Are you ready for the games?

Good evening!  (or, afternoon ... or morning, depending on when you're reading this)

I wanted to do a quick little post about my plans for the Ravellenic Games.  If you're not familiar with this celebration of the Olympics, it has become quite a sensation over on Ravelry this year!  This celebration used to be know as the Ravelympics (so, it's very hard to get used to saying the Ravellenic Games).  The idea behind the Ravellenic Games is that you pick a knitting, crocheting, weaving, or spinning challenge to take part in during the Olympics.  You pick your project, ready your supplies, and 'cast on' (or do whatever you do to start your project) during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.  Most participants' goals will be to complete a project during the games and 'cast off' or be done with their project before the end of the closing ceremonies.

The first time I participated was in 2008, and I also did it in 2010.  In 2008, my goal was to knit or crochet two purses.  Unfortunately, I only completed one.  In 2010, I knit an entire sweater and accomplished my goal of being done before the closing ceremonies! 

Well, this year I'm taking on two projects again.  Here are my plans for the Ravellenic Games:

For Team Sunflower Yarns, I will be knitting a Batik shawl in Sunflower Yarns Farmington in Yellow Brick Road.  Here is a picture of the yarn:



For Team Austentatious, I will be knitting a Margaret Dashwood Shawl in Fiberphile's 2-ply Squooshy Sock in Arterra.  Here is a picture of the yarn:



If we're friends on Ravelry or even if you've been following this blog for any amount of time, you know that I love shawls.  Last year, I took on the 11 Shawls in 2011 challenge and I got a teeny tiny burnt out on them.  Earlier this year, I took some time to start (and not finish, har har) a couple of sweaters.  It seems that the shawl bug has bitten me again!  I feel fairly certain that I'll be devoting my time to sweaters and hats for the rest of the year after this.

In addition to participating in the Ravellenic Games, I'm going to try and post a daily update each evening on my progress with the shawls.

Are you participating in the Ravellenic Games?  Do tell if you are!  I would love to hear about your thoughts and goals.

Bring on the Bling!

Over on Ravelry, I am a member of the The Swap Stop group.  It's a lovely bunch of ladies who swap year-round.  Well... not entirely year-round.  There's nothing going on in December.  I started swapping with them at the beginning of this year and participated in every swap.  This last swap, titled All About The Bling, is the last one of the year.  <<cue sad trombone music>>

Anyways!  Onward with the blingage.  I had a lovely swap partner.  She has a public knitting blog here.  When I heard that I was going to be spoiled by her, I was so excited.  I've taken notice of the packages she sends her partners, and she does not skimp.  I don't know how she thinks of every detail, but she does.  Her packages are awesome.

And without further adieu, I bring you my bling.

She had each package numbered, and being the type A that I am, had to open them in that order.  But first, the card, because you're always supposed to open the card first, right?  To be polite?

Ohokay!!  Will do!

I opened ALL THE THINGS!

It was overwhelming, but definitely in a good way.  In my package, she included a skein of Plymouth Yarn's Dye For Me baby llama glow, a handmade project bag, mini Soak samples, dye packets (hello!), Ysolda's Whimsical Little Knits #1, a Tooley Owl pattern, a super cute owl folder to house the patterns, sparkly handmade stitch markers, a sparkly tape measure, a sparkly Audrey Hepburn note pad (sensing a trend here?  sparkle for the win!), Bath & Body Works antibacs with a plastic holder that has gems on it, a keychain with a teeny tiny sparkly skein of yarn, and delicious chocolates (Ghirardelli minis and a bar from The Tea Room).

Here is a close up of the yarn and project bag.  She made the project bag herself.  It is Paris themed.  If Paris ain't bling, I don't know what is.



Oh, and one more thing...

I just had to put a ring on it!