Allergy Question?


How can you tell when you have a fiber allergy? I've been working on my ISE4's pal scarf off and on for a few weeks. And it seems every time I pick it up my eyes get itchy, my throat gets scrathy, and I get this annoying cough. I've had the cough for a while now, and I didn't relate it to the yarn until today. The cough usually happened while I was in a rested state. And I'm noticing it seems worse when I'm working on this scarf.

Are allergies to Alpaca common? This is my first project using it. And it's starting to look to me like I might be allergic. I sure hope not.

Here's My Haul...


First off is my Duets yarn in "Merlot" from Pick Up Sticks.

From Red Bird Knits, (left to right) a skein of purple Silken by Hand Maiden. The yarn the Harlot suggested "Romney Sock" in burgundies and browns. And a tone on tone JitterBug in "Velvet Bilberry". I didn't know there were tone on tone JitterBug colorways.

Here's a close-up of the yarn suggested by the Harlot. I actually bought a tank top worth of yarn. It's a really cute purple tweed from Cabin Fever.
From Linda's Craftique, I got a skein of Fleese Artist sock yarn and a skein of turquoise Sea Silk (my main reason for the trip).

I also got two skeins of Opal sock yarn in Flamingo and LadyBug colorways.

From the "Knitting Nimrod Collective" I got a hot pink and black skein of silk yarn.

That's right people! More Sea Silk, in purple of course, from Lettuce Knit.

From Romni Wools, (the largest yarn store I've ever seen), I got ten skeins of Touch Me. Five in Silver and five in purple. That's right do not re-adjust your set people. That's $9.90/ea Canadian. (WOO HOO!!!) And two skeins of tencel in "Plum".

From Lettuce Knit's shop. Two GoKnit pouches, a "Bitch" stitch marker, and a really cute Lettuce Knit magnet.

Wow! I got way too much yarn!

S.

I'M BACK...

And boy did I have fun. I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted, but I did take a few.

Our first night in town we decided to go to the bar we had heard about through "The Yarn Harlot" and a couple other Toronto bloggers. I present to you "THE SPOTTED DICK!"

Here I am at the entrance being silly as usual. And here's my friend Amy showing off the ruffle scarf I was working on.
Don't we look like we were having a good time?

Here's the group in the bar. (left to right, Angela, Amy, Beth, Marilyn, and Joann)

Here's the view from our hotel window. I love the little flying saucer (lol) at the City Hall building. And here's the clock tower on the "Old City Hall"
We're off to "The Knitters Frolic"

I had such a good time, and met a lot of truly talented people. And even a couple of famous ones.

Here's the beautiful work of fibre artist Wendo. She was kind enough to let me take a picture of her and some of the items she had available at the show.


Here I am with Connie from Pick Up Sticks and Knit!. It was so cool to meet her, and I actually scored some Duets sock yarn. Woo Hoo!! I had been stalking her site for weeks trying to get some. And I have to say, the yarn is even prettier in person.

Here I am having my first taste of sushi. That's right ladies and gents. I tasted it once years ago, and hadn't had any since. It was actually very good. I can't wait to have it again.

Right after that, we were headed back out to the market area, and who did Amy spot...
That's right! That's me and "The Yarn Harlot". I was as giddy as a school girl. When I had heard or read people talk about how nice she was, I don't think I really believed it. But I too have to wax poetic about what a nice, friendly, personable woman she is. Even though we were interrupting her shopping, she graciously posed for pictures, shook hands, and even suggested a great yarn from Red Bird Knits, which I of course bought immediately. How could I not. When The Harlot suggests a yarn you run right out and buy it. (at least I do!)

The Frolic was held in the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. And the architecture was too beautiful to just walk past, and not admire. So even though it was drizzling just a bit, I had my picture taken in the Zen garden (at least I think that's what it was). The trees and statue were too pretty not to immortalize.

While we were waiting for the bus to take us back downtown. Angela and I decided to frolic at the "Frolic's" sign. And Amy and I posed with the bus stop artwork.

After the Frolic we went to the largest yarn store I have ever seen. If you ever get to Toronto, make sure you make a stop at "Romni Wools". To give you an idea of how big this store is, this is a pic of me taken by one of the very friendly clerks. In this picture I was standing in the middle of the store, and she was near the front door. My mouth dropped open when we walked in. I couldn't believe how huge it was, and how much yarn they had. There is also a huge stock of coned yarns and a full room of sale yarns downstairs. That's right I said "downstairs". Romni has two levels people. This store alone would have been worth the trip.

On our last day we took a trip to the most quaint yarn shop. "Lettuce Knit" was a small shop, in a very deceptive neighborhood. You would never know there was a yarn shop there, if you didn't know there was a yarn shop there. And I absolutely loved it.



In the end the trip was pretty good fun. There were a few bumps along the way, and a great big bump at the end (check out Amy blog for more details), but all in all I had a great time, with some great friends.

I had a few pics I took with my camera phone, but I'm having trouble posting them. I'll try to get them, and my stash enhancement purchases pics up over the next couple of days.

Bye for now!

It's Crass I Know!

My T-Shirt Says It All!

This is exactly how I felt when I woke up this morning! So I thought I'd give the world a heads up!

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

WHAT A DAY I HAD!!!

74 degrees and sunny. What better weather could you have for walking around site seeing and shopping. We got a bit of a late start because my one friend had to see her doctor that morning. While we waited for her the rest of us sat around and talked, played with their dogs, and just enjoyed each others company.

These flowers were given to my friends by one of their friends. I liked them because they look like little purple roses. So I had to get a pic of them.



Here is one of the many horse drawn carriages that were parked all over the little town. I wanted to take a ride, but it was a bit to romantic for a dateless woman. lol This isn't the best pic. I wanted it to look like the mouse was eating my sock, but it didn't come out quite right. My friend had no idea how to use my camera. I'll make sure and give better instructions next time.
There was a really cool clock that statues came in and out of while a narrator told the story of the Pied Piper. It was way cute!

Here I am under the sign to the most famous restaurant in the town. When I first sat down on the bricks for the pic, I looked over and there was the sweetest site. A mother duck nestled on her nest, protecting her eggs.
This was the entry way to one of the many shopping area. The lady in black, the woman next to her, and the man and woman on the left are the friends I was with. No one knew I was taking a picture, so I couldn't get any faces.
Here's a better pic of the girls.
And here I am being a Silly Willy in a barmaid cut-out. And a big chicken cut-out.

Unfortunately, because we got a late start, by the time we left to go to Bronners it had closed. Bummer I know. The Christmas store was what I was most looking forward to. But missing it gives us the excuse to go back in a few weeks.

Now I have to get ready my trip to Toronto this weekend with some of the knitters from my Tuesday Knit Night. I'm so excited I can't wait!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!