1. What kind of fibers do you prefer?
Oh, I like higher-quality type wool. I'm always open to accept merino and alpaca and the like into my yarn family. It's aaalll good.
2. What kind of weight do you prefer (sock, worsted, bulky)?
Generally if I'm going to get any sort of weight yarn, I want enough for a whole project. At this point, it's cheaper to get sock yarn for me but I love it all.
3. Do you spin?
Yes but not at the moment.
4. Do you crochet?
Sure do but I prefer knitting.
5. Are there any books, patterns, magazines would you like to own that you don't?
Barbara Walker Treasure books. Any of 'em.
6. Are you participating in any themed a-longs like the Project Spectrum?
Just the Yarn Focus Challenge where I ponder my purchases before I make 'em. It's a little like a yarn stash diet but not quite. I still accept presents of yarn. <3
7. Do you have a wishlist on Amazon.com or Half.com? (provide a link)
Here's mine. I will make you chocolate cookies if you get me Doctor Who. *wicked grin* I'm teasing, it's not required.
8. Any Etsy stores that you would love to get something from?
I adore this seller's earrings and, uh, anything else. I'm open.
9. What other crafty things are you involved in (quilting, drawing, painting)?
I love to draw.
10. What is your favorite sort of scent?
I love Rain-scented things. Things that kind of smell fresh, nothing that smells like food.
11. Do you have a sweet tooth and what kind of sweets do you like best?
I'm a real sucker for Junior Mints. And homemade goodies are maaarvelous.
12. What kind of music do you like?
Hmm, I like Celtic music sung by women artists. I'm also a fan of Sara McLachlan, Tori Amos, October Project, Blackmore's Night, etc. Kinda get the genre? I don't think there's a specific name for it.
13. What do you like to knit? And for whom?
I love lace and I'm knitting for various people.
14. What sort of things do you like to collect?
Dragons! I like more elegant sort of dragons (and I have the Dragonology books, they're awesome). Goofy dragons, eh, not so much.
15. Do you want needles? And what kind do you prefer?
I am a really big fan of Susan Bates DPNs. I have plenty of 1s and 2s but smaller I do not have. *ahem*
I realize that perhaps I'm a little difficult to shop for but sock yarn is awesome, dragons are neat, homemade goodies are the bomb. ;3 Decent guidlelines, no?
P.S. About colors, I LOVE cool colors (greens, blues, purples, especially all together, whee!) and burgundies.
P.P.S. for everyone else, I PASSED MY LAST UNIT EXAM!!! It was so killer, I really didn't think I'd pass it and I'd abandoned most everything to study it (including knitting) but it was worth it! Yay!
Friday, March 02, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Taking on a load
First off, let me just say that if you know of Lime & Violet, head over to the message boards, register, then sign up for The Official Lime & Violet Pr0n* Swap. And save the button to your hard drive so you can put it up on your website!
This button here:
Hurry up, you got until tomorrow, midnight CST!
Secondly, I'm re-taking Nursing Concepts 6 for the third time on Wednesday. I've been reading my chapters but there's only so much I can take before my brain goes "boooooooooooop" like a heart monitor on a corpse. I've attempted to persevere, to break through the wall but I'm not so sure that's smart. All I manage is to get frustrated. Oh well, I still managed to read all the material, now to just go over all the testing I have to do.
Thirdly, it has been absolutely gorgeous out here. Temps up in the fifties and every day this week, I have discarded the blow-dryer and let my hair curl naturally, drying in the cool but not cold air. It's been so nice.
Fourthly, my sister has the cutest pictures of her babies up and you've just gotta see them because even if I don't have kids, I can live vicariously through my sis. ;)
Right, so, studying. If you all could pray, light a candle, cast bones, burn some incense, whatever for me, I'd appreciate it. I do NOT want to fail this exam yet AGAIN. Thanks all.
*Not REAL Pr0n, gutter bunnies. At least, it better not be. I'm still traumatized about the *ahem* stitch markers I got in a swap once.
This button here:
Hurry up, you got until tomorrow, midnight CST!
Secondly, I'm re-taking Nursing Concepts 6 for the third time on Wednesday. I've been reading my chapters but there's only so much I can take before my brain goes "boooooooooooop" like a heart monitor on a corpse. I've attempted to persevere, to break through the wall but I'm not so sure that's smart. All I manage is to get frustrated. Oh well, I still managed to read all the material, now to just go over all the testing I have to do.
Thirdly, it has been absolutely gorgeous out here. Temps up in the fifties and every day this week, I have discarded the blow-dryer and let my hair curl naturally, drying in the cool but not cold air. It's been so nice.
Fourthly, my sister has the cutest pictures of her babies up and you've just gotta see them because even if I don't have kids, I can live vicariously through my sis. ;)
Right, so, studying. If you all could pray, light a candle, cast bones, burn some incense, whatever for me, I'd appreciate it. I do NOT want to fail this exam yet AGAIN. Thanks all.
*Not REAL Pr0n, gutter bunnies. At least, it better not be. I'm still traumatized about the *ahem* stitch markers I got in a swap once.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Kit's Experience Points to Knitting
So, I've been around some message boards and there are a few things I thought to share with you guys, things I've learned over the ages. Things about knitting.
1. It's a couple or more sticks and string. It doesn't bite, it doesn't cry, it doesn't make fun of your hygiene behind your back with your friends. It's just knitting. FEAR NOTHING. You can throw it, you can throttle it. You can stomp on it, you can drown it. And it can do nothing back.
2. Just because it's popular, it doesn't mean it's good. For instance, figure-hiding ponchos. Muppet-pelt scarves.
3. Just because it's popular, it doesn't mean it's bad. For instance, the Clapotis. I've seen dozens, hundreds and some have been really awesome. Shown off the yarn beautifully. And some...could have been better.
4. Anything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT. Check your gauge. Re-check it. Weave in your ends. Block it. It's a pain but it is and always will be worth it.
5. Acrylic is not the best thing since sliced bread. It's eco-UNfriendly. It cannot be blocked. It does not breathe and it does not keep you warm. However, it does have its place. It makes for nice blankets, it's nice for cute scarves. But it's not good for socks or chemo caps. And it's not always the cheapest you can get.
6. Forget skill levels. If you like it, make it. If you don't know how to do it, Google it. Frogging is tiresome but in the end, you have something you can wear with pride.
7. Math is NOT hard. Can you add? Subtract? Multiply? Divide? Did you know that you can use Google as your own personal calculator? No more whining.
8. There is no curse. Boyfriend Sweater Curse? Like the R.O.U.S.s*, I do not believe it exists.
9. Don't expect to knit well while inebriated. Don't expect to do ANYTHING well while inebriated, like drive or cut steeks. It just doesn't work like that.
10. Go with your instincts. Listen to your imagination. And if it's getting the best of you, put it down, work on something relaxing and let your mind untangle the knot.
1. It's a couple or more sticks and string. It doesn't bite, it doesn't cry, it doesn't make fun of your hygiene behind your back with your friends. It's just knitting. FEAR NOTHING. You can throw it, you can throttle it. You can stomp on it, you can drown it. And it can do nothing back.
2. Just because it's popular, it doesn't mean it's good. For instance, figure-hiding ponchos. Muppet-pelt scarves.
3. Just because it's popular, it doesn't mean it's bad. For instance, the Clapotis. I've seen dozens, hundreds and some have been really awesome. Shown off the yarn beautifully. And some...could have been better.
4. Anything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT. Check your gauge. Re-check it. Weave in your ends. Block it. It's a pain but it is and always will be worth it.
5. Acrylic is not the best thing since sliced bread. It's eco-UNfriendly. It cannot be blocked. It does not breathe and it does not keep you warm. However, it does have its place. It makes for nice blankets, it's nice for cute scarves. But it's not good for socks or chemo caps. And it's not always the cheapest you can get.
6. Forget skill levels. If you like it, make it. If you don't know how to do it, Google it. Frogging is tiresome but in the end, you have something you can wear with pride.
7. Math is NOT hard. Can you add? Subtract? Multiply? Divide? Did you know that you can use Google as your own personal calculator? No more whining.
8. There is no curse. Boyfriend Sweater Curse? Like the R.O.U.S.s*, I do not believe it exists.
9. Don't expect to knit well while inebriated. Don't expect to do ANYTHING well while inebriated, like drive or cut steeks. It just doesn't work like that.
10. Go with your instincts. Listen to your imagination. And if it's getting the best of you, put it down, work on something relaxing and let your mind untangle the knot.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Anthropomorphized yarny things
That almost sounds like the name of a band, doesn't it? Well, it's just some news that I've got, a little blogging to catch up on.
First off, Mom wore her Monkey socks to her second chemo session and loved 'em.
Specs:
Time: About 5 days straight knitting.
Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Gold Hill
Needles: Susan Bates size 2 DPNs.
Pattern: Monkey for shoe size 8.5 feet (but with a little fiddling, they do happen to sit okay on my size 7 feet).
Those would be MY glow-in-the-dark legs, thank you.
Yarn Porn
I may not be in the group for Yarn Porn because I never do remember to do such things and take such pictures but I did have a little build-up on my desk and thought I'd take some pictures.
So here's the leftover Lorna's Laces after finishing mom's socks. But it felt like...something was missing.
The judicious application of my Kitchener Needle and size 2 DPNs gave me an adequate yarnman. But I wanted, nay, NEEDED that final touch. Hmm...
Ah ha! With Slip'n'Snip scissors, the outfit is complete and here I have a nerdy but adorable yarnman!
Okay, I have far too much time on my hands but yeah, whatever. Admit it, you were amused.
First off, Mom wore her Monkey socks to her second chemo session and loved 'em.
Specs:
Time: About 5 days straight knitting.
Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Gold Hill
Needles: Susan Bates size 2 DPNs.
Pattern: Monkey for shoe size 8.5 feet (but with a little fiddling, they do happen to sit okay on my size 7 feet).
Those would be MY glow-in-the-dark legs, thank you.
Yarn Porn
I may not be in the group for Yarn Porn because I never do remember to do such things and take such pictures but I did have a little build-up on my desk and thought I'd take some pictures.
So here's the leftover Lorna's Laces after finishing mom's socks. But it felt like...something was missing.
The judicious application of my Kitchener Needle and size 2 DPNs gave me an adequate yarnman. But I wanted, nay, NEEDED that final touch. Hmm...
Ah ha! With Slip'n'Snip scissors, the outfit is complete and here I have a nerdy but adorable yarnman!
Okay, I have far too much time on my hands but yeah, whatever. Admit it, you were amused.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Chocolate Lava Muffins
This is found free on the Food Network but I thought I would share my "version". It deviates slightly from Alton Brown's recipe.
8 ouncessemisweet milk chocolate chips
1 stick butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
Butter, to coat muffin tin
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 cup Blue Bell Homemade vanilla ice cream
1 teaspoon espresso powder
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place a small metal bowl over a saucepan with simmering water. Melt the chocolate and butter in the bowl. Stir in vanilla.
In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour and salt. Sift these into the chocolate and mix well with electric hand mixer. Add eggs one at time, fully incorporating each egg before adding the next. Beat at high until batter is creamy and lightens in color, approximately 4 minutes. Chill mixture.
Coat the top and each cup of the muffin tin with butter. Dust with the cocoa powder and shake out excess. Spoon mixture into pan using a 4-ounce scoop or ladle. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes. Outsides should be cake-like and centers should be gooey.
While muffins are in oven, melt the ice cream in a small saucepan.Stir in the espresso powder. Serve over warm muffins.
Notes: Dude, get the milk chocolate for extra crackalicious muffins. And ditch the espresso powder, you don't need it. And be sure it's Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla. You'll thank me.
8 ounces
1 stick butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
Butter, to coat muffin tin
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 cup Blue Bell Homemade vanilla ice cream
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place a small metal bowl over a saucepan with simmering water. Melt the chocolate and butter in the bowl. Stir in vanilla.
In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour and salt. Sift these into the chocolate and mix well with electric hand mixer. Add eggs one at time, fully incorporating each egg before adding the next. Beat at high until batter is creamy and lightens in color, approximately 4 minutes. Chill mixture.
Coat the top and each cup of the muffin tin with butter. Dust with the cocoa powder and shake out excess. Spoon mixture into pan using a 4-ounce scoop or ladle. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes. Outsides should be cake-like and centers should be gooey.
While muffins are in oven, melt the ice cream in a small saucepan.
Notes: Dude, get the milk chocolate for extra crackalicious muffins. And ditch the espresso powder, you don't need it. And be sure it's Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla. You'll thank me.
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