Snarky

I don’t know what to say.

I found out yesterday morning that my friend Claudia lost her husband, quite unexpectedly, and I’ve been trying to decide what I could possibly say about it here that wouldn’t sound somehow wrong. I decided that the truth was the best route.

He was far too young. They were far too in love. Their life together was precisely perfect, but far too short. My heart is breaking in so many ways for her.

I wish that there was something to do. Something that would ease her pain. The only thing I have is my great affection for her.

Claudia, you are in my heart and on my mind. You are loved, my friend. Truly loved.

This is the questionnaire for the HHHH that I’m participating in.

1. How long have you been spinning? What skill level do you consider yourself?
About a year and a half. I consider myself an advanced-intermediate spinner, and actually teach handspinning at my LYS.

2. What kinds of yarn do you create (singles/2-ply/3-ply/art yarn)?
Typically I do two ply, it’s my favorite to spin.

3. What do you spin with (spindle/wheel/both)?
Both.

4. What are your favorite fibers to spin with? Anything you don’t like?
I don’t love Ingeo, and my favorite to spin with is any kind of soft wool or alpaca. (ooo and silk/merino blends are the BEST!)

5. Who are your favorite crack dealers fiber sources (etsy or otherwise)?
I like to dye my own fibers. But I also love Crown Mountain Farms, Poppy Flower Fibers, Copperpot Woolies, Miss Babs and Gale’s Art.

6. What kind of fiber do you want to try?
Anything colorful that I can’t easily get here. Or anything “weird” or unusual. I don’t really have an interest in flax, linen or cotton though.

7. Is there any techniques you would like to learn?
I’d really like to get better at some of the art yarns techniques, and I have been working on them quite a bit lately.

8. Do you dye fiber? If not, would you like to learn?
Yes.

9. Do you have fiber prep tools (and like to use them) or would you prefer ready to spin fiber?
I don’t have any prep tools, and at this point have no interest in getting more “rustic” in my spinning. I do have access to a drum carder, but I don’t enjoy that part of the process much. So, um, prepared fiber please?

10. What do you do with your handspun? What projects have you completed?
Do? Isn’t spinning it enough?

11. Are you in need of any spinning gadgets (WPI Gauge, threading hook, etc)?
I have three WPI gauges (I swear they’re reproducing.) I’m good on the threading hook thing too, but if anyone knows how to make a little basket or bag that will ride nicely on my Ladybug during spinning, I’d love to have one.

12. What colors “fall into your shopping basket”? Any colors you just can’t stand?
I like most colors, especially in spinning since sometimes the ugliest rovings make the best yarns.

13. What is on your wheel/spindle right now?
Believe it or not, nothing. I have some Crown Mountain Farms pencil roving to work on and some Gale’s art waiting in the wings with some Copperpot Woolies though.

14. What other crafts/hobbies do you have?
Knitting, Dyeing, Sewing are the big three besides spinning.

15. Other than crafts, what are you passionate about?
Ravelry? Does that count? I’ve oddly enough made crafting part of my career and love it.

16. Do you have an online wishlist?
Sure. Amazon list here.

17. Is there anything that you collect?
Dust. (Actually, I’m trying to have less clutter in the house, so all the things that I bring home have to have a place to go, and typically something has to leave. Weird attitude about stuff, I know, but it’s a work in progress.)

18. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get
your hands on? What magazine subscriptions do you have?
Um, well, I like surprises, and I am pretty indulgent, so you know, whatever you send will be loved.

19. When is your birthday?
November 15th

20. What book or movie character do you most resemble in personality?
Weird question. I don’t know. I kind of do my own thing and try to be as nice as I can to other people.

21. What is the climate like where you live around this time (need to know for careful shipments of anything meltable)?
It’s hot, but I work from home so generally speaking anything that comes to my house gets inside fairly quickly.

22. Tell us one weird fact about yourself!
I’ve only thrown up 17 times in my entire life. (Weird enough?)

Favorites

Favorite painting/picture(link):

Get a Grip, by Tom Everhart

Starry Night, by Vincent van Gough

Candy:
Haribo Gold Bears or Haribo Gummy Cola Bottles. Also any combo of peanut butter and chocolate, or toffee and chocolate.

Food:
I’m not proud that I am the world’s pickiest eater, but I am. I like pizza and crackers and snack-y type stuff, but I absolutely hate pickles and pickle flavored things.

Drink:
Diet Coke or Coke Zero

Movie, TV Shows, Books:
I’m copping out on the movies, tv, books questions, since I will watch just about anything if it means that I can knit or spin while I watch. And I will read most anything. I’m not a huge fan of SciFi and Fantasy though.

Guilty Pleasure(s):
All my pleasures are guilty!

Thanks to Jacquie and Chickengoddess, I’ve been tagged for this meme.

The Rules: Rules are posted at the beginning. At the end of the post, the player tags 5 people and posts their names. Then the player goes to each of the “named” people’s blogs and leaves a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. If you’ve been tagged, you do the same, letting the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer. Your answer, of course, is the answer to the following questions. Here we go!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
I’d been living in Atlanta for a year with a boyfriend. Working at a service bureau for printers. Trying to figure out how to make new friends and what it meant to be a “grown up.”

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today?
I need to go pick up my new drop spindle from a LYS that’s holding it for me. I want to go visit the new gym in the area and find out how much it costs to be a member. I need to send an email to the girls with ideas for fun stuff to do for the rest of the summer. I’ve got a goal to knit ten rows on my lace shawl every day. Dinner with Trav’s parents. Clean the craft room. (That’s six, but whatever.)

3. Snacks I enjoy:
Holy crap, this one is my entire diet. My favorites are Luna Bars (but I eat those for breakfast, not as a snack). Toast is delicious. I like nearly all of the 100 calorie snacks by Nabisco. Chips. Pizza. Lemon Limeades from Sonic. Tootsie Rolls. Spice Cake with cream cheese frosting.

4. Places I’ve lived:
Dallas, Texas (1973-1981)
Paris, Texas (1981-1994)
College Station, Texas (1994-1997)
Birmingham, Alabama (1997)
Stone Mountain, Georgia (1997-1999)
Decatur, Georgia (1999-2000)
Atlanta, Georgia (2000-2001)
Dallas, Texas (2001-2003)
Smyrna, Georgia (2003-2005)
Milton, Georgia (2005- )

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
I’d pay off all my own debt and that of my family. I’d then buy a great new house with a full basement that has room for Trav’s “guy stuff” and also a second kitchen (perhaps an in-law suite) for a fiber studio. I’d also buy a Mini Cooper convertible. I think that it goes without saying that I’d quit my job, right? I’d prolly hire my friend Erin to “work” for me. I’d also travel. A lot.

The rules say I have to tag 5 people now. Crap, I don’t know who hasn’t done this. How about AmyN, Stephanie, Laurie, Sherrie and Nina?

I know that I’ve been remiss in posting lately, and I’m sorry.

I just can’t quite get my act together. However I did want to post that I have listed some of my handspun in my Etsy Shop. This is only after an entire weekend answering the question, “Well, what are you going to DO with that when it’s finished?”

There’s your answer, if you like it, you can buy it.

For my personal favorite I choose Jacquie’s comment:

Jacquie said:

And the random number generator chose Nicole S. as the winner!

Nicole S. said:

I’m not a blogger, at least in part because I don’t know if I’d have the motivation to continue for long (and also in part because I don’t have a camera, so I can’t just post pictures when I don’t feel like writing… I guess “pretty pictures” is one suggestion for posts).

Congratulations on 200 posts!

Check your email ladies, Jacquie gets first choice for the lace weight or the sock yarn, and Nicole, I will mail the other one to you! Thanks to everyone who played, and thanks for continuing to read, even when I’m MIA.