the dotted line

questionnaire :: sp10

Another questionnaire [for SP10]...and alot of the same answers as the last one...

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I generally use natural yarns (wool/alpaca/silk/cashmerino); I have never really knit with anything heavier than aran-weight and have never used synthetic yarn before, so I'm not sure how I feel about those...

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a needle roll for all of my straight bamboo needles, and a second needle roll for my dpn's and circulars.

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 a year - my mum was visiting from Scotland and she was kind enough to teach me, once we found out my sister was expecting her first baby. Since then, I've studied lots of books and figured out lots of different techniques. I haven't quite gotten around to figuring out cables or anything complicated like that so I'd say I'm intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No

5. What's your favorite scent?
I love lavender & vanilla together, anything that's fresh and summery...

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Chocolate is always nice...

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I am trained as a mosaicist, so I love to design and create mosaics. I also love to sew, create my own stationary, take pictures (although *J* is the photographer of the family)...anything creative. I don't spin, but I'd like to learn at some point.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
*J* is the one who updates my ipod and itunes regularly, so I listen to whatever he puts on there - I like all kinds of music.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Right now, I'm in love with very textural charcoal greys, blacks, different shades of white and cream, red...I'm just not a fan of anything 'neon'.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
*J* and I just got married in June and we have three pets; a beagle puppy, a fat cat and a bunny.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Hmmm...I used to!! Now that we're in California, there's not much use for mittens, scarves and hats...they will come in handy for trips home (mittens, especially...I don't think I have a complete matching pair!)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love knitting baby clothes (especially kimono-style) as they are small enough to finish quite quickly and are perfect for learning new techniques. I think it's about time that I knit something adult-sized though...

13. What are you knitting right now?
A tote bag for thisswap.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
It's lovely to receive something handmade - so personal and thoughtful.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I mostly use straight bamboos, but just recently tried out aluminum circulars...it's taking a while to get used to them...

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Both - although *J* uses it more than I do - yes, he winds all of my yarn for me. His other fascination is our new vaccum - he loves vaccuming, it's great!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I don't have one - before the move I ripped all of the unfinished projects that I had lying around and *J* took care of the rest! [see question 16]

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I love Christmas - yummy food, time with family, wrapping presents, all nice + cozy while it's snowing outside - and it has become even more exciting now that we have a niece and two baby nephews to spoil!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Pretty japanese papers, fabrics and ceramics.

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 have lots of books, but no magazine subscriptions...I've been thinking about trying to make a pair of simple socks, but I can't find a pattern that has a *nice* heel. And I don't have any sock yarn to make them with yet.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Simple cables and lacework.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
See question 20. Small feet (size 5).

23. When is your birthday?
November 28

beautiful use :: package from margo

personalized stationary :: tags :: stickers

message board

green tea :: photo block :: beautiful ring

lovely packaging

Yesterday I received this wonderful package from my beautiful use swap partner, Margo. Margo's site is devoted to all things 'design'. Check out the B.I.Y. :: Brand-It-Yourself tutorial section created to help people develop their own personal branding materials + style.

zakka-inspired apron

I finished this apron last Sunday before the flu caught up with me.
Inspired by these images from zakka magazines and craft books, I made up the design as I went along. I tried to keep it pretty simple, while still highlighting the graphic nature of the bird fabric.

A big thank you to my very patient model, who was dragged out of bed for this photo-session on President's Day.

I divided the front 'patchwork' panel into two lined pockets [along the black line in the middle]

A detailed view of the pocket.

I used a custom-made stamp and fabric ink to personalize the front panel [inspired by this post from the very talented shim + sons]

Tea for two

a lazy sunday spent recovering from the flu :: breakfast in bed :: yummy 'popcorn' green tea :: a matinee movie [astronaut farmer] :: the oscars

Rosemary, Cupcakes + A Hollywood Party

Valentine's Day Presents :: a rosemary bush [I *love* fresh herbs] + traditional bread from Sardinia called 'carta di musica' or 'sheets of music' [while I was on holiday in Sardinia with my family, *J* travelled all the way from Canada to propose then had to fly home the next day for work!]

Both from Artichokes & Co.

Chinese New Year :: celebrated in the most beautiful house [directly underneath the Hollywood sign!] with the most wonderful food and hospitality.

Cupcakes :: made from this recipe courtesy of Inside A Black Apple [originally from How to be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson]

Being reunited with my beloved mixer was very inspiring indeed! The cupcakes turned out to be very yummy and definitely satisfied my overwhelming desire to make something 'chocolate'.

Making :: finally time to work on a couple of projects.

Nebo Peklo Print, Superbuzzy Fabric + Wedding Photos

Just look at what the mailman brought today!

'Skeleton Leaf' print from nebo peklo - I love it!

Japanese fabric and linen trim from superbuzzy

We also received our long-awaited wedding photos...they capture the day so perfectly...we just can't stop looking at them. And we'll finally be able to send out the photo CD that we planned on giving to guests as a thank you...better late than never, I guess. And yes, that is *J* proudly wearing my mom's hat...

This week *J* is in Texas on business, so I'll be busy at home training Bailey [we've made it to 3 minutes in the kennel without barking], working on my beautiful use project and trying to organize all 5083 photos in my iphoto, as well as setting up our studio.

Puppy Troubles

The stress of moving has finally caught up to Bailey. We knew that this transition would be somewhat traumatic for her, but I don't think either of us were prepared for what we discovered the other day. Before the move, she was kennel-trained - so she would go into her kennel whenever we had to leave for a couple of hours (she was never in there for longer than 3-4 hours). She would just go to sleep until we came home.

A couple of days ago, I stepped out to get some shopping but just as I reached the sidewalk, I heard this horrible shrieking noise mixed in with frantic howling. I came back inside to find her in absolute hysterics, clawing like crazy to get out of her kennel. This now happens every time we try to put her in there. And it takes a long time for her to give up, as I'm sure our poor neighbors have found out. We've tried taking her for several long walks a day before putting her in, hoping that tiredness will help. We are now trying to re-train her with treats and stepping outside the front-door for gradually increasing amounts of time. We can now count to 15 before she starts howling - we started at 1. We have a long way to go. This means that while *J* is at work, I can't go out - we're afraid we'll get complaints from our neighbors and she gets so distressed (she shakes uncontrollably and is tense for the rest of the day, following my every move, of course). And to top it all off, when we brought her in the car so we could pick up some take-out Mexican food, we got a very nasty note left on our windshield during the five minutes that she was alone (snuggled in her blanket, with the windows down part-way - it seems like the only place where she is at peace right now). So we can't leave her at home and we can't bring her with us.

I feel silly talking about this, but it's incredibly frustrating...she is such a fun-loving and caring dog, and it's hard to see her like this...I just wish we could help her. Or that she could talk and tell us what's wrong. We've looked into getting help from a trainer...at $110 - $160 per hour, it's a pretty expensive option...I wonder what other things they can suggest, or more importantly can they work miracles in the realm of separation anxiety?

Happiness

+ warm sunshine
+ waves
+ sandy toes
+ wet jeans rolled up to our knees
= one happy, tired dog

+ sleeping in
+ walking bailey on the beach
+ sushi/crab legs/sake by candlelight
= a wonderful way to celebrate our fifth anniversary*

* this is the anniversary of our first date - we thought we'd celebrate it one last time before we reach our one-year wedding anniversary - no presents, no fancy dinner, simply time spent together, in the most beautiful way possible

Photography by Jeff Nash

No More Clapotis

The icy blue clapotis wrap I was working on has been postponed indefinitely - I was silly and left my yummy bamboo needles on the sofa while I answered a phone call - let's just say Bailey was hungry and tired of chewing on her bone. So until I can replace them, I'll be working on a *secret something* with my new etsuko furuya fabric and some beautiful charcoal handspun cashmere yarn from the Isle of Skye (Scotland).

Our New Nephew

We are so excited to welcome our newest nephew into the world - he arrived on January 24 and shares his birthday with his Grandpa.
We can't wait to meet you, little guy!
And congratulations to *P + C* on becoming parents - we are so happy for you!