SP16 Questionaire

1.      What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely not like?  I love any natural fibre, esp merino

2.      What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?  I have a couple needle rolls, but haven't figured out the circs so that the cable doesn't get messed up

3.      How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?  I've been knitting since I was 10, but only seriously for the last 10 years.  I would consider myself an intermediate knitter.

4.      Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? 

Amazon.ca http://www.amazon.ca/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=wish_list

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3STGJADMAHC8G

Wists  http://www.wists.com/bhean

5.      What’s your favorite scent?  Hmm...I like rich smells: amber, oakmoss;  some spicy: sandalwood; Oh! and citrus!

6.      Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?  Oh yes!  I love chocolate and toffee

7.      What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?  I don't spin, but I do felt a bit, dyeing sew, bookbinding, illumination, stained glass, woodworking, sculpt, dollhouse miniatures...want to get into tablet weaving and maybe some leatherworking.

8.      What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)  I like old school alternative music (Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Siouxie and the Banshees, Front 242), international music (Arabic, Celtic, Acadian -haha), medieval...My computer can play MP3 files

9.      What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?  I love black - but also adore jewel tones - crimson, cobalt.  I can't stand pastels :P  But I do use white for dying

10.  What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?  I live with my hubby of 18 years, our 4 kids and 2 hermit crabs - and soon to have beehives in the spring!!!

11.  Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?  I wear scarves and mitts - not so much with the hats and NO PONCHOS

12.  What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?  I like items that are single colour (or long space dyed) that are either simple in design or very subtle in their lace or cable pattern.  I have been playing with some lace and celtic cables, but also like to make things for the kids - toys, hats, scarves, mitts.  I haven't gotten brave enough to tackle a whole sweater, but most of the patterns I have lined up are simple stockinette some with a small cable detail.

13.  What are you knitting right now?  I just finished a hat for my hubby, and am doing a gauge swatch for a lace shawl (annis)

14.  Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes

15.  Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?  Anything but plastic - I have wood, aluminum even bone

16.  Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?  No - but I do have children!

17.  How old is your oldest UFO?  My hubby's kilt hose (15 years and counting...)

18.  What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?  I love Samhain, Beltaine and Yule!

19.  Is there anything that you collect?  I collect beautiful witches

20.  Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?  Patterns that I would love:  Amazement by Wooly Thoughts

Not a Drop by Arlene's World of Lace

Triad by Susan Pandorf

Unique Melody by Rose Beck

Toothless by Mari Campbell

21.  Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?  I'd like to learn to do amigurumi (I don't even think I know how to spell it - bad Japanese girl!)

22.  Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?  Yes I knit socks.  My foot measures :

23.  When is your birthday? Nov 22

24.  Are you on Ravelry? If so, what’s your ID?  Yes I'm on Rav - Tsukiko

Last Day of the Decade!

    Wow...what a ride that was!  I find it hard to believe that for the first time in more than a decade, I have no diapers to change and no babies to nurse.  I am slowly getting my life back, but the biggest hurdle is to figure out the wisest way to spend it.  I have lived my life consumed by baby responsibilities that it has become second nature to deal with those issues and not even bother to think about other things.

    I have begun to rethink my priorities and even though the kids don't consume 100% of my time, keeping up with the four of them and the house fills up most of the day.  Between the art-making, tattoo shop, gardening, hundreds of SCA projects and knitting, I have to figure out how to balance it all.  Throw in the fact that I need to focus more energy into my health and priestess-y skillz.....

    So, although I don't bother with New Year resolutions, I think that this might be a good time to sit down, assess and come up with a game plan.  It may all fall apart, but I need to give it a go!

Survived the Holidays!

Another Yule has been and gone...the kids are happy and there was no huge drama.  Even the Xmas trip up to the farm with the inlaws was uneventful!

I was very spoiled.  Matt bought me an EOS Rebel camera!!!!  I was totally shocked when I opened the box.  It was the last thing that I expected, but am absolutely thrilled! I think that the photos that I took were pretty good considering I hadn't read the manual yet...

Maybe now I can take better yarn photos!

Craftster Swap Fun!

Today I got TWO swap packages from Swaps that I am doing with Craftster...the Wiccan/Witch/Pagan Yule Swap as well as the Ongoing Wish Swap. Lucky girl!

For the Yule swap, we were to send each other a stocking with three small crafted objects (I really hope she likes her needle-felted one). Here is what she sent me:



This funky object is a Witches' Ladder filled with keys and piece of black marble to please Hecate. I love that the keys make a melodic tinkle - exactly like a wind chime - who would have thunk it!



Here you can see the Hecate's wheel embroidered on her belly and some bonus felt food for the kiddies to play with!!! I love the dolly the best! Thanks Maman Tattoo!!!!!!



From the Ongoing Wish Swap, SweetYetEvil fulfilled TWO of my wishes that I posted - reusuable sandwich bags and old photos for assemblage and collage artmaking.



And on top of that, she scanned some more photos and sent me the CD so that I can print and chop away to my heart's content. Amazing!

I am one spoiled girl.

SP 16!!!!

I am really hoping that I can join up with this round! It has been so long since I've done a Secret Pal....I really miss the surprises and the YUMMY YARN!!!

I am sitting here winding a ball of Blue Moon "Socks That Rock" - a gift from my birthday last year - in anticipation of fun ahead. I really hope that I haven't missed the cut-off date. I've been so busy getting ready for Yule, that my mind has been consumed! Getting gifts for four kids (and one of them a TEENAGER!!!) is tough work! ;)

nice bracelet

I am loving this style of bracelet - OK, the pink is not my speed - Give me black and blood red ANY DAY!! But it is so lush and over the top.

My Baby is 13!!!!!!!

I find it hard to believe that I am mother of a 13 year old. Where's my walker?