Don't worry, I'm very much alive...

...In spite of very few updates lately, I am alive and kicking. Past weeks have been busy in a very relaxed way. I have shuffled snow, I've taken care of my plants (which are all miraculously still alive too), I've discovered Spotify (go here for free invites), I've discovered last.fm. As a consequence of Spotify and last.fm I've been listening to music so much more than I usually do, finding new favourites, and being very pleased with it all. Remembered how much I really love music - I want to sing again, would take song lessons if I could afford it. Considering saving up to finally buy that guitar I've always wanted, or an electric piano keyboard... We'll see.

I've had loads of tea, wine and Chinese food (not all at once, though), I've seen the Norwegian cult-movie-to-be Død Snø which the makers define as a nazizombiehorrorsplattercomedy. Very true to the genre, very entertaining (if you like that kind of entertainment.. not for the weakhearted or easily nauseated...) In other news, I've seen the last episodes of Dr.Who, and I'm now looking very much forward to the next two specials, and to seeing how Matt Smith will work as the 11th doctor. Going to miss David Tennant, though. Man, that is one hot actor... So much charisma! Other shows I've been watching a lot include The Middleman and The Big Bang Theory. I recommand both, but they might be what they call 'an aquired taste'. The Middleman has unfortunately been cancelled after just one season. A plan that is NOT sheer elegance in its simplicity, but still must have been done by evil supervillains. This is me being bitter, would have loved to see more of it.

Oh, and I've been drawing again, writing again. I feel creative, happy and productive. I also need to buy some lamps, I need better lighting for my new creative corner (smaller than the old one, but still works fine, except for the light). I'll post some photos when I've put up new lamp(s). Will probably have to wait for a while though, can't afford it until next paydate. In the meantime, here are some updates on my knitting.

I'm still working on the last pair of Whitewater Wristwarmers, in white baby wool. Same goes for the Gwynedd cable scarf, but I'm still very much motivated to finish and I'm enjoying the knitting - I've just been distracted - I'm almost done with a baby kimono, just need to do the seams and find ribbons:



Same goes for a baby bib, I just need buttons for it and it's done:


I've also started a baby cardigan, completely improvised, off the top of my head. Just need to buy more yarn (Debbie Bliss cotton cashmere), finish the few inches of the left front & both the sleeves, buy buttons and do the seaming:


While we're on the subject of knitting - I've received the loveliest stitch markers from Etsy and from Twitchy on Ravelry. I've just recently discovered how handy those little things can actually be, when knitting more complicated things. And they're so pretty! Yay ^_^

I also recently was the happy recipient of a swap package in the Single Knitter's Valentine Swap. Still pondering what to do with the lovely Malabrigo Baby Merino Lace Yarn.. Sooo soft, so pretty ^_^ Angua on Ravelry sent me this lovely package:

Swap heaven!

Wow, these past days have gone by quickly! They have been stressful, crappy, tiresome and wonderful. I've finished five essays and started preparing for latin exams, I've had a headache that wouldn't go away no matter what I did (went on for three days), I've been watching a great deal of E.R and I've received packages three days in a row (monday, tuesday, wednesday).

First, I received my Yarn Snob Swap Package, from yarnnonni. The yarn is Malabrigo Silky Merino and it is Oh-so-soft! I love it! And I got three skeins of it, so I have enough for maybe two small projects. The tea is Purity from Tavalon Tea Bar, and I was so happy to receive it!! I was about to go into withdrawal since it's not available for international shipping from their site, and I am quite addicted ;) I got some lovely stitch markers as well, but unfortunately one of them was broken... They are made from shells from the beach where Patricia/yarnnonni lives and some beautiful green pieces of glass (I think). I'll use it next time I knit something big, like a blanket or a shawl.

On Tuesday, I received my order from The Loopy Ewe. I didn't take any pictures, but you can have a look at their site yourselves - they have so many nifty things! I bought a wpi-kit, with a stick to roll the yarn around to see how many wraps per inches it makes and then it gives weight and needle size :D I love it! I also got the small sock blocker-key chain, the green chibi from clover, the sock-it-to-me sock size overview and a lovely lavender lotion bee wax bar that makes my hands softer than soft! The fact that I can't really afford any of this at the moment is of course irrelevant... We might have to convieniently stop by at my parents' house for dinner a couple of time before the 12th of May...


Then, on Wednesday, I was REALLY spoiled. Sophia and I decided to do a private tea and yarn-swap, and sent eachother requests and wishes - I got the most wonderful package!! As you can see by the photos, there were lots and lots of goodies. I'll start with what wow'ed me the most: the yarn. I got a skein of Manos del Uruguay's silky blend in the loveliest shades of purple, and I've already started a pair of knitty's Spirogyra which I think I just might keep for myself, since the yarn is so amazingly soft. I also got a 400yds skein of superwash merino yarn in fingering weight from Seacoast Handpainted - I can't wait to start some new sock projects - it's been a while since I last knitted socks and I miss it :) The last yarn addition was 10g of supersoft angora wool. I think I need to use it for some baby garment :)

I was happy to find not only the Interweave Knits issue from last fall (out of print and very popular), but also a vintage booklet from 1949 with baby patterns!! I love vintage knitting, and I am looking forward to trying out some of these lovely layette-patterns ("hentesett"). I also got a squishy baby toy (no close-ups in case my brother or his girlfriend are reading the blog), and two bunny buttons that I am going to use on a baby cardigan (I think).

I had to stop myself right away from eating the few pieces of chocolate in the package - but I had one of the green tea vanilla bean cookies :) Very good indeed! My boyfriend ate the milk chocolate, and I'm saving the dark chocolate for an occacion. I gained weight this week. I guess it's because I've been so stressed out and not able to control myself as well, but I have been exercising in my Redcord sling a bit, so I'm hoping the weight is more muscles than fat... Anyway, I feel much better today, and I rode my new bike (it's white, not red as the one in the photo) to work. It's sunny outside and it's finally starting to feel like spring (Please don't let me jinx it with those words...).

Back to the package (Yes, there is more!), the tea Sophia sent me was really yummy - I've had so many cups of the blueberry muffin tea that I've lost count! It really feels like you're having liquid muffins, only not as nauseating as that sounded. In a good way, I swear! Fresh nice blueberry taste with the addition of some caramel pieces that gives a round muffin-y taste. The almond tea was great too, especially with a dash of honey, but I have to be really careful with it so that I don't provoke my allergies too much (allergic to nuts and almonds, both of which are in the tea). I haven't gotten around to tasting the ginger oolong, the rooibos fennel or the pyramid bags, but I'm saving them for next time my mother or Anne stops by. The package also came with a really pretty card that is now on my cork-board .. uhm.. Don't fail me now, English vocabulary!! Daarn yooou!. Okay, it's like a blackboard, only it is made out of cork and you pin stuff to it. Like, to do-lists and photos and such. What's it called? Please comment, and relieve me of this terrible "I'm sure I know what it's called"-feeling... ;) Anyway, that's where it is, (Thanks, Sophia) right next to my desk :) Thank you so much for a lovely package, Sophia :) ETA: Oh. I forgot to mention the granola! I've been adding some to my cereals every morning and it's really good (but VERY sweet!!). Works so well with my morning routine and takes the edge off my sugar cravings ;)

Close-ups of yarn from Patricia and Sophia:


I've mangaged to do some knitting (while procrastinating) these past days as well. I've finally picked up my too short Ravenclaw scarf and started knitting on that, but it's not very challenging since it's just back and forth and not much of a pattern. I've knitted some more squares for my Mindless Knitting Blanket, and I've managed to finish up my beaded wristwarmers. I will post a pattern soon for the wristwarmers, which were inspired by a pattern from Du Store Alpakka that didn't work out too well for me. I've made so many changes in it, that it turned into a whole new pattern, so I just have to dechipher my notes and write it out, and then I'll post a pattern. Anyways, here are some photos: