The knitting group I go to on Mondays decided to have a party this week. Anne graciously opened her house to us, and we descended upon her en masse with loads of yummy food, delectable wines and spirits, and knitting gifts. After we ate and settled in we did a gift exchange. Most of us brought mini knits that we’d made and wrapped up for the exchange. I can’t believe I forgot to take a picture of the mini sweater I knit for the exchange, but I did. Elisabeth (sadly blogless), the person who got the mini I knit, has promised to let me share her pictures of it. She’s agreed to let me post them here when she has time to get that far.

While I can’t show you what I knit yet, I can show you what I got! Denise (also blogless) and I stole this tiny elephant that Holly made from each other several times. My timing was good, as I was able to steal it back before it was “frozen” and could no longer be stolen. Score. Isn’t he adorable? From the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail he’s only 4½ inches long. Holly’s knit a bunch of Nellyphants (also here on Ravelry) of various sizes. They’re all adorable.

A smaller group of us also brought along yarn/pattern pairings to give away. I gave away two batches of yarn, a nice lace weight that Alexis ended up with, and a 2-ball batch of sock yarn that Deanna (blogless) got. I offered a choice of my patterns to both of them to go with the yarn. In return I got a ball of Lola from Schaefer Yarns in a lovely combination of pinks, and a hank of Bambino sock yarn from Chameleon Colorworks in what she calls Cobalt. It’s a pretty blue, I’m going to love having socks out of it, but it sure doesn’t look cobalt to me. Ah well.

Anne runs Handicraft Cafe from her home, so we all also did a little shopping. I was good. I only bought yarn for one pair of socks: two hanks of Shibui Sock in Midnight. It’s gorgeous.

About the time people started gathering up their stuff to go, Denise remembered that she’d made stitch markers for everyone as an extra little present. When I say she made them, I mean she made them. She made these gorgeous glass lampwork beads, she made them into markers, the whole nine yards. Each bead is unique, and each is a stunning piece of completely individual art.

If all this weren’t enough—and really it was!—Anne came into the kitchen to get me after nearly everyone was gone, saying that a Secret Santa had a present for me. Really? I returned to the living room, and in the spot where I’d been sitting there was this huge gift bag. That’s for me? Yes. You know what? I have the most amazing, wonderful friends ever. Ever! Look what they gave me: a Namaste (pronounced “nahm-a-stay”) Newport bag and Buddy Case in olive. The very bag I’ve been coveting in the very color I’ve been coveting it in. I actually really like the plum, too, but I always return to the olive. How’d they know? Oh, and there’s also a tube of Heal My Lips, because my lips are always dry. Don’t I have the best friends? I sure think so. After opening it, I clutched the bag to myself for the rest of the evening. I wasn’t giving anyone a chance to change their minds and take it back.

Dave wanted to know why I needed three knitting bags. I informed him that most knitters would barely consider that a good start. Then he remarked about how nasty the color is… before admitting that I probably like it. Yes, actually, I do. I love the color. I know. Not only is the man allergic to wool, but he also hates green. What’s a girl to do? Guess I’ll keep him anyway.