A little revelation...

OK, I think I admitted to being weak and finally caving and going over to Creative Accents for the big closing sale. I also seem to think that I didn't reveal what I got or how much, just that it was in character with my behavior-excessive! Well, I will slowly reveal what I purchased over time, I'm sure.

So...while I am at Creative Accents, Nartian and I see this very cute sweater-a Baby Surprise Sweater, nonetheless. So I end up buying 6 skeins of 2 color combinations to knit up into this sweater which I've never made before! Got the pattern, too, of course...

Fast-forward to yesterday--place: Beverly's (Crafts and Fabric) . It is Memorial Day and everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) in the entire store is 25% off! So I see the Vanna's Choice ACRYLIC yarn by Lion Brand in some awesome colors! What do I do? Of course, I lay them out together and decide yet another color combination is in order for yet ANOTHER Surprise Baby Sweater (such named, still not even made by me...pattern untouched...). And yet-I have the pattern ON me!

Not only did I buy some Vanna yarn and yet another set of circs, I get a few other fun items. I get out the door and am immediately casting on for this baby sweater as my friend and I depart from the shopping center!

So here I am now, hooked on this crazy sweater! Thought I'd give my Horcrux sock a viewing, too, since I am now on the foot portion and oh-so-close to the finish of "a" sock! Ain't knitting wonderful?!

Mystic Sea Socks completed!

Well here they are, finally finished! I ended up tearing back the first sock to lengthen it a bit. Of course, I had already cut the yarn and had to add a new end to it, but I think it was worth having it a tad longer in length. Can I reiterate how much I love the Lunasea colorway?! The color got a bit washed out in this pic, but you can see the texture pretty well. I really like the way the heel flap is designed to taper in a bit, too. Great socks, great fit! And my first socks with STAR TOES! The pattern is great and combined with this colorway, there are absolutely no regrets with this purchase!

Now, as for resisting the closing sale at Creative Accents-well...my resistance had worn down and I finally made my way there. I won't discuss my purchases at this time, but let's just say that we all know how weak I am!

I've been holding out on ya...

I don't know why...I think it is because I started this first sock so long ago and took so long on the second. Maybe because they are 'plain vanilla'. Perhaps it was because I finished the second sock and my first Kew around the same time (on my way home from Sock Camp...) and have now misplaced my Kew and can't show the socks together!

Either way, I have now posted the latest PAIR of socks added to my sock drawer. I also have another second sock around the corner-just haven't had the time to complete the pair!

So this pair is made from some 'Watermelon' dyed sock yarn I purchased on eBay a while back. Watermelon self-striping was just coming in, and I was one of the suckers who paid top price for this stuff. I didn't mind, though, because as a crafter, I can appreciate the time, materials, money, effort and all that went into dying this yarn. It is really soft, too! I can't recall off-hand what I paid, but I know when I placed my bet I figured I could never make it myself at that price!

Now, this is kinda a funky pic and I decided not to crop because the perspective is so bizarre. See my feet below the socks? Don't they look tiny? They are ugly and pudgy, but I thought I would not edit it out just cuz the perspective is so strange...

Lots of food, a little spindling, a bit of yarn...

Well, I missed out on YPF-instead, I was spending the evening with a bunch of First graders! It's been crazy and I feel like I have been cooking non-stop since Thursday evening!

First, I made some Turkey Ragu spaghetti and an orzo salad for the Friday night potluck. I took the easy route and bought the pre-packaged salad pack, but it was still good salad! Helped serve dinner and clean up that evening. It was an overnight at the school, so I also tortured my back sleeping on the carpet-covered concrete floor.

The next morning I helped make waffles for the kids. There was other food, but I didn't have to cook any of the other stuff... Got home and took a nap, then thought it wise to get started on the Teacher's Appreciation Lunch food I committed to making! Started on the San Antonio Quinoa Salad and did some of the prep for other dishes, as well as purchasing the ingredients I still had to gather!

So today was spent making the BBQ beans ("simmer for 6 1/2 hours..."-this, after having simmered it for " 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours..."-yeah, I'm crazy...), finishing up the quinoa salad (well, actually, I still have to chop tomatoes and add it, but I don't want to add that too far ahead), and making a spelt salad. I still have to slice tomatoes and cucumbers and make some 'favors'. What was I thinking?! Oh, and I have to make some dressing, too...OK, what I was thinking is that I am a complete food snob and feel like you have to make things from scratch for it to be 'special'!-lol!

And...not that you care, but I had also told my son's teacher that I would use the leftover eggs and bread to make 'bread pudding'. I decided that is not happening for tomorrow. I guess I'll be making it for Tuesday! And guess what else I get to make this week? Oh...maybe 12 qts of Turkey Chili for Friday's Talent Show! Bad timing...! And yes, I do work, though I am taking some time off this week!

Now for the knitting news...BEHOLD! Ribby Pulli components! You know, not that it matters, but I still can't figure out how to describe this color! It is Color #4006. I went to the Cascade site and it is grouped with some random colors. Kinda 'blackberry', kinda brown, some blue and red in it...All I know is that it looked great together with Puck's Mischief!

I had to show off some new yarn I'm spinning! It is some Merino/Bombyx from Chasing Rainbows that I purchased the other week when I picked up the Cascade 220 that Purlescence had ordered for me. (You know-the Cascade 220 that I will be using with my BMFA "Twister" to make the Ribby Pulli...)

So, here, my latest roving and yarn!

What LYS is closing?

Hmmm...seems I forgot to mention the name of it, in case anyone is wondering! It is Creative Accents and is in San Leandro. I've only been there once (when it was up and running for regular business-no closing sales going on!). It was kinda funky because they do framing and sell yarn there. I have still resisted stepping foot in the store since I found out about the closing, but my 'in the know' (and going there on a regular basis to scoop up the savings!) tell me the novelties are 70% off and needles will go on sale towards the end. I think the last day is May 17th. Other yarns (as I understand) are 30-50% off.

Wha-?! Yarn Prn Friday Again?!

And I actually have something to share...? Yeah, Terry-I'm shameful, huh? See, I know that 'Terry" likes to come over and see my yarn, so I couldn't let her/him down now could I?!

So...my latest from a shopping spree at Rumplestilskein in Sacramento...Rule #1, if you are able to be good about avoiding the LYS that is closing down, don't go to an out-of-town PTA Convention with another knitter! They are sure to want to find a yarn shop to check out and will most surely enable you!

So today's purchases: some sale yarn for a slubby shawl or moebius-not sure...and some Fiesta Rayon Boucle (in Color 2117, Iris) and Cotton Twist (Color 8349) to combine into a Cat Bordhi moebius-cuz, you know-I just got inspired to knit one now that I've taken a workshop with Cat and have seen other knit moebiuses!

The green color cotton twist is more limey than what appears in the pic. Much more limey than my tastes usually go for. BUT...combined with the "Iris" color, I think it will be mellowed, while the Iris will get a bit more jazzed up. We'll see... Oh-and the pink stuff...yes, many of you who know my 'usual' palette will wonder, "What the...-?!" Well, I got this fun washcloth poodle pattern that I want to knit for my sister, so I thought I'd try this stuff out.

As mentioned a bit ago, the California PTA is holding its Convention in Sacramento through Sunday, so there I was up there attending workshops and general meetings-perfect venues for listening while knitting! Funny, too, how well-courted we were by the fundraising companies! The Exhibitors at this convention are out of control! Do you know how much wrapping paper and other goodies I ended up bringing home with me? Do you know how many cookie, brownie, chocolates, cheesecake, pretzel, pizza, coffee samples were left out for us to eat? One thing for sure-one of them needs to bring water next year.

I'm hoping to have a WHOLE PAIR of socks to show off within the next week, so I'll keep you posted!

And a closing 'let's share' thought...lookie what my brother made as invites for his upcoming 40th Birthday celebration...Yeah, he made ONE EACH; rather, one for each invitee-IOW, no duplicates going on here...And he sent them in individual boxes with some black nesting stuff. Brilliant! CRAZY!!! He spent weekends and free evenings working on these for the past 3 months!