Whoa...two posts in 1 Day...

I am feeling a bit better...bit more creative. I picked up my needles and cast on for Kira-my first lace project. It is slow going. I have made some booboos already but rather than frogging back to a life line I try to understand how the stitches are and how it should be. I try to fix them and then frog back to my life line. I tend to overthink things with knitting. But have to say lace knitting is some of the most interesting to date-amazing what those yo will create.

For my secret pal the lace patterns I have: Pacific Northwest Shawl, Field of Flowers, Seascape Shawl, Leaf Lace Shawl, Flower Basket, and Top-down Mock Faroese Lace Shawl.

I like the Faroese style more than the triangle shaped ones.

On the writing front:
Writing A book is far easier than writing a book that is a series. A Book is contained. A series you have to have the book container and something that ties it over a series. But I am just about done with my major secondary characters and jotting out plot points. I like to have a lot created upfront because while I am creating I am getting a feel for the characters. I have to say out of all my writing Lilith and Daemon are my favorite so far.

Here I was thinking...

That it was that time of year when Yankee Candle carries Witches Brew and that I should swing by the mall. That would be a trial because they just added Sephora's and well I am A MAKEUP Fiend. A knock at the door brought this lovely gift...from my Secret Pal.

THANK YOU!!!! I thank you my bank account thanks you...

Ennui...feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction

How I love that word, problem is during Sept I seem to suffer greatly from it. I am tired all the time and have not one gram of creativity in me.
I have not done very much knitting or jewelry. It is hard to get motivated to just get up and go to work. Work is not as productive (well that and the monster headache Rita thought I should have).

I usually snap out of it mid October. Usually because I am getting ready for NaNoWriMo.

My Secret Pal asked some questions and I thought I would share the answers with everyone.

was wondering, do enjoy coffee or teas?
I love both equally.

regular or decaf?
Regular...caffeine is my friend.

do you have a favorite?
Coffee: Starbucks as all my friends know- I have about 300 dollars in GC from there for coffee from by Birthday.
Tea: Oolong is my favorite.

what do you do for a living?
I work in banking (Very large institution) as a departmental programmer and db admin.

I know you must be a very busy gal, you don't seem to post much in your journal. it looks like perhaps you're a student?
I am a student as well as working full time

or a teacher?
I do teach but not school related things. Usually some jewelry related classes.

Other things:
I am a writer who is working on her second book which will be a cross of Anita Blake meets CSI. It is set in New Orleans in the near future (Katrina made me rethink setting there but I decided to continue on). I will reveal more details if anyone is interested. I have been published for writing naughty fics in my late teens early twenties.

I want to study Forensic Anthropology. The one thing holding me back is fear...mainly because I have a good job but one that I have to be where I am to do. I can do so many other things (there is alphabet soup after my name because of my certifications). I am usually a go do it kind of gal but this no so much even though I do want it badly.

I am a peacock (some relationship class for work taught me that) you can be a dove, an owl, an eagle or a peacock. Everyone thought I would be an Eagle or near the border of being a Peacock/Eagle. I surprised everyone. I am WAY OUT there in Peacock land. Almost off the scale.

I hate it when people get error messages at work but don't read the screen when all it is asking is do you want to repair the database. Instead they come running to me going something is wrong with the database.

I hate it even more when they get a serious error message and just start hitting enter until it goes away. Creating even bigger problems.

I hate people get into classes and have to ask the teacher how to turn on the bloody computer, when I spent two hours begging to be let in the same class. It was a web design class, I have had sites listed as sites of the day on the net and in publications for design and I have to beg to be in a design class? (Oddly, one of my first listings was the Wall Street Journal site of the day go fig.)

I have the best mom in the world. She always encourages me to do things I want to try but is practical about it. I told her I wanted to try drop spinning she said great just don't get a wheel you have too much on your plate. She also picks up my hobbies so we can do things together. She was also the mom, when I was showing horses, up at 2 am, at the barn with me at 3 am, on the show grounds taking care of my horse when I was riding others for hours on end and never complained. She was not the mom who dropped me off and showed up at the show grounds at a REASONABLE TIME. She was the one who held my horse when he had to have surgery, even though she was scared of him and I was out of state. She was the one who while on her vacation bought my horse a contoured sweat scrapper because she thought the design was so much better even though it cost 10 bucks and my $1 one worked fine. She was the one who took care of everything when my horse died on July 2, 1992 and I was an emotional wreck. She was the one who paid my bills while I was trying to function after that loss. She is my best friend and I would miss her more than anything if she went away.

The BIG Reveal

I am so Sorry I have not post in what seems forever. I have been working on 2 different projects for work and school is back in session.

I did get my final gift from my SP5 person. Jessica from Show Me Your Knits

THANK YOU JESSICA!!!

She sent me a book on Ireland, some Hello Kitty mints (in the first pic) and best of all she knitted me a purse and SOCKS!!.

The socks fit like a dream and are safely hidden away until it gets cooler (90 degrees is too hot for any sock). My mom was around when I opened them. I think she might make a move steal them. She was going hmm hmm very pretty I really like that color way can I see them closer. She has never said that about any yarn I have gotten (she knits too). I will have to watch these socks like a hawk when she comes around.

I have never had anyone knit anything for me in a long long time (since I was a very small child). Thank you Jessica. I loved everything you sent and loved the little notes. And what makes this even more special is the time you invested to give me this gifts and the gift of time is the most precious thing.

Secret Pal 6 About Me

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- and/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I tend to prefer the nicer yarns found in yarn stores over Red Heart and Lion Brand, mainly because I have come to realize they are not cheaper than some yarns you can find in a yarn store. So I am a bit of a yarn snob. That being said I like alot of the Lion Brand yarns though.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I have several drop spindles. Kind of dig spinning this way.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
I am allergic to of all things Vit C, I can have small doses but I cannot eat a lot of it. Strange I know. Stranger if you can find Vit C laden yarn. Also I have problems with smoke from cigarettes.

4. How long have you been knitting?
Seriously since Sept 04.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Why yes I do...Amazon Wish List It might come up Ann because my mom set it up originally, since I am so hard to buy for.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I like clean smells not overly floral or sweet and exotic scents. I like
melon scents. My favorite candle is the Halloween ones from Yankee in Witches Brew. I tend to steer clear of anything overpowering.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Is the Pope Roman Catholic? Yes. I like all kinds of candy. Especially Frango from Marshal Fields and dark chocolate.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I am a beader (big time sitting on a couple thousand dollars worth of beads). With beads I am a bead snob. I also do metal work, PMC3 and wire wrapping.

Hmmmm beads... but have yet to combine knitting and beading. I also do some drawing.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love all kinds of music except for rap and religous. I tend to listen to a lot of Celtic, soundtracks (Broadway shows are my favorite) and alternative. I can play MP3s.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color
family/season/palette you prefer?
Because of my coloring I have to go with jewel tones. I avoid yellows and orange colors and any reds that are not blue based. I am drawn to blacks, purples, and the blue greens. I avoid white, except for socks and Keds, because the uncapped highlighters, markers and pens way across the room will sense I am wearing white and come flying across the room to target my shirt or it will rain.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Single and loving it. No pets. My mom has a cat does that count? A cat who does not act very catish.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here,
I know)
To marry Orlando Bloom...hehe. Actually, I would like to go to Grad School for Forensic Anthropology. Be a published and successful writer/artist.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I don't really have a favorite yarn. I am still too new to knitting. I go more
for color and feel. I love soft feeling yarns but I am willing to try anything.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Scratchy yarns and very heavy yarns. I live in Florida where it is cold
about a month and only in the mornings and evenings really.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I have been itching to do some lace work.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I don't have anything really I am enjoying it all since it is so new to me.

17. What are you knitting right now?
Sweater and a pair of anklets.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
So last year, fashion wise, plus shawls are more practical in Florida.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Depends on the project. I love my Addi Turbos (use them for larger projects as well as circular). I also love double pointed needles. I like wooden needles too.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Wooden and Addi Turbo metal

21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yup.

22. How did you learn to knit?
Self Taught I'm self taught in many things because I have ADD/HDD

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Just finished my oldest now working on the second one which was started in Feb before it became to hot to do a sweater.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Hello Kitty. I also like gargoyles but I LOVE Hello Kitty. I also like different rubber duckies.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas and St Patrick's Day. Have bad memories of birthdays between my family never remembering what day it was (one aunt thought it was in June or July...May 2 actually.) and the fact when I was little I always had wine cake for my birthday...everyone loved it...but me. So I couldn't even have my own cake.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Lampwork beads and hand blown from glass artists and Hello Kitty.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I only get the Interweave publication

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Most of them are on my Amazon list.

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
I have gotten into lace shawls I have several patterns from Fibre Trends I will post them later.

ETA: 30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?
Let me get back to this soon as I can find my tape measure hehe.