12.31.2004

100 Things about me (give or take)

  1. I stress out over making anything about me first on this list. I love versatility/diversity/change.
  2. Anytown, USA makes me sad (Wal-Mart, CVS, Staples, Target on every main drag.) I support small biz whenever I can! (sigh, but Target DOES have some darn cute stuff.)
  3. I knit. a lot. Caught the knitting bug 02/05 and have had the sticks/yarn in hand obsessively ever since.
  4. #3 overtook previous Reading obsession. Someday they'll be balanced (I think.)
  5. I REALLY like to read.
  6. I'm anti-air conditioning except for sleeping. I DO adore sleeping in a cold room. I DON'T adore wearing sweaters indoors all summer.
  7. I haven't dated since 06/04. I've never been married. Willing to change both of those.
  8. My cats are my 'kids,' but I scowl at living with their antics, fur and smells. Their warm sweet cute selves make me get over it.
  9. I'm indifferent to diamonds, but swoon over well-designed pieces with other stones. (more into artsy stuff than most 'fine' jewelry)
  10. Being in the woods or at a lake/ocean makes me giddy.
  11. I'm too squeamish about bugs and lionstigersbearsohmy and other creepy crawlies to be a naturalist. Too opposed to guns to be a park ranger. Would love to be paid to be outside.
  12. Ice cream should not have chunky things in it. I forgive fruit. (same rules apply to chocolate.)
  13. I'm randomly accidentally superstitious. like....nervous defining a 13th thing about me.
  14. I'm not actively religious, but spiritually curious and respectful that humans aren't likely the highest order.
  15. I'm incapable of being concise. Or packing lightly.
  16. I am philosophically a vegan, but practicing pesco-(ovo/lacto)vegetarian. My body doesn't seem willing to give up the fish, or I'm too lazy to figure out better nutrition without it. I'm also too shallow to resist pretty leather purses/shoes.
  17. I'm a scientist by career and personality. I love to explore, I love precision. I LIKE rules. I like answers. I like questions. I like playing with beakers and chemicals and watching my hands use their skills.
  18. Knitting is the best balance to #17 I've found. I can be artistic in a structured setting. When I make mistakes, I'm pretty darned relaxed about it. I even can change patterns without getting an ulcer.
  19. Music used to be the balance. I miss it. I miss my piano. I have my violin back and just need the guts to practice with neighbors in hearing range.
  20. My fantasy is to be a doctors-without-borders type...no material needs, just making lives better in horrific settings. At bare minimum, I need MOTIVATION to do local volunteer work.
  21. I like living in 4 seasons climate. I'm not opposed to the cold, tho having green/flowers around all the time wouldn't be a bad thing.
  22. I'm a pretty decent cook. I think science and cooking are similar. Like knitting, cooking allows an artistic flair element...with edible results!
  23. I love celebrating birthdays, holidays, special events. Buying little gifts for pals when I see things that remind me of them makes me giggle.
  24. I wish I was less of a packrat, a better housekeeper. Those empty 'zen'/decorated houses amaze me.
  25. This list feels dull. #25 - I'm too serious sometimes!
  26. If asked my fave color, I'd likely go with purple. It depends on the colored object, tho! I'm really drawn to muted purples, greens, blues, but bright yellow/orange/red/fuchia seem to be screaming to me lately. Neon or subtle lime green rocks, regardless of Bob's opinion. I also am drawn to baby-pink clothes. I'm trying to develop a fondness for earth tones. (I'd probably look better in browns/tans/oranges.) I'll never like coral, tho...sorry. I wear dark gray/red/white a lot in the winter. and...well....black always works.
  27. to be continued....

12.30.2004

SP5 Questionnaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I'm not a snob, but I enjoy the colors/textures/quality of the nicer yarns. I've used sugar 'n cream and Lion Brand for some simple projects. The catbed used TLC Amore and worked out well.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Just starting to learn Crochet. barely. Spinning will be down road a bit....

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
No allergies. Really, really, don't like smoke odor. I'm touchy about perfume...either love or hate it...'fresh'/rain/green ones make me sneezy.

4. How long have you been knitting?
Just since Feb. '05. Have learned a lot already, tho! It's an obsession. (me? obsessive??)

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I'm trying to update my Amazon list. I'll post here if I add any others.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I am kind of picky about scents. Lately I really like vanilla, lavendar, orange, cranberry, amber, spice, (chocolate! do you believe there's an aromatherapy CHOCOLATE perfume??? I don't have it yet, but....) I don't have a bathtub here, sniffle. I do love candles, other bath products, tho. I'm frequently drooling at L'Occitane/Crabtree&Evelyn/Bath Body Works, etc.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
yes, oh, yes. (Not a fan of nuts, coconut, caramel, nougat, tho.)

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I used to make jewelry a bit. The beads/stones are SOMEwhere around here. I used to paint pottery, too (no kiln access right now.) My drawing skills are in my head, not hands, alas. Paint-by-# would be my best bet!

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I have huge range of music tastes! I avoid most country/rap/hard rock. In my car it's either classical radio or CDs...girly folk, David Gray, DMB, soundtracks, oh...too many to really list. I like hearing new-to-me stuff. Yes, I can play MP3's, except in car.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I go over colors in my '100 things about me.' I've noticed my yarn color tastes are all over the place! There are just so many gorgeous options. The only solid colors that I really avoid are corals and that bright olive-y green. Lately I seem to be gravitating to orange/yellow or blue/green/purple in yarn.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
no kids. no hubby. 2 cats. Family is out of town. Hi, Mom and Dad!

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
ya know...I think that's too deep for me to answer here! My inability to be concise 'n all...

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I'm a really new knitter and don't have faves yet. I don't like scratchy stuff (obvious, eh.) I'd love to experiment with all sorts of yarns. My stash has several types awaiting me! The merino I used was great and I'm enjoying the current Cascade 220. I fondle soft things often at the stores. I love the look of Noro and want to try it even tho my fingers cringe (ditto craft hemp.)

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I don't dislike any. Really stringy or shedding novelties don't really grab me, tho.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I'm too new for any one thing! I'm on my first felted project now...we'll see if it's obsessive! I think longterm I'll do a lot of washcloths, just for size/ease. I really just like learning new stuff too much to stick to one project/style type. (socks, sweaters, rugs are on my to-do list.) I'm trying to avoid too many scarves...just sometimes it's the only thing I can think of for expensive stuff!

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
see #15.

17. What are you knitting right now?
OTN: felted bag using Cascade quattro/220. Working on a shawl in a gorgeous ribbon yarn (no pattern.) I have a scarf I'm designing in my head, approaching the needles.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
bad question. made one without pattern. It's hidden in a dark dark corner, awaiting frogging. very sad. (it also looked awful on me. I'm too short, I think.)

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
project-dependent. I do small stuff (washcloths, the teddy bear) on straights. Most on circ's.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
mostly wood/bamboo. Developing dangerous weakness for Addi turbos, tho... (have 2.)

21. Are you a sock knitter?
not yet! quite sure it's in my future, tho!

22. How did you learn to knit?
taught myself with a lionbrand scarf kit. I've learned everything either using books or websites. I have a childish independent streak, and learn quicker reading than listening. The MORAL support of the local knitters has been WONDERFUL, tho.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
4 months. :-) My 2nd project was a purse that still doesn't have a fastener.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
don't have animated fave, really. sea creatures/cats/butterflies for critters.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
I like decorating for halloween/xmas/st pat's/valentines. no fave as a holiday, tho.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
accidentally cat hair?? (sigh.) Colored glass makes me drool (but don't often spend the $ to 'collect' it.) Used to collect fish things. Have frightening amount of books and cooking toys.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
no subscriptions, but have been buying IK.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
could probably use another good ref book, no title in mind yet, tho. Will mull this. I'll try to list the titles I already own soon.

....I'll TRY to post the collection of knitting stuff I already have. Everything but the yarn is already on an excel spreadsheet (yes, I'm an obsessive geek.) I'm totally open to trying anything (project/skill/yarn/tool...) new! and I'm SO SO SO excited about getting to be in SP5!!!!

[If you didn't find the list, it's posted on 12/29/04 entry....can get to it by clicking 'archive 12/04' on main page.]

12.29.2004

Stuff I've got, and wishlist

stuff I've got:

BOOKS
The Knitted Teddy Bear
SnB Handbook and SnB Nation
Simple Knits for Sophisticated Living
Perpetual Calendar
Lily mix 'n match kitchen
Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework
Pursenalities
At Knit's End
Zen and the Art of Knitting
spring and summer IK '05, summer '04
Cast On may '05

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NEEDLES
straights in wood/bamboo: 1, 3, 4,6,7,19.
alum: 7, 9, acrylic:11, 15

dpns 0000, 2, 4, 9

circs addis: 6 (16"), 11 (24")
bamboo: 10 (16"), 10.5 (29"), 13 (29"),
boye 0 (16")

a variety of crochet hooks in aluminum and acrylic.

(sneaking feeling I have some US8's somewhere, but not on list, so maybe not. hmmmm)

I really like using Brittany needles (for looks/feel,) Fiddlesticks (for lightweight stuff,) and ADDI turbos (when slippery isn't bad.) I've had good experiences with Clover needles, too. And...when I'm in festive mood...my bright red acrylic 15's DO make me smile! I haven't tried rosewood needles, or the Denise system. Plastic and Aluminum are ok, but they lose the aesthetic angle for me, and kinda hurt my fingers.
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yarn
well, the stash is beyond quick inventorying...........

highlights:

wool: the cascade for the bag I'm working on. I think that's it. (other than some WoolEase picked up on sale this week, not really counting as WOOL.)

cotton: oodles of sugar and cream on hand for washcloths, and a couple tahki cottons. I figure this supply can be infinite and still be useful :-)

other:
1 ball of lime green mohair/silk.

A variety of really lightweight cotton and nylon crochet yarns...not sure of formal 'weight.' (needle size 1-3)

I've followed the Cotton Ease craze on Knitlist, etc. so picked up several 3 packs of it this week in yellow/orange/red/pink. Agree with a comment calling folks lemmings. :-)

the rest of the stash is either in use for projects (ribbon shawl-not going as well as hoped, poncho-needs frogged), or are just single balls I got to play around with, either for purselets or scarves, probably.

I have a really bad habit of just grabbing a ball of yarn because it begs me to buy it. I can't bear to watch yarn pout/beg/cry. It's worse than kittens (the yarn doesn't require 24/7 care.) I really could use help buying yarn for "projects," or getting yarn with specific intended use! (I also could use an assistant knitter to do my seaming/weaving ;-) My seams are awful.)
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accessories list is too long to add. Things I know I don't have: "katcha" counter or counting bracelet, stitch holders, coil-less pins, blocking board, yarn cutter/scissors, functional knitting bag...and so on!

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wishlist is somewhat updated on Amazon (searchable by my name.) I put tooooo much crabtree/evelyn stuff on there, so it's kind of hard to wade thru (and toooo expensive.)

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sorry this is so long! I kind of put it here for myself as well as you, just so I have a clue of what I have and want!

I grinned when I saw your comment this morning. mmmmmmm......surprises! I'm sure I'll love anything you pick out. It's really neat knowing you're out there thinking of me. thank you!