Updates: A new yarn, a new swap, and an old hobby makes a comeback

I've graduated college, FINALLY. I have been the busiest I think I ever was in the last few weeks. It was not my best semester grades-wise, but I'm done. I'm finished and I passed everything, and that is what really counts in the long run.

A LONG time ago during all of my craziness of graduating and having a grad party and finals and .... so on and so forth I got the second installment of the Nefarious club. It's Mme. Defarge, who is a character in a Charles Dickens book. (I can't remember which, a Tale of Two Cities maybe. I've never read Dickens, and I've never really wanted too.) Despite that I've never read the book, and I don't care for Charles Dickens the yarn is absolutely beautiful, as always. 

I joined HSKS5, which I wasn't sure I was going to do. Mainly because I was so busy I couldn't see myself having the time, but then I realized, DUH, most of the swap takes place after school is finished. So I can totally do it. I switched houses and went down the dark side (but not really). I'm slytherin this time instead of Ravenclaw. I like my partners they both seem rather nice. My spoilee in particular is awesome. I've sent her a large amount of emails.  She's actually my age, which is pretty cool. (So for the duration of HSKS5, if I haven't blogged a lot it's because I'm using my "character blog" dobbysmyhero.)

The last thing I've started doing is making row counter bracelets. When I was younger I loved beading, so I have TONS of supplies for and I kept seeing the bracelets and thinking they were cute, so I decided to make some of my own. I have a slytherin colored one, which I believe is rather large and a ravenclaw one that I made, but put one too many "1" beads. I'll probably do something to fix the two of them, but I am rather impressed with the results. 

I think that I'll be trying to make some more too. Although I need more elastic for the little beaded rings, I'm out of the tinier clear kind and the white that I have is just too bulky. I had to use it for the slytherin bracelet and I can't say that I liked it. It works and it's functional, but not nearly as pretty as I would like. I also made a gorgeous Gryffindor colored one for my spoilee, but I'm not posting it so that she gets to be surprised. (There are pictures on y Flikr account though... if anyone is clever enough to get there to see the pictures I won't care.)

I also finished my pink scrunchable scarf about a month ago. Not in time for my trip to San Francisco, like I wanted, but it's done it time for the 90+ degree heat. (I'm joking, obviously.) I'll have to wait until next winter to wear the scarf. It's very beautiful though... Pictures are on my raverly account. I'm having some uploading issues today.

Happy Happy Yarn Day

Okay, so it isn't actually "yarn day." I just got 4 skeins in the mail, so I am calling it "yarn day." I had ordered 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces in the Hawaii colorway and a skien of Cherry Tree Hill, and those came today. I have been wanting these colorways for FOREVER and despite my "no buying new yarn until you've knit you're other yarn" rule that I've inflicted upon myself, I bought them anyways. Last week was a really bad week and I need cheering up.

Here's a couple of pictures to show off the pretty colors:

I also got my first installment of the "Nefarious" sock club today. It's so awesome. I love it. It's a silky sock kettle dyed yarn in the colors of one of my all time favorite bad guys, Hannibul Lecter. It's really beautiful. (Although, I suppose it's weird to call something associated with Hannibal "beautiful." I really love silk yarn though...
In other knitting news, my current WIPs (the pink scarf, luke's scarf, and the hedwig socks) have all had progress made on them... I have a couple of photos of the scarves, but those are even a little old as I've made even more progress on them.

In non-knitting news, my contacts came today and now I don't have to wear my glasses all the time or swim blindly anymore. HOORAY!

My HSKS4 swap package....

My swap package was in the mailbox when I came home today. It brightened an otherwise not-so-good day. (I hate Mondays.)

Here are some pictures. I actually restrained myself from ripping everything open so that I could take pictures I thought the presentation of the package was so beautiful.

Outside

Inside

Unwrapped
And here are a few close ups of some of the items....

These are the stitch markers. Which I absolutely love. I think that they are so beautiful and so perfect.

LOVEThis is the yarn. It's Blue Sky alpaca silk. It's pretty much the softest yarn I've ever touched, and the most beautiful I have ever seen. My picture just doesn't do it justice. I it. I could not have asked for better Ravenclaw colors too. It's perfect. It's so soft and smooshy that I *almost* don't even want to knit it. I just want to rub it on my face (which I have been since the picture was taken).

Here are pictures of the bag, pattern, and needles:

I also got a keychain sock blocker, which I've always wanted.

I also got some wool washing soap, English Breakfast tea, and a Pecan Grizzlie (Yummy)....

Unfortunately the weather has taken a rather large spike upwards (it'll be approaching 90 this weekend!) so it's melty and I'm hoping that it hardens up so that I can enjoy it.

Thank you so much Cressida Townsbury! My package was perfect!