Hi. My name is Irishgirlie...

...and its been three weeks since my last yarn purchase.

Hey now. No laughing. That's quite an accomplishment around these here parts! I think it certainly helps that I have not been to the state of Oregon in the past three weeks :)

I think it also helps that yarn and fun stuff keeps arriving in my mailbox (e.g., go check out Tapmouse's pictures of the awesome Woolgirl sock club kit that arrived in my mailbox today).

This arrived earlier this week for me! Goodies from Ireland!! Perfect for an Irishgirlie!! Yvonne from Lunasa Knits was my secret pal last year and we decided to do a swap. I can't wait for her to get her goodies too! I absolutely love all mine!!

Best part...the gorgeous sock yarn that Yvonne handdyed herself for me! Strawberry Royale! The perfectly pink color. Yvonne dyed a bunch for This is Knit, a yarn store in Dublin (oh, someday!).

Thank you Yvonne!! Did anyone notice the hobnobs in the back have already been nibbled on...one nibble and your nobbled!!! Love me some hobnobs!

Now back to that yarn diet thing.... are there any exceptions for when one of your knitty friends comes to town and your take her yarn shopping?

Happy Friday!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

I Got....

VD!!! Valentine's Day love from my secret pal technically arrived yesterday, but I had to pick the package up at the post office today. And what a way to start Valentine's weekend getaway!!

It took lots of self-control to actually take this picture before unwrapping all the perfectly wrapped presents!! The packaging alone was amazing!

Goodies Galore!! Handmade cards!! I have been wanting to make more cards again (I have quite the card-making stash!), and "Bensmomshelly" from the Knittyboards not only made me lots, but sent some additional supplies for me!! And doggie treats for Bailey and Puddles, fabulous local goodies from Toledo, OH (the chocolate bark is to die for!!). I felt so spoiled just opening the package!!!!

Thank you thank you Shelly!!! I absolutely love everything!!

Of course, last by certainly not least, the yarn. Sox by berroco. I haven't seen this new sock yarn yet, and I love it! Are the colors not perfect for me?! Very soft too!!

Thank you for sending me some fabulous VD Bensmomshelly.

This swap will always mean a little bit extra to me because last year, Momma-Monkey and I gave each other VD :) I really need to cast on my Carolina socks soon. Just thinking of her family today.

We're safely in Reno. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend with Snowboarder and the family. Finished my Purl Scarf on the drive up.

Happy Weekend!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

A Halloween Delivery from The Ghost!!

If you haven't been reading my comments lately, then you may not have noticed that a friendly "Ghost" has been haunting my blog for the past few weeks. This "Ghost" is my Halloweenie Secret Pal from the Knittyboards and CBear could not have assigned this Irishgirlie a better secret pal! Why you ask? Well, my ghost lives in Ireland!! My ghost aka Lunasa sent me the best Halloween package ever!!


Rowan and I have already tried some of the fabulous Cadbury chocolates (we're saving the Irish chocolates for a special occassion of some sort) and as soon as I saw the shower gel I knew Rowan was going to try to go after it! No worries, that gorgeous white/cream colored yarn is Irish wool!! See, both times that I have been to Ireland, I had not yet caught my knitting bug so didn't bring any yarn back with me. My first yarn from Ireland!! Thank you thank you Yvonne!! I love it all (even the magazine...those are a fave!!) and I can't wait to use that gorgeous baby cashmerino too!!

I love knitty friends!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Lots of Catching Up to Do!

It feels like forever since I've really blogged. I've got tons of catching up to do. First, on the first day of being home sick, I received my Ravelry Summer Swap package from Xtina. Wow! Did she spoil me!! Addi Turbo Lace needles for Magic Loop! I've never tried the lace needles and have heard such great things!!Gorgeous blue skeins of sock yarn to feed my addiction!
Koigu!
Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks 50% tencel, 50% wool socks....gorgeous! And all the other goodies...seriously! Thank you thank you Xtina!!


Now on to my WIPs! There hasn't been too much working lately due to being exhausted and sick, but I did finish my Starry Night/Notre Dame Sock (the second sock is below) and couldn't wait to cast on the socks from the Woolgirl Sock Club.


Before I got sick, I was really, really trying to be dedicated to my Pickle. I mean Tomato. Actually, the color is Pickle (and the color of the original pattern was Tomato, so I've named mine my Pickle sweater). I'm just about to the part where I think I join everything (haven't touched since I've been out of the hospital).
My stitch markers arrived just in time from Discoknits and they match my sweater perfectly!! Disco still has a few left in the shop too!!
I guess I've been on a bit of a stitch marker craze. I can't wait to use my lettered stitch markers from Turtlegirl on a new pair of socks. I know Turtlegirl will be proud that I picked up my Tomato and got my butt in gear!!

Oh, and I have one other project that is just about done, so I'll save it for a FO post hopefully. It was a quick project for Little Guy!


Phew, that seemed exhausting just posting. My doctor says it'll take a few more days to beat the bug completely (but I'm bound and determined to make it up to Portland to visit my friends this weekend and go to Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival!). I've come home from work yesterday and today and gone straight to bed. I feel like I haven't slept so much in my life! Puddy loves it, I think!!

why are you waking me up with that flash?

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

That Sneaky Girl!!

I'll start by saying that I had planned to post this today. Now wait. I know you think it is just one of these cool interchangeable needle cases.

And it certainly opens up and begins to look like one.
However, before I discovered the joys of the interchangeable needles, I invested quite a bit of yarn money into what now seems like every circular needle imaginable. Ta-da! Organized!
I've had "most" of my needles is a big zipper tote in their packaging, and a few randoms around the house. Now, they are all neatly stored in their assigned pockets :) I LOVE IT!!!

And of course, it still matches my fabulous tote!! Thank you Zknitter! I've had the case for awhile but the organization of my circular needles daunted me. I no longer fear them! I hope you have them available in your soon-to-be etsy store!! Here's where you can get the latest info on how to order one.

So you see. That was my post. Of course, then my Rut-Busting Sock Swap Secret Pal package arrived today!! And, my pal has been fabulous for the past month. I had guessed it might be Zonda or someone familiar, but with all my might, she wouldn't give it up (I thought I made a really good effort to trick her/coerce/bribe her with STR...but to no avail). I was almost positive it was her after reading her post yesterday!

She even fudged the return address a bit on the package??!!! What's up with that?? But I still figured it out correctly!! Because look what she made me!!!!

I was so freakin' excited just with this project bag! Seriously, that would have been enough for me! Look how perfectly my new WIP fits in there. If these are in the new shop, Rowan is already eyeing my project bag!!

But the spoilage does not stop there! Zonda spoiled me to bits!!!!!!!!! A Lush bath bomb (she knows its one of my new favorite things!), Socks that Rock!!!! (Socktopus...I love love love that colorway!!), More Sensational Knitted Socks (which I've really been wanting!!!! I think my next pair of socks may be from this), and more!

That gorgeous Twisted yarn is sooooo my colors! Its the exact yarn to make Carolina, one of the great patterns from Socktopia that I have yet to try (but will definately be casting on soon!).

And finally, probably my favorite item besides my project bag is the washcloth that Zonda made for me! Pink and chocolate...my colors exactly (did you see those monkey socks!). And to think Zonda finished this while she wasn't feeling well this past week! Knittyheads are the absolute best!! Thank you thank you thank Z!!!!

All I can say is that she is one sneaky girl! And I can't believe she kept the secret that long!!

Happy Monday indeed!!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Disco Rocks!

I got my Disco Dancing Summer Swappin Package in the mail today! What, you didn't hear about that swap? Well, the sign-ups were for a very short period of time really. Just teasing. Discoknits was my SP8 for the past few months and I just love her! So when SP9 sign-ups came around her and I discussed whether we would sign-up for this round (its a 3 month commitment). Well, its summer, so we thought we would just sign-up to swap with each other again! Lucky me! My summer fun arrived today!!!

You just know there's going to be good stuff in there.

British heaven!! Disco just got back from a trip abroad and brought back loads of yummies! What, you don't see the cadbury candy bar and mini-hobnobs? Nope, they were devoured by Rowan and I when we went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix tonight (loved it! seriously great day here). I wish this was a scratch and sniff blog. Look in the upper left hand corner and you will see why. A lush soap bar. Did I not just mention this as one of my new favorites?!! Speaking of favorites, have you signed up for the contest?? (If you're a regular reader and didn't that's okay, the comments are being put in a drawing for something that ROCKS!! when we get to post 100!)!!

Here's the yarny goodness that arrived. I was a bit overwhelmed at this point. I know Disco and I have gotten to be really great friends over the past six months, but this was just so unexpected!! A Rowan magazine, a perfect knitting book for all the munchkins in my life, and two new Rowan yarns to try (in my favorite color no less!). And seriously cute sheepie stuff!

And finally, Disco included some gorgeous Koigu! Yummy socks for sure!! I'm going to let her help me figure out what pattern will work well for this. It is sooooo squishy soft!

A nice yarn prOn shot for you.

I'm disco dancing with happiness here!! Thank you thank you Disco!!! Love you bunches!!

Happy Knitting!! xoxox Irishgirlieknits

Happy Harry Potter Movie Release!!

What perfect timing that I received my Harry Potter Secret Pal Swap Package by Owl Post today!! Techinally it arrived yesterday, but I didn't get it until I stopped by my house at lunch today. And look at the awesome goodies that arrived!!


My very own Hedwig! I'm so excited!! But also kinda sad, because he is so cute, I'm almost positive that Rowan is going to steal him from me (sisters, what can I say!). Look at those "snitch" markers too! I love those! And Sirius "Black" tea. And best of all, Sunshine Sock yarn, in the Welsh Green Dragon colorway!!!!

I love it!!! Thank you thank you Secret Pal! Can you believe my pal was Malfoy?! I think he was under some sort of charm or spell to be soooo fabulous, considering he's a slytherin and all. I just love Malfoy! Seriously!!! Now off to find out who exactly is transfiguring as Malfoy!

Thank you!!! xoxox Irishgirlieknits

knitting WITH tears...

Seriously. My Spring Fling Secret Pal Package could not have been delivered on a better day. My pal, Curly Top, sent it last week, and with perfect timing, it arrived yesterday, after my sister and I spent a very, very long day at the hospital with our mom (let's just leave it at that). I tried knitting at the hospital but there were a lot of tears. So I laughed when I saw the book! This package was so thoughtful with so many perfect goodies! Tea that I can't wait to try, chocolate that I immediately ate (and kept in my pocket today at the hospital!), and yarn....oh the yarn...

I just received my copy of Charmed Knits, and this Rowanspun Aran is calling out to be a Hermione Hat and mittens I think. Its perfect! And shouldn't my first attempt at lace involve alpaca?! Yummy!! Thank you thank you thank you Curly Top!! You have been a fabulous pal!!!

The day before, when things started going downhill, and Rowan and I had a horrible day, Rowan just kept saying, "Don't worry. Your package from Disco is at home." After three months of spoiling, Disco has become a dear friend and her final package was so thoughtful!

That card on top immediately called out to me to be framed and go in my office (I've been wanting to get some new art work in there and that is just perfect!). Below, a whole bunch of goodies and favorites of disco's...look at those cute puppy thank you cards!! And the Pina Colada Coconut Chocolate (oh yeah!).

And finally, a yum-O (as Disco would say) color of Amy Butler fabric, that pretty card again, and gorgeous Noro Lily Yarn (I haven't seen this before!!).

Look at that pretty blue. 30% silk and 70% cotton, perfect for summer. I'm sooooo thinking Dreamswatch! Could be because Disco made one, and Jessica made one, and Pashy is working on one, and Pashy and I actually bought some yarn to make one, but this is soooo pretty I could make another!!! Thank you so much Disco!! Hugs to you!!

And, in today's "Knitting with Not As Many tears" update I headed down to Purlescence Yarns. Just because after the week I had, well, I figured a Blue Moon something would be okay. And, let's just say, God was looking out for me. Seriously :) When I got there, the wonderful ladies were unpacking this. And they just made me smile in lots of ways.

Here's to a much better weekend, filled with lots of Knitting without Tears.

xoxo Irishgirlieknits