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

Busy weekend in the Big Smoke

Well, you know that you are being "countryfied" when you get all excited about a trip to town! But this weekend I am so looking forward to a busy, crazy time. First stop - the Textile Museum's Yardage Sale ! Oh yes, come to mama...I try to go every year and I try not to spend scads of cash on things I don't need, and yes, I always fail, but isn't art worth it? And then off to the Crafternoon Tea. Filled with lovely trinkets to buy, yummy teas and cakes and FREE workshops. I have to remember that I've got a 50th wedding anniverasary party in the evening, or I might never get out of there...Such a terrible fate, being sucked into the lair of dangerous craftsters. OH YUM! I can't wait...

Speaking of craft, I have finally decided to knit the angora booties from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I figure if I start with something small and luxurious, I'll get back into the swing of things. I've even got a couple of friends who are having or have just had babies, so.....

Spring has sprung

Well, Acton has turned out to a bit cooler than Toronto, so we've had to be patient to get out in the garden (not to mention the crap-tastic weather we've been having). But this weekend we finally managed to get out and do some planting. The girls are making a sunflower house - which I've been dying to do for years, but we've never had enough space. They are so excited. I've been trying to decide what to put where now that I can see everything that is growing already - did I mention that I have TWO HELLEBORES??!!!! I am so thrilled, but I think that I'll have move them since they are hidden by the fence behind a ton of ferns. Is anyone interested in some Seal of Solomon? I have millions. I'm going to start with some bushes along the fence, since I'm tired of the neighbor's dogs barking everytime I go outside and the view of the HWY 7 is less than desireable (at least it's only a 2 lane road through town).

Things have been really held up in the knitting front, but now that I have a reason (and a wee person) to knit for, the ideas have been percolating. I can really de-stash and need to find some cool patterns for baby stuff....although I am thinking about Glampyre's mini sweater pour moi.

I got my Secret Pal package today!!!!

I was on verge of dispair this morning after the painters we hired TOTALLY screwed up painting the house (let's just say that I've got to go over every room to finish half-painted wall, etc). But when I got to the house this morning dreading having to fix up their mess, I found a package waiting for me from my Secret Pal! It totally inproved my day! I was so happy, I sat down right in the worst room, with the wallpaper the painters wrecked peeling down around me ears, and ripped into that box with glee. I found not one, not two, but SIX skeins of black (how did you know?) Labella wooly boucle; a bag of peanut butter Hershey's kisses; 3 cool knitting mags and the cutest Pinnochio tape measure. Thank you so much for saving me from madness!

Radio Silence Broken

Sorry about not posting, but my world has been eaten up by the two houses and trying to keep the kids in some sort of normal routine as we sleep on various pull-out beds and floors around the city. Matt went away on business to Calgary this past week, so that made things a bit more challenging. But everything is chugging along, the old house is ready to be painted and all our stuff is at the new house, the kids are registered at school and will start after March Break. It's all good. Except for my knitting, I failed to complete my Olympic challenge; the 12 hours a day of ripping out kitchens and drywalling was too much and I totally didn't get any time to work on my mittens (and I especially didn't want them to get all dirty - which I have been perpetually for the last 3 weeks straight). So, my yarn will wait for me patiently and I will work on them as I ride the transit between my old life and the new. No pictures today, sorry, surfing on the fly and working with the bare minimum of tech. Soon, I promise!

Let the Games Begin!

I have to share how much fun I had this Friday at the Knitting Olympics opening ceremonies. Vanessa and Roben and I met up with Kelly and the crowd at the Duke of York - and when I say crowd, I think there was about 40 or 50 of us. It was such fun with awesome door prizes and lots of heckling at the "real" opening ceremonies broadcast. The bartender said we were welcome back anytime, and that we were more rowdy than the frat boys he had in earlier that week! I cast on for my mittens, but had to frog it a couple of times since it is impossible to knit black in the dark whilst drinking heartily...

And this wonderful evening wouldn't have happened without the hard work of our super (albeit completely legless) organizer, Kelly. Thanks so much Kelly, I haven't had that much fun in a long time.

And my darling Vanessa learned how to do a provisional cast on! Hurrah, honey! Don't give up hope, "just keep knitting, just keep knitting". And my evening wouldn't have been the same without the sweet presence of my dear Roben...

There are many more cool photos of our wonderful night on Amy's (knitty) and Kelly's blogs. Check them out!

I would post a photo of my knitting, but I am ashamed since it's only 1 inch of cuff..and that's after an entire weekend...but at least the house is almost empty and I'm ready to paint! Maybe I should have a painting party, definitely no shortage of beer. But I may have to ration it until near the end teehee

I am soooo happy!

Today was closing day on the new house, so we got the key and took the first load up. I still can't believe that this beautiful place is ours. I thought I'd post the picture again, partially for those who missed it before and to reassure myself that it's real.

There are a few things we need to do, like painting the kids' rooms and fixing a few broken things, and not to forget actually buying furniture for the first time like real grown ups. It's amazing that we've finally found a place where we don't have to gut it before we can move it. I think that we deserve it after years of hard work. No, the real job is at the old place where I'm going to have to erase 6 years of living with 3 children in too small a house. Should be fun - especially once all the stuff is out and I can actually get to work.

I am so in love with the fireplace, I think this is what totally sold me on the house (well, that and the amazingly huge attic we are going to make into our bedroom). And Matt told me today that he was thinking that when we extend the sunroom a bit in the back that we should make it two stories so that I can have a southfacing, all glass STUDIO!!!!!!! Am I not the luckiest girl in the world?

OK, enough gloating...but I did have to share my dining room and gorgeous foyer. I'm really liking the neutral colour...I think that I'll go burgundy and mahogany with all the details and accessories. As for upstairs, you'll have to wait for the befores and afters. The rooms are lovely, but the colours have GOT to go, not to mention that I discovered today that the bathroom is coated only in primer. EEEE! I'll post all those pictures later as well as ones of the transformation of the Toronto house. What can she accomplish in only 25 days?

And on the knitting front? I've added on the hideous pink chennille (I don't even know how to spell it!!!) to the fuzzy hat and it actually looks OK, but Luna has decided that she wants it be a cat, with flowers, and a bow and....etc, etc... Oi Vey! And I have finally decided to make the double knit mittens for the Knitting Olympics. But I think that I'll add some beading into the ribs, how else could I make cashmere, wool, angora mittens more yummy? I just hope I'm not allergic to bunny.

I really should be packing....

OK, as you all know I've been up to my eyeballs in packing for the past month...but now that the big day is approaching (Saturday!!!), I'm pretty fed up with all the sorting, purging, dust up my nose, kids unloading boxes I've finished packing, etc.... So, what's a girl to do? CAST ON, of course! I started Fingal's cool socks, actually, I've been dying to try the funky jaquard sock yarn that he picked 3 months ago that have been burning a hole in my stash the whole time. I think that they are turning out pretty good, but I have to wait for the child to get home from school to see if they fit, so I won't have to frog an entire sock.
And don't you just LURVE the amazing lamp I found at Value Village for the girl's room? I'm going to cover up the crazy orange base with some funky fabric. So cool!

As for Luna's bunny hat, well GRRRRR! I ran out of yarn at the Lettuce Knit SnB and ended up with a fuzzy pink yalmakah (sic). So, she picked out this other hideous yarn so I can make the ears, extend the darn thing and make ear flaps to hold it on. I have no hope that this will turn out to be something I will like, but Luna is thrilled to bits with her design. Yet again I have to resign myself to having spawned a pink, frilly girlie girl. (Unlike her cool biker sister in the background, although the frou-frou-ness seems to be contageous). *sigh*

I GOT MY FIRST SP7 PACKAGE!!!

I am so happy! My first package arrived today from my Secret Pal and she sent me the Knitter's Handbook from my Amazon wish list. The funny thing is, I totally forgot that I was going to getting goodies, I've been having so much fun getting cool things for my pal that I'm mailing things to. I ran in to the fe-mail man and she told me I had a package...."OMG! It must be from my SP! YIPEEEEEE!" Thanks so much, you rock!

I'm going to go and put my package in the mail today...I hope my other pal got her little care package I sent last week. I should go and check her blog.

And before I forget again....what do you get when you take one baby and add one jelly donut?

YUM!

Check out what Finn made!!!

I am so proud! Fingal came home from school today and I asked about a workshop that I knew they were doing with a visiting artist. So exciting! I remember how much I loved doing cool stuff like this at school. They were re-constructing clothes from old sweaters. I had heard that they were making scarves, but this is cooler! I love Alpha, I am so sad the kids are leaving it. They have another day to work on them, and he said that he is going to add beads and labels. It brings a tear to this old craftster's eye. That's my little boy.

Just don't call me Martha

Yum...It smells great at my house, I just baked some banana muffins. Fingal just wandered into the kitchen with is eyes closed, following his nose. I love having goodies freshly out of the oven, the only problem is that we tend to eat them all very quickly. Not so good for the waistline. I think I'll put chocloate chips in the next batch teehee. Now, to put some coffee on listening to the Rolling Stones singing about "the Mother's little helper" and I'll be a happy woman.

Kelly made up a fab button for Team Canada in the Knitting Olympics. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to make my double knit, cashmere & angora mittens as soon as I find a decent pattern with a proper thumb. I think that I'll even do some intarsia on the back. Hmmmm skullies or maybe a cute bat?

Matt is coming home

Everyone here is excited because Matt is on his way home from Thunder Bay. The kids have been asking every day when is Daddy coming home, and it's been pretty quiet here (as funny as that may seem with 3 kids) without him. The house is about half packed, although I'm a bit daunted by the piles of stuff in the basement that I have to sort through. I think a lot of it is garbage, I can't believe some of the things we've been storing for years.

I can't decide what to knit for the Olympics. I just got some nice Cotton Ease in a swap and I thought that I might make the little tea set, but Knitty's Kate is so cute (like my kids need ANOTHER stuffed animal!!!), I could start my mittens - but the weather here hasn't really called for mitts. I'll have to decide soon, the 10th is coming soon.

Knitting Olympics??? I'm SO in!

Look what I found on Kelly's site. How cool is this? The only thing is, I have to decide what I have the time to tackle (none) in the middle of my move to a new town. But it would be so much fun!

Anyway, I've got to run I have tons of things I need to get done today to get ready for the new house. We get it on the 3rd and I have a million errands to run while Matt is up in Thunder Bay.

LIke I don't have enough hobbies...

I'm really excited to have been contacted my SP7 buddy and I'm putting together a little something for the person who I get to spoil for this round. This is so much fun...I especially am having fun getting to know this person through their blog postings and links. I've been thinking about knitting stuff so much that I had to cast on Luna's funny pink hat. I was planning on making her a cool square hat with two "ponytails", but she placed her order with me requesting a bunny! I guess I'm going to have to figure out how I'm going to make the ears (that's assuming I have enough yarn).

I'm almost finished my wrist warmers, wow they go together quick...I can understand why people like to make them. If I wasn't swamped with tons of other stuph, I would have finished them in a couple of days. I am in love with this thick'n'thin slubby yarn and OOOOH the colour!!!!!

I've been finding so many cool things while I've been packing...when we were living in England while Matt was studying to be a Brewmeister, we had photos taken at the school in this funny photo-booth for our rail passes. They are so incredibly funny, we both look like axe murderers. I don't know what was up with this booth that made both of look deranged, but now I know what my mugshot after I have just gone on a psycho rampage will look like. And no...no one in this life time (other than Matt and those poor BritRail employees) will ever see it, so there :P

I've also remembered that I still love to make miniatures. I found all this amazing stuff in the basement and it has gotten the creative juices flowing. I have all the fixin's to put together an entire Japanese diorama of a traditional house as well as the medeival witch's cottage (complete with mini mandrake and flying potion!). The problem is that I have to pack it all up and THEN find a place in the new house to set up a workshop. I've got to get a good organizational system set up to keep all my materials in order, between the knitting, stained glass, minis, found object sculpture and bookworks (not to mention whatever craziness takes my fancy), I don't think the entire house is big enough. *Sigh* I really need a studio. But hey, maybe in Acton renting a space might be more feasible than in Toronto. Here's keeping my fingers crossed. And here is a small taste of the inspiration I found on a mini web site (this is in 1/12 scale)! I can't wait to make my own small piece of Japan.

ME? A teacher??

I completely forgot that I was teaching a knitting workshop on Wednesday. So, I guess I HAVE to dig out my stash in order to have supplies and samples for class (teehee). My only problem is that I have no idea what level everyone is at. I'm planning on starting with casting on and then knit & purl, that's pretty much it...it's only a 2 hour class. But I don't know where to go if they have those skills already. Should I start on dec and inc, or maybe the dos and don't of your first scarf ("Oh No! It's the dreaded stockinette sausage!!"), or maybe moss, rib, seed stitch? So many options. I guess I could just ask them what they what to learn - now that's a novel idea. Maybe knitting in the round might be a bit TOO crazy, but it might be a good excuse to start my wrist warmers by showing them how to cast on and then join up....I should dig in the stash and pick the yarn I want to use (or maybe a trip to the LYS might be in order - GLEE!!!)

As for packing, there has definitely been a lull since Matt got home. We've been busy getting day-to day life stuff done and there hasn't been time to pack anything. Although I have been Freecycling like crazy. It is so nice to let all that stuff free into the world - and to meet other goth moms who like Giger and fairie prints. I want to set up a yarn swap with all this yarn I've been sorting...I thought I might be able to find one in town, but it looks like I'll have to organize one myself. Anyone interested?

Okay, just back from Romni's (very dangerous)

I had so much fun, even the girls had a blast helping me choose. In the end I decided that frogging the white angora(the nylon content in it won't dye) is wasted effort right now. I'll make something for Luna with it later. SO, I got some yummy burgundy bunny for the mitten lining, and since I needed wool for the outside of my mittens I picked up some lamb's wool from the sale bins, but then upstairs found out that the 20/80 cashmere/wool was cheaper!! I'm going to be terrified of losing my mittens - I am definitely going to need a string! As well, I found some gorgeous hand-painted slubby wool in this amazing deep cobalt. The photo doesn't do it justice, it is practically glowing. I couldn't resist and cast on some wrist-warmers the second I got home. Melia picked some funky purple stuff, but I packed it already since the house appraiser from the bank is on his way!!!!

Yes, we have NO yarn!!!!

OK, I'm a bone head! I decided to pack all my yarn and woollen and silk things in my cedar chest to protect it from ....I think this photo will describe my predicament:

Yes, that is my cedar chest buried in the bottom right corner. Well, at least I can rest assured that my stash and all my projects are safe. But what am I going to do now?? I was whining that I didn't have any ideas on what to knit, but now my hands are tied...I must go to the yarn store - teehee. Actually, I found some cool ideas that I want to try (like double knit wool & angora mittens), so I suppose that I should keep frogging this angora sweater that I found at Value Village, but I don't know if the 70% angora, 30% nylon yarn will dye. I'm not really a WHITE accessory kinda person. I think I'll do a test with some Kool-aid, why should everyone else reap all the rewards of my dying fun?

Poor Fingal will have to wait for his socks until I excavate the chest out...poor guy. Even Matt's kilt hose are buried away.

Going to Hell in a Handbasket

I'm feeling a bit over-whelmed by the Boxing Day shootings here in Toronto on the anniversary of the tsumani with the threat of bird flu looming, etc. etc. etc. And as if living in this insane world wasn't enough, I am trying to ensure that my children can negotiate the dangers and come home every day unharmed. I am thinking that it may be less crazy in Acton, but Toronto is growing and the de-sensitized, vilolence-loving masses are everywhere....I can't believe what some think are appropriate images and messages for young minds - and this coming from a former teen-aged rebel, f- you and the horse you rode in on, who cares what the neighbors think anarchist. I can only hope that my kids rebel and become accountants and not try to sent us to an early grave with lives of crime and aggression.

But at least I can go to Hell in style with my swank felted tote! I love it and I'm so proud that I finally finished something for mysef. I think that I'm going to line it since my needles keep poking out the bottom and the wool fuzz keeps getting all over my other yarns (which doesn't matter most of the time since almost everything is black, but for the things that aren't...)

Started: November 11, 2005

Finished: December 1, 2005

Yarn: Lopi wool, 2 skeins of black and 1/3 skein of blood red

Needles: US 13 circs

Pattern:Hello Yarn's Big Skull Tote

Adaptations: I cast on an extra 10 stitches becase I wanted the bag to be wider and I didn't sew the straps on in the same place because I wanted longer hanles, but now I think that I'll move them into their suggested position since the narrowness makes it hard for the bag to stay on my shoulder when I'm wearing a big coat.

Secret Pal 7 has started YIPPEEE!

I am so excited to be involved in this round.... I can't wait to find out who my secret pal is going to be.

You can sign up here and join in on the fun: