Armed with Pointy Sticks

SP10 Questionnaire

OK, Here I am.  I'm going to shoot for no short answers.

I love swaps.  I love shopping for other people.  I like being the hidden fairy godmother.  That, alone, is enough of a reason to do this.  But I like being pampered, too.  Here is my questionnaire so someone may get to know me.  Maybe the rest of you will see this and head over to http://secretpal10.blogspot.com/ and join up!

K.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I'm a self proclaimed yarn snob, but it's a really good world to be a yarn snob in.  Every yarn really has its place.  Soft acrylic?  Baby clothes!  I don't care for boucles, eyelash yarns (with exceptions, always exceptions), or anything that melts or squeaks.  I adore yarn that is soft and supple (Cashsoft), practical (220 Superwash) and colorful (cherry tree hill).  I have yet to meet a fiber animal I don't love.  I'll pass over the cotton for something else, most usually, but I have had occasion to wrap myself up in it.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

For my straights (which I very rarely use anymore) I have a milk pitcher that they look really posh in.  For my circs (I use magic loop, so I have a 47 inch addi for just about everything) I have some three ring, zip up pencil cases, kept together by large rings.  Yep, back to school shopping can be good for the knitter, too.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been knitting for maybe four years.  I started after I was diagnosed with MS.  I lost feeling in my hands one day and it really, really pissed me off.  I taught myself out of the first Stitch n Bitch, and I would consider myself a fearless knitting.  There is nothing that I can't do.  Where does that put me on the scale?

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I do.  Amazon and I have a Froogle, but it's looking pretty sparse.  I have to wonder what happened.

5. What's your favorite scent?

Oh my god, that's a huge list.  I make soap, so I've got a lot of fragrances that I love.  I like lilac, and apple, and autumn leaves, and chocolate, and almond, and lavender, and bubble gum, and burnt sugar.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yeah, guilty.  I love Cadbury chocolate (Milk chocolate, almonds are great) and I really like hard candy of most types.  I like really chewy gummi bears.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I spin on a spindle and a wheel.  I make cold process soap.  I cook, like obsessively.  I have a three pound cheese cake that has made me many friends.  I can crochet and I love it for lace, toys, and blankets that need to be done yesterday.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

This question always cracks me up, because if you're running a souped up toaster oven, you should be playing mp3s ;)  So yes, my computer does play MP3s.  I'm not much for the twang of a steel guitar, but you'll find me swaying to just about anything.  Angry White Women is my favorite genre, but I also love jazz, classic rock, and things I haven't heard before.  I listen to wfnx, if you care to dig that deep, so that flavor of music is always good.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I have a confession to make.  I love red.  Deep, dark, blood red.  I own very little of this color.  Its a dare I need to put myself up against.  I also love bright, vibrant greens.  I have lots of green.  I also wear a lot of browns.  I'm a study in earth tones.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I live with my fiance who also knits and is the best thing I can ever hope to happen to me.  He and I have been together for two and a half years (we've known each other for about a decade) and we're gettin' hitched in October!  We have three cats together.  Each cat suffers from a different diagnosable mental illness.  This is more speculation than anything else, but I could compile case studies.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves, hats, and mittens are loving and warm, and incredibly necessary in New England in the winter.  I wear all three.  Ponchos do not exist on my level of reality.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks, hats, mostly socks.  I need to knit more.  What the hell am I knitting right now?

13. What are you knitting right now?

Shit.  Don't laugh, it's really not funny ;)  I've got a sock on the needles for someone who didn't get a sock from Sock Wars.  I have two of these pair to make.  No Sock Wars commentary from me, but I think everyone who played should get  a pair, so I'm doing that.  I've got a sweater for my sister that slowed down when I hit the sleeves.  Hiss sleeves.  A pair of breast cancer socks for my aunt that were dismissed as I was knitting them.  I'll pick them up when my bitchiness has worn off in that respect.  Of course she's still getting them, I just think they'll be the last pair for her for a bit.  A pair of Eunny Jang's Anemoi mittens for me.  I'm almost to the thumb on the first one, but other peoples' knitting keeps budging to the front of the line.  And I'm spinning.  That takes a lot of time that I could be knitting with.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Of course!  I think any crafter does.  We just understand.  And the non-crafters who also understand?  Elevate them on high.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I've phased out pretty much anything but addis.  I like wooden needles, but the joins on wooden circs leave much to be desired.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes.  Birthday present from the fiance.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

We don't really talk about it, but I've got a lace bed jacket that is waiting for either a giant frog or a giant change of heart.  It's got to be getting close to a year, now.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween.  I love dressing up!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Shot glasses.  I try to get one every place I visit.  And people bring shot glasses to me from places they go to.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Well, I wouldn't say dying.  I only subscribe to Craft Magazine, which isn't knitting, per se.  I haven't passed a Vogue up in a very long time.  I love Interweave.  I'm waiting for the new Interweave sock book coming out, and Eunny Jang has a book coming out this year that I will pounce upon.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I'm going to sit down and figure out double knitting.  Both the double knitting that would give you, say, two socks, and the double knitting that would give you reversible color work.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I have a size 7 and a half foot, and I love knitting socks.

23. When is your birthday?

Dec 1st, the day of mirthful liscense.  I am a Sagittarius, which is a mutable fire sign. ;)

So there I am.  Chris just came in and I discovered that I'm a bit cranky, so I should probably head to bed.

Five Yarn Stores, One Week, Three States

Oh yeah, baby, and they were all new to me!

The first three came rapidly.  We hit them while at Spa, and they were all on Congress Street in Portland Maine.

Firstly, not a yarn store per se, but there is nothing lacking for the fiber enthusiast that walks through the doors of the Portland Fiber Gallery.  Fiber to spin and felt, yarn and gadgets, looms and wheels.  I didn't take in as much flavor as I could have, because I was distracted by a mission. 

An hour earlier I had decided that the DT Louet S51 was the wheel for me.  I would have made small compromises on the model, but it had to be a DT, and it had to be a Louet.  I walked in and asked Melody, the owner of this fine place, if she had any double treadle Louets.  She told me that she had "that one" and pointed to a wheel being used by a woman who immediately looked as though she could take it and run. "That's a 51, isn't it?"  "It is!" Melody and I talked price for a few moments.  She had me try out the wheel and then another, an Ashford Traveler.  The woman who had fallen in love with my Louet was behind me trying out other wheels 100%, as you can imagine.  I could have gotten used to the Ashford, but I loved the Louet at first spin.  So it came home with me.

The shop is clean, but not sterile, well organized, full of wonderfully knowledgeable people, and an absolute joy to spend a large amount of time it.  I will be back in the future to explore their fiber selection (I had Spa waiting for me back at the hotel.) 

The next shop, on the next day, was Knit Wit.  What a cute shop!  It's streamlined and hip, with working space the entire length of the store.  It's bright and inviting, and it has a coffee bar!  I am absolutely in love with how they handled this fairly narrow space.  If Ikea sold yarn that you'd want to buy, they'd do it in this space. The selection was great and the guy behind the counter was fantastic.  Very wonderful and highly recommended.

Next we rolled into Central Yarns (so. absolutely. jealous. of. Portland. knitters.  These stores are all withing 5 minutes of eachother).  Central yarns is cozy and bright.  The company is good and the selection is great.  The owner is a doll, and she runs a big open house on the Saturday of Spa.  I'm definitely stopping in next year (she feeds us). 

There, one state down.

Last week I was on the road, and Wednesday I decided that I was going to find a yarn store come hell or high water, and I did!  Great Yarns in Raleigh NC was a treat.  I walked in through their bright, pink door and said "I'm from NH, I just bought a wheel, I miss my knitting buddies, and no one understands!"  The sympathy and necessary coddling of my soul was instantaneous.  The store was great, good selection of everything you could need, little light on the sock yarn, but had a little bit of everything in that smallish space, so I don't gripe.  The company was top notch.  I got my fix, and it held me til I got home.

And finally, back home.  Yarn and Fiber sprung up like a mushroom after a rain shower.  I heard about a new LYS in Windham, NH and I figured it would be cute and small.  No, this woman means business (and she's selling my soap, so she's obviously a genius).  Every day everything found is 10% below retail.  She has a great selection with strong points on Noro and Cherry Tree Hill.  She offers all kinds of classes and an atmosphere that makes you feel like gearing up, relaxing down, getting to work, and exploring the creativity within.  I am truly glad to have her in my back yard.

OK, I think I'm going to pull down that Secret Pal Questionnaire and start looking at it.  I'll link to my last one and we'll check for evolution. 

And remember, kids: any bad day can be saved by a yarn store.

Oscar Madness

So, I was planning on being here and waxing all poetic about 5 LYS in 3 states, but Lora had to go and remind me about the Oscars.  I only get one channel, and the Oscars were on it, so I didn't mess with a good thing.

Meryl, baby?  I think you were robbed.  Call me, we'll dish.

Just in Time for Lent

I've been really very good to myself these last few weeks.  I knew that my tax return would bring me a new ipod, and Spa would probably bring me a wheel.  My tax return came the Friday before Spa.  So, I get to hit the breaks for awhile.  This is going to be an exersize for me, as I'm really seeing a lot more money with my new job.  Well, the next big purchase will be the wedding dress.  Promise.

It is nice being back home.  Chris is close, the cats are everywhere, and the wheel is right there.  We've arrived at an agreement regarding housework that isn't an immediate fix, but I do believe that it will become a greater lifestyle improvement.  30 minutes of house work must be done before the wheel or the Wii are approached.  So far, so good.  You can really get a large amount done in 30 minutes.  It's gratifying, and you don't end up hating everything around you.  It's more of a Flylady approach.

So, the wheel.  The spinning I did with the Turkish spindle this week really did help.  If anyone wanted to invest in a Turkish spindle, I'd point them to the illustrious Jenkin's Woodworking.  Wanda and Ed are fantastic.  Wanda got me back into spinning when I was certain that I was done, done, done.  Because of my time with the spindle the yarn coming from my wheel is really more consistent and not nearly as forced as it was.  I'm pretty proud of my second batch. (Crap, I just saw the WPI tool on their site.  I need one of those, now that I'm spinning.  Oh well, I haven't chatted with Wanda for awhile ;)   

And soap.  This is pretty cool.  It saved my Thursday.  Thursday sucked.  Thursday almost broke me down.  I called Chris and he told me that Heather had some good news.  She has sold all of the soap that she had.  That's a lot of soap.  I don't remember the exact numbers, but that's a lot of soap to be hare today and goon tomorrow.  It found a great home at Yarn and Fiber in Windham, NH, and I really can't thank Heather or Cyndi (the shop's owner) enough.  I'm a little blown away by it all.  Honestly.  I celebrated by buying some more essential and fragrance oils, and I've finally got some little sheep molds coming.  I'm really quite excited.

I've got so much to talk about, and it's really hard to do it chronologically, so I guess I'll just have to do it quickly and hope you don't notice!  Maybe next I'll go over the 5 yarn stores in three states that I've recently visited.  Yeah.  Expect that one tonight.  And then, shortly after, I'll post my questionnaire for the Secret Pal Swap.  You've got til the end of the month to sign up, so maybe that will be what pushes you over the edge!

OK, I'm going to go do my 30 minutes ;)

Stuck Here Again

Hi-Ho, Ericka the Girl here, reporting live to you from North Carolina.  It's 50 degrees and balmy, and I've been coatless.  Locals think I'm nuts and housekeeping keeps closing the window in my hotel room.  Last week I was tromping through snow banks, so it all makes perfect sense to me.

Today is Wednesday, and last time I was down here Wednesday was the day I started getting cranky.  I attribute that to missing my knitting group, so to stop that this week I'll be hunting for the LYS here.  One of them. 

I actually have not knit yet this week.  I've been asked not to knit in class, as a lot of execs walk in and out of class, and we don't want them to get the wrong impression.  I can live with that.  When I'm in my hotel room I'm spindling.  I'm working on getting a speedy and steady draft, and I'm doing pretty good with it.  When I finally get home to my wheel I'll be ready to go.  Chris suggested that the wheel not be used until the living room is clean.  We clean the room, but it declines.  This sounds like a really good self-policing technique, so I agreed.  Then it occured to me that he probably wouldn't be a that stricken if I couldn't spin, so I suggested no wheel, no Wii.  He hasn't responded to that one yet, but I bet you the living room still looks about the same right now ;)

So, anyway, getting good on the draft.  Seasoned spinners like to console new spinners by telling them that a lot of experienced spinners can't go back to the thick-thin that newbies produce.  It is most sought after, and we can do it without trying.  Well, we're trying, but we're trying to do something else.  Thanks, Seasoned Spinners, but I'm not feeling it.  I want a steady yarn that I can ply and use.  I am determined.  *sigh*  I miss my wheel.  I miss people who get excited when I talk about my wheel.

Well, I've got more to write, but my time is short.  So expect lots of little posts in the next few days.  Later!

Wheeee! (L)

OK, before anyone tells on me, yes, I got a wheel.

It's a Louet S51 DT, and it and I are doing very well together. 

And now I have to go to NC for another week and leave it here.  I am not happy.  I'm bringing my Turkish spindle, but it's a small consolation.

I would love to post a huge entry on the NETA Spa, but I have to pack.  And spin some more.  I'll post later, from the hotel, perhaps.  The hotel that sucks next to the Double Tree. 

Quick bits, I didn't buy any yarn.  I bought a whole lot of roving from Spunky Ecclectic.  The new Interweave.  Visited three of the yarn stores in Portland (there are more!).  Portland, let me salute you.  This city is truly a great place for a knitter to be.  I promise to share more later about the three shops that I visited.  The story of the wheel is a saga in itself.

Pictures will wait until late Friday or later next weekend.  I have to be up at 3 to catch a plane.  I feel like such a bad blogger.

I will share with you the best thing about Spa.  The people.  The people, the people. I met wonderful people.  I shared things, I learned things, I laughed.  You all know how great you are.

I finally met Miss Noolie in the flesh.  I spent several wonderful hours as a Greeter Gnome with Betsy and another great lady whose name I have forgotten.  She's a drop spindle aficionado, and she was knitting with a soft looking green yarn.  Shoot me, its all I've got at this point. 

If we met at Spa, I'd love to have you leave a comment.  Too many good things started this weekend to have them sit for another year.

K, got to finish packing, and eating.  I get side tracked so easily. :D

3 Minutes for Everything

Making it quick, as I'd like to be snug at Spa before 10.

If you wanted to take the time to go to http://armedwithpointysticks.com you will find... this.  I have pulled a trick with mirrors and domain mapping.  We are now, officially at our intended spot.  Just in time for SPA.  Nice and easy to remember.

I have 40 pounds of soap.  I'll have it in a big basket and I'm ready to share with the world.  I also have a bunch of cute wrapped samples to pimp Down to Hearth and Sereknity.  Heather is bringing another lot of my stock.  I have created and alliance with a company that will supply me with the perfect packaging.  They are nice, thick muslin, and I'm sure the current incarnation is not the intended one.  You could take the tag off and use the soap right in the bag, that's how much I think of this muslin.

I bought myself a new ipod.  The big one.  I don't think it will be coming with us, as it really takes a lot to get familiar with my music library for the first time.  I think it will be done sometime around tomorrow night.  (I just walked in the door, just dropeed in on the cradle)

I am very, very tired.  Now, let me get everything in the car.

I'll see some of you quite soon :) 

Explanations

Well, I'm home.  It's good to be home.  One would think that living in a hotel, where someone makes the bed and brings you fresh towels, and bring you chicken fingers at 10 pm, and make you a Dr. Pepper float (because they don't have root beer, and floats aren't even on the menu) would be great.  And it is.  But shit gets old fast.

So I'm happily home.  I've got Chris and three cats, and a brand new Nintendo Wii.  A quick word about video games:  I am a complete spaz.  My video game prowess stops at Kirby and Pokemon.  I cannot do a 16 button combination to pick my nose.  But I can flail my arms like a jerk.  If you can accomplish this, then you can play the Wii.  I fully recommend it.

So, I titled my blog entry for today Explanations.  Which type?  Why was I gone?  Nah, you're big boys and girls, I had work, suck it up.  Why the sky is blue?  Check out Wikipedia.  No.  I am going to talk about the type of explanations that we make to non knitters.

Everyone knows the common ones.  How did I make these cool color changes?  (Do you explain arduous color changes, or do you just shrug and say it's easy, or do you stop being a pretentious jerk and tell them about Opal?)  How can you sit still long enough to do that?  (Ask them about the storyline to Lost, 24, or the line up on American Idle, I mean, Idol)  Could you teach me? (I adore this question and will always respond to it positively.  I may pick up on this later).

My favorite question this week was "How many different things are you knitting?".  Ah.  Travel knitting.

You pack your clothes, x number of pants, shirts, underwear, bras, socks.  Toiletries.  A book.  And knitting.  I was all easy up until then.  My answer to the above question (after a quick pause and calculation) was 3.  But I finished one, so I brought 4. 

But why?  I like this question to come next. 

Well, first, you have the brain pudding knitting.  This is the knitting you can do while talking, you can do it in the dark, and you can drop it and pick it up again with little thought.  This was the helmet liner I did for Heather.  After that it was a Sock of Doom for a few poor souls who never got socks out of that Sock Wars travesty.

After the brain pudding knitting comes the mantra knitting.  This is something that pulls you in, forces you to shut off the tv, and center yourself on it.  Anemoi mittens.  I would have finished the hand on one, but I didn't have a finishing needle.  Well, I thought I didn't, but I did.  My purse eats things and coughs them up later at the exact time that would amuse it the most.  I know some of you out there share my affliction.

And then there is obligation knitting.  This is something that needs to be done.  You can love it or hate it, but you have to finish it.  Sleeves for the Cable Wise Cashmere.  I actually ripped what I had finished already, and knit back up.  Not done, but I am satisfied with what I did. 

So yes, packing for travel is a big deal.  I leave again after Spa, and I'm already planning for the next trip.

Another explanation that had to be made was recognition.  I spent the week in another office of the company I now work for.  We deal with the people in this office daily, but this was our (myself and two other gals) first time down there.  We were waiting in a hallway for someone, and a nice lady came up and started introducing herself.  After names were exchanged she turned to me and said "You're the knitter."

The conversation that ensued was about yarn stores we'd been to, the fact that her Web's catolog had come in the mail the day before, our respective last trips to Webs, local yarn stores, past projects, and favorite yarns.  This woman and I are already friends.  As we left the building one of the girls traveling with me looks at me and goes "You're the knitter?".  "Yeah," I said, "We're kinda like Masons, but with yarn."

We really are lucky people, to have each other.  I will say this until I'm old, but anywhere that has knitters will be a good place for me. 

So there's my travels.  Not as knit centric as you would have hoped, but I promise to do better next time.  Of course, next time will be after Spa, so I just don't know what will amaze me.

If you want to laugh your butt off, listen to this episode of It's a Purl, Man, and make sure to have this entry of Stitchy's blog up, because you're going to want to follow along with the pictures.

I'm going to bed.  My bed.  My Chris.  My three cats.  Mmmmmm.

And as an addition, I love that so many of you keep blogs.  With Google home and Google reader, I need never be far away from the people I enjoy being with.

Mmm, Superbowl...

Yes, Superbowl is a grand time for knitters in the Southern New Hampshire whereabouts.  Superbowl is the day that Beverly of Ewe'll Love It makes us all very happy knitters.  40% off all yarn and kits can make even the stingiest knitter swell a bit.  Even those of us who have put themselves on yarn intake control. (I don't diet)

I had checked out ELI on Thursday to see what they had and what I wanted.  I really don't need anything.  I figured I'd get yarn for I Do, so I can wear it over my dress at the wedding.  I made note of some silk blends from several dealers. 

I was poking around in the rack-of-stuff-that-you'd-love-to-have-but-can't-afford-or-allow-yourself-to-have-on-any-sane-day and I found it.  550 yards of rayon silk, with shinies!  It went from the dusky dark of a ripe peach to the violent colors of a sailor's delight sunset.  We saw each other right away, and we connected.  I hid it a bit.  Not much, I tucked it to the bottom and back of it's kind, and promised it that I would return for it.

It was a very long three days.  What if someone hid it someplace better (Beverly told me that I wouldn't believe the places she found yarn hidden).  What if someone came in Saturday and got the 35% discount?  What if yarn monsters ate it at night?

No fear.

We got there at 9:45.  It was cold.  Really cold.  Chris passed out from cold, and we thought we were going to have to eat him to survive.  After starting the first cut, though, we found out he was not dead, merely stunned, and severely lacking a sense of humor.  Just kidding.  He thought it was a hoot.  Beverly came about 10:30 to let us in the building.  We waited outside the shop, which doesn't open until 12.  At 10:45 she came back out and said "Don't make me regret this..."  In my whole life, nothing bad has ever followed this statement.  This probably is the queen of them all.  She let us in over an hour early!

I was the second person in the door, right behind Caroline.  I made a beeline for my beauty.  Almost right where I left it.

She is beautiful, no?  I didn't leave her on the cat.  No.  But when I got home I needed good light, and well, if you have cats you know that the best light in the world is mined exclusively by cats.  It is their sole area of industry.

I also got the Silky Wool I needed, two skeins of Tofutoes sock yarn, some Fixation, cable needles, the new Rebecca, and a great yarn high.  Is life great or what?

And the best thing is, instead of going right to the airport as planned, I got to go home and make soap!  Now I have to go to the airport.  Wish me safe travels.  Jazz has been super needy the last 24 hours, and its making me nervous. ;)

Jazz says "Eat your heart out, Lucy."

50 pounds of what?

First, before my brain puts it in the recycle bin, the sign up for Secret Pal 10 has started.  I did SP 6 and 7 and was lucky to have the spoilers that I had.  I also was lucky to have great gals to spoil.  I love putting together care packages.  Maybe this time I'll get a pal from overseas!  That'd be awesome!!

So, for those of you who asked me to post when sign ups started, there it is.  You have until the end of this month to decide.  It takes $60 minimum, and some trips to the post office.  It also takes time, attention, and a little bit of fairy-godmother.  This is a big responsibility, and as long as everyone keeps that in mind, it will be wonderful. 

Yes, this is open to both knitters and crocheters.

In other news, I'm getting packed to go down to North Carolina on Sunday for new hire training.  Clothes?  Toiletries?   A knitter craves not these things.  I'm considering knitting.  I want to finish the cable wise cashmere.  Maybe another mitten.  Two pairs of Socks of Doom.  I'd like to cast on a sweater for me.  So, you can see where I'm torn.  I'll probably take it all.  Underwear is over rated.

On the soap front, UPS has 50 pounds of coconut oil waiting for me.  I'm a little irked that I have to go pick it up, but that will probably pass when I have 50 pounds of coconut oil.  I need more olive oil, though.  I can get it in 3 gallon bottles at BJs, but you'd be surprised with how quickly I go though that.  I need to get it where restaurants get it.  I want a small drum. 

I'd go on, but I am dead tired, and I need to do laundry, go shopping, pack, and make three batches of soap by tomorrow night.

I cannot wait to see who I get to spoil!