All Hallow's Eve Dishcloth Swap Box

I have been majorly spoiled by my swap partner for the All Hallow’s Eve Dishcloth exchange. My spoiler was Alaina P. and she did a great job! Look at all the great stuff my swap partner sent me, isn't this great! The yarn in the picture below is Blue Sky and it is so soft I can't believe it, and it is laying on one of the two dishcloths, aren't the colors wonderful, so fall-like.
Here is the second dishcloth that was in the box, it is a beautiful pattern and I love it. Note the cute tissue paper that Alaina used, I couldn't find anything that cute.
This cruddy picture is the one for the darling stitch markers, sorry it is soooo bad. However the stitch markers are so cute, it has two bats and two ghosts. I love them, just wish the picture was better.

This pix had the cute little dish towel on it, that I used on Halloween. The box also included candy (Starbucks’s tasting candy) yummy; a magnetic notepad with snoopy and a pumpkin on it; shower gel (vanilla, my favorite) and Burt’s Bees Beeswax lip balm. There was also a candle that smells like cloves, it has an elusive aroma that is great, not too cloying.




Alaina had a postcard in the box (very good idea); and she is so ingenious- the box was actually a box for photo storage, with the cards that I can find so many uses for. Knitting or pix? This will be the question.


Thank you Alaina, I love the package!

Blah, blah, blah

Do you know how some days you just can't feel it? Not blogging, not reading, not housecleaning? That's where I am at right now.
But at least I am knitting more often, it has gotten to the point that I feel guilty if I sit down to watch a TV show and do not have knitting in my hand. I am working on a ski-type cap for Socks for Soldiers and a dish cloth that is almost done.

A few posts back I stated that the best recipe I had tried recently was Grace's Skillet Supper and a few people have asked for the recipe. I found it on Grace's blog here. My family loved it and when I asked them if it was a keeper, they said most definitely.

I finally finished the dishcloth for my swap partner, I found it here and while mine does not look as good as Marie’s does, I think it is okay and I enjoyed knitting it while my daughter prepared the kitchen for the new countertops (which was a really crappy job to). Here is a picture of the one I did. . .








I also bought her some very cute stitch markers, however my pictures of them really suck.There is avery cute little black cat, a headstone, a scary ghost and a pumpkin with a spider web on it. I got them on Etsy from Scary Merry I got a set of Starbucks frappcino markers for myself. She pays a great deal of attention to the details and they are well worth the price. :-)

Can you tell which of the pictures in this post I took myself?? I wish someone would tell me what is wrong with my pictures, what am I doing wrong?

Topic #4 AHEDE &. . .

So, for this week's topic - we have a little quiz. You need NOT get the questions correct for it to count - just post the answers somewhere in a post this week.

Q1: Where did the idea of Jack-O-Lanterns originate?
C) Ireland

Q2: Halloween is the 2nd most successful commercial Holiday - what's the first?
A) Christmas

Q3: What is the intense fear of Halloween called?
B) Samhainophobia

Q4: The mask worn by Michael Meyers in Halloween (the Movie) was actually a mask of who?
D) No one - it was an old hockey mask

Q5: In 2004, what was the most popular Halloween Candy?
A) Candy Corn

And finally - tell us what YOUR favorite Halloween Candy is! I'm a Candy Corn person myself - can make me SO sick to my belly, but man I love it! Just the plain old kind though - not the many other flavors and colors there are today!

Chocolate is always my favorite candy, doesn’t matter if it has nuts, nougat, caramel or anything else in it, I just love chocolate.

Guess what, I found my knitting needles and all the paraphernalia that I normally keep together! I was so happy; I hated the thought of buying all of that stuff all over again, with so much money tied up in it. It’s funny, when I started knitting, I did not think about the cost, just that it was something to keep my hands busy, but now when I had to think about replacing most of my stuff, I was in a panic.

I went back to work today, but I was so rested after five whole days of not working (I did not even turn on my work computer) that it’s okay. My daughter’s boyfriend and I built most of the computer desk that we put in the loft area. It wraps two walls, but my daughter and I will have room for all of our computers and not be constantly bumping into one another. I need to put some finishing touches on it and then we will be able to unpack another 20 boxes. Ohhhh boy!

All Hallows Eve Dishcloth Swap Questionnaire

It is time for another seasonal discloth exchange, go here if you want to play, they are usually a lot of fun :-)

Knotting Yarn
1. Do you knit or crochet? For how long?
I have knitted for 5 or 6 years, I can't get my fingers around crochet, though I have been trying.

2. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using the most? Are there some you've been dying to try out and haven't?
I love Knitpicks Options, but I also like Addis, however I normally use bamboo for washcloths.

3. What kind of projects do you most enjoy? Small things you can take with you, or big complex ones that are just gorgeous when they're done?
I like both kinds of projects, there is room for both in my life. I like to work on the complex projects when I am sitting around in the evening, but small fast projects are great for when I am on the go, or in waiting rooms.

4. List one pattern for a dishcloth that you love to make, or just tell us about one you've made or received that you loved.
I just received a cloth from Angela in Dish Rag Tag that was beautiful, it was a soft pink and white, and it worked the pattern so well.

5. What are your 'must have' notions? Are there any notions you need or can never have enough of? Any that might make you cry if you owned more?
I always love stitch markers, the prettier the better, I will normally look for the prettiest or the oddest ones I have whenever I need them.

Petting Yarn
6. What are your favorite yarns to work with? Any you hate or are allergic to?
I am not allergic to any yarns, ones I dislike are acrylic, but I do use it out of necessity, and it works better for some projects. My ultimate favorite yarn is alpaca; I like it so much that I would like to have an alpaca ranch as a second career.

7. What colors do you like to use in projects? Any we'd never catch on your needles?
I like happy colors and I notice they knit up faster for me; I dislike working on dreary colors, especially in the winter when the weather gets dreary. I love yarns that are the color of the ocean, pastel pink, red, yellow, greens. . .

8. Any cottons you'd like to try you can't find by you, or just haven't gotten around to getting?
Blue Sky Organic

Halloween, Fall, and General Stuff
9. Do you like to use bar soap or shower gel more? What kinds of scents do you love? What kind do you hate?
I like gels, with earthy scents, not flowery, musk, vanilla, cinnamon.

10. What's more 'Halloweeny' - Ghosts, Pumpkins, or Witches?
Witches, though I was pumpkin for Halloween one year when I was 6 months pregnant.

11. What's your favorite Treat to get? Sweet or Salty? Anything you're allergic to or just hate?
I love Turtle Chex mix and milk chocolate, but I also like old fashioned candy, licorice bears, root beer barrels, etc.

12. What was your favorite Halloween Costume as a kid? As an adult??
A special clown costume that my mom made for me, one side was stripes and the other was polka dots and I loved it. I used it for pajamas when Halloween was over. As an adult, I would have to say the pumpkin costume or when I dressed up as the old woman in the shoe.

13. Are you on Ravelry? What's your ID? lazyknitter.

14. Anything else you'd like to be sure your pal knows? I like to read as well as knit, in fact sometimes I will read and knit at the same time. You can find out lot of stuff about me if you read my blog :-).

Dishcloth Posting

Here's this week's topic: Go check out one other person's blog who's answered some of the weekly topics.. find someone you have something in common with, who posted a really cool cloth pattern, or who 'calls' to you for some other reason, and post about them on your blog sharing why!

I think the person “who calls to me” is JoAnn P. as I love the way she thinks about keeping cool (sitting on the beach) though I haven’t figured out how you drink a “frozen” hot chocolate. Does it become a chocolate ice cream type think or like a frozen candy bar? And we both appreciate Cape Cod MA. That is one of my favorite places and has been since the first time I saw it 20 years ago. She also has some great pictures on her blog that are fun to see.

BTW, I have been working on the dishcloth for my swap partner. I really like the way it is turning out, it is one I got from the Cloth of the Week yahoo group. I hope she will like it. Now I get to go shopping for the goodies so I can put it in the mail on Monday AM. I will post a pix tomorrow.

Dishcloth exchange

So for this week's topic, make a post on your own blog sharing YOUR favorite pattern(s) with us! Don't have a favorite site? That's fine! Show us a photo of one of the cloths you have made and really loved, even if it was just a made up pattern!

I get dishcloth patterns wherever I can find them, but I have found that the Cloth of the Week (this is a yahoo group) site always has great patterns. There is always something challenging written into the patterns and Maille is always willing to assist us when we get into a sticky mess. Unfortunately, I am in the middle of moving to Colorado so I do not have any photos. However, I love her ingenious patterns.

Keepin' Cool in Summer Dischloth Exchange Questionnaire

1. Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long?
I have been a knitter for about 5 years

2. Do you enjoy using metal, wooden, or some other kind of needle\hook?
I like wooden needles, however my Options needles from knitpicks seem to work faster.

3. What are your favorite types of yarn? Any you just can't stand?
My favorite yarns are natural fibers of any kind. I seriously dislike acrylic.

4. When it comes to cotton, are there any brands you'd love to try and haven't?
I would like to try an organic cotton, but I haven’t yet.

5. When you make Dishcloths, do you use them yourself, or tend to give them as gifts?
I use the dishcloths I make, though I give a lot of them away as gifts with a lucios soap.

6. Do you have a favorite color? Any that you dislike?
I love bright colors, dislike dark and dreary colors.

7. What color(s) (if any!) are your kitchen and bath decorated in?
I am in the process of moving, so I am not sure what the colors in the new house will be, I am thinking yellow, or something neutral.

8. What are your favorite scents around the house?
Vanilla, cinnamon, musk and lavender.

9. What is your very favorite thing about summer?
The days are longer, sitting in my swing reading or knitting and watching the world go by.

10. What is your least favorite thing about summer?
Heat and humidity, I have been living in Georgia, so I know humidity.

11. Do you use soap or body wash in the shower?
Both

12. What scents do you enjoy in the bath?
Vanilla or light English garden.

13. What is your favorite dishcloth pattern?
I know it is silly, but I love Grandma’s Favorite, it is quick but pretty.

14. What sort of treats do you enjoy? Sweet or Salty?
In the summertime I love lemonade and chocolate (year round) and I always like pretzels. I just like treats of any kind.

15. Imagine today is one of the hottest days of the year - what do you do to keep cool? Or are you one of those folks who loves the hot weather?
I hate hot weather, I think it should be spring or fall most of the year. I sit in my air conditioned house to stay cool, though I love to swim and play in the pool too.

16. What sorts of hobbies do you enjoy besides knitting or crocheting?
I like to read, play games, chat with friends, and to travel.

17. Do you collect anything (besides yarn!)
Books

18. Are you on Ravelry? If so, share your ID!
lazyknitter

19. Do you have any allergies?
Penecillin, please do not send me anything growing its own. :-)

20. Do you have any pets?
I have 2 dogs and three cats, who are my special babies.