In Loving Memory: Coretta Scott King

1927-2006

What Kind of Knitting Needles are You?

You are interchangeable.

Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every

eventuality covered and every opportunity

just has to be taken. Every fiber is

wonderful, and every day is a new beginning.

You are good at so many things, it's amazing,

but you can easily lose your place and forget

to show up. They have row counters for

people like you!


What kind of knitting needles are you?
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PSA - Jamie Foxx

This is my attempt at a shameless plug. Don't 4get 2 watch 2nite:

JAMIE FOXX MUSIC SPECIAL WILL BROADCAST WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25TH @ 8:00PM PST on NBC. PLEASE MAKE IT A POINT TO WATCH! There will be surprise special guests.

Knitting Olympics

Okay, somebody shoot me. I think I might have bit off a little more than I can chew. Did I just sign up to participate in Stephanie's Knitting Olympics, and did I just make an attempt to complete Jennifer Thurston's Blackberry? I must not have taken my little pills today.

Edward Scissorhands

My mommy got a little bit scissor happy on the grooming, which required a doggie fashion 9-1-1 over the weekend.







This...

Was a result of this...

Which led to this...

A Meme of Fours

While glancing over my daily reads, Mitchypoo at Knitting and Losing tagged me with my very first meme:

4 jobs you have had in your life
My very first job ever was as a receptionist for my Dad's dump truck business
Worked at Mickey D's aka McDonald's
Worked as a telemarketer, uggghhh!
Currently an administrative assistant

4 movies you could watch over and over
The Color Purple
Imitation of Life
Cabin in the Sky
Steel Magnolias

4 places you have lived
New Mexico
Texas
In a hotel
My charming little apartment

4 TV shows you love to watch
CSI: Las Vegas, Miami
Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Intent
Grey's Anatomy
Big Brother

4 places you have been on vacation
Puerta Vallarta, Mexico
Atlanta, Georgia
Santa Barbara, California
Las Vegas, Nevada

4 websites you visit daily
Creative Soul Confessions
Little Purl of the Orient
Heather's Hobby Blog
SistahCraft

4 of your favorite foods
Soul Food
Mexican Food
Chocolate
Strawberries

4 places you would rather be right now
At home knitting
On the beach in Hilton Head
On a European vacation
On a cruise

4 bloggers you are tagging
Anyone who reads this and wants to put it on their blog.

Plymouth Yarn and Knitting Bag

Plymouth Yarn and Knitting Bag
Originally uploaded by FeminiKNITTY.

Didn't quite get this in the last shot, but here's a photo of my new knitting bag. I can kiss those horrible plastic sacks goodbye and carry my portable UFOs in style.

Block of the Month Club

Parallelogram Block
Originally uploaded by FeminiKNITTY.

Okay, so my LYS, The Knitting Nook, started a block of the month club for 2006. We're knitting 12 squares each month into a sampler afghan courtesy of Leisure Arts' 60 Easy-to-Knit Pattern Stitches. January's block is called a Double Parallelogram. I'm using my circular size 8's and developing some "yarn snob" characteristics and splurging on Plymouth Yarn's Encore in Burgundy Heather.

Norma, our instructor, is very encouraging and patient. Just pray I don't bail out on this project before it's completion. Knitting is always fun, it's the finishing and blocking that are a pain.

KnitPicks Wish List

I was just on KnitPicks and realized they also have a wish list. So I just had to add my two cents:

Item No./Description
50399 2-Needle Fingerless Mittens
50388 Kimono Styled Sweater
50437 Weekend Cabled V-neck Sweater
50389 Basketweave Poncho
50414 Cabled Hat and Scarf
50365 Winter Cable Trio Hat Pattern
23417 Natural White Wool of the Andes
80260 A Year in Yarn Wall Calendar
80240 Knit Around Bag; Aqua
30703 Cheaper than Therapy
40025 Shadow Sampler
80028 The Circular Solution
30688 Classic Knits for Real Women
30713 Dyeing to Knit
30556 Knitting with Hand-Dyed Yarns

Mission Possible

Your mission, should you choose to accept it...

Have I mentioned how excited I am about Secret Pal 7? I've diligently checked my e-mail everyday this week to receive my SP assignment and hopefully get a note from the SP assigned to me. Well, the heaven's pearly gates were burst wide open today because I received both messages this morning. I feel like a kid in a candy store and don't know exactly where to start. I guess I'll just begin at the beginning.

These coming months will be filled with much anticipation. Let the SPoiling begin.

...this message will self destruct in 3, 2, 1...

Always a Bridesmaid....

It amazes me how quickly God answers prayer. In the throws of the new year, this past week I was bombarded with two similar encounters from some very dear friends. As you can guess, they got engaged over the holidays and are now planning spring and fall weddings before the year is out. I couldn't help but feel joy and excitement as their faces glowed in anticipation of the hustle and bustle that wedding preparations bring. They're in L-O-V-E...who knew that this one little word could change the countenance of a woman. Although I'm excited for them, the green-eyed monster is starting to rise up in me. Their "Adam/Boaz" has finally found them and claimed them for eternity. What's a single girl to do in times like these when your former running buddies have found permanent life partners? Oh the agony of it all-the countless showers and gifts, not to mention those infamous bridesmaids dresses that you'll only wear once. What exactly is a bridesmaid anyway? I know, I have issues, pray for me.

My attention is never focused on being single until someone close to me has been blessed to change their marital status. Only God and time will tell how our lives end up and with whom. Not to worry, someday my prince will come. I'll just have to hurry up and wait.

Glitter Stix

I came across these plastic glitter knitting needles courtesy of Jo-Ann's Craft Essentials line (they also sell a set of glitter hooks for all you die-hard crocheters).

The set includes a pair of six "glitter stix" in US sizes 17, 15, 13, 11, 10.5 and 10. A 40% off coupon made them a steal at just under $5 bucks, which was perfect for me because I didn't have the larger size needles in my personal inventory.

Frugality has it's privileges!

Secret Pal 7 Questionnaire

I'm so excited about my first Secret Pal exchange. Thanks to the SP7 Hostesses for putting this together. Here's an introduction into all things FeminiKNITTY...

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?

Call me an amateur in the knitting arena but I love Red Heart, Caron and Lion Brand yarns. Right now they are my staples. Acrylics are great to use because if I decide to drop a project, I don't feel guilty about dishing out a lot of cash on expensive fibers. Looking forward to venturing out with wool and wool-blends. I might even attempt to dye some of my own yarn in the future.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I started out with crochet back in the day but love hearing the click-clack of two sticks together. I haven't tried spinning yet; it gets pretty hot in Texas in the summer, don't know that I'll be attempting spinning in the future.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I purchased ArtBin's Hook & Needle Case a while back. It holds all my straight and double-pointed needles. I also have Boye's zippered crochet organizer for all my steel/aluminum hooks that are collecting dust. I'm trying to come up with an inexpensive storage solution for my circulars.

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

I consider myself at the intermediate level and have been knitting on and off for the past seven years.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

My are growing rapidly everyday.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Vanilla is always an old favorite in bath scents. For candles, I love the smell of Mulberry or Strawberry.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Are you kidding, my dentist and I are on a first name basis. When I need a quick fix I go for the cheap stuff, Reeses Pieces or Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, and when I want the hard stuff or feel like splurging I go for the Godiva. I'm also a fan of chocolate covered pretzels and dark chocolates.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I've always been a needle arts junkie--Counted Cross Stitch, Crochet. I've just begun to do a little bit of Scrapbooking, Sewing, and Beadwork. I've also dabbled in pottery and paints.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Any music by a real artist who can actually sing and carry a tune (Aretha Franklin, Anita Bakker, Karen Clark-Sheard, Viki Yoh'e, Michael Buble, Smokey Norful, etc.). All things Gospel, and any Smooth Jazz, Old School R&B, and maybe a bit of Blues.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I don't discriminate against any color except pastels. ;-) I love earth tones or colors of Autumn, but I also love the Springtime blues or ocean themes. It just depends on my mood.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Pleasantly single. As a friend of mine once said, "I'm somebody's rib, my 'Adam' just hasn't woke up and found me yet!" I am the mother to one fur child, my dog Misty, and the Auntie to a niece, two nephews and two God-daughters.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I love scarfs and ponchos; save the hats and mittens for the wee little ones.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Red Heart Soft, Caron Simply Soft, and just about any Lion Brand yarn. Whatever you decide to bless me with will be appreciated.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

So far, I like them all. No allergic reactions to set me back.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

I love knitting basketweave style and cables. I also have a growing fascination for stitch markers.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I've done a lot of afghans in the past. Right now, I'm loving the Irish Hiking Scarf wrist warmers because they knit up so quickly.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Where do I begin...let's just say, it's too many UFO's to mention.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Absolutely. Anyone who takes time to give of themselves and create something with their own two hands is the most generous person in my book.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I love the freedom of straight needles, but my circulars are probably used the most.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Whatever gets the job done.

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I just received my yarn winder a month ago...love it. I haven't invested in a swift because I'm currently on the acrylic kick. This maybe changing in the near future.

22. How did you learn to knit?

I taught myself with those all famous Teach Yourself Knitting books. I've picked up a few new stitch ideas from here and there since then.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

I have a crochet scrap afghan that hasn't been assembled in about 8 years. I also have a basketweave afghan that was one of my first knitting projects that is somewhere in my craft closet waiting to be completed.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

That's easy...Must Love Dogs. No favorite animated character. However, I must admit I'm a closet 'Suga Mama' fan of Disney's The Proud Family, and I love all the Disney and Pixar animation movies.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

My birthday, of course, and Christmas.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

I wouldn't necessarily call it a collection but I've grown very fond of Lead Crystal Eggs. I have four on my fire place mantle. These eggs were found on one of my many shopping sprees to my favorite store, T.J. Maxx. The Faberge Eggs are way out of my league. I was also blessed with a James Avery charm bracelet for Christmas, so I'm seriously searching for charms to add to it.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Currently, no subscriptions, I buy them on a whim. If I had a subscription for every magazine I bought, I'd go broke. I love Family Circle Easy Knitting, Vogue Knitting, knit.1, Knitter's Magazine, Creative Knitting, BHG Knit It!, Knit 'n Style, and the new Knit Simple.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?

All my knitting pals keep telling me about the wonderul Addi Turbos and the Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles, they're next on my purchase list. I have also had my eye on Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick and AlterKNITS by Leigh Radford.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I would love to learn Fair Isle, Intarsia and different cast on methods. Also interested in learning how to read charts and design my own items with graphs.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I haven't attempted socks yet but would love to learn. I've been blessed with a ladies US Size 9.5 (10 for a little cushion).

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

March 19th (03/19); I give a shout out to all my homies....Spring babies in da house!

32. Do you have any allergic reactions to any yarns?

None

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I can't wait to get started SPoiling my Secret Pal. :-)

Hush-A-Bye Afghan for My Nephew

This afghan was started last spring and has been sitting in my UFO pile for a while. Another Leisure Arts Quick Knit Baby Afghans pattern, on size 15 circulars; also knitted holding two strands together--Red Heart Baby Econo in Baby Blue and Red Heart Baby Sport Pompadour in White.

Basketweave Afghan for Sarah

This afghan is a gift for my co-worker, Sarah. It's pattern is taken from Leisure Arts Quick Knit Afghans 5 and is knit on size 17 circulars holding two strands of yarn together. Since I'm on a serious yarn diet, this particular brand is an inexpensive acrylic in Vallejo Tan from Wal-Mart.

Sister's Cable-Knit Purse

Here's where I am so far on my sister, Rachel's, handbag. This purse is knit in Homespun Nouveau on size 8 circulars. It's my first attempt knitting with Homespun and it's a little tedious, but I love the colors. The cables are hard to see in this shot. Hopefully my digital photo skills will improve as time goes by.

Ripping it Up!

As I was knitting away on my Besotted Scarf, I paused to take a break from it one day and realized I completely skipped two rows in the process. While ripping it out, I thought what a great opportunity to update my blog, if I only had my digital camera. Then...a light bulb moment occurred...I remembered, in this hi-tech world of advanced technology, I have a camera phone! Duh!!! So here's a photo of where I am in the process of getting this scarf back on the needles. Wish me luck!