Monica

I am a counsellor and work at a centre for women in recovery from addictions. I have two children, a son age 17 and a daughter age 20, and am recently remarried and now have three stepdaughters also. I live on the beautiful west coast of British Columbia outside of Vancouver in Canada.

I haven't had the time to do any crafts for years, so I am just getting back to doing some of the things I used to do - sewing, crocheting, knitting and beading - and I am just loving it!

I learned to crochet and knit from my mother when I was a young girl, however, I've always stuck to simple projects, such as scarves and tea cozies. My goals for this year are to knit a pair of socks and to crochet a garment - maybe a sweater or a jacket!

I'm a little more advanced with my sewing and have made myself and my children lots of clothes and other things

I'm really interested in felting. I've collected some sweaters from the local thrift stores and felted them and am excited about making things from the felt.

• Handmade things - especially recycled handmade things.
• Earthy colors - nothing too bright - although I am drawn to the orange/pink combo lately - I really like brown with soft pink/blue or turquoise. I love black too but I'm trying to be more adventurous.
• Thrift shops and the idea of making something out of something else.
• Natural yarns and fabrics
• Stripes, argyle, big polka dots
• Flowers, Hearts, Stars
• Bookmarks
• Clever little felted things (cell phone covers, ipod cozies, coffee sleeves, pincushions)
• Slippers
• Wild knee high socks
• Tea cozies
• Lavender
• Tea - black tea (not herbal)

• Dishcloths
• Knick knacks, dust collectors - things that aren't useful.
• Anything ruffled, fluffy or sparkly

I like all kinds of music. I recently went through a country music stage but that's over now (thank God). I love Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and my favorite song of all time is Don Mclean's "American Pie" (not the Madonna remake!). I especially like songs that make me cry - like that one (I don't remember the singer) "I Hope You Dance" and "Feels Like Home to Me" (sorry, don't remember that singer either).