Spreading the word about the Think Pink Challenge - the woman running this would like to collect 1000 pink scarves by the end of September to give to women with breast cancer. This one hits very close to home for me, there is a history of breast cancer in my family.

I spent all day yesterday thinking it was Monday. That should tell you what kind of day I was having... but I think it's finally summer! After all the May (wtf?!) gloom and fog, the last couple of days have been sunny and perfect. And I almost forgot - over the weekend, two women in my spinning guild opened a fiber arts shop. Of course I had to check it out, and I left with this amazing merino tencel hand dyed roving. I can't wait to spin it.

It was a good weekend. Lots of homework for my girlie, unfortunately - why do they do that? It seems as though we have to spend every holiday weekend finishing a big project. Suck. But she is (we are?) almost finished, which is grand because she will be staying with the grandparents next weekend while we go up to Mendocino for our anniversary. Can't wait.

The last few days have really sucked. My cat has gone missing - it's been almost a week now, and he never stays away, ever. I'm trying to stay hopeful.

I had to go to a funeral yesterday as well, for someone I was not particularly fond of, out of obligation. Eech. I called my husband on my way home and told him in no uncertain terms that I do not want a funeral. At least not like that. What a circus.

On a brighter note, on the way home I stopped at my former yarn store, in my old neighborhood, just to say hi and cheer up a little. It was really nice to see Suzan - and she wants me to bring in my handspun yarn, possible to carry at the shop. We'll see...

And today, from what will be my bedroom, it looks like this.

I think everything is going to be fine. And now I paint.

I haven't been knitting much or spinning at all, it's really bumming me out. I've been so busy trying to get the house finished, all my creative energy has been going there.

That being said, yesterday I went to the yarn store and bought two skeins of this:



I think I just need to finish something small, starting a big project right now would just be frustrating. Building the house is big enough.

So I just started a secret pal yarn exchange - whee! I love when packages come in the mail, I love surprises, and I love yarn. How could you go wrong? Anyway, I received an email from my secret pal(who is sending to me) with a list of questions, which I have also sent to my secret pal(who I am sending to). Okay that sounded really confusing - anyway here they are, with my answers:

1. Which yarn is most like your personality (you can be specific or general with your answer- brand, type, color, fiber, whatever)?

I would say merino/silk single ply, really soft, hand dyed many variations of a single color. If I had to pick a brand, I'd say Alchemy Synchronicity. Or maybe Noro Cash Iroha. Ooh, or Twisted Sisters Petit Voodoo. Hard to pick.

2. What is your favorite color yarn to knit/crochet with?

I love green, not dark green, but more like the color of pears and apples and Kermit the frog - but I also really like pink.

3. Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns?

Does that mean self striping? No I haven't.

4. Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns?

I love alpaca, merino, silk - anything super soft. I gravitate toward single plys, things that seen more hand spun, less perfect.

5. Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls of yarn?

I love center pull balls.

6. Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in trying them?

I have, they're lovely. The only time I enjoyed knitting with cotton.

7. How many and what projects have you made in the last year?

Wow, lots. Three sweaters, two shawls, legwarmers (I know that sounds so wrong but they are so pretty and I wore them under my wedding dress), countless hats and scarves, a couple of ponchos for my daughter, bracelets and necklaces, a baby blanket and... I'm leaving some stuff out...

8. Will you be knitting any gifts this year?

Yes.

9. What is your favorite one skein project?

I love making scarves from my handspun yarn. Lacy stitches on big needles - really fast and beautiful. My favorite project from the book, though, is probably either the silk sleeves or the clutch with the buttons.

10. How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it?

An embarrassing amount - tons - and right now most of it is in storage in big rubbermaid bins and these amazing giant ziplock bags until we are done building our house - but that's anouther story.

11. Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never use it or part with it?

I tend to horde some of my wackier handspun stuff. Oh, and this amazing silk mohair from Habu. And the crazy handspun that I bought from this amazing spinner in Northern California - she is amazing! And a very cool girl.

12. Do you knit less or differently in the summer?

No.

13. Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)?

Yes - a yahoo group called Knitzilla.

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Some other fiber and non fiber related things about me:

I rarely follow patterns, and when I do, I alter them.

My favorite wool - specifically sheep - to spin is Cormo. It is much like Merino, but squishier.

I try to buy from small companies and farms whenever I can. Someday I hope to be one of them...

I also try to involve myself in charity knitting project whenever I can.

When I grow up, I want to have Pygora goats. And a couple of sheep. And probably some other hooved friends as well.

I grew up in Los Angeles, and most of my family is here.

I am a carpenter for the entertainment industry - I build sets for movies.

I went to art school, and majored in sculpture and photography.

I would love to live in Santa Cruz, California.

I have a nine year old daughter, Zoe, and I truly believe that she is the most beautiful and amazing individual that I have ever met, and that someday she will change the world if she decides to do so. (Not that I'm biased...)

June 5th is my first anniversary, and the fact that we decided to get married while in the middle of a really rough remodel tells me that we can make it through anything. Really.

I have two dogs, Stella and Harley, a weimaraner and a beagle. I like the high maintenance breeds.

I also have a cat named Joe the Cat, a parakeet, and eight chickens.

I love doing laundry, but I hate putting it away.

I leave my shoes all over the house.

I love to bake, but I rarely eat any of it.

My birthday is October 10th. I'm 37.

My husband, Scott, grew up in Mississippi, but you would never know it from talking with him.

I wear my Auntie Faye's ring on a chain around my neck for good luck.

There is a great big pile of knitting on my nightstand.

Wow, stream of consciousness, sorry... and that's plenty for now.