Memes and things about me

Delia Tagged Me - The Meme of the Moment

2006-01-20T23:34:00.000-05:00

Thanks Delia for the fun distraction...

Instructions: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot.

see mi knit
one by one
Cj's Knitting Basket
wine and needles
kimberlinewyork

Select 5 people to tag: No really, I know these things are akin to chain letters and they take some time, but there's nothing like direct questions to learn more about folks.
Celia of Unraveling
Justine of After Asia
Siow Chin of Little Purl of the Orient
Lisa of An Abundance of Lisa
Claudia of Claudia's Blog

What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was production manager and co-designer for a couture (read as: hats cost way to damned much and there no way to make a decent living) millinery company in mid-state New York...two months from now, 10 yesrs ago, the owner (beyond rich) would walk in and tell everyone she'd decided to close. She was simply tired of working (um - we'de seen her less than 10 times in a year.)

What were you doing 1 year ago?
I know you'll be shocked -- but I was here in China, getting a foot massage with my team. Perhaps tonight I'll have to go get one as an anniversary gift to myself of last years massage.

List five creative things you want to achieve this year:
1. Finish my bedroom...er...boudoir (paint it, make the curtains and the new duvet/pillows with the fab designer brocades I scored on the cheap!)
2. Get 5 more chapters done in the novel I'm writing.
3. Get 2 more knitting designs published.
4. Organize (chuck out, donate) and redo my work studio.
5. My garden -- they took out the overgrown shrub/crap from the garden next door last week and now I'll have so much MORE SUNLIGHT!!! YEAH!!!!

List five snacks you enjoy:
1. Jamba Juice - Protein Berry Pizzazz
2. popcorn (not cheesy - they good old popcorn...especially from my whirly-pop...see favorite gadgets below.)
3. Ginger Snaps (I've the best recipe from King Arthur Flour!!)
4. Rold Gold Honey Wheat Braided Pretzel Twists
5. Any Chocolately yumminess by Max Brenner, Leonida's, Neuhaus or Vosges Haut Chocolate -- and ALWAYS Dark Chocolate...including Strawberries dipped in really dark chocolate

List five things you would do if money were no object:
1. Make my Mom quit her job.
2. Travel the world for fun and write travel books about the FOOD.
3. Buy my brownstone.
4. Buy a car and a parking space in NYC.
5. Take every class I have ever wanted to!

List five bad habits:
1. Put work before my own needs.
2. Allow my nails to fall into total disaryay unless I've got a date or important meeting to attend.
3. Spend too much money on shoes.
4. Push myself to the limit and then two more steps.
5. Am over critical of my own work.

List five things you like doing:
1. Knitting/Sewing/Painting...creating
2. Cooking/Eating
3. Gardening
4. Laughing
5. Exploring

List five favorite gadgets:
1. iPod
2. old industrial Singer...this baby can plow thru leather!
3. Cuisinart Grind and Brew coffee maker
4. the new frosty OXO Mandoline I got from my good friend Juliet for Christmas! (She'll surely reep the rewards!)
5. Whirly-Pop

Name one thing you like about yourself:
I'm good to my friends - they mean the world to me!

Back to the regularly scheduled blogging...click here

SP6 Questionaire

2005-09-10T22:50:00.000-04:00

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
[k] I am a bit of a yarn snob. See #14 please.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
[K] I crochet but haven't invested in spinning, although I did it in college.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
[k] Perfumes (most), smoke (all).

4. How long have you been knitting?
[k] 28 years

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
[k] Amazon

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
[k] cinnamon = candles, I'm super picky on bath products because scents give me headaches easily (I know - such a pain in the neck!)

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
[k] Only for good dark chocolate. I don't like anything gummy and can't stand licorice.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
[k] Sewing, embroidery, beading, cooking, gardening, every fix-it job that pops up that I can fix, stripping and painting my furniture, entertaining.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
[k] I love music.
Jazz, swing, blues (Norah Jones, Louis Armstrong, Keely Smith, Ella & Billy, Madeleine Peyroux, Jaimi Cullum, Leon Redbone, Miles Davis, Michael Buble, )
Indie/alternative/world (Jack Johnson, Loreena McKennit, Jill SObule, Jonatha Brooke, Kate Bush, Loudon Wainright, Lucinda Williams, Hank Kim, Nicole McKenna, Minnie Driver (yes the actres), No Doubt, Wilco...)
R & B/Funk (Joss Stone,James Brown, Jamiroquai, Macy Gray, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding
Rock (Rolling Stone, Eagles, Kansas, Citizen Cope, journey, Beatles, Aerosmith, John Mayer, Kinks, Joe Walsh, Lynard SKynard...)
A little country (Dixie Chicks, k.d. lang, Deana Carter, kasey chambers)
Classical (Josh Grobin, Sarah Brightman, Bach, Mozart etc...)
Latin (Cesaria Evora, Nil Lara, Compay Segunda...)

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
[k] Odd as it may sound being a NYC fashion designer -- and being that BLACK is actually this years BLACK -- I don't really like to wear too much black! And knitting it is hard on my eyes! I love earth tones! I also love green, pink, orange and blue! :-)

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
[k] I'm single, dating a wonderful feller and now have 3 - yes 3 cats - Loco (11 yr old 1/2 blue pt/ 1/2 purple pt Siamese), Coco (9 month of Chocolate Bermese) and his brother Chanel (9 month old Chocolate Burmese). I may be destined to be that crazy old lady in NYC with too many cats. But when cats who need rescueing end up in my lap -- sometimes they come home with me! :-)

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
More on this later... I've gotta get back to work!!

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
[k] Merino, cashmere - lux yarn. I like Cashmerino in fact. I also like Noro, and am dying to try some of the lux yarns from Knit Picks. I love most all wools.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
[k] Red Heart or it's equiv. in scratching itchy Acrylic. There are soft acrylics out there though. I have been trying to work with more natural fibers because they breath better for the wearer. That said - I knit a lot of baby suff in acrylic blends so that it's easy to care for.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
[k] Perfecting Intarsia and lace.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like children's clothing, socks, scarves, sweaters, hats etc...
Haven't really met anything I didn't like yet.

17. What are you knitting right now?
[k]a. Blanket squares for Katrina
b. A washcloth for Katrina (cotton sometimes makes my hands ache so I had to give it time off)
c. Baby booties for pals with babies on the way (gift toppers)
d. A shrug out of Bamboo yarn for me
e. A vest for a chrstmas gift
Both A & B are with me as I travel.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
I prefer Ruanas and have always liked shrugs...I have only one official poncho that I like (and designed)...it's a super fine cowlnecked knit that is thin and drapey and yummy.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I like Circ's for train/subway/plane knitting especially.
But I love beautiful wooden straights!

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
[k] Wood/bamboo are my fave...but they all work! I've been thinking of picking up the Denise set.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
[k] Yep!

22. How did you learn to knit?
[k] Good old Mom taught me when I was 4. I prefferred crochet for a long long time though.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
[k] Must be atleast 5 years old. I began a beautiful sweater in intarsia and had to put it down when I became ill. Two years later when I was better, I had gained so much weight that I had gone from an XS to a size M... so it sits there on it needles still. Eventually I'll admit that I'll be this size for likely ever, never to return to even a size small -- and I'll frog it. (Amazing Italian wool too!) but until then my stubbornness wins out over logic.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Hong Kong Fooey, Mighty Mouse

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Hmmm -- Halloween - because I'm a big ham and LOVE to dress up!!!
Thanksgiving or Christmas. I get to see family then and time with them is worth a million bucks. I took over Thanksgiving about 8 years ago so my house either has an intimate few or a rowdy bunch depending on who's left in NYC!
Christmas gives me a chance to spoil my folks without my Mom getting upset with me. :-)

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Friends, PEZ dispensers, vintage patterns from the 30s, 40s & 50s and... seemingly... yarn.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
[k] Creative knitting, Rowan International Membership. I keep meaning to buy Interweave Knits -- but it just hasn't happened yet.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Nancie Wiseman's book The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques - I've been told it's wonderful

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
Not that comes to my jet-lagged mind, but I'm always in the market for vintage patterns from the 30's, 40s and 50s.

To return to my main blog: Click here

100 things about me (updated Sept 15, 2005)

2005-05-01T17:12:00.000-04:00

1. I am lucky to be close with my family. I have one sibling, my brother, 5 years older than me, two healthy parents and a sister-in-law and niece...all whom I adore.
2. Loco, my 27lb Siamese cat, rules the roost...although his two adopted Bermese brothers, Coco & Chanel give him a run for his cat toys!
3. I have unexplained episodes of what I can only describe as Narcoleptic. They hit about 1 morning a month...often with me waking up with a cup of coffee still sitting upon my leg, now cold, after a 1 hour "nap." My doctor isn't worried about it.
4. I had a 6.5mm kidney stone. Ouch.
5. I love Big Band music & Latin music...it's got something to do with the drums and horns.
6. Some of my favorite books are: Confederacy of Dunces, The Scarlet Letter and Princess (book 1 of 3).
7. Pizza, popcorn, cereal and sushi are perfect foods.
8. I will try most-any food once.
9. Wierdest thing I've eaten so far...fish testicles in Tokyo. YUM!
10. I REALLY want a dog! I miss having a dog. This won't happen unless I start traveling less.
11. I do have great interest to adopt a little girl from China some day.
12. I never want to move out of NYC.
13. I do want to buy a weekend cottage in the mountains.
14. I love to cook & entertain.
15. My friends are family to me, and I'm blessed to have them.
16. My name is Kimberli and I'm a yarn addict.
17. I acted on stage for the first time at age 5 at New London Barn Playhouse in New LondonN NH (Summer Stock theatre.) It started a long love for theater. I haven't acted in anything since college. I miss it.
18. I have been engaged twice. Never married.
19. I love my job (95% of the time.)
20. When I eat something REALLY tasty, I dance in my seat without realizing it.
21. I smile more often than not.
22. Some day I'd like to get a Masters Degree in Chinese Language.
23. Eventually, I will have a TV show of my own and 2 books.
24. I had my own ladies hat line many years ago (note the label atop my blog), but decided to close it to gain more experience on someone else's dime.
25. I have tiny feet. (Size US 5.5)
26. Gardening is a passion.
27. I plant mint in my garden for the sole purpose of a mojito night with friends.
28. I hardly ever am found wearing black head to toe. I don't understand hoe people can design colorful items if they don't wear them!
29. I'm a hat designer. Yes I wear hats.
30. I also design handbags/scarves/gloves etc to match my hats.
31. I spend approx. 3.5 months a year out of the country on travel for my job.
32. My parents joined weight watchers last spring (2004). Dad lost 38lbs (his goal) and Mom's nearly to hers at 44lbs! I am SO PROUD OF THEM!
33. I was ill for two years with random kidney infections. When I first got sick, I gained 37lbs in 11 weeks and haven't been able to loose a pound. I still get kidney infections but my body has developed it's own defense and now fights them off without drugs. Yes they make me tired.
34. My tired pace is still twice as fast as most peoples fast pace.
35. I'm a very curvey size 10 (until I got sick I was a 2-4.) I'm OK with being curvey.
35. I LOVE going to the theater! Thankfully I take part in a membership that gives super-affordable tickets! (Who can afford full price show tickets in NYC?)
36. I think that Din Tai Fun (in Taipei, TW) makes the best dumplings ever!
37. Although my sneeze sounds tiny, it feels like my head will explode.
38. I'm allergic to most perfumes, all cigarette smoke and sticky flowers (namely Lilies!) I get insta-headache.
39. I LOVE DARK CHOCOLATE!
40. I LOATH WHITE CHOCOLATE and anything GUMMY (bears, worms etc)!
41. Tulips and exotic flowers are my favorites. Carnations remind me of bad days from high school.
42. If forced to choose only one countries cuisine to eat for the rest of my days, Japanese would win hands down.
43. I think men should wear hats, not baseball caps...gosh they look sexy!
44. I'm a stickler for etiquette.
45. I wish that that my home & my parents home were closer so we could spend more time together.
46. I'm still searching for a private tutor to teach me Mandarin.
47. I can ski...but haven't in 6 years.
48. I'm very stubborn and have strong opinions.
49. I'm not happy with our current political leaders.
50. I drape, sew , embroider, knit, crochet, crewel, draw (fashion drawings).
51. I'm proud of my patternmaking ability for both clothing & accessories!
52. I try to laugh as much as possible.
53. I can ride a bike.
54. I've driven a car about 4x in the past year...that's it.
55. Last fall I taught my boyfriend to knit. He enjoys it.
56. I own AT LEAST 60 pairs of shoes...OK...70...
57. I can bake and decorate a cake...formal roses and all...from scratch.
58. I visited Russia when it was still the USSR.
59. I was in Vilnius, Lithuania on it's 100th day of independence.
60. Florence, to me, is the most romantic city I've ever been to.
61. I love to edit knitting patterns. (I'm sick, I know.)
62. I want to learn...everything! Where do I find that extra time?
63. I started writing recipes at 7.
64. I learned to knit and crochet at age 4.
65. Until I was in 8th grade and met Mrs. Adamsky, I wanted to be a math teacher. Amazing the impression one teacher can have on you.
66. My longest friendship is 28 years long and counting!
67. I've been in 7 weddings...3 as maid-of-honor.
68. Last summer my father and I built a new deck in my garden.
69. There is a fruit-bearing apple tree in my garden...yes in NYC.
70. I listen to NPR every afternoon.
71. I watch the Today Show most mornings.
72. I don't have cable TV...I do use Netflix.
73. I still have dial-up.
74. I'm nearly surgically attached to my Blackberry - it's a sickness.
75. I've knit with knitting groups in 4 cities/countries so far! (Tokyo, Japan; Hong Kong, HK, SIngapore, Singapore & the NYC, USA!)
76. I've missed 4 friends weddings due to work travel.
77. I miss my Nana and just wish we could have one more long overnight conversation.
78. I walked in an Avon 3-day walk for Breast Cancer.
79. Someday I want to buy the brownstone that I live in.
80. The only perfume that I've found not to give me a headache is Chanel 5...in cream ONLY! Odd, yes.
81. I almost always have a camera on me.
82. My father made the custom cabinets in my work studio --- he's extremely talented and should charge more for his work!
83. I don't own any TV series on DVD or Video tape.
84. I visited "The Gates" and enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
85. I think Carol Burnette is one of the funniest people ever!
86. Spellcheck is one of the best inventions!
87. I learned how to play backgammon last night.
88. I adore Scrabble, Cribbage, Chess and Pictionary.
89. I miss teaching...I'd like to teach at the colleigate level sooner than later.
90. I miss picking wild strawberries and blueberries at my childhood home.
91. I grew up in the mountains of New Hampshire in a town of 826 people.
92. I lived in Poughkeepsie, NY for 8 years. It's pronounced: Po-Kip-See.
93. I've worked for my current company for nearly 6 years. The average years in by an employee is 14. 25% of the staff has worked here for over 20 years.
94. All of my friends from high school have children. About half of my friends from college have children. None of my friends here in NYC do.
95. 2/3 of the friends who have children are no longer married to the person with whom they had the child(ren.) I'm in no rush to get married.
96. My few guilty pleasures are Pork Katsu, dark chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate croisants from The Silver Moon Bakery (the best bakery in NYC!!)
97. Jimmy Buffet will forever remind me of all-nighters working in the fashion department my Jr. year of college.
98. I wasn't allowed to get my ears pierced until I was 16. My mother didn't get hers pierced until she was in her late 50s. Now she makes earrings to match every outfit.
99. I have no tattoos...although there is a persistent rumor still alive from college of The Keebler Elf waving a Scottish flag on a rarely shown spot that still makes me giggle.
100. I wear sunscreen every day, year round.

ha ha ha ha

2005-04-07T01:25:00.000-04:00

So I took this quiz after seeing it on Dani's blog (Yea, I knit)...and had to take it...ha ha ha ha!

You are Clark Griswold (from National Lampoon's
Vacation)! You're full of optimism and
boundless energy, and no one loves a good
family trip more. No one else can swear a blue
streak like you either, Sparky!

Which John Hughes Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

2005-03-29T23:44:00.000-05:00

A fun interview from SP4 maven Jacqueline!
1. In the movie ‘Family Man’, Nicolas Cage says that living in NYC in the 21st century is like living in Rome during the Roman Empire. You live in NYC, so I need to ask, was ‘Gladiator’ an accurate portrayal of the New York City subway system?

It's a wonderful depiction of rush hour! If coming to NYC and planning to use the subway system to start your day, get a good look at some of the warrior stances aptly displayed in Gladiator. Here, left, we see a great stance to insure you are ready to push your way into an already packed subway in order not to be late for work.

You must be able to hold your ground when no handrails are within reach. Sometimes boasting an attitude, as shown to the right, is all that is needed.
Also - agility is key.

2. What on earth would inspire you to become a Millininar, Milleniur , Milnerer, Minever, Milinar, Martinmilliner, um, – hat person. And what’s the most outrageous hat you’ve ever made?
I like the way people look in hats. Women exude more confidence when they wear hats...and men respond to that! Ladies - TAKE HEED - Every time I wear a hat I get compliments from men --- and their wives/girlfriends/whoever is on their arm always gives a snarl...and the man almost always says to her, "Honey, you should wear more hats."

I LOVE watching people try on hats...as the hat hits their head they seem to totally shift - they get this new look on their faces as they imagine themselves perhaps on a beach or at a fancy garden party. It's great!
The most outrageous hat I've made...would have to be the fish hat...if I was home I'd scan in the photo...Picture a model walking down a runway in a floor length nude colored sheer dress with brightly colored hand-sequined and beaded fish covering the appropriate places...all topped off by a huge green sequin covered hat in the shape of a fish...with bubbles blowing out it's mouth.

3. In the movie of your life, who would play you, your mom, your BF, and your cat. But more importantly, who would play me?

Great question!
Me: Mena A. Suvari
Mom: Diane Keaton
BF: An unknown that would wow everyone and his career would be born. He's unlike anyone I've ever met...I can't think of an actor who would do him justice!
Cat: He'd cameo himself...not too many 27lb Siamese cross breeds out there.
You: Michelle Meyrink (Jordan Cochran from Real Genius) After all - Jordan could knit a sweater overnight! Ooh - and she's Canadian to boot.

4. Do you have any ufo’s – knitted projects that are probably NEVER going to be finished. If so, where do you stash them? Are they in the back of your closet or in the far recesses of the magical land under your bed? Do you ever get really drunk and try to finish them?
Yes -- an ugly sweater that keeps moving...I find it in one place and JUST when I think I've successfully LOST IT...I run across it again. It's from the days when I couldn't afford yarn and got it at yarn sales and bin sales. It's half itchy and half bad acrylic. Bluck!

5. In the interest of improving U.S./Canadian relations, if you had to do the 6 degrees of separation thingy, how far away are you from former Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretian.

There are two ways that I can look at this... 3 or 6...

Lets see...I met Ronald Reagan, who knew G.W.Bush (shudder), who knows former Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretian.

or

I dated a journalist who interviewed Carson (Queer Eye) Kressley pushed his book on the Today show with Ann Curry who works with Katie Couric who knows Gene Simmons who was at a Luncheon with former Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretian.

While on that Queer Eye Fun... My Queer Eye Match is Ted...

Ted: Food & Wine Connoisseur

Which Member from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is your type?
brought to you by Quizilla

Interview Me - - Diane did!

2005-03-27T03:42:00.000-05:00

So Diane of Knitting Zeal asked who wanted to be interviewed

Her Questions...My Answers

1. Where is the most unusual place you've traveled to for work? Where is your favorite destination?
Most unusual place I travel too...perhaps the mountains of Taiwan when I spent a day designing hats in a heat-less stone factory in a tiny town...brrr...although, lunch was amazing! (You'll see a pattern here!)

Favorite? I'm torn between Florence and Tokyo. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Florence above all cities...but when in Tokyo I get to spend time with my dear friend Reiko. Amd...both places have AMAZING FOOD!

2. What is the oddest food item you've been served while traveling abroad?
Odd in who's eyes? The locals here in China find it absolutely wild that I eat cereal and a trough of watermelon from the buffet each morning rather than heaps of the other offerings. I do this because it's the one meal I can control (weight wise) during my day. Lunch and dinner are most often elaborate and I'm SURE all to fatty.

But from a Western perspective...I'd say Fish Testicles, Japan, Feb 2005. (See photo left.)
Very creamy.

3. What do you do for your work and do you enjoy it?
I'm Director of Design for the USs leading Ladies Millinery/Hat company.
Or in english...I design and make hats. Fancy ones, casueal ones, big ones, small ones. :-) I also design bags and gloves and scarves to round out the collection.
Yep - love it! The travel gets a bit wearing - but other than that - Love love love it! Photo to the right is a design for a headpiece that hit the cutting room floor - it was never produced.

4. What is your favorite brand of chocolate?
One? You're MAD! MAD I say! I love dark rich chocolate...hmmm...especially Belgium!
I love Leonidas chocolate. Their Dark Chocolate Pralines and their Gianduja...YUM!
I also love: Neuhaus Chocolatier, Vosges Haut Chocolat (you can get a hatbox filled with chocolate here!), Dark Chocolate Heavenly Hash from Evelyn’s Chocolates (4 John St., nr. Broadway; 212-267-5170)she's down on Wall Street and I haven't beem in a few years...her website is down - let's HOPE she's still there!,and Godiva's Dark truffles and dark dipped fresh strawberries.
I don't like fruit flavoured fillings. Fillings are made to be CHOCOLATE!

5. What is your favorite PEZ in your collection? What is the most unusual or valuable one??
I'm torn between my Astrix characters that I picked up in Spain, or my Mr. Bean Colelction that I picked up in this divey underground store in Hong Kong (next to the store where I bought the yarn for my Clapotis!)

Interview Me...and Lolly Did!

2005-03-26T22:04:00.001-05:00

So Lolly of LollyKnitting Around asked who wanted to be interviewed...so...I thought, Ilike her blog & find her interesting...so - go on Girl - Interview me!

Her questions...my answers!

1. You are the world traveler: what countries have you been to? How long do you usually stay in one place?
Countries I've visited (in semi-order): Canada, Finland, Russia (when it was the USSR still!), Lithuania, Sweden, Spain, Hong Kong, Taiwan, England, Italy, Scotland, British Columbia, China, Japan, Mexico, Ireland (one night only and I was in a hotel sleeping off a 102F fever). I've also been thru airports in Thailand, Amsterdam and Paris.

I spent the most "all-at-once" time traveling through the USSR. These days I'll spend about 3 weeks at a time in Asia - the usual split: up to 2/3 time in China with the rest split between Hong Kong and either Taiwan or Japan. I spend FAR TO LITTLE time in Italy -- Florence is the most feminine and wonderful city --- oooh I'm hoping to return for work in September. Working in Italy is a treat as the days end at 6pm. After 6pm it's family time...which means leisurely meals out. I haven't been to Italy in almost 2 years -- since the devaluation of the dollar to the Euro. Hmph.

2. Why did you take up knitting? Was it your love of fashion, or your desire for a new hobby? (or both?)

I started knitting about 27 years ago when I was "knee high to a grasshopper". Why? Because my Mom knit and I wanted to learn how, so...she taught me! Learned how to crochet, sew and cook then too! It taught me patience which comes in most handy now! Many (not all!) in college used to snicker at me and my needles...now many of them are asking to learn!

3.What is your favorite decade, stylewise?

This is SUCH A TOUGH QUESTION!! But - I think it would be the 1940s...30s? 50s! 20s? OK OK 1940s if I HAD to pick. When women looked like WOMEN and both men and women wore hats. When we didn't have to teach men when to wear a suit vs. a sport coat. When women wore gloves and hats and had marvelous handbags and shoes!

4. Name some of your favorite NPR shows...

oooooooh...
Car Talk (Click and Clack ~ The Tappet Brothers), World Cafe, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, Live from the Mountain Stage, Wait Wait - Don't Tell me, Prarie Home Companion, Morning Edition, All things considered, This American Life, Whad'ya Know?...

5. What are you planning for your garden this year? Flowers, herbs, or veggies? (or all of the above?)

The photos are from gardens of 2003 & 2004 (and in front of the old deck.) I have already in my garden: Daffodils, Tulips (Black Tulip on right and fancy pinks below), Lupins, Anemones, Chives, Mint (3 varieties but tons for Mojitos!!), Mums, Hydrangas, Crocus, Lily-of-the-Valley, Hen & Chics, Allium (shown on the left in front of my garden Monkey pot stand), Bleeding Hearts (pink and white, Pink shown below), a bunch of greenery that I don't know what it's called and self-seeding cherry and roma tomatoes (amazing how if you travel enough and let enough tomatos fall and rott into the ground...they re-seed themselves the next year!) There are also probably 5+ varieties of additional flowering bulbs that I've planted that I don't remember their names... When I dug up the entire garden last year to put a new deck in with my Dad (which is GEORGOUS BTW!!), the bulbs were all heaped into a pile and then replanted around the new deck...so I'm hoping that I get home in time to seem it all in blossom!
I'll add Basil, Thmye, Rosemary if mine didn't winter, possibly peppers and a TON of annual flowers -- I've pots aplenty and hanging baskets to fill after the last frost. I used to start all my plants from seed...but with the travel it's hard to depend on who ever feeds my cat to also keep them alive.
I'm lucky that my garden is quite sheilded from the weather between the surrounding buildings and the apple tree in the middle that I get about 1/2 bushel from eat fall. Good cooking apples.

If you want ME to interview YOU, please leave me a comment email me saying “interview me.” If you leave a comment, make sure you leave your blog address. I will go in the order that people asked to be interviewed, and depending on the turnout, I cannot promise more than 5 interviews every few days (I'm traveling!)
I will respond by asking you five questions here on my blog.You will update YOUR blog with the answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

What Classic Pin-Up Are You?

2005-02-28T21:46:00.000-05:00

Love this - snagged it from JenLa!

You're Brigitte Bardot!

What Classic Pin-Up Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

US STATES MEME

2005-02-24T09:51:00.000-05:00

bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /

Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

Your Quiziness - Thanks Mrs. Pilkington

2005-01-28T12:42:00.000-05:00

1. Total amount of music files on your computer: 11.40 GB (on my iTunes for my iPOD)... that's 3056 songs

2. The last CD you bought was: Madeleine Peyroux

3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message? Fortunate Fool by Jack Johnson (album: Brushfire Fairytales)

4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you: Only 5? Cruel I tell you?
In NO particular order...
a. The Nearness of You by Norah Jones
[Come Away With Me (2002)]
b. What a Difference a Day Made by Dinah Washington
[The Ultimate Dinah Washington]
c. How Deep Is Your Love by Jonatha Brook
[Steady Pull]
d. Big Boned Gal by k.d. lang
[Absolute Torch and Twang (1989)]
e. Silver Lining by Steve Poltz
[One Left Shoe (1998)]
f. Steal My Kisses by Ben Harper
[Burn to Shine (1999)]
g. Soft and Wet by Prince
...makes me dance in my seat if I'm driving!

Nope I can't count!

This of course leaves no room for anything by Stevie Wonder, Vivaldi, Jill Sobule, Sting, Annie Lennox, Tenacious D, 80s bands (tons!),Good 'ole ROck ike : Van Halen, Aerosmith, AC/DC... Latin: Cesaria Evora, Compay Segunda, Nill Lara... Jazz.... Opera... Classical...
Hmph -- 5!

5. Who are you going to pass this stick to? (3 persons) and why? Hmmm...I think Eva, Marjorie and Dmitri to keep it in blogville!

try not to be LAME

2005-01-26T13:57:00.001-05:00

Since Angie found the time to send this to me...and she works full time with 3 kids -- I decided I could find the time too...

Okay, here's what you're supposed to do.....and try not to be LAME and
spoil the fun! Just give in. Copy (not forward) this entire e-mail
and paste it into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all of the
answers so that they apply to you. Then, send this to a whole bunch of
people you know *INCLUDING* the person who sent it to you. The theory is that
you will learn a lot of little known facts about your friends. It is fun and
easy.

OK - here are my answers:
1. What is your Full Name: Kimberli New York

2. What color trousers are you wearing right now? Hot Pink Corduroy

3. What are you listening to right now:
so many things...
The MTR (Hong Kong Subway) automated announcer rattle off the stop in Cantonese & English...a man repeatedly clear his throat...2 ladies giggling...4 people on mobile phones-one having an argument (the subways here are wired for cell service!) and Jill Sobule on my iPod.

4. What are the last 2 digits of your phone number:
which phone? Either 80, 69, 37 or 06

5. What was the last thing you ate:
ate...dinner last night at an AMAZING RESTAURANT in Hong Kong called Aqua. Had Sashimi, lamb carpaccio with truffle oil, super thin crust pizza and Parparadella with scallops and prawns.

6. If you were a crayon what color would you be: today? Leaf Green.

7. How is the weather right now:
Eh...flounders from 40 (inside and out) to 70 outside and STILL 40 inside! 95% of the buildings have no heat available, only AC.

8. Last person you talked to on the phone:
Dmitri, he called this morning (your night)

9. First thing you notice about the opposite sex:
hmmm...eyes, no, smile....no...it's a toss-up!

10. Do you like the person who sent this to you:
Duh! Ang, If I didn't I would be knitting on this ride instead of replying!

11. How are you today:
completely and utterly wiped out!

12. Favorite Drink: Starbuck's Caramel Macchiato (hot or iced)

13. Favorite Alcoholic drink: Prosecco or Riesling wine or a Cosmo

14. Favorite Sport: volleyball

15. Hair Color: today? dark reddish...not brown, not brunette. I'm still thinking of doing something DRASTIC though!

16. Eye Color: BLUE!

17. Do you wear contacts: nope

18. Siblings: 1 Brother, older, damned smart

19. Favorite Month: whatever month I'm home for & not away on travel!

20. Favorite Food: impossible to pick one! Popcorn, sushi, a nice Chilian Sea Bass with a lovely balsamic glaze, soup dumplings from Din Tai Fung in Taiwan...

21. Last Movie you Watched: Harold and Maude

22. Favorite Day of the Year: Christmas

23. Are you too shy to ask someone out: Certainly not too shy, but I'd prefer chivalry!

25. Hugs or Kisses?: both

26. Chocolate or Vanilla: chocolate...and the darker/richer the better. (None of that wimpy Milk Chocolate stuff!)

27. Do you want your friends to write back: yep! It'll give me a chuckle here in Asia.

28. Who is most likely to respond:
NOTE: 3 people I sent this to actually DID reply - thanks Tara, Kerry & Jan! :-)

29. Who is least likely to respond: Mom (she's busy!)

30. Living Arrangements: Lovely NYC in an apt that I share!

31. What books are you reading: Lolita in Tehran

32. What's on your mouse pad: don't have one- laptop w/ touchpad

33. Favorite Board Game: Scrabble!

34. What did you do last night:
Went to Aqua restaurant in Hong Kong (see #5) with Mag.

35. Favorite Smells: freshly popped popcorn, Chanel #5 lotion, gingersnaps baking, apple blossoms on an apple tree

36. Can you touch your nose with your tongue? Nope! But I can tie a Cherry Stem into a knot with my tongue.

37. What inspires you? Travel experiences (experiencing other cultures.)

39. Favorite Flower: Brightly colored tulips and Anemonies (I think I spelled that right!)

40. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?: Can I hit the snooze button or did I do it already?

SECRET PAL 4 QUESTIONS/ANSWERS

2005-01-24T14:24:00.000-05:00

Yeah -- Secret Pal 4 is about to start!
And -- I was one of the 6 winners of the "How many folks from France will sign up for SP4" contest... Winning answer -- 13! How cool is THAT!
And - there's a PRIZE...something which I didn't realize when I answered! Some homemade stitch markers! Yippee!!!

Thankfully I forwarded this list to my blackberry and was able to fill in the answer on the run! A little Cut and Paste and voila!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end/natural fibers)? Do you
avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I'm a bit of a yarn snob. I've been using acrylics for donation projects that require acrylic. Otherwise, I love luxury. That said - if it's soft and feels like buttah - I'll knit with it!

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I...crochet

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
YES! Smoke, flowery perfumes - they kill me! I'm super sensitive to smells. Thanks for asking!

4. How long have you been knitting?
Started at age 4. Started crocheting then too!

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Crate and barrel, half.com, Donors Choose

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Cinnamon (candles), H2O spa or Aveda bath products. They aren't too smelly and I don't start coughing or sneezing! A huge plus!

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
I'm simple. Chocolate Mmmmm....dark chocolate especially!
NOt a fan of candy and I don't like gummy anything (and licorice is just plain icky!) It's a texture thing.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I knit (duh), embroider, sew, garden, cook, bake & read and am in the process of stripping & repainting my dining set (4 chairs & a table - one chair done!)...all while trying to snuggle my ever affectionate kitty.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if
your buddy wants to make you a CD)
MP3s - you bet! And I'm an iPod queen! Some musical faves: Beatles, David Bowie, Haley Westerna, Vivaldi, Jonatha Brooke, Ammie Mann, Muddy Waters, Prince, Van Halen, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Annie Lenox, Billie Holiday, Jill Sobule, The Kinks, Ella Fitzgerald, The Cars, the Andrew Sisters, AC/DC, Puccini... Basically: anything 70s or 80s rock, 80s pop, Opera, classical, swing, blues, show tunes...

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette
you prefer?
Color ROCKS! I love it all! Brights and autumnals my most favored. Pales/pastels would come in 2nd.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm single (never married) & dating a lovely feller. I've a 27lb (huge but not fat) siamese cat, Loco. I wish I had a dog, but with my travel it wouldn't be fair. Loco has a ton of Aunties/Uncles who house sit when I travel. He's NEVER put into a kennel/kitty care. Yep-totally spoiled...as he should be!

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
To get 2 books published, have an internationally syndicated TV show and buy the brownstone I live in. Oh - and make enough $$$ so my Mom can retire soon!

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I buy so much yarn in Asia, I don't know what they are called (can't read Chinese!) I like Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, I love hand painted yarn. Mmmmmm. If it feels good and it's in yummy colors - bring it on! I also love TEXTURE!

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Anything ITCHY!
My hands get too dry in the winter and itchy yarn seems to bother them most.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Making things for my Niece! Perfecting intarsia. SOCKS! And lacey knits. There's a pillow I'm designing...

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Anything for my niece and friends/family.

17. What are you knitting right now?
Fingerless cabled gloves using 4 skeins of cashmere lace yarn from Australia (repackaged and sold in China) in blood red. I've had to completely regauge the pattern because the available needled in China were 5s not 8s...and the yarn is thinner. Fun! :-)
And a lacy scarf as a gift for someone who may read this...so shhh...it's a surprise.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
I've worn them for years and will probably wear them when they are out of vogue again. I work in fashion but I'm not a total slave to it. The right pocho will be cool forever.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Depends on the project. Circulare are easier for Subway knitting.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Depends on the yarn.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yep!

22. How did you learn to knit?
Was watching my Mom and just had to have the “how's” answered. She answered them!

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Knitting? 1 year-ish...
Counted cross-stitch (a million stitches per inch)...I started it when I was 16 and figured I'd give it to my brother if he ever got married some day. He hadn't met his wife yet...they've been together for 13+ years now...
Oh- so that makes it...almost 16 years! It's beautiful so far!

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Animated character? Only one?
I like: Kimpossible, Hong Kong Phuey, the Wonder Twins, the Little Mermaid... Favorite animal? Any one I call family.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas. It's the time when my family spoils eachother. We are not religious at all, so this holiday is all about family. It's the only time each year when we are certain we can all be together! Although Thanksgiving comes in at 1.5 and Halloween at 2!

26. Is there anything that you collect?
PEZ dispensers. I don't have any of the new Crystal PEZ, Flower PEZ or PEZ Planets. (Still looking for the old rubberhead pez's and the old glow-in-the-dark ones!)
Books - I just can't part with 'em!
Friends - you can't have too many.