I AM SPECIAL

This afternoon, I returned home from Rhinebeck. It was a long whirlwind weekend that encompassed flying up to NYC to visit with family and friends and to attend the NYS Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck for the first time. There will more on that later. Awaiting my return to PI, I found the most fabulous package from my KTS4 Pal Tammy.

There were the cutest beaded stitch markers in a wonderful Christmas and Winter theme, and an adorable tin that is perfect for holding all those loose notions that I have scattered about my knitting chair.

And the goodies... lots of Teas and Chocolates from Trader Joe's and some yummy cookies.

And the yarn! Oh my, there was some sscrumptious Hand Maiden Yarn Sea Silk in the Renaissance colorway.........and some truly fabulous Socks That Rock Lightweight in Star Sapphire colorway that is a beautiful periwinkle.

And if that wasn't enough, Tammy was thoughtful to include the "Spring Shawl" pattern from Heirloom Knitting. Since I discovered lace, Sharon Miller's designs have been on my most aspired, most drooled over, most coveted patterns.Tammy, I am in awe of your creativity and truly touched by your generosity. Thank you for making me feel so special.

Another Estonian Garden Shawl

This project is finished, just waiting to be shipped off to my ISE5 Pal. She said that she would love a lace project. I am hoping that this shawl will be everything that she had hoped for.

This coming weekend, I'll be heading to Rhinebeck. So, the package will wait until after I return. I just might find a few surprises to keep this shawl company on its journey to my ISE5 Pal.

My Pal, she has done it again..

I was just about to walk out the door for my daily errands. You know.. the bank, library, post office, dry-cleaners, etc. However, there was this package leaning up against the door. My curiosity was peaked. The darn errands would have to wait.

I opened the box to reveal two packages that were so carefully wrapped in white tissue paper. But, not for long. I ripped open the first to reveal two skeins of Louet Gems in the Indigo colorway. My first instinct, as with all yarn, was to put it up to my cheek to rub it and smell it. It is truly luscious. I have never used this yarn, but with all the socks that I have planned in the wings over the next 3 months, that yarn will not be gathering too much dust.And then, as I opened the next package, I stopped dead in my tracks. I was, and if you can believe it, still am, speechless. There was the piece d' resistance (OK, so you can tell that I took Spanish not French). There was the most truly fabulous, mouth-dropping, incredible, fantastic, awe-inspiring, and most coveted sock blockers that I have ever feasted my eyes upon. And they were mine. All mine.

Just when I didn't think that it was possible for my pal to top her last package, she did it again. I am floored, and extremely grateful for her infinite generosity and down right good taste! Thank you. thank you. thank you. thank you.

And of course, I couldn't resist modeling my most recent pair of socks. Here they are, in all their glory, looking too marvelous....

I found it!

I found the most perfect shop in the UK to spoil my pal.

Socktopus, a relative newcomer to the yarn scene, is now offering the UK, and the world, the finest, most luxurious fibers that are available.. anywhere. When it comes to retailers, Alice has raised the bar a notch. She offers exceptional products, at the best prices, and with the best customer service that you will experience in a long time. Alice, has the most exquisite taste in yarn, and being an avid sock knitter herself, she has an eye and hand for selecting just the very best. She carries Hand Maiden Casbah, a luscious blend of cashmere/wool and Fleece Artist Somoko, a luxurious blend of kid/silk/merino. I have been gifted yarns by Hand Maiden myself, and I have not stopped caressing them yet.

For the ultimate splurge, could Alice entice you with Camel Spin? It's another yarn by Handmaiden - camel down is really luxurious and exotic. This one is 30% camel down and 70% silk. Or how about another yarn by The Knittery, from Australia, which is a cashmere and merino blend (60% superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 20% nylon) - softer still than Casbah and it is truly absolute heaven! If you haven't been bitten by fiber bug yet, why not try some of the absolute gorgeous offerings of pure cashmere from Mama Llama. Oh and of course there is Buffalo Gold, from Texas. This is buffalo down which is an exotic fibre, rather dear, and rather warm.

Alice even has a Socktopus Sock Club in the planning stages. She has plans to showcase the exceptional yarns of local, as well as international hand dyers. Bookmark Socktopus. It will be the site to browse when you want the finest yarns that are available.

Another ISE

I joined the International Scarf Exchange 5. This will be my fourth round in this particular exchange. Each time, I have been blessed with the most fabulous partners, both up and downstream.

I have read the questionnaire of the pal that I am to spoil. She outlined the colors, type and style that she would love. Being the sneak that I am, my introduction to her I told her that I had only been knitting for about 6 months and I am just now learning how to purl. I told her that I love the beautiful selection of yarns that are available at my local Wal-mart. Isn't she just crazy about Lion Brand too? (Yes, I will be going straight to hell for all the lies that I tell, but heck.... I'll know everyone there!) I know that she would love a lace shawl, but with all the constraints upon my time, I really doubt if I will have the time to devote to it. I do have one already done, it's the Estonian Garden Shawl that I made using GGH Capri (a cotton/tencel blend) in a salmon color. I just don't know if it would be her first choice when it comes to the color.

The shawl is done, sitting in a drawer, all folded up and waiting to be loved and cherished. Would it be so tacky to send a shawl that I had already made?

I have heard from the person that is to spoil me. She sent an email asking a few questions, to try and get to know me more. I sent her a loooooong rendition, that just might have been a little TMI. Well, she asked for it! lol. I just hope that she uses this exchange as a change to try new and different techniques and yarns.... but most of all.... to just have fun!

A Sister's Gift

I was gifted this truly fabulous quilted jacket. Dee is so talented, and far outshines my abilities. She was making a quilt, when her son remarked that the color's were "so Aunt Dorene". And, yes, they are. If you could just imagine a Tuscan landscape with the luscious green fields, dotted with abundant sunflowers and lavender, you can picture colors that I'm drawn to. So, she decided to use some of the fabric and craft me a jacket. Isn't is just fabulous?

Look... even the lining is sheer perfection....

The colors didn't really come out as vibrant as they really are, as the flash did wash them out, just a tad. But, I hope that you can just partially imagine how truly exquisite this gift is. Boy, do I feel special!

O! M! G!

I just received a parcel from my Secret Pal. Actually, it went out west and Nick had to forward it to me here at the beach. It arrived today and when I opened it, all I could say, is OMG, over and over again. "Sock Pal" really outdid herself.

The package included a wonderful skein of Mini Maiden, the little sister of the Silk Maiden that I have been totally ga-ga over. It is a delightful blend of Silk and Wool and is in the most luxurious color called Sangria. Cocktails, anyone? I just can't seem to stop petting it. It truly is that luscious. Oh, my.
Then, there was a lavender sachet pillow from Peace Valley Lavender Farm, accompanied by a little tub of the Lavender Shea Butter. Nothing, I mean nothing, makes my yarn smell any better than lavender. A girl can never have too much lavender.
Finally, I came to a small package that was wrapped in a plain wrapper, from Knitty Noddy. Gingerly, I opened it to reveal.... "Knitting Lace Triangles", the latest book from my idol, Evelyn Clark. It is eerie, because I was seriously contemplating buying the book myself, just yesterday. I just ran out of time and never got around to order it. Talk about karma!
Well, "Sock Pal", you have put together one truly fabulous package and I am in awe. This one was definitely a "10". This is one that will hard to beat.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.