YPF......................................Robber Fly

This week's YPF was received by me in a swap for the skein of Glaucon. A fellow raveller wanted that skein and had this to offer in exchange. I have had this on my wish list at the Loopy Ewe from Bugga was first released.

Bugga in Robber Fly

Very intense variations of pink

I think the colours are incredible in The Sanguine Gryphon's skeins

I am on the home stretch for my Pomatomuses which will allow me to cast on something simpler as well as quicker to knit! :)

Christmas Crafty Stocking Wap

This was my parcel and gifts that Joy sent me for the Craftythreadsnyarn Christmas stocking swap.................

Isn't she a star!!

Unwrapped!!! Including STR JingleBell Rock yarn

Thoughtful items!!

My stocking!

The fabulous Cranford mitts that Joy knit especially for me!!

Joy I love them all and the STR is gorgeous, my photos so not do the intensity and vibrancy any justice! :)

MonkeySock Swap 4 now over.............................

I sent my parcel and it was well received. However I forgot to take pictures so look here for the details. The parcel included yarn/patterns/bag/ socks and monkey noveltioes :) Ronnie was a lovely swap partner, thank you. :D




I also sent some CookieA patterns for Ronnie to knit up. Roll on Swap 5 :) Thank you Rebecca!

Monkey Sock Swap Four :)

I rejoined the Monkey sock Swap 4 this time round. Last time around my partner defaulted despite assurances to the contrary to more than myself. My Swap 4 pal Sheryl has more than made up for any prior disappointments. She was my recipient last round and I loved having her for a pal then too. :)

Look at all the pretty wrapped parcels

All unwrapped and so many items it could be hard to do them all justice. Apologies if I missed out on anything!
Pens and pencils, notepads, stickers, keyrings (one a sock knitted in matching yarn), a pretty sock monkey purse and fabulous
monkey stitchmarkers!! Wow!! A georgeous little box, a purse and project bag all in monkey themes. Yarn wise 2 different yarns: Louet Gems Merino in Cherry Tree Hill Old Roses colourway and a skein of Araucania Ranco Solid in pink. And a CookieA pattern Moselle. :)

Aren't these so cute!!

I love Louet Gems and Cherry Tree Hill colours!!

The piece de la resistance!!

I love how they fit! The detail is beautiful and the yarn fabulous!!!

The only problem is this good weather prevents me from pulling them on tomorrow and strutting them about at work to show them off!!

I love them :) Thank you so much!!

Pay it Forward parcels arrived safely

My PIF gifts have arrived. I loved doing this but was a little slow on finishing my knits, for that I apologise and hope you enjoy your socks. I chose for each of you what I thought might be untried yarns. Thank you all for letting me know they arrived safely :)

Kay's No Purl Monkeys in Wollmeise 100% merino superwash sock: Paul

SussexYorkie's No Purl Monkey's in Fiesta Baby Boom: Rainforest

Rachel's No Purl Monkeys in Posh Emily: Pomegranate

I have now knit 15 Monkeys albeit of differing sizes.........time for a new pattern?? :D

Birthday Parcels :)

Today is my Birthday and I took part in a Birthday swap on Craftythreadsnyarn forum. I sent a parcel to Joy for her Birthday on Friday and she sent me one which arrived on Saturday especially as I am going to be away all day today. I opened it on Sunday so I could take pictures for this. Thank you so much Joy for a fabulous and georgeous parcel :)


I received a georgeous skein of The YarnYard sock yarn, Joy sent me a mini slein in a previous swap!! Isn't that thoughtful and far thinking :) There was beautiful handmade chocolate brought back from a trip to Bruges and 2 fabulous heart shaped buttons. They are divine! :)
And the piece de la resistance was an exquisite Forest Canopy Shawl from the FSC diva herself!! Knitted in The Knittery merino/cashmere 4 ply. Just wonderful!!!!!!! Thank you so so much Joy. :)

Swaps, Friends and PIF

I was at the post office today and posted 6 parcels, 3 swaps parcels and 3 PIF gifts (posted later than I had hoped but gone nonetheless) :D When I got home there were 2 parcels waiting for me. :)

The first parcel held a swap skein of delectable handspun BFL bulky yarn, handpainted too. Isn't it georgeous!!! My pictures do not do it real justice. lilcoley is obviously a master at this :)

Spring Fling

The yarn feels like cotton wool to touch but with a silkiness too:)

The second parcel held this exquisite hand crafted bag in Amy Butler fabric. This is the second bag I received in a swap from CJ. Isn't she really talented? I wish she would set up shop!! And I'm not the only one who wishes that. Can you believe she is fairly new to sewing machines. I can't tell from the bags.......



I hope all those who were sent parcels today receive them quickly :) I enjoyed doing them but I forgot to put in the little cards I wrote for the PIFs and Swaps..............duh! I remembered after I had used up all the cellotape!

Friends who sew..................

A lovely friend CJ/Belaybunny made this bag for me to give to my MonkeySwap Pal. Isn't it georgeous!!!


A dinky little pocket inside!!!


I'm really delighted to be able to give such a fabulous bag as a gift :)

Thank you CJ :)

Monkey Swap Four!

Here we go again!! How could I resist knitting more Monkeys ;) :D I had a wonderful downstream partner the last swap, I hope to get one as nice again! :) This swap is by invitation only as a few of the participants were let down last time. I can't wait to stalk a little :)

Monkey Sock Swap Questionnaire
The Measurements
Shoe size: UK 6/euro 39
Foot length in inches: 22.5cm/9in
Circumference: 22.5cm/9in

Yarn Preferences
What are your favorite colors? Pinks, Turquoises, Teals, Reds
What color clashes with your wardrobe? I'm not into psychedelic colours
Do you prefer solids or variegated yarns? I prefer semi-solids to solids and like variegated too.
What are your favorite brand sock yarns? STR, Posh Emily, Louet Gems and Fleece Artist
Is there a new sock yarn you really would like to try? Sundara is one I haven't tried that springs to mind but there are lots of lovely yarns out there surprise me, I'm not especially fussy and never disappointed.

Cookie A. Patterns
List the patterns you do not have but would like to receive:
I have Twisted Flower, Milicent, Flicker and Mingus anything else would be nice. :)

Allergies
Do you have any allergies that your pal needs to know about? (animals, fiber, sensitivity to smoke etc.) I find yarn with nylon too itchy to knit/wear but anything else is fine :)
Will you knitting be exposed to animals? I have cats, they do not have access to my knitting but there may be some transfer.
Will you knitting be exposed to cigarette smoke? NEVER

Shipping
What country do you live in? United Kingdom
Are you willing to ship outside your country? Of course :)

Parcels..............................numero uno

I have had a few parcels turn up this week. The first is my swap parcel from Craftythreads'n'yarn forum February swap parcel. We swapped a small, approx 20 grams of sock yarn, some stitchmarkers and as an extra my swap pal also sent me a lovely treat. Thank you!!

A Silken Angel ..................................

I took part in another swap on Craftythreadsnyarn Forum. This time we swapped Christmas Decorations. I received a lovely knitted silver and white angel from Chrissy at BrightDyes. This is the angel I sent to the blogless Carolinne.

I made it from the pack of Oliver Twist Silk products I bought at the RDS. The head is a cocoon, the wings silver wire covered with a silk handkerchief, hair and cloak different fibres etc etc. Instead of glueing the bits or sewing it I used pearl topped pins to put it together so it became a recyclable Eco Angel, if Carolinne wants to recycle it that is. I have so enjoyed these monthly swaps as they have persisantly challenged me to try new things :) I look forward to next years challenges :) First up is a Dishcloth swap, great to start spring cleaning with? :)

A week's worth!!

I have been working very hard this week and last, putting in extra hours. And the light here is appalling. I had to wait until today to photograph a lot of these yarns and WiPs. I guess if this keeps up I will only get to post once a week for a while! I hope not. At least snow gives off wonderful light when it comes!! :)




This arrived during the week, one of a large order of Socks that Rock using my 10% off coupon, a bonus gift in the Rockin sock Club this year. :)




I received this from Chrissy of BrightDyes in a CraftyThreads Christmas Decoration swap. :)


This yarn arrived from the Hipknits sale. Silk/Cashmere sock yarn in Seaweed.


A scarf for my sister for her pre Christmas Birthday (she is the Big 40 this year)
Pattern is Haven and yarn is Posh Eva (silk/cashmere 4ply) Colour Cumulous using 3.75mm needles.

Autumn santa swap parcel arrived

This month's swap on Craftythreads'n'yarn forum is an Autumn secret santa swap. This box arrived this morning! :) I feel so lucky..........





These georgeous gifts arrived courtesy of an old blogless friend Farmgirl. Thank you for going that extra mile and really spoiling me :)

Prickly Pincushion..........

I took part in another swap on Crafty Threads. This time we sent pincushions to our pals. The one I sent was a boring felted i-cord sewn into a basket................this is the parcel I received from CraftyBernie my camera doesn't do the detail on this exquistite work of art (I kid you not) with pins made with tops of butterflies and flowers among other items.
Even the box was decorated beautifully!

A little magic Toadstool fairy home!



A little lady on the hill



Flowers in the garden




Did you notice the handmade plastic shrunken pin heads?



I'm totally bowled away by the pincushion, thank you so much. I feel so priviledged.