Mitten Swap Questionnaire

I've decided to take part in the No More Humdrum Mitten Swap (my first swap ever), and I'm super excited about it! Hopefully I'll get to create something great and make a new friend in the process.

Anyway, here's the questionnaire I have to fill out:

1. How long have you been knitting and how did you learn? I've been knitting for about 10 years, though when I first learned and through middle and high school I would knit only in spurts. Now I knit all the time. I first learned from my mother, a bit from my grandmother, then I took a beginner class, and the rest I've learned from books.
2. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate, or advanced? I would consider myself pretty advanced because I understand the knitting process, but there are some things I haven't tried yet.
3. What are your favorite colors? Any you dislike? I love pretty much all colors, but I especially like reds, oranges, blues, greens, and purples. Bright and rich colors are best.
4. Do you like Latvian type patterns? If so, what are your favorite patterns? I do like the Latvian mittens I have seen, and I think Lisbeth Upitis' book of Latvian patterns is great, but I can't link to any specific favorites.
5. Do you desire mittens yourself, your "special someone else" or your child? I definitely want mittens for myself.
6. What other things do you enjoy knitting? I'm in a sweater kick right now, but I also like making blankets and smaller accessories.
7. What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs. circs, bamboo vs. aluminum) I definitely prefer circs over straights, but it depends on what I'm making if I prefer bamboo or aluminum. Since getting my Denise set though, most of my knitting has been with them, and they are plastic.
8. What's one project you've not yet tried but are dying to make? First, I really want to make a sweater with a short row shawl collar, but I'm also really interested in making more fair isle or equally complex mittens and hats.
9. What's one yarn you've not yet tried but are dying to work with? I've never tried any Rowan or any kind of cashmere and I would really like to.
10. What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? Cook? I also paint and lately I've gotten into a bit of quilting. I also dabble in sewing and would like to learn to cook.
11. Besides yarn, do you collect anything? I have a little collection of postcards, but I'm also a big fan of magnets and maps.
12. What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you ate or are allergic to? I love love love dark chocolate and anything sweet. I'm not a huge fan of almonds or other nuts in cookies or chocolate, but I like them peanuts and cashews by themselves.
13. Do you have any kids? Pets? No kids, but my family has a Golden Retriever.
14. What is your favorite part of Winter? Christmas, especially Christmas lights, sledding, and getting to wear more sweaters.
15. What is your least favorite part of Winter? Driving in the snow and the shorter days.