Sweet dreams are made of these

I've been stalking the mailbox lately, and today it came to much success! My Dirty Knitter Swap package arrived, and man did I make out well! Linda really spoiled me rotten. Check out what I saw when I opened the box:



And look at all the packages inside:



Unwrapped:



Up above you can see two yummy drink recipes, one for a Chocolate Mint Martini and one for a Chocolate-Covered Cherry Martini (off to the liquor store I go!). In the middle row you can see a Molten Chocolate Lava Cake mix, chocolate rimming sugar, and a heart-shaped zipsack (a little bag with a tote bag inside). In the bottom row are some chocolate swizzle sticks. Oh yeah, and the yarn! Cherry Tree Hill (my fave) supersock in Earth and Lang Silkdream in color 22 (yummy chocolate brown).

I love everything! Thanks again Linda, you are by far the best.



Previous title: Turin Brakes, "Painkiller"

Batten up the hatches, here comes the cold

Hurray for snow days! And what better way to spend a snow day than knitting mittens?



Specs:
Pattern: my own
Needles: US 4
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Irving Park colorway; Classic Elite Lush in color 4413 (black)
Pattern Notes: I may have found two new favorite yarns. They're both SO soft. The black mittens are for a friend at work. I've already given them to her, but I have some separation anxiety. There may be a Lush pair in my future. In the meantime, I'll have to settle for the Lorna's pair. This yarn would make a great sweater, if only I could find a pattern I like for it. Any ideas?

I've also been working on my Anemoi mittens, because one can never have too many pairs of mittens, right? New pics coming soon!



Previous Title: Cyndi Lauper, "True Colors"

I see your true colors shining through

If you see a bandwagon speed by, look closely and you'll see me on it. Here are my Anemoi Mittens, which are a part of my efforts for Project Spectrum February/March.



Gotta love the blue and brown combo! I have a few complaints about the yarns, but that's my own fault I guess. Mainly I'm annoyed because they aren't the same gauge exactly and the blue is a little thinner. While the blue is supposed to be background, the brown really jumps out and the pattern's a bit obscured as a result. I knew I shouldn't have believed that yarn store owner (store not to be mentioned here) who told me it wouldn't matter.

Ah, well, as my first foray into fair isle (not including a poorly chosen project a few years ago that remains unfinished), I'm still really happy with these. This picture was taken yesterday afternoon. After a few more hours of work, I now have one almost completed mitten and I'm still going strong. Bonus: These mittens are also my effort for Fair Isle February. I'm loving reading the posts over there and seeing what everyone is up to!

In addition to these mittens, I've got another blue project. Check out these guys:



Specs:
Pattern: Toe Up Generic Socks from Knitty
Needles: US 2
Yarn: Socks that Rock in Chapman Springs, medium-weight (STASH YARN ALERT!)
Pattern Notes: Don't think I have any. I do plan on using this again to create some more exciting socks, but for this yarn, plain-old-stockinette was just right.

Upcoming Project Spectrum ideas include a pair of socks in Colinette's Jitterbug yarn in a funky charcoal and a pair of black mittens in the softest angora wool I've ever felt. Ever. Maybe I'll also finish up some old Jaywalkers in Lorna's Laces Jeans colorway.



Previous Title: The Killers, "Read My Mind"

Can you read my mind?

I know, I suck about posting lately. Conversation over. Moving on to the good stuff.

Last week (yes, it has really been that long) I came home to find this waiting for me.



I gave it the Squeeze and Shake test, as per usual, and pleasently found that the package was quite squishy. Squishy = yarn. Squishy = good.

And lookee what was inside the squishy package:




It's like my secret pal was inside my brain, I swear. The last time I went to my LYS, I was checking out that yarn you see on the right, Lanna Grossa Meilenweit in just that color. I also love the one on the left, nice and subdued. It's Austermann Step with Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil. Yes, Apparently Now Every Word Gets Capitalized For No Real Reason. Moving on . . . please don't ask me the colorways, because they are all numbers and I just can't handle that right now. Believe me when I tell you that the pictures are pretty true to the colors, and let's leave it at that.

But wait!!!! What's that hiding inside the yarn?



It's lip gloss. What's fun is that each color kinda goes with the yarn it was hiding inside. There's also a lip plumper, just for fun. Haven't tried it yet, but one day I will. Thank you Secret Pal! Now quick, everybody go over to Monkeys Love Yarn and tell Chee-uh how much she rules. Please please please do it for me because I feel so badly that it took me this long to post about the package.

And while you're out visiting others in blogline, go say hi to the Knit Mongrel, who I've had the pleasure of spoiling for the last few months.



Previous title: Train, "I Am"