Confessions of a Swap-o-holic

I love swapping on Ravelry. It's a fantastic way of making new friends and scoring cool booty. I just suck at remembering to post pics of my loot. So, to kill many birds with one post:

From my winter fairytale swap, the wonderful Gaidig spoiled me with many beautiful handmade goodies:

I love Alice in Wonderland, hence her themed package. Delicious teas, a handmade apron, journal, and stitchmarkers with "card" keeper, as well as the softest red and black yarn with which to try my hand at the Alice's Queen of Hearts gloves.

Next, from my For the Love of Letters Stationary swap:

LittleLou1975 sent me the coolest Bettie Page project bag (I know, right!!), so-soft yarn from Russia (!), one of her handmade voodoo dolls (complete with pins), drinkables, goodies from her home country of Scotland (including a pen, postcard, and a cd made by a local band), "handmade by me" hand charms, really cute stationary, and Alice in Wonderland epherma.

Finally, KellyD rocked my vampire world with these goodies for the Love Bites swap:

So much vampy goodness to be had here. The cowl she made out of the softest red yarn was a pattern in my faves. I've barely taken it off, truly. I love that she sent me a book, too. I'm really trying to up my reading quota this year. And the "Support Vampires" ribbon? Genius! My bug will wear it proudly. She also sent me a box of Bigelow tea, complete with a tea carry all for my purse. Perfect, as I am a tea snob and devotee! To round out the happiness, vampy pinback buttons, stitch markers and a skein of Panda Silk in silver tones for my hand at a lace scarf, pattern included. Plus, Valentine's Day socks!

Many, many thanks to my wonderful swap partners!! I am truly a lucky lady!

Briefly

So, I'm off to Tampa for a meeting this week. It's a good meeting, but the 3 hour time difference kills me every time! Always good for a little self time, as well.

Movie reviews this week:

The Rocker - I love Rainn Wilson. He has one of those voices that your want to wrap around yourself and snuggle up to.  This movie is full of laughs, music, and has a little feel good message, too. Not for the younger ones, though, for outright drunkenness and destruction of hotel rooms (so cliche). We don't want to give them any ideas, huh?

Coraline - I loved this movie. Creepy, magical, and creepy. I haven't read the book yet; I wanted to see the movie first so as not to be disappointed. I am hoping that the book will explain a little bit more and give further character development. GO SEE IT!!!

Such is progress...

So, I've made some progress on my projects this week. The blanket for my nephew:
I've found the perfect trim of crocheted bobbles and fringe in a country blue. My chalice mitts:
So pretty! I love this color way of soft, variegated blues. I hope to finish #2 on my trip to Tampa next week. My fingers are freezing at work!! My crochet scarf is coming along, too.
I got this yarn on ebay several years back. I'm having fun with my hook again.

I am ready for socks. Exciting and new (...come aboard, we're expecting you...). I've been hesitant to start, for whatever reason. But, I'm signing up for the Hogwarts Sock Swap 5 on Ravelry, so I am forcing my own hand, so to speak. I'm a little nervous, since my first pair will be for someone else, but I have resources! Speaking of swaps, here is a sneak peek of what's going into my Vampy Valentine's swapee box:
I hope she likes it!!


We caught the last minute of the Super Bowl on Sunday. We're not football fans, but that last minute was pretty exciting. Otherwise, mungi dox, which is Wolof for "It walks", or life keeps moving. My daughter had strep all last week, poor thing, but she's back to her old self now, after antibiotics.


My husband was flipping through the channels a couple of night back and stopped on a Charlie Pride performance on Lawrence Welk. We used to watch that show with my grandparents when I was a kid. The grief hit me fast and hard. They are both gone now. I really miss them.


Be well, everyone!