Stitchmarker swap

I would like to apologise profusely for my absolute rudeness in not thanking the lovely ladies who sent me stitchmarkers! I have no excuse for not posting a thankyou on the blog - only that i have been sidetracked by poorly rats and a little of my own ill health - but that is still no excuse and i really am sorry!

I've received 4 sets so far and they have come from:
Jackie - she sent me a lovey set of blue glass millefiori markers
Lynda - who sent a deceptively lightweight purple set
Kim in Canada sent me the most gorgeous green stone set and a lovely notebook
Angie sent me some more millefiori, this time multi-coloured lozenges - they look good enough to eat!

I've not been at my pc for a while and the laptop doesn't have the relevant software so i shall sort photos out ASAP and that's a promise!

I haven't checked yet whether all my sets made it to their new homes, there has been no time for blog reading lately and i have lots to catchup on! I'm hoping to have some time tomorrow to catch up on the latest goings on... and i would like to thank you all for your messages of support since i posted about Freddie last week - it'smost appreciated *hugs*

A somewhat late posting!

This is the lovely parcel that Janice sent to me for the "Stitchmarker and mini-skein" swap over at CTnY.
I should have posted photos and thankyous straight away, but the camera wasn't charged and so the parcel got put to one side and then buried underneath WIPs and wool and i realise it appears i am making excuses but i have a terrible memory!
In my defence, i did thank Janice when the parcel arrived, i just didn't get round to photos ::blushing::

The stitchmarkers are ever so sparkly and are made with Swarovski crystals which catch the light beautifully.
I was trying to show off their sparkle in this photo but alas the battery was on it's way out again and i was doing it in a rush and so it hasn't focused properly :o(
If i get any sunshine tomorrow i will have another attempt ;o)

In my parcel there was also a lovely little cross-stitched keyring with a lovely little robin on it and a gorgeous mini-skein of orangey-goodness :o)

Thankyou again Janice, my apologies for the lateness in my posting!!

Third and final set for the Spring Exchange

These arrived from Cheryl, aren't they cute! little blue penguins with very sparkly blue and red acrylic crystals to match!

I really enjoy the exchanges, and i am planning my Spring sets already - the sets i sent this time were all Christmassy ones to tie in with the Winter theme. I used white tiger eye beads to represent snowballs, with red and green swarovski crystals and some really cute Christmassy silver charms - i really hope my partners like them :o)

Purple Sparklies from Joanna

Purple Sparklies from Joanna
Originally uploaded by franneyk

My second set of three for the Spring round of the Stitchmarker Exchange.
This set is lovely, lightweight, sparkly and i really love the lacquered mitten, it's so CUTE!

Thankyou Joanna if you're reading they're lovely :o)

Jacquie's stitchmarkers

Jacquie's stitchmarkers
Originally uploaded by franneyk

At last a photo! i finally co-ordinated myself enough to have the stitchmarkers, camera, charged battery and cables on hand!

They are gorgeous, i can't tell you what they are made from just yet as Jacquie is running a little competition on her blog and i don't want to spoil it for anyone :o)
If you want a set of your very ownsome then get on over there and tell her what you think they are made from in her comments :oD

Here are Leah's sparklies :o)

I do love a sparkle!

I might even put Christmas decorations up next year, just so i can hang this in the window :oD

Thankyou Leah x

Ooooh! Parcels!

My postie arrived this morning clutching padded envelopes for meeeeeeeeee! :oD
Firstly there was a set of stitchmarkers from Leah and she also sent me a lovely crystal snowflake which i will hang in the window above the radiator, the heat will send it gently twirling and the sunlight(which will return at some point) will catch it and make it even more pretty :o) The stitchmarkers are lovely, green crystals which look ummm... robust (?) but they are lovely and light, perfect for my sock and scarf knitting :o)
Thankyou Leah *hugs*

Then there was another envelope marked "beads" from Utah. My stitchmarkers from Jacquie as part of the swap on CTnY :o) They are gorgeous in lovely toning shades of brown with a marble/granite look to them but they too are lighter than they look :o)
I look forward to using them Jacquie, thankyou! *hugs*

Thirdly was a squishy parcel. Now, i know i said i was on a Stashalong, but i didn't buy it! I swapped it for a sockbag with Ann so as far as i'm concerned it's allowed :oD
The squishiness is 62g of Treehouse "Bloom" in a gorgeous sand and sea colourway and i have just under 500m to play with. Because it reminds me so much of the beach i want to use a wavy pattern so i'll be scouring my pattern books and Ravelry for some inspiration this afternoon :oD

Not a bad day for parcels all in all eh! It made up for yet another round of house tidying - if only i could keep the mess under control i wouldn't have to do such major tidy ups but c'est la vie, i can't knit and tidy at the same time and i'd rather be knitting thankyouverymuch! :oD

New Arrivals

I promised you pictures of the two newest animals to join us chez franney, and here they are!
These arrived in the post this week from Sprite who is in charge of the beasts at Yarnimals :o)
They are earrings, but they are special. You'll have to wait until tonight for evidence of their specialness however ;o)
I swapped them for a bag. It's a special bag. A first of it's kind (for me) bag!
There were a couple of glitches and i sewed the bottom of the bag up wrongly so it's no good as a shoulder bag, but it's perfect as a small project bag. Not bad for having no pattern though :o)

I have also made another new-to-me bag, but it might be going in a secret parcel so i can't show you it, just in case i spoil someone's surprise ;o)