A good friend of mine, Juanita Tortilla, tagged me for this award recently. I really enjoy writing up these things, it must be my next guilty pleasure. You also get to know me better, but I hope you like what you find out, and not run away screaming!

About the Liebster Blog Award: It’s an award that was reputedly started in Germany in order to give smaller bloggers recognition for their hard work. You receive this award from a fellow blogger that feels your blog is both worthy & important to them. The rules: Post 11 facts about yourself. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you and create 11 questions. Nominate 11 people to give this award to (with fewer than 200 followers) and link them in your post.

Eleven questions from Juanita Tortilla:
1. What are you looking forward to, in this new year?
I think it’s very obvious to those that know me, that is to start a new life in Zurich with Michael, I have the right visa this time! I’m looking forward to decorating the new apartment too.

2. What is the best gift someone can give you?
Something I admire or look at often, but never push myself to buy. I know that makes it very difficult for gift givers… I am also happy to get anything I don’t already have. 🙂

3. What did you aspire to be when you were younger?
I wanted so much to be an airline pilot. I just loved the thought of controlling those magical flying machines. But I only wanted to be a commercial airline pilot; I didn’t want to fly military jets or small propeller planes that always seem to crash when the weather gets bad.

4. What was your most dramatic hairstyle?
When layering goes wrong (too much layering), I would call that hairstyle dramatic because it’s ugly. Makes me look like I have a pumpkin for a head.

5. You have a free travel ticket. Where would you like to go and what will you do?
I’m afraid I’m not very adventurous… I would go somewhere I have not been to before, but they are places that every other traveller has been to. My main objective for travelling somewhere is usually for the shopping. 😛

6. How do spend your weekends?
In Australia, I would normally go to a shopping mall for a few hours, then spend the evenings doing some gardening with my sister. Some weekends, we would do absolutely nothing.

7. What do you see yourself doing in 5 years’ time?
I see myself maybe doing more jewellery designs in a dedicated home studio. Some will be available for sale. I would make more Blythe pull rings too, in more styles, although I can’t really do custom orders (not economical)…  and of course I’ll have a hearty collection of dolls, toys, bags and other things that take my fancy! 😀 No, I don’t see myself with kids.

8. How do you like to spend time with your friends?
I like going for a small meal or coffee, while we chat, then walk around the city and do some (window) shopping. A movie is fun, too.

9. Is your blog different from the rest? How so?
That’s difficult to answer, I don’t consider my blog to be anything special. I used to blog only about my crafts, but now I’m just going to blog about what ever takes my fancy. I’ll still post my work when I make something new.

10. In the parallel universe, who and what is your alter ego like?
I’d like to think my alter ego has everything I don’t, and is also better in personality! Or it could be the opposite, she could be the most evil person in that universe…. or perhaps I would be a man instead. 😀

11. Never say never. What did you say ‘never’ to but now find (or have found) yourself happily guilty of?
I said I would never pay the exorbitant prices for a used, broken and messed up Kenner Blythe doll. I thought they were so stupid, and who would pay so much for broken old plastic. Now I have one, with another on lay by — it’s my latest doll obsession. I always think of the time I posted on a forum in reply to someone’s question on whether to get a Kenner or a newer (but quite rare) release. I said, don’t go for the doll that could form a butt crack once you get it. Ha.

Eleven facts about myself:

  1. I don’t really play competitive games because I don’t like losing.
  2. I drink one cup of caramel latte every morning, unless I need to rush somewhere.
  3. I feel that animals without tails, or those that have stubby tails, are strange and not very cute.
  4. I form bonds with some inanimate objects and the thought of them being mistreated upsets me.
  5. Trees have souls. I often admire and pat my trees after I water and fertilise them.
  6. Classical orchestra and instrumentals for me, any day.
  7. Gambling is not a favourite past time. I can’t stand the thought of losing money in just a split second. If I do gamble, I only do so in tiny amounts and quit while I’m ahead. A $20 win makes me ecstatic already.
  8. The teeniest noises can stop me from falling asleep.
  9. I don’t follow trends — I wear or carry what I feel comfortable with.
  10. I can’t ever have a successful business because it gets boring after some time.
  11. I do like driving, but only on familiar roads.

Eleven questions I would like to ask you:

  1. What would you create or make, if you could make anything you wanted without issues?
  2. Which would you choose first and why: Owning your own house or spending all your earnings on travels?
  3. What is the most extreme sport you have ever done?
  4. What is the one thing you seriously want to do but have not tried yet?
  5. What do you collect?
  6. Who could you spend a whole week with without getting tired of him or her?
  7. What do you enjoy blogging about most?
  8. What is your favourite nail polish?
  9. If you could relive one part of your life, what would it be?
  10. Is being popular important to you? Be honest!
  11. What is your greatest pet-peeve?

My 11 nominees: I don’t think I really can list any one, and certainly not 11. I don’t know any person that would feel comfortable being tagged (because I mainly stalk blogs but I don’t interact much). So I think, everyone who sees my post and wants to play is welcome, even Juanita again because I think she’s cool!

A special thank you to Samantha for all the lovely gifts I received. It was so fun to play. I’m sad it’s over, but all good things come to an end. Thank you to Juanita and Chloe who organised this swop, you two are so hard working! It was a great first experience for me. 🙂

All 12 swop gifts I received

I will definitely participate in next year’s swop! I would be in Zurich then, perhaps I can find some interesting things to include. ^^

The last day! I’m quite sad it’s over… but I had so much fun doing this, I want to participate in more swaps next year. 😀

Day 12: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

This is the last present, and I’m very sure it’s a knit item. 😉

Headband

Headband! In lilac, with a very sweet pink crochet flower accent. Thank you, Samantha!
I really thought it might be a grey coloured item, but I was surprised that it’s actually in lilac!

Day 12: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

Day 12: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

And this concludes the 12 Days of Xmas Swop. I received all 12 lovely gifts from Samantha. To see what I got my swop partner, head on to Wasted Fashion’s Facebook Page to see her videos!

The 12 Days of Christmas Swop was hosted by Juanita and Chloe. Thank you for a fun experience, I’ll never forget it.

Second last day already… I’m going to miss opening presents… 🙁
What could this one be? My first guess was a votive candle, but I was so wrong!

Day 11: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

Day 11: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

It’s a shot glass, of the Texas armadillo! It’s another great present from Texas. I haven’t yet been to the US or seen a real Texas armadillo, so this is a nice treat. 😀 Armadillos are such funky creatures with their leathery shells, aren’t they? Another wonder of the world. I’m sometimes amazed at how creatures evolve.

Texas Armadillo

Love that purple to blue gradient!

Day 11: Twelve Days Xmas Swop Day 11: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

Above left is my attempt to put a fake tea light candle inside it, but I failed. lol. And I really hope the photo on the right matches the gift! Thank you Samantha, I really like this one. It shall go on display when I get to Zurich. 😀

Everyone participating in this swop:

I’m not changing locations or anything of that sort, but more like, changing what I post about. I have previously confined this blog to “work” and “craft” stories only, but I find that I’m not creating so many new items and designs these days. I go through some periods of not making anything for weeks. I would love to include general every day posts into this blog. I tried to post these everyday things on Flickr, but it just didn’t seem right either. I think, if I’m not comfortable posting them on Flickr, it means they belong here. How’s that? 😀
Oh, how I love talking to myself… I think that’s one thing a blog just seems perfect for.

Day 10! I am just a few minutes behind in posting… I went from having 2 posts scheduled in advance to writing it on the day itself!

Day 10: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

Day 10: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

On Day 10, Samantha got me a pretty black and white clipboard with notepad! I haven’t bought one of these in years, so I’m glad to have gotten one today, and a very pretty one too.

Clipboard and notepad

The ribbon is so lovely. I pushed it upwards to cover the clip, so I can still use the notepad with the ribbon on!

Day 10: Twelve Days Xmas Swop Day 10: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

I am pretty silly for not opening the envelope of photographs first, I know 😛
The left photo shows the back of the notepad and the photographed clue.

Pattern that goes all the way :D

Each sheet has the sweet flower pattern on the side. I find these notepads too precious to use, but I really have to change my ways. I used to hoard notepads when I was a child, finding them too nice to waste, but in the end I gave them away because I just had too many and they were already 20 years old and spotty. That will teach me to use things while they are nice and fresh.

Thank you again Samantha! You are a very experienced gift giver, a whole lot better than I am. 😀

12 Days of Christmas Swop, hosted by Juanita and Chloe. I’m Chloe’s Santa! Check out her Wasted Fashion Facebook Page to see the gifts I gave her.

Ok so let’s see what Samantha, my Santa, gave to me on Day 9!

Day 9: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

I couldn’t resist taking a photo of my doll with the parcel, sorry if this freaks anyone out. I normally confine my hobby to Flickr only. From now on, I won’t call any fanatical hobby or interest, “weird”, because after I explore it a little, I start to understand it better and also like it myself. OK anyway, back to topic. Let’s open it up.

Giraffe chopsticks

Pink giraffe

Oh giraffe chopsticks! I have to say, I admired these novelty chopsticks from afar, but never bought one for myself. I couldn’t justify that purchase, but now I have a set, yay! This is so cute, I love it. Thanks Samantha!

Day 9: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

If I didn’t know how to use chopsticks, these would be handy eh? I remember how hard it was to learn how to hold one properly, and my hands ached like crazy. They still do, after grabbing onto one for long periods. I know who could try harder with his chopstick skills… Michael. 😛

Oh I also found the matching photo!

Day 9: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

Until tomorrow!

This is Day 8 and the swop is soon coming to a close.. That will be sad, because I really enjoy the process of taking photos and squealing at all the cool gifts I open.

Day 8: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

PEZ!

It’s PEZ!! I remember having one. I only had one as a child, because they were not available in Malaysia at that time. I got mine from New Zealand on a family holiday, but I can’t remember what character I bought. Just a few years ago, Michael bought me a Spongebob PEZ in Zurich. I hope he still kept it somewhere because I’d like to display this Strawberry Shortcake one along with Spongebob!

Strawberry Shortcake PEZ Strawberry Shortcake PEZ

I’m not familiar with Strawberry Shortcake, the character, even though the cartoons were supposedly running around the time I was a child. Not everything was easily available in Malaysia, so yeah, I didn’t know anything about her, sadly!

Strawberry Shortcake PEZ

Mmm I do like PEZ sweets, they’re so fun to dispense. I’ve cut down my sugar intake and sweets, but once in a while I like to indulge. 😀

Found the matching photo!

I found the corresponding photo! Oh if only I opened that envelope earlier, I could have taken a photo of each item and their clues. Hindsight… 😛

12 Days of Christmas Swop, hosted by Juanita and Chloe. I’m Chloe’s Santa! Check out her Wasted Fashion Facebook Page to see the gifts I gave her.