Back in December we had our annual Knitter’s Holiday Swap. This is the third year our local knit group (via Ravelry) has celebrated the holidays with handknits.

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I was a last minute addition to the Festivus Miracle Swap-o-Rama when I found out I’d be here for the event. Sign-ups were in July as the premise is to knit a gift for another knitter (and receive one in return!). Awesome premise.

But by the time I joined up in late October , I wasn’t sure I would have enough time to knit something. I opted to go for a kit (which is kosher) and try to knit a holiday Gnome. Unfortunately this is how much gnome was done by the time I had to leave for Festivus Dinner:

But Festivus Dinner was still really awesome. This is our second annual Festivus Swap, and both years we had difficulty finding a dinner location for 25+ people that didn’t require a room deposit. Anyone have a mansion we can invade next year?

Still, fun was had by all at the Yaletown Brewing Company, who were still really good to us. Also, there was a magician!

Erin picks a card....

Opening Gifts after Festivus Dinner

I got to spoil Carly, who I’d fortunately met already. It was easy to “stalk” her when we were often at the same meetups. I’d subtly listen for hints and tips, asking seemingly innocent questions…. mwahaha

Carly opening the gift I gave her!

Festivus Gift for Carly (minus the Gnome)

Carly’s gift included:

• a Daiso project bag
• chocolate covered coffee beans (not pictured)
• Summer Citrus soap purchased at the Steveston Craft Fair
• a packet of Soak wash for handknits
• a rat toy for Carly’s son
• and Diamond Luxury Mulberry Merino yarn (50% mulberry silk, 50% merino wool)

Happy Giftees: Everyone petting Stella‘s shawl (top left), Janel loves her new cowl (top right), Sara with Clapotis (middle, left), Petra with shawl knit by Chelle (middle, right), Siobhan with silk fan knit by Vicki (bottom, left), and Erin with matching hair and shawl (bottom, right).

Are you curious what I got for Festivus? Well, Shelley’s partner had to drop out of Festivus, so the smart and talented Hilary scoped out a new partner for her in the late arrivals (including me) to see who would enjoy this purple mini-Ishbel in Malabrigo Sock.

Me please!! I am so flattered and happy to receive this lovely scarf-shawl. Thank you thank you thank you Shelley!!

Sit down, grab a coffee, because here are some quick updates all at once. Some don’t need individual blog posts, some are long-overdue updates.

• On Thanksgiving Monday, a few knitters met up and then made a trip to Daiso in Richmond. It’s a ginormous Japanese dollar store. Everything is $2, so some things are a bit expensive while others are dirt cheap. I got lots of awesome goodies and didn’t spend too-too much. I got a lovely little taper vase and some fridge magnets. I also got a magnetic pen holder for my fridge, super useful!
• I’ve joined the Festivus Swap on our local Ravelry meetup group. Must shop and knit for my secret person… so won’t be knit-blogging for a bit cause it’s a secret!
• I’ve signed up for a beginner quilting class at Spool of Thread. Looking forward to it mucho mucho!
• My parents’ kitten is named Abby. We went through a few names in her first two days (including Cookie, Penny/Penelope, and I suggested Moo Cow). But Abby seems to suit her. I sewed her a blanket pad like Henry’s yellow one. Her’s is brown because it goes with my mom’s decor. Pics when she’s settled in.
• I went to a talk at the Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival (VIWF) which included Emma Donoghue and Kathleen Winter, both of whom I’ve read their books. Emma Donoghue wrote Room, which I finished reading but haven’t yet blogged about. Kathleen Winter wrote Annabel, which I’ve read, reviewed, and loved. More on the VIWF event later! It was great. The Writer’s Fest runs from October 18-24, 2010.
• This weekend was the Fraser Valley Bead & Jewellery Show. I went with Vicki, who I met at a local knitting group. We drove out to Langley on Saturday for the Bead show and detoured to Potter’s in South Surrey / White Rock on the way home. Very successful outing that I may blog about in detail. The bead show is this weekend (Friday-Sunday) but they also have a Spring show now in Coquitlam.
• The detour to Potter’s was to pick up some pottery. I’m planting my Spring bulbs but since I may not be here in the Spring, I read that you can plant them in pots and they’ll be fine.
• Where will I be in the Spring, you may ask? I am planning to move. I am currently in a 1 bedroom basement suite. I’ve been here since May 2009 and everything is great except the sunlight situation: I don’t get very much, even in the summer. I’ve spoken to my landlords (aka parents) and they’re supportive. So now I am searching! Suggestions for Vancouver moving companies, or even tips for moving would be welcome.
• My dad and I are going to go on the Vancouver Haunted Trolley Tour for Halloween. Not on Halloween night, but in the spirit of the season. I am very excited because my dad likes Vancouver history, as do I, and the Haunted Trolley Tour is 2 hours around the city, including the old city morgue (now the Vancouver Police Museum where I took a Forensics workshop) and Mountain View Cemetery (where I went for the Night for All Souls last Halloween)! I shall definitely blog about it in detail later.

This was the creation that I submitted for the Cocoa Swap 2 Marshmallow Contest. It had to be made of only marshmallows and toothpicks (check!) and it had to have some sort of yarn content (knitted speedo! check!). Here is the scenario I set up:

And I found out earlier today at the Cocoa Blog, that I won! Aww thanks everyone who voted for my Marshmallow Diver.

I delivered my spoilee’s cocoa package on Saturday… and so I can finally share photos of the Blah Buster Buddy I made. Unfortunately Chelle is feeling very under the weather so I don’t expect she’s blogged about the package yet… but keep your eyes peeled. I had so much fun spoiling her because I know her IRL! It was sooo hard to keep it a secret and I ended up having to gush to other knitters we both know! Hahha. Thanks for keeping the secret safe Julia & Kerry Ann!

Anyway, here are some photos I took of Mini-Maylee before she went to live with Chelle (and the real Maylee)! [Ravelry Project Page]

Maylee found the box [Saturday] night around 11 pm when I was taking her out for her last reliefing of the day. I love everything and Mini-Maylee… Maylee licked Mini on the face a few times it was sooo cute.