8/8/21

 

Would you be interested in a cross stitched Halloween ornament?  That would be lovely! I cross-stitch myself, so it’d be really special to get something that someone else cross-stitched for me.

 

 

8/11/21

 

Are there any collage artists in the mix?   I would LOVE to curate one of spooky autumn goodness if my person were to be interested!  Unfortunately I’m not a collage artist. I’m not that great at putting stuff together in a creative way; I’m much better at working from a pattern that someone else created.

 

Have you seen the Dragon con list?  & would any of them appeal to you?  I wouldn’t mind a small decant of Peach Brandy Snake Oil, Vanilla Wafers and Peach Cream, or Fuzzy Peach Sweater and a Mug of London Fog, just to see what they’re like.

 

Which Harry Potter house are you? No idea. Sorry, but I’ve never read the books or seen the movies, and have no interest in doing so.

 

8/12/21

 

Do you like any art from these two sellers? They are local artists and I will probably pick up some stuff for myself soon! 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CaitlinMcCarthyArt  I can see the appeal, but they’re not quite to my taste.  I do like the Capricorn print, though.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BatinYourBelfry  As I was looking through the listings, they seemed kind of familiar, then I realized why that was when I saw the Black Plague print, which was already on my Etsy wishlist.    So many cool things in this shop - I especially like the Black Plague Doctor enamel pin, the Halloween Danse print, the Macabre Plague Doctor print, the Monster Party print, and the Bat Cave print.  Too bad they’re sold out of the Badge of Honor Plague Doctor Vaccine enamel pins; I would have liked one of those!

 

I make beautiful and very lightweight yarn-and-ribbon hairfalls - would you like a set in the colors and length of your choice? If yes, name up to four colors and length in inches! Remember- this can be part of your Halloween costume!  No, thank you.

 

Would you appreciate a skein of handspun yarn? If yes, what weight? What colors? How do you feel about beads? Any allergies to typical fibers?  No thanks, it would be wasted on me because I can’t knit or crochet or anything else that one would do with yarn.

 

Do you like stickers? Patches? Buttons?  I like stickers and buttons!  I like patches in theory, but I really don’t have any place to put them.

 

Do you spend time in the outdoors?  Kind of?  I have a small garden in my front yard, so I suppose that counts as outdoors. I usually like to spend time in the summer on the bridge in my back yard watching the bats, but the mosquitos have just been way too bad this year for me to enjoy doing that.  There’s a wooded area behind my yard that’s nice to walk through, too.  So basically my time in the outdoors is pretty much spent in my own yard or right next to it. 

 

Do you enjoy cooking and/or baking?  Not really, but I have been baking a bit lately.  I made two batches of muffins, a batch of cupcakes, and an apple cinnamon slab pie a couple weekends ago, and I’m thinking of making a peach pandowdy this week.  I’m not great at baking, so I only do simple recipes, and more for other people than for myself – I don’t even eat fruit pies, so the apple cinnamon slab pie and peach pandowdy were/would be for family, not for me.  I don’t really cook at all.

 

 

8/13/21

 

The Paintbox Soapworks Weenie collection went live today! Would you like anything?  Maybe Once for Yes, Twice for No sample size sorbetto.

 

The Pickety Witch is taking pre-orders for their new Halloween pins (estimated ship date: early September). Have any caught your eye?  I like the Mabon Witch’s Hat and the Vampire Bat best. The Serpent of Astrology, Anubis, Starlight Rabbit, Winged Isis, Rat King, and Peony Witch Hat pins are really cool too, as are the Baby Capricorn, Baby Goat & Jack-o-Lantern, and L’empire de la Mort prints.

 

Zeep's Spooky Collection drops some time next week. Here's the scent list. Would you like any wax melts, candles, whipped soaps, sugar whips (whipped soap/scrub hybrid), body butter sugar scrubs (moisturizing scrub), meringues (lotion), bath bombs, or bath rocks from Zeep?  The sugar whips and bath rocks sound fun, or a candle could be nice too.  Most appealing scents are Boo-nilla Scream, County Fair, Hocus Pocus, andSeason of the Witch.

 

8/14/21

 

Does anyone here like vintage halloween?  I do like vintage Halloween!  I have some vintage Halloween metal noisemakers from my grandparents’ attic that I think are really cool.  (Just for the record, I’m also fine with modern Halloween and some gore. I find gore makeup effects kind of fascinating.)

 

New question: It seems like a lot of shops’ Halloween lines have items related to the same standard fandoms, such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, Disney’s Haunted Mansion, Beetlejuice, Addams Family, etc.  Do any of those (or other ones) particularly resonate with you?  

I’m sort of fond of Disney’s Haunted Mansion myself, and I love the Addams Family tv series with John Astin and Carolyn Jones (and of course the original Charles Addams cartoons).  (No interest in any other iteration.)

 

If you like tea, how do you want it delivered? Loose? Bags? Tiny little messenger pigeons (subject to availability)?  Either loose leaf or bags is fine; I do tend to use bags more often and loose leaf only when I am specifically making special time for tea.  Yes, please tiny messenger pigeons or squirrel post (great idea, rhonorv!) or bat mail! 🦇 

 

Would you prefer to receive ONE HUGE (more expensive) GIFT and 12 inexpensive ones, a few more expensive, or all about the same price?  I’ll leave that up to you if you have an idea in mind; that said, I’d probably prefer one of the second two options so things are more balanced. 

 

What are your fandoms, if any? My current obsession is Bungo Stray Dogs (anime/manga), and my favourite characters are Akutagawa and Kunikida.  Favourite pairings are Akutagawa/Atsushi, Kunikida/Dazai, and Ranpo/Poe. I’ve detailed all my other anime interests in previous years of SW and other swaps, so that info should be available in my blogs from previous years. Although Bungo Stray Dogs is my main fandom focus at the moment, I’m open to stuff from any of the other fandoms I mentioned at any point previously – I may not be paying as much attention to them right now, but I really never completely let go of old fandoms.  Also, not sure it counts as a fandom the same way, but I am a huge Marc Almond fan and totally adore him. 

  

Do you collect things like tarot decks?  If so do you have a wishlist or a list of ones you already have?  Would you like a silk tarot bag?  Not seriously, but I have picked up quite a few tarot and oracle decks over the years.  I have some on my Amazon wishlist, also.  I have a weakness for bags and pouches, so a silk tarot bag would be lovely.

 

Do you like rocks/crystals?  What colors kinds?  Would you like them in bead format (holes drilled?)  Oh my gosh yes!  I’m forever collecting more.  I’m especially drawn to calcite in all colors.  Other favorites are garnets (my birthstone), labradorite, tiger's eye (all colors), goldstone, and hematite.  I’m not opposed to bead format, but I do have a ton of gemstone beads (mostly garnet & hematite) that I bought for jewelry making but have never actually used for anything, so it may not be the best choice.

  

My mom has an etsy store - she makes bags.  Do you love anything from it?  We can also do box bags, draw string bags, dice bags, etc. and if you want a different type of material or a different fabric pattern, I'm open to links to specific things.   (yes, we have harry potter things.  We bought most of it before JKR showed herself to be a twat since we buy lots of bolts at the same time - yes, we have a whole room stuffed full of fabric.)

Despite my efforts, I never learned to crochet, so I don’t really have any need for a knitting/crocheting bag.  I think I probably have way too many bags anyway, if I’m being honest with myself.

 

Let's say you want something knitted.  What are you most interested in?  (hat, fingerless mitts, scarf, shawl, cowl, infinity scarf, shawlette, gnome, doily, coffee mug cozy, talisman bag, dice bag, soap sack, washcloth (I have a pattern with the leviathan cross for bpal), amigurumi / toy, bracelet, cuff, necklace, other?)   (Can you link to a photo of what you envision or a pattern on ravelry?  Or put it on pinterest or something if you have that.)  

I would adore amigurumi!  I have some on my non-book Amazon wishlist, but really anything that fits any of my interests would be great.  A leviathan cross pattern washcloth would also be fabulous.

* What colors would you prefer said knitted object in?  For amigurumi, anything that fits the subject. For a washcloth, maybe some combination of black with purple, red, magneta, or lime green.

* Stripes, gradient, semi solid, variegated?

* What type of yarn would you prefer?  ("wool", BFL, merino, merino/silk, merino/silk/cashmere, merino/cashmere, just silk, just cashmere, tencel (non-animal, plant based), other?   I also have non-dyed organic wool (mill spun) from our own sheep - finnsheep and shetland.  The finnsheep is dark brown (sun bleached black sheep from Sarge and our two black ewes we can't tell apart so they're ewe 1 and ewe 2) or a lighter silvery beige (from freckles) and the shetland is white.  (we just call her shetland.  They're mom's sheep, she should have named them, lol.)  Most of my stripy yarn is either merino or merino cashmere.) No idea; whatever works best for the project.  Although I do love the idea of something made with wool from your own sheep!  That’s so cool!

You can check out some of my finished projects on Ravelry if you like (click on the project for more photos)  (I'll have to make a list of which items are available  because I knit a lot of things and then just put them in a cabinet and gift or sell them.)

Ravelry won’t let me view anything because I’m not a member. 

 

Are you interested in receiving any of the following homemade / home dried / home canned goodies?  (just erase the ones you don't want when you answer to make it easy?)

(see list in this post under spoiler because long)

Dried elderberries (wildcrafted)

Vanilla peach jam  (maybe a tiny little sample jar, just enough for a couple pieces of toast?)

Plum Brandy (Slivovitz) (small sample)

pumpkin bread or pumpkin gingerbread

As far as baked or homemade treats go, I would love pretty much any type of cookie that doesn’t have nuts or raisins in it, chocolate fudge (no nuts), or marshmallows.

   

8/15/2021

 

how do you feel about atmospheric/novelty scents and novelty food items? Things like "new car candle" or "eyeball jawbreaker" or whatever.  I’m not big on novelty scents, and even less interested in novelty food items, unless they’re like sour gummy snakes or something like that.  Novelty shapes are fine, novelty flavors (like bacon flavored gum or dill pickle flavored popcorn or potato chips)  are not.

 

How do you feel about oracle decks?  I have a number of them, either because I liked the art or because they were a gift from a friend.  I tend not to use them on any sort of regular basis.  I have a couple on my Amazon wishlist.

 

Would you like witchy/ritual oils/sundries? Any limitations (e.g. deities you won't work with)?  I’m not particularly ritualistic, so simpler is better.  Basic things like candles or incense or possibly oils would be more than enough.  Instructions on how to conduct a particular ritual (like how to use the objects and what words to say when doing the ritual) would be very helpful if you wanted to send me stuff to use for a ritual.  Or a small ritual kit with all the components and instructions?  Something for good health would be great.  I would steer clear of any chaos deities or even any harsher deities – I’m not built to follow a particular deity and I wouldn’t want to draw the attention of one that has high expectations of anyone who reaches out toward them.  I’m also pretty transactional in the sense that I might light a candle for a specific problem, for instance, but it’s not directed toward any one deity and I don’t expect to maintain an ongoing relationship with any deity beyond that interaction. So anything I do is directed more toward a generic idea of goddess or universal energy than a specific deity.  Samples of TAL oils are always good, or any other ritual oils you think are good.

 

Is there anything you would like to try from the UK specifically? (e.g. Lush exclusives)  Not UK specific, I guess, because we can now get them in some stores here, but I do love Aero bars.  Cadbury Dairy Milk bars, too.  As I mentioned before, I love Marc Almond, so any magazines or newspaper articles or whatever about him would be spectacular!

 

Oh, and are you into astrology?  Not hardcore by any means, but I find it interesting.  I would love to have some sort of in-depth astrological reading done for me someday.

 

What size shoe do you wear (inc wide/narrow, etc)?  If this is for sock-making purposes, I wear between a 7 ½ and 8, usually narrow.  If this is for actual shoe purposes, then I’m going to have to try to dissuade you.  I have incredibly picky feet and it’s a struggle for me to find shoes that fit and don’t hurt.  I literally have nearly a dozen pairs of shoes sitting in my living room waiting to be sent back to Zappos because NONE of them fit right. Brands that I’ve successfully bought before, brands that I’ve never tried, of various sizes and widths, and not a single one was comfortable enough for me to keep.  Most of the shoes I do have are wearable for a little while, but extended periods of walking in them leave me limping.  Shoes are a sore spot for me (literally).

 

Do you like/would you want to receive comic books? Any favorite genres or characters?  I’d definitely be fine with getting comic books!  I love the old horror comics (Tales from the Crypt type stuff). Favorite character is the Punisher, and I don’t think I’ve bought any new Punisher in years, so anything remotely recent would be fine.  Vampirella or Elvira comics could be fun for the Halloween season.  There’s also some stuff on my Amazon wishlist that should give you an idea of what I like. 

 

Would you like a palm stone, or anything else, from Haute Macabre? Oh, the snakeskin carnelian heart is calling my name!  Some of the black heart rhodonite palm stones are lovely too, the ones with the purples or reds.  I also like the spiderweb obsidian, the ruby kyanite, the obsidian (golden sheen), and the rhodonite.  I’d add the septarian, but I already have one quite like the ones shown here.  The mini faceted garnets are cute too; I have a special love for them as my birthstone.  I kind of wish I hadn’t looked at this site, because now I want to buy a bunch of the spheres – the red tiger’s eye, the dragon blood jasper, the lepidolite, the obsidian (golden sheen), the tiger’s eye, and the rhodonite. I’m always so tempted by crystals!

 

What's your favorite flower(s)?  Carnations and roses.

 

What's your favorite woodland creature?  I absolutely cannot choose.  I love so many critters: bunnies, bats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, groundhogs, muskrats, skunks, foxes, owls, moles, voles, rats, snakes, frogs, toads, deer – if it’s not an insect, I probably like it.  I'm even good with some insects - I love bees and dragonflies are cool too.

 

Do you prefer receiving a big box with all of your goodies, or is it okay if one or two things are shipped directly to you separately (with notice!!) for customs/shipping cost purposes (i.e. if there's something customs might not allow in from the States that can be shipped from within your country)?  Whatever works best for you!

 

Would you like a fabric face mask? If so, do you prefer a dome shape or a pleated shape?  I certainly don’t NEED any face masks; I have a ton.  But if you like to make them and you want to make one for me, then a dome shape probably works best.  I have a few pleated ones but never wear them because they never seem to fit right.

 

I have a literal stockpile of skincare products.  Can I interest you in cleanser, sheet masks, moisturizer, sample things etc etc.?  Or a general pampering package? What is your skin type?  Sorry, but I have so many things already and I’m trying not to collect any more.  

 

Anything from here?  ChocolateStorybook on Etsy  Cotton candy isn’t really my treat of choice, but I’d be open to trying the Pancakes & Maple Syrup, the Caramel Apple, or the Churros.

 

I have been enjoying the incense from here hand-dipped incense sticks | Hexennacht and here Hand-dipped incense sticks | Mr. Hex (mr-hex.com)  Any thing interesting from either site?  From Hexennacht, All Soul’s Night sounds good; Rumrunner is a maybe.  From Mr. Hex, maybe Gingerbread Noel Incense?

 

8/16/21

 

Would you like some delicious coffee? If so, do you prefer whole bean or ground? If ground, what grind? Also, light or dark roast? Flavor preferences?  No thanks, I don’t drink coffee.

 

8/17/21

 

I may be going to the Renaissance Fair this weekend (if not this weekend then soon and multiple times), any Ren Faire goodies you may like?  It’s been so long since I’ve been to one that I really have no idea what kinds of goodies they have, so I would leave it up to your discretion.

 

I always go to my town's local Farmer's Market and they have booths selling things like candles, Gourmet Pickles, Flavored Oils and Vinegars, dog treats (like bones and animal feet), honey, and bath products. Would you like any of these things?  I love bars of soap and beeswax candles.

 

Do you have a preference for numbered packages for each night of the swap vs randomly selecting from unlabeled goodies?  Not really, so please do whatever works best for you.

 

If you didn't say much about your reading preferences in your survey but would be interested in receiving books, can you elaborate a bit? Um, not really sure how to answer this.  I’ve got books on my Amazon wishlist, but the majority of what I read (other than fan fiction) is manga, and I pretty much keep up with the series I collect and get the stuff I read but don’t collect from the library.  In fitting with the Halloween theme, I’d be open to a book of spooky short stories.  (Sadly, my attention span is painfully short these days, so short stories would work better than novels.)

  

Are you interested in cocktails, be it recipes, infusion kits, tools, supplies, specialty bitters? 

Recipes or infusion kits could be fun.  I don’t drink much anymore (my alcohol tolerance is way down), but I did collect a whole lot of different boozes over the years that I could use with cocktail recipes.

 

8/18/2021

 

Is there something that you definitely prefer to not receive in any category (anything to avoid if you hadn't/forgotten to mention)?

Water bottles and beverage koozies would have never occurred to me to mention, but now that Thuy put that in my head, I can agree that I have no need for those either, nor for headbands.  But all the glitter is definitely 100% ok!  (Yes, I do have teeturtle’s “Glitter Is My Favorite Color” shirt!  )  No dead things/taxidermy, please.

  

Are there patterns/prints (more guidance than general Halloween/Autumn) you like for things or are you open to whatever I may find that speaks to me? 

I’m open to whatever you decide.  I do like simple, clear designs – not too busy or chaotic, and I'm not a big fan of paisley, for one.  Print-wise, it’s hard to go wrong with bats or bunnies or lake/sea monsters. I do have some fabric on my Etsy wishlist that you can use as an indication of what I like.

 

Any significant other or other special person? Like if I wanted to send you specialty cocoa for a date night, would that be OK? I am making up the cocoa part, but you get my drift.  No significant other.  Nothing you could send would get used on a date night, because those don’t exist for me.

 

8/20/21

 

I make homemade fire ciders, would that be of interest? Non-alcoholic and they are quite fiery.   No thank you; I’m not really good with hot/spicy peppers.

 

Are you interested in getting other BPAL items besides perfume, like hair gloss, bath oils or T-shirts? 

 

8/21/21

 

I do quilting along with everything  else.  In a quilting group we are doing a swap of Frankenbags - they are sturdy quilted  tote bags made by collaging fabrics for the outermost layer. (Google Frankenbag to see examples). 

So partner, would you be interested in a Frankenbag done in Halloween prints?

Ok, I know I said earlier that I already had more than enough bags, but I love quilts/quilted things and a quilted bag made with Halloween prints sounds amazing!  I would love one!

 

Y'all with furbabies... Are there any food allergies/sensitivities or quirks to know about?  No furbabies here.

 

how do you feel about (ethically sourced) butterfly / moth art (in a jar or shadowbox)  I have to agree with whoahorsey: “I like the aesthetic, but dead animals make me sad.”  That includes insects.  

 

I may have preemptively picked out 2 Halloween-themed mugs with cute matching spoons, before I knew who my match was going to be! So I leave it to you: Bat, or Cat?  Well, I know that Violetchaos (hi, fabulous former Witch! ) doesn’t have me as a swapee, as I’m pretty sure my preference is quite obvious given previous answers.  But just in case there’s any confusion, I like both, but bats are best!

 

8/22/21

 

If you mentioned aversions to any common Halloween decor items (skeletons, witches, spiders, etc.), how encompassing is that? Specifically, is a "kid friendly" drawing of that same item on a piece of decor (like, a book cover or wrapping paper) still a preferred pass? Kid-friendly is totally fine for most things; I just don’t want realistic renditions of, say, spiders.  The one exception is scorpions – they just totally creep me out and I think that even a kid-friendly version would be icky.

 

Would you be interested in receiving a never-used eyeshadow palette from Notoriously Morbid (gothy colors) and/or a never-used eyeshadow palette from Pretty Vulgar (romantic neutrals)?  I have a weakness for eyeshadow palettes and have a hard time resisting collecting them.  I would absolutely be interested!  (And after checking out the Notoriously Morbid site, I’m now mentally compiling my wishlist for there!  All those lovely multichromes!)

 

8/23/21

 

I live in Japan. Are you interested in anything specifically Japanese I could get for you here (doesn't necessarily have to be Halloween themed)? For example, are you a fan of the anime Demon Slayer and want merch? Are you interested in trying some fun kit-kat flavors? Do you need a new set of pretty chopsticks?  I would love Halloween themed stuff from Japan!  Also, anything related to the Bungo Stray Dogs anime/manga.  (Especially the BSD pirates design glasses case! https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/NEOGDS-487417 When I went to order it the other day I discovered that the pre-order for it had already ended and I was very sad.)  I collect lucky cat / maneki neko stuff.  Anything from any of the anime/manga that I have previously mentioned.  Fun kit-kat flavors and candy-type snacks could be good; not so much on the chip-type snacks or anything shrimp- or seaweed-flavored.  Sort of a weird ask, but I got a bag of ume jintan todo ame cough drops in one of my Kizuna Boxes and they're really good, so it would be great to get more.  Another Kizuna Box find that I'd love to get more of is honey & renge flower powder bath packets.  One thing I really don’t need is a set of chopsticks; I already have dozens.  I have a monthly Kizuna Box subscription and they include a set of chopsticks every single time.  Oh, and I would really love something from/representative of your particular area of Japan!

 

there is an excellent chance teeturtle will have a sale in time for this swap: anything (particularly tshirts or socks) that appeal? Sizes?  I’m a frequent teeturtle shopper, so there’s an excellent chance that I’ll be taking advantage of the next sale myself, which means that it’s probably best that I not point out anything that appeals, as I’ll likely end up picking it up myself.

 

Haus of Gloi Fall Part 1 drops soon, anything here you like?  https://www.hausofgloi.com/blogs/blog/fall-lineup-2021  Maybe the Blood Orange Marshmallow bubbling scrub? 

 

8/24/21

 

Could you use a journal or sketchbook?  Please, no journals or sketchbooks.  I don’t sketch and I’m drowning in journals and blank books that I have never used and most likely never will.

 

Do you need BPAL storage?  Imps?  Bottles?  I could probably use either one.  I have two full bottle boxes and the rest of my bottles are just hanging out in a cardboard box waiting to be sorted through, so I could use a box for the ones that I decide to keep.  I’ve not yet found a good way to store imps, so decent imp storage could be really good.

 

Do you wear socks?  What kind?  No show, ankle, knee high, over the knee?  Fibers?  Anything under the knee is good.  Knee highs and higher tend to be too constricting.  I wear both plain and patterned socks; anything with cute designs is cool, especially Halloween designs (especially bat or Hello Kitty Halloween designs).  I think bamboo is my favorite fiber for socks (can always use plain black bamboo socks!), but I’m open to pretty much anything.

 

Do you have a favorite candy(ies) [or prepacked individual snacks] that you wouldn't mind filling up your box as packing material? Or teas/coffee blends you'd enjoy? If you prefer none of this, that's fine too!  Most favorite candies would probably end up melted or crushed.  The only things I can think of that might make good packing material are SweeTarts, Smarties, and fruit snacks (like the kind you put in kids’ lunch boxes).  Hmmm, now that I think about it, maybe Starbursts would work as well.  Or maybe popcorn/caramel corn/cheese corn?  Popcorn balls!  Please rest assured that if you do use standard packing material, it will be re-used.  One of my brother’s neighbors has a eBay business and I dump off almost all of my boxes and packing materials to him to use in his business.

 

I'm going down the Shore for a few days! Any treats you'd like from a cute beach town- salt water taffy? Fudge? Wrist fans? Tie-dye beach dress...?  Plain chocolate fudge is always a winner!  

 

How do you feel about fancy marshmallows?  Are we talking homemade/small indie store  marshmallows? Because I feel great love for those! Cinnamon, plain vanilla, vanilla brown sugar, peppermint, etc. are all good; not so much the fruity flavors.  (I’d love to try a clove marshmallow if anyone makes them!)  Extra love for fun shapes, too!

 

8/25/21

 

We've asked about candy, but let's talk specifically about gummies. Do you like crazy shapes, sweet/sour?  I’m really not wild about gummies.  Crazy shapes are fine, I guess, and I probably like sour marginally more than sweet, but they’re not something that I generally tend to buy or eat all that often (we’re talking like a few times a year at most), so I really don’t have strong opinions on them.

 

Anything from these Etsy shops? 

Kodiak Sea Charms– I really like the glass bottles filled with seaglass!

Halloween Hill Studio– I like the  October Days sticker!

Grave Markings– Hmmm, I don’t think so.

 

What about the Mutter Museum's gift shop? I like the Plague Doctor enamel pin!  The “Spit spreads death” button is kind of cool, too – I’d definitely wear it when going out among the possibly infectious masses at the grocery store, bank, library, etc. The Highlights from the Mutter Museum book or one of the other books about death (except the manual of things that might kill you, because if I read that I’d probably turn into a total hypochondriac) or plagues/pandemics.  

 

8/27/21

 

I grow mugwort and it's harvest season. Would you like dried leaves for bathing or tea? Or a bound bundle for smoke cleansing? (Its said to be excellent for divination or lucid dreaming, but do not use if pregnant.)  its also a digestive bitter and tastes great on chicken.  Sure, I wouldn’t mind trying some dried leaves for bathing or tea.  

 

I grow loads of other herbs and I'm drying them now. Any favorites you might like? Mint, basil, oregano, chives, lemon balm or others?  No thank you, I don’t use dried herbs for anything. I have mint, basil, and lemon balm growing in my yard, but it’s all for my dad’s 3 bunnies and the outdoor critters (if they want it).

 

I grew a huge load of onions and garlic. Any interest?   Nope.

 

Feathers? I have geese, ducks, peafowl, chickens and quail. So I collect their shed feathers and share them with people I like.  I like pretty feathers.  We have a large flock of wild ducks (plus my neighbors’ 2 or 3 domestic ducks) in the neighborhood (there’s a creek running through the backyards on my street, so they’re pretty much always around, and I put out corn for them, so they’re right up by my house almost every day) so sometimes I pick up their feathers or feathers from other birds like blue jays, cardinals, or doves.  I think peafowl or quail feathers could be neat.

 

I grew a boatload of Green Shiso this year and plan to make a shiso pesto with it. Would you like some? (Nut wise it has pistachios)  I’m envious!  I tried to grow shiso this year (mostly for ume shiso sushi) and none of it came up. I would love to try some shiso pesto!

 

I also plan to experiment with infusing it in vodka. I'm planning a plain shiso infusion and a shiso citrus infusion. If they turn out would you like some?  Oh, yes please!  I would be interested in trying anything you do with shiso!  (Also, thank you for the idea!  I might just pick up some shiso the next time I’m at the Japanese market and try that myself.  I’m curious as to whether if I could do a shiso ume infusion….)

 

8/28/21

 

Would you be interested in this hand sanitizer dispenser/keychain that doubles as a light (its eyes light up when you press between its eyes!)?  (see photo here) I would!  I almost ordered one online earlier this year after seeing it in one of his YouTube videos, but ultimately talked myself out of it because I already have two hand sanitizer dispensers with cute little jack o’ lantern charms that coltostallion sent me in an earlier 13 Nights of Halloween swap.

 

If you're into tabletop games, what games do you already own, and/or what type are you interested in?  None of my family or friends are interested in playing tabletop games with me, so anything requiring more than one player (which is basically everything) is a no go.

 

8/29/21

 

 DO YOU LIKE TRUE CRIME STORIES? Maybe if they’re very old crimes?  I don’t like the ones that are too current – I don’t need any extra nightmare fuel!  Also, I hate unsolved true crime stories.  I like stories to have a conclusive ending. 

 

DO YOU LIKE SEASONAL MAGAZINES ON BAKING AND DECORATING?  I like Halloween ones all right.

 

If you are enthused by the idea of receiving coffee, do you want whole bean or ground? AND do you have flavors that you like (or definitely hate and never want again)?  Clearly not asked by my swapper!  

 

8/30/21

 

Would you be interested in some very size-inclusive tights? There are Halloween patterns, but also most colours under the sun, and are very comfy.  Sorry, I don’t wear tights.

 

What about indie chilli sauces/chutneys/jams? What type of chilli/spice level?  No thank you.
 

In case anyone else shares a love for adorable tiny plushies, any interest in v soft and cute vegetable/fruit plushies? There are also small animals.   I do like tiny adorable plushies.  Animals are much better than fruits and veggies.

 

The Polish Pickup/Indie Pickup is live for wishlisting, and will ship in time for this swap (this year). Anything strike your fancy? (It's not just nail polish...there's jewelry and bath scrubs and wax tarts and all manner of things. It's fun!)  https://polishpickup.com/  No need to pick up anything for me; I’ll definitely be placing my own order! The only thing I would ask for from there is a gift card, since I’ve been placing an order every month since I first learned that this lovely little marketplace existed.

 

8/31/21

 

Anything here sound good to you? https://gryffonridge.com/  The lemon sugar or Tahitian vanilla sugar.  I use flavored sugars on my Cream of Wheat during the winter.  I also occasionally top baked goods with it.

 

Hayden Evens Art has released some new Halloween and Disney-themed prints and stickers.  Do any spark your interest?  Not really my style.

 

So would you hate or be into more miscreant Halloween vibe decor - like wholesome figurines repainted, creepy dolls, goats with horns, (fake) animal skeletons, things in jars? Is anything too dark, morbid, or recoil worthy?  Probably wouldn’t be into any of those things, except maybe the fake animal skeletons.  I especially hate creepy dolls.

 

do you use any sorts of semipermanent dyes or do anything fun/wild to your hair? are there any hair products you like?  No. I’m always thinking about adding some lime green or magenta, but I haven’t found any hair dyes that promise to wash out right away.  I don’t want to be stuck with any weird colors for more than a day or two.

 

what about skincare? i am pretty into k beauty and am curious if others are interested in any aspects of this.  Sorry, not really.

 

9/2/21

 

Regarding tea, what type of tea do you prefer? Black tea, green tea, herbal tea? Any type of tea you really don’t enjoy? Flavored black or green tea, I suppose.  My favorite is Harney & Sons’ Hot Cinnamon Spice; I also love their Dragon Pearl Jasmine.  I like spicy teas and the occasional mint tea.  I really liked Good Earth’s Cocoa Tango tea, but sadly they discontinued it ages ago and I haven’t found a good substitute.  As far as what I don’t enjoy, that would be most rooibos teas and plain black or green tea (although I do like fresh matcha when it’s all foamy and lovely – but I can never seem to make it right myself).

 

9/4/21

 

are you interested in eco-friendly menstrual products? There are some beautiful gothic print reuseable pads I'm looking at specifically.  No thank you.  I am hoping every day that menopause is finally kicking in and I won’t have to deal with that crap anymore.

 

9/6/21

 

Bath and Body Works? I know this is a bit of a love em or hate em company, but I really love their foaming hand soaps and scented hand sanitizers and my kids like their body wash, so I'll be placing an order with the next good sale. Anything that catches your eye?  Perhaps answering this too late, as the good sale may have already come and gone, but I am a heavy user of the PocketBacs and will always take more.

 

9/14/21

 

I'm making homemade applesauce this weekend with apples I picked last weekend. I'm going to try my hand at canning for the first time (got my mom, the experienced canner, on speed dial lol) If I succeed would you like a jar?  No thanks, applesauce isn’t something that I eat.