Secret Pal Mail

So the gorgeous flowers in my backyard have been in full bloom. They are absolutely GORGEOUS. Don't you just LOVE these flowers? (And my new patio set - ain't it lovely? Lainie do you notice the candle on the table???!)

This is the bunch of flowers a little more up close... to give you an idea of how many there really are!

And here is a shot that I took tonight, I just love the colours and the way that the picture turned out with the entire back blurry and the crazy colours.... (sans flash - long exposure):

Here is my charity knitting started: It's a baby blanket, for the Montreal Knitting Guild. The winner of the best blanket (?) (I'm not too sure how they are picking the winner) will get to choose which Charity they want the blankets donated to: (the boring thing about this blanket is that it is done completely in garter rows and it's a little boring. I find that anything that is just plain and simple garter stitching - no purling - and no shaping - to me - is not "real" knitting. It's boring too - lol... (On a side note - I know of this girl who knits everything in just knit stitch, and just in rectangles or squares - that's all she can do - and in my opinion, it's not real knitting - (it's actually kinda funny) anyone can do the same motion over and over again - you know?) A knitter is someone who can knit/purl/shape and make things are turn into something.... And to me - this knitting. Anyhow, this blanket is for charity, and the yarn came with the pattern to do, so that's why I'm doing it! Mindless knitting....

Secret Pal has struck again! I received:

Some awesome smelling bath stuff (in my absolutely FAVE scents (peach & watermelon)), some fuzzy peach lotion form the body shop, some sugar-free cookies and brownies, as well as GUM! (I've been craving gum like mad lately - so it's perfect!)

I received this really cute elephant. I love and collect elephants,
but I think this one will go in the baby's room. (It's actually a piggy bank).

A homemade knitted sweater, by my secret pal! I think it's for about a 6 month old. I also go the pattern for it, and buttons to make my own (buttons are below):

Under the buttons is this really awesome book of baby knits! I can't wait to give a go at a sweater (I think for my first sweater I'll try a baby one) (gotta move on from knitting socks!)

THANK YOU THANK YOU Secret Pal! This was awesome.

I am ready to turn the heel on Jamie's socks - but I've put those down for a few days just to work on the charity blanket. I kinda of wanted to have a change of colour for a while, so I will go back to Jamie's socks soon. Also - I've got to finish up on Clapotis!!

Today was an awesome day off. I got some work done on my sewing machine (VERY IMPRESSED WITH MYSELF) and I got an article sewn for my birthday package for Cynthia (pictures will come once she receives the awesome package!) I took care of some over due laundry, and just chilled at home today. That was really nice.

Now, this dance I find funny. Check it out here.

Can Relax Now....

Between yesterday and today, I had two huge assignments due. Today, after handing in the last one, I have nothing due for a little while (minus a small quiz that's due on Monday, which I am not worried about whatsoever - layer styles, masks, easy stuff).

I feel such a relief right now, I can relax and spend my day off tomorrow doing some long awaited chores and some arts and crafts that I want to do - and I also want to work on Jamie's sock that I'm knitting (but neglected again today).... catch up on some reading, I may be having some lunch with a friend, (she's supposed to come over?) and maybe watch a movie.... Just a nice relaxing day....

Things I'm missing while being pregnant:

- a nice glass of red wine.

- hot tubs

- sushi (BIG TIME CRAVING!)
- a nice hot bath

Some of these things I can resume after giving birth - (like hot tubs and baths) but the wine & sushi will have to wait until I'm done breastfeeding.

Today I found playing cards with the picture on the back side being Knitting! Of course I had to get them, and get some for my secret pal - which I'll mail to her in August when she gets back from her month long trip to B.C. For some reason I thought that SP8 ran until mid-september, but it ends August 31st - according to the website. (I will take a picture of the knitting cards to show you tomorrow)

This evening once I got home from school, I crashed on the couch for an hour. That felt great. Once Jamie got home from work we headed out to visit his grandmother at the hospital. She was home for a week (which no one told us - otherwise, we'd have gone to see her) and she isn't doing too well at all... unfortunately. I will keep an update, as long as we're updated (we seem to be lost as far as people telling us what's going on - and we seem to hear things after the fact). Jamie was torn standing there in the hospital room, he kept saying "You have to get better and stronger so you can come home and see your great-grandchild soon" - but I don't think she had any clue as to who we were.... I stood there also, not knowing what to say, or how to comfort Jamie. I felt exactly how I felt when we went to see Jamie's grandfather 2 years ago just a short few days before he passed away.... in a situation where I didn't know what to say, or what to do. It really is awkward, standing next to someone who is losing a member of their family - who is now my family too. I hope for the best for her, but unfortuntaly to write this, I don't think there is much hope, she just wants to go and be with her husband... in a place with no suffering.

On that note, I'm going to say goodnight.

Jamie's Sock & The Yarn That Never Ends

My SP8 Pal is being spoiled right now majorly, for one, it's her birthday month (just like it was mine!) and also - because she's gone for the entire month of July in B.C. and won't have a mailing address. But I can resume spoiling her in August and part of September, when SP8 ends. Here's the huge birthday parcel I sent: (With two different kinds of yarn, {vintage sock yarn and brand new On Line City in a turquoisy colour she loves}, and a ton of other fun stuff.

In another package which she also received, I sent her a book off her amazon wish list. I thought the book looked really neat, so I picked it up for her, and sent it her way:

On the knitting front, I've started Jamie's socks:

I really love the pattern that has turned out of the Lana Grossa sock yarn. I hope it turns out that it's all got chunky stripes and it's not just random. Jamie's really happy that I've started his socks for him!

Also, on the knitting front, I've been winding on my ball winder, from a spool, some lace weight yarn. Last night at the knitting meet-up, I wound 2 cakes, one for my cousin Jenn, and one for another fellow knitter - Jennie E. I'd love to see what they make out of it. Jenn wants to make a lace shawl. Sounds great!


Each cake that I've made so far, is approx. 120-130 gram each, just a little more than what you'd get in a ball of sock yarn. Not too sure on the yardage though. And on top of it - you see NO DENT in the spool after one cake is wound - it's nuts! I have 4 cakes wound so far (2 given away) I think I'm going to send some off to my secret pal in a future package. I honestly think I'm going to make myself a lace shawl as well. I just have to find the right pattern. I also want to give a cake to a friend to make her smile - I think I'll surprise her with a present of yarn! I still have a LOT left on the spool after the 4 cakes of approx 130 grams each, and I still have a whole other spool! It was a lucky find, and I'm loving it!

On a non-knitting front - I went on a "field trip" with my class today, to a printing press that only specialized in newspapers. We got to see the daily "Le Metro" being printed for tomorrow's edition. They were also working on Saturday's edition, since they will be closed for the Quebec Holiday St. Jean Baptiste (which is Saturday). It was cool seeing how newspapers are being printed, but I honestly think it was a waste of 2 hours. The tour could have been done in less.... and my swollen feet/ankles were KILLING me after a 2 hour walk through this factory. (And on top of it - it really smelled!)

Anyhow, I'm off to go knit some more.

La Bobineuse de Laine

Finally, my SP8 pal has received the awesome bracelet I sent her. This bracelet is by a local Montreal artist - and you can purchase unique pieces like this one at the Old Port. I can't remember the guy's name, but you have to go into that little nook at the old port - the area that is secluded to find this guy and his work.... no two pieces are alike - and he is just fantastic.


So, this afternoon I went with Angela first to La Bobineuse de Laine (after getting stuck behind a truck on a one way street - who didn't find parking, as both sides were full, so he decided to park in the middle of the street, put his four way on, and start unloading the truck - it's not even moving day yet and Montreal has gone mad! - I ended up backing up halfway down the street, and then pulling into someone's small parking area, and then going down the rest of the one way street the wrong way, to get people to give me the finger, and honk at me, because they wanted to turn down the same street... so I wished them good luck getting by the truck and peeled off! Sooo damn aggrevating!). With me, to La Bobineuse de Laine, I brought the two cones that I had received, to see if the lady there would let me mix it with anything she had:

Yeah fucking right. I could buy anything in her store, and she'd mix it for me, but there was NO way she was going to let buy from her store and add my already owned yarn into it. Whatever this black stuff is - I have a LOT of it. I am not too sure what I am going to do with it yet - but it can definitely be mixed with other yarn to make something!

I did purchase from the nice but crazy lady these following cones:

The first one above to the left reminds me of Neopalitain ice cream, and the other one, the pinks and whites, I just love the colour.

I feel in love with the turquoise, green and white one - that I had seen on Stephanie's blog, so I had to get some, and the pink, fuschia and white cone - I just love the colours! I just need things to knit with them.

These two balls above are called "Left Over" yarn..... you will find these in a bin.... Basically it's tons of strands put together, and it's 6$ for the entire thing. I am not sure what I am going to make of it, but I am sure I will come up with something soon. With the lighter coloured ball, I am thinking about making some sort of boho bag... Thinking about it...

The crazy lady, is sooo nuts, she made me walk 2 blocks in the PISSING rain, to get money out of the bank, because between Angela and I - we were .50 fucking cents short for our purchase and she would NOT let it slide! WTF!? We were probably her only sale of the day, and she probably figured she would not make any other money. Ugh!

The store's address is: 2270 avenue du Mont-Royal Est à Montréal (514) 521-9000

After La Bobineuse de Laine we headed over to Rachel Street by St-Hubert and we ate lunch at this great burger joint called L'anecdote which was right across the street from La Tricoteuse, another LYS. And, what was really funny, was, while sitting there eating this amazing burger, (Thanks Angela for bringing me there - it was fantastic!) my cousin Jenn called me up, to see when the next time I'd be in the area of the yarn shop, and I laughed and told her I was kinda sitting at a restaurant across the street from there and was planning to go in there right after I was done eating. She had something for me to pick up - so I told her to call the yarn shop and have them put it aside and that I'd pick it up. What a coincidence - that was just too funny. Shit like that never happens to me. I usually just leave somewhere and then someone calls me up to find out when I'd be in that area again.... you know?

Anyhow, after picking up Jenn's yarn and touching and fondling a bunch of other expensive yarn that I can't really and shouldn't really afford - I headed over to see Angela's apartment - which is kind of funny considering she's moving out of there tomorrow. Well - it was good to finally see where she lives!

This evening Jamie & I watched the movie Derailed with Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston. It was actually to our surprise a lot better than we both expected, and a better story line than expected as well. We actually both enjoyed it.

Well, I'm going to go crawl into bed now to watch TV. I'm still stuffed from the Chinese food dinner we had (I was craving it tonight - so I went out - in the rain - to pick up Chinese Food - couldn't convince the hubby to do so - wait til I'm 6+ months pregnant - I think I will be able to get him to do whatever it is I want! LOL)

Weird Coincidence!

So you want to hear a funny situation??!!! RANDOMLY and completely BY FLUKE I sent my SP pal the EXACT same 2 balls of yarn that she sent her Secret Pal! How random and coincidental that is!!! We both bought Plassard "Frange" yarn (shown in my May 19th post - showing what I sent her).
How FUNNY is that?

At first, as I mentioned, I was totally confused, and upon talking with my pal, we discovered what a fluke it was. She told me that she was also shocked herself, and boy - is that crazy, or what???!!

I have never seen a fluke like that before, it's just too ironic!

I guess great minds think alike - right??

Going to go eat dinner (I need to go pick it up - Mmmm Chinese food!!) and I'll blog later about my day at the yarn shops!

Happy June!!!

Today, I am feeling sooo much better. My nose is still running but my cough is about 90% gone. I can actually breathe as of this evening out of my nose, so happy about that. Also - since it pissed rained all evening almost, and overnight, the temperature was back to normal for me this morning. Damp and NO HUMIDITY - no heat acutally (except for maybe a little during the afternoon, but I was in class, so I don't care).

This morning in class (11:30-2:30) I worked the entire class on fixing up my project that was due on Tuesday. There was a bunch of things I had not done, that I didn't know I was supposed to and as well, there was a bunch of things that needed fixing. Anyhow, it got 80% corrected infront of me, and right now, I have 16/20 - and there is still 20% (4 marks out of 20) that have not been corrected. I have a GOOD chance of getting 100% on this assignment. I think I did a VERY good job. (IN THE END that is.... lol).

In the afternoon class (2:30-5:30) which passed by very quickly today - Laura and I got started on project #2 - which is also a group project (like project #1 that we got back today, we got 17.5/20 and the mistakes we got were things that she had told us were okay, so we may fight them, we'll see). At least we know where to improve on for project #2.

After school I headed home to a missed package in the mail. So after making myself a pasta dinner (same as last night), I designed a t-shirt for my friend Lainie (Lainie this is the ONLY surprise I'm ruining for you - it's been shipped).

When I went to the post office to mail something to my SP8 (some vintage needles - yesterday I also mailed her knitting note cards that are sooo cute), I also mailed Lainie's two packages and picked up the package that was waiting for me - which was my summery package from Jenn B! This is what I got:


Some chocolates, long striking matches (which are always useful for candles that are burned down), a USA journal (very cute) some nice smelling shells, a cute pin cushion, a blue egg, some GREAT frabic and some other funky items. I LOVE IT JENN! THANK YOU!!!

Can't wait to do more sewing projects on my sewing maching that is now officially OUT OF STORAGE FOR GOOD!!!! No more dust collecting for it!

This evening Jamie had baseball so I took a self night. I had a project to hand it tomorrow that was due last Friday (which I skipped as I was feeling rundown, but that turned into bronchitis) so that is finished, and other homework things to get organized. I also cleaned up my USB key (there were duplicate files and files disorganized on there - NO GOOD!

I also matched up the 13 of us in my stitch marker swap. I emailed everyone their partners, and I can't wait to see what everyone gets this time around! I'm sooooo excited to get stitch markers in the mail. (To those participating the deadline to mail them out is June 16th (Friday) - which is also my birthday!!!

Alright, I'm ZONKED, it's late, and I need to get up early for school tomorrow. I'm having lunch with a friend tomorrow - it's been a while since I've seen her, and tonight we spoke on MSN and I finally told her I am pregnant. It should be good to see her tomorrow! My in-laws made a lasagna for dinner tomorrow night, so they're coming over before everyone else gets here for poker, I can't wait to have homemade lasagna, MMMmmm delicious. (I can't wait until I have the energy again to start baking and cooking in the kitchen - hopefully after my first trimester is over in 4 weeks I'll be top shape in the kitchen again!)

Stitch Markers

Today I stopped at Le Chateau Liquidation to pick up a gift certificate for Jamie's cousin who's Bat Mitzvah it is on Sunday. It's from Jamie & I as well as Jamie's sister and our nephew. I think she will LOVE it, because she LOVES clothes. While there, I took a look at the dresses - and actually found something for the wedding we have on the 18th of June... and hopefully I'll still fit into it for the wedding in July, and I'm probably pushing it for the wedding we have in August. Anyhow, is it rude to wear a WHITE dress to someone else's wedding? It's not that fancy or anything, it's just a summery dress. I am planning on dressing it up with a pink shawl and probably pink shoes, (I have the hottest pink pumps) and probably some jewelry - so does that make up for the dress being white? It just was the ONLY dress that looked good on me, and I love it. And it even helps "hide" my pregnancy a bit - with the ruffles on the stomach. When I bought it - I didn't even think "oh it's white - and the bride should be wearing white" blah, blah, but I think that there was other people who were wearing white at my wedding. (Going to get my photo album to confirm - and that was a September wedding).

Here's the count:

3 white jackets
2 shite shirts
1 off white outfit
My mother's best friend Sandy wore a white outfit
My mother's cousin Marla wore white pant suit I think (I only see the top sitting at the table)

So - people do wear white to summer weddings. Technically my wedding was in the summer. September 18th was NOT fall yet!

Ugh, what to do? Would you wear white???

After Le Chateau, I went to Walmart to return some items, and then picked up a salad at Marathons - only the best food in the world. I love their Marathon's salad - it's a HUGE shame they do not deliver!

Came home, ate lunch, then decided to first start on making some stitch markers, some for my swap which the deadline is ending on June 1st, and then some for my SP8 pal - and some for myself as well - I like the ones I made. I created a TON of them! I was really impressed with myself. I need to photograph them all - which I will do soon. I have been sending her big packages as well as smaller envelopes in regular mail. What is really cool - is that both of our birthdays fall during SP8 - she's 13 days younger than me, and so I have some bday surprises for her! For sure! I am having a blast with SP8! I have sent her one huge package already, and she should be getting the smaller envelopes of stuff shortly. And I have more stuff going out to her this week.

I also - took out my SEWING MACHINE - and dusted her off! Plugged her in - and set her up. I pulled out my SNB book and turned to page 236 and created my own version of the Circular Knitting Needle holder. For my first attempt - I am VERY proud of myself. Two sections in, I realize that I needed to make sure that I reversed my stitch and went over the edges to reinforce. That was the first thing I learnd, and there was a few other things I learned along the way. What I was very impressed with - what the fact that I got all the sections in almost perfect straight lines (after realizing that I had to clamp down the thing on the sewing machine so that it held down my fabric! LOL) But I DID figure it all out - so I am very impressed with myself! Let me tell you. This is the hot pink fabric that I got at Walmart a while ago - it's PERFECT to make tote bags with - and I have over 10 m of it! It's a full roll - and I love it. I can't wait to see what I make! I have so many more ideas - I am sure in time - I will figure it out!

This evening, I took a self night - Jamie played softball and I watched TV and relaxed. Jamie had some friends over after ball, so I just did whatever around the house. I'm going to go crawl into bed shortly, I'm exhausted! I am so excited, I get to see my nephew tomorrow! They're in for the weekend.

Yarn Sale

During class, I get an email from Lainie, who tells me about a sock yarn sale.... So I ended up ordering some yarn super cheap! Not that I needed anymore yarn. I ordered for myself, and I ordered some yarn for my Secret Pal.
I love sock yarn. It's very addictive. But I want to finish all my WIP's before I start any new projects - that's the plan! I do have a few things to finish up.

Alright, this evening I took a bit of a self night - since Jamie was working.

Alright, I need to do a few things and clean up my friggin' messy disgrace of a desk. Speaking of desk and office - yesterday when I idiotically tried to convince Jamie to move to the west island before the baby is born, after not talking for a little bit - he came to the conclusion that he will give me his office. He's not really using it - and well - he doesn't really need it - to be honest, and he can just put his computer out in the basement play area. I am going to look into getting Jamie a new desk somehow - maybe my old one from my parents house - if it's not being used. I am not sure what furniture my sister is taking with her when she moves out next week. Jamie's desk is falling apart and frankly too big for our basement. BUT - YEY! I get an office. I'm not really fond of the basement (It's cold and there is a basement smell to it) but I am sure if I fix it up somehow - it'll come along just fine... :) YEY! I don't lose an office...! And it's probably just about the same size as the one I have now!! Woohoo - I'm so excited!

Alright, more later. Ciao.

SP8 Gift & Tenants To Be Signed!

My SP8 Partner has received what I've sent her. Since she doesn't have my blog - not until I reveal myself, I can post what I've sent her.

I sent her 4 balls of yarn, 2 in a blue-ish black and 2 in some crazy colours (Plassard "Frange" Yarn). I thought they were very funky, and just had to send them. I sent her some white cotton yarn as well - I love making dish towels. I sent her cable needles, and a picture frame that has a ball of yarn on it. I made some bracelets - which she emailed to say was her favourite item included, as well as the book - 1000 Great Knitting Motifs. I also sent a bunch of non- knitting related items as well - I hope everything goes to good use for her, and I hope she liked it. This was my first SP package - in my first time participating in SP... So I hope that I've done a good job?? I've heard from my SP partner, can't wait to see what I get in the mail!

Alright, I have some good news. I have a lease being signed on Tuesday for the apartment upstairs. I am sooo happy. I need to fill out the paperwork of a new lease, but that should not take me too long, plus most of the information I need from the new tenants. I can't wait! I am happy that it's one less thing to worry about right now. It's a nice family of 5 moving in - I'm not really too sure who the 5 are, except for the 2 that I've met already.

I've gotten a bunch of magazines (pregnancy, knitting and other related) and so I'm going to go empty my garbages (garbage day today) and then head onto the couch for some reading time.... unless I fall asleep into a nice nap - that would be nice too. Zonked from the week.

SP8 Questionnaire Answers

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I am currently addicted to sock yarn. I don't mind any kind of yarn, but I'm not a fan of ribbon, or that fuzzy yarn grandmothers knit with. (when I find the name of it - I'll include it here)

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Some are in wood boxes, some are in a needle roll that I got a Walmart, but I have a ton of knitting needles that are currently not in anything, need to organize them soon. Keep procrastinating.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I consider myself to be an intermediate knitter. I’ve been knitting since about mid-Novermber 2005. I tried knitting once when I was about 9 years old, an old non-live-in babysitter/housekeeper Irene taught me to knit. She was later fired for stealing from my parents. Then, my friend Faye got me knitting needles and some really expensive yarn for my birthday in June of 2004, while in my 2nd year of professional photography school. I knitted a garter ridge scarf (only knew knit stitch back then, didn’t know how to purl yet) and then put down knitting until November 2005, when I started working on a scarf in chenille (yick!) yarn for my mother-in-law. That yarn got so gross to knit with, that I won’t ever knit with chenille yarn again, and that scarf died. That’s when my sister-in-law introduced me to crochet (or her version of crochet anyhow!) and I didn’t touch any knitting for another month and a half until January 2006. That’s my knitting history for you in a nutshell!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Not at the moment. Check back later if I start one. Maybe I should.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) Peach, Vanilla, Watermelon.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? No sweet tooth, but I love gum. I am trying to stick to the G.I. Diet - which allows no sugar.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I crochet, scrapbook a little, collage, journal, do photography. (I do not spin). I want to start using my sewing machine more.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I hate rap, country. I like any other kind of music. MP3's my computer should play, but my stereo only plays regular music mixes. I love music mixes.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? Fave colour - Pink. Runners up: Blue, Yellow, Red (Primary Colours). I HATE HATE HATE Purple. No purple please. I like knitting though in blacks, grey's, neutrals, beiges, browns, greens, etc. I tend to wear a lot of neutral, earth tone colours.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am a newlywed (got married in September) so I live with my hubby and we have 2 cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? In the winter I wear hats, mittens or gloves and scarves. Don't really do the poncho thing.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Currently that would be socks.

13. What are you knitting right now? Socks. (2 pairs actually).

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Sure!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I have mostly aluminum, and only a few plastics. I own bamboo circs in every size available. I wouldn't mind getting a set of bamboo DPN's - have been looking into a seller on ebay that I bought my bamboo circ's from - he sells the entire set of bamboo DPN's - in every size for very cheap. And they come 5 needles instead of 4!

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I own the Royal Ball Winder. No swift.

17. How did you learn to knit? I don't remember how I learned to knit when I was 9-10. But recently, my cousin Jenn has been helping me out, as well as the Montreal Knits.

18. How old is your oldest UFO? A few months, that's it.

19. What is your favorite holiday? Don't really have one.

20. Is there anything that you collect? Besides books and knitting accessories and YARN, nothing really. Oh, I do have an elephant statue collection.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I don't have a knitting mag subscription, but I like reading Knit 1, Vogue Knitting, etc. Any books - nothing that I can think of at the moment, besides One Skein.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Of course, I'm wanting to make a sweater for my next big project.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am! I'm a size 8 women's shoe.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) June 16th.