My First Felted Purse!

What do you think? This is my first felted purse and I love it! I am giving this to my son's girlfriend for Christmas. I am extremely proud of it. Purple is her favorite color, so I know she will love it. The thought of her birthday at the end of June is tempting me to give it to her early. I don't know if I will be able to stop myself from giving it to her then, instead of waiting for Christmas. If I can't restrain myself, I guess I will just have to make her something else for Christmas. (tee hee)

I must confess that I love knitting and have become addicted, like all good knitters. But, I find that my everyday life, such as work, is interferring with my craft. I don't know how my girlfriends can have so many knitting projects going and getting completed, when I am struggling with just two at the moment. If I didn't have to work, sleep or eat I think I would make much better progress. Oh well, I am sure I will figure things out, or at least get a little faster with my knitting.

I am still working on the sweater for my granddaughter for her Christmas gift. I am sad to admit that I am having a little trouble with it. But I think it will all turn our okay. I just need to remember not to knit when I am tired. I tend to make hugh mistakes. (ugh!) Anyway, as with all my projects, I will post a picture when I am done.

Well, as promised, here is a picture of my shimmer purse that I made. It is the first purse I made as a new knitter. Each of the gals in my knitting group made one, in different colors of course, and then four of us took them to our conference and used them for our banquet night (except one, she took it to conference but forgot to use it for the banquet). Yes, she felt bad. I must say, our purses were stunning and we didn't look too bad either.

I wanted to show what items I have made so far in my venture with knitting. The gray scarf was the very first item I made, and yes I kept it for myself. Then the green scarf was my third project, which I kept for myself. I made a shimmer purse as my second project, but I will put that picture on another post. My fourth project I have yet to finish. It is a spring fling purse. I actually have it completely done, except that I still need to felt it. It is going to be my son's girlfriend's Christmas present. I will post the picture when it is felted. The next project I made was a scarf in blue and black just like the red and black one and the last scarf that I made was the red and black one. Both of these I gave away, one to my cousin Pam and the other to my sister Charlotte. I am currently working on a sweater for my granddaughter for Christmas and of course I will put a picture of it on my blog once it is done. I think that covers what I have made so far to date. I want to try my hand at socks next and of course baby booties for the new grandbaby that is due in October.

This has been a Maxine weekend. Gotta have my coffee to start my day, and a doughnut is not a bad idea either. It appears that I have a busy week ahead of me. I will be attending a conference for my legal secretaries association as the newly voted in Governor. In other words, I have to pay attention and vote on issues that are of great importance. Darn, that means no sleeping during the reading of the reports. Two other gals from our local association will be traveling with me, and they just happen to be in my knitting group as well. We have planned on leaving early and finding some yarns shops in the area to visit before the conference starts. What a great idea! Anyway, we will be leaving on Thursday and returning home the afternoon of Mother's Day. Not so sure why they decided to hold this conference on Mother's Day weekend, but what is done is done. My youngest son has already made a comment on "so much for Mother's Day". But, he still is going to make me dinner, so it is not a complete loss. I will keep more coming after I return from my conference. Until then, it is Maxine all the way. Oh, and yes, I will be taking my knitting projects with me to the conference. I will always make time to knit.

Answers to SecretPal 8 Qestions

Well here are my answers to the SecretPal8 Questions, enjoy:

1. What is/are you favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely "not" like?
I love working with Chenelle. The ultra silk I haven't used yet, but it is beautiful and I am anxiously looking for a project in my level of experience. Eyelash or fun fur is so hard to see your stitches and is extremely frustrating for me, as I do drop stitches once in a while. I don't like the synthetic yarns that feel sticky.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I am embarrassed to say but right now I have my hooks and needles in their original holders in a big shopping bag.
3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill leverl to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
No doubt about it, I am a newbee. I started knitting in January of this year and am throughly addicted. I have made four scarves, two purses and am currently working on a little girl sweater.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No wish list, but what a great idea. I will need to check into that now won't I.
5. What's your favorite scent?
I like peach scents and light florals. Nothing real heavy or overbearing.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I have a hugh sweet tooth. Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Probably peanut butter cups are my all time favorite and milk chocolate truffles. Yum.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Keep in mind that I am a newbee. I don't spin. But, I do like to crochet, one step paint, scrap booking (just learning that), stamping, ceramics (though it has been a while since I have done any), sewing and maybe more, but my mind is blank right now.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can you computer/stereo play MP3s?
I like pretty much everything except RAP and heavy metal/hard rock music. I am not sure if my computer or stereo can play MP3s, but they probably can.
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 love Green especially grassy green and forest green. Peach is also one of my favorite colors as well as teal (as you can tell). I had my colors done years ago and was told that I am a warm color person. I don't really like the flourescent colors, a little to bright for me. I like soft, muted shades.
10. What is your family situtation? Do you have any pets?
I am currently single, but my boyfriend is living with me. I have two adult sons (24 and 26) my oldest just got married last December (they eloped) and my new daughter-in-law has a little girl 18 months old and they are also pregnant and due in October. My mother and father are deceased, but I have two older sisters of which I am very close to my oldest sister who lives in San Diego. I have one cat who is 13 years old, fat and neurotic.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear scarves and gloves, hats once in a great while, but I don't seem to have much of a hat head, and I love ponchos.
12. What is/areyour favorite item/s to knit?
Well, so far I have only made a few scarves, a couple of purses and am working on my first sweater. But out of all that so far I love making purses.
13. What are you knitting right now?
I have a few projects that I am working on, but I am told that is normal. I am making a sweater for my granddaughter for Christmas, a cap for my cousin and a scarf for my daughter-in-law for Christmas.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Are you kidding, I love handmade gifts.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Well I like circular for making things in the round (obviously), but I don't like using them for straight items. I currently use bamboo and like them. I have used aluminum a couple of times, but I think they are too slick for me.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope, to both though I have thought it would be great to get a winder.
17. How did you learn to knit?
The truth be know it was by gosh and by golly. I had made a goal for myself this year that I would learned to knit and I had a girlfriend that had learned last year, so she invited me to joint a little knitting group at her favorite yarn shop and it just took off from there.
18. How old is your oldest UFO?
Remember I am a newbee, what is a UFO?
19. What is your favorite holiday?
No question about it, I love Christmas. I have always loved to decorate and make goodies and gifts for family and friends. I love the feel of the Christmas season, the music and open my home up for anyone that would like to drop by. My boys know this is my warm and fuzzy season and they enjoy it to the max.
20. Is there anything that you collect?
I don't know that I really collect per se, but I do like dolphins, birdhouses and hummingbirds.
21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
I am open for any books, patterns, needles or magazines. I am new, so am just building my stash. Though I would like a good pattern to make something out of the ultra silk and suede yarns.
22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Right now I want to learn how to cable.
23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I want to be but unfortunately I have not made socks yet. My other girlfriends have made their socks already, but I missed that class so have to make it up. I am not sure how to measure my foot, but I wear 8 1/2 shoes.
24. When is your birthday?
July 13th.