WIP Wednesdays: May 2 Yarn Haul!

As I may have mentioned before, I went to my first yarn event last Saturday (if your memory is a bit hazy, take a little detour over here) and in a word, it was fantabulous. The people, the conversation, the lemonade – Ahhh, I can’t wait to go to the next one!

But of course, the MAIN reason for going to any yarn sale is the yarn. And oh, were there choices. I purposefully took just enough money for what I needed to buy, because I just knew I was going to have a hard time choosing.

Smart move on my part, but…Well, a haul is a haul is a haul!

DSC_0604The purple Kipling on the right was my trusty yarn bag, and I was able to stuff all of the above into it. My husband says I pack like a boss… Actually, he said ‘burglar’ but I heard ‘boss’, because I fit all that into one bag, and that takes serious skillz.

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20% Nylon, 30% Wool, 50% Acrylic / 50g, 164y / Php 45

I got this pretty peach-pink skein from Yarn Shack for free, because I bought the ergonomic hook set (bottom left of the top picture). The handles are made out of the same resin that is used for Clover brand hooks. I can’t say yet if they’re better than the generic aluminum set, but that’s  because I’ve only made the one hat this week. I do love the grip, though I wish it was longer (I’ve got bigger hands than most).

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Alize Diva (Batik) / 100% Microfiber Acrylic / 100g, 383y / Php 290

I’ve looked around, and I can confidently say that only Kurazu Online Shop (also known as Yarns Kurazu Rumeka) stocks the Alize brand. As a matter of note, it’s pronounced a-liz, like “a-liz ka diyan” (XD!), and not a-liz-Ay, like the drink. These yarns are imported from Turkey, which is why they’re a little more expensive. But I don’t even care because look at those colors! Asdfghjkl!!!

I may have weirded Kurazu out a little because I literally said “Take my money!” (Sorry, girl >.<) In my defense, I had been thinking it all day ever since I saw her booth because those colors had me slavering like a dragon in front of a treasure pile. Yeah, I said ‘slavering’.

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These two are light fingering-weight to me, and will find new lives as scarves. I’ve even found the perfect patterns. As always, I’m wary to working with such a small hook size, but hopefully I can get over it so I can use these beauties.

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Alize Cotton Gold (Batik) / 55% Cotton 45% Acrylic / 100g, 361y/ Php 290

These colors are gorgeous, gorgeous I say! I love their soft pastel hue, and I wish I had bought more. I will buy more, come the next yarn sale!

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This supremely soft sport-weight yarn is perfect for baby things. Even at this moment, I’m flipping through my magazines and scouring Ravelry’s very bones for the perfect patterns. I also have to the consider the weather, which is absolutely brutal right now. It’s storm weather without the storm, just dropping the humidity everywhere without even the promise of rain. Poor Houdini is taking two baths a day now.

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Alize Burcum and Batik / 100% Acrylic / 100g, 250y/ Php 250

If I were to choose only one kind of material to make hats out of, it would be this worsted-weight yarn. It’s amazingly soft and workable. If I were a braver person, I’d have hooked this up immediately. But I’m not, so I’m content to rub my cheek against it when I’m bored.

Note to self: Must find more hat designs!

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Alize Burcum and Batik / 100% Acrylic / 100g, 250y/ Php 250

The obligatory purple yarn. I don’t really favor purple all that much, but it reminds me of my brother. This is a nice pastel shade mixed with a soft grey, so whatever I make can be used for either of us. That is, if I don’t fall in love with it first!

I can already tell that I’m going to have a lot of trouble selling my FOs if this is the kind of yarn I’m using, hahahaha.

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Hand-dyed Yarn / 100% Cotton/ 200g, 150y/ Php 200

Of course I couldn’t go to a yarn sale hosted by Crafty Yarn Paws without getting anything from her! I had already pre-ordered these beauties before the sale, so I just had to pick them up. The colors could not be any more vibrant: Cacao, Cheesecake and Old Rose. I love Old Rose, surprising because I don’t usually go for shades of pink, but I seriously can’t wait to work with this. I could probably make a dozen hats of this color and I wouldn’t get tired of it.

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Big Floral Buttons, Php 40 for 10 pcs. / Doodle Buttons, Php 30 for 10pcs.

I love buttons. I looooooove theeeeeem. These particular ones are from The Yarn Traveler and to tell the truth, I bought them before anything else. If I weren’t so obsessed with yarn right now, I’d be collecting buttons. I really may have been a dragon in another life, given how devoted I am to maintaining and growing a hoard. It used to be stamps, now it’s yarn, soon it’ll be buttons!

I’m so glad I’m working with new kinds of yarn. It makes me feel like I’m slowly growing as a crocheter because I’ve lifted my no-acrylic rule. Depending on the results after I’ve already made something, Alize may become my go-to acrylic.

Have I made you lust after some of these yarns? Don’t worry, the online shops’ links will be down below. If you missed the chance to go to this sale (and are wondering why I keep raving about lemonade), drop by the next Yarn ‘n Lemonade event, which will be July 4th. I’ll definitely be there, and I hope you will be too. For further details and to keep up-to-date on any new developments, please drop by Crafty Kitten Paw’s website. Whether or not you end up buying some yarn while you’re there is completely up to you ^.^

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Update: Due to Real Life, Yarn N’ Lemonade events have been postponed. This is such a huge bummer because the ladies behind it are phenomenal and I love spending time with them. Never fear though, we’ll find a way to ride again!

Yarn ‘N Lemonade: My First Yarn Event!

It was promising to be a hot, sticky day. TV broadcasters had the temperature at a sweltering 39 degrees centigrade. Not exactly a day to be out and about.

But nothing was going to dampen my spirits. There was a yarn sale waiting for me!

The Yarn ‘N Lemonade sale, held on May 2, had been in the works for two months. I was beyond excited for this; not only would I be spending the day with Renee Rose from The Yarn Traveler, but I would be meeting the brilliant beauties behind three other local yarn shops and I would be completely surrounded by gorgeous wonderful yarn. It was a fiber-fanatic’s dream come true.

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I nearly went right past this. How awesome is this giant star?

I arrived early, but I still wasn’t the first on the scene. There were already a few dedicated yarn souls looking through the colorful bounty displayed by our hosts. Words completely fail me at this time, so I’ll let my pictures speak for me!

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Here’s Renee Rose from The Yarn Traveler, thoroughly enjoying her line of Spectra Ombre Hand-dyed yarn

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The very sweet Annlyn of Yarn Shack and her supportive other half

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Our saucy winding queen, Karen of Crafty Kitten Paws! She worked hard all day, winding that mountain of finicky Vigan yarn into soft caked perfection

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Carmelle Lou of Yarns Kurazu Rumeka not only brought the lion’s share of yarn on display, but she inspired me to try my hand at amigurumi!

Speaking of ‘yarn on display’, take a gander at these beauties!

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Even Lady Imana came by! Imana provides knitting workshops that are completely off the hook (if you catch my drift ^.^)

We were having so much fun, the hosts decided to extend their sale til 4pm! It was a happy get-together of yarn enthusiasts, with the best company a girl could ask for (and the yummiest lemonade that was finished far too quickly).

I was fortunate enough to stay until the very end, just so I could listen in on their post-sale meeting. I’m prohibited from disclosing more, but I can say that we’re going to have a very interesting year ahead.

This Wednesday, instead of my WIPs (which are still WIPs, boohoo), I’ll be posting my awesome haul from the sale, as well as a few announcements from Crafty Kitten Paws, The Yarn Traveler, Yarn Shack and Yarns Kurazu Rumeka. Stay tuned!

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Celebrate!: The Hilarities of March

*dusts off her blog*

Well, here we are again, at the start of a new month, and nary a blog post to be seen for weeks. I wish I could blame it on the lack of a decent camera but let’s face it, no one’s coming here to see a Pulitzer-winning photograph.

I haven’t just been faffing around the house though, I’ve actually been doing a lot of crocheting. It’s tiring work, seeing as I have to do it during Houdini’s nap or after she’s gone to bed at night, but for a beginner I think I’m doing alright in terms of finished projects.

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Left to Right: Paper Napkin Holder, Purple Bow Cup Cozy, Washcloth, Hook Jar Cover

Craft-wise, everything is going great. Got my new hooks in the mail a few days ago and they’re sitting pretty in their fancy jar as we speak. They came with three huge hanks of yarn from the northern city of Vigan, my mom’s hometown. The problem is that they’re hanks, which I have to wind myself. I also just talked myself into buying another load of yarn from my friend, and when they arrive, I will make sure those photos are proudly front and center on this blog.

Houdini-wise, we seem to be in a sleep-crawling phase, where she does her little zombie version of trying to look for me with her eyes closed. It’s adorable but I miss a solid eight hours like whoa. Haven’t had one of those since I got pregnant… Just call me Mistress Eyebags.

Ah well, let’s get down to the meat and potatoes of this post: the fun events that only March can bring!

  • Nutrition Month
  • Spiritual Wellness Month
  • Cheerleading Safety Month
  • International Listening Awareness Month
  • Women’s History Month
  •  Craft Month (Huzzah!)
  •  Caffeine Awareness Month
  •  Credit Education Month
  •  Sing With Your Child Month

And now for those all-important dailies:

  • Mar 1 – World Compliment Day
  • Mar 6 – Holi, the Festival of Colors
  • Mar 7 – Cereal Day
  • Mar 8 – Women’s Day
  • Mar 9 – Crabmeat Day
  • Mar 10 – Pack Your Lunch Day
  • Mar 11 – Organize Your Home Office
  • Mar 15 – Pears Helene Day
  • Mar 18 – Biodiesel Day
  • Mar 20 – Ravioli Day
  • Mar 22 – Start of Peanut Month
  • Mar 23 – Near Miss Day
  • Mar 29 – Niagra Falls Run Dry Day
  • Mar 31 – World Backup Day

Any excuse to buy a box of cereal and eat some ravioli is good enough for me. Putting these in my journal so I can be reminded. If anyone plans to celebrate any of these awesome activities, please please please leave me a little note below so I can celebrate with you!