It's Time Again

For A Coffee Swap!!

It's been awhile since my last swap and I saw this one over at Robin of Knittin' Coop and I thought it looked right up my alley so I HAD to sign up. One of the requirements is to post the questionnaire. So....Here goes....

What are your favorite kinds of coffee? (Brands, Roasts, anything at all you'd like to share!)

My favorite everyday drinking coffee is Starbuck's Breakfast Blend, I also enjoy coffee flavored such as Harry and David Chocolate Cherry and a mixture of cinnamon and hazelnut beans.

Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee? WHOLE BEAN for sure!

This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee? YES! I love flavored Beans and especially love the holiday coffees

Do you enjoy special blends? See above

How do you take your coffee? Cream and Sugar? Straight up? Decaf? Cream and Sugar well make that Splenda

Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer? Love both! I am quite fond of pottery mugs or anything cute and sheepy

What is your favorite part of Winter? That spring is right behind it?? I love to be at home with a nice cup of coffee and my knitting when it snows but usually I have to go to work so that doesn't get to happen

Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday? CHRISTMAS!!!

If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree? Oh YES!

Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package?

I would like either, but see below

Do you collect anything? Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snoflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect? I ADORE Snowmen and collect them! I also like snoflake themed items

Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats? Scarves and Mittens...hats not so much unless it is REALLY REALLY cold and I have to be out for a bit.

What is your favorite holiday or winter treat? FUDGE!

Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory. This was when my kids were little and so were my niece and nephew. My sister and I were at Mom and Dad's with our families. I always brought Santa in big thick trashbags and my sis would sit up with me and help me wrap- We would eat fudge, bourbon balls and cheese ball. But the funniest was the night she had bought the REAL carrots- the ones with ALL the green on the end. The plan was the carrots were left for the reindeer and the cookies for Santa. Now I had no problem taking care of the cookies but it was not so much fun standing on the back porch in the cold cold biting on those carrots to make them look like the reindeer had bitten them. I must confess that I told her next time we were breaking them off and just leaving the green part!! Love those Christmas memories.

Yarn and Crafting Do you Knit or Crochet? KNIT!

For how long? 40 years but about 4-5 recently after a very long break

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight? I find I use my Denise alot and I want to order the Harmony set. I usually knit with circulars because they seem easier on my hands. I knit socks and use different types of dpn's

What sort of projects do you enjoy making? I like to make all sorts of things. I have made sweaters, scarves, fetching mittens, hats , felted bags,and dishcloths. I am not into making blankets.

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with? I like natural yarns doesn't matter the type.

Do you spin or dye? I do not spin and I have dabbled in dyeing.

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else? No I barely find the time to knit

When is your birthday? Just celebrated it is October 17th

Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!) I have "My Three Sons"

What are your favorite colors? Green and all it's families- I love all the bright colors of the rainbow

Do you have any allergies? Seasonal allergies and cigarette smoke. Don't know of any pet ones

Thanks for reading through all of this! I am very excited about a swap involving coffee and winter. Cuz I love my coffee!!

The Rest of the Story

Tonight I was thinking about how much fun we had at Stitches just a short week ago. and how tired and hungry we were after our pursuit of all things fiber. Too bad I didn't take any pictures of the great dinner we had. However I realized that there were a few things I have not shared and tonight I will do that quickly.

Pam and Becky posed for me in front of the boat right before we entered the convention center.

A close up of some of Becky's Patterns (on the left) and Pam's (on the right). Becky also bought a really cute vest kit that uses Koigu in a stranded pattern. Can you see the cute sheep pin? Becky really wanted me to see how the pattern looked made up because she felt that the picture with the pattern didn't do it justice. So...while we were looking at the sample vest I noticed the cute little sheep pins- Becky got beige and black and I got green!!Just a close up my gorgeous colorful fibery acquisitions. I am a sucker for something bright. My bright turquoise and blues/purple yarn from Tess's Designer Yarn. I also bought a cute vest pattern called "The Easy Breezy" to make using this yarn. It was the first pattern and yarn that I saw when I first started walking around and it ended up that I still really wanted it even after being tempted by lots and lots of yarn. My sheep pin is just to the left. It is soooo cute!

The cute shawl pin is a gift from Diane of Yarns Forever! There was a funny story here: We have seen Diane at all the festivals we attend and her yarns always impress as well as her forethought. When it was freezing cold at Spring Fiber we huddled with her around her space heater. When it was hot at Fall Fiber - you guessed it! Diane had a fan!! We were looking all over for her at Stitches and we couldn't remember her company's name to look it up. I had been reading on Knitter's Review about Stitches and had found a thread related to the event. There was a vendor that posted that she had a gift for those that came by her booth and mentioned reading about it on KR. So one of the last things we did was to go by booth 230. Pam and I found it first. Boy! Were we the ones surprised as it was Diane's Booth Yarns Forever!! She let each of us pick a beautiful shawl pin from her display! How sweet was that! It was way more than what I was expecting. Becky especially wanted to get some of her hand dyed yarn so when we finally caught up with Becky we sent her in search of booth 230 and followed behind to see her reaction. What fun!! Unfortunately Diane didn't have her hand dyed yarn with her but she was having a great 50% off sale and bless her heart she looked exhausted. I am sure that we will catch up with her and her great yarns again real soon. Follow the links and check it out!

I feel bad that I didn't take more pictures. I guess I lost my momentum when I was unable to take any in Stitches and I sure didn't dare try to sneak any because I didn't want to be escorted out. I am now looking forward to visiting Rhinebeck via blogs and Ravelry.

Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!!

Ahhh...the LOOT!

Shopping for yarn is such fun what with all the touching and all. I kept finding myself reaching out to touch a yarn in a color that I loved to make sure it was soft and felt "just right". There was lots and lots of color at Stitches. I wish I could have taken pictures to share with those of you that couldn't make it but I think they meant it when they said you would be escouted out if caught. That was enough for me. Most of the vendors had patterns made up in their yarn. That is what sells me- when I see what the yarn can become I am hooked!! I bought a pattern from Tess's Designer Yarn for a vest and of course some yarn to finish it off. I bought the 3 giant skeins that Dallis of Dancing Leaf Farm dyed just for me in a bright "Carnival " color.

Enough talk. I am falling asleep- here are the stash acquisitions for Pam, Becky and myself

This is Pam's "loot" . She has big plans for the yarns. I love those little clam shells but I didn't' find any.

We spread all of our yarn and other goodies out on the hotel room bed. Lots of wonderful great colors! The pink ball of yarn and knitting needles is mine to put on the white pickup truck that I am driving.

This is some Fleece Artist Sock yarn that I had just had to have at the last minute. I am thinking it would make a nice simple small shawl. Any thoughts?

My three great big honkin' skeins of Dancing Leaf Farms for a cardigan. I want to wind this yarn up and get started but I have promised myself that I have projects to finish first.

Just a few more things to show but they will have to wait until tomorrow- Blogger wouldn't upload the last couple of pictures for some reason. The fact that I keep closing my eyes for extended periods of time might have something to do with it.

The Journey Begins

Blurry Bad Car Pictures taken as we cross the POTOMAC river into

MARYLAND!! Guess where we are going!!

This weekend was Stitches East and FINALLY I got to go and see what it is all about. Let me tell you...it is about knitting and yarn and fiber and patterns galore. The Stitches Market was a mecca- at least for this knitter. I have been to the Va Fall Fiber Festival and the Spring Fiber Festival at Sedalia but they did nothing to prepare me for this. It was in a word -overwhelming.

First tho- we had to get there. Knitting pals Pam, Becky and I left home about 7am heading North. Our plan was to go to Glen Burnie, MD and take the Lite Rail from there to downtown Baltimore. WHAT FUN!! I have never ridden a train! When we arrive at the station and park way back in the parking lot the train takes off before we can buy our tickets at the little automated booths. It was my understanding that the trains ran every 30 minutes allowing me time to walk back to the car and get my medicine. Then I realized that I really needed to use the ladies room but alas there were none to be found. Then I spotted the Golden Arches across the busy street. I had plenty of time and I started to limp on over there. The traffic light kept that hand on the sign and never gave me the ok to wait sign. I finally just took a chance. I was very very fast in Micky D's and as I walked out I heard the whistle of the train and it pulled up!! OH NO!! I am on the other side of a busy street and I already knew I wouldn't get the little walk sign! I walked as fast as I could which isn't very fast these days and then I almost ran across the street. I couldn't let my friends down- we had YARN to see ! Well I made the train and what an experience that was. A woman walked up to the drivers door and asked her if she had time to go to McDonald's. I could have answered that one for her NO!! Those trains wait for no one.

Pam is settling into her seat on the train.

Some views from the train, some better than others....

A view of the Convention as we wait for the train that will carry us back to the car at the Cromwell Station. I have to say I think that this was the best way to get there. No parking hassles. There was a marathon going on at the same time and I noticed that the streets did not even seem to be open at the time of our arrival

Unfortunately Stitches doesn't allow pictures inside so I kinda lost interest in taking more pictures but here is our picture from Stitches LIVE

Stay tuned tomorrow if you are interested in seeing all the goodies that the three of us managed to take away.

Fall Finally??

It has been unseasonably HOT and while I love and adore summer I am ready for some cooler temperatures and some good knitting out in the cool air. I am also hoping that cooler temperatures will motivate me to finish some of the sweaters that are sitiing on the needles.

In the meantime in anticipation of the true arrival of fall here is a picture of a fall display that a coworker and I fixed at work.

Makes you just want to go out to that pumkin patch and catch a hayride - doesn't it?

Bad Blogger...The Saga Continues

Awhile back I participated in a really neat swap called "The Vacation" Swap. The idea was to send at least one skein of yarn- enough for a project and other items to represent a visit to your state. At the time my vacation swap package arrived I was having some technical difficulties with my camera. In truth I couldn't find the battery charger. I owe an apology to my awesome vacation pal Lora for being so late in posting about the swap. She sent really great stuff all from the lovely state of New Hampshire- a place I have never been! So what a nice vacation that was!!There was ( notice the use of the word WAS, as this was promptly devoured) New Hampshire chocolates!! hand dyed sock yarn with the most appropriate name- ROCK LOBSTER in delightful shades of red. Lora made a cute little ditty bag and put a NH measuring tape inside, she also included some fantastic handmade soap and a NH magnet. There were some postcards and what I took to be NH bookmarks. All just wonderful and greatly appreciated. Would you like to see? I just happened to NOW have some pictures.

Lots of lovely goodies from New Hampshire

I love that cute little NH magnet and the chocolates didn't last a day!

A close up of the "Rock Lobster"

Thanks a MILLION Lora for a great swap. I am loving that yarn and am so happy to add it to my collection.

More "Bad Blogger" updates to come.....

The Bad Blogger Goes to the Fall Fiber Festival

I took my camera and then I pretty much forgot to use it. What to say about this year's festival. Well it was dry- very dry and HOT! I think that I preferred this year's "Dust Bowl" over last year's "Mud Bowl". I had to throw away my shoes last year!! There were lots of great vendors and all the tents were full. I noticed lots of men around this year. I guess they might be knitters or came with their SO's.

We met up early at Panera-7:30am, grabbed some coffee or other favorite drink and headed off to Orange County. I had cleaned out my knitting bag and packed a project that was small and was easily remembered for the road trip. At least that was good thinking on my part. I am making a Mulit-Directional Scarf from a Japanese yarn called Diakeito Diajudy. It is working up quickly.

I ran into Jane and her cousin Patty. They were having a great time and posed for a picture

A random picture of a wall of roving. There was enough roving and wheels and such to almost make me want to take up spinning - just almost.

I did see Otto Strauch and I love his ballwinder. When I had a problem with mine last year he looked at it- saw the problem and handed me a brand new one. It has been smooth winding ever since. It is so nice when companies stand behind their products. I was very impressed and was glad to see that their business seemed to be brisk.

I didn't get very much but of course I couldn't leave empty handed.....

It was a great time with even greater friends. Next week it is on the

STITCHES EAST!!!