Valknitz review

so due to my wonderful yarn site trolling skillz....i found a new yarn shop. its in montoursville, which is a drive, but oh so very worth it! first: to get there, you take the HALLS PENNSDALE exit of of 180, then just drive straight till you see fairfield ford on the left. valknitz is on the right, in a little mini mall type plaza. its past the mall, about 2.5 miles. when you walk in there is an EXPLOSION of color!(as there SHOULD be in a yarn shop) i was waited on by Sally, who seems to be a nice and friendly (and helpful!)person.....as long as you KNIT. when i said i crocheted, she said "well, your young, you'll learn" i then told her i know HOW to knit....i just dont like it. (oh the WHOMANITY!!!!!!!(yeah, the grinch is on a loop here....)you would have thought i said i didnt like BABIES! or small animals or something........it was terrible. luckily there was another woman there who said she also crocheted, but she was holding knitting. I USE 3 TIMES AS MUCH YARN.....CATER TO ME!!!!!!!!! oh well, i bought (ok princess picked it out) some cascade 220, which is yummo wool. it was 6.60 and tax, i thought that was fairly decent, but what do i know, im just a CROCHETER. its ok though, i will definitely go back. another of my skills is ignoring the less intelligent. yeah, im horrible. heres a picture of my new 220:


its clickable....

WOW.

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2007/11/men_the_new_wom_1.html

what a dumba$$.

ravelry

i got my invite! yay!!!! i havent been on the computer very much, trying to get my xmas crochet done. and i AM, it just takes time. that is, i wasnt on the computer much until YESTERDAY....when i got my ravelry invite. it sucked me in for about 4 hrs! needless to say, mantoy wasnt happy at all when he got home and i had no dinner, just a glazed look on my face and an urgent desire to go on a yarn crawl.

although he took me, so its all his fault!

pictures!

ok here are my WIPs, FOs and my REVEAL from my SP

yeah, im a little late to the game. oops. ill stay pink too.

i have been working on xmas gifts and trying to get a bunch of WIPS finished. i recieved a little surprise from my SP yesterday, the book CANDY CROCHET that i have wanted FOREVER. i am so excited! princess dirtyfeet informed great grandma last night that "mommys making me a princess coat!" ( great grandma had to see it then, and big daddy was sent to fetch the book.) as soon as i get well on my way with the test sweater, i will start it, probably. maybe. it may wait until after xmas.
i am going to try and make "in the navy" (sweater) for lil' burt. but who knows.
AND my SP said my reveal is on the way! YAY!!!!!!!!! ( i already know who she is, but thats ok! im still excited!

ack!!!!!!! im drowning in yarn!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok, not really. but it FEELS like that. seems i lost my mojo there for a minute. and now its back.........in full force! i cant seem to finish anything, cause i keep having new ideas. normally, this would only be mildly annoying......except........ i ONLY HAVE 60 DAYS TILL XMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

its ok, ill get it done. now, back to crocheting.

i made 2 scarves, one with fancy fur, im calling "window panes" and one with (wait for it.....) FLEECE STRIPS. YES, fleece strips! i am calling it "bubbles" it was originally made for a little girl i know, but i think it may be too short. i should take a picture. (pretend, ok? use your 'magination!)
i will be making it again, as i did not write down the pattern. oh well. good thing i like to crochet!

i frogged the original FBB in canyon print, as i didn't use stitch markers, and therefore lost my place. dammit. oh well. i redid it in the car yesterday, and i am almost to the even rows, so if i just sit and DO it, then its a quick project.

WIP update

as of last night, i have
FINISHED :
the sweater for lily
the felted tote. (well, the stitch work anyways)
and i have decided to FROG the BABY BLANKET FROM HADES!!!!!!!!!
they are getting a round ripple, its quicker and not nearly as mind numbingly boring.
i joined the SKY CAL over at crochetville, it is fun, we get points for different things we do.
i also joined the CARDCLUB CAL. julie gives us a MYSTERY project and we also send hi there cards to each other. the card part should last about 5 months based on my calculations! yay!!! fun!!!
i will post up pictures later, i will probably finish the blue FBB today as well, everything is in the washer right now.

WIP LIST.....

1. my 2yr old DDs jacket. i am testing a pattern for one of the wunnerful designers on here. this is about 90% done, i need to add a few more "length" rows and an edging. i am using redheart giant (12 oz skein) in dream print. (its pink and purple)

2. a throw for our (formerly invisible) couch. it is about 75% done. i am using 2 strands of homespun in TUDOR and a Q hook. its single crochet, and i am mostly just bored with it. (its huge!!!) ok, this one is a UFO. i started it a while ago......more than 3 months. but we didnt have a couch.....soooooo.........yeah. (*ahem. moving on)

3. FBB in lion suede. CANYON PRINT. i just started this before mom and her crazy yarn buying spree. (really, i had to buy another tote!) its a xmas gift, so i guess i better get on it. im in the increasing rows......so......probably 10% done or so......

4. FBB in suede. DENIM. ok, this is done, lined and i just need to sew in the handles. but i need to wash it first. (why isnt this done yet???) another xmas gift......yes, ALL the women in my family are getting one. they said please.

5. baby blanket for mom's friends son. in SC. with a K hook. its bernat baby coordinates sweet stripes in CANDY PRINT. (pink n purple) ugh. i hate this. i wish mom didnt like the pattern so much. maybe i will frog what i have and start over with DC or TRC......any suggestions?? its only about 3 rows in.....

6. my UKSP sent me a beeeyoootiful felted tote. mom decided she must have one too. its about 40% done. i am using redheart RAGDOLL in PUNCH. it got pushed aside for number 1

my library thing

this is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

i have a swift and winder!!!!!!!

which my mommy bought for me cause she is the best mommy evah! ( yes, as a matter of fact i am 26 and i still call her mommy if i feel like it. deal.)
so i have wound up a couple of balls already and i want EVERYONE to know it is perfect timing, cause see, i am going to my VERY FIRST FIBER FEST this weekend! YAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!! woohoo!!!! * going to wind more yarn*

i am powerless against the call...

...of borders. i went in last night and bought 3 (!) new books. i got the encylopedia of crochet (YAY!) and yarn harlot by stephanie pearl-mcphee () and another i cant remember the name of.
i recieved a questionaire email from my UKSP this morning. she seems to have a good sense of humor. i tried to answer everything as well as i could. its hard for me to say " i want THIS" especially after lily was born. i like to be surprised though.
tonight i get to go buy the rest of the homespun i need to finish the throw for our invisible couch. YAY!!!!!!!!!! that project has been sitting around FOREVER. and i need about 6 skeins ( i think) so, its a chunk of change. since i am using tudor i am not that worried about dye lots. plus its for us and i LIKE color! darnit. Bigdaddy got new shoes last night as well. i bought 4 crochet books total and 16 skeins of yarn ( for xmas gifts) and his one pair of shoes cost more than everything i bought!!!!!!! crazy.....isnt it? darn airmaxes anywho.

crochet books i have

i decided to make a list of all the books i have.
it took far too long!
i did it though, and someday i'll even get it typed up and on my pc.
ok i promised to post the pattern for the wine bag. i really dont care too awful much if you make it and sell it, but dont sell the pattern that i give for free. thats just WRONG on so many levels.

WINE BAG
cotton yarn ( i use sugar n cream)
H hook
a stitch marker might be handy
i use a magic ring start. if you choose not to, ch 4 join to make a loop. (worked in rounds)

10 sc in ring
2 sc in each sc, 20 sc
1 sc in next sc; 2 sc in next sc, work around
1 sc in next 2sc; 2 sc in next sc, work around
1 sc in next 3 sc; 2 sc in next sc, work around
that made your base. obviously if you have a ridiculously large bottle of wine/juice/soda whatever....make it bigger....
for the body: you will use a 3 ch mesh stitch. that simply means:
row 1: ch 3, skip next 3 sc, 1 sc in 4th sc, ch 3 sc in 4th sc work around
row 2: ch 3, sc in loop. (created in previous row ch3 spaces)
continue row 2 until bag fits your bottle.
3 sc in each ch space; work around
ch 3 (counts as first dc) dc in each sc around
ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1) skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch 1 skip next dc; work around.
finish off, weave in ends

chain 60 weave thru holes in last row. that is your tie.
its easy peasy.
any questions?

I do so FINISH stuff!

and i have pics to prove it! the wine bag is a pattern i made up (all by myself) i'll post it eventually.
i WAS making the hand bag for someone, but i was making it with one eye, and screwed up and didnt want to take it apart. so its mine now. (insert evil laugh)

harry potter 7 *spoilers are distinctly possible*

not that anyone reads this, but i went friday night at 1130 to ye local bookstore... bought book and was home by 1 am. i finished the book by 5 am. it was amazingly good, and many questions were answered. i was shocked and dismayed by the death of dobby, and of fred. lupin and tonks.... c'mon we all knew that would happen. the baby was a shocker, but im glad they got married and were happy for a little while.
i must be one of the few that LIKED the epilouge, it was nice to find out thet the couples did get married and live happily ever after.

in other news, i have been working on a few things, mainly charity squares.

all the goodies!!! (lots of pics!)

lookit all this BEEYOOTIFULL! stuff!!! kathy (my new bff) sent me a fabulous reveal box! included were some yummy candles, 9 (9!) pattern books, 3 skeins of supercotton, and a TON of sugar n cream in all different colourways! AND some gorgeous hand dyed wool and some saftey goggles, so i can shave again! shes sooooo thoughtful that way!!! and some coffee and rubs for the grill (ohhhh boy!) and a cutter pendant and 2 books and a sippy cuppy for princess!!! (sippy cuppy was immediately grabbed and loved, which is why its not pictured.also in the box was a "v" magnet. im impressed, as the letter "V" can be hard to find! and a mini notepad and pen set!









also, i recently purchased a bag of mill ends...just cause it was PRETTY! (yeah, sometimes i buy yarn for that reason...) now, i want to know what it is... does anyone recognize it?


anyone????

holy bananas cookie girl!

alot has happened since i last posted.... i shot myself in the eye with some gillette. yeah. you can stop laughing now. anyways, because of the "incident" as i call it; i was NOT ALLOWED to: crochet, watch tv, read, drive, do anything in "bright" light (that means grocery shopping for fun is out) and no computer. yeah. ok, for real, stop laughing. i had to go to the HOSPITAL..... and they flipped my eyelid inside out, which i had not done since i was about 14....maybe 16. its not nearly as cool now.
but i am better now. and have commenced a flurry of activity in which, ive really not done jackshit.(im VERY good at not doing jackshit) ive started a couple of items, a fatbottom bag for myself, another crocheted duck (the babies need prezzies, no matter how skanky the mommy) oh and i recieved my reveal TODAY from my secret pal. i'll have to post later with fabulous pictures of all the fabulous stuff she gave me!
saturday is my family reunion. i need to make SOMETHING for the white elephant sale/auction and make some sort of yummy something as it is potluck/bring a dish to pass. the problem: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO MAKE. i used to be able to whip up cherries jubilee....now i live too far away for that, it has to stay cold. so....im thinking cookies. but what kind should i make???? ARGH!!!!!!!! makes me wanna buy a bag of chips and call it a day.

lewd?

bettycrackpot -- [noun]: A lewd street performer 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

i can deal with the street performer part, but the lewd has got to go, yo....

goodies!!!

i am being spoiled by my secret pal. i recieved a box from her awhile ago, but i am a horrible person and forgot to post about it. ( I AM A HORRIBLE PERSON! PRAY YOUR CHILDREN DONT GROW UP TO BE LIKE ME!!!)
she sent lots of yummy yarn, and some snacks ( to keep my strength up while i crochet) and 2 cute little wool crocheted bags and some stickers some squirtie toys that princess snatched up as soon as i finished taking the pic. ( yeah, thats her chubby lil leg) and a "message center" with a magnetic memo board and magnetic to do list and two butterfly magnets! woo hoo!!!!
i lil heart my secret pal....whomever you are!

the sweater that will not die!

so i did NOT finish that dumb BICO in time. whatev, it can go in the stash of made crap if i need a quickie gift. but i cant seem to bring my self to finish it. all that needs to be done is the left placket and the trim. oh, and i think it may end up being lilys, i can make it just a bit bigger by adding stripes down the sides.... and she loves it. i hate the yarn i am using to make it. i mean i like the yarn normally, but not for this pattern, its too floofy. ( im using red heart baby clouds)
i have sort of hit a wall anyways, i have lots of stuff im working on; and stuff that NEEDS to be started YESTERDAY....but i dont wanna. i dont want to knit, i dont want to crochet. i dont even want to sew. im feeling kinda mean and petty actually.
" screw you and your dumb baby...i dont get one!" isnt that terrible? i dont neccessarily WANT a (nother) baby right now, but i sort of do. i wish i could see into the future and know everything will work out, we WILL get out of debt, and we WILL make something of our lives and I WILL FINISH THIS DAMM SWEATER!!!!!!!!!!! grrrrrrr. blech! i need to make dinner now.

whooptiewhoo

we haven't been doing too much lately, kidlet went thru a period of not sleeping between 12 midnight and 4 am........its much better now. so big daddy n i have been catching up on our sleep too.
i've also been prepping stuff for our yardsale, its happening in (count em) 3 days!!! yikes! most everything is priced, and ready to go tho; so that is a relief.
princess has decided she is ADDICTED to "over the hedge" no really, i can quote it in my sleep.....whole passages no less.
i have made a bunch of buttons for the yardsale, no crochet tho. (shame on me) i just didnt make enough time. i have been trying to make a BICO sweater for a baby that should be here soon. its not going well. i think i make alot of patterns harder than they are, but it is my first wearable.
ive also made a few things for my secret pal over at the 'ville. i hope she likes everything!

wish list...in case anyones wondering.....

my amazon wish list.....

i havent been working on much i can show, as i am involved with the crochetville (www.crochetville.org) secret pals swap. i think my KSP and i are going to get along well. my UKSP hasnt given me many hints, that is for sure. i did finish a baby blankie. soon enough i will take a pic and post.........
seems like with princess not sleeping as well, i dont have the crochet time i used to.
i bought some knitting needles. i am going to attempt to learn how to knit. i swear. someday.

pictures pictures!!!

finally i have managed to dump my photos off the digi, and later add them to photobucket yay!

the butterflies now reside on my moms bedroom curtain. many many months ago she requested a floppy red and purple hat. i made said hat in red with a purple butterfly, and since then she has requested more and more butterflies..... i made her 28 for mothers day, one for every year shes been a mom. i used all from my stash, from hemp twine (i dont reccomend this!) to homespun to some boucle (lionspun most likely)

shes very happy with them

the duck i posted about previously, as well as dd's blankie. the blankie is well loved, however it is sorta huge, so she cant drag it around like she wishes she could...... oops :)

the 2 beanies are for a 15 yr old boy who was recently diagnosed with cancer. i hope they bring him some comfort.... one is RHSS the other is lionbrand jiffy in grass green.

hats and blankies oh my!

i made the duck the other night. i will be making more of them and tossing one in each babys gift. if id stop you know, cleaning, cooking and being a mom, well...it would only take me about 30 - 45 minutes. in reality (where i live) it was 1 1/2 hrs!
princess has discovered the delight of throwing sand. oh yippee.
i let her play in the sink whilst i cook dinner. shes entertained, and out of my hair and i dont have to worry about dumping hot something or other on her. last night, she leaned over to take a drink out of the faucet...where she learned that i have no idea, as i use a glass. i think big daddy does manly stuff like that when im not looking. except she doesnt get the whole concept and she soaked her entire left side of her head. shes looking at me thru dripping curls and im laughing so hard i cant even cook...... it was awesome.
i made 2 hats for a 15 yr old boy with cancer, i dont know it seems like there are alot more kids getting cancer now, or maybe im just more aware.
i am on the last row of the lighter pink on the starghan, then a row of turqua and a row of varigated. yay! hopefully it will be done this week!!!!

a whole lotta hooking

so, i am ALMOST done with princess' starghan. i swear. i used one whole skein of the darker pink, and im almost finished with the skein of lighter pink. its definitely obnoxious. http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r301/bettycrackpot/100_2323.jpg And i started a duck. i found the pattern on crochetville;by EEBRS. http://crochetobsession.blogspot.com/ (her blog)
http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=50670&highlight=duck+pattern
princess fell down the stairs the other day....shes fine, not even a brain bruise. we have repeatedly told her not to play on the stairs, but kids are like that. somewhere nice and safe to play?? nah, thats boring. lets go to the ELEPHANT GRAVEYARD! (if you dont know what im talking about; its been far too long since youve seen "the lion king".
big daddy has a new job, working well so far. hes out of my hair, and to me, thats what counts.
i have planned out the next baby blankie. i have to make 2 blue ones, since there are 2 boys on the way. i suppose i could go green, but i have 2 skeins of blue already.... i am making a shell one. i am getting a little burnt on the stars. i have made 3 in less than 3 months, not to mention all the other stuff .
i need to finish sewing in the lining on the FBB for the old aunt. and start planning evryones xmas gifts. ugh.....it seems so early.

i made dumb box brownies cause thats what i do. but i added chocolate chips. that should count for something, right? i recieved a new cookbook in the mail today too.....big daddy says " i thought you werent buying anymore?" i didnt! i swear!! they just sent it to me. and im not going to GIVE IT BACK! its mine now!!!
a friend of mine (roughneck!) was killed last year on may 12. as it gets closer to that date, i cant sleep for thinking of him........ guess it goes without saying i loved him in my own special way. i finished moms motherday gift, ill prolly send tmrw or so....depends on princess kidlet.
blake is still on idol and i love me some blake...... hes my favorite. BLAKE IS THE NEXT IDOL!!! darnit. cause i say so.
still working on the starghan monster. i want to use at least 1 skein of each of the pinks, then see how big it is.
i crocheted something with hemp twine last night. just to see if i could. i dont reccommend it. it tore up my hand.

stuff n things

today we had dinner over at the inlaws....mama inlaw is out of town, so it was pizza night. i was not that impressed with papa johns, but i do dig the fact you can order online and pay with your cc....handy for those late night cravings.
after dinner we hung out and admired the new dish setup on the rentinlaws. i am not that impressed, i have basic cable and i get more channels. oh well, its their money, not mine.
i am still working on princess' starghan, i am making it with RHSS cause she doesnt need fancy yarn. (says me) the colors are pretty n pink, turqua and shocking pink. for the center and last rows i am using this REALLY funky varigated that i found in the bottom of the stash tote.
still working on moms mothers day gifty, the paint is drying as we speak.
i am thinking i will make a throw for the couch we dont have (yet) next. i have 6 skeins of tudor homespun that are calling my name.
i really need to bite the bullet and sew the lining into the latest FBB, its a very pretty blue suede for a xmas gift.
i picked up some turkeyhill white peach tea today....i think its my new crack.

all about me

i am a 25 year old SAHM. i live in central pa in the susquehanna valley. i recently moved here from potter county pa. to be with the man of my dreams; big daddy. my dd, princess; is 2, veryvery 2. shes a bit of a tyrant, but cute and funny, so she gets away with it. i crochet and make hemp jewelry and i know how to do lots of other stuff that i dont do. like gardening and sewing. feel free to contact me with any other questions.......