I'm here, just very busy.  Life getting in it's own way... blog next week, promise!

First off, my UPS man is HOT.  If I weren't a married woman, I'd be all over that :)

Okay, now really.  The postal service has been very kind to me as of late!  First, last Saturday I received a RAOK from Catherine over at Knittin' Around.  I'm so excited!  She sent me some Berroco Dante in one of the prettiest colorways I've come across!  It was pinks and greys... it's already resulted in a FO!  See, that's why I didn't post about it sooner, because I was so close to being done Monday night that I knew I could finish it off Tuesday morning.  Well, I did!  But I didn't have time to get a picture taken because I was running late.  So, I got home with Itty last night and went to take a picture of her modeling the FO... and Husband took the camera with him overseas!  I'm so ticked!  I was so excited to show you all the adorable little apron top and now I have to wait until NEXT WEEK, when Husband returns.  *sigh*  Sorry Cath!  Anyway, yes, I made another little apron top like the pink one I made before, except this one is much prettier because of the beautiful yarn you sent.  I used pink ribbons to tie the back and neck.

In other Knitty Cath news... go sign up for the needle exchange!  I know I'm gonna ;)

Speaking of needles, and the post man... I got ANOTHER package from my SP last night!!!  In full self restraint mode, I type this not in all caps like I really really really really really really want to, but I say to you very calmly.  I. Got. Turbo. Addis.  Yes my friends, SP sent me size 6 Turbo Addis!  This is too perfect for many many reasons.  Would you like me to name a few?  Ha!  To bad, I'm going to anyway... 1) Dude, I just love Turbo Addis.  2) I only have size 5 and 8 Addis.  3) Several of the patterns I want to make call for size 6 needles.  4) Last weekend my Garth (doggy) decided that my only pair of size 6 needles (that were bamboo) would be a great chew toy, rendering me 6-less.  Thank You SP!!!

So, I'm going to make another Charlotte, using Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud (a solid color Charlotte).  This yarn is much finer than Koigu... should I double up or should I use smaller needles and more stitches?  I'm having a difficult time making this decision, thus I haven't started yet.

Finally, in non-knitting news:

Itty actually says "Bye Bye" when she waves now.  That is so cute.

I just got my Creative Memories Business cards last night (thank you Yummy UPS Man) and I'm "official."  I know, I'm a dork, but I'm excited.

Husband is overseas for a week.  He doesn't return until next Tuesday night.  I hate that.

Traffic court for the PMRTFO speeding ticket is tomorrow morning.

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Quickie update no.1:

Knit Happens (a local yarn store) is having their summer store sale.  EVERYTHING in stock is 20% off with online coupon 05ssum06.  You may recall me promting you all to indulge in Koigu Kersti... with this coupon it's only $9.40 a skein (unlike the $11 I paid).

So... What have I been up to?  Well, first off, I'm making great progress on Cozy.  I am ready to start skein 6 of 7 and I luuuurrrrvvve it.  It's such a simple pattern, but I haven't lost interest in it.  I can't wait to get it finished and see what it looks like blocked so I can bask in all its glory.

Second, in lieu of starting my Grace cardigan (for which I do not yet have the pattern, but I do have the yarn) I started a little cardigan for Itty from Debbie Bliss' The Baby Knits Book using Patton's Grace (sorry, couldn't find a picture).  I already owned the pattern, the yarn and the needles for this project so I figured, why not, and stuck to the "diet."  Now, I've heard/read people say that they don't like using 100% cotton because it makes their hands hurt.  I never understood that because I've used 100% cotton before without a problem... maybe it's the size 3US needles I'm using, maybe it's the Patton's Grace, and maybe it's a combination of the two... but damn, I can only do a couple of rows at a time before my hands are killing me!  *sigh*  I just wish I could afford to use Addi Turbos exclusively.

Oh!  On Saturday I received my first package from my SP for SP5!  She sent me The Harlot's book :)  I've been wanting to get a copy, but a diet is a diet is a diet and I was going to have to wait.  My pal also received her package and I wish I could tell you what's in it but I don't want to give myself away.

Speaking of packages, my Bead It Two pal received hers yesterday... so if you're so inclined you can go see my handy work on Suzie's Page.  *Note to my Bead It Two Gifter... I haven't received your package yet, but maybe today!

Other than all that, I've kinda been working on my Creative Memories stuff trying to get the ball rolling with it.  I have a couple of people that I work with that are going to host shows for me and I'm really quite excited.  Perhaps I'll start a scrapbook dedicated exclusively to my knitting works!  Like a portfolio of sorts *ha!*

So, Thank you all for all your encouragement with my SP5 issues.  I really do feel a lot better.  I sent off a little something to her already but can't tell you what lest she happen upon my blog :)  I CAN, however, tell you what I'm putting together for the final package (bit by bit) since when she gets it it will be the reveal anyway.  So, this is what I've thought of so far: 

[edited out because I got paranoid]

Speaking of packages, I was really a prime customer at my post office this week.  I not only sent out my SP5 package, but I also sent out stitch markers for Bead It 2 and some baby yarn (left over from the miserably failed seed stitch baby blanket) to Deneen because she makes baby blankets for charity.

I need to work on getting a few more pictures up (thank you for all your kind comments).  In regard to some of the questions I've received.  The blue shawl is Koigu KPPPM, but I don't happen to have the color number one me and the pattern is from About.com.  I used that pattern and made it wider and longer to create the stole.  Then Cozy is Koigu Kersti (see a theme here?) and I absolutely adore it.  I'll be updating my Gallery as soon as I remember to get a picture of Itty in her Crumpets.

In official non-knitting news: I'm signing a contract to become a Creative Memories consultant this weekend.  I'm terrified about not being able to find a client base, but these days, any extra money is good.  It certainly helps that I love the products... right?  I guess we'll see!

Okay, I'm a little nervous about SP5 and would like some input.  As I've only been knitting since the end of January, I still consider myself a newbie knitter.  I have never participated in anything like the Secret Pal's program and I have some general questions/concerns.  I know it specifically states in the instructions that there is a $50 total limit on this, but after glimpses of what went around at the end of SP4 I have no idea how people managed to keep all that great stuff around $50... not to mention any previous goodies that were sent.  I'm afraid I really DO have to stick to the budget, otherwise Husband will absolutely freak out.  Here's where I'm concerned, I don't want my assigned buddy to be disappointed.  What if I don't live up to her expectations?  I don't want to just send one big "ta-da" package, but... oh bleh.  I suppose I'll just have to see how it goes.

In the meantime, have some knitting.

Finished shawl/stole for co-worker's sister who has cancer:


The beginnings of a beautiful Cozy (If I were a yarn... THIS is the very exact yarn I would be.  My would would be this very colorway.):

So, I forgot all my pictures... except one ;)



I had just washed her soakers this weekend and Husband thought it'd be funny to put it on her head... apparently she thinks so too.

So much going on in LeahLand! I'll start with knitty things:

First off, I finished everything! This is both good and bad news. The bad part is, I hate the seed stitch baby blanket. I used two strands of yarn and size 11 needles and I don't like how open it is. I thought using two strands would fix that... but nope. I told my friend about it and I already sent her some stuff (non-knitted) so I'm hoping that makes up for the disasterous attempt at a should-be-simple blanket. On the good side, however, the shawl/stole for the co-worker who's sister has cancer is also finished and it's beautiful! I gave it to her yesterday and she absolutely LOVED it. She's going to take it to her sister this weekend. I have a picture, but it's at home.

This leads me to even more good news... I cast on for Cozy with my Koigu Kersti! OMG, everyone who knits and has any appreciation for wool must knit something with Kersti. Anything. It's beautiful and smooth and luscious and it has now worked it's way right up there with Morehouse Merino as far as I'm concerned. When I win the lotto one day, I will buy all the Kersti my little heart desires. I'll make sweaters and scarves and shawls and wraps and hats and and and anythinkg I want. My friends, the non-knitting ones, have even commented on how wonderful it looks. Again, I have a photo, but I forgot to bring them to work with me today so you'll just have to take my word for it.

Speaking of pictures I have at home (Katt). I've also got some fabulous shots of the Itty that I'll share.

What else? I'd love to show you all my stitch markers I've been working on, but I just got my Bead It Two partner and don't want to give anything away.

OH! I also got my SP5 "assignment!" I'm so excited I could pee. I've spent 90% of my morning looking around the internet for possible things to send her and wracking my brain for things I could make. *muah-hahaha* This is too fun.

Really quick on the non-knitting front:

I interviewed for a job on the 18th. The interviewer is the owner of a small business and he let me know he was planning on seeing 18 people total (of the 179 resumes he received) and I'd hear back in a few weeks. Well, I've apparently made the short list because out of those 18 he's narrowed it down to 3 of us. He's planning on making a decision by the end of the week. Honestly, I think my salary requirement may disqualify me for the position. Oh well, we'll see ;)

I moved this info over to the All About Me link on the left because... well, because I wanted to!

Or should I say RAOK? *ha* Sometimes I kill myself... really.  Seriously though, last week at work was a whirlwind.  I was out Monday, BossMan was out Tuesday, so most of my work was done Wednesday-Friday.  In the 5 years I've been here, I have never been so frantically busy.  As a result, I was absolutely spent this weekend.  Physically and mentally exhausted.  Then Saturday I get TWO, count 'em folks 1-2, RAOK's.  First I got a set of the cutest hand made envelopes made out of magazine pages from Lanie (Husband particularly liked the one with cars all over it... how fitting it was in reference to my speeding ticket).  I also got 3 stitch markers from Kate!  I gotta say, I love getting stitch markers from other people because it adds to my little stitch marker world's diversity.  Yeah, I'm a dork.  I'll try to get pictures of everything tonight.

Now, I need to respond to questions (this may take a while since I can't seem to type today :P)

Cara & Gina: I can't believe I didn't post this, but I'm actually using a pattern from About.com for this shawl.  It's supposed to be a dresser scarf, but I added on width and length to make it a stole.  The pattern can be found here.  (On a side note Cara: if you don't receive your stitch markers soon I'm just going to send you more :)

Dani: I'm so glad you signed up for Bead It Two!  It was great fun and Cara is a superb host.

Cyn: I have no clue what I'm going to make with the mohair.  I've never used mohair before and there's only 200 yards of each skein.  I should just go buy Scarf Style and make scarves out of them.  I'm open to suggestions though!

Catherine: The yarn is fabulous, isn't it?  It's from Koenig Farm :)  It's their sport weight.

Annie: Lace knitting happens when Itty isn't around *haha*  I do it at work during my lunch break and in the car(pool) to and from work... then if I have any extra time at night I do it after she's in bed.  This might explain why it takes me SOOO long.

Mel: Small world, you know my previously mentioned yarn was also made in KY (Springfield).  I bet if you were in the area they'd give you a tour, they offered to give us one.  We were at the Morehead State Univ. graduation.

Did I get everyone's questions?  Heh, can you tell I'm procrastinating because I don't wanna work?

Okay, I'm not really back until tomorrow.  Today is my self-professed day of rest after a weekend that was 60% in a car driving to and from Kentucky.  Now, for the eye candy I promised (and yes, Cyn is right, I didn't even think of getting photos of all the good looking college grads/newly commissioned officers in their fancy shmancy uniforms).

Shawl for co-worker who's sister has cancer: 60% complete


Detail:


Mother's Day Goodies:


Mmmmm, aren't the colors yummy?


Cara was my Bead It! buddy:


And if you scroll down to the last eye candy entry, you'll notice these stitch markers MATCH the ones on the afforementioned shawl!


I had every intention of adding a picture of Crumpets because it's FINISHED... except it's not.  I still need to make the diaper covers and the little flower, but my friend that I started that baby blanket for... you remember the baby blanket right?  Anyway, she had her baby this weekend so I have GOT to get that thing done.

TTFN :)