princessdeia

August 30th 2006
Filed under General, Swaps

I have been away for a few days – and since getting back have been suffering with a cold – so tonight is the first time I have been able to get near the laptop.

When I got home, I found a huge grey bag awaiting me – the kind you get with yarn in – only I knew I hadn’t ordered any yarn. I hadn’t checked my mail in while so didn’t realise my Secret Pal had sent out a parcel.

Once I ripped open the bag, I found the handmade box, adorning each of the sides and top are images from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Tiffany & Co. Including a diamond ring with the Tiffany’s setting (I am not obsessed with Tiffany’s honest). You can see them better in the close-ups of the box.

Within the gifts was a little card – with my Secret Pal’s identity – Thank you Helen at Helishlyknitting.

Amongst the goodies, where some Kidsilk Night – she caught on to my obsession with KSH – I am not sure what to make with it – but am thinking a top.

Also some SW Trading Company’s Bamboo. I have never used with yarn – or any SW yarns for that matter and can’t wait to try it.

There was also some scrap-booking/card-making supplies – I really should get on and make some cards, just to try out all these new toys.

Finally, there was a mini hand-made box to match the bigger one – which currently is holding my stitch-markers.

Thank you once again Helen, I look forward to reading your blog and finding out more about you.

August 9th 2006
Filed under General, Project Spectrum, Swaps

Yesterday started off well, I received a parcel from my Secret Pal – unfortunately the postmark was smugged so I have no idea where she lives, her address is on the back but I don’t recognise the postcode – I will have to google it to find out.

She got me New Knits, this book has been on my wish list for over a year, I always over look it buying the newest knitting book. It’s a great book to put on the coffee table to let non-knitters flick through to show them knitting is more than just chunky scarves and baggy jumpers. In fact my sister as already requested the boudoir slippers.

Also, the perfect t-shirt for my blog – I am thinking of changing the colours to pink to match this shirt – Miss Golightly looking fabulous as always. And an assortment of sweets, I really need to rent some DVD’s to eat all these snacks.

After the excitement of opening presents, Jason and I met his mum and nephew at the Science Museum for a quick educational and fun day out, I hadn’t been there for a few years and it has been brought up to date with exhibits on DNA and global warming.

After Lunch we had time for a quick trip to the Natural History Museum, to see the dinosaurs - just enough time to take some photos. I pass this building numerous times and I never really noticed it, now it become my favourite building in London, it has some amazing architecture, hidden monkey, dinosaur and fish gargoyles around the doorways and windows. 

August 7th 2006
Filed under General, Swaps

I know everyone love receiving parcels, isn’t that the whole reason for signing up for Secret Pal exchanges, and this time around I get twice the fun. On Thursday, I got on of those “we tried to deliver a parcelâ€? cards on the doorstep and I had to wait until Saturday to go and pick it up because of their silly opening times – don’t you just hate it when that happens.

What I picked up was a parcel from Hawaii. Jason and I are planning our trip to Hawaii for our honeymoon so I am obsessed with the islands, which has been enhanced since discovering my One Skein Secret Pal lives there.

The yarn OSSP sent me was a hank of Araucania Patagonia Nature Cotton in purple shades, and as she pointed out three of my favourite things for yarn, the colour, cotton and hand-dyed. I can’t wait to use it.

Even Jason commented that the parcel was very me, as it also included some Honey Roasted Macadamias, I am always snacking on peanuts, pistachios or cashews nuts – they are my dieting downfall. My favourites nuts are the honey roasted kind – which these where. I am waiting for a good t.v. night to open the packet.

Speaking of one skein secret pal, I have sent out my yarn for June and July and am half way through their knitted gift, I spent the majority of the weekend on it, as well as sorting out my UFO’s, expect a lot of completed projects soon.

July 3rd 2006
Filed under General, Swaps

Without a doubt the best thing about this weekend was the arrival of my One Skein Secret Pal Package, from the moment I saw the parcel with the Hawaii postmark I was smiling.

Inside, was a ball of Mohair Premier, I have never seen this yarn before, it seems to be a thicker version of KSH, and is amazingly soft. My pal informs me it is from Japan and pretty hard to get hold. As soon as I saw the colour, I thought of our bedroom walls, as it the shade I am hoping to paint our room later this year. So obviously, this yarn will have to become something for the room, I am thinking a cushion cover.

Also in the package was some Burt Bee’s Hand Salve, as a fan of their lip balm, I couldn’t wait to try this (The yarn also smells on this which adds to it’s yumminess). The yarn was also gift-wrapped with a lovely knitted flower, which I am going to add to my felted clutch (when I finally get around to making it).

In World Cup News, not only was this weekend a bad time for the England team, it was also a bad weekend for my knitting. I am still on the second sleeve and am pretty sure I will not met the deadline . But I am going to keep trying.

June 22nd 2006
Filed under General, Project Spectrum, Swaps

Yesterday we went to Royal Ascot and we finally got to see the new grandstand, unfortunately I had dead batteries in my camera and was unable to buy replacements. here should be photos of my in my hat, drinking Pimms and losing money!

Also whilst I was out the postman delivered my first package from my Secret Pal. So this morning, after a quick trip to the post office and shop to buy some batteries, I got to examine my goodies.

Inside was two skeins of this amazing Colinette Point 5 yarn – I have never seen it before and it is amazing! I think it will make a luscious scarf for the autumn.

Also was a collection of scrap-booking supplies all in shades of blue – just in time for me to make my Postcard for June’s Project Spectrum.

Finally, a Su Duko book for some brain training and candles.

December 6th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps

I have been so busy over the last few weeks, I have not had time to stop and update – it doesn’t help that I have been away from home so PC and Camera-less! I am in the middle of printing the inserts for my handmade Christmas cards, so finally have time to update.

I was planning on making 40 mini stocking from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, however time has not been on my side and I had to change the plan.

I was also asked to make Wedding Invitations from Jason’s cousin – which she needed this weekend – luckily, I was able to make a pretty simple design so it didn’t take that long. (This was one of the rejected cards – as the heart is wonky).

I had my last parcel from my Secret Pal – which was Mother of Purl by Edith Eig, which I loved mainly as it had the pattern to the Lost in Translation Scarf – which is one of my favourite films. Jumbled up on the back of the parcel was numerous letters, that I think are an anagram of my Secret Pal, but I have no idea still as to who s/he is.

I was spoiling Brynne from All This By Hand, I say spoiling but really all I did was converted her to Lush. It was strange spoiling an experiences knitter again, as I had seen Brynne’s designs in Knitty (including Samus, which I think I will be knitting in the new year).

Speaking of Knitty – this issue is amazing, I love…
knecklace
bamboozelle
best friend
forecast
tempting II
festive (another Brynne design).
tubey
blanche-neige
bristow

I will be so busy next year :s

November 12th 2005
Filed under Swaps

For personal reason, Jason and I have been spending a lot of time with his parents in Stevenage, whenever I come back home I find a little parcel waiting for me from my Secret Pal, it is so lovely. I am always pleasant surprised with my presents seeing what little bit of information they have take from my questionnaire and what they have done with it. Like this funky little baby tee to add to my increasing collection. I love this Fat Boy logo – it reminds me of the Big Boy spaceship in Austin Powers (groovy baby).

The logo on the bottom of the t-shirt says UNLV – could this be a clue to my SP’s identity – I know they live in Las Vegas, but are they a student or a lecturer there, oh I need Grissom to help me out with this one I think.

In knitting news, I have finished three of the Xmas scarves, unfortunately, I have decided I love the multi-directional scarf too much to give up – it looks amazing with my new jacket – I had to buy more wool to make another one for me

November 9th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps

So much has happened lately – but rather then post a long entry, I thought I would post a photography entry of the two weeks. Firstly, it was my birthday .

My sister made me this amazing birthday cake – which was in fact 16 little cupcakes, spelling out “HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEEâ€?

It was also Halloween, so another part of my present was this amazing bouquet complete with an evil little witch.

None of my presents where knitting related (apart from a Knit Pixie voucher from my Secret Pal), I did get two jackets – so plenty of opportunities to knit yet more scarves. But it will have to be way after Christmas as the Xmas scarves are going very slowly.

As well as my voucher my Secret Pal, sent be this box fully of little yarn sample. There are so many yarns in here, we can’t get in the UK and more I have never heard of. I think I will try and turn them into a leftovers sweater. My favourites so far are…

Schoeller Stahl Merino Stretch.
Lily Chin Signature Collection Tribeca.
Lanaknits.com’s Hemp for Knitting.

Finally, some knitting news.

This is the third of the ten scarves, I have to knit for Xmas, it is using Fishtail Lace Scarf pattern in the light pink KSH, I think this pattern looks great in the lighter colours and I can’t wait to see it blocked (I haven’t really been doing gauge squares with these scarves).

October 19th 2005
Filed under Swaps, Sweaters

Things have been so busy around here at the moment – I would say in London, but I have been all over the ‘shires over the last few days. Needless to say, I never made it to Ally Pally this weekend, having read blog entries the exhibition, I am a little jealous, but there is always next year. Plus I am going to treat myself to some wool this week. I have yet to order the extra wool I need for Mini-sweater II, MCA Direct have some in stock so I will be placing an order today and having seen all the lovely socks being knitted as part of Socktober, and I think I will invest in some extra sock wool.

Knitting has been going slowly, but I have finally managed to finish off numerous projects that have been 95% complete, NLLALM is still waiting to be blocked. I just need to weave the ends into Branching Out and then block her – same with the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf. I have also started yet another Xmas Scarf (number three), I am using the Fishtail Lace Scarf I found online, it is yet another simple pattern that works so well.

I am extremely unorganised this week and the only thing that has kept me sane as I travel is Silent Bob Speaks, the wonderful book I got from SP6. I have to say I am always so amazed when I get presents from Secret Pals, I have been so lucky in both rounds; my pals seem to get into my brain and no just what I want, but also go above and beyond the call of duty. It is the simple things but they seem to be the right simple things. I am a sucker for a wrapping paper, don’t know why but it shows thought I guess, when I got my finally present from Tracy, she had wrapped all the little presents in Simpson wrapping paper, which is so “meâ€? I don’t know how she knew that I was a fan of the little yellow family but she did. All of my presents this round have been superbly wrapped – even the jiffy bags have matched. And yet again she is going beyond the call of duty, the Kevin Smith book has been on my Amazon Wishlist most this year, I love Smith, enjoy watching his films, collect all the comics he has written and recent am obsessed with this blog, whenever I am in the book shop, I end up buying yet another knitting book (knitting is my greatest obsession), so the book has started on my list, so when it arrived I was over the moon, but my SP didn’t just order the book straight from Amazon, no they went to View Askew and brought me a signed copy – I am so touched, this is now one of my favourite possessions.

October 10th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps

I have been busy this weekend trying to stash bust – I think it is a quick attempt to clear space before next weekend. I nearly finished my second mini-sweater, however, I ran out of yarn
I have emailed MCA Direct as they still have the lot number in stock – otherwise, I guess I will have to have a slight difference in tone.

I am unsure if I will be going to the Knitting and Stitching Show, this weekend, I really want to go, but have a lot on this week and I unsure if I can go without spending a fortune. I have checked and I can get a ticket on the door on Saturday if I decided to go. I have been looking at some of the website that are exhibiting and I have seen loads that I want to buy.

I was thinking of getting more Hipknit Silk, as it knits up so nicely and they always have amazing shades on their website, however, I was unsure what to make with it – until I saw Glampyre’s new design I think this will look amazing in one of the bright pinks – like Lipstick, I can’t wait for the pattern. My “summerâ€? top is coming along great – yet another project, I would like to finish this week.

I signed up for “another weasley knitalong” weeks ago and started my scarf almost straight away, yet I have get to do any more, I have done the second of the gold stripes, the pattern asks for 13 so I have long way to go. I would love to have the scarf ready for the movie release, so it is yet another think I want to complete this week.

Just when I was starting to get organized and stop procrastinating, a received another little goodie from my SP, and my good intentions have gone out the window. In yet another beautifully wrapped parcel (I torn this one before taking a photo), was Kevin Smith’s book – something that has been on my Amazon Wish List forever. Now I am too busy reading to knit.