From Mini Purse Swap
I am planning to use the organic yarn for a baby set.
i dont want to use the debbie bliss silk, coz i dont want to cut it… just want to feel it and pet it ( actually i want to do something too special, but i am not sure what???)
The stitch markers are used extensively and the tiny foldable scissors has a permanent place in my bag.
The 5mm circular is holding my current project.

From RAK1
The handspun Mohair in pink is just off the needles. I made a small coin purse for a felted project. The inspiration is from here. I didnt follow the pattern in there as i still didnt learn working with DPNs.
The Shetland wool in green is on needles for a scarf - Juno regina stole. The pattern can be found here. Its a lovely pattern and i am waiting for it to be finished. Visit my Ravelry page to check the progress.
This is my first lace project and i am not sure if the ball will be enough for the entire scarf ( there is no yardage on the ball).
My experiences with lace
1. Dont make a mistake, its very difficult to frog rows.
2. Football and lace knitting are not a good combination.
I will restrict this project to weekends, thats when i could concentrate for atleast an hour continously.

From Pony
The 3mm circulars are used to make “Little beaded bag”. Its a surprise gift to a friend. The details are on my Ravelry page. I will post the details here after she receives it. All i want to say is “it came out beautifully”.

From RAK2
The Patons wool in Aran and chestnut will be used in my next felted project. I just casted on for “Damask” bag by Berocco. The pattern calls for 2 100gms hanks for the main color, which i dont have so i had to customize the pattern a bit. Lets see how it will turn out.
The Patons Grace cotton yarn will be used to make my first booties. My vote is for the booties pattern on this site.

I received my “Pony Loot” on 16th of June and here is the short story.

Mrsfife visited ooty and returned with a great news. She visited the Pony factory there  and organised a mail order for our group (on ravelry).
I got some crochet hooks, sizes that i couldnt find in shops here in chennai.
Some Bamboo needles, coz i really want to see how they look and feel.
I got some circulars below 3.5 mm in the longest size they have.
After i received my package, i saw that there are some DPNs which i didnt order. I checked with my organiser and am happy that i can keep them ( ofcourse paying xtra).
Here is my stuff, forgot to take a snap before removing the wrappers.

Now i have to make a needle organiser to keep all my needles.
I am thinking of a pringles chips tube for by bamboos and making a fabric organiser for my rest of the needles. I know it takes a long time for me to finish the “Needle case” project. The first step is visiting “Cotton street” in Egmore for some peppy cotton fabric.

I am planning to make a felted spectacle case for my cousin with the yarn. This will be my first felted project and i cannot wait to start.

As usual my DH is in awe. He also loved the merino yarn. I want to make something for him (A small project) but i couldn’t think of anything… any ideas????

June 4
I came at around 7pm from office when my FIL told me that the postman informed that a package has arrived in my name. The postman couldnt carry it on that day as he got lots of other things and asked my FIL to make a visit to the post office the next day and collect it.
I was wondering if it was a RAK or my mini purse

June 5
I reached home around 7Pm from office (my usual time), my FIL told me the package is waiting for me. Geeeeek…. i am too excited to open and see whats inside. I first took the photos of the package, after all its my first swap. Noted the name of the sender and slowed opened the package. I want to keep a part of the wrapper as a sovenier. There is almost a ton of stuff inside. lots of knitting, bead stuff and i spent hours looking at my new tools and petting my new yarn
here is the list what i got from Linda, my secret swap spoiler apart from the mini-purse.
1. KNITS magazine
2. Loop bag pattern
3. 2 skiens “Lion Brand” organic cotton
4. 1 skien pure silk by “Debbie bliss” in pink ( now i understand why they named the brand with “bliss”)
5. DPs
6. 5mm knitting straights
7. 5mm bamboo circular ( I spent tonne of time with this)
8. Starbucks chocolates ( I had to freeze them before consuming, you know Indian summers)
9. 2 strands of beads - lovely stuff
10. A foldable scissor
11. knitting markers
12. Pom Pom makers
13. 2 Fruit drink mixes
14. A washing comforter

I loved each one of them..
She also sent me a personal note. The Note was inside an addressed envelope, which is attached to the whole package. I was thinking its only an address card until my DH pointed out.

This is my first swap and experience has been too good.
I am planning to add lining to the purse along with a button soon. I dont want to use the yarn now but i will use all the other stuff especially the little stitch markers and circular needle. Needless to say the chocolates are already over save for a coffee flavored one which will also be gone soon.

I didnt see any yarn used for knitting (even acrylic). yes they have some colors in Anchor knitting cotton (its better for crochet).
I could not explore the shop to my satisfaction as i have pick some goodies for my spoilee and also my DH is around.
No Pics, as most of the stuff i got is for my spoilee and i cannot show them here.
Here are pics of some cane handles i bought to send as a part of RAK to US.

I think there are lot more craft stores in parrys. Hope i will get another chance to go there, meanwhile if anyone knows any craft store in parrys do leave a comment here.

I saw some posts on ravelry about a couple of knitting shops in bangkok, was dying to see a yarn store but i cant convince the whole crowd for a yarn store trip and dont want to get lost in a strange country by going alone.
I am a bit lazy about uploading the photos, I promise to share soon.

I have to post my swap package for the “Mini Purse Swap” to US and my DH took the responsibility.

This is the my first international package and here is what i learnt.
1. Always head to the nearest Head office to send the international packages.
2. The guys at the post-office want to have a peek into the contents, so avoid packing at home but take all the packing supplies along with you ( Boxes, gift-wrappers, tape, markers, scissors etc)
3. No food Items, chocolates are accepted.
4. Registered Air Mail is the most economical and safest. The charges can be seen on indiapost website.
5. They will stitch the package with white cloth at the end.

My in-laws got to attend a Marriage Reception in the evening, so I have to think again about the dinner. My DH wanted some Veg-Salad, Noodles and light dessert, so thats what we had.
We had the regular Instant Noodles along with some tomato sauce and scrambled eggs.

The recipe for the dessert is from here, perfect for summer. I am fan of Sailu’s food and been following her blog right from when she used to blog on blogspot before moving to her own domain.

I have been a ton busy over the past to weeks but lots of things happened, so i am going to write lots of posts today :-).
And at the end, “May flower” that bloomed in June from my garden.

Once i reached home, there is a surprise waiting for me.My MIL told me that i got a parcel and guessed it right away from whom it was. Its from swapna and she sent me some knitting/crochet stuff from her stash. They landed on my b’day, so they became a b’day gift
I got 6 pairs of knitting needles (2 pairs are of ’susan bates’)
3 crochet hooks, 2 of them are made of plastic and this is the first time i am seeing them in real. Can you belive, the red one is a 5mm hook, The one i looked for in the shop on my way back.. co-incidence!!!!
and i felt there is still something in the cover, after probing a bit, found a pair of row counters (geeeek, this is my first pair and i didnt leave them for the next 1 hour.)
Here is a peek of what she has sent me.

I started right away with my new needles, a mini purse for a swap i am in, at Ravelry
Thats it for the day.