Isn't he gorgeous? Pugs are my new love! If only my DH would allow me to have one!
Anyway: Knitting wise: I'm on Ravelry, reading a lot there. Great community. So much inspiration!

There was a local fair in the first weekend of September, where I was selling my beads. This meant that I had to bead-crochet like crazy whole summer along. Still, there was so little stuff to sell! Anyway, people liked it, who took the time to came along and ask about it. Many of them just passed by, not realising what they had seen. Anyway. Financially it was a disaster, but I have met a few people with similar interests, and alltogether it was a worthy experience.

Since then I'm knitting like crazy, but I should be make more jewelery to sell for Xmas. But I just can't help knitting!

I have a few WIP's I'd love to finish before the beading madness. If you happen to have an access to Ravelry, check it out.

About charity knitting: So many wonderful people out there! Yesterday I have received a huge box from Cheryl, USA, with many, many wonderful yarn, and a great surprise: square needles! I use them since, and I love them! A new dimension of knitting! It feels like I was using them always, and so much easier on my hands!
The group is busy, and fortunately they were knitting while I was beading during the summer.

Dear Astrid, you sent us so many wonderful things! Besides the tons of yarn, the books, needles and notions, we love them all! You are great! I wish I could do something in return. If there is something you can think of, please ask!

I have the other names at home, and I will ask them too, but sorry, I'm at work, and this is just a quick note for now.

By the way, work: I started my own business, officially, but technically my only business thing was the above mentioned fair. As soon as I will have some money to spend, I will make my online shop, where I'm going to sell beads, yarn, and relating things.
In the meantime I'm looking for another job, since I don't like my boss anymore. She is mean and cruel and doesn't care for people's feelings. Sad, but true. I'd love to find a half day job, and I will be able to concentrate on my business more. Yesterday I posted an application - I will see in the near future....

What else....? A lot of things has happened since my last post, and I will keep you updated soon.

I'm really touched to tears about how generous and care-giving the knitters' society in the USA. I posted a request for charity yarn on a website, and there were a lot of people responding, willing to give yarn and other notions. Which would be a great help for our little group. I think I should open a new blog for the group, and post our prorgress there. Or I just simply put pictures up here, indicating, that this project was made for charity? I don't know. I have so little time even for this one.

It was a long time ago since I last wrote.
I'm more and more convinced that I should open a yarn shop for quality yarn and notions which is unknown in Hungary. A yarn and bead shop, because do not forget, that I'm a beader in the first place. As we discussed with DH, it should be an online webshop for the start, until we could afford a proper shop.

I agree, but yesterday I went to see an available shop with a two rooms flat on top, in the heart of the city. I know, it was only eye candy, and maybe not fair with the landlord, but who knows, I might win the lottery this weekend.

I must tell you, the place is just perfect! The flat is small, but well equipped, and would be just right for us!!! - Eh, as my husband said: Dream Little Princess...
It costs WAYYYY too much, as I expected. But I had a wonderful time daydreaming how would I create my wonderful yarn and bead shop...

Now the nice stuff: I have a beautiful, funny looking guinea pig. She's called Lojzi.
I know it is a male name, but my daughter came up with this name, immediately as she saw her, so it stays. She looks just like the one on the picture, and so sweet! A bit of shy yet, but only 6 weeks old. She is happy when I cuddle her, and "talks" continuously, when I hold her. I said she's mine because I wanted her, but my daughter insists that she's her, so I leave it to her :)
I'm planning to buy a male for her for company, so I will have one of my own.
I already saw the right one in the local pet shop, and I tell you, he is a good looking little fellow. Just as punk, and crazy looking, but in brown and cream. And older, already 3 months old. They are so cute, I never tought I would like a guinea pig, somehow I've never been interested in this kind of animals, but now, I love them.

I guess this is a substitute for the second baby. We decided not to have another one, and now I compensate. It is OK. I can except this deal.

Still had no time to upload all the pictures from the camera, this is ridiculous.
Absolutely no time for anything! I can't wait for the summer holiday... it will be short, but I'm planning to get the most out of it.

Oh, I have a new motto, since I listened to Pink, who is I think a great singer.
'Find a new lifestyle - a reason to smile' - Which is I'm planning to do!!!
All the best!

Now, guess what? I started a sock! I know I made a huge mistake with the heel, but I was prepared for this. I'm happy I could manage the four needles. And one piece is nearly done. For the next piece I will keep the instructions nearby (which I did not found when making the first one) and I know I will make a super heel. If only I could make some pictures! But the truth is: I envy the time I would spend with making the pictures and posting them. Seriously. Every minute counts, when you knit.
So, only a cute animal again...
And I haven't finished the handle for the knitted bag yet... I know I'm bed. I'"m useless with deadlines.
I decided that I will take a small project with me to work from now on, and every lunch-break I will work on it. The problem starts, when I have no time for lunch-break. Today I brought my sock (of course) with me, and no progress yet.
Anyway, I think the idea is good, and hopefully will work sometimes.
Ah, and I made a decision regarding beading vs. knitting: beaded knitting! I will make bead knitted bracelets and things, just to make my DH and myself happy at the same time. Altough I have more ideas for that...
Just for those who are new on the internet: Flickr and Etsy is great to find inspiration!
Happy knitting everyone!

Eh, why not to knit what I want, whenever I want? This thing is about having fun at the first place!
And fun I had this long weekend, when I decided that I will start something with the beautiful striped yarn. I love the colours, and the yarn is so soft (65 % wool, and acrylic) and nice to work with. I also decided to try my own pattern. My first attempt to make something without a written pattern. I'm so curious how this will turn out. I hope I will be able to rip it after blocking, if the garment does not look good on me. It is going to be a wrap cardigan. I haven't yet decided on a few
details yet, it will depend on how much yarn I will have left. But I'm determined to buy more, if I need it. It was well worth the price.
Black top is on the rest now. Also I had to put aside that green cotton, which makes me angry whenever I touch it. It splits even if I have a look at it. Very, very nasty to work with. I'm thinking about taking it back to the shop to change it for something useful. I will have to ask the owner lady if she's willing to.
I had no time to try knitting socks yet. I will need some quiet and lonelyness when I first cast on for this project. I have no idea when will I have both.
I'm thinking about knitting and beading, so finally I could make something for the summer fair, and still enjoying it. Funny, how I'm not interested in bead crochet at the moment. I was crazy for that. I know I will make a lot more in the future. But this time I enjoy knitting and knitting and knitting.
I have a vision about a nice, soft, mid-grey pullover, with the kid-mohair dream on the top. I will make sketches, and look for patterns to make my vision alive. I know it is going to be a beautiful thing.
I wish I had more time and put on pictures. I will try this weekend.

One thing finished!

I have a project finished! Wow! The wonderful cobweb scarf is finished. I know, this is no big deal, but I'm happy for it. Now I can continue my other projects. I was reading other knitters' blogs and I decided I'm not that hopeless, since I have only two or three projects on the needles (and one does not count, because I'm waiting for a yarn to be able to finish it)
Of course it is hard to resist casting on for new projects, good thing I do not have many knitting needles (not even all sizes) so if I start something on the 5 mm needles, I have to finish it first....
As soon as I will have time, and my DH will allow me to the computer, I will post pictures about projects, both finished and in progress.
Ay!!! I just realized, that BEFORE I touch anything else, I have to put my final touches to the knitted purse exchange piece, I have to post it this week as the latest. OK. OK. I will.
Just remember when I got home...

Broken promises...

As always, promises are broken. Of course I casted on a new project. I failed when I reached my wonderful cobweb kid mohair yarn from The Natural Dye Studio
This thing is a wonder. So delicate, it is really a cobweb, and yet still a joy to work with. It rips like a dream (unlike other mohairs), and so beautifully soft and elastic when knit up. I knit it only for the joy of feeling it. It is becoming a long scarf. Only one skein will make a super-long scarf, which I'm planning to use for many ways. I've already bid on a few more skeins, for these things are one-of-a-kind, and I'm afraid I will not find similar colors again. The colors are amazing as well. I just love this yarn, and I would be happy if I had to use this yarn only for the rest of my life. Also their sock merino is a dream only to look at. I will keep these skeins as desserts, on those blue days, to cheer me up. When I'm fed up, I will pull out one of these wonders, and wind them to balls.

I just bought my first set of sock needles. I will give them a try soon. Sock knitting always frightened me, but I'm up for a challange. It is truly going to be a great adventure. I love those hand knitted socks I see all over the net, and some great patterns too.

No beading for now. I don't feel like it now at all. I'm not preparing for the craft fair this summer either. I just want to have all the fun without the pressure.

Welcome my first commenter!

I checked your profile, and we have a lot of common:
I'm also a Virgo, and too love to window-shopping for
yarns on the net!

Last night I was up nearly until midnight, BUT! finally
managed to set up the pattern on the black top, and beleive it or not, I made some progress, it is now approx. 6 cm long! With this speed I will be able to wear it when the snow comes again... Anyway, I will not give up, and will not start any new projects until I finish this and the ruffled surplice.

I checked IK's summer preview, and there are a few very interesting things. I love the origami cardi, but with these big tits (and tummy) I just can't imagine they would look nice on me. (Sigh) I really need to lost a lot of weight.

I have to go to the dentist today. I was dead frightened by dentists, until I have met my ex-dentist, but she moved to another town. Then accidentally found this lovely man, whom I like a lot (don't tell DH) and he is very gentle and very professional. So, now I don't really mind if I have to go to the dentist.

I will post pictures this weekend, altogether with the Stich Mark Exchange pictures.
I received lovely stich markers from lovely people.
Whoever started this exchange and KAL thing, she/he was a genious. Makes the world a better place.

Dear Hostesses and Partner,
Sorry, but I will be at least a week late with my purse.
It only needs handle, but I can't find time to finish it.
Please excuse me, and be patient, I surely will send it
out soon.
Mityka

More ripping

Yesterday I ripped that black top two times again. I realised, that there must be a mistake in the pattern: two yo's, and one knit2tog, makes one increase, right?
So, this is why one row never would end, and this is why one ball cotton made one
cm fabric...
I did not want to risk to modify the pattern, (neither I was feeling to make a swatch, I just feel I would waste my time, silly, isn't it, when bad gauge make you rip ten times...) so I looked for a similar pattern in one of my pattern books. I found a very similar one, but that time it was too late to make any progress, so I finished only 4 rows. I hope this night I can continue with this pattern, and I won't need to rip it up again.
Another cute picture instead of those knitting ones:

Last week I received my very first IK subscription, and I love it. It is really hard to decide which item to knit first.
I finally decided I will give a try to the ruffled surplice, this is going to be my first (or second) big project, I hope I will be able to finish it. In the meantime I'm making Orangina (in black) from Glampyre knits. This gal is a genious! So simple, yet great pattern! I started to cast on for this for three times, and always made a LOT more stiches. Either I'm dummy, or it was too late, or I need glasses.
The lace pattern is so simple, that I didn't even mind I had to start over and over again. I want to make it perfect.

I have a secret bag of a nice, striped yarn, and still looking for a good pattern for this. I love the yarn, but I don't think horizontal stripes will be flattering on me....

I will put on pictures even if I don't have knitting or beading pics to post, just to cheer up anyone who is reading. The picture on the right is my DD, in the kindergarten with a friend, with her face painted as a butterfly. She is absolutely beautiful, and the cutest little 4 year old on the whole world.

Knitted Purse Swap II
Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Hehe. Ask a yarnoholic what she/he likes. Anything. My big dream is to get my hands on some Kidsilk Haze yarn, which is absolutely unavailable here in Hungary. Or some cashmire. Or bamboo. Or silk. Whatever. I'm changing from novelty yarns to special, fine yarns. This is because I learn a bit more knitting every day.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I just put them in my knitting basket, and they make me crazy, when they bend because of bad handling. I know, it is my fault.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned when I was younger, from my grandma. But since then, I did not knit a lot. I was more into crochet, which is I still do, and not so long ago I re-discovered knitting, and exploring the techniques. I love challenges. The answer is beginner, turning to be an intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I'm preparing a few wish lists, I will post them here in a few days...

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

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Absolutely. Anything that includes (or covered in) chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I'm a bead-crocheter, and I sell my stuff as well. I also have adventures in the world of crochet.


8. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Favourite: Earth tones, greens and blues.
There is no colour I hate, but I'm not very fond of neons and pinks.


9. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a beautiful, lovely 4 year old daughter and a wonderful and patient hubby. Any knitters dream. 'I will do the dishes after I finish this row, darling' - 'Never mind sweety, I will do it'. Just let him have his daily internet dose...
We have two japanese dancing mouse, and I'm planning to get a cave, you know, that punk-type.

10. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Purses, of course. I'd love to knit something more complicated one day, say, a kardi...

11. What are you knitting right now?
Purse, sweater, and a few things which I do not know what will turn out to be at the moment.

12. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer straights, any material. But the truth is: I never tried Addi Turbo (I wish I had, and I hope I can get some sometime) and never tried bamboo (same as above)
Plastic is something I try to avoid.

13. Is there anything that you collect?
Beads and yarn, and related gadgets