I'm Going to IRELAND!!

Ok...so it's a "virtual" trip - but it's so very cool!!

My local Knitters group is having a July Vacation Secret Pal Swap - where we send our Spoilee on a trip somewhere.

Today, my "Travel Agent," Blogless Janet, called to say she was going to drop by - and she showed up on my door with not only my travel documents, but also my suitcase.



My Itinerary included stops in Dublin and Belfast, Cork and Doolin, Wesport and Derry with a stop in the Aran Isles where I can learn more and more about Aran patterning. (My agent knows I'm a Cable Ho.)

I opened my suitcase to see what souvenirs I was coming home with and - true to my packing style - that case was STUFFED!



I got so many wonderful things...



I got a few patterns - Aran Braided Socks, a Celtic Cable Scarf, and a Celtic Knot Afghan. As all good travel agents do, Janet knows her "customer" and has read the blog and knows that I'm toying with doing sweaters...so she also got me a wonderful book - "Aran Sweater Design" by Janet Szabo - that looks incredible - not only telling about Aran design, but outlines the anatomy of sweater-making (how to put them together in various ways) and also has a few lovely patterns.

I also got Kraemer Yarns in Eileen - which I've been eyeing at White Rock Weaving, but hadn't tried yet - and Knit Picks Bare Donegal Tweed - another that I've been wanting to play with. Of course, they are all nekkid - so I can also play with the Jacquard Dyes she got me - in Turquoise, Hot Fuchsia and Lilac (PRETTY!). There were some Cable needles, point protectors and a cute little sheep tape measure!

Also, my travel agent knows that I'm trying to learn how to read charts - which will definitely come in handy when I get up the courage to do these cabled sweaters - and she got me the Knit Picks chart keeper and a needle sizer!

On the goodie front - 'cause what's a vacation without goodies - I got some Irish Breakfast Tea, a couple of mixes for Scones and Soda Bread, some Ghirardelli dark chocolate and some Lily O'Brien's (of course) Chocolate Coated Toffees. yum!

And last, but not least, I got some lovely stitch markers that she made:

*

Thanks, Janet!! You are a FABULOUS "travel agent" - and I'd recommend you to ANYONE!

*(yes, my cedar chest is scratched...it's old, like me.)

We Take A Break From Regular Scheduled Knitting And Dyeing...

...and I think someone's trying to tell me that this shouldn't include a break from puppy love.*

* Not that I can't pet and love at the same time - she just demands undivided attention...

Oh Thank Heaven - for Kwik E Mart?

Had a great day yesterday!

Spent the morning with my Alek going to breakfast and walking around (ok...down one street - but for me less than 2 months out from hip replacement surgery - it was a major milestone!) Downtown McKinney. We love it there - had breakfast at Aparicio's and then walked over to Mom & Popcorn - which has all of the cool candies we knew as a child - from wax lips to pop rocks to taffys - and the popcorn! Oh the popcorn! They have about 45 different flavors of popcorn. I try to get a different flavor each time - just to try. Today was Creamy dill - amazingly good! And, of course, I had to get the cheese popcorn to bring home. I do believe it's the best cheese popcorn I've ever eaten. YUM!

Then a couple of friends came over and we drove down to Dallas where we did partake in the Beer Biscuits at Barbec's and then visited White Rock Weaving. The place was crowded!! They were having a looming class where they took chunks or strips of roving to weave between the strings to make a picture. It was so much fun to watch! We shopped the store - and I actually walked out of there without anything this time!! (Yay, Liz!) Not that I didn't WANT some of the things. :) She has started carrying the Kraemer yarns - which I love - including the Tatamy Tweed in several colors. Blogless Betty is making (or heck, with Betty, she's probably already MADE) a sweater out of this and I might just copy her and make one, too. (That's the 2nd time now I've blogged about making a sweater...I'm thinking this might actually happen.)

After WRW, we went to Passionknit in Snider Plaza. I said I was going there for one set of needles...I wanted the biggest circs I could find - needle size and length wise. They were having a sale and 20% off needles was a part of that! Amazingly, I came out of there with only that one circ (Size 19 - 47 inch circs) - and nothing more! (And with yarn on sale - big sales - I just almost wanted to pat myself on the back for getting only what I came in there for!)

On the way home, we were at a red light and looked to the left and there was a Kwik E Mart!!!


Now, I don't watch the Simpsons religiously - but I've been known to watch and giggle at it a time or four. But I think it's a hoot that 7-11 Stores have transformed 11 of their US stores - and one in Canada - into the Kwik E Mart to promote the upcoming Simpson's movie - complete with "life-sized" cutouts of the characters, Krusty O's cereal and Squishee drinks.





And I love all of the little details they did come up with - such as the Bank's sign and the labels for the donuts.





The lines inside were CRAZY - both for the Squishee machine and the cashier - so we didn't buy anything. But it was fun to go in and just see it all.

Once we got home, we broke out the dye and nekkid yarn 'cause I need to do some more Knit Clinic yarns so I can update the shop a little. My buddies had to leave and couldn't dye - but then my goddaughter and her mom (my best bud from high school) came over and "helped" me by watching and oohing and ahhing over colors.

They aren't dry yet - but here's a taste of what's coming...



Yes, it was a very pink and green day - and I can't wait to see what they look like reskeined and in the shop!

On a final note - I can't remember if I've said how happy I am for my friend Becky! She gets to go to China in less than 2 weeks - to get her baby girl!! Go here to read about her upcoming trip - and keep her and Dean in your thoughts and prayers as they make this wonderful journey!!

Can't wait to meet her, Becky!!!

A Quick Thank You

I keep forgetting - shame on me - to take the time to send a "Thank You" to my SP 10 Pal - Nicole.

I can't wait to knit some socks with that Regia Cotton - I've really been wanting to try it!

Thanks, Nicole! It's been a hoot for my first SP 10 participation!

I frighten myself...

Just a short year ago, I saw someone doing the Lady Eleanor Entrelac shawl/wrap and thought, "I'll never do that!!" Now I am and am loving it...

Just a few short months ago, I sat with Alissa and Manda at the Fiber Fest and said, "I can never do a sweater..." Alissa said, "Sure you can!" and I said, "No...don't have the patience."

But now I look at that Lady E that I'm almost 2/3 of the way through (pics to follow) and I said, "This has got to be as many stitches as a sweater..." (Becky and Blogless Betty say MORE.)

And then today, I was at Half Price Books and got a bunch of books to look through while drinking my java and when I got to the table and sat down, noticed that every single book was a SWEATER book.

I frighten myself...and must now go cast on Socks...

...which I also said I'd never do.

This will be my 5th pair...

This Dyeing Thing...

So, y'all know I've been playing with the nekkid yarns and dyes...and that it's become a passion of mine - some would say an obsession.

So...I've taken some of this nekkid yarn - and mixed it with some of those professional type acid dyes - and Viola!



Knit Clinic Yarns is now a real live Etsy shop!

Stop by and have a gander!

Thanks to all who have encouraged this craziness - I'm really having fun with it!