2011 - Looking Forward to a Great Year!

    We spent a lovely NYE at my parents' house having a traditional Japanese celebration...sukiyaki, sake, mochi, sake, kameboko, sake...it was great and the kids loved having that experience.  Maybe next year we'll do it with all our friends!

     I've been spending so much time on holiday preparations that I am so happy to finally have life get back to normal.  Today was spent in the attic, sanding the last of the drywall and getting it ready for paint.  I've begun planning out the studio and temple areas - I can't wait to start moving up there.

     I also took advantage of the nice weather last week to go out into the yard and measure everything so that we can make a master plan as to what we want to go where....I'm excited about building the raised veggie garden and I am hoping that I can convince everyone that a stone circle would be cool!

     I've been busy knitting too!  I've taken up the 12 in 2011 challenge (to knit at least 12 things in the next year) as well as the Stashdown challenge - using up my stash to make projects...we'll see how that goes LOL!  I did manage to cast on and finish a pair of mittens on New Years' Day!  Now the trick is to match the yarn that I have with the right project.  I've cast on and frogged at least 3 now - a silk and merino shawl that I decided needs to have stitch markers so that I don't lose my mind and some handpainted merino that I just can't figure out the right thing to make with. GRRRRR!

 

I'm just not a hat girl

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?

Secret Pal Package Goodies!

I was having a pretty crappy day, shouting at children, grumping at husbands. But when I got home, there was a fat package waiting for me on the kitchen table. It was from my Secret Pal!!!!! YIPPEE! Fibre goodness!

Inside I found some brandy beans, yum, a peace angel as well as a tiny fireplace cross-stitch kit. Very cute. But the best was the hand painted roving! She had read that I had a spindle, but couldn't draft to save my life...I guess she had faith that I could figure it out, so I had to try. After consulting many Youtube tutorials, and finding out how to pre-draft, behold my first attempts at spinning!

Not too bad, and good thing I like thick-thin yarn (haha). Now, what to make from it??? Oh, and she also included another very funky 3-D card. Love it! Thank you so much!!!!!

Happy Imbolc!

I know that I'm a day late, but the season is still the same. Actually, with the warm temp yesterday, you could almost believe that winter wouldn't last forever.



Today, after school the kids and I are going to make candles and Bridey cakes...just little things, but enough. I wanted to clear off the mantle to make it into an altar, but not yet. *sigh*



I have to frog the sweater I'm making - grrrrr. Stupid provisional cast on!

Beautiful Scavenger Hunt Yarn & Craftster Swap Handspun!

Just wanted to share some of the beautiful yarn that I received in the mail in the last week or two. Firstly, this gorgeousness is from Shelby for the Secret Pal Scavenger Hunt that I won...it is so lovely and soft and made up of all my fave colours! Now to decide what I am going to knit it into?????

These two fantastically beautiful skeins came from Faren in the Craftster Ongoing Wish Swap round 41! There is 600 yards total here! I don't know what I'm going to make - but definitely some colourwork is in order here!

This ball of sweetness is also from a Craftster OWS but from round 42 from Pinup Mummy. I adore thick and thin and colours are fun - the girls have claimed it!

Thank you so much ladies for spoiling me this week...my stash of homespun has increased from zero to heaven in a matter of a few days!!!!

Beautiful, Yummy Yarn @ StashUp

Found this etsy shop through PhatFiber and I thought I would share the yumminess! The colourway of the merino above is called Ex Marinus. Isn't to die for???? This is one of those skeins that you just leave lying in a basket so enjoy the artistry of the handpainting instead of knitting it up...

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5197827

Tiny and Giant Knits

I found these fab images online and wanted to share with any knitting nuts that may be reading this blog. First off, are these tiny sweaters made by crazy lady (in the nicest sense of the word)Althea Crome at http://www.bugknits.com/ ... also check out her gloves! These are made at 1:144 scale!!! That's her finger they are sitting on!!!!!!!!!!

On the opposite side of things, check out this GIANT knitting by Bauke Knottnerus http://baukeknottnerus.nl/...I don't know what he used for the "yarn" but I love it!

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2009, as the old year fades away...

It has been a hard yet fruitful one and I hope that the next will be a creative, fulfilling one for one and all!

Enjoy it...

Secret Pal Package!

Wow, now that the holidays are over and life has slowed down a little, I can finally steal a few mintues to post pictures of the fabulous Secret Pal package that I received just before Yule. Check out the fantastically cool box that arrived on my doorstep!

Inside there was this really pretty blue card, very sparkly and cute...too bad my camera couldn't catch the true colour, much more robin's egg blue, less pale grey....

In a moment of serentipity, my pal sent me this thrummed mitten kit - I am in the process of planning my next project and have been googling thrummed mitten patterns for myself. How weird. And on top of that, she even bought the exact yarn called for in the pattern! No guessing, trying to find suitable yarn and needle match-ups...I am sooooo excited! Once I finish a baby gift I'm making, they are going on the needles next!

AND she sent me some gorgeous Malabrigo chunky yarn called "Aquarella Arapey". It is so to die for, the colourway is delish and I adore the thick thin yarn. I am thinking of making a hat for the baby, but I might have to line it in case she complains about the wool....

These stitch markers that she made came in really handy for the above-mentioned baby project, I used them almost the minute they were out of the box (after I photographed them of course). I love the caned glass beads!

And in addition, there were some treats: some Tazo chai tea, a cute mug and teabag plate and a yummy Lindt chocolate bunny, which met a very sad end as you can see...





Oh, poor bunny, life was so short and sweet for you....

And here is the evidence of the culprit who dispatched the chocolate hare....

Thank you so much, my secret pal, it was so much fun opening your gift and I love everything!

SP13 Question #2

1. Are you doing any holiday knitting?

Well, I must admit that I did think about it and I had some wonderful things lined up, but reality struck, and with 4 kids, who was I kidding? So, I've filed the patterns away and will fritter at them during the new year. How about a resolution to make ONE child's sweater next year....

2. Are you done yet?

Don't have to worry about it and liking it that way ;)

The Socks are done - just in time for the cold!

Yeah!!! The 2 year old UFO is finally finished! He even likes them, which is great since he's stuck with them - at least until his feet grow. AND if he doesn't lose one or both, they fit me! Extra bonus. Once I got the hang of it, they went pretty quickly. I still have to find a better stretchy, yet not loose cast on...maybe the next pair I'll try a toe up. I've got some yarn for Luna's jaquard socks, I guess they are next, if only I can remember where I put the skein. Well, she'll have to wait until after Solstice anyway since I'm not going to start anything new (yeah right, we'll believe that when we see it). At least the socks are done in time for the crappy weather. This year it started a bit earlier than usual - I don't remember EVER having real, stick-around-on-the-ground snow for my birthday. I hate winter, but at least it isn't too hot to knit.

I know that Iona looks really unhappy in this photo, she just dropped her lollipop and was screaming to high heaven. I tried to catch her between screams, but I think you can kinda still tell ;)

And I lied, I did start a new project, this Santa hat is on the needles, but Melia needed a hat, and it's Yule, and I thought it would be cute, and Len's Mills had a sale on red yarn, and wouldn't it be REALLY cute if they all had the same hat, and.....Matt is shaking his head. Sorry Matt, I tried, but I am weak...

More art

I finished my Children's Lit course at OCA yesterday. Only 2 more to go until I get my BFA (stands for Big F*** All)!! I had to hand in my final project yesterday...we had to either write a 10 page paper or write a 3 page paper accompanied with an art piece. Guess which one I chose? Here's what I made:

Heroine No Longer

Not bad if I say so myself, esp since i finished it around 6 in the morning. Behind the eyes, the red square is actually an opening that is lit-up. Cool, huh? The teacher wants to buy it...I haven't decided since it has some precious found items (those are blue jay feathers that I found on a walk with Fin), but maybe I can switch them out and let her have it. But I really like it too and I don't have ANY of my artwork.... hmmmmm have to sleep on it (I guess it would depend on how much she is willing to pay for it - oh, the power of the mighty dollar).

Oh, speaking of Fin, I finished his socks!!!! Ends woven in and everything. I'll take a photo tomorrow and put it up - after out trip to Casa Loma that I won from the drop-in centre. Woohoo!

What I am Thankful For

For this round of SP13, the question of the moment is, what am I thankful for? Hmmmm...that's easy! I've got a husband who loves me, 4 fantabulous children, a beautiful old house, cool parents, the means to pursue art as well as silly crafts, my health, the ability to read and to love doing it, good food, clean water and the ability to live in a peaceful, egalitarian country. I could go on, but I've procrastinated from my homework long enough.

Lookie!!!!!

I've been busy at the shop practicing tattooing on this crazy foam stuff. Stevie thinks that my depth is pretty good, and I've ALMOST stopped snagging the needle in the "flesh". haha

Soon I'll graduate to oranges...I can't wait. I mean, it has been 15 years since I took a break from my apprenticeship, so I of all people should be patient. I'm just so excited that it is all finally happening and my $40,000 art college education kinda shows in at least my drawing skills.

I am so nervous about maiming people though, "fortunately" I get to tattoo me first. Please note the quotations. I guess I should start designing something nice.

As for the knitting, I'm weaving in the ends on Fionn's socks...an almost FO!!!!!! YipPEEE!

Right now, just waiting for the paint to dry on some tests I'm running for my thesis sculpture for Children's Lit....yup, watching paint dry, that's me...