply Ginny Socks" if all goes well!....

Fawkes Socks and new arrivals

   I cast on some Fawkes socks yesterday and I'm about ready to start the heel on the first sock already! Woo-hoo! The colorway is a lot prettier in person; photos don't do it justice. At first I wasn't crazy about the texture, (it's no supersock merino, thats for sure), but I'm warming up to it. The stitch definition is a little better in this sock. 

   Additionally, I received 2 of my recent Ravelry yarn orders. I have 2 hanks of Lorna's Laces in the Bee Stripe colorway for making some rad Hufflepuff socks, and a hank of CTH supersock merino in the water colorway, because I just can't get enough of this amazing yarn and it was a killer-sweet deal! 

*update: I have finished all but the toe of the first Fawkes sock and am half-way done with the leg of the second. I hope to turn the heel first thing tomorrow :)

Merope's Monkeys are done!

I finished My "Merope's Monkeys" last night and plan to start my Fawkes socks, now. I'm very happy with how they turned out; the only thing that flustered me was the short row heel on the second sock, but I worked it out. The Fawkes socks are part of a HP KAL on Ravelry, and will also be posted on SSEC to be counted toward the Mama Monkey KAL for the month of February.  That KAL is for Charity in her memory. 

"Merope's Monkeys"

That's what I'm calling my current work in progress (WIP). They're the monkey sock pattern by Cookie A. and I'm working them up with CTH's supersock merino in the earth colorway. I'm about halfway done with the first sock and "pleased as punch" with how they're turning out. I named them after Voldemort's mother in the Harry Potter series because of the rich, yet morose tones. Many glorious thanks to LambyKnits for all her help showing me how to knit socks on circs, and how to do short row! She's a swell gal! ;)

**update** I have officially finished the first sock and am working on its mate :) 2/20-10:45 pm