500 giveaway

500 - now that is something. 500 posts - thank you commenters for encouraging me along the way. I have "met" some of the nicest people through cyberspace, it's really something. And now I have a little something for you. A little giveaway - with just a tiny catch. I am giving away this wonderful book:



And some Yarntini Strawberry Frenzy to make a pair of socks. I'll even throw in some DPNs and a stitch marker or two for the whole kit'n'kaboodle. (if you are not a sock knitter, well, I promise I'll set you up with something nearly as awesome) I have the book shown open here to my most favorite pattern by Kirsten of Through the Loops - Make Up Socks! How cute is that?



So the catch, I need your help. My mom has requested a pair of socks for Christmas. I think of socks as pretty time intensive, so I want to keep it kind of simple, because Christmas brings so many other responsibilities. (and knitting projects) I need your vote - Monkeys? Cotties? (these are sport, which would be a double bonus) Or a pair of Through the Loops Mystery socks, like mine here? Or maybe your favorite simple sock? I can't knit the Make Up Socks, because I just know I would not be able to give them away until I have a pair for myself, is that shameful? Anyways, I appreciate the help and all of the comments over the past 3 years! I will draw a winner next Sunday night, 11-15. Have a great week!

Time Flies! And a mystery sock spoiler!

Wow - time just seems to fly. Did you know that we only have 50-some shopping days until Christmas? That became cold reality to me when I was checking out the Halloween goodies at Target to find Christmas stuff an aisle away...so I thought what the heck, I bought some wrapping paper to prepare. I tend to be an early shopper, I have some things squirreled away already - with my biggest fear being I will not remember where they are on Christmas eve. With my handy new ITouch "List" application - I should be good to go. Of course, there's an app for that!


Earnest is tired just thinking about all of that shopping...

With the holiday shopping, comes the holiday knitting. I really enjoy seeing what people are working on. I have a itsy bitsy short list to knit for this year. I tend to be very selective because 1. I knit for myself and 2. people don't always understand the time cost - time is so limited with all of the preparations. (including a baby shower for my sister squeezed in there:) My mom requested socks - of course, the most time comprehensive short of a sweater, but I am kind of stoked about it. So in honor of my 500th post I am planning a contest for you guys to help me decide on a pattern - more on that in the next (500th!!) post - please put your thinking caps on for me knitters! :)

Lastly, I wanted to share my newly finished Mystery Knit-a-Long socks. Omg, I just love this yarn, this colorway, this pattern and my new shiny shoes. They are so shiny - can you see my reflection in them?



Yarntini Superwash Merino in Honeytini + Shoes Marcelle by Dansko = true love.

one last bit of news - check out this blog - these woman have been doing the most awesome virtual quilting bee. I am jealous, terribly, of the cool stuff they have created. Well, now it seems their blog will be parlayed into a book - so we can all join up! To celebrate they are giving away some gorgeous fabric - check in out!

A happy reader! and a bit more KAL spoiler...

I was so thrilled when the mail lady came today - hurray my new book. I read and loved Michelle Wildgen's first book You're Not You and yapped about it here. When I learned she was local to me - transplanted from somewhere - but she lives in Madison now, I was pretty stoked - because well, I am going to have to go to a book signing right? I also recently learned that she knows a highschool classmate of mine personally - through Facebook you can discover many things - some you even want to know - well, I felt like I had rubbed elbows with celebrity - because I am like that. Brad Pitt could walk in, meh, I would probably not freak out because he is just a guy - an incredibly cute one who acts well - but just a guy (I would likely think, "gosh, I thought he'd be taller"). But if I have an opportunity to observe a writer (or a knitter!) in person, hear their words from their owns mouths - wow, that is exciting for me. (I am missing the author of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle tomorrow - darned Sunday school - haha!) I don't conjure personal opinion about the writer in my head - they are the conduit to worlds they share - and that's something. Okay, I sound a little star struck. So anyways, I was saying - Wildgen's new book came to me today - I pre-ordered ages ago through Amazon and have been laying in wait for the box to show up.

I cannot start it until I finish The Girls From Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow - because I cracked that one last night and realized, I need to know these women. I'll keep you posted.


Yarntini Honeytini

Here is another update on my Mystery Sock - egads, that heel is divine. I love it. And it is so fallish, I cannot wait to buy a sweater to match - hee!

Another finished object, and a KAL spoiler

My wonky log cabin...the main fabric is Lantern Bloom by Laura Gunn

I made this quilt with the Old Red Barn Quilt-a-long group - I think I owe this group for singlehandedly getting me back into quilting full board. It started with a simple rail fence QAL, and now I have put this third largish project to bed. It is a lapsized quilt for my dear knitting penpal, Christine, it is her birthday TODAY! She is cbknits80 at Ravelry - so wish her a happy day if you have a sec. I chose a teal shot cotton for the sashing because she loves that color, and it just seemed to be made to complement the Laura Gunn collection. My sewing machine went a little wonky - apparently the name of the pattern should have been telling - when I was quilting, so I had to get my book out and do tension 101 homework - and now, I think my machine probably deserves a trip to the spa. It sat unloved for so long, and now she must be feeling so used.:)

I just got in from vacation yesterday - my husband and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary in Fort Myers, Florida - with an overnight up to Disney. We went to the not-so-scary Halloween party at the Magic Kingdom. We went with our kids last year - and at first we were so forlorn, missing our kids. But then we quickly reminded ourselves that this was our first vacation alone in 10 years! We were like kids ourselves trick-or-treating every chance we could. The whole attitude at Disney is so darned contagious - I wholly recommend it - with, or without children!


I am so excited at the Hall of Presidents attraction - I'ma total nerd history whore, er buff...

While we were MIA, I worked on my Mystery KAL sock - by Kirsten Kapur over at Through the Loops. I have almost two cuffs done - I knit on the plane and on the beach - what a delight. I can't wait for clue #3...and if I can keep up, there is even a chance I could keep second sock syndrome at bay! I know, omg.


Mystery KAL in Yarntini Honeytini SW Merino

Now, the bad news - I have to go back to work tomorrow *sigh*...but the good news is I have a job and it helps to buy yarn... I am so trying to keep glass half full. :)

the frenzy has begun...again...

New Moon Movie

I am ashamed to admit, I just planned to read Twilight and New Moon again, just, you know, to prepare myself, get back in the game a bit before the movie comes out. Good grief, that was about 3 days ago and I am going to finish Eclipse today. I am humbled by how much this teenage vamp story has slayed me. Humble enough to accept defeat and READ ON!

And yes, I admit, I took the day off to go to the premier on November 20, as did my mom and sister - it's going to be the second annual Twilight day off, always a good excuse to hang out with my favorite girls. It makes me laugh every time I figure my remaining vacation, "Florida, day after Thanksgiving, time at Christmas, Twilight..."

And in case you have missed it - Yarntini is opening her Eat Drink and be Merry sock club tomorrow at 10am EST - with choices to include self-striping, variegated and semi-solid - which all complement one another. I love that concept - striped socks with semi-solid heels and toes sound so fun! I believe the club spots will be found here tomorrow - see ya there.

I gotta sock!

fabulous Yarntini superwash merino in Project Runway pair - Make It Work! and Carry On! Better pic of the heel/ toe/ cuff here.

This sock went so quickly - I just cast on 64 stitches and stockinetted my heart out. I finished the toe on a "knitting cruisette" last night - check out pictures here (we were chatting away in a corner and weren't in any and I forgot my camera - doh!:)The weather was kind of sketchy, but we hardly noticed as we knit and talked and ate. It was put on by Wool and Company located in Geneva, Il. They had wine, cheese, fruit and desserts. It is about 2 hours from my house - and it was so worth the ride to hook up with my non-blogging friend Christine's, non-blogging friend Carolyn. Did you follow that? I met Christine through a swap several years ago, she is from Massachusetts. Her friend, Carolyn, moved from Mass. to the Chicago area where, I believe, she grew up. I was lucky enough to meet them both in person last fall in Chicago - and now, Christine is sharing her knitting friend, Carolyn, with me. How do you like that knitters? Knitters are awesome - I mean, sharing whole friends. I feel blessed to know such fabulous women. And the gelato, ooey gooey bar and smore bites before the cruise were the icing on the cake. I love that Carolyn likes dessert as much as me.

Speaking of fabulous women, Tiffany of Tigglegiggles.com has spoiled me in a great swap - sharing many of her coveted munki prints for some of my less coveted ones. I am *this* close to cutting into some munki for a quilt. Makes me shiver to think about it. October 1 is the kick off date with this flickr group.



I hope you are all well! Have a great week!

What time is it?

Time for Project Runway!! Are any of you watching? Any stand out designers yet? It might be too early to tell, but I kind of like Christopher - week one's winner. We'll see - watching just inspires me to want to create something. It also inspires me to start a stockinette sock to work on while tuning in ::


Yarntini in Make it Work! and Carry On! inspired by the ever-charming Tim Gunn. Yarntini and I agree we would like to just watch Tim grocery shop he seems so darned nice.

I have also been working on my Wonky Log Cabin blocks for the ORBC quilt-a-long. The QAL is being lead by Quilt Dad - he is just awesome. I kind of wish I had a quilt dad, or a quilt husband - but then he would be in my stash - nevermind. Here is what I had as of this morning::



The fabric is Lantern Bloom by Laura Gunn. It seems crazy busy, but I think a solid sashing between the blocks will define them a bit. They are kind of addictive. I made 5 more today and figure about 4 more for a lap size quilt. This pattern eats up the fabric and I have scraps all over my sewing room.

I can't believe another weekend is already coming to a close. Fall is upon us and I love it! It time for apple pie, pumpkins and wind breakers. Not to mention fall TV - em, Curb Your Enthusiasm...

Have a great week!