Liebster goodness!

Hi Friends. I know it's been awhile since we've talked. Don't worry, I've missed you too. I'd like to blame the lack of quilty goodness reports on my broken camera, and my inability to remember to borrow my husband's i-phone when the light is natural, but there is also another reason. I simply haven't had any time to quilt, and rather than inundate you with nothing posts, I've kept mum and worked on cleaning out my house instead. (That did involve re-organizing my sewing closet, and now it's all organized and happy.)

However! Would you believe that I received the Liebster Award? (And that this happens to be my 100th post?) And because I am a happy recipient, I not only get to answer some questions and tell you some fun things about myself, but I also get to award eleven other people with this awesomeness! Aoife at thREDhead was sweet enough to honor me with the award, and now I'm passing it on to some other peeps. (PS-If you haven't visited Aoife's blog, do it. It's good stuff, and she's super sweet. I mean, SUPER sweet.)

These are the questions Aoife sent me: 

1) If you could try out any craft other than stitch-y things, what would you do?

I'd love to get into jewelry-making. Not anything complicated like the maille or sequin/bead work some of my very talented friends do (you know who you are) but I'd love to make really simple stuff, and probably just for me. For instance, I love these earrings, and I'd love to have the skillz to sit down and churn a pair out.  

2) What's the reasoning behind your blog's title?

I have a serious love relationship with hot pink. For years I struggled to try and be something I thought people would like--owning up to the fact that I liked pink, and even going so far as to dye my hair that very color? Well, that was my first big step into being myself. 

3) What was the first music album you bought?

That's a very tough question. I don't actually remember. It was a cassette though, I can tell you that. However! One of the first CDs I purchased was Jimmy Eat World's Bleed American. (This was when it was still called that--then 9/11 happened, and they yanked the title.)

4) What would be your dream job and how is that different to when you were a kid?

I wanted to be Nancy Drew. I also wanted to be a beret-wearing artist because I thought berets were cool. I think I asked my parents for a beret for Christmas for most of my early life, and did I get one? No. (And that is why I have problems--my mom and dad didn't love me enough to buy me a beret. I am so just kidding.) I have two dream jobs! One, I'd love to make money from quilting, and two, I'd love to be a world-famous young adult writer.

5) If you had time and money, where in the world would you choose to go visit?

I want to visit Australia! I've had the pleasure of visiting the UK and Japan, but I'd love to see Sydney, especially when it's cold and snowy here. Though maybe not right this minute since I hear they are dealing with flooding and bush fires.

6) Do you have a new sewing technique you want to try out and learn this year?

I've decided that 2013 is the year when I get really really good at paper piecing. (2012 was the year of HSTs, and I think 2014 will be the year of curves.) I've signed up for the Lucky Stars BOM so I can improve my skillz and get lots of practice. 

7) What is your all time favourite movie?

You've Got Mail. I have seen it over 200 times. I watch it whenever I'm sad or stressed or mopy or bored or lonely, and my poor husband knows it always cheers me up and calms me down, so he's probably watched it at least 50 of those times with me. Poor, poor man.

8) If you could get rid of one chore from your life, what would it be?

I have two diaper-wearing kidlets, so you think this would be diaper duty, but it's not. I hate cleaning floors. Sweeping and mopping are all sorts of awful, and because of those two kidlets, I am constantly having to clean my kitchen floors because of food detritus.

9) What is the greatest source of creativity for you?

Bloggers! I love reading up on other people's adventures, and I find it especially exciting that I have the opportunity to learn about people from all over the world. I also have a couple of real life crafty friends, and they always provide encouragement and ideas too.

10) What are you most proud of in your life?

Maybe all moms say this, but I am proud that I am a mother and that I take good care of my kids. I love those kidlets something fierce, and while I didn't easily transition into motherhood, I am happy that I am a mommy and that I have the opportunity to raise up these boys to be something great. (Because they are great. And if you disagree, I suggest you don't vocalize it, or it will get ugly.)

11) What thread-related project are you working on right now!?

Project? Singular? I wish! Right now, I'm quilting my Tula quilt. Also in the quilting queue is my HST quilt and my triangle mini.  

Eleven (Random) Things About Me: 

1. My husband and I are high school sweethearts. (He was my very first boyfriend.) We started dating my senior year of high school, and we were married a month after I graduated from university.

2. My parents owned hamburger restaurants when I was a kid, and I grew up behind the counters. My father (who is a really amazing cook) would take me to restaurants and make me critique the food. At the age of 18, my father asked a chef to come out of his kitchen to listen to my thoughts on a dish and how it was different from another version I'd had. (It was all sorts of embarrassing.)

3. I have a short story and a poem published.

4. I watch a lot of Korean dramas even though I do not speak Korean or have any ties to that beautiful country. (Coffee Prince fans, represent!) I just started Greatest Love. 

5. I used to be a bit of a hypochondriac. I'm still working on it. 

6. Before I was married, my full name meant the Noble Princess of Eternal Light and Power. 

7. I hate snow, and I hate being cold. If I had a kajillion dollars, I'd buy a beach house in a millisecond and stock it with the ingredients for pina coladas. (So make sure you're nice to me if you want an invite.)

8. I have my degree in English--Creative Writing. It has done nothing to land me a fancy job, but I have never regretted that decision. I loved my field, and if not for kidlets, I would have pursued an MFA in Creative Writing. 

9. For a year, I played an MMORPG called Dofus. I liked it a lot, but then I had kids and no time, so I stopped.

10. I think I am the only person alive who has watched Downton Abbey and didn't like it. There! I said it out loud. (Please don't stone me!) The characters are just SO mean to each other, and I spent each episode I watched so sad and depressed and miserable. It is better that I don't watch it. 

11. I went to see High School Musical 3 in theaters. On the day it released. With my friend Jenny who is older than I am. I love me some HSM, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

And, the eleven people I am passing the award to?

1. Sarah at Saturday Sequins
2. Sarah at Stitching and Bacon
3. Ange at Heart of Charnwood
4. Fiona at Finding Fifth
5. Jamie Lee at Busy Bee Quilts
6. Josh at Molli Sparkles
7. Erin at The Lazy Quilter
8. Sarah at Duck Egg Threads
9. Darcie at Clover Quilts
10. Jen at Quilter in the Closet 
11. Alia at Card Table, Inc.


My Eleven Questions:

1. Is there a book or movie that has changed your life or greatly impacted you? What is it? 
2. What is your favoritest color? 
3. What is the best job you've ever had? 
4. Do you have a new year's resolution or word of the year for 2013?
5. What is your favorite thing you've ever made with your hands?
6. Where is the coolest place you've ever visited? 
7. How many WIPs do you have? (Be honest.)
8. What is the hardest crafty thing you've ever done? 
9. Did you conquer it? 
10. What is the hardest non-crafty thing you've ever done? 
11. Did you conquer it? 

PS - Here are those rules for the Liebster award: 
(I totally stole this straight from Aoife's blog. Forgive me, Aoife!)

1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

2.  Answer the 11 questions given by the nominator.

3.  Create 11 new questions for those you nominate.

4.  Choose 11 new blogs (less than 200 followers or blogging for less than 6 months) and link to them in your post. (Will those I nominate please leave a comment on this post with a link to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you? Thank you!!)

Thanks for nominating me, Aoife! This was super fun, and it was a huge honor! :)