Am I in time?

Why do I always remember about blogging late on Saturday nights? /sigh... I went to try out spinning wheels this morning! I'm getting one for Christmas. I really like the Kromski wheels and have narrowed it down to the Fantasia or the Minstrel. Any thoughts?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone (albeit a bit belated)! I'm on a bunch of cold medicines so I'm all doped up :( The only good part about being sick is lots of time to lay around and knit :)

Argh

Sorry that I didn't get a chance to post last week. I haven't been feeling well :( I went to a new spinning group meeting yesterday then crashed...

Favorite Season Odd Duck Swap!!!

Here is my AMAZING package from the favorite seasons odd duck swap on ravelry! My favorite season was spring and my pal (amandaleigh) did a fantastic job putting an amazing package together for me :) Here are the pictures:














And I even got a visitor! :)

I'm back :)

I'm back from my fabulous Vegas vacation! I have two other swap packages to send out this week then I will be totally focused on my HSKS pal :) I have a bunch of neat ideas from patterns I picked up on my trip!

Last Post for a Few Days

This is my last post until November 3rd! I'm headed out to Las Vegas for a delayed honeymoon :)

HSKS8 Angel Package!

I received an angel kit from Wisty for HSKS8 on Saturday! It came at the perfect time because I was planning on shopping for a project to take with me to Las Vegas next week. Now I have something to work on! :)

Here are the pictures:

HSKS Assignment

1. Someone with the same craft as you (either those listed above or another one).

Cassandra Grubbly-Plank has several of the same crafts as I do.



2. Someone who was born in the same month. -

Siobhan Mooney and I are both December babies!



3. Someone from a different country. –

Emma Wigworthy is from a different country than me.



4. A new HSKS Quidditch player. -

Albatross Harbinger is a new Quidditch player.



5. A player who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps. –

Wisteria Lovegood has been in more than three HSKS swaps.



6. A player who has a bigger stash than you! (And if your stash is the biggest, proudly say so!) -

Celeena Cree has a bigger stash than I do.



7. A player who both knits and crochets. -

Olive Bumblebirch knits and crochets.



8. Someone who has the same favorite color as you. -

Violet Starfire shares two of my favorite colors: green and pink!

Wish List

Here are some of my favorites / wishes for HSKS9:

Yarn brand and/or fiber choices: I like soft yarns for most things. I use a lot of cotton, natural fibers / blends in my projects but I would also like to use new and/or more "exotic" yarns. Pretty much anything from a LYS would be new to me, aside from cascade 220. I do not like novelty yarns unless I'm using them for a very specific project (like the hedgehog I knit for my hubby this summer).

Hook/needle loves: I have a set of Denise's interchangable needles but I could use smaller sizes. I like the steel addi turbos and also bamboo (like the knitpicks harmony needles). I don't have a lot of "nice" crochet hooks. I break the plastic and most aluminum crochet hooks pretty easily :( It would be nice to have a nice crochet hook or two or set.

Snacks, coffee/tea: I love chocolate, but usually in moderation :) I also like fruity snacks (such as gummi bears or craisins). My favorite guilty pleasures are skittles, Milky Way midnight bars, air heads and gummi bears.

Allergies: Only seasonal allergies but avoid smoke please :)

Music: My tastes in music range from country to alternative rock.

Books: I used to read a lot but these days I don't have a ton of time! I like Steven King, James Patterson, Jodi Piccoult and knit lit among others. The last book I read was Julie and Julia and it was amazing :) I try to carry a paperback with me where ever I go but lately I haven't been reading too much.

Patterns: I have some patterns faved on ravelry. I knit a lot of fingerless gloves, scarves and bags (I -love- bags!). I would love to start knitting bigger projects for myself (like a shawl, or a sweater) but I fear large projects! They all usually end up in my stash :(

Scented/unscented items: My favorite scents are lavender vanilla, vanilla, and chocolate.

I hope this helps! I love handmade items since I usually knit for others and not for myself :) I like learning about other parts of the world and country so if you can include something regional in your package that would be awesome (even if its just a postcard).

Trying dyeing this weekend! For the first time :) I'm so glad I found a fellow knitter at my new job. Its been so much fun having someone to talk fiber with :) :) :)

I'm going spinning :)

I'm going to my very first fiber spinning meetup this weekend! I'm nervous but excited :) Hopefully I will be able to post pictures of my yarn this weekend. I've been spinning on a drop spindle for awhile but its not going so hot. It looks okay but I'm still not 100% satisfied with how it looks. Plus, I TOTALLY forgot how to ply it. So hopefully I'll be able to figure that out this weekend!

Anxious ...

I'm starting my new job on Tuesday and am really nervous. I think its been because I've had such a long time off and its a totally new area for me. Keep your fingers crossed that I'll do okay!

Summer Camp Game #5

1. Man or mouse? (4) ANIMAGUS



2. Start spreading the news (4) DAILY PROPHET



3. Stick Tree Guardian (3) BOWTRUCKLE



4. Telescoping eavesdropper (5) EXTENDABLE EAR



5. Brassicaceae danglers (4) RADISH EARRINGS



6. Prohibited Ggowth of trees (5) FORBIDDEN FOREST



7. Metallic rosy-faced child with wings (4) GOLDEN CHERUB



8. Fleshless black-winged skeleton (2) THESTRAL



9. Lofty philosopher (5) HIGH INQUISITOR



10. Instructive Order (7) EDUCATIONAL DECREE

Oh, and by the way...

... I'm a DOCTOR now!!! :) I successfully defended my PhD dissertation last Friday :) :) :)

No more school for me!

Followup on truths / lie

My lie was that I cook to de-stress. I can't cook to save my life!

Here's a little more about my truth's:
1. I can play six musical instruments - Yup, although probably not very well anymore. I could at one time play clarinet, flute, baritone horn, guitar, trumpet and oboe, among others (like bass clarinet).

3. I have a publication in the library of congress. - Yes indeed I do. I did a project in college detailing my grandfather's experiences in Korea for my folklore class. The professor liked it so much that she submitted it as part of a Korean war veterans stories project. I'm not sure where its found in the library, but I'm told its all there somewhere :)

4. I ran a half marathon in high school - I ran cross country so I ran approximately 12+ miles daily for training. Our first practice required a 13.1 mile run through the HILLS around our town. I ran the whole thing without stopping. Now, I can't run for more than a few yards without getting winded but I've started walking in hopes of getting back and shape and running the country music half marathon next spring.

Truths and a lie

1. I can play six musical instruments.
2. I love to cook as a way to de-stress.
3. I have a publication in the library of congress.
4. I ran a half marathon in high school.

Sorry Pixies! I was traveling home to Tennessee yesterday (after 5 wonderful weeks at home in MD) so I was a bit out of it last evening and forgot to post =( This week is going to be very very very hectic, as I'm defending my PhD dissertation on Friday!!! Good news is that it will all be over on Friday (I hope).

Still alive...

I'm still alive! I'm preparing for my dissertation defense and have traveled home to Maryland to do so. I've gotten a LOT of knitting and crocheting done so I'll have to post pics sometime this week.

/sigh ... my poor mother

This is the kind of morning we've been having:


I'm trying to teach my mom to knit and she decided to re-roll her yarn into a ball before startng her project... In doing so, she ended up with a ginormous knot... Know what I'm doing all day, lol.

My Kit!

My package arrived via Owl Post on April 20th.

Before ....

After ...

A Very Pretty Felted Bag (my first felted bag ever!)

A tool pouch complete with Ravenclaw badge and stitch markers:

Candy!!!

What my DH calls the most evil jelly beans ever...

Yarn! Very Pretty :)

Coffee and a pretty coffee cup from Starbucks!

Chocolate Froggies and Loofas:

A Card from the Floo Network:

Inside of Floo Network Card:

Drawstring Bag Pattern:

I'll be sending an owl to Amethyst Aurag later today! I feel bad for taking so long but I'm writing my dissertation 12+ hours a day so I haven't seen daylight since Friday... Even though I'm only heading out to the post office, it'll be nice to be outdoors!

Owl Received!

I just received an amazing package from my spoiler, Ophelia Ballycastle! I'll post pictures tomorrow when DH is able to upload them for me :)

I'm taking the purse to work with me tomorrow (its the very first felted bag I've ever owned) and the coffee mug is currently in use :)

My own spoilee's package is coming together nicely. I received the items I ordered today and just have to do a little more sewing this weekend to put liner in her bag. I should be able to ship it next Monday.

Quidditch Round 3

1. This “Harry Potter” character’s first name comes from Roman mythology. The mythological character’s twin brother is named Romulus. What is the Harry Potter character last name?

b. Lupin


2. Which “Harry Potter” character’s first name is the Roman equivalent of the Greed Goddess Athena?

c. McGonagall


3. In ‘Harry Potter’ World, this wizard has created the Philosopher’s Stone (called the Sorcerer Stone in the US). The historical figure from the 14th and 15th centuries was a scribe and a manuscript-seller who became famous as an alchemist. Who is this individual?

Nicholas Flammel


4. What is the first name of a character whose last name is the name of a Bulgarian leader from early 9th century who doubled the country’s territory?

c. Viktor


5. Which character’s name is the name of goddess in Indian mythology?

b. Patil


6. “Where the Wild Things Are” tells the story of Max, a young boy sent to bed without his supper for his wild antics. Who created this winner of the Caldecott Medal?

a. Maurice Sendak


7. What was NOT one of the unexpected defense mechanisms that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook encountered in their attempt to rob Gringotts?

d. The Geminio Curse


8. What was Snape aiming at when he cut off George’s ear?

c. Another Death Eater’s wand hand


9. How much older than James was Lily? (Referring to Harry’s parents, not children).

d. 2 months


10. Food is one of the five exceptions to what magical law?

b. Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration

George


McGonagall


Patil


Where the Wild Things Are