SP 11 Contest # 2

In case you're wondering, contest #1 had to do with the questionnaire from a previous post.
Contest 2:

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?
As I'm a very inexperienced knitter, I'd have to say knitting needles.

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project?
I just went on a two day vacation and did not take knitting; however, if I were to take a longer vacation, I probably would take knitting, especially if a long flight or car ride was involved.

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot?
Probably Manchester, England. I got to spend the most time there. Though, given the chance between there and Kuaui for a vacation, I'd say take me to the tropical island, definitely. I had the best time of my life in Manchester, though!

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it?

I don't have one.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)?

Not really.

6. If you could only knit with 1 color for the rest of your life, what color would that be?

Blue. No, pink. Eh, it would have to be multi colored.

7. If you were far into a project and then noticed a mistake near the beginning what would you do?

Finish it. In my family, we call things with little mistakes "custom". So, that would just be a custom made piece of knitting.

8. Where is the most unsual spot you've ever knit?

Probably sitting at my desk, overseeing my students' finals last semester.
Not terribly exciting, but such is life.

Tupperware!

I went to Jubilee this weekend and have totally fed into my Tupperware addiction! I wasn't sure I would enjoy it, but I really did! I'm so inspired to go out and make money.... PLUS it was fun to spend time with my sister, Margaret, and my first recruit, Winkys. It was a blast, but I am TIRED! Check out my website.
I'm also excited to be home - John was very busy while I was away! He stripped the wallpaper, painted the ceiling, primed the whole room and NOW - it's got a coat of pretty blue paint on it. I'm so excited to have the floor back, the sink in and a fully functioning bathroom again - I think it should be done this week. Thank you, honey!!! Photos to be posted soon....

In other news, I'm getting back to Christmas gifts. Having a bit of trouble on the current one, but I'm determined to stick it out and make it right. Wish me luck!

SP 11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like any soft yarns, especially made of baby alpaca... I absolutely hate furry yarns and yarns that tangle easily....
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Nothing so far - I have a big basket where I keep all my yarns & the needles are just thrown in there.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I started in October of 2006 - almost a year ago!! I learned at a Michael's - it was a four session sort of thing. Since then, I've taught myself more skills from the internet and I've learned a bunch from my local knitting group. I would consider myself an intermediate beginner.... I have knit scarves, a baby blanket (tedious...), hats, and fingerless gloves. I'm working on a pair of gloves with fingers now!
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do have an Amazon wishlist.
5. What's your favorite scent?
Michael Kors (the one with that name and his Island). I also love floral scents, especially tuberose, which is a tropical flower & hard to find.... and vanilla.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Oh yes! I LOVE gummy candies, but not sour ones... and chocolate, of course. My big weaknesses are cookies, though!
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin; I think knitting is probably the only craft I do - I do scrapbook, but not often, only when I come back from a vacation and have a bunch of photos like that. And I'm not very good at it. Occasionally, I make my own cards, but also not very often!
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love "britpop", but also like jazz (new and old), standards (like Sinatra), and some "top 40."
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love all colors & tones - bright, earthy, pastels... not such a big fan of neons, but some are OK - don't like yellow too much.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have two small dogs: a beagle and a westie/yorkie mix; a husband, and a baby due in late November!
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, yes, yes, and yes. :) LOVE scarves and mittens!
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Every new thing I learn is my favorite...except that baby blanket!
13. What are you knitting right now?
Fingerless gloves/mittens (the have a flap that makes them mittens.)
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, I especially like things that have a purpose and don't just sit on shelves. I love all gifts, though.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I'm getting used to circular, though I think for knitting in the round I'm beginning to prefer double points. I don't like plastic, and I think I like bamboo over aluminum a little, but don't have that much preference.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, actually I'm not sure what a swift is...
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Feeling really green now.... what's a UFO???
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, though Halloween is a CLOSE 2nd.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Nope, not really a collector, but I love to read.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
As I said, I'm a bit new at this; I'd love books that have patterns for easy objects that look great... and teach new techniques. Don't have any subscriptions.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Yes, all of them! My next thing, though, will be using more than one color...
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Have not yet knitted socks, I'm still a little intimidated by them, but I will eventually try them. I'm a size 7 in shoes...don't know what measurement that is, but my feet aren't especially narrow or wide or anything.
23. When is your birthday?
October 12th!
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I don't know what that is, so I guess not!

Another reason why English classes should be more strict...

This is not the reason, but I have been flipping around the TV a lot today and one thing - a contestant on "Millionaire" pronounced the last name of poet John Donne as dough-n. Not kidding. I laughed, that was funny, and sure, not everyone has to know who a dead white poet is or how to pronounce his name.

The reason, then???? Glad you asked. Flipping through again, I happen upon Fox news Philadelphia. They're talking about being afraid of bridges, talking to a PSYCHOLOGIST about immersion therapy where they use virtual reality. Interesting, really. THEN the PSYCHOLOGIST says, "we like them to use imaginanium"; okay so that's not exact, but it was so WRONG that I think my brain blocked it in the time it took to get to this point in the blog... The worst part is that she didn't stutter or have think about the word, she blurted it out like it was the right thing to say. Note to that "doctor": I think you mean imagination. I learned it when I was four and visited Figment in his Land of Imagination. It's not so hard.

Sorry about getting a little irked here, but, really.... I get how someone might not know how to pronounce "John Donne", but there is no excuse for a literate grown up with at least a bachelor's degree to not know the word "imagination".

July is OVER

And summer is almost over, too! Woo hoo! Sorry to all you warm weather lovers, but I am really looking forward to the Fall!!!!
Ok, so I can't post any photos of what I'm currently knitting because I'm currently knitting Christmas presents! And since I'm mostly a "desperate housewife" lately, I don' t have much of anything interesting to report!! Pretty sad, huh??
I can say that I baked cupcakes today and they absolutely exploded - I have no idea what's going on, but I have some BAD mojo today.
Just about everything electronic has broken. I'm lucky to be on the internet right now. I haven't been able to do that for quite a few days now... John's computer is broken... our cable company suddenly decided we shouldn't be getting the channels that we've been getting... the bright side is that my computer miraculously fixed itself: the monitor broke a few months ago and since John's tower was broken, I went to connect my laptop to his monitor and suddenly my monitor worked.
????
Gotta love days like this!