So, about 3 weeks ago I went to my supervisor and asked for a title change.  I mentioned that a raise would also be nice, but was ultimately more concerned with the title, since I've been in this position for nearly 6 years and honestly believe I do more than my title/job description suggests.  A week later he comes back to me with the results of my annual review.  No title change, and less than a 3% increase.  It was not a good day in LeahLand.

That evening when I got home however, I came home to find my final package from my SP5!  I'm going to have a neighbor come over and take a picture of what's left (because heaven knows the chocolates are long gone with a little assistance from Husband).  So, I would like to take this opportunity to a) thank Jennifer profusely for the AMAZING package because seriously, you didn't have to do all that!  b) apologize for being so tardy in my acknowledgement.  So this is the contents of said package:

• 3 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton yarn to make my Itty a Bobbi Bear!!!
• The most adorable knit enhanced white denim jacket you've ever seen, that Itty just adores! (hehe, it's even got "Itty" on the pocket!)  I'm going to try to get a pic of Itty in it, but lately she won't stand/sit still long enough for a pic.
• A pair of Lantern Moon needles!
• C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E (dude, these were awesome!)

I really hope I didn't miss anything... I've got it mostly together though just in case I did, it'll all be in the pic.

So I guess the reason I haven't really been blogging lately is because I've been looking for a new job.  I have been getting my desk ready to leave so no one can say I left a mess.  I had to take Itty in for a dentist appt last week and afterwards, I had an interview.  She called to tell me that they loved me, and if they can manage to talk the CEO into meeting my salary request, they'll be making the offer this week... please keep your fingers crossed for me!

I should probably update what's going on on the knitting front, huh?  I'm such a dork.

Anyway, Cozy is long finished... I'm wearing her right now actually.  I've started Arisaig in black DB Baby Cashmerino and I"ll be accenting with pink (go figure!).  I've also finally started a blanket for Itty.  I never really found a pattern that I really liked, until I saw Kathy's Purple Ruffle Blanket.  So, I decided to kinda make one.  I say kinda because I'm not doing it exactly the same, I'm using CottonTots and making random stripes in dark pink, light pink, white and lavender.  I'm also using size 11 and 5 needles instead of 15 and 5.  It won't be nearly as large as hers either, but so far, I'm loving it.  Perhaps I'll try to get a pic of that when I"m getting a pic of my package from Jennifer.  Dang, I guess that's all... man it's been quiet on the knitting front!

You know what happened to my camera?  Me either.  Husband broke it somehow... he doesn't know how.  It just doesn't turn on anymore.  Neither of the batteries will charge, and we've tried every outlet in the house.  I can't even take pictures of my Itty!  I have GOT to get a new camera.  Even if it's just a cheapy.

So, that being said, I have no pictures of the Charlotte's Web Shawl I made for Jill in Alpaca Cloud.  But you can go and see the pictures she has on her blog!  I have to admit it, I blew the budget.  It's easy to do when you slowly purchase things little bits at a time... but it also makes it less of a chore if you purchase little bits at a time.  I had so much fun with this Secret Pal Exchange!  I'd sign up for SP6, except it is falling at a time of year when I really need to focus on family.  I really want to sign up for SP7 though!

I've finished all my in progress projects, and I cast on for my first Christmas gift... it's an easy raglan sweater for a good friend's little boy.  She actually made a special request for it.  I started it on Saturday during Itty's nap and the front and back are finished and I'm 1/2 way through the first sleeve already!

I also cast on for a blanket for Itty, but at the last minute I decided to add another color to it so I have to wait for that to arrive before I continue :-P 

I think I'm going to make a couple of stoles/shawls (simple patterns!) for some Christmas gifts, so I need to decide what I'm going to do and get crackin.  Maybe I'll even go ahead and start a Clapotis for one gal.  I think she'd like it, and I've not yet caved into this craze (but Heather swears it's fun!).

Okay, so as I've mentioned, it's been rough around the office.  I'm a purchaser, I buy computer equipment/software/licenses/maintenance for my company.  To top it off, we're a trade association (read: not for profit organization).  This means, when the end of the fiscal year rolls around I have to spend a lot of money so we don't have anything left over.  This also means that if anyone has anything to order that they want to hit this year's budget the have to do it by the end of this month.  Being the good little purchaser I am, I send out reminders in August and September reminding everyone of this little tidbit of info.  Well, I suppose I asked for it, because the requests have been pouring in... not to mention I've got to then process the invoices so it all actually HITS this year's budget.  The bright side is, this will all be officially over on 15-October and I can again focus all my attention on knitting and scrappin :-D

Alright, now that I've bored you all to tears, on with actual knitting content.

Itty's cardi is finished.  I love love love it!  I'll post a pic soon*.  It did have an unfortunate run-in with Husband though... he was trying to be thoughtful.  Really he was, he didn't know.  But he washed, and dried it.  So, it is no longer the cardi it once was.  Heh, it's a tad bit smaller (mostly in length).  It's really okay though, because it still fits Itty.

I can't post about the SP5 project just yet, I want to make sure she gets to post about it first... then I'll post pictures and what not :)  It kinda turned out to be more of a scarf as opposed to a shawl, because the yarn is so fine and I just didn't have the time to keep going on it to make it larger.  In the future, if I should decided to do something like this for someone I'll know to start it as early as possible!  I think, however, that this pattern will be retired for me for quite a little while.  I love the finished product, but the pattern is no longer a challenge...

I AM however, going to be making Arisaig from the new Knitty.  Of course, it will have to be longer than what the pattern calls for, but I'm loving it.  I'm thinking black with pink trim.  The best part is, I already have all the yarn!!!  Woot.

The next projects I'm going to cast on for will be a blanket and a Baby Bobbi Bear (pattern courtesy of my SP5!!!  Thank you!!!) for Itty.

Oh oh oh, that reminds me!  I've got a secret! *hehe*  I can't tell yet, but it's way cool and as soon as I can I'll tell you all about it.  :)  I love secrets.

Gee, I guess that's about it... unfortunately I won't be signing up for SP6.  With the holidays coming up so soon I can't afford it right now.  But SP5 has been way fun for me and I look forward to SP7!

*I'll post pics of things as soon as husband returns from out of town with my camera!  Have I mentioned how much he's traveling this month?  It really bites.  He left this morning, returns tonight, leaves Sunday, returns Friday, then leaves a week later for another week.  This sucks.  But at least he was here for my birthday!  :)

Today is my 28th Birthday!  Happy Birthday to me!  Dude, I'm all about birthday week... I wonder what Husband and Itty have planned for tonight hehehe... last night it was my favorite (lemon merangue pie) and a scary movie - sans the Itty of course on the scary movie part.

I PROMISE I'm going to post a real entry with some actual knitting content tomorrow.  End of Fiscal Year be damned!

Post:

1. Completed Itty Cardi (pic)
2. SP5 Gifties (pic)
3. Needle Exchange Gifties (pic)
4. Final Marker Mania Gifties (pic)
5. A freakin entry

So sorry I've been MIA.  I AM still alive, I promise.  Work life has been crazy as we head into the end of the fiscal year and outside of work life has been crazy trying to get my Creative Memories business up and running.  Not to mention Itty turned 1 last week and I had a big ol' party for her.  Back with a vengance soon... hopefully.

Yeah, I just gotta get these pictures uploaded.  No captions or explanations on anything, just gotta get them on, then I'll redo this post tomorrow.

Okay, so this is my modest stash.  Going through my yarn was kinda fun.  Most of it is Itty specified as you'll see by all the pink and purple... then the majority of the neutral is dyeable wool:



Finally!  Pictures of my finished Crumpets dress.  I didn't do everything I wanted to with this, I was seriously planning on knitting a little flower to put on it and some diaper covers that never actually came to fruition.  Maybe one day... because this is being saved for the day Itty has her own Itty (hopefully no sooner than about 24 years from now):





This is where I've stalled on Cozy.  It's been put on hold until I get my SP5 project finished:



I'm hoping to get these arms attached today!  I also need to find buttons for it.  This is the cotton cardi I made for Itty.  I LOVE the little flares on the sleeves :)



Marker Mania set 1 - from Nyasha (I LOVE the little amber beads in this)



Marker Mania set 2 - from Althea (what a freakin' cool idea to actually make little directions on them!)



Marker Mania set 3 - I'm not exactly sure who these are from as there was no card included... anyone want to claim them?  from Larissa (I absolutely love the little beads on these, theyr'e going to come in quite handy very very soon):



Finally, this is the pièce de résistance for my SP5's final package... it's a Charlotte's Web Shawl in KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud (on size 3 needles!)  It's going to take me FOREVER.  I guess I'll just keep trucking on it until the day before I have to send it out, then I'll bind off and send it out whatever size it is at that time.  Who knows, it might just be a Charlotte's Web Scarf *ha*



I know I'm missing pictures, but I'm a big dork and couldn't manage to get everything together.  If I've forgotten anything please accept my apologies. 

On an additional bright note: Husband and I are no longer arguing.  Oh yeah, and Itty is perfect :)

I read through the grapvine about the whole "Alpha Mom" craze.  I will be emailing them (contact@alphamom.com) my thoughts, which fall along similar lines as the following opinions, and perhaps other Mommas should too.

Julie at A Little Pregnant
Denise at Knitting Without Needles
Lisa at The Rage Diaries
Jenny at The Creative Tech Writer

Okay, life in LeahLand has been sucking.  I've been sick, Itty has been teething, Husband and I have been fighting.  I just don't wanna talk about it.  As a result of it all very little knitting has been done.  I do have a bunch of stitch markers I'm sending out today for various things.  I also have the cardigan for Itty finished, just need to sew the sleeves on.

Also, I need to post my answers for the Gimme Some Needle Exchange hosted by Catherine:

1. What do you like to knit or crochet? (socks, sweaters, etc.) My favorite thing to knit right now islace things.  I really need to rest on that a little though and get myself a sweater started.
2. What fibers do you like? Merino baby.  Would love to try some silk blends someday.
3. What type of needles do you use most often? I use them all but I gotta say I love my Addi Turbos ;) 
4. Do you like to knit in the round? Hell ya! 
5. Do you use a magic loop method or any other we should know about? Are you interested in learning a new method? I would love to learn magic loop and as soon as I get up the courage to try socks I think I'll try 
7. Do you have a favorite place that you shop online? (knitpicks.com, knitpixie.com, jimmybeanswool.com....)? Nope (though Morehouse Farm holds a special place in my heart)

Okay, I'm sick, so this isn't going to be a real update... just a quickie because looking at the computer screen is making me want to throw up.

First, two more packages from SP! 1) the cutest knitting cards ever.  I've already used the teeny tiny one for some stitch markers I gave to a local knitting friend.  2) Shrinky Dink Tags!  They are so freakin cool... they have my button on them and say "Hand knitted especially for you by Leah M."  Isn't that sweet?

I want to make a Baby Bobbie Bear.  Can I buy the pattern online?

Finally, I'm so excited:


WOOT!

So have I achieved status yet?  I think maybe so (expecially on my Xanga!)

I have so much to catch you all up on, I promise promise promise to try and get pictures up here soon.

Cozy: Cozy has, unfortunately, been put on hold for the time being.  I love it, adore it and am not sad to make it last a little longer, but other things have kinda "come up." *heh*

DB Cardigan: The cardigan I started for Itty is well underway.  This became a priority when I realized that if I don't hurry she's going to outgrow it before I finish it!  The body is complete and I'm about 2" into the arms.  I made some slight adjustments to the pattern so far... nothing to the design, just basically used a 3-needle bind off for the shoulders and was GOING to knit the sleeves in the round until I decided I wanted to knit them both at the same time and don't know how to do that in the round.  It will be my next FO.

Charlotte v2.0: I started Charlotte for my SP5 this last weekend.  The Alpaca Cloud is significantly finer than Koigu KPPPM so I went down to a size 3 needle and I have a feeling this is going to take me a LONG time to finish because I have no idea how many extra rows I'm going to have to tack on to make it an acceptable size.  I want to make this as part of her final package which I hope to send out towards the end of August.  Luckily I'm much more at ease with this pattern this time around... had I tried it this way the first time (finer yarn, smaller needles, single color) I would have surely given up.  I've already finished the first pattern set and haven't had to frog once :)

Packages... thank you!!!

First off I received my stitch markers from my Bead It 2 Pal!  They are too cute... I really like one in particular that has little clear beads but they're lined with pink!  Thank you Rebecca!!!

Also, I got the coolest prize IN THE WORLD from Katt for winning the contest on her site.  She sent me scrapbooking paper themed for a baby girl!  She also sent a little teddy bear punch (that Itty has claimed and gets all torked when I try to take it away and actually use), a pink and orange stuffed pony (which Itty has also claimed and will not go to bed without), TimTam's (which very quickly disappeared, that TimTam Slam thing royally rocks!), PLUS 4, count 'em, 4 skeins of yarn!  3 which are destined to become a scarf because they're a beautiful purple colorway that is begging to be paired up with some chenille yarn I have, one that is a rainbow sock yarn for when I actually get up the nerve to try knitting socks (any pattern advice for a sock knitting virgin?).  Oh goodness, I hope I didn't forget anything... because that was just the most generous prize ever!

Get this, I got a THIRD package!  Suzie (my Bead It 2 giftee) sent me a reciprocal RAOK!  How sweet is that?  Not only did I get more stitch markers, but I also got a sheepy Pez keychain (an undisclosed favorite of mine... I love Pez!... mmm, strawberry).  Now, I feel like such a putz, because I know that wasn't all, but my brain isn't working and I can't remember what else she sent (color me embarassed).  I have it all together though so I can take a pic.

Now, on to a few more current events... did I mention to you that I've decided not to make the Grace pattern from DB Cotton Angora collection?  I was gonna, because I love it, but it has no shape.  It's just so boxy and the last thing I need is be made to look bulkier than I already am... so, I have 19 skeins of Rowan AS-Cotton that I need an idea for.  Perhaps Katy or Mary from the same book?  Man, I really just need to buy the darn book.

Anyway, I think that about covers it!

P.S. Y'all remember traffic court?  Well, it's a long story that I think I'm going to post on my Xanga since it's been so long neglected (and since technically this is my knitting blog).