pinku

Look at her hair!

So as some of you have noticed, I finally got around to assembling a gallery for the Pinku Secret Swap of hair accessories! Whew! Some of you sent me photos and some I stole from your websites (sorry!) so you don't have to bother emailing me another pic. I have heard back from most participants and everybody should have received something - if not, email me. I may have heard from your partner and forgot to email you. I know that some packages were returned to the senders!! So go and check out what everyone received - we are very lucky girls!! Thanks to all of you for making this such a fun swap!

Click here to visit the gallery!!

Swap Housekeeping

I want everyone to be as lucky as I am. Look at what I received from Stacey.

A bazillion hair ties in my fav colours and practical colours too! Cherry hair clips - cherries are SO me!! and the best ever pink and white dice earrings (bottom of the pic) wrapped up so prettily in a white box personalized just for me. I AM LUCKY. Now I remember why I love participating in swaps.

me sporting those cute hair clips (don't know what's up with that pasty face!)

HOWEVER, I know some of you have NOT received anything from your secret swap partner. Sorry I haven't replied to your emails yet, but I am tyring to organize my inbox - it's craziness in there. I apologize that it has taken me this long to get around to taking care of this matter. I will send out a group email to everyone today (or tomorrow). I have heard from a number of people apologizing that they haven't sent their stuff out yet, so I will contact their partners ASAP. Please email me if you still haven't sent out your package or received yours - thanks!!

Secret Pal 5

I filled this out last week, but set my blog so that it will post on June 1. Hopefully all of the secret pals will have been sent out by then. Hi secret pal if you are reading this!!!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

Um, well I live in Japan so I don't have access to any of those yarns, but I guess that I don't knit with 100% acryllic for wearables, but it's ok to make accessories, toys, etc. I do love natural fibres though.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I don't spin because my apartment is too small, but I'd like to get into it one day. I love to crochet and learnt to do that before knitting, but now I definitely knit more than crochet.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

I found out recently that I am kind of allergic to cats, but that's it. You're not going to send me a cat are you??

4. How long have you been knitting?

Well I learnt when I was a kiddie, but it never really stuck. I definitely crocheted more back then. I seriously took up knitting at the end of 2003.

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

yes. I have an Amazon Japan wishlist.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Hmmm, I love most essential oils - lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, jasmine. I have always liked White Musk from the Body Shop and wore that in high school. Recently I have been walking into the Body Shop just to spray it on me, but I don't own a bottle as I never really wear perfume. I love scented hand creams and moisturizers like this one, and all those body butters. I especially like the smell of coconut sunscreen.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Yes, but I am not a big dessert person. I like Cadbury Fruit and Nut chocolate and actually any chocolate with nuts or raisins mixed in. I LOVE wine gums and other jube type lollies.

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

I used to be big into making calendars - sort of a montage type thing where I would use magazines and whatever else was lying around to make the pics for each month. I have also recently tried making stuff out of felt, and would love to learn how to sew and reconstruct clothing.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Hmm, I listen to a lot of different kinds of music. Right now I am really into Dolly Parton, Le Tigre, Peaches, Chicks on Speed (I love that Eurotrash Girl song), Yo La Tengo, and Turbonegro.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I do love pink, but look better in red I feel. I love bright colours (yellow, blue, etc) for tights and shoes. Lately I've been into the gold/silver thing, but feel it waning. I avoid light natural tones, pastels, and white.

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

Married. no pets (unfortunately)

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

For me, Darin and our families to be happy, healthy and to never have to worry about money too much. It'd also be cool to have a really satisfying job and work for myself rather than a big corporation.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I really love Koigu, handpainted yarns from Uruguay, and soft cotton/cotton mixes. I would really love to try some of the bamboo yarn from southwest trading.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

The only real fibre I have hated so far would have to be fancy yarn with lots of little bits so that when you knit you can't see any stitches and any boucle yarn.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Using stash for projects.

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

I love Rebecca patterns, but only have two issues - the most recent spring/summer one and the one before that I think. I recently realized though that I truly love knitting summer tops. I rarely wear big, bulky knits and find it hard to store them in little Japanese apartments. I also LOVE knitting socks.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Some small presents. I'm finishing up the Iris shrug from Rowan 35 in merino wool from handpainted yarn. Next on my sticks will be knee-high multi-coloured socks and the chevron tank from the current rebecca.

18. What do you think about ponchos?

I crocheted the Lola poncho from Rowan 35, but I never wear it. I hate how it restricts the movement of my arms, so I think I will rip it out and do it again, but adjust the pattern so it finishes above my elbows. I think ponchos are cute, but I haven't had to deal with the poncho obsession like in the US.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

circular

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

bamboo mostly. I love clover needles and short bamboo double points for socks. I also own denise needles which are handy but mostly good with larger guage projects.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

yes, I love socks, but have only knitted about three or four pairs.

22. How did you learn to knit?

From a book.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

about a year old I guess. I started a Debbie Bliss pullover for my nephew, but I got bored and never even finished the back of the project. It is going to be ripped.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

I like unicorns.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas for sure.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

not really except for an insane amount of yarn and other craft supplies and knitting mags

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

none.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

I would actually love to have a copy of the 'Vogue Knitting Quick Reference Book', 'Socks, socks, socks', 'Simple socks: plain and fancy' by Priscilla A Gibson, and Cat Bordi's book 'Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles', and 'Vintage Knits', and of course Teva Durham's Loop D Loop, but I have will my dirty little hands on that one by the time this post is up on the web!!!!

Lucky Ladies!

The first lucky lady today is Erin. Check out her new pink vespa!!! She's also trying to think of a name for her lovely pink ride....all suggestions welcome! I think she definitely needs a name from the 50s like Laverne, Frenchy, or Rizzo!!

The second lucky lady is me coz there are only two sleeps until we leave on a jet plane!! I can't wait to go to Teva's book launch in Manhattan next week. Joy has organized a big group of NYC knitting gals to come and I can't wait to meet everyone. I just checked the weekend weather forecast for NYC and it says 72 degrees and thunderstorms. I learnt from living in the States a few years ago that anything above 70 is good news (you know I come from the land of celcius and semi-tropical weather - Brisbane is about to hit winter and the daytime temps are still not below 20 degrees celcius). I like thunderstorms too, but hopefully we'll get some fine weather too. I might even be able to wear my merino wool shrug (i.e. if I block and seam it over the next two days). If anyone has any suggestions of MUST visit yarn stores, thrift stores, etc, in the NYC area then please send 'em my way. I especially like reconstructed clothing lately.

SWAP UPDATE: Have you sent out your package?? Mine was sent off today - I bought and made all of the goodies a while ago, but I just never got around to putting it all together. Anyway, if you haven't do your best to try and get your swap packages out sooner rather than later. I was lucky to receive an unexpected package (she's not my swap partner) full of colourful, fun hair clips from the very talented Lucy in Melbourne. Thanks so much!!! Photo to come.

Last but not least, I leave you with a picture Darin took today of a little doggie near our local 7-11. I think it is just so funny. We'd love nothing more than to have a dog come live with us, but dogs and cats are not allowed according to our apartment lease!!

Do you have a partner?

I have sent 50 emails today - one to each Pinku Secret Swap 3 participant with the details of the person they must send hair accessories to. I included a web address if your partner had one so you can spy on your partner's hair from afar, and the preferences that each of you sent to me. Some people had no preference. Eight of you have hotmail accounts, so if you haven't recieved an email from me, please check your junk mail box. I included the rules of the swap in the email and you have until the end of May 2005 to send out your hair accessories! Have fun!

Thanks for all of your kind comments about Orangina! It is definitely one of my favourite projects up until now and it is very wearable. It's not perfect though - the top of the back sags a little and even though I can't see it, it bothers me. I might still come up with a way to fix it (starch??). The first purl stitch of the ribbing was loose regardless of what I did (I blame the yarn and my laziness - couldn't be bothered switching to smaller needles again), so the ribbing is a little see-through - I'm over that though. AND finally I found two minor lace errors - dumb, dumb! Darin says he can't see them even when I point them out, so I'm not going to fret about it too much. I guess these little quirks are what make handmade items special. If I wanted perfect, I'd go to the shop and buy something.

Finally I am back at work - every week should be a one day work week! Our Golden Week vacation was really relaxing. We spent our time at the beach, at our friend's house, at home and the last three days we spent camping in Tokyo - can you believe it? Okutama is located in Tokyo - well a good couple of hours out of central Tokyo, but I still have trouble believing that we were still in Tokyo. Here look for yourself:

I will post more photos tomorrow with more details, but here's one more photo of a sandwich that our friend Jess made - I didn't try it, but I heard it was 'interesting' - peanut butter, banana and marshmallows!!!

Ranking Queen

All of the spots for the next Pinku swap have been filled - thanks ladies! I will be emailing you the details of your secret swap partner by the end of next week, and then you can start crafting or shopping.

The New York Times has a great article about one of my favourite shops in Tokyo, Ranking Queen. Things I have bought at Ranking Queen: curry-flavoured toothpaste, lip balm from Nepal, really yummy cheese-flavoured mochi snacks, and for a while I coveted this popular grapefruit-smelling perfume, but I can't remember what it is called.

There is one near the East ticket gate at Shinjuku Station and one in Shibuya Station near the JR Entrance on the 1st floor. Crap directions, but check them out when you have the chance.

No love for the scrunchie!

Ladies - I didn't expect all this dissing on the poor old scrunchie, BUT to be fair, scrunchies always did have the worst elastic inside them, and they never really held the ponytail firmly. I used to rock the ribbon in my hair when I was in kindergarten, but now ribbons tied in bows around ponytails make me look.....well, childish. Much better to tie them round your neck! I also momentarily considered a foray back into headband territory on the weekend. My friend Claire and I spotted some cute (very thin) colourful plastic headbands at a shop, and proceeded to try them on. Hmmm, cute but I just don't think I can get away with it at 30. I also had a flashback to when I thought it was cool to push all my hair back with the headband to proudly show off my five-head (this is what Darin and I call big foreheads). It was an embarassing time.

We have reached capacity numbers in the swap (45, I think). See I was very lenient (I'm a pushover really) and went over the 40 person limit. I think we have odd numbers, so I guess if there was one other person who REALLY wants to participate that would be fine, but I can always be a partner to two people. I am considering making my hair accessories - there are so many cute vintage buttons and beads just begging to be wired onto bobby pins...we'll see.

Is Veronica Mars on tonight? I am very desperate to watch the last few episodes. That girl is just so cute and perky.