A GOOD DAY

Well, we went to the State Fair today, I took the boys and guess what? I GOT FIRST PRIZE FOR MY FELTED TOTE!! Sorry, don't mean to yell but I was so excited, not to mention shocked. I had been telling myself not to get my hopes up because there are lots of entries but there it was, a blue ribbon. I was so pleased. Now I have to wait a week to get it back, then I may just enter it at SAFF.

For those of you who don't know SAFF, it's a fiber fair held in Asheville, NC every year. It's quite large with a whole slew of vendors selling the most wonderful yarns and spinning fiber, as well as all the other things knitters can't get enough of. Go here to check it out, www.saffsite.org If you can manage to go you'll be hooked. I got some incredible bargains last year. Still trying to decide if I can go this year.

I also got my swap partner from Knitters Coffee Swap 3! Her name is Michaela, (pretty name) and she lives in the UK! I've never had a partner from overseas before and that makes this so much more interesting. I'm already swarming the internet looking for goodies. And then I remembered I hadn't posted my questions so here they are:

SWAP QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground? Ground since I haven't yet invested in a good grinder. I'm not sure I function well enough in the morning to do it then anyway.

2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Definitely fully-loaded.

3. Regular or flavored? Regular for mornings, but I do like my vanilla or caramel cappuccinos in the afternoons. I usually hit Starbucks for those.

4. How do you drink your coffee? Hot, never cold, with Splenda since I'm diabetic and a splash of milk because I tend to drink the really dark roasts.

5. Favorite coffee ever? My absolute favorite is Caribou Coffee's Obsidian. It's as darkly roasted as espresso, but is so smooth and has no bitterness or aftertaste. This stuff is pure gold.

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I try other brands or types, but I have become fussy about my morning coffee. It has to be dark roast and smooth, smooth. I don't like hazelnut or nutty flavors. (but I love nuts to eat, go figure.)

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Muffins, scones. I'm trying to stay away from the chocolates, bad for blood sugar.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? I like nice big, thick mugs. I like drinking it while I'm knitting or quilting, when it's quiet, listening to podcasts or music.

9. Yarn/fiber you love? I love wool, especially Merino. I really like to felt things although I don't use Merino to felt. I like Knit Picks yarns, they're nice to knit with. I love the malabrigo colors, they are so lovely but I haven't bought any yet. I like blends of natural fibers.

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? I don't like acrylic. Lace weight right now makes my eyes cross, I need new glasses. lol

11. What's on your needles? A sweater with fair isle accents made from Cascade 220 and Ultra Alpaca, for my mom. A shawl of lace weight wool/silk blend which is on hold till I get my glasses or a magnifying glass :). A pair of socks from Interweave Knits called Retro Rib Socks in superwash merino. I'm also making a queensize quilt for my son, and another throw size for I don't know who yet.

12. Favorite colors? Jewel tones definitely, also blues, yellows and reds. I just love color. But I don't like the wild insanely bright colors in some of the sock yarns.

13. Allergies? Only to things that keep me from knitting.

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? Tomorrow's Monday, which means I have to go to work, which means I can't knit. @#%^ But Tuesday is my birthday!! So every cloud has a silver lining.

Have a great week!! Cheryl

Pink, Pink for October!!

As the daughter of a survivor this is something that means a great deal to me. As a Registered Nurse I've seen what it can do to patients, families, children. Spread the word. Call your local Susan G. Komen Foundation and volunteer.

Cheryl

NC State Fair

I did it. I finished my projects to enter in the NC State Fair, took them over there and got them entered. It felt good to have them finished, but it's amazing how you feel when you leave them with someone else. It's almost like you're leaving your babies or something. I'm sure they'll be fine.

I entered a felted totebag done in Brown Sheep Bulky, medium and light blues with a panel of needle felted flowers and vines across the front. The flowers are yellow and purple. I was pleased with the way it came out. The pattern was by Crazy Yarn Lady, Blue Denim Felted Tote. But the floral design was my own. My other entry was a hat by Fiber Trends, Bobble and Braid Hat. It was done in seed stitch, cables, bobbles, with a braided tassel at the top. I did it in Wool-Ease yellow. It is so cute I can't wait for cold weather to wear it.

Oh! Oh! I got my ravelry invite! It is a really cool site but holy cow it's huge. I'm off now to explore it more.

Cheryl

Weekend and Baby

Oh, it's Saturday and there's only one more day to the weekend. Don't you hate that? Wouldn't it be great if every day could be Saturday? Then we'd have all the time we needed to knit, quilt, knit, quilt, shop for yarn or fabric, knit more.

My friend Amanda is pregnant and I'm so excited for her. I've had all my babies but I remember how it feels the first time. Since it will probably be born in May, whatever I knit should be lighter weight. So today I bought enough Santana, 55% cotton, 45% acrylic (I know, I don't use acrylic either but this was so pretty and so soft it was perfect.) to make a blanket. A blanket will be useable a good while yes? Anyway it is a soft pastel varigated with coral pink, yellow, green and lilac. I'm going to cast on thirty stitches with each of 5 balls and work upwards with all 5 at a time. This way it won't stripe, but simply color change softly across the whole blanket. A good winter project.