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...

Class is almost over!

I can't believe that I've only got one more week left to my Children's Lit class. Of course that means I have to finish my finial project - a heroine shrine. But at least I don't have an exam at the end....this has been the wildest class ever! We've been reading tons of horror novels and watched Carrie as well as Ginger Snaps. It's been a cray ride, but the professor is a blast and I think that I have done well. Let's just hope that I can pull off this sculpture with a thesis that makes sense. Research and all.

I'm going to go upstairs and finish Fionn's socks...can't forget the knitting!

Now it's my turn - *eeek*

It's my birthday again...didn't I just do this? I think that we'll go out for Thai for lunch at the local place, love their food and don't want the only spot of culture in town to go out of business. I'm baking some cupcakes for my SIL's party tonight - chocolate with rolo guts and vanilla with creme filling- YUM!

Check out this hilarious/scary ad I found while researching vintage advertising. And you thought that breast was best! It makes you think how will our culture and society be mocked in the future? OK, maybe it's just me...I love this stuff, and not just because it makes me gasp in horror...

Happy Birthday my snow baby!

Two today! I love you, babbeeee...

I'm so lucky

I can't believe how great my kids are. Ok, so I'm biased, but as I watch them grow I see how wonderful they are, with each other, and the world around them. This week, Iona figured out how and when to say "thank you". "Tee Too", she says, how sweet. I also went to talk to Melia's teacher this morning, and she was telling me how wonderful she is with the smaller children, that her empathy for their position of being smaller than others is probably from being one of the younger kids at home. She is such a darling. I've started getting ready for Yule and it's hard not to spoil them and give them everything that they want...but we have decided to to send money to charities instead of huge gifts - somthing small and share with others. Fionn asked Santa to give a toy to a poor child. It nearly burst our hearts with pride....

WOW, that was spectacularly bad!

That is 3 HOURS of my life I cannot get back. I didn't expect Revenge of the Sith to be so horrible - silly, yes, overwrought, yes, but HORRIBLE???? In the opening sequence, I said to Matt that I hoped the rest of the movie was better, but he warned me that it got worse, much worse. I didn't think it was possible, but his words were slowly (and agonizingly) proved to be true. It had no plot, and seemed to be written by a 13 year old (oh, yeah, Lucas is an overgrown pre-pubescent).

"Oh Anakin, come over to the Dark Side"..."Hokay..." WHAT THE ????

"Oh Ani, hold me like you did by the lake on Naboo..." *retch*

C3P0 - "I feel so helpless" and completely irrelevant.

I think it is safe to say that was probably the biggest cinematic letdown in history. Oh well, back to watching the entire library of Dr. Who. And to top it all off, I was so gobsmacked by it all I couldn't concentrate on knitting, it was like a train wreck.

Socks are almost done!!!

Fin's socks are almost finished! I'm doing an afterthought heel a la Elizabeth Zimmerman since I didn't want a weird jog in the self-striping jaquard pattern.

I'm heading upstairs to watch Star Wars III with Matt (since I haven't had a chance to in however many years its been since it came out). I've heard that it's not so good, but I just need to know how Anakin is sucked over to the Dark Side...It will also make knitting while watching a movie not so difficult since I don't expect it to be gripping drama.

Secret Pal 13 has started!

Wow, I can't believe how many years it has been since I last was involved in a Secret Pal swap (I know that we were still in the old house). I got my partner last night and I am already plotting - to make it more fun, her birthday happens during the round too, so I get to help her celebrate. AND she is inside Canada so I don't have to stress as much about postage - YIPPEE!!!!

Ok, off to stalk - I mean check out -what kind of things she likes.

How about a splash of PINK?!

Ok, the girls convinced me that since I had tried EVERY other colour in my hair except pink, that I had to give fair representation. So to avoid being accused of inequality, here is something that you all would never have thought possible - PINKNESS!!! All over my head!!! And me kinda liking it...

Oh and those damn freckles.....

Secret Pal 13 Questionaire

OHHH! I haven't been in a Secret Pal swap in years...this is going to be so fun, I can't wait to find out who my parner is.

Here goes for the questionaire:


1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love natural fibres, wool, alpaca, silk, cashmere, soy, bamboo. Anything soft. I'm not too crazy about mohair, ribbon or acrylics ESPECIALLY if it "squeaks", and unfortuneately I am alergic to angora :(


2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a needle roll that I got from another swap, but it doesn't really work for circs.


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 for about 25 years (YIKES!), my mum taught me when I was little, but kinda stopped for a few years until I got pregnant with baby #2. I've been at it, of and on, since - 8 years. I guess that I am at an intermediate skill level.


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

Yes, at both Amazon,com and Amazon.ca


5. What's your favorite scent?

Oh, I think that depends, I like to wear sandalwood and amber notes, but I also like to have citrus, vanilla, chocolate smells in the house. Oh, but no patcholi - gak!


6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Oh gods yes!!!! I love them all, but lately my jaw has been giving me trouble and I can't chomp into something really hard and brittle :((((


7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I wish that I could spin - I have a spindle but my draft sucks. I do a lot of other creative things. I am a sculptor who works in found materials, I love altered books and assemblage boxes. I am training right now to be a tattoo artist as well, I hope to be actually working on people eventually. LOL. I make stained glass, jewellry, felting, miniature illumination, bookbinding, papercrafts, clothing, costumes, scrapbooking and so many other things. I just like to create cool stuff


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 goth, heavy metal(AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Metallica), Dead can Dance, celtic, folk, Sinead, Sugarcubes and Bjork, - I love women with strong voices (but not so much with the Celine Dions or other balladeers). Industrial and medeival - I know that I am all over the place. And yes I am MP3 compatible.


9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

All my clothes are black and I tend to knit mostly black for myself, but I have been branching out into rich jewel tones, esp handpainted wine reds, crimson, deep purples and cobalt blue. I use really bright colours for my kids - fuschia, apple green, purple, etc... I really dislike pastels, brown, yellow and white doesn't really work with 4 small kids


10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I am married with 4 kids (DS 11, DD 7, DD 5, DD 2) and my son has 2 hermit crabs and we have resident chipmunks that we consider pets.


11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I wear scarves & mitts


12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Hmmmm....I like to knits toys, and kids' clothes, celtic cables


13. What are you knitting right now?

I'm finishing 2 pairs of socks that I promised to people years ago, I think that the kids need new scarves and I'm considering finally casting on my Rogue


14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes I do, as long as they are practical...imagine a house with packrats living in it and that none of us like to tidy. hahaha!


15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I like my circs for socks and sweaters since I hate to seam, but I like to use straights as well, depends on the job. All my needles are metal, but I'd like to try wood.


16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

No :( I wish...


17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Oh dear...


18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?

We celebrate the Winter Solstice (Yule)...and even though it is crazy and it makes my husband grumpy with all the stress, it is my favorite.


19. Is there anything that you collect?

I collect witches, but only if they aren't cutsie or too ugly. I like unusual ones. I also collect old photos (pre-1950), old boxes and any kind of old ephemera for my artwork.


20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I'd like to try some of that new Seacell stuff and I adore Malabrigo ANYTHING. And Hand Maiden and Fleece Artist are lovely. I'd love to get some Japanese tawashi patterns, esp Halloween ones! I don't subscribe to magazines, I find that pretty much all the patterns in them I wouldn't wear.


21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I wish that I could knit continental, then maybe I could finish things in less than 2years haha. And can you believe that I want to learn how to crochet so that I can make amigurumi.


22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes, I like to knit socks, except that I really need to find a good cast on/off for the ribbing. grrrrr....hmmm how do I measue for socks? I'll have to get back to you on that.


23. When is your birthday?

My birthday is November 22! EEKK! Another year older....


24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Yes, but I haven't figured out how to use it yet. I guess I should. My ID is Tsukiko.

I love getting mail!

The Amazon fairy visited this week and lookie what she brought!

"101 Designer One-Skein Wonders: A world of possibilities inspired by just one skein", by Judith Durant. I can't wait to get cracking and use up some of my stash. I've got some delish natural black dehaired baby llama from Americo that is dying to be something!

I finally finished ONE of Fingal's jaquard socks (I've only been working on them for 2 years) and I'm a third into the second. I guess since that the one foot is done, I have to finish the other one quick before his foot grows.

I also, should finish Matt's Kilt Hose. Those have been on the needles even longer, but I've hit a snag with those - I made the foot too long, and unlike the firstborn, Matt's feet aren't going to get any bigger any time soon. AND they are toe-up so I don't even know if I can frog the toe. GRRRRRR! Does anyone remember these?

Nippon Police are my Heros

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

Finally some Nuit Blanche Pics

Sorry that it has taken so long for me to get these pics up...I seem to have misplaced the SD card that the photos I took were on. So thank you to Val for these great shots. The one above is of the tent surrounding "Gate", my piece that was in the baptistry. I was wondering what you would pack to start your spiritual journey. Here is another cool shot -




I also got to recreate my "Descent" piece from my thesis show. This time it was so interesting to watch more than just my professor interact with the work. There were quite a few men that went through my pregnancy sculpture as well as women who had children and didn't (you could tell which were which - "Yup, had that one, oh, that one too...nope...yup" vs "EEWWWW....remind me to not have kids") . I also got to talk to many of the crowd ( I still can't believe that there were literally a thousand people through the show!) and I was flying high on the great reception. I guess that maybe I'll do another show (but how soon....)

Nuit Blanche was a hit!

I just wanted to thank everyone for visiting me at my Nuit Blanche exhibit. I can't believe how many people were there - even the mayor, David Miller and his family came. I'm sorry if I missed anyone, I had to take Iona home at midnight, she was turning into a pumpkin. I'll post some pics, once I find my camera!

Iona is 1!!

It's hard to believe that my "last" baby is one today! I know that past experience has led you all to not believe me when I say I'm done, but I am....seriously!!! And that makes it harder to see her growing up, I've been trying to savour all the moments and she is especially delicious. Happy Birthday, little nacker, mummy loves you!