Favorite Color Swap Questionnaire

I was going to have my next post be progress from my Mr. VaaJeans, but then I forgot about the Favorite Color Swap, so instead it's questionnaire time...

1. What are your top three favorite colors?
Right now (and for the past 5-6 years or so, so it's unlikely to change anytime soon) my favorite colors are olive green, deep burgundy (almost blood red) and deep rich plum. If I had to list five instead of three the other two added to the list would be black and silver.

2. What crafts do you really enjoy?
I knit, I sew, I take photographs, I dabble a little in other things too... I've painted, though not recently (and most likely all of my paints are dried up, but they are inaccessible at the present time), and recently attempted wire-wrapping (though not very successfully - I need more practice on that I think).

3. What products do you really covet?
Other than Malabrigo, and a remote for my camera, I've been coveting assorted watch parts (gears and the like) to try my hand at some SteamPunk inspired items. For the most part though I don't covet much... usually if I want something, I get it.

4. What other activities do you enjoy besides your favorite crafty things?
Watching dvds - we don't have cable and seldom watch tv, so we have a fairly large dvd collection. I also enjoy thrift store shopping, because you never know what you find when you browse a thrift store.

5. Is there anything you collect?
I have a wonderful vintage camera collection, though I've not seen most of it in a good 6 years due to it being packed away in boxes. I also collect vintage darkroom supplies - amber bottles, glass funnels, etc., though not nearly to the extent of the cameras. I love old skeleton keys and unusual silver spoons too.

6. What is your zodiac sign and/or Chinese zodiac symbol?
I am a Leo, as well as a water rat. I don't feel like a typical Leo in most senses, I tend to be fairly introverted and timid.

7.What are your favorite…

…scents/smells?
Coconut, vanilla, and lavender would have to be high on this list, though artificial scents almost always bother my sinuses, so anything scented has to be done so with natural essential oils.

…types of music and/or bands?
I love Nine Inch Nails, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Johnny Cash, Melissa Etheridge, Sinead O'Connor, Reverend Horton Heat, Social Distortion, and Minsitry. I've most likely forgotten another 50 bands/musicians that I really like as well, and my tastes are wildly varied, as long as it's not hip-hop, rap, country or pop I usually at least like it.

…authors?
Neil Gaiman and Poppy Z. Brite are my two favorite authors, and I've read almost everything they have both written. I do like a lot of the teen fantasy type books that have become popular in recent years, though I don't read nearly as much as I used to.

…animals?
Cats. I do not really have a list of favorite animals, but I do like animals of all sorts.

…places to shop?
Other than thrift stores? I love Joseph Beth bookstores, REI, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, our local food co-op, and to some extent Target. For yarny goodness, Natural Stitches in Pittsburgh is awesome.

…season?
Autumn. When the leaves are first starting to change, yet it is still warm with only a slight chill in the air.

…yarn/fabric/paper/other craft supplies?
I already mentioned Malabrigo in my covets, I love the Merino Worsted yarn in the kettle-dyed colors. I also really like Louet Gems Pearl and the indie dyers who use it as a base yarn. I have enough fabric to mast me a decade or more, but I love funky skully printed cottons. I don't do much with paper crafting, and I don't expect anyone to buy me any accessories for my Nikon D40x, so that covers my craft favorites.

…candies or goodies?
The Swiss milk chocolate from Trader Joe's is wonderful, but I really love milk chocolate Wilbur Buds (google it if you've never had the pleasure of living in Lancaster County, PA where they are made). Good creamy smooth milk chocolate from almost anywhere always makes me happy, as do yummy fruity hard candies. I've become addicted to the Nori Maki rice crackers from Trader Joe's too. I am fairly open to all sorts of candies and foodie items as long as they are free of high fructose corn syrup.

8. Do you have any wish lists?
Yep, I've got a few on Amazon. This is the main one, though I do have several others, which are hopefully linked as well on the left sidebar.

9. Are you allergic to anything?
Other than the already mentioned artificial fragrances, which isn't an allergy so much as a severe sensitivity, and the high fructose corn syrup, I have no allergies.

10. Do you have any pets? What are they?
We currently have one older (or should I just say old since he's close to 17 years old?) black cat named Shadow, we recently had to have our guinea pig put to sleep due to a tumor, and our girls want a dog. Personally, I'd prefer cats only, though.

11. Please include anything else you would like your secret pal to know about you- anything that would be helpful in finding you little gifts that you will really enjoy. Also, if you have a Ravelry ID, please include it here.

I am blackrayne on Ravelry, and I cannot currently think of anything else to add to this last bit, though I will update it if I do.

Editing because I just remembered that I also wanted to mention that I have a public favorites list on etsy, my username there is also blackrayne ... I have favorite items and sellers there, though I've yet to buy much of anything there for myself, most of my prior purchases have been stitch markers for other swaps and I'd love to finally get some of my favorite ones for myself.