Tricoquine in the land of the stinky cheese

Secret Pals and Angels

I know that you are all waiting with baited breath to see my Fad Classic in the flesh but work kept me busy this weekend during the daylight hours and I can't photograph my masterpiece in bad lighting! 

One of the things that I forgot to mention in my upcoming posts is the end of Secret Pal. Sadly, my own Secret Pal did not turn out to be a very responsive, nor responsible person and abandoned me part-way through.  However, in return I gained a special Angel who sent me a thoughtful package of goodies from across the Channel.

But first, you must check out the blog of my spoilee, the ever-fabulous Outi from Finland whom I hope to someday meet in person, if I can get her to come to visit in Paris.  She is in design school, she illustrates, sews, knits, makes jewelery, gardens and seems like an all-around cool, crafty girl.

To counter my bad Secret Pal karma, I was rescued by an Angel named indiegirl who sent along some pub front magnets from her recent trip to Dublin. 

These magnets just happen to fit right in with the rest of the magnet collection.   

 

And let us not forget some gratuitous shots of yarn!  Ms Indiegirl dyed this sock yarn herself.  I think it looks rather fetching on the top of my honeysuckle...

Finally, some funky R2 lurex...I am always drawn to shiny stuff (just ask Ribbit, every time we walk past a jewelery store, my eyes are as big as silver dollars).  Anyone have suggestions on how to incorporate this stuff into a project?

 

Many thanks to indiegirl!

Secret Pal 8 questions

Our secret pal coordinator asked us to respond to a few questions... here is a little info about me.

1)  What is your favorite season of the year?

I like the Fall, around October.  Especially on the East Coast of the United States. The first sweater, the smell of a wood-burning fire place. The crispness in the air. I remember my first Fall in Philadelphia, driving out towards Valley Forge with all of the foliage in shades of reds, oranges, browns.  It was spectacular.  In Oregon, it was green year round with Douglas Fir trees. 

2)  Where is your favorite vacation spot?

Italy, for the people, the food, the blue water.

3)  If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?

I've always wanted to go to Japan -- Mt Fuji, the richness described in the novels by Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto, the history, and the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

4)  If you could pick any job, and be paid well, what would it be?

The one I have right now...

5)  If you were going on vacation for 1 week, and had to take ONLY one project with you, what would it be?

My Orangina -- a perfect portable project, intricate enough to be interesting, simple enough to knit without a chart or accessories (other than a crochet hook). It is coming with me on vacation next week.

6)  If you won a shopping spree to your favorite Yarn shop, what would you get??

Fleece Artist/Handmaiden, Rowan in all colors, textures, gauges, and Socks that Rock

Secret pal suprise

Let me just say that the day before my birthday, I received a rockin' package from my Secret Pal.  And let me also say that I love Secret Pals, and I love Reese's peanut butter cups, and I love French-Canadian Reese's (and the French Canadian secret pal who sent them to me!! coucou secret pal!) even more because they're called "friandises moulés au beurre d'arachides". Gotta love those Quebecois gate-keepers of the French language. They put the Académie Française to shame.  Did you know that Canadian Reese's come in packs of 3 and not 2 like in the US. I love that too...

My super secret pal also sent me some gorgeous baby alpaca in my favorite purple color -- and the yardage is almost perfect for a Flower Basket Shawl.  Included in the package were also some adorable stitch markers which I shall try my hardest not to lose and a cute Tigger pen that lights up. 

Merci beaucoup Secret Pal!

Secret pal 8 questionnaire

Hello Secret Pal,

This is the first time I have participated in an exchange and I'm looking forward to getting to know you. In the meantime, here are some things about me:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I go wild and crazy for anything by Handmaiden/Fleece Artist, well, perhaps any variegated hand-painted yarn in general. Although, I recently knit a scarf in Karabella Aurora 8 was amazed at the softness and beauty of the stitch definition. As for fibers, I love wool/silk blends, and pure wool.

I guess you could call my a yarn snob as I rarely ever knit with novelty yarns. I'm also not a big fan of cotton (bad Blue Sky Alpaca organic cotton experience).

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I splurged and bought myself a Lantern Moon silk needle case and love how well it keeps me organized.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been knitting off and on for the last two years.  I would call myself an intermediate-beginner; I like to tackle challenging projects but since I was only taught the basic knit and purl, for more complicated patterns and finishing, I taught myself out of a book so my progress is a little slow.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yes. Amazon. I am book-obsessed!

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Lavender. I prefer florals over citrus. 

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

A horrible sweet tooth. In college I regularly ate mint chocolate chip ice cream (Breyers) with Hershey's syrup for breakfast. Since living in France, I have grown to love dark chocolate but every time I go home to the States I bring back Reese's peanut butter cups. I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

Knitting is currently the only crafty hobby I am able to make time for in my schedule although I'd like to learn embroidery.

No spinning, yet.  I'd like to master knitting a little better before distracting myself with spinning.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I have wide ranging tastes -- vocal jazz, opera, hip hop, rock -- pretty much everything except for heavy metal and country, although I have a special place in my heart for Patsy Cline.

I'd love to discover some of my secret pal's favorites.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I am a purple person. My yarn color choices vary, however, across the spectrum. Check out my Flickr album for Flash your Stash day.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I live in Paris with my boyfriend of nearly 6 years. We used to have two goldfish but they died this summer within several months of each other and at the ripe old age of 5.5 years

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

All of the above except ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I love the idea of knitting sweaters and cardigans but have yet to finish one!  My Jaywalker is currently my metro knit of choice.  But I also recently enjoyed knitting a shawl and am really tempted by Charlotte's Web in Koigu.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Hourglass Sweater in Cash Iroha and Jaywalkers in Lorna's Laces.  I just finished Backyard Leaves as a Mother's Day gift.  And I've ordered the yarn to make Knit and Tonic's Fad Classic and Zephyr's Green Gable.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

I love handmade gifts. My closest friend in high school (hi drea!) made me a pillow for my birthday 10 years ago and I still have it!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I love my Crystal Palace bamboo straights but prefer addis for circulars. I try to use circulars for metro knitting so that I don't poke anyone. I guess it depends on the project.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

After spending hours of self-winding skeins into center pull balls, I finally bought myself a winder several weeks ago. 

17. How did you learn to knit?

My Great Aunt Sal, knitter extraordinaire, taught me the basics two summers ago.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?

eeehhhh, January ? Unless we count the sweater I knit for my boyfriend that didn't fit and I haven't yet had the courage to re-knit the shoulders (since September).

19. What is your favorite holiday?

December 10, International Human Rights Day.

20. Is there anything that you collect?

Dust. Books. Useless information. Magnets from travel destinations. My grandfather had a collection of magnets from every location he had the opportunity to visit. When he passed away, I took the ones we had picked out together and I've slowly been adding to the collection in the last two years.  Every time I look at the water heater above the sink (we don't have a magnetic fridge) I think of him.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I'm curious about Socks that Rock. I feel like Internet pictures just don't do them justice. And bamboo yarn -- it seems like a good alternative to cotton and color seems to take to it really well.

As for magazine, I subscribe to Rowan and would love to get my hands on some copies of Interweave, but it is sadly not available for purchase here in France...

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Intarsia! Fair Isle! before my eyes go bad :)  Is finishing a project a new technique ????

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Hmmm, does turning the heel on my first sock count? My feet are 9.5 in. long and I wear a size 8.5 shoe.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

In a few weeks, I'll be 26.  5/30.