My Dentist is Going to Hate Me

Last week I was showered with a magical envelope of chocolate goodies from twinsmama, as she is known in the Ravelry world.

Actually it was a small box, but it was suppose to be an envelope for our groups 4/4 food swap, so for all case and purposes we shall call this a magical envelope as twinsmama, my swap parnter put it so eloquently.

The parcel traveled a long distance coming from across the Atlantic pond. One wonderful detail was how each item was individually wrap with such care it was like opening a gazillion little prizes. I admit I delighted in opening each and every one of them.

In my magical evelope I found 10 hot chocolate sachets, a packet of Angel Delight - a w hip up chocolate milk - sounds delicious!, a Chocolate orange bar, a Crunchie bar (ate it soon after my parcel arrive, they are one of my fav's), a chocolate picnic bar, a chocolate hazelnut Topic bar, two toffee crisps (First thing gone, as soon as we opened it), two Boost chocolate bars, a toffee & hammer package, a four pack of chocolate shaped and flavored lip gloss - too cute, an old fashion candy stick from Bournemouth Pier Rock and a box of note cards that say “a hug is a great gift one size fits all”

Twinsmama thank you so much for my magical envelope it was a great fun to open.

My family and I are going to enjoy tasting all the wonderful treats but my dentist is going to hate me.

Swedish Delight

I received a great swap package for the April Tea Swap from Kariola (as she is known in the Ravelry world). The envelope was stuffed to the gills filled with goodies from Sweden. In my package I found a beautiful knitted coaster made of my first ever Noro skein and the colors are just lovely, smokey black with blues, violets and grays. Two skeins of svarta yarn in cream and black, three handcrafted hair scrunchies by Kariola, a Gisha milk chocolate and hazelnut bar, knitting needles, a recipe for chocolate muffins, a pattern for the posie tea cozy, a pattern for the skull keychains, ballerina cookies (husband has eatten half the package already - had to hide the rest), a gecko strawberry air freshener, Kobbs Himlagott Lingenberry flavored tea , and Swedish fish and other gummies - the kids and I have polished off half the bag already - they are delicious.

I just love receiving regional items such as the Swedish tea, Swedish chocolate, Swedish cookies and most importantly the Swedish fish. A big treat for me and my family, we love trying new things.

Kariola is a very warm and sweet person. I say this not just because she sent me such an amazing package, but because I have had the pleasure of getting to know her. She has also been very supportive during these difficult times. For that, I cannot thank her enough.

Norway Capelet Inspiration

Last week I received a lovely parcel as part of my 3 of 4 swap on Ravelry. The lovely Heddas sent me the Chanson en Crochet Capelet pattern, a bamboo crochet hook in the required size (6.00mm)for the pattern and a postcard. This pattern as been on my list of queue for several months, it had been on the top of my list. Receiving this pattern was a sign. So I took this sign and ran to my LYS earlier this week and bought some delicious cotton/alpaca/polyamide blend yarn - Aslan Trends Artesanal in midnight black tweed. It's too yummy for words.

So I began my capelet.
So far I am loving this pattern. I have been working on this for two days and already I am about a 1/3 into it and am moving very quickly through the pattern. Great pattern because each row is easy and fun..........more to come in the days that follow.

Superhero with a Capital “S”

I have been carrying a heavy heart. Last month my Dad was diagnosed with Leukemia. Its terribly depressing to see your father, the pillar of strength and robust energy crumbling before your eyes. Words cannot begin to describe all the sacrifices, support and unconditional love that my Dad has given to me. I love him so much that it tears me to pieces to see him struggle with this illness. My Mom trying so hard to keep it together, but needs my brother and I to help support her….sigh……. That said, strangely I found support and understanding from an unlikely place, a virtual friend.

A few weeks ago out of nowhere I receive a package in the mail from lawardrop (as she is known in the Ravelry world). This women is a Superhero with a capital “S” in my book. When I shared with our Ravelry group the crap I was going through (and yes I said crap, it is crap, crap, crap, crap!) she recognized the dark place I was in, because she had (unfortunately) been there too. I realize now how important it has been for me to know that someone else understood what I was going through. When family goes into crisis mode you can become blinded by things around you, numb with grief and lost in the dark empty space within ones self. You cannot help but feel so alone when things are dark and gloomy. And normally I like dark and gloomy, but not like this.

This beautiful care package contained the following items.Handmade slippers with adorable Cheshire cats smiling at me.
A handmade project bag.
Two bars of delicious chocolate bars.
Rose flavored mints in a lovely fairy tin.
Tension Tamer Tea.
Note pad with pen.
Melt away stress Dreamy Night cream.
And a cute black and pink skull patch.

Lawardrop may never realize that she provided me with a much needed warm hug from across the country, she did that and more. Words cannot begin to express my gratitude to Lawardrop for what she has done for me. Big hugs Lawardrop, you have a heart of pure gold.

Who is your partner? - Technique Swap

As part of the March -Who is your partner? Technique Swap - I receive the most amazing and beautiful parcel from the very lovely Purr as she known in the Ravelry world. The object of the technique swap was to find out what technique your partner likes most and then we talked about this on the group page on Ravelry. We then would find a small item(s) that has something to do with that technique and mail it off to our secret partner.

I know Purr went over the limit because I receive way too many wonderful goodies. Because I am all over the place in my technique and continuously trying to learn new things she sent me several technique related items. A handmade, hand-dyed, and designed project bag by Purr herself. It’s so cool! Not only did I get one but TWO handmade items. The lovely copper cable hook necklace with skull charm was also hand crafted by Purr…talented lady! I also received a purse/bag fastener, cute bracelet and highlighting tape to help me with reading lace pattern charts.

Saucy Original Crazy Kit - Sock Swap

The Saucy Original Crazy Sock Swap for the month of March was so much fun. I had a great time putting together my partners swap package and I receive an amazing package in return. The swap parcel were to contain an either Saucy , Original, or Crazy (or all of the above) Sock Kit. Each kit needed to contain enough sock yarn for at least one decent pair of socks.
The rest of the kit could be saucy - original - crazy!

I was floored when I opened this package. This lovely package came from a lovely lady Cathv-s as she is known in the Ravelry world. In my package I found a hand-dyed by Catherine, sock blanket which is super soft and the colors are amazing the red and the green blend so well with a dash of violet. The sock blanket is so beautiful on it's own, it is hard to think that I will have to unravel it as I knit my socks.

In addition, I also receive a hand carved stamp, made again by Cathv-s of my original Ravelry ravatar. It’s so cool. I just love it! A lovely card with said stamp, flaming hot chili pepper stitch markers and a giant bag of rootbeer jelly bellys. My favorite soda pop in the whole wide world. Now I can indulge my senses with small treats throughout the whole day!!!! Thank you so much.
Now I am off to find a great sock pattern for this lovely yarn…………

RAK - Mirasol Yarn

Last week I received a beautiful and unexpected RAK (random act of kindness) parcel from fellow raveler sulkycat. The parcel included two beautiful hand dyed skeins of Mirasol yarn in colorway -Saffron Spice. This is the first time I had heard of Mirasol yarn based out of Peru.

Mirasol yarn is based on Fair-trade. This guarantees that disadvantaged producers in the developing world get a better deal for their products. The producers receive a price that covers the cost of sustainable production plus an extra premium that is invested in social or economic development projects such as the Mirasol Project. The Mirasol Project supports local communities in Peru through the sales of the yarn. The Mirasol Yarn Collection includes yarn made from the animals tended by these communities for generations in the Peruvian highlands. A portion of every purchase goes directly to the funding of a centre in the remote area of Munani in the region of Puno in Peru. I love the fact that this yarn was not only sent to be from a very lovely person but that the yarn also will help support and preserve a community in another part of the world.

In addition to the lovely yarn were three wonderful smelling bath soaps in Rose, Lavender and Magnolia, a lip balm called “Let them eat cake” from Lush and a cute little sheep that is now sitting on top of my computer looking down at me as I write this.

Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for this lovely gesture, but more importantly for the friendship that has been fostered. Sulkycat is very special and charming lady dear to my heart and if you ever have the pleasure of coming across her on Ravelry, know that you will be in the present of a wonderful person with a heart of pink glittery gold.

A Victorian Valentine

The first paper Valentine's Day greeting cards go back the early 1400s. A revival of the Valentine's Day greeting card began to take place in Great Britian because of the availablity of printed cards and the decrease in postage costs. This made the token of a Valentine exchange more accessible for the masses.

In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced paper valentines in America.

Most recently, technological advancements have taken this tradition of card exchange to the next level, by provided Valentine’s Day e-card. It's a great way to get a quick card out with very little cost or delay, but frankly I still prefer snail mail.

This year I had the great luck to participate in a Victorian Themed Valentine's Day greeting card exchange with four other people from my Ravelry group, The Victorians.

Each person mailed a Victorian themed card to the other four in the group. The card could be handmade or purchased. These are the lovely results of my exchange, with one exception. The image found at the top of this page is in fact not a card but a sticker that was custom made and decorated the outer envelope of one of the card I received. It reads "To my Ravelry Valentine" I loved it so much, I had to include the image with the cards.

This beautiful handmade card has a portrait of a Victorian couple, not identified, in a sepia. I found it amusing that the outer envelope included a postage stamp of Edgar Allen Poe, How appropriate! A quote is found on the top left hand corner.

" Love me sweet, with all thou art,
Feeling, thinking, seeing,
Love me in the lightest part,
Love me in full being"

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Monthly Adventures anniverary rain

One of my very dear groups on Ravelry, Monthly Adventures had an anniversary celebration that rained prizes for two months. Mine arrived from France, ooo la la. I received a wonderful package of tea, Arabica coffee and Lemon Wafers - not much left of those yummy wafers, kids just loved them. This package came from my dear fellow Raveler Rebeccawip who didn’t just send goodies but kind words as well. Merci Beaucoup!!!