stellans

Right away upon opening the decant, the lime note jumps out at me; that's just fine because I like lime best of all the citrus notes available, especially when it's a nice, well-behaved lime note. There's no harshness to this lime, and almost not enough acidity to keep it from artificial candy flavoring smell, but it makes the grade. There isn't but a touch of dragon's blood, which is regrettable because that's another favorite note. HOWEVER... as this oil dries, the cedarwood comes roaring to the fore, in all its lead shavings glory and drowns out every vestige of anything else. Sadly, this is what happens practically every time I wear a blend with more than just a vestige of cedar. Pencil shavings. Ugh.

I had such high hopes for this one, because I love patchouli and champaca, and vetiver is usually quite nice on me as well. But some reason, this blend is all vetiver...only in the last vestiges of scent on my arm is there anything there but vetiver, and it's so very, very faint. I'm not sure I want to buy a bottle which is only enjoyable in its very faintest, last bit of existence. I'm going to have to think about this one. No stars for this one, but no "x" either. Yet.

Of all the Mnemosyne scents, this is by far my favorite, although Halloween: San Francisco is so close in standing, they're practically tied. OK, they are tied. I love them both so, so much, though for different reasons. This scent, which is of my beloved evergreens with the slightest hint (to me) of eucalyptus which is another favorite scent, and an even slighter aquatic hint, is so very enjoyable I can't stop huffing my wrists, but it's not weak so that I need to bury my nose in the wrist to smell. And even better, it doesn't change substantially on my skin so that it's also enjoyable in the Snow-Glass-Apples scent locket I wore. There was also an underscent (to me) of dead leaves, which is one of my favorite autumnal scents, making this really, really great for me. It is one of the few BPAL scents which doesn't morph too much from the bottle to my skin in smell, and it totally evokes Halloween to me. I envy people who live where this scent is everywhere!

Oh man. I was really, really hoping the other notes would overpower the incipient foodiness of this blend, because food is really only mentioned the once (icing) - well, maybe the wine could be considered food. But unfortunately, this blend is almost all cake to my nose right now. I was so hoping for champaca, the Snake Oil, and the Dorian! As with Halloween: Los Angeles, though, I am going to hang on to this one, and hope that aging will make it better for me.

Last year, I loved this blend. This year, it has changed drastically on me and I'm not sure why. Too many of my former Halloweenie favorites don't seem to be doing well for me this year, and the one thing they all have in common (besides that they are all Halloweenies) is that they have a sweet component. Unfortunately for me, for some reason my body chemistry is amping whatever sweet note (whether syrup, candy, or fruit) to an unbearable pitch which for me is headache and nausea-inducing, as though I had overstuffed myself on Halloween goodies. Not a good feeling, at all, and one I will not willingly seek out, trust me. I'm going to hang on to those blends --including Halloween: Los Angeles-- for another year to see if perhaps this body chemistry shift (for which I have no explanation this time: no change in meds, health, etc.) will swing back or again to a point where I can enjoy them again. Till then, I'm just a sad panda.

When I first sniffed this in the bottle, I didn't care for at all. The fresh greenness wasn't what I wanted an autumn scent to smell like, and then there was this really strong aquatic note which gave me a bit of a headache. Sadly, I closed the top and put it away. After a year of waiting, I am in love! The green scent is there only in the bottle, while the headache-inducing aquatic note seems to have mellowed to the point of bearability, yay! On, this blend smells exactly like a pile of wet leaves, but there is the definite sense that the wet is more sea-spray than rainwater. There's no burning note, as in a leafy bonfire, but the sense of nearby ocean waves and breezes is unmistakeable. Not quite The Phoenix, nor Pirate Moon, but similar in feel - with leaves! I love this scent, and I'm so happy I still have it. Sometimes aging a scent is all that's needed. ETA: 4 of 5 stars for this Halloween blend.

Here's a not-too-good shot via my iPhone: Image clipped to save space Thanks Stellans! So did you like the scent? I haven't decided if I'm going to get it yet. It's on my list to wear this week. I sniffed the bottle, and it seemed nice but we'll see... I'd love to hear about this one too! my review is here! But to keep this on topic: I heard that October 2011 has a cat on its label, which is totally cool because the icon I made for it is also of a cat. Anybody have a picture of it?

I can't believe I haven't reviewed either of these yet, when October is my birth month and I've loved October the blend since its first introduction. Well, since this year has brought yet another incarnation of October (which review shall be added below), it's time these amazing scents were reviewed. October 2007: This is dry leaves, and the slight smokiness of a bonfire, but it's mostly leaves. Just smelling this evokes Autumn in all it's glory: the reds, oranges, and yellows of trees, and the fun of jumping into a huge pile of leaves. Someone above mentioned a slight saltiness in this, and I agree, there is a slight saltiness but it's not the sea salt of the ocean, it's more earthy, as if you'd found the salt lick in the woods used by deer. This is a definite keeper! 5 of 5 stars, for sure. October 2010: This release is almost the same as the original 2007 release, with maybe just a hint more spice on my skin. The same lovely leaf/fire/wind notes abound, and I am still in love. I have multiple bottles of the 2007 already, though, so I think a single bottle of this year's vintage will be enough. Since the 2007 release aged magnificently, I have no doubt this year's bottle will as well. Much love to Beth for her skill in evoking the sense of my birth month so perfectly. And again: 5 of 5 stars. October 2011: This release is slightly dryer than the 2010 release, a bit more like the original, but there's a hint of sweetness in this one which wasn't present in the first two. For some reason my skin is amping anything sweet this season, but luckily the sweet is so faint that even with my treacherous skin's ampage, this scent is still amazing on me, and I love it so much. The smokiness is also less than the first month, but it's still there, ever so faintly, and the dry leaves are just wonderful. Again, like the 2010 release, because I have so many back-up bottles of the 2007, I am not going to hunt down multiple back-ups of this one. These three October scents are all so perfect, I almost want to wear them excusively for the entire month of October! And rating: why spoil a perfect record - 5 of 5 stars again!

Sadly, what angelicruin said here: is exactly what Halloween: Montreal smells like on me, with the added sweetness of maple syrup which unfortunately doesn't sit well with my skin chemistry. There is a slight smokiness, and I can also smell a hint of the leaves promised -- but unfortunately, the mint overrides everything, so this blend is not anything I can wear or even have open around me.

October 12 I sent you with $20 into a drugstore/Walmart (nothing too fancy/imported/expensive, just your average selection), and you are restricted only to the candy aisle. What would you blow it on? Almond Rocha. Are you interested in anything in the latest round of Lab auctions on eBay? Oh, Voodoo Queen of course! Interested in anything from the Beaver Moon Lunacy update? Batty, but that's about it. And I'm thinking maybe a decant of Batty would do. What favorite song(s) would you think would translate into a cool or unique scent? "Into the West," by Annie Lennox (from The Lord of the Rings soundtrack) Anyone interested in VApothecary's Halloween update? No, thank you. October 10/11 How many boxes are you hoping for? I really don't have any expectations; it's totally up to my witch. How do you feel about loose leaf tea in baggies? I mean, I have a TON of loose leaf, would it be okay if I send you samples in some zip lock baggies? Or is that something that would squick you out? That would be all right with me. How would you feel about getting a custom poster with your favorite quote on it and some cool graphics? If this is something my witch loves to do, then great. What is your favorite kind of cookie? gingersnaps! October 9th Is there anything you would want from NYCC, something you'd like your witch to ask me to pick up? Not this year, thank you. The best thing I ever ate...: boiled shrimp at Murrells Inlet, SC October 8th If you are my witchee, would you want some homemade chilli jam? sure! October 7th Do you like listening to audiobooks? Would you like to receive one, and if you would, what sort of audiobook would you like--or is there a particular audiobook you've been meaning to get? I keep meaning to get the rest of the Harry Potter books on CD (my car has a player); I have Sorceror's Stone only so far. Mac using witchees, what computers do you use? What peripherals/accessories do you have and what would you LIKE to have? What do you use your computer for? I've been a very happy Apple Inc. customer since the purchase of an Apple IIC. We (as a family) have owned several different Macs from their first introduction, but now I use a lovely 15" MacBook Pro. I have a lap desk thingy to keep it off my lap, and a little USB hub I keep plugged in to handle the various things I occasionally use (flash drive, CueCat for adding books to LibraryThing, iPod/iPhone sync cable, the external hard drive I use for Time Machine backups). I think that's about all the peripherals I use, at least that I can think of right now. I do need to get a travel case for it some day (purse style, I think, maybe red?). And what do I use my computer for? Everything. Srsly. I mean it. I find more recipes online than I do in cookbooks; I know more about my kids' and grandkids' lives thanks to their being on Facebook than ever I knew just from phone conversations or the very rare letter; I find out about breaking news; I keep up with increasingly dear and valued internet friends; I shop; and I have my creative outlet --making BPAL scent icons-- thanks to my computer; my husband and I talk at least once a day via Skype, which is so much better than just a phone call; I find out how to get to where I wish to go IRL thanks to Google Maps; and any information I might need (from who played second lead in an obscure movie to the atomic weight of salt) is easily found online. I love my Mac, and even without online access, I would still love my computer - it organizes my life: I have a calendar of my appointments and/or important happenings; databases full of what books I own, or wish to own, movies, perfume, music, even the food I have on hand, all of which sync from my computer to my iPhone so that I can prevent buying duplicates when out and about. I write letters (email as well as snail mail) on my computer, and it also operates as a calculator occasionally, albeit a very expensive one. I store all the digital photos I take on my computer, and keep track of which I've shared with whom. One of these days I hope to figure out how to use an older MacBook + huge external hard drive to rip and store all my movie and TV show DVDs for replay directly to my TV, instead of using a DVD player. October 6th Do you like liquorice? If so, hard or soft? Sweet or salt? Normally salted or so salt it pulls your face into a fishy shape? And which shapes do you like? I like the "Red Vines" or Twizzlers type of licorice only, the cherry-flavored. October 5th Are there any DIY / Crafty / Free / Budget items you'd love to get but haven't noted yet? (Or, maybe you'd just like to emphasize something you may have only noted in passing?) I can't think of anything, but that just means I'd appreciate anything you made! Do you own a DSLR camera? Are you interested in a minky camera strap like these? What about anything from Photojojo? My digital camera (now) is a little Canon Elph PowerShot SD600 (used to be my daughter's, she gave it to me recently when she got a new digital Rebel), which lives in one of the red velvet BPTP bags a scent locket arrived in. I also looked a the Photojojo site, but didn't see anything for me. Is anybody else into film photography? Interested in receiving film, supplies, etc from Lomography? No, thank you. Are you musically inclined? Do you play an instrument or sing? If so, what? I have a piano, and took lessons many, many years ago. I also played the clarinet from junior high through high school (marching band geek). I enjoy singing (second soprano) in community groups, but haven't in a while. October 3rd Does anyone else like collector Barbies? No, thank you. What small everyday items would you like, that you keep forgetting to get? a squeegee to clear my bathroom mirror! I always forget I need one, until the next time I do. Tarot Love tarot decks, have A LOT of them. Tell me about something you like, and why you like it. I have this bracelet I bought from an Etsy vendor, which I just love. It makes me happy to wear it, so it gets chosen a lot. Here's the picture of it: I love the way it feels as I move my wrist; it's very light weight, and quiet, and the shell buttons are so pretty. I love the colors of the complementary beads the artist used in this bracelet. Probably the most expensive thing in this bracelet was the silver toggle fastener, which just proves jewelry doesn't have to cost a lot to make someone happy. If you're the MMU type of Witchee, what Geek Chic Cosmetics tickle your fancy? None, thanks. Would any witchees be interested in Quinn Popcorn? The maple sugar/sea salt sounds intriguing... October 2nd Who likes silly items from Archie McPhee??? Not this round, please. Nocturne Alchemy's NAlloween Pt. 2 update is live here! (And for a few days, last month's update too.) What do you want? Nothing, thank you. What are you drooling over from the Sock Dreams Halloween stuff? Nothing, thank you. Luck charms? I have a piece of clear quartz which goes everywhere with me. Does anyone want anything from... here...? No, thank you. For those of you that like candles, do you like stuff from Yankee Candle? And if you had to choose, tarts or candles? tarts, please. Mr. Stellans has allergies and incense smoke aggravates them, so it's tarts for me. I'm currently obsessed with Nag Champa. Would you be interested in getting a custom necklace from here? I like long necklaces (24" or longer) because my neckline is full of BPTP scent locket. Is there a movie you want so badly that you don’t own now? The Fifth Element. I'm not sure why I haven't bought it yet, I think it just slips my mind until the next time I'm reminded of it. Is there a song on Itunes that you haven’t downloaded yet? My Witch just gifted me with an iTunes gift certificate, so I'm good. Is there a rare book you’ve always wanted? Is there anything you want to buy yourself but have been too embarrassed (R rated or pg)? Not really. Have you seen the Lush holiday update? Do you like the look of anything from there? No, thank you. if you were my witchee, would you want some of my hot nuts my candied nuts my nuts covered in butter and brown sugar candied walnuts? Sure! October 1st Is there anything you either didn't like or had never heard of that you're now curious to try thanks to the discussion in this thread? I don't think so. Reveal? Most of the time, I do. Would you be interested in the #occupywallstreet scent? Bought some, thank you. Like I said in my questionnaire, if an LE comes up that sounds like I'd like it, I'm going to go ahead and get it. Do Paintbox Soapworks' Goat's Milk Hand and Body Creams sound like something you'd like to try? not right now, I've got so much lotion and creams I'm afraid some will go off before I can use them.

My oh-so-fabulous Switch Witch arranged to have a full decant sent to me, and it arrived today! I really, really love the pomegranate note in this blend, but even more I love how this blend morphs: it starts out as really juicy pomegranate, then a slight woodiness begins to emerge plus maybe a slight floral hint, but then the scent descends into a dark incense-y patchouli with just a bit of the fruit still evident, but then the pomegranate comes back strong, and the patchouli and pomegranate finish in a very pleasing duet. I wasn't able to pick out lilac as an individual note, but there is definitely a floral sweetness (unidentifiable by me) in the middle of this blend. I think I got the spiciness of the pepper there at the end, but I'm not sure what dracaena smells like. If it's a form of Dragon's Blood, that has always reminded me of lilac and I just didn't smell lilac. To my nose and on my skin, this blend is a very wonderful combination of patchouli and pomegranate, which are two of my favorite notes. The Crypt King is a fabulous blend, and a perfect consort for Crypt Queen. Maybe some day I can hunt down a bottle. ETA: Four out of 5 stars for Crypt King

September 30th Witchee, would you like anything from this particular Haunt update? no, thank you. Who's interested in Halloween: Montreal? I am, and I ordered a bottle - Witch, like I told you, I will just about always order the LEs which come along, because of their potentially limited window of availability. You get a package in the mail containing 3 things you have really wanted more than anything else you've mentioned so far in this thread. (they are all reasonably priced of course! ~$20 or less apiece). What are they? Good questions! 1. This Westie thing, and thank you who ever pointed this link out! 2. An Air Element bracelet like this 3. A Ravenclaw scarf like this, or really, almost anything Ravenclaw, LOL! how do you feel about hemp? jewelry, soap, etc? I have no problem with hemp products, though I do find it a bit scratchy when used in jewelry. I think William Randolph Hearst was a jerk for demonizing it just to keep his profit margin high. I despise yellow journalism. September 29th What kind of purse do you prefer? Leather, cloth? over the shoulder or crossbody, or something that can do either? Do you like bold bright prints with fun things, or monochrome, solid colours? I like leather, over the shoulder usually, although I'm a little intrigued by the arm-held handbags currently in style because they seem so... Queen-Mother-ish somehow. I like monochrome solid colors usually, though a splash of something bright and fun is sometimes good. julep maven monthly boxes: I'd probably not appreciate most of the contents, and whoa, the price! Your favorite restaurant or type of food to eat out. Would you use a restaurant.com voucher? Groupon? We like Mexican food a lot, and seafood. Neither Groupon nor restaurant.com is active here though. Like commercial socks? Answered in my ?'aire already. What kind of bear is best? My favorite toy as a toddler was an Andy Panda bear. Is anyone interested in reading The Night Circus? After reading one review where it was described as 'like reading a travel brochure while high as a kite,' I don't think so. It also sounds a bit too much like the "Twilight" style for my taste. Hershey's Pumpkin Spice kisses? No, thanks. I'm a chocolate almond or cherry Kisses girl. I have a not-so-secret love for The Broship of the Rings. Are there any prints from her store you'd like? Not my thing. Who here likes Stephanie Pui-Min Law's artwork? I'm glad I bought her tarot deck, and I have a print of her Libra illustration. Do you drink wine? very occasionally; since I usually like drinks that don't taste like alchohol, it's almost a 'what's the point' kind of thing where I'm concerned. Is it just me who is nervous at revealing herself to her witchee, and finding out who her witch is?! I'm always nervous about this! Witches, did you lament NOT getting one of the condom case/imp cases that got released with the courtesan series??? No, 'cause I did. I recently saw candy corn in non-candy corn flavors like CHOCOLATE and CARAMEL APPLE. It's not a fancy brand, I just saw it in the drugstore, but who here would like something like that? No, thanks. September 28th JONES SODA CO has LE soda packs for The Guild, Buffy, D&D, So Cute, etc. Would you be interested in these, Witchee? Yes! I'd love a set of The Guild sodas. It'sBanned Books Week! Are there any books on the list you'd be interested in checking out? I've read all the ones which interest me, Witch. I have just been enlightened to THESE. Are these flavors relevant to your interests? No, thank you. September 27th What is something people are always surprised to learn about you? It usually surprises people to learn I'm Pagan. So who else watched Babylon 5? At the time it was on, we didn't have the channel it was shown on. I plan to try watching it one of these days. If you had to decide what your stripper name was, what would it be? Based on first pet/street, mine would be Mitzi Croxdale (we moved around a LOT when I was growing up and this is the earliest street name I remember). Sooooo Witchees, have you ever taken that particular personality test? If so, are you an Analytical, a Driver, an Expressive or an Amiable? Expressive Is anyone else afraid of or creepy out by dummies/puppets/Muppets/etc? Other things you're squicked/freaked by that's best left by the wayside? Do not like any of these except Muppets, and I am totally squicked out by any kind of bugs/spiders, and clowns. what level of contact were you hoping for? High. Your favorite restaurant or type of food to eat out. Would you use a restaurant.com voucher? Groupon? I enjoy what passes for Mexican food here in TN, and I don't think there's any Groupons which work here. I don't know about restaurant.com. Are there any local museums/attractions you keep never getting around to going to? I never got to go to Biltmore House, but I will...I will. September 26th Is there any kind of international candy you love or would like to try? I've heard Cadbury's in the UK is miles ahead of what is sold in the US under the same name. I'd love to try some Nuts and Fruit Cadbury's to see for myself. What is something totally random (yes, that thing that just popped into your head) that hasn't been covered by any previous questions? Um...absolutely nothing popped into my head except to think "what???" Is there any cheesy/non-cheesy Canadian stuff you'd be interested in? My daughter pretty much has this covered, thank you. If you were to go here and create your very own chocolate bar, what might it have in it? oh my gravy, this is a great site! OK... I'd love a dark chocolate bar with cayenne, pecans, caramel rice, sea salt, and cherries. Is there anything you're wanting from LPMP? No, thanks. say you stumbled into Camp Half Blood (or whatever the Roman camp ends up being named <bounces in anticipation>), which god claims you? I tried to get into Percy, but the first book just didn't grab me, and I didn't even finish it. But I would hope Juno would claim me. September 25th Stuff you've been meaning to do: 1. Organize my scrapbook stuff (long overdue. 2. Sort the magazine clippings into folders. 3. Get all the recipes I've printed out from the net sorted into binders. 4. Finish tagging, renaming, and sorting the icons I uploaded to the BPAL Icon Collection on Flickr. Would you be interested in regional jams, jellies, or other preserves? Of course! Do you have any bedtime rituals? Is there any particular product you have to apply or a certain shirt you wear or an act you perform to get you in the "bedtime" mood? I always take a shower, put on my nightgown, and lay out what I'm going to wear the next day. Pond's cold cream on the face, the night's Lunacy, and a glass of ice water on the night stand, and I'm ready to sleep. Are you interested in today's/any recent Tee Fury shirts? I am holding off of tee shirts until I lose weight. Princess Bride? Yay or nay? Oh, so much YAY! What's your favorite classic fairytale, witches East of the Sun and West of the Moon September 24th how do you feel about ethical animal fiber, i.e. wool and the like? I'm fine with it in theory, but I can't wear wool. What about little wee creatures for your desk or mantel? Not this round, please. Look down. What are you wearing, right now? lilac cotton nightshirt Kerchiefs? sure, why not? It's the weekend, and you find yourself without a single chore or responsibility for a few hours. Right this very moment, what's the one thing you would do if you could do anything? To be honest, since it's just me, the cat and the dogs right now, I can do pretty much anything I want, when I want. September 23rd Is there anything you'd like from the Mütter Museum Store? I looked through the whole store and I didn't see anything, but thanks. I just noticed that Cocoa Pink has 5 ml Perfume Atomizers. Yay or nay? Scents you would like? Scents you would NOT like? no, thank you. what's your favorite kind of pizza? Papa John's Tuscan 6-cheese who are your style/fashion icons? post pics if you want! Helen Mirren; I love how she dresses to suit herself. Also Brooke Elliott (star of "Drop Dead Diva"), who is a full-figured woman who dresses impeccably most of the time. It makes me smile to see her outfits. Are there any food items you're craving/aren't able to find around your area? Pink Peanut Patties (I think these are only available in TX, if at all still). September 22nd Would you like a photo collage based around your interests/favorite colors/favorite themes? That would be neat. If you're crafty, are you interested in spoonfeather? And if so, what things there delight your eyes? I don't know what this is, and if there was a link, it didn't copy to lioness' blog. Colors! What are your favorite colors and what colors do you not like? Pictures and links, people! This was covered in the ?'aire: jewel tones are my favorites. What is your favorite word? serendipity, both to say and for what it means. What are the feelings on arm warmers? Color, style, texture, length? I prefer fingerless mitts, 100% cotton, dark navy blue Do you like tarts? tealights? jar candles? votives? nag champa tarts! What's your favorite flavor? Sour, sweet, bitter, salty? Sweet and salty together. So, are there any online gaming witchees who covet purchasable in-game items or other gamer-y stuff? (yup, geek question) no, thank you. What is your favorite coffee blend at Starbucks? If you don't have one, what is your favorite roast of coffee? I'm so boring; I just like medium roast regular coffee. September 21st Cthulhu: yay or nay? Lovecraft's work confuses me, but yay. Is there something that you wish you could do, but you keep putting it off? Too complicated to get into. Put your current mp3player (I am the anti-apple, so no ipod ), winamp playlist, what have you, on shuffle, list the first 10 songs: Georgia On My Mind, Ray Charles Layla, Eric Clapton Tears Of Love's Recall, k.d. lang Lily Of The West, The Chieftains & Mark Knopfler Lights Out, Johnny Winter Four Doors to Elfland, Emerald Rose Break On Through, The Doors Telephone Song, B.B. King La Vanidosa, The Iguanas Lush Life, Queen Latifah Witchee, have you made (or are you planning to make) any Lab or Trading post orders soon? And if you did (or plan to), you should share what you're getting. I bought some Halloweenies: Samhainophobia 2011, October 2011, The Ta-Ta, and Halloween:Las Vegas. I usually only buy LEs until after Switch Witch. Do you have any interest in rocks? Not like, polished colorful stones.. but like... rocks. With geologic significance! I love rocks. If your witch were to knit you a scarf/shawl/cowl, which would you prefer, and what features would you want? Would you prefer something light and drape-y or thick and warm? What kind of colors would you prefer? Do you have any fiber allergies or preferences? I do love scarves or hats, or fingerless mitts, light and drape-y, as long as it's made of cotton, please. I can't handle wool or linen, and really don't care for acrylics. If you have a pet, could you please post a photo of it? I really need to see what your pet, if you have one, looks like. 3 dogs pictured in order: Abbie, Sadie, and Charlie and 1 cat, Miller. Do you like/own/wear/want fairy wings or something of the like? No, thank you. How do you feel about terrariums? I love them. What's your favorite horror movie? I don't like horror movies at all. If your witch was the practical type and wanted to include one or more of your everyday essentials, what would those include? I'm talking about the bath products, lotions, face lotions, teas, food, etc that you really use every day. I like bar shampoo (lavender, rosemary, grass scents preferred); I use Pond's cold cream at night; for lotion, I use Villainess Ennui Whipped; bath soap preferences are Paintbox Soapworks Sweet 100s, Beet It, and Walk in the Woods, or Villainess Signature Villainess. I drink mainly Earl Grey or Bengal Spice tea. I love dried fruits, especially cherries and apricots. Jane Austen .. Yay or Nay? Very much 'yay!' I refer you to my avatar... I put up quotes I love in my office and studio to get me going, They range from goofy to sarcastic to inspirational... Are you interested in a hand painted quote? Do you have one in mind, or a topic in mind? This is a cute idea! I like quotations by women, such as: --I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a door mat or a prostitute. --Rebecca West --I prefer the word "homemaker" because "housewife" always implies that there may be a wife someplace else. --Bella Abzug --I think it's about time we voted for senators with breasts. After all, we've been voting for boobs long enough. --Clarie Sargent, Arizona senatorial candidate --Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths. --Lois Wyse --I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves. --Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley The search for human freedom can never be complete without freedom for women. --Betty Ford --I have a brain and a uterus and I use them both. -Pat Schroeder --If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one. --Dolly Parton Do you like period or period-styled paraphernalia? Stuff like postcards, notecards, jewelry, office supplies, what-have-you? Oh, yes. I love Jane Austen period stuff. If you like manga, comics, and/or graphic novels, what is it about them that you like, in general? The story, the art/style, etc? I like stories. I only collect Firefly and The Guild, however. If you could choose a Smack, what would it have in it? These layers in order: Suede, Incense, Suede, Vanilla Bean if you could have a salon scent made, based on any artwork(s) what would it be? Christina's World, by Andrew Wyeth Are you scientifically curious and/or process-oriented? Would you like a project-type gift that allowed you do do something like make soap from scratch, take and (nontoxic-ly) develop photographs using a pinhole camera, use plant dyes on yarn or fabric, etc.? No, thank you. What's 'your' song/your theme song? "I Feel the Earth Move" by Carole King What would be your superpower? Invisibility. Witchee, would you like a gently used BPAL tshirt? No tshirts for me, please. Do you like homemade snack mixes? I know Puppy Chow was mentioned in a previous question, but what about healthier and more natural type snacks like granola or trail mix? You can put a lot of delicious and fun things into trail mix, yeah? If you say "Sure, I'd love some!" what kinds of things do you like/not like in those kinds of snacks, ie coconut flakes, raisins, certain nuts (allergies??), candy, etc. Give us your list of DO's and DON'Ts! My only "DON'T" is no mint. I absolutely love 'sweet and salty,' like Tootsie Rolls and popcorn, for instance. Do you like charm bracelets? If you had a bracelet, what sort of charms would you want on it? Favorite hobbies, symbols, whatever? One of these days I'd love a silver charm bracelet with a Westie, a cat, a pentacle, a libra glyph, a Scottish thistle, a book, scissors, and something symbolizing BPAL. September 20th Would you like any ecotools makeup brushes? They're kinda one of my favorite things ever, and they're animal-friendly and the handles are bamboo. And to top it all off, they work really well for applying makeup. I have a couple of sets of good brushes, including the eco-friendly kind, so I don't need any more, thank you. Do you like Legos? Especially mini-fig key chains, Lego block keychains, small Lego sets, etc? Not really; I stepped on too many in the middle of the night when my children were young to have much appreciation for them now, LOL! Since the previous question about "what would you buy from the Lab if you had unlimited funds, etc" left WAY too much to the imagination with no limitations (my answer was pretty much BUY ALL THE THINGS!), what would you do if you found a $50 bill on the ground and a nagging voice in the back of your mind told you that you HAD to spend it on BPAL or else face Death. Also, say they had free shipping (LOL) so don't factor that in. What would you get? And spend it all! Or as close to $50 as you can get. I just realized my bottle of The Penitent Magdalen in almost empty, and I need another, so that would be 1; I'd also get a bottle of The Dormouse, which brings the total to $45.50, so that's what I'd get. Are there any characters that you love or identify with? I love Elizabeth Bennett from Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice, Aeron Aoibhell from Patricia Kennealy-Morrison's "The Copper Crown," and from Elizabeth Scarborough's book, "Last Refuge," I love Chime Cincinnati. A question! If you are crafty, what's your personal art style? I'm not talking just about what art you like to look at, but what kind of art do you like creating? Do you have a "process" while you're creating beauty? I like pasting little bits of paper together to make pretty things for my scrapbook. This usually involves patterns, good scissors, acid-free adhesive, pretty acid-free paper, and archival ink pens (Sakura Pigma Micron pens are my favorites, they come in several sizes but I like 005, 01, and 002 best). Are there any Arcana Weenies that you MUST HAVE? Gosh, I have hard enough time keeping up with BPAL! So what say you? IS an "unexpected" visit/in-person witching OK? I wouldn't mind if they give me a heads-up so I can be sure to be here. September 19th What strange misc. items would you love to receive that you just haven't gotten for yourself? I have the hardest time thinking of things like this, I'm so sorry, Witch! I'll try to see if I can come up with something. How do you feel about franken polish? Are you okay with all chemicals, or would you prefer 3 free? Would you want glitter or holographic glitter? What colors would interest you? I really don't use nailpolish all that much; I answered this in the ?'aire. Dear witchee, how do you feel about lip balm? Favorite style (twist up tube, pot, tube with wand, etc.)? Favorite flavors? Flavors to avoid? Favorite brand? Do you need more right now or are you set? Are you one of those people who could never have enough lip balm even though you have a bowl on your dresser overflowing with them and 10 in your purse and an order for more on the way? I'm pretty much set for lip balm, thank you. Would you be interested in getting fountain pen inks or art supplies via JetPens and or DickBlick? (I know I have a wishlist on JetPens and just love using fountain pens in my artwork) ooooh! I'm getting re-interested in fountain pens! I used to have a nice one which my grandfather used (the kind with the lever to fill from a bottle) but it got misplaced during a move. I never got another true fountain pen, and this would be cool. For those interested in watercolors, how would you feel about getting a palette filled with paint from my watercolor tubes but not getting the paint tube itself? (kind of like this but without the covers for the compartments and bigger http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream) I wish I were artistic enough for this, but I'm just really not. Words are more my medium. How do you feel about getting art supplies in general? (copic markers, watercolor, brushes, paint, sketchbooks etc.) I decorate my journals, but usually with snippets from magazines, ribbons, that kind of thing more than personal drawings, because I cannot draw. Even my stick figures aren't recognizable. How do you feel about Threadless tshirts? I don't wear tshirts. If you were turned loose in a basic drug store (CVS, Walgreens - a pharmacy with attached mini-mart, basically!) with a $20 bill, what would you pick up? I usually make a beeline for the school supplies: notebooks, crayons, pens, that kind of thing. I'm a sucker for school/office supplies. Darling Witchee, would you enjoy farmer's market pickled veggies (green beans, garlic, asparagus, etc) or fresh canned peaches or something of that nature? Oh yes! Do you prefer color or white photographs? Nature or abstract? nature, please, and I like color or black/white. would you be interested in something like this? https://lostcrates.com/how-it-works This seems really cool, but whoa - $38/month?!?! Amigurumi, yes or no? I'm not sure what this is - is it animé? I'm not much for animé. I have a question! What are some of your favorite paintings? (famous or undiscovered?) Feel free to link to examples! If you could have an image painted for you - sky is the limit - what would it be? Name your 3 favorite scents for candles Nag champa, nag champa, and nag champa. Name your 3 favorite types/flavors of tea Bengal Spice Chamomile Earl Grey September 18th Do you wear t-shirts? Are there particular things you like on them? Would you like one designed by your Witch? And, if you don't mind saying, what size t-shirt do you wear? I love t-shirts, but I don't wear them because they do not look good on me at all, and if they are large enough, they are always crew-neck type, which makes me feel choked. How do you feel about pumpkin scented things? Not perfume related, but soap, candles, etc.... No, thank you. Has anyone else heard of or does anyone else love Glamourkin? Don't know what it is. If you had an international witch, is there anything you would like from the UK? (Or Australia, Belgium, France any other country we have witches from. If my witch is international, I would love something indicative of where they live. Actually, this holds true for US witches as well. Dear witchee, if you answered 'Mac' to the Mac/PC question previously issued by another participant, please tell me what kind of computer you have, what peripherals you own (like the wireless trackpad, wireless vs/wired keyboard and mouse), and whether you're interested in Apple-related items (stickers, keychains, other things with the logo, etc). I have a MacBook Pro (17" black), and I wouldn't mind Apple swag. SOCK PREFERENCES? thin, light-weight cotton only, please. Would you like/wear a pair of these? http://www.ravelry.c...rary/yoga-socks If so, what color? I really don't see the point of socks which leave your toes bare, so no, thank you. Is there anyone here who likes toe socks? You know, those socks with a place for each toe? No, my big toe gets lonely. September 17th Are you looking for a certain kind of DVDs to spruce up your collection right now? I think this is covered in my questionnaire, but if you need more, dear Witch, let me know. Does anyone like postcards? Is anyone willing to be a Nacho witch for postcards? Mail of any kind is always good. And I'm willing to be a postcard Nacho Witch for any who ask! I live where Casey Jones, the engineer, has a museum in his honor, and only an hour away from Graceland. Anyone going to see any good concerts this fall? No. Do you like Star Trek? Original TV series, films, spinoff series, etc? Favorite characters? I've loved Star Trek since it first began broadcasting the year I was in the 6th grade. I took part in the massive write-in campaign to NBC protesting its imminent cancellation and shove to the side in favor of Laugh-In. Sulu was always my favorite! Witchee, would you like a framed photograph and of what? Swans! or Roses! September 16th Are you more prone to order out or cook at home? Would you be interested in cookbooks, kitchen utensils, and the like? If so, anything specific? Cook at home, and yes to all your questions! As to something specific, I know there's some things but right now my mind is blank. New question: How do you feel about maple syrup? Love the real thing, despise the imitations or what big companies try to pass of as maple syrup. How do people feel about little pocket shrines, maybe something inspirational/motivational to keep in their purses/backpacks/whatever? (Like these: http://www.art-shrin...cketshrines.htm) Love. These. Want. One. Do you like Star Wars? Original Trilogy? Prequels? Spin-offs? Favorite characters? It's ok, but I prefer Firefly, Doctor Who, and Star Trek. Do you like beef jerkey, I know some may be vegatarian, but where I live beef is a staple and beef jerkey abounds. If so do you it really thin, hard and crunchy or thicker and softer. (OK that borders on obscene)- We love jerky around here. Also do you like or racier ecards from time to time and do you need to be warned if something may be not safe to open at work. No warning needed, but if something is 'racy,' I'd rather be for a good joke or something, not just racy to be racy. Weird, I know. Doctor Who? Yay or nay? (please don't make me cry by saying nay) Love Doctor Who! I was introduced to the Doctor as Christopher Eccles, and I love David Tennant and now Matt Smith's incarnations. I'm only just now beginning to meet the earlier incarnations, but I jones mightily for a long Doctor-style scarf. I have a couple spare Doctor Who stickers. If my witchee is a fan, would they like a couple Doctor Who stickers in their package? Oh my yes! Anyone love Buffy/Angel? Seen all the shows and enjoyed them, but I'm not a 'lover,' per se. How would you feel about gummies? Like, gummy bears? Gummy werewolves? Gummy vampires? No gummies for me, please. The consistency squicks me out (in a way jelly beans will never do). How would you feel about a totally original Gela-skin for your laptop/iPod/phone? Stickers? Decals? I love Gela-skins, so yes! Since this is a Halloween round, what's your Creepy threshold? Are you a cartoon bats and smily pumpkins person or a skulls-and-bones the-dead-are-rising kind of person? Are your fairytales dark or Disney? I get nightmares all too easily, but by the same token I like dark fairy tales sometimes. *shrug* I really don't like gore movies, nor am I good with things popping out at me. And my imagination works overtime to scare me more than any movie could, but I don't like scary movies anyway. Are your ears pierced, Witchee? Do you have any other piercings? Would you like to receive any items of jewelry for these piercings? My ears are double-pierced, and as long as the earrings are pure precious metal (either gold, silver, platinum or at least surgical steel) send them on, yay. BUT...due to hand problems, I have a hard time with little thingies like post earrings and those little stopper things people wear on French hooks. I usually just wear either leverbacks or hoops. How do you all feel about Whoopie Pies? I'd rather have the original Moon Pie, frankly. Or cupcakes. September 15th interested in anything from Lush? No, thank you. Do you blog? Would you like a header for your blog, a layout, etc? I only write occasionally on LJ, so this wouldn't be something I really need. Would you be interested in a handmade bookmark? I love bookmarks! do you like chex puppy chow or muddie buddies (ingredients: semi-sweet chocolate chips, PB, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, chex cereal)? would you want to get some from your witch / nacho witch? Yes! (Forget anything you might read elsewhere about diets or something. Srsly. Forget. That.) How would you feel about receiving a Groupon deal for something in your local area? If there is anything you WOULDN'T like, mention that also. There really isn't anything in my area that Groupon works on, but thanks anyway. September 14th Can you sum yourself (whether it be personality, life's goals, ethics, whatever) in 10 words or less? I want to leave the world better for having lived. How about little bottles of booze? Ya wanna? What kind? Maybe kahlua, or Baily's Irish Cream. Not really a big drinker, but those are good every now and then. What are your views on fudge and brownies? (Also, if you live in a warm place, where the fudge might melt, that'd be helpful to know. Or, if you're diabetic and fudge is death, that'd be useful to know, too.) Oh my word, Mr. Stellans and I love fudge and brownies. But we are both Type II diabetics, so... oh, what the heck. We'll ration it out. YES. Please. Also, what about mochi? Love it, hate it, baffled by it? Baffled. I will have to google it... Anything from the update ya'll are liking? BPTP UPDATE Not really, once I missed out on Crypt King (pomegranate is one of my favorite notes.) Does anyone like kimchi? I have tried it, and just couldn't develop a taste for it. Would you be interested in a sample box(from somewhere like Birchbox or loosebutton)? You have to place a Lab and Trading Post order. Right fuckin' now. No spending limits. What do you buy? Lab: Antony, Old Scratch, Ranger, Rogue, Bow & Crown of Conquest, Crowley, Persephone; BPTP: one each of any locket I don't have yet. Paintbox Soapworks - anything you're interested in, in general or from the latest update? Beet It, Walk in the Woods, Sweet 100s are my favorites. Do you guys have any sports that you follow obsessively? How about favorite teams and/or athletes Not really. How do you feel about notebooks/journals/stationery? Anything you need or particularly like? I'm starting to get back to handwriting my journal rather than digitally keeping one. So blank books would be welcome! I like spiral bound best so they can lay flat while I write in them, and I sometimes like to 'redecorate' the covers. Does confetti/glitter make you angry or fill you with glee? I really dislike getting glitter/confetti in packages or letters because it's so hard to clean up and I have animals whom it may physically harm. Fabulous witches and witchees, perhaps you all could note of you've received MeiLin's goodies? Or if you want? I've received (and given!) MeiLin's writings! And while I am in awe of her skills, I'm not much for eroticism, though I feel it is a nice thing to have in the world for others' enjoyment. How do you feel about stuffed animals/plushies/general soft, cuddly things? If you like them, what kind of animals would you be interested in? No, thank you. I have 3 stuffed animal destruction machines residing here, and I hate cleaning up all that fluff. how interested would you be on somewhat personalized bottle cap labels? Like these that I did? This is such a lovely idea - but I do my own using the icons I enjoy making. When you're miserably sick (*sniffle, cough!*) what are the things that comfort you the most? A book, a snuggly, and a warm critter or 4 snuggled up to me. What constitutes ultimate luxury to you? (go crazy!) A self-replenishing bank account. What do you really NOT want? make-up, knick-knacks, or BPAL storage boxes. Don't use the first, don't want to pack for moving the second, and have enough of the third. September 13th How would you feel about kitchen towels and other similar household objects, if they are pretty or a souvenir? I have absolutely no objection to useful objects! How did you dress up for your last party or compulsory-formal-dress occasion? I wore this in black, with a diamond clip which belonged to my grandmother in the v-neck of the over-gown and her diamond earrings, and low black slingbacks. I enjoyed myself a lot, because this dress was so comfortable and fun to dance in! (This was at the last fundraiser for Madison County CASA, the event we call CASAblanca). Do you enjoy puzzles/riddles? (Cryptograms, Sudoku, Crossword, Jigsaw, etc) Not any more, really. Witchee, would you be interested in having a special tea cup/coffee mug/glass to drink out of? A very sweet former Witch (Scotchgrrl, Fall 2009) gave me a cup I am still using, one she painted herself, with a swan on one side and Icon Queen on the other. Shorter answer: yes. September 12th Would you like to receive e-books? And if so, in what format? I have a Kindle II (and no plans to upgrade as long as this one works and I can find stuff to put on it), and I always welcome new reads. If you have kids, would you be interested in getting things for them? And if so, what are they interested and what sizes are the wearing now? My children are grown with children of their own; in fact, my oldest grandchild started high school this year. All I have at home now are four-footed children. Would you be interested in a felted handbag? Do any of these styles appeal to you? http://tinyurl.com/3o2epzl (there's at least one guy-friendly style, too!) These are cute as they can be, but I use a Healthy Back Bag to keep my back from giving me problems. Plus it has dragonflies on it. Plus it has lots of inner pockets for stuff. I love having a place for everything. Are there are patterns, motifs, etc that you especially like? Stars and/or swans. Always. Witchee, would you be interested in having a special tea cup/coffee mug/glass to drink out of? As I said in the question about knick-knacks, maybe not this round so there's a bit less to pack and move. If you're a tea drinker, is there any specific tea you would like to receive, not just the kind/flavor but also the type/packing--i.e., tea bags, loose tea, compressed, etc? Loose is my preferred tea mode now, please. September 11th I am fond of the thrift. Do you mind lightly used goods? Please be specific! For instance, I'm a little squicked by used clothing, but I don't mind any other used goods (i.e. books, glassware, games, DVDs, whatever.) I'm with you in everything you said! Do you have an Etsy shop? Do you know of any Etsy shops that are Switch Witch friendly? I hope the SW player who keeps up with this will post the links! Would a gift or a postcard from Disneyland make you squee with delight or puke into your mail box? I actually boycott all things Disney for reasons which don't belong in this thread. what are your favorite types of Halloween candy? I actually like those cheap peanut butter kisses. Do you prefer soap or shower gel? Please give examples of your favorite scents or brands. I go into this in a bit of detail on my ?'aire. How do you like your chocolate? For example with nuts, mint, peanut butter, caramel? Yes. --Except to the mint. No mint. *shudder* Beads! Do you use them? Would you want some? What sorts of beads do you like? I'm not as able to make jewelry any more, so these would more than likely be wasted on me. Anyone here like caramels? Sea salted caramels?!?! Love. Them. Would you like a hand dyed or hand painted scarf or wrap or other item? If so, what colors/designs/fabrics do you like? Yes! Swans and stars would be my favored design, and non-itchy natural materials, please. This was a question before, but does anyone here like stones? Just pretty polished stones for use in whatever purposes? I love polished stones; in fact, I keep a nice wooden bowl of them just for stress relief. September 10th What #1 actor, director, author and/or musician are you obsessed with? I'm not really obsessed with anyone in that way. are you interested in anything from the Villainness Bad Apples update? Not this time. If you have a pet, would he/she/they like to receive a treat or a toy as a gift? Does your pet have any dietary restrictions or other preferences w.r.t. said treat? Oh my goodness, my dogs adore meat treats but I don't let them have anything from China. Two of my dogs are sensitive to grains, no I keep only meat treats for them (jerky, freeze-dried, etc.), and no rawhide. My cat loves catnip, and all kinds of toys. Caution: anything for the cat must also not be dangerous to the dogs, as Miller is always leaving his toys around and the dogs eat them. What are your top three "I want to try them but I think I'll never get to try them" (or, "I've tried them and I want moar moar moar, but I don't think I'll ever get any") scents/bath oils/sprays? 1. Looking Glass bath oil; 2. Holly King v6 3. LUES11 Is there a particular artist and piece that you would like a print of? If so, what is your max size that you could spare on your walls? I love Mucha (especially the Spring-Summer-Winter-Autumn, and work like them); I also like Klimt's Hygeia and The Kiss; and pretty much all of Susan Seddon-Boulet's goddess prints (I do already have Bastet, Isis, Diana, The High Priestess, and Lady of the Lake, though). If you are in to beauty and makeup related stuff, what kind of stuff do you like? What is your skintone and hair color? Are there any beauty products you've wanted to try but just never purchase? I'm really not much into beauty/makeup any more, though I will occasionally throw on some mascara and lipstick...very occasionally, however. Do you like coffee or tea? Would you be interested in trying some different types? I'm really cutting back on caffeine, though maybe a nice herbal blend would be nice. No mint, though. Are there any CDs/Albums you've been wanting but haven't bought yet? What format do you prefer? (i.e. mp3, actual cd, record, etc) I'd like to have Adele's CD, and I prefer mp3's personally since I put all my music on my iPod and can get much, much more in that format. Are you going away for any part of this round? Mr. Stellans' and my birthdays are the first week of October, and we were planning to go somehere but that is very much up in the air now. Other than that slight possibility, no. Would you like to receive a mix-CD from your Witch? I always like these! If your witch were going somewhere on a vacation during the round, would you want a little souvenir? Under regular circumstances, yes, but since I am going to need to get this house ready to sell and to pack for moving, not this time. Do you enjoy any outdoor activities? Do you have a favorite form of "exercise"? I am not good outdoors when it's hot, which is most of the time in this region. Any witchee's with a ravelry account have any favourited patterns that cost money that would be a welcome gift? no. Do you work/study at a desk and enjoy interesting or cute office supplies? I could really use an adjustable self-inking date-stamper. Witchee, are you a fan of musicals? If so, which ones? I love musicals! The last one I saw in person was Cats in Atlanta (and yes, we dressed up!), and the one before that was Phantom of the Opera. I like all sorts of musicals, old and new. September 9th Do you like to burn incense? If so, what are your favorite kinds...sticks? cones? resins? What are your favorite scents? I love incense, but it aggravates Mr. Stellans' allergies, so I stick to tarts for my atmosphere-scenting (nag champa is my favorite). Harry Potter - a fan? If so, what house are you? Huge fan, HYUGE. And I'm Ravenclaw, baby! (and it may be sacrilege, but I actually prefer the movie's change to blue and silver for the Ravenclaw house colors rather than the book's blue and bronze. I like silver best ALWAYS.) If you were to receive a gift card, what places would you like to get one from? Amazon! Is there a particular myth/folktale/legend/fairytale/godstory that you're drawn to? Silver Apples of the Moon, Golden Apples of the Sun - so you can imagine how thrilled I was at this year's Halloweenie Update! If you RP, tabletop, forum, or otherwise... Do you have any original characters you'd like to see art of? If so, please give information! Even if it's a link to a web page or a profile or picture! I don't. If you could see anything, what would it be? Can be a person, an event, a landmark or monument, an object, etc. And it doesn't have to be on this planet, or in this time period, or in this reality! I would dearly love to see the 7 Worlds of Keltia, especially the Throne World of Erinna. When you are having a really rough day, what do you like to do/have to make it a little brighter? Either share a smooch with my DH, or a cuddle with one or more 4-legged babies. What are your thoughts on comics? Any you like? Any you have been wanting to try? Favorite characters? I have a lot of favorite web comics, like xkcd, Simon's Cat, Questionable Content, Unshelved, and Hyperbole and a Half. I also like print comics, which I read online mostly now anyway: Bizarro, Mutts, Rhymes with Orange, Six Chix, Mother Goose & Grimm, Pardon My Planet, Sylvia, Pooch Cafe, Doonesbury, Non Sequitur, FoxTrot Classics, Pickles, Cul de Sac, Arlo and Janis, Over the Hedge, Pearls Before Swine, and Brewster Rockit (not a mis-spelling, trust me). Are you musical? Do you play an instrument, and if so, what? If not, what do you wish you could play or do? I took piano lessons when younger and still fumble around a little; I played the clarinet for 2 years in junior high and 4 years in high school, but don't miss it at all. I really wanted to play the drums but my parents said they couldn't afford the drum kit (and I didn't know the school provided everything except the sticks!) Does anyone garden? And if you do, what do you grow? If not, would a starter garden kit be something you'd be interested in? I love to grow herbs, but it has to be outside because there's no place in my current house which gets enough sunlight for growing them indoors. Every year I grow parsley, lavender, sage, basil, rosemary, oregano, and thyme. I also love to grow tomatoes: cherry or grape tomatoes are my favorite, and this year I tried Roma tomatoes as well, but think I'll stick with cherry or grape tomatoes next year. Do you decorate for Halloween? Is your decorating taste elegant, kitschy and fun, or scary? I don't really decorate for Halloween. (blasphemy, I know.) Witchee, do you have any symbols or totems that have special meaning for you? Moon symbols, my personal astrological signs (Libra Sun, Capricorn Moon, Taurus Ascendent), and stars are my favorite symbols. The swan is my personal 'totem.' Is anyone fond of programs like Adopt a Tree/Highway/Library/Manatee/Acre of Rainforest/etc?: I love programs like this, and am very active in them. September 8th From the Weenie Update....what are you most wanting to try? All of the Silver Apples of the Moon, Golden Apples of the Sun blends, but I only ordered decants for 3: Green Apple of Venus, Glittering Apple of the Stars, and Silver Apple of the Moon. Who's into nail polish? What colors/brands? I use Opi 25 Colorful Years on my toes, but that's about it. Is there a quote (or lyric or part of a poem) that really resonates with you or is your favorite? Rather cliché, but I've always loved Frost's "The Road Not Taken." Dream candle? Scent, color, type (tealight, votive, pillar, jar, etc.), throw... Nag Champa tarts! Do you like knitted goodies? If so, what would you like and what colors? I would dearly love a set of dark navy hat, scarf, and mitts. Or any of the three separately. Would you be interested in homemade edibles that are NOT sweets? Any specifics? Dried fruits of any kind are always welcome, and veggie chips would be most appreciated as well. What GC do you live in mortal terror of the lab discontinuing, but never get around to buying? Wolf's Heart, Dragon's Eye, Sin and Old Scratch. Yo, yarnies! Do you Ravelry? If so, who are you over thar? I have an account there (stellans) but I only joined so I could see pictures other yarnies post there. Social Media? I'm stellans everywhere except Twitter, where I'm 'stellanss' because my name was taken already. However, I'm not active on Twitter much any more because between BPAL.org, Facebook and LJ, Twitter was just too much. Do you have wishlists for non-BPAL e-tailers? And if so, could you provide a link or a list? I think I put all this on the questionnaire already, but my Witch has problems with the links or needs further input, s/he need only ask. Witchee, do you use a PC or a Mac? I'm a Mac user. Since the days of the Apple IIc, I've been a faithful Apple Inc. consumer. What is your favorite animal? I love my dogs and cat, so I'll say Dog and Cat. What are you going to be for Halloween? I'll be remembering my dearly departed. If you could have a piece of oil painting jewelry (pendant, pair of earrings, or ring) with absolutely anything painted on it, what would it be? (If you prefer wall art instead, same question as above.) I'm extremely partial to Libra insignia. Or stars. Or swans. How do you feel about nick-knacks? I generally have no problems with them, because some of my favorite memories are brought forth by seeing something or other, but since we're going to be moving shortly after the New Year (fingers crossed!) it's probably not a good idea to increase my collections right now. What traditions (family, holiday, or otherwise) are important to you? Family gatherings on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day are about it now that my children are grown and gone. Do you like going to the movies? There are only a few movies I find it necessary to see in the theater, and one of those story lines is finished (the Harry Potter one). Most of the time we can wait for either DVD or streaming. To be honest, the bedbug epidemic has me all squicked out about theaters. What are your favorite restaurants? A local favorite: The Flatiron Grill. Do you play any video games? no, I never got into them much. I do have Bejeweled on my iPhone, but I don't even play that much any more since getting the Kindle reader. Do you like any anime? Not really. Do you have an E-reader/iPad/something similar that you need a cover/case for? I have a Kindle II, but I have faux leather case for it already which is just fine. how much do you like jewelry? like, if you were to get a shit ton of it during the round, how excited would you be? I would be very excited, because I do love jewelry more than is good for me. How would you like to receive some of your Witch's favorite recipes, tailored to your likes/dietary restrictions? And specific wants? Love it! Do you need any boxes to store your smellies in? What would you store in said hypothetical box--imps, bottles, supplies, all of the above? I don't need any more boxes, thanks to the generosity of past witches! Muppets: yea or nay? Yay to watch, nay to own. Do you have an affinity for Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, The Far Side, and other comic strips? If so, which is your favorite? I love Calvin & Hobbes, and I think my children are clubbing together to get me that huge collection which has languished on my Amazon wish list for lo, these many years! Favorite Mythological Creature?: Dragons! Do you like hair things barrettes, headbands, flowers I wear my hair in a short easy-care bob, and don't really use hair things. Expanding on the hair question - does anyone like those flower clips for the hair that are big right now?? No, thanks.

Oh. My. Goodness. This is the lovely summer garden scent I've been lusting for ever since Planting Moon was released! (I wear Lunacies at night, so I wanted a 'sister' scent to wear during the day!) This blend is amazing: I get all the different vegetative notes, plus the underlying darkness which represents the "Curse of Hagsgate." The tomato leaf, squash etc. are amazing just by themselves, and would be enough to prompt a bottle purchase, but the vetiver and the patchouli just make this blend a must-hoard! I love, love, love it! 4 of 5 stars.

On me, this beautiful fragile scent is almost totally vanilla. I might get the faintest touch of rose, and maybe a little teeny bit of frankincense and/or sandalwood, but the dominant scent in my nose is definitely vanilla. Sweet, sweet vanilla. Cloyingly sweet...vanilla. I'm not a big vanilla fan, especially when it's practically unadulterated vanilla, because it's just too sweet for me. Le sigh.

I wanted this to work for me so badly, I practically willed it to work. Unfortunately, perfume oil listens just about as well as a Westie with a squirrel in his sights. That is to say, not at all. Pallas Athene smells quite nice in the bottle, and for a brief shining moment on my skin I thought all was well. Then, disaster. Powdery, then rather sour disaster struck. The amber in which you all glory does what it usually does on me and turns to powder, but I am not quite certain where the sourness comes in unless it's the cedar mixing with the amber unpleasantly. Whatever it is, this blend is not for me.

This is an absolutely gorgeous scent, full of spice and redolent of the desert. I like it better on my skin than in a scent locket, as it has a very 'foody' scent both in the bottle and in my scent locket. But once on my skin, the spices overcome the toffee-like scent and turn Ma'at into a glorious red homage to the Egyptian Goddess. The sillage is quite remarkable as well, holding out for well over 3 hours without diminishing in power. 3 of 5 stars.

ITA; Old Demons was a surprise hit for me, and I want more.

Of the ones you mention above, I would say Peacock Queen is the sharper, closest-to-pure deep full-bodied rose scent. The others (except for maybe London, which is a soft tea rose to my nose) all have soft ameliorating additional notes of cream, milk and/or honey, other florals etc. Of the GC blends, The Rose is the closest to pure rose for me but it is a soft pink rose rather than the red rose. My personal favorite BPAL rose blend is any year release of Rose-Red. To my nose, it is the best purest rose blend ever, where once I believed it was Patou's Joy. Rose-Red has nothing which gets in the way of that beautiful young red rose scent, and it not quite as sharp as Peacock Queen (which is my second favorite.

Old Demons is a lovely musk blend, and is on my "Want a Bottle" list. Night Raven, on the other hand, had too much jasmine and that was all I could smell in the imp, and then on my skin it did what jasmine usually does: turned sour and nasty.

I have 2 bottles with a black on white label: 05/13/05 and 01/13/06.

I didn't buy decants of this year's Metamorphosis update, and there were really only two which called to me: Io and Purple Spotted Swallowtail. I ordered Io first, and must say I'm happy to have it. This is a light, happy scent - all fruit with very little musk or herbs at first sniff. On, the light happiness of fruit continues but as it dries, I can smell a little red musk, and even some sage and thyme. This isn't a very long-lasting blend, maybe 2 hours at the most on my skin and another couple of hours from my scent locket. I really like this blend very, very much but it's not going to last long if I have to slather all day just to keep smelling it. Two of 5 stars.

Oh. My. This is an exquisitely blended vetiver-heavy blend that absolutely loves my skin! It is a tame vetiver, not a rampaging beast: a gentle, sweet, and lovely vetiver which supports the sandalwood, tonka bean, coconut and black currant (I know there's supposed to be oude in here, but I don't get any), marrying them all in the most amazing smoky, sexy, and seductive polygamous relationship. This is the kind of vetiver that will make converts of any fence-sitters, and might even mollify the haters, it's just that good. Four of 5 stars for this lovely, lovely blend. My only quibble? It was an Event Exclusive, so might be hard to find. I will cherish my 2 (yes, TWO!) bottles because I doubt its like will come again.

This is a very gentle scent, far more so than I might have a scent representing a Paladin, a battle warrior, would be. The leather is soft, more suede-like to my nose than hardened leather tack. I don't get the metal note others have, though the frankincense is definitely there. The vanilla only shows up for me after the dry-down, and even then it's very soft, just barely there. It doesn't last very long, but while it's there, it's lovely. Two of 5 stars.

The notes of this blend sound awesome, and many are ones that I love which almost always work well with my skin chemistry. Alas, this blend as a whole does not. There is a strange nutty and icky-sweetish scent in the bottle, which only intensifies on my skin. It took almost everything I had to keep this oil on my skin to the drying stage so I could be sure it wasn't for me, but I did...and it isn't. I'm not sure what component is the 'bad guy' to even watch out for, and I'm not totally giving up on this 13 yet. No stars as of this posting, and I hope to revisit it at a future time with better success.

OK. I love this. I think this is possibly my favorite of all the Dark Delicacies Annviversary blends to date, and that says a lot because I really, REALLY love the original Black Lace. First sniff, the tea note is strong but as it dries the vanilla note comes out, but so softly it doesn't make me recoil. I really like the tea note in this blend, I think more than any other tea note I've liked so far. The frankincense, when it shows up, merely serves to underline the mellowness of the tea note. Thankfully, the vanilla note remains lightly in the background, gently sweetening the blend. The only downside is that it doesn't last too long on my skin, though it does hang around for a bit longer in my scent locket. Because of that, I have to mark the rating down from 4 to 3 of 5 stars.