Dear Secret Pal,

Thanks for the lovely birthday gift.

Did you make the cases yourself? They're fabulous (and I'm not just saying that because I have a fear of sewing machines)!

I am totally ready for portable summer knitting now.

I haven't decided how to use the yarn you gave me during the swap, but when I do, expect lots of pictures (I have recently upgraded cameras to the Canon 10d, which will be coming in the mail any day now).

Thanks a lot!
Veronica

I get up early, and I go to bed late.

Such is the life of a woman with not one but TWO puppies.

The neighbors are playing Nelly. We HATE Nelly.

But I have had a little progress on the shawl. I don't know if it's going to get done, but there are almost two repeats done, and I'm starting to get the hang of it. I think it's going to get the bejeezus blocked out of it in order to get whatever I get done before the wedding into a shape I can wear.

There has been quite a bit of mail lately, and some of it was Secret Pal related. Thanks, pal!

This stuff smells so good, and I love the tin! I can't wait to have dry skin.


The journal is awesome and totally beats the wadded up yarn list I have tucked in my purse.


Love the yarn, love the color. I never thought pink would be my color this year!

Bundt cake. Bundt cake.

It's one of those phrases that I can't stop saying. I love the sound of it! Bundt cake.

If you don't already have a Nordicware bundt pan, get one. Even if you don't like cake. Even if you don't have an oven. Get the damn cake pan! They're beautiful, and the cake I made turned out fantastic- evenly browned, not too crusty (and it's a low-fat cake!).

In other news: I got a cute postcard from my secret pal. Thanks again! I can't wait to see what comes next.

retro kitchen: note the blender, tablecloth, walls, cake...

You never know where the day will take you

Sometimes the day takes you to a place where you're getting drunk in a gallery of priceless art.

Interpride went really well on Saturday. Mike and I arrived for breakfast, and then took a little rest in Kim and Steph's room (who are back together and making it work and I love it). We made some copies. At lunch Mike nearly got killed by a chicken salad sandwich the contained covert pistachios, but a gallon of water saved him. I was really grossed out by vegetarian tomato soup that was actually seafood tomato soup. Yuck. Fortunately I didn't bite into anything that was obviously seafood, and I only ate about a third of the cup before I was informed. Damn you, Doubletree Dearborn, for not having a fucking grasp on what you're serving.

Our presentation went really well. Nineteen of 20 reviews were good, but someone left us a snarky little review. We spent the rest of the evening trying to figure out who the harridan was, but we never figured it out. Ah, well.

Then we were off to Park West for dinner, which was delicious. And, oh, the free beer! And the priceless art- Dali, Picasso, Toulouse Latrec, Rembrandt! It was awesome.

We weren't actually registered for the conference, but because Mike and I are the Nicole Ritchie and Paris Hilton of Triangle, we got into Comedyfest and saw some good stand-up. Sabrina Matthews, in particular, was hysterical.

In fiber-related news, my Secret Pal sent me an e-card. How sweet! Thanks!

Secret Pal 10- Me, In Survey Form

Dear Secret Pal,

I hope you're as excited to read this as I am to read your blog. I really hope that you're still excited when you're done reading it. ;)

Yours in spoiling,
me

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

NORO! It's like the best part of an acid trip in fiber form. Takhi New Tweed. Lamb's Pride. I have a wool and mohair allergy, but that doesn't stop me. I love the feeling of alpaca, and cotton.

I don't enjoy cheap acrylic yarn (which, sadly, is what I can usually afford). I don't like fun-fur-type yarns.

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

I store my needles in a big vase on my desk. I have a little pink vinyl pouch for my dpns and stitch holders. The circulars get thrown around, but are currently stored in a box under my work table. And yes, I have a Boye NeedleMaster (and I actually really like it)!

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 a couple of years. Despite my ongoing love affair with the rectangle, I consider myself to be an intermediate knitter. I have been successful with lace knitting, cables, intarsia, sweaters, and I made a pair of slippers, so I have the basics of sock knitting.

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

It's in the sidebar!

5. What's your favorite scent?

On my body- I like the white tea and ginger scent from Bath and Body Works. Or the vanilla. I like to smell like cookies, I guess. My husband actually uses and loves the orange ginger stuff (he's comfortable enough with himself to get a little girly about scents). In my house- clean scents that don't overpower. I make my own scented candles because the ones at the store are too strong.

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

YES. I love chocolate- lindt truffles, cadbury anything!, joseph schmidt candies. I also love jelly bellies, but not the sour ones. I like red hots, too.

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

I love photography, and although it's not a craft, it is a hobby. I think origami is fun, and while I'm not into scrapbooking, I like putting gluestick to paper. I make candles around the holidays. I don't spin, but I am interested in learning. I am also hoping to get a tabletop letterpress at some point and learn about that, too.

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

Perhaps a list of favorites will give a general idea: David Bowie, Queen, Tori Amos, Morphine, Led Zep, Regina Spektor, The Talking Heads, The White Stripes (Detroit represent!), The Postal Service, Fiona Apple, Erlend Oye, Rufus Wainwright, Ben Folds, Stevie Wonder, Imogen Heap, Belle and Sebastian, Wilco, Jon Spencer, Catatonia, Nine Inch Nails, The Flaming Lips, Tortoise, Ladytron, Metric, Richard Cheese.

I can play mp3s on at least three electronic devices in my life. I love them!

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

I love green- teal, spring green, grass. I wear a lot of brown, green, burgundy, teal, rust. I don't dislike any colors, but I find I don't really wear much pink or blue.

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

I live with my husband. We might get a dog, but we're waiting for the snow to melt to decide.

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

Not ponchos. They turn my pear shape into a vaguely-pumpkinesque shape.

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

I like knitting in the round, and I don't like seaming, so I take great pleasure in knitting top-down raglans (well, raglan- I've only made one, and I savored it). :) I like lace, but I have not had much experience with fine gauge yarns. I think my favorite project ever were the Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers from Stitch n Bitch Nation.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I am making an afghan for my grandmother. Oh, the irony!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

YES. I especially love things I can't make for myself (I don't spin, I can't draw/paint/sculpt, and my scissor skills are reminiscent of a third-grader's).

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

I use all kinds. I use circluars a lot, just for the portability, and because my knitting likes to slide off of straight needles. Everything I own is aluminum or plastic (thank you, garage sales). I would like to try bamboo needles, but I am afraid I would break smallish ones.

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

Sadly, no.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Older than my knitting career- I began crocheting a GIGANTIC bedspread in high school, and I still schlep it with me whenever I move. I would give anything for moths to destroy it, but it's all acrylic, and so nothing will ever happen to it.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween. Followed closely by Christmas. Candy, dress-up, presents- some of my favorite things.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Not really. I've been trying to declutter my life, and so I have done my best to train myself out of collecting. I have a pretty big library, though.

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

I covet Lorna's Laces, Socks that Rock, Colinette, and Tilli Tomas yarns, and glampyre (orangina and camellia) and zephyr style patterns. My amazon wish list is full of books that I love. I have back issues of Interweave Knits, but I haven't gotten a subscription yet.

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

I'd like to actually make a pair of socks for myself. I like subdued colors in my clothing, but I've almost always got on a funky pair of socks. Fair isle scares the bejeezus out of me, but I think that I would eventually like to conquer it.

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

I desperately want to learn! I've given it a shot, but I can never decide on a project. I wear a 9-9.5 shoe.

23. When is your birthday?

June 10