SpinKnitUp

I am a recent college graduate and have my B.A. (I studied history and criminal justice). I plan on going to grad school to get my Masters (and maybe the PhD...). I am an assistant manager at Walgreens. Not the dream job, but it works for now (hey, it's a job, which is more than many have right now).

I live on a small hobby farm with my family and a lot of animals. We keep several types of animals, but mostly breed and train Standard Poodles and Yorkshire Terriers. I just recently got out of breeding and showing rats, mice, and rabbits.

I love crafting and animals. I have horses, dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, lizards, goats, pigs, chickens, and fish.

I am engaged and will be getting married May 8, 2010. DF and I will be getting a piece of land and starting up a hobby farm. He's a helicopter mechanic in the Army Nat'l Guard and will be going to flight school after he graduates.

90's Alternative, Country (old and new), and some Rock. I hate rap, scream music, and hip hop is only just tolerable in small quantities.

I love books. The Friday Night Knitting Club, Where the Red Fern Grows, A Beautiful Mind, Seabiscuit, The Scarlet Letter, all the James Herriot vet books, The Secret Garden, Phantoms in the Brain, And Then There Were None (aka, Ten Little Indians), The Devil's Arithmetic, Bread Givers, Briar Rose, The Giver, Rainbow Six, Fahrenheit 451, and many more. I really like books on physiological psychology, genetics, the Holocaust (fact or fiction), the classics, biographies on American historical figures, and anything on the brain. I love (politically) conservative literature.

I love movies and will watch most.

I do not like most Disney (Pocahontas, Bambi, & other movies with these sorts of "messages"). Absolutely no Sean Penn, Charlize Theron, Wesley Sninpes, Cameron Diaz, and nothing by Spike Lee.

Some favorite movies are: Ratatouille, V for Vendetta, My Best Friend's Wedding, Pretty Woman, Matchstick Men, My Dog Skip

Southpark, Law & Order (esp. SVU), House, Lost, reality shows (I know they're junk, but I can't help it. I like them all), History Channel, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel

I have recently narrowed my crafting focus... I was dabbling in too much! I really do enjoy it all, but realized that I can't do it all!

My chosen favorites:

Fiber Arts - My ultimate crafty love. Spinning, Knitting, Fiber Prep, Dyeing, Needle Felting, Rigid Heddle Loom Weaving, Crocheting

Jewelry Making - I adore beading and all that. Nowadays, it's mostly stitch marker making, but I am getting back into jewelry making again.

Woodburning/Wood Crafts - I love woodworking and woodburning. Frames, placques, etc.

ANIMALS - Hippos, Dogs (particularly, German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, Boxers), Horses (Western or bareback riding), Goats, Chickens, Goldfish/Koi, Rats, Mice, Gators/Crocs, Dinosaurs

Foods/Flavors - Take 5, salty/sweet combos, lemon, tea (green with jasmine and peppermint are faves), coffee flavored, floral gums, milk/dark chocolate (esp. with stuff in it), Butterfinger, Cracker Jacks, peanut butter anything, black licorice, tira misu

Colors - turquoise, olive, red, and purple are absolute forever favorites. I also like gold (not as a metal), and earth tones/fall colors.

Fibers/Yarns - wool, alpaca, angora, worsted, fingering, dk, cotton (yarn, not for spinning), linen, Blue Sky Alpacas anything, Araucania anything, just about anything Knit Picks... Acrylics are Ok (especially softer ones like Simply Soft).

Activities - training dogs, training and working horses, knitting, reading, spinning (yarn!), weaving, dance dance revolution (I have ddr max 2), running, hiking, crafting

I am politically very conservative. I love 'Zo, Rush, Hannity, Coulter, etc.

Allergies - all oranges, all peas, all melons, bananas, strawberries, all grasses, all weeds, dust, all trees, most lotions. I can deal with flavoring of those things as long as there isn't any of the actual fruit/oils in it. Lemons are fine and I love them. Meds keep symptoms under control for the most part, so no worries about coming into contact with the plants. I can't tolerate most lotions and bath products.

Colors - pastels or neons. With other colors, like in a pattern, it's Ok, but not alone/main color.

Foods/flavors - smoked salmon, really dark chocolate (though the DF loves it)

Other - Animal Rights, witchcraft related stuff, new age things, liberal/left leaning things

Please nothing that smells of tobacco smoke! It will be trashed.

Here are some things I'm always looking for/wanting:

-fiber for spinning (prepped or non), yarn

-buttons

-ribbon

-beads and findings

-Fibertrends animal knitting patterns, Zephyr Style patterns

-Pens, pencils, and notebooks. I'm a compulsive writer (lists, etc) and fill a notebook very quickly. The cheap stuff is fine!

-Fabric scraps, bandanas, etc. for making hammocks for my rat, lining bags, etc.

-Wood for woodburning (any size, smooth surface)

-Knitting/Crochet notions (stitchmarkers, needle stoppers, tapestry needles, hooks/needles, etc)

I always rate, usually the day I receive the package.

I expect others to rate in a timely manner as well.

I usually send my stuff soon after the partners are assigned. If it never gets to you, please contact me about it first. I will resend.

I don't rate lower for late items AS LONG AS I am notified that it will be late. It just showing up suddenly a month later will not get a full 5 rating. I do change ratings if I need to. I'm pretty easy to get along with and know life gets in the way of crafting and swaps. Just let me know.

I rate fairly... if you met the minimum you get a 5. If you send anything extra or really put a lot into it, you get a heart.

I expect others to rate fairly... liking what was sent is not a requirement to receive a 5 or a heart! If the person sent what they were supposed to and put at least a little effort into it, they deserve a 5!!! ANYTHING extra deserves a heart.

I've been flaked on before and it's no fun. Please don't do it to me. I will give you a no-send rating and let people know you are flaker.

I will angel for anyone in swaps that I host. Just let me know that you've been flaked on and I will get something to you. Please give me a little time to get it ready and sent, though! I usually do so within a week of being notified.