Busy Knitting Instead of Blogging

This post has been sitting in the edit for some time. I thought I would just add the new HSKS trivia to it. (really posted on 6/6/07)

Trivia:"Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies." Who says this? Voldemort

Missed this one:
Trivia - May 27 through June 2
Who are the two people speaking in this quote and what book is it from? Order of the Phoenix

"I'm not trying to say what she did was sensible. I'm just trying to make you see how she was feeling at the time." Hermione "You should write a book, translating mad things girls do so boys can understand them." Ron




It has been a while since I have blogged. My personal time is pretty limited and lately I have been using the time to catch up with my knitting projects. I am working hard on my HSKS bag. I couldn't seem to focus on any one pattern, so I am making it up as I go along. I wanted to show my work, but I don't want to spoil it for my swap partner, so I will just post a picture of the yarn I am using.





Black and yellow are not my favorite combination, but the project is turning out pretty good so far.


For some time now I have owed Chan and Shannon my answers to the "tag" game.


Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog. Here are my facts:

1. My husband and I call each other "butthead". I know, it is a bit crazy but it works. We can use it in a fun sweet way and when we are annoyed.

2. I miss having a pet and my daughter wants a pet, but my husband is allergic to dogs and cats (and probably everything else). I have/had a dog, Jack Russell, but she is at my mom's house and has been for many years. She isn't really mine any more. I see so many cute little dogs and wish we could have one. A toy poodle or dachshund. I grew up with two miniature poodles and I use to dress them in my clothes and we would have a tea party.

3. I am diabetic (type 2) and have low thyroid. I got all this after my first child (daughter) was born. I still eat sweets because I can't resist, especially dark chocolate!

4. I love to read and used to collect first editions. Now I spend the money on yarn instead of books.

5. I have a tattoo on my lower back. It is the astrological sign for a Taurus circled by a wreath of leaves.

6. My favorite treat is Starbucks Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino® Blended Crème, full of fat and sugar, but yummy! This is my alternative to ice cream.

7. I'm going to knit socks for Sockapalooza4, but I have never knitted socks before. As the dead line gets closer I keep wondering why I joined the swap! (A little freaking here)

Quidditch for HSKS

Ok, My first Quidditch game (I missed the first one) Hope I can answer all the questions.

Trivia

1. Who is the Fat Lady's friend?- Violet- Rose- Lavender- Lily Violet

2. When the Fat Lady was attacked by Sirius Black and fled her portrait, who took over for her as guard of Gryffindor Tower? Sir Cadogan

3. Usually when Harry is in Dumbledore's office, what are the portraits of previous headmasters doing?- Humming- Snoozing- Giving Dumbledore advice- Arguing with one another Snoozing

4. Which one of the Triwizard champions did not go to the World Cup?- Harry Potter- Fleur Delacour- Cedric Diggory- Viktor Krum Fleur Delacour

5. Who did Harry give his Triwizard winnings to?- Mr. and Mrs. Diggory- No one, he kept them- Professory Dumbledore- Fred and George Weasley Fred and George Weasley

The next two are anagrams. Rearrange the letters to get the correct words.

6. Live gong cram la man (two words) Minerva McGonagall

7. Owl or video Oliver Wood

8. What author's name appears on the book "Quidditch Through the Ages"?- Albus Dumbledore- J.K. Rowling- Kennilworthy Whisp- Newt Scamander Kennilworthy Whisp

9. What does the Keeper do in a game of Quidditch?- Keeps the brooms in good working order- Guards the goal- Keeps the score- Holds the Quaffle Guards the goal

10. In the Goblet of Fire why did the Mad Eye Moody imposter put Harry's name in the goblet?- He wanted Ron to be mad at him- He wanted Dumbledore to expel Harry for entering the tournament- He wanted Harry to be killed during the tasks- He wanted Harry to win the tournament He wanted Harry to win the tournament

Picture Scavenger HuntFind these pictures and either post the pictures on your blog or links that will take us to those pictures.-

Dobby holding his sock from Harry-

Cho Chang and Harry's first kiss-

Viktor Krum and Hermione at the dance-

Mad Eye Moody

Chan's contest for dishcloth swappers

All of us dishcloth swappers have been sorted into three different groups. I was lucky to be placed into Chan's group. (Hi Chan!) Each group has a contest and here is the one for my group:

So, what gives you hope? My family and especially my daughter. She has this sweet quality about her that always leaves me wondering what she will be like when she is a woman. She comes to me sometimes, just out-of-the-blue, and will tell me she loves me. I love this picture of her.

How do you recharge and get energized when you're feeling drained? Well, currently I am being energized artificially by coffee but that is just for the daily grind. Other wise I am recharged by my husband when he gives me a hug and kiss then says how much he loves me, by my daughter when she makes her new brother laugh with a funny face, or by some little thing like a new book or a new pattern and some yarn (these things make me think how lucky am I with this life!). And what is your favorite summer adventure, whether it's a memory or an item on your agenda for this year or both? I will go with a memory....The summer that I flew to Morocco to meet my future husband. We had met online and then talked on the phone. As soon as I heard his voice, I knew he was the one. His voice made me feel peaceful and as if we had always been together. The summer of 2000 I flew to Morocco alone to meet someone that I had only talked to on the phone and chatted with online. Everyone was worried about me, but I wasn't. I knew everything would be fine. And it was. We traveled around Morocco and all the while I felt comfortable and safe. The following year he came to the U.S.,we married, and the rest is my happily ever after.

Update

Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap-

I finally ordered some yarn for the the bag from Knitpicks. I decided to go for some of their felting wool. I'm not positive that I will felt it, since, as I said before, I have never felted before. I don't want to mess up, especially since I am running out of time. I already know what I plan to fill the bag with, and plan to buy most of it next month. See sidebar with changes (again) to bag plans.

Summer Dishcloth Swap-

I'm working now on the dishcloth and really like how it is turning out. I hope my swap pal likes the color I picked. I went with something bright and summer like. I think it goes well with the pattern. I have also decided on what I am going to include with this and most will be purchased next month. Maybe I will post a picture, but I'd hate to spoil it for my pal if she peeks. Oh, I can't resist showing off...here is a picture:



Out of 10 pictures this is the one that was the best. My camera is not very good at close-ups. It is hard to see how nice the pattern is. It is called Diamond Drops from my 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar.At least the color was fairly accurate.


Sockapalooza4-

Well, this one took awhile, but I finally ordered some yarn. (I'll let you guess the color) I have never used this yarn before and I have never made socks before....so wish me luck! I am really excited about finally making socks. Joining this swap is just what I needed, something to force me to make socks. You know....just do it, kind of thing.

Well, I've got a lot planned and I'm really looking forward to all these new experiences. I wish I had joined swaps before I had my second child. I would have had more time. Oh well, it doesn't matter now, I'll just keep working at it and it will get done! I claim not to have time to knit, so how am I getting all this blogging time in? hmmm....guess I'm not sleeping much any more. (Coffee, my new best friend!)

missed knitting and blogging

I would like to say I haven't blogged because I was out of town, but I can't. I have just been too tired and distracted with HP #6. I started reading it last Monday and have been using all my extra time just reading. NO knitting, no blogging and no sleep! Well, my excuse is that it is the first time reading it. I didn't read it when it came out because I was just too crazy for knitting to read anything. Now I am trying to do both and it is very hard to find the time when I can't stop reading. Oh well, pretty soon I will have some new yarn for one of my swap projects and I will be crazy with that. Any way, since I don't have any knitting to report, I will just post my answers to this weeks trivia questions from the Howarts Sock Kit Swap.

Trivia #1
What's the name of this potion?This potion has the colour of molten gold, and while exposed to the air, large drops will leap like goldfish above the surface without spilling. Felix Felicis (liquid luck)
Trivia #2
Which book is this line from?"Harry and Cho were now too embarrassed to look at each other, let alone talk to each other; what if Ron and Hermione started going out together, then split up? Could their friendship survive it? Harry remembered the few weeks when they had not been talking to each other in third year; he had not enjoyed trying to bridge the distance between them. And then, what if they didn't split up? What if they became like Bill and Fleur, and it became excruciatingly embarrassing to be in their presence, so that he was shut out for good?" Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Trivia #3
Who utters these words?"Oh I am glad I'm not on duty. I wouldn't fancy having to go and tell the Irish they've got to stop celebrating." Mr. Weasley

Another Swap?!

Ok, I am becoming addicted to joining swaps. I said it, and admit it. Here is the proof... I'm still a virgin to swapping and yet I keep joining more swaps. (I'm a bit worried about getting in over my head) Well, this new one is perfect for me. REALLY! If you have had a chance to look at my completed projects you would see that I have made many dishcloths. It all started when I bought a 365 patterns a day book and wanted to try out new patterns. What better way to do it then making a dishcloth! Voila! So imagine me jumping around different blogs and finding someone with this swap button. I couldn't resist and checked it out. I read the requirements and the deadline was made just in time. Yea! Funny enough, the same person I found to have this new swap, also has a few of the same swaps as me! I hope she doesn't mind me putting her blog here. Well, now I need to answer the questionnaire for this new swap, so here it is:

When did you learn to knit? Who taught you? I think it was 1995. I learned from a family friend that I lived with for a year in Colorado. I only knitted for a year then stopped until in 2005 a co-worker talked about learning how to knit and got me all excited again. Since then I have been a knit and yarn junkie. (My husband just thinks I'm crazy)
What was your very first completed object? Funny enough....a washcloth!Your most recent? Jelly Bean (toy bunny) see my blog.

What was the very first thing you sent to the frog pond? (pulled out and started over) Your most recent? I haven't had any that I completely frogged and started over. My most recent frog was....a washcloth. I lost count and it had too many k2tog and yo for me to undo a few rows. I just decided to trash it or frog it.
What is currently on the needles for you? I have about 5 different projects, but the one that I recently picked up is my second Jelly Bean in Hufflepuff colors.
What types of needles do you enjoy working with? What have you tried and hated? Knitting dishcloths, I use only Clover us#8. It is the best needles when using 100% cotton. I find metal too slippery and plastic to clingy. For other projects I have used metal and plastic. I try to find the needles best suited to the yarn being used.
Have you knit dishcloths before? Yes
What was your favorite one? I made one as a gift using a cable stitch and felt it turned out really nice.
Least favorite? Don't remember.
Do you use homemade dishcloths or face cloths yourself, or give them as gifts, or both? I use and gift and sell.
What are your favorite and least favorite scents? (For your body, such as soap/lotion/etc) I love lavender, mint, rose, and citrus. My least favorite would be musky or powdery smells.
What are your favorite colors? I like all colors but I guess I focus mostly on greens and blues or reds and browns
What colors (if any) are your bathroom and kitchen decorated in? Bathroom is White with blue accents; Kitchen is pale yellow with red accents.
What other hobbies and crafts do you enjoy? Only have time for knitting and reading.
Chocolate: Dark? White? Milk? Ew? Love love love dark chocolate!
Do you like salty treats? What kinds? Of course! Pretzels
If you could go anywhere in the world for one day and spend the day any way you wanted, where would you go and what would you do? Hard question....I guess since this is all about knitting, I will say I would go to France and check out all the yarn stores.
Do you have any allergies? (Yarns, foods, etc. that might impact what your pal can send) None!

Finishing and Moving On

Finished!

(Sitting on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Hey! Both book and bunny are Ravenclaw movie colors!)

Well, I finally finished my first Jelly Bean. I stitched up all the pieces and stuffed and put it all together but it took some time for me to put a face on it. I carried it back and forth from work to home hoping to finish it up, but I just couldn't do it. It remained faceless for a week. As you can see from the photo why I took so long; I hate sewing! If you could see my seams on the body you would see I have no patience for it (or a clue to what I am doing). After all of this, I am still going to try to make my Hufflepuff Jelly Bean. (yes I am a glutton for punishment!) My friend took pity on me and volunteered to put the face on the next one. Yea for me!

I changed quite a bit from the original specifications. I changed the yarn color and changed (well, messed up) the eyes. I decided not to use the required doll eyes because this first bunny was going to go to my 5 year old. I didn't want to take a chance that my 6 month old got a hold of it.

Ok, moving on to better things!

I joined two different swap groups, Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap and Sockapalooza4. I have both of my swap pals information so now I need to get yarn for my swap projects. My first focus is my HSKS pal, since this needs to be shipped out next month (June). I need to make a bag of some kind and then purchase the rest of the items to ship. I decided on the bag pattern....very simple and a quick knit, but I plan to felt it. This will be the first time I have felted a project. I hope I don't screw this up, since I don't have a lot of time. I am excited to try it though. It has been something I have been thinking of doing for a while now. see Vibe Tote. I plan to modify it of course, since I have to make the bag in my pals house colors (a fellow Hufflepuff!) Vibe does not have a yellow color. Too bad since it is a two tone color yarn, the second is black.