Round 2

Hello everyone.

I hope that you all had a lovely Christmas and got lots of knitting goodies from Santa!

I am planning to do another round of this swap soon, so be prepared! I will be keeping it for Europe only though as I have had problems with sending things to the USA and I don't want anyone to be upset if for some reason they can't receive their package.

See you all soon!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

I hope you all have a lovely time over the holiday!

Lots of love Charliexxx

Showing off!

I have just taken a picture of the fidget, which I did using Sarena's present:



I just couldn't resist the call of the yarn any longer, and it is so nice and toasty warm!!!
And what are you doing with your yarn??

A big big big massive thank you to Saalis!!

Yeh! I got my package from Saalis last night! It's brilliant!

She really got the measure of me as it was filled with lovely pink goodies and soft squishy yarn!

Actually, I think she might be a mindreader as I was reading all about Knit Picks Wool of the Andes a couple of days ago on Ravelry and thinking about ordering some, then she sends me two skeins of it in a gorgeous shade called Hollyberry! I think I will be using these for some slipper socks for me once I've got my Christmas knitting out of the way - my feet are sooo cold at the moment!!

I was also shopping for rose-scented items for my sister in law's Christmas present the other day and wishing I was buying for myself, then Saalis sends me a pretty rose soap!

The fabric I got was really cute! Frogs on a pink background! I think I will use that to make a little purse in the new year!

In addition, I got some super soft Wendy Allegra which I am going to use as a luxurious trim on some gloves and a hat for myself and some sparkly pink pens. How did she know I'm always writing notes and cards to people with pinky pens?! This girl must be psychic!!!

Saalis's parcel really lifted my spirits after a crap day! And It was all accompanied by a lovely cheery handwritten note - perfect!!

Thank you, thank you , thank you!!!!!!!

My parcel from Marylyn!

Yesterday, at lunch time, the parcel from my secret knitting pal Marylyn has arrived! How wonderful it is! There was a little bag, that I needed for because the bag in which I usually keep the socks I'm knitting has a hole, a lovely REAL HANDPAINTED SOCKYARN SKEIN from Araucania, which is impossible to find here in Palermo, that I will transform in Monkey socks as soon as possible, two pink balls of soft cotton/angora from Debbie Bliss, with which I can make a hat, purple double pointed needles, a chocolate (that I eated almost immediately), and a lavender smelling little cushion that I've put among my lingerie. I brought my parcel to my knitting class, to let the girls look at it: they were amazed!

Thank you, Marylyn, thanks, thanks, THANKS!

PS. the parcel I've sent arrived at destination, according to local post, december 3. My partner hasn't posted yet. I'm a bit concerned....

Arrived!!! Thanks Süßstoff!

This morning the postman gave me my packet!
Wonderful, 4 yarns of a soft cotton, tea, chocolate, a little mould, an embrodery book, circular bamboo needles and 4 little snowflocks... Thanks Süßstoff, I love everythig! I'll knit a scarf and I'll stich some hearts. I'll send you a pic of my works when I finish them.
This is my first swap and I'm a little shy to had sent so few stuffs to my partner. Forgive me!

Yes!

First of all, let me share with you a secret: I'm a late morning sleeper (and a hard sleeper at that). And yet, the past week, at the mere buzz of the intercom, I've catapulted myself out of bed and "run" to the door. I've let in anyone who has buzzed, but not the person I most wanted to let in: the postman. This morning had a different feel to it. I even ran to the door and answered, only to find out from my bedmate that no one had rung. And then it came, buzz and then buzz buzz. A friendly voice from afar, telling me there is a package for me and to run downstairs. I got dressed at record speed and ran, unwashed face and crazy hair, downstairs. I did a little dance and held back a little yelp. There it was!!
And now I share this beautiful package from Portugal with all of you.
Let me point out that, in my haste and frenzy, I still took time to appreciate Portugal's beautiful stamps:

And then after ripping out the industrial strength scotch-tape, here is what greeted my eye:

I will admit that for a minute yarn was not on my mind. At all. I ruffled through the pink paper and found candy. I love candy!

And then I dove in and pulled out the following yarn. Let me just say that yarn wrapped in a bow is the equivalent of George Clooney wrapped in a bow for my non-knitting part of the brain: it rocks.
This skein is a beautiful strawberry pink and I think it will make a kicking hat.

This is the softest yarn I have ever felt and I am still not sure what will be of it. Whatever it is, it will be a pleasure to wear.

And last, but definitely not least, let's talk about Paula's mind-reading abilities. I have been knitting and crocheting flowers as Xmas presents with some Noro yarn that quickly ran out. What does she present me with if not basically the awesomer (I am making up words like a pro today) and way less scratchy equivalent?


Thank you so much for making jumping out of bed so early so much fun, Paula. I cannot wait for the next swap!!

I have a pic to show off :)

See what our swap organizer sent me:



To read more on the goodies, please check my flickr pictures :)

Thank you, Charlie!

It's here! My package arrived today and it's absolutely wonderful!
It felt like Christmas when I took out all of the lovely things Charlie Chuckels aka Purl City sent me.

I really can't thank you enough, Charlie. You certainly made my day!

There are some more pictures on my blog. You especially need to take a closer look at Charlie's gorgeous hand-dyed yarn!

Meraviglioso!!!

Wool, tea, chocolate, some Christmas item, needles, everything so violet!!!Thank you Clau for your gift. Now, I'll made a scarf with your wool, and I'll send you a picture. It's so amazing to make this game, not only to receive, but to choose and send too. Thank you very much, you make me so happy, a big kiss in German where you live, and thank you for the words in italian! Sei molto brava! I wish you a warm Christmas, with the ones you love.
And a big thank you to everyone in this blog. I hope to repeat this experience.
L.

I am a very happy bunny!

I trotted down to the post office in the rain yesterday to collect what turned out to be the most wonderful parcel I have ever received! I really have been spoiled indeed, so many balls of yarn!

My parcel came from Laura Nani (Diamanterosa) in Italy. She obviously looked over my profile carefully as there were some lovely things in there that relate to things I adore! There were two little soy sauce dishes with chopstick holders - so cute! And some rose napkins and rose and lavender air fresheners, plus, some lavender from her garden!

There was also a lovely pattern book and I just love all of the patterns in there!

I am really looking forward to trying out all of the yarns. Can you believe that there were 17 balls in total??!!! How lucky am I!?

Most of the yarn is Filatura di Crosa, which I have never seen before, I especially love the merino. There was also some Re Fa Baruffa Club, which again is lovely, it's so soft. There was also a ball of Martifil Diva, which is red with silver sparkles in is, which is great, I think I will make a slinky sexy scarf with that!

Thank you so much for such a wonderful gift! And thanks to everyone else for taking part and making this a great swap for everyone involved, especially since it was the first time I have hosted a swap. Thanks for the star too!

As I said, I plan to do another round in the New year and I hope that you will all take part again, it's so nice to receive yarns from other countries, sometimes you don't realise how much more beautiful yarn there is out there just waiting for us to get our needles into!

A wonderful envelope from Switzerland...

...arrived here this afternoon! I was surprised to receive mail so late on a Saturday, we usually get the last delivery at 11...so...thank you so much to Serena aka Cosmicnail, our swap master!! How exciting is it to have as pal the very swap master??? Very, very exciting!

After opening the envelope (a bit wet, but thankfully just the outside and not the content!) I found these marvellous things:

- two skeins of burgundy Schachenmeyer nomotta Alpaka Fashion (so very soft!)
- one skein of Anny Blatt's Batik
- one skein of Zitron's Loft (I adore!!)

then, hidden in the skeins, were a bag of mixed mother of pearl buttons in green and sea colours (yummylicious!!)and a silver bag with inside 4 wonderful stitch markers, each a unicate, made of glass and china (I think?).
But it is not over yet... I found also 4 bags of assorted teas (how did you know I love teas in all variations??) and... roll drums...a little jar of hand balm (just what I need in the cold season for my very dry hands!) and finally, a cute bee-decorated retractable measuring tape, both with cm and inches!!

I feel so spoiled it's unreal... thank you so much Serena!!

It is a bit early to reveal plans for the yarn, however I think that the two skeins of Alpaka will be nice combined with some lilac/pink noro blossom that I have somewhere in the house. I was thinking of long mitts (a bit like Berroco's Annlina) or a scarf from the Norah Gaughan series... hmm...decisions, decisions...

I so much would like to upload pictures of all the goodies, however right now I am "separated" from my camera, which I have lent to my other half, today out and about. Tomorrow, when the light will also be better, I am hoping to upload a pic or two, and more will follow on my blog, which really needs updating!
In the meantime I would like to wish you all a happy second advent tomorrow, and leave with you this picture of Carl Larsson, one of my fav painters :)

Thanks everyone

I just want to say a quick thank you to everyone for taking part in this swap. I was really pleased to see there are no 'no sends'. I look forward to seeing what everyone received and hope to do another round soon but will probably wait until after Christmas.

And in it comes!

Annalisa's bag of goodies has landed on my desk while I was at home with the flu yesterday so I found it (and several KnitPicks circs, yay!) on my desk this morning.

Read the full comment on my blog, just recently rehabilitated!

It's on its way!

Hi there!

My parcel is in the post! I got my camera ready to take a picture of it before giving it to my husband to send off but by the time we had firmly wrapped it up and addressed it, I forgot to take the picture!!

In the end the parcel didn't go into the post until Monday as I decided to put in some last minute extras over the weekend!

I really hope Seussstoff likes it!

I can't wait to get my parcel, I'm like a child waiting for Christmas!!

Take care everyone!

Off it goes...

My parcel went off by priority Swiss mail (whatever that means over here!) today, so will hopefully will arrive in England within the week. I didn't get a chance to take a photo as I handed it over as I failed to take my camera to work, besides, I don't know how to explain the the cashier in French that I want to take a picture of my parcel as it's sent on it's way!

I look forward to hearing my partner's thoughts on what I sent her.

I will hopefully be starting a round 2 of this swap in the near future....

closer than thought!

Hi!
I've sent my package today and I hope she'll enjoy the stuffs I've sent!
wish you all quick packages arrivals! :)
manela aka macati

My parcel is in the hands of the Royal Mail!

Yay!!! I have just handed over my secret package to the post office man, and hopefully will be arriving in the sunny south soon!
I had to get armed with umbrella & waterproof coat for the heavy rain, a woollen hat and gloves against the cold wind, and then put the parcel into a large plastic bag to avoid it being sopping wet during my 3 min walk to the PO...well, I fought all the way but it was worth the "exercise". Now, I am going t sit down with a nice cup of hot chocolate, relax and wait for the parcel to arrive!

It's on its way

I just returned from our post office where I dropped off my package to Italy!
The woman in the post office jumped to the side when I explained that I needed to take a picture - even though I told her she wouldn't be in it... (I might have reacted the same way!)

Spoiled!

My fabulous parcel arrived yesterday from Fiona in Edinburgh and what a beauty it is!

Here it all is. Twilleys Freedom Spirit I know is perfect for felting. There is a skein of Noro Iro and 2 different shades of Mission Falls 1824 wool which tone with the Noro - I must try to think of a way of incorporating them all together -any suggestions? There is also a great notebook and 3 toggle buttons who were camera shy and hid while the photo was being taken. But wait...what is that.....

It is silk, but not just silk...beautiful, beautiful silk from Teo's shop on the Isle of Skye. I really love this and can't wait to finish the boring Grey cardi I am knitting for my daughter's boyfriend's Christmas present.
Oh and then there was

This card with a rosette made from Scottish tweed with a vintage button which looks perfect on a red cardigan. Thanks so much Fiona.
Now how about another round of this swap as the Secret Pal big swap is taking a break?

Package sent

Done :) My package was mailed today. I really enjoyed picking the items for the package. Now I can't wait to hear if my partner likes what I chose for her. Hope it arrives quickly and safely.

Phew!

I finally managed to finish my shopping for my pal today. After a lot of umming and ahhing and traipsing about Geneva in the rain, I finally managed to get everything I wanted. I'm actually quite jealous of some of the things I have bought and might have to go back to get things for myself!

I didn't get a chance to get the package in the post today but it will be off on Monday. I just hope my partner likes what I bought!

Hi there!

I too have been away for a couple of days and was really busy afterwards as well, but now I'm here and all into this! It's great to see that everybody is so involved and I just know this will be a great swap for me and I hope everybody will end up feeling the same way about it!

The package for my pal is coming together these days. I spent quite a while in my lys today after I got some very helpful tips from another swapper. There are just very few items missing.
This is something not knitting related I had to buy for myself the minute I saw it and I figured my pal might like it too... so I bought two!

If I don't manage to get my package to the post office tomorrow, it will certainly be on its way on Monday. I'll try to take an action shot as well and post it here the minute I return.

Happy swapping everybody!

Package arrived!!!

Today it arrived, my wonderful package from Rome / Italy!! Beautiful yarns, delicious chocolate, teas, and my absolute favorite highlight: a small sheep in which is hidden a tape measure in cm and inches!!! (Did you make it yourself?) Fabulous! I´m very happy!! Thank you so much Carla!

Hello from Germany

Hi, I´m Martaah from Germany and it´s my first swap. I loved to find items for my secret pal, because her profile is very detailed, and I hope she likes the things I dedicated to her.

Unfortunately, I already sent my package before I finally managed to sign in this blog.

But it´ s on its way now and soon (no idea how long it takes, it´s a country I never sent anything to before) it will be there. enjoy it!!

Hiya everyone!

Hiya fellow euro-knitters!

It's Charlie from Manchester, England here..........I have been away in Florence, Italy for the last week so this is my first chance to post on here.

This is my first swap and I hope I don't disappoint. I have been stalking my victim via her blog (!) and I really hope she likes the goodies I am parcelling up to send to her!

I really want to spoil the recipient as it is always a joy to recieve a parcel of goodies from far away! I have spent quite a few hours deciding over the contents of my box and now I am trying to cram it all in.

I will take a picture of the box and pop it into the post tomorrow!!

Love to you all!

Charlie

Ready to go!!!!

Ok, everything is ready. Tomorrow, I'll go to the Post Office. And what a surprise will have.....Shhhhhhhh, it's a great secret!

Package Arrived!!

Thank you very much Typesetter! This arrived yesterday just as I was leaving the house to go to my knitting group, so I opened it late last night when I got back. It is a lovely package & really brightened my day.
The alpaca is very soft and beautifully coloured in variegated browns and golds. Now, how did you know that the pale blue /green mohair is one of those colours that is so integral to my wardrobe? And the deep blue wool-cotton is lovely and soft as well as pretty. There were also chocolate, almond pastries (really yummy!) and some grape-bilberry (sour grape type smell) vegetable soap which is already in my bathroom! Thank you again Typesetter, I shall be stalking you on Ravelry too!

Package sent!

Yesterday I sent my package! Fortunately, I found a good Post Office, where the clerks were very fast. I'm so curious about my package... when will arrive it? Typesetter says that the problems in Italy are for incoming packages, not for the outgoing ones... we'll see!

I've been shopping

So, I finally got a chance to do a bit of shopping for the swap today. I couldn't get too much as it was during my lunch hour and an hour isn't enough to get to my LYS and back again, so I had to go somewhere else. I have Friday afternoon off work, so plan to do the rest then (meaning I have to drag my poor brother around yarn stores!) and then in the post on Friday or Saturday.

I have some good ideas about the other things I want to get and saw something a while ago which I know will be perfect, now, if I can only remember where I saw it...

Feeling all warm inside

I'm so glad that you are all embracing the joy of this swap and making good use of this blog, it's great to read your posts and find out more about you all, it should make it easier to know what to send our partners after seeing little insights into each others' personalities!

I will be off shopping this week for my goodies, I'm really looking forward to it, although if I find some extra special things, I might end up having to buy double so I don't get jealous of the things I'm sending and won't be tempted to keep them for myself!

Off it (kinda) goes...

I managed to send my package today, but it wasn't an easy task. I had underestimated the effort of actually battling the post office to do so. Silly silly me.
Anyway, the package is insured and trackable, so I'll start my OCD routine of checking it every 25 seconds.
I cannot wait for my recipient to get it!

Hi Everybody

Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I'm Claudia, or Clau, from Germany. I'm rather more of a paper artist than a knitter, but I recently rediscovered knitting and really enjoy it. I focus on small projects though, like socks, scarves or hats for fear of losing patience ;)

Thanks to Natural Born Knitter for setting up this blog. It' ll be so much fun to see what everybody chose for their packages. I already started to look for some goodies, but haven't bought anything yet. I like Gabriella's idea of also adding some special Christmas related things and I'll probably adopt it :)

With so many Italians taking part in this swap I'd like to say: Ciao a tutti, buona giornata e Happy Swapping!

Claudia

Off it goes...

Hi from the Robin Hood Country!

Good afternoon everyone,
How exciting to be in another international swap! I am particularly thrilled to see so many Italians here :)
I have already started putting together the goodies for my "victim" and it is so much fun... such a shame not to be a fly on the wall and watch the ceremony of opening the parcel ;-)
With Christmas approaching, I think I will add some special English xmas goodies to the box, which reminds me of something important: what about food allergies? I hope everyone has included these in their profile, or maybe could create an extra entry in this blog?

Now I have to get back to work, but firstly I wanted to say thank you to our master aka swap organizer cosmicnail for setting up this blog :) I hope it will also be used to upload piccies of the goodies we are going to get, in due time :)

Cheers,

Gabriella, a Sardinian in exile in the UK ;-)

hi! I'm macati

Hi!

I'm macati (my nickname) and I'm from Portugal. I have a blog which you can read in Portuguese and in English... every Wednesdays I have an article called "magical pieces" where I share a bit about me! It's called macati. enjoy yourself...

I do more crocheting than knitting and when I knit I do scarves (it's always an easy project, right?)... some time ago I decided to knit a sweater but I'm a bit afraid of it's result!

oi! The cold

Hello,
I am Carla and I knit and live in Rome. I have trouble keeping up with things (as is witnessed by my every day life), so forgive me for my randomness and inconsistency. I have been forcing myself to write a blog, but it's slim-pickins. This is my first swap and I cannot wait to go shopping for it. I love the sea too (ciao gomitolina!) and lived in Sicily (Ragusa) for 2 years. My parents are both from there, so I spent every summer in Marina di Ragusa. It's been a while since I've been anywhere that wasn't boring nor flat (hello Ohio!). Anyway, I digress (I had warned you people!). Off I go to wear socks (handmade socks) and brave the cold.

Exciting!

I'm so glad to see you guys posting so soon! I hope this is a sign that this will be a great swap!

I'm really looking forward to what everyone has to say and to see what everyone receives!

From Italy with a headache

Hi everyone, my name is Silvia, also known as Typesetter and also known as Alice Twain. My blog used to be A Typesetter's Day 3.0, yet after a server crash I have been unable to edit it for two weeks now (hence the headache!). YOu can still follow my knitting (dis)adventures through Ravelry (for those who are in it) and through my Flikr photostream. I do not have much else to say right now, except that I have already been able (what a champ!) to mess with the SwapBot: my gifts show as mailed, but they haven't been purchased yet. I am a living time paradox, yeah!

Hello!

Hi everybody! My name is gomitolina, and I have joined the swap. My blog has been written in Italian until now, but I'll manage to write it in English too... it will be a good experiment for me: I've not been practising the language for a while, so I apologize since now for the foolish things I'll write!
My nickname, "gomitolina", means somewhat like "little skein" or "little yarn ball", which is what I actually feel: soft but sometimes inextricable...
I live in Palermo, Sicily, by the sea, of which I'm fond of, and I think that soon I'll start a group on Ravelry (where you can find me as gomitolina) for Sicily lovers. I love knittins socks, lace patterns, stranded... and I sing in a gospel choir!

I can't look forward to knowing my secret knitting pals! ...if you receive some sicilian goodies, it's me.

Here we are!

The project is very good: a swap between knitters from all over the world. And so, here we are, thinking what can we send and where. It's so amazing! Now, I'm ready to send and receive. Wool, wool, wool, italian wool, and some knittin' needles and pattern, in english, of course, or so easy to translate. I like very much coloured knitted needles and circular, in large size. I love to knit large wool, to make scarf and bags. Thanks a lot to everyone is invited and take part at this beautiful swap.

Partners Have Been Assigned

You should all now have received the name of your partner for the swap. That means you now have two weeks to look over your partner's profile to see what the like/dislike and to pick a lovely knitting - related gift to send them.

Don't forget that the send date for this swap is 3rd December.

Welcome

I was asked by a member of my Secret Knitting Pal - Europe swap on Swap Bot to set up a blog for the swap so members can post pictures and comments about the swap, so that is exactly what I am doing!