On the Sticks, In the Sticks

Stash Revealed

I've got lots of things to let you in on before I head out tomorrow for Maine! I won't have computer access up there unless I get a chance to stop by the local library, so things'll be quiet around here until the end of next week, but I'll have pictures and stories when we return!

First, I sent off my pal's package for the Knitter's Virtual Vacation yesterday. I hope she likes it. I had a lot of fun finding things to send. I figure I'd better not say anymore until I hear it's arrived.

Like I said, I entered my Fractured Lattice Sock in the Chatham Fair (aka the Columbia County Fair), which started yesterday and continues through Labor Day Monday. I've never entered something in a fair, but I really wanted to try it this year. Last year when we walked around the Woolbooth at the Fair, my interest in knitting had really picked up again, and I found myself thinking, I want to enter something next year. I'm not really looking to win any prizes, it's more to have just entered that I'm enjoying.

Here are my finished socks. I really like how they came out. I wrote up the pattern and I'm going to enter them in the Summer of Socks Design Contest. Why not? It's the first pattern I've ever done, and it's something I want to get into even more, so this seemed like a fun challenge for myself.

I joined Secret Pal 11 and for a contest Christine is running for our group I get to show you pictures of my stash!

Warning: you can skip this part if you're not interested in boxes of yarn :)

There's the yarn that lives in my bedroom closet.

Two big bins...         

and a smaller bin and a bag...

Then there's the nice basket 'o'  inspiration by my bed...

and a lone skein of Opal sock yarn on my bedside bookshelf. And there you have it.

I'm off to bed now...trying to get an early start in the morning to avoid some of the holiday weekend traffic. "See" you when we get back!

Just Got Back From South Carolina!

Thank you so much to Carrie who took me on vacation to her home state of South Carolina! My package arrived in the mail yesterday and I (and the kids!)couldn't wait to open it. Check out the goodies she sent.

Lots of fabulous yarn...ones I wouldn't have picked out on my own, but I can't wait to work with them! That's the cool thing about having someone pick out yarns for you. Love the colors, too.

There are two skeins of Pace Yarn in navy blue, made in the Carolinas.

Three skeins of Tibet, an eyelash type yarn made by Artfibers in a beautiful blend of colors that includes copper, bronze, silvery blue, plum. Really pretty.

And two skeins of ...I'm actually not sure what kind of yarn they are, but the colors are beautiful, as you can see. It's heavy like a cotton, or maybe a silk? Carrie, if you're reading this, can you let me know? I'm so curious to work with it and see how it knits up...sounds like this may be going to Maine with me.

And...I am now an official USC Gamecocks fan, with my  USC t-shirt and Gamecocks jelly beans. I can attest to their yumminess as they came with me to drop off my Fractured Lattice Socks to the Columbia County Fair. Wore my new shirt, too.

Carrie also sent her copy of Wendy Knits along to me, which was passed to her by Cookie. I plan to bring it along to Maine with me too, then I'll pass it along to someone else to enjoy when I'm done . Thanks again, Carrie. You've been a great secret vacation pal!