It's all about the bag *HSK7 spoiler*

It started out rocky, but turned out okay, yes it's all about the bag.

For my HSK7 Swap, the last of my active swaps, we had to knit a bag for our spoilee. To be more specific, we would knit what the spoilee picked on their questionnaire when we joined the swap, my spoilee choose a bag.

The original bag I started to knit didn't turn out at all, I was actually quite annoyed. I decided, after much procrastinating to frog it and start over, but with a new pattern. I went with Drops 109-13 Pleated bag. This was a quick knit, and very easy. I was surprised at how easy, for some reason Drops designs can seem so enigmatic to me?

What did I knit it with? Again, I went with Blue Sky Alpaca 100% Organic Cotton yarn in color 621, which is a rich chocolate brown. Did I mention my spoilee has the same taste in colors as me? I love this color, so I know she'll love it too. In fact all the yarn I bought her I longed for myself!

Without further ado, here's the photoshoot!



See the pleats? This was the first time I knitted a pattern with pleats, and it's nothing difficult, basically cables, but not repetitive. What don't I like about the pleats??? The holes! Because your twisting a large amount of stitches, you get a nice hole left, no matter how much you try and close it up. I didn't like it, so I mattress stitched close the holes.

Some more angles:







I was so happy that I was able to finish this in time to send my package. I wrapped it and sent it on it's way. I can only hope it will be accepted and liked!

It's amazing how fast things come to an end, my HSK7 swap is all done now, kinda sad, it is, at least for now, the last swap I'll be in for awhile. I've intentionally slowed down my participation in alot of things to make room for my "unknown" project.

On the horizon now, I have my project to focus and research on, and some real true luxury knitting. YES, the BEST kind of knitting there is! I have to see what to make me, I have alot in mind, but I really want to make me some garments to start wearing.

Let's see what I cast on in the next few days 8)

Gift Knitting

I went to visit my former hometown, Newman, this weekend where my cousin Tura and his family still live. I didn't get a chance to visit during Easter, so this was a long needed trip. I had bought a cute brown/biege short outfit formy Godson Andrew, which I might get to see him in next weekend! For my little couse Alyssa, I decided to knit her a headband late Friday night, about 10 p.m. I quickly searched Ravelry for a child's headband pattern, and went with Nora. I found some real pretty "Little Lovely" Malabrigo Chunky in my stash, and it was perfect! I had to adjust my needle size since the pattern isn't knitted with chunky weight yarn. I went with a US3 needle, and it worked out perfect. I had it finished by the time we got to the house the morning on Saturday.


Here are my pics!







And look at her smile! She loves pink!



Another gift I'm almost done with, here's some quick pics:





I don't want to say too much about this because it's a surprise, but I'm really excited to get to the finishing portion, it will really take shape then.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!
R

It's the little things that count!

A good friend, Cheryl, from Kavelizard on Etsy, makes the cutest garments and accessories. I met Cheryl in the "Day of the Dead" swap from last year, she was my spoiler. She made me the cutest knitting bag, and perfect for those real meaty knitting projects.

Remember this lovely bag?



I love this bag, she made it just for Lil'O me 8-), in fact she now offers them for sell on her site, she aptly named it "Rocka-ma-bag"! I love the tatoo'ish fabric, and requested a custom item from her Etsy site the other week for a Iphone cell phone case she has for sale, but since I'm a Blackberry girl, I asked for one that fits a Blackberry, in no other than my fave tatoo'ish fabric.

And she made whipped it up in no time and shipped it to me ASAP! I love it! It is now permanently attached to my Bella bag from Jordana. Funny, Bella, it's also the name of the lead female character in Twilight, kind of odd that name would mean so much to me now when I knew nothing of "Bella" when I purchased my Bella bag at the Stitches West 2008 conference. Isn't odd how one thing can mean something to you in one way at one point in time and then later on have a totally different meaning? Odd....

Enough digressing, here are some snapshots of my custom BB case.





Now you should know what my title means, it is little but definitely counts! I love it. A BIG thank you to my friend CHERYL!!! You Rock girl!

And onto a new WIP, real new, hot off the needles yesterday. I can't say the name of the pattern or who it's for, I can't ruin the surprise, but I will say it is a handbag and it is my first time working with pleats, but it's pretty much the same as cables or is cables, but knit somewhat differently. I picked this color because I know my spoilee likes neutrals, as I do, and this dark rich brown is luscious! The yarn is again a constant in my knitting stash, Blue Sky Alpaca 100% Organic Cotton. I've knitted with various weights of this yarn and I love it. It's easy to knit and very soft, and it won't felt, which is awesome in case it needs a good wash.

Here's a peek at the handbag, though it's about 40% done, it doesn't yet look like much, but I can't wait to see the final product. I need to go pick me up some 9 16' cause the 24''s circs aren't working out. I should be able to pick some up this weekend and have a spoilee FO to show off Sunday!



See that "Love Bites" stitch marker??? It's a gift from my spoiler for Love Bites, a heart with a band-aid, too cute!



And see that Golden Retriever stitch marker? So cute, from my other spoiler Minerva Wood a.k.a. Yogaknot. I've participated in so many swaps that I've been so lucky to have such wonderful spoilers who get me the cutest things.

More soon 8)

HSK - Quidditch Rd 3

1. This “Harry Potter� character’s first name comes from Roman mythology. The mythological character’s twin brother is named Romulus. What is the Harry Potter character last name?

b. Lupin

2. Which “Harry Potter� character’s first name is the Roman equivalent of the Greed Goddess Athena?
c. McGonagall

3. In ‘Harry Potter’ World, this wizard has created the Philosopher’s Stone (called the Sorcerer Stone in the US). The historical figure from the 14th and 15th centuries was a scribe and a manuscript-seller who became famous as an alchemist. Who is this individual?

I believe it's Nicholas Flammel.

4. What is the first name of a character whose last name is the name of a Bulgarian leader from early 9th century who doubled the country’s territory?
c. Viktor

5. Which character’s name is the name of goddess in Indian mythology?
b. Patil

6. “Where the Wild Things Are� tells the story of Max, a young boy sent to bed without his supper for his wild antics. Who created this winner of the Caldecott Medal?
a. Maurice Sendak

7. What was NOT one of the unexpected defense mechanisms that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook encountered in their attempt to rob Gringotts?
d. The Geminio Curse

8. What was Snape aiming at when he cut off George’s ear?

c. Another Death Eater’s wand hand
d. George’s face

9. How much older than James was Lily? (Referring to Harry’s parents, not children).
d. 2 months

10. Food is one of the five exceptions to what magical law?
b. Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration

Photo hunt

George
McGonagall
Patil
Where the Wild Things Are

15 years later

My son said "Mom, do you know where Lincoln is at?� I thought immediately, is that a trick question? It's not like I've never told my son where I graduated from. This he asks because of a wrestling tournament he was set to play at Lincoln High.

Yes, my son is a wrestler, to my surprise! Of all the sports for him to gain interest in, he chooses Wrestling. It's perfectly fine for me; any type of athletic participation makes me happy. I'm always encouraging my kids to participate in sports. He joined the wrestling team without any coercion by me, which made me even happier.

Regardless, what makes this even more interesting is that his Wrestling tournament is at my former High School, Abraham Lincoln here in San Jose. So it was an overwhelmingly nostalgic Saturday, filled with excitement to see my son wrestle. I never would've of thought back in High School that 15 years later, I would be visiting it to watch my 13.5 year old son wrestle.

Lincoln High School has a real "classic" look to it, a very nice visually looking school. I remember when I used to go there; I had always admired the architecture of the buildings, and the style. It all still looks the same, with some changes to the Quad area.

The Front of the School


That lawn has seen many a high school student sit and eat lunch.

The Main Entrance


The stoop here, was always very popular with the more social clique's, I actually have a picture of all my friends posing in front of this back in 1994.

The back area by the Quad


This was a little getaway area, away from the watchful eyes of "Yard Duties" 8-)

In the Gym


I remember working out in this gym, and coming here after swim class.

Classic stairs




They sure don't make them like this anymore; I really do love this school. It reminds me of the school in Grease!

The Hallway


I can still remember my first time going to the school to register for my classes. I had joined late, about a month into the start of the school year for my 10th year. My luck, I had to register during the school day, right smack during lunch time and of course all the students were just "all too curious" to see who the "new girl" was. Even funnier, my cousin was horrified that his "fave cuz" was going to go to school with him. He's my fave cuz, like a brother, but it was his way of giving me a hard time.

"The Man"


Yes this is the one I met at 9 years old, and remembered him when I saw him in 10th grade that first day of school. We started dating shortly after and now we have 2 teenage kids.. hmmm...

ME


Me, walking into the main building with memories filling my head.

A distasteful addition


This is a new theatre that was added smack in the middle of the Quad area, and it's horrible. Granted having a full theatre is great for a school, but I was upset that they didn't match or even attempt to blend in the style with the rest of the buildings.




I say good-bye to my former high school, but it still has a special hold for me, it was the "Lincoln Lions", and still is, for me I'm a Lioness at heart, both in spirit and in sign.