getting to know me

Hey new friends from The Nearsighted Owl!  Thanks for stopping by and giving me a good opportunity to tell you a little more about myself.

Here are a random smattering of facts and tidbits about my life.


My boyfriend David and I just celebrated our two year anniversary on Valentine’s day.  We met online via OKCupid and talked for a week before we met in person.

Every time I logged in to write him back, OKCupid had a little robot dude on the page that said, “I think you both like Johnny Cash.”  True enough, we did.


I have a 5 year old black lab mix named, appropriately, Cash.  He is the Dog in Black.  Although he is actually sort of brown.  Anyways.  We call him Johnny Cashius Clay.

He spazzes out when you say the words “dog park” and is generally a good dog.  He needs a brother or sister to play with, but not until we get a house with a yard.


I grew up in Michigan but I’m pretty firmly rooted in North Carolina for the foreseeable future.

I want to get a tattoo of the outline of Michigan (don’t worry Mom and Dad, not the one above), because it will always be home .  I love going on vacation to the Upper Peninsula and look forward to dragging David up there someday.


I’m an only child and an introvert.  All my hobbies are things I like to do by myself – reading, knitting, sewing, baking.

Well, knitting is something I like to do with other people.  I convinced 4 friends to let me teach them to knit.  I don’t know that they’re truly converted, but they have made a scarf, a coffee cozy, two hats, fingerless gloves, and half a sock.  Two of them have humored me by patiently following me around the Southeast Fiber Festival.

I count that all a success.  Want to be knitting friends? I’m on Ravelry!

 

When I was in grad school, I dyed my hair turquoise, pink, red, and purple.  I’m pretty quiet, so I think I shocked everyone.

I felt like it was my best chance to do something a little crazy before I had to go out and be a grown up.  I want to do it again.  For now, I’m settling with a pixie cut.

I’m trying to break my lifelong habit of biting my nails.  I can do almost anything for 2 months, but then I fall off the wagon.  I did awesome for December and January but had to start cutting them down to avoid temptation.

Long nails may not be for me.

 

Like Rachele, I believe strongly in fat/size/body acceptance and Health at Every Size.  That image (click for original source) pretty much sums up my body philosophy.

I have good body days and bad body days, like everyone.  I have too much to say to be succinct here, but I’m always interested in talking about it if you want to hear more.

 

Finally, I have an etsy shop that I’m still trying to figure out.  I knit, I sew, I make felt flowers.

I don’t really know what I want it to be yet, but in the meantime, I’m making things I like (like knitting bags and pillow covers) and putting them up there.  I like custom orders so if you see something you like but want it a little different, let me know.

In the meantime, I’m taking the Indie Business Course to narrow in a bit on my real business plan.

Anything else you want to know? Leave me a comment and I’ll put together another one of these posts soon. Thanks for stopping by!

ryan gosling handmade

knit in the car

Does everyone know about the Handmade Ryan Gosling meme by now?  If not, you’re missing out!!

Obviously, the appeal is in having a hottie like Ryan Gosling be all sensitive and caring about your potentially off-putting craft hobby/obsession.

After a marathon session of Dr. Who and holiday knitting (wherein I forget to change out of my sweatpants for the duration of the weekend) or several nights upstairs cutting fabric for Etsy projects… a girl needs to know that she’s not totally alienating her fella.

I love sending these to David.  I can totally imagine him saying this.  He has a standing request for a cabled knit cardigan and every now and then I send him a flurry of Ravelry links to patterns and yarn colors I think he’d like.

And this…a hazard of sharing an office/closet with your crafting girlfriend.

unfinished projects

New chest piece idea? Yes!  Luckily, I totally don’t have to imagine all the time.

A friend of mine made me my own Handmade David magnets for Christmas.  Luckily he was amused (I think) by them, rather than horrified.  They live on our fridge and are a sweet reminder that even though the crafts can take over my/our lives, he’s still one of my biggest supporters.

PS. When David and I first met online, he told me that one of the things that he was attracted to was my assertion that I was a “kick ass knitter.” At least he (sort of) knew what he was getting himself into.