ysabetwordsmith | Cuddle Party

*flop* Cuddles please?
-Fuzzy J

*cuddles*

I'm about to head to bed.

Enjoy your sleep :) My day is just beginning, which unfortunately means work.

Fuzzy J wanders into the cuddle party, wearing her purple tights with unicorns and diamonds on them, and a dark purple t-shirt with lighter purple birds in the shape of a heart, with her fuzzy red bathrobe over top. She floats a tray of chocolate chip cookie cups onto the table, still warm from the oven. Vanilla and chocolate ice cream get floated into the freezer, while chocolate sauce, caramel sauce and a variety of sprinkles join the cookie cups on the table.

Food away, she flops into the nest of pillows and sets down her craft bag. Today it contains her current knitting proect, spare yarn, a crochet hook and instructions, if she feels like learning new things, two colouring books, a sketch book and silk crayons. For now though, she dons a "She/her" sticker, a "New Shifter" sticker and a sticker that says "Cuddles please!" in bright red font. She snuggles into the nest, deciding that softness and cuddles take precedence; crafts can wait till later.

Cooookies! :D *grabs cookie, more snuggles*

*fetches cookie for self, with ice cream on top* Yay snuggles! *snuggles closer*

*snuggles in mit cookies and roasty-chicken* HI! Thanks for poking me about this, I nearly didn't see it!

Hi! You're welcome! When I didn't see a comment, I thought I'd give a friendly reminder, while I had your attention.

that's what friends are for! *hugs*

*hug*

Hey, COOL, the silky crayon rabbithole led to a 3d doodling pen... I dunno if it's at all practical, but WAY COOL...

(It would look to be a miniature hand-held 3D printer... doing precision work freehand would be INTERESTING without a jig or mold, but for translating one's doodles to 3d? WUNDERBAR...)

That looks like it would be fun to try. Though I'm not very good at free hand art, so a mold would be appreciated for me.

I have seen that. For me it's no use; I don't have much skill in 2D sketching either. But I can see how it would be useful in other hands.

I've wanted that for some time. Yes, it's basically the print-head from a mini 3D printer, and it lets you freehand some fun stuff. Just be careful of the "flop" quotient of your material, since plastic bends without support. But in fact, there are videos of that thing in use!

Holybell the unicorn sees the "New Shifter" sticker, and settles nearby. "Hi, I know some things about shapeshifting. Would you like to talk about it sometime?"

Eeee! Yes! Talking is good. Advice is good, I always like learning things, making it up as I go is less fun.

Okay, I looked back in your journal, and found the entry for a new form. Would you rather I drop in there and talk? The unicorn form I wear for the cuddle party is actually only one of my shapes, which are spirit forms for me, and I can also take on a draconic form (a couple of different types, actually). It's just that this is one of the few places a shy deer-type can feel safe in my life, so Holybell comes out.

Commenting on my post might be a little easier, so that we don't end up with a giant thread here. I'm happy your deer-type can feel safe here, it's a good place :) *offers a hand for sniffing*

She gently grasps your hand in four-fingered hands of her own, and gives it a light squeeze, breathing in the scent. "It is a good place. I'm sort of a therapy animal, though more like a primal soup from Terremagne in this form." She smiles, giving your hand back.

J smiles and squeezes the hand in return. "It's nice to meet you, I like making new friends. Animals, and soups, of all kinds are cool. I'm always curious about new people, even if lots of people at once isn't my thing, and I can be shy off the start."

*flappyslinks in* *settles near the fuzzyfriendJredfriend* *KA-FLOP* I did it, I put in my notice and found a new job! *is tireds* *curls in heap and waits for yessesssssssssss*

Good for you! Leaving and finding new jobs is hard, I hope it works out! ALL THE YESES! *FuzzyJ cuddles flappyfriend and pets head* Want skritches? Or braids?

SKRITCHESSSSSS!!!!!! *PUUUR*

*skritch skritch skritch pet pet skritch skritch cuddle cuddle purrrrr skritch purr*

*Puuurrr Puuurrr purrpurrpurr purr PURR PURRPURRPURR HUGGLLLEESSS HUGGLESNUGGLEHUGGLESNUGGLE PURR PURRPURRPURR HUGGLLLEESSS HUGGLESNUGGLEHUGGLESNUGGLE* *brushes brushes brushes*

*hugcuddlecuddlehughug purr purr purr hugscuddlessnugglehug*

A cuddle room sounds so amazing 🥰

On occasion, I've gotten to take part in cuddle piles in real life. One time I hosted a virtual cuddle party here, and it was enormously popular. So I made it a regular feature. Not everyone has access to healthy touch in meatspace. This helps make up for that. I just created the kind of virtual space that would facilitate healthy touch.

Oh that sounds nice!

Virtual cuddle parties sound awesome🖤 I’m pretty much a loner and not very peoplely so I spend a lot of time bundled in my blankie and watching stuff

Join the fun! You can cuddle with folks or just find a quiet corner and watch.

I am touch-averse so occasionally I just pop in to say hi and leave snacks, then flop on a pile of cushions. This is a good crowd of people.

Hi! Ohh snacks are good! I’m snuggling among my cushions and blankets

Samesies. I crochet my own blankets and enjoy burrito-ing in them.

Oh that’s an impressive skill! I love burritoing in blankets too and nomming Doritos while watching stuff or gaming 🖤

Sounds cozy! Also, the bulbasaur icon is awesome.

Definitely! Thanks! I loved them in Detective Pikachu so much💚

That was a fun movie! The torterra scene was freakin' awesome. Do you play Pokemon Go?

It really was! That was such an awesome scene 💚 yeah I do! And Pokemon masters which came out yesterday. Do you?

I play PokeGo, yep! Have not heard of Pokemon Masters, though, been working too much! It sounds interesting.

Would you be interested in swapping trainer codes in PokeGo? If I can get my phone to charge. :P

Oh cool! It is, you get to play with gym leaders and such 🖤

I was just thinking that! Here’s my one 0966 8714 1476!🖤

I sent a friend request! :D

The bear wanders in with his usual bucket of caramelcorn, and a couple of freshly roasted chickens with various root veggies courtesy of his new auxiliary bonus teenager (which he may convince to join here?)... deft work with the shears quarters the chicken, and he purloins a dark quarter, adds some of J's cookies, and flops semi-gracefully into the pile with J and Ysabet.

*sniff sniff* Caramelcorn. Nom nom nom ...

*noms the chicken* Yummy dinner :D Thanks Bear!

Dialecticdreamer wanders, wall-eyed and shambling, into the cuddle party, takes a "Cuddles YES!" sticker and puts it upside down on her shirt. The She/Her pronoun sticker manages to end up right side up, but at a steep angle near her right shoulder.

She wanders to a tall couch, and settles carefully on it.

All the while, her lips keep moving silently as she continues to think about the story she's getting ready for posting.

Holybell settles a 13-inch cloth doll near the distracted person. It is light-blue in color, with a unicorn head that has brown button eyes. The doll is wearing a white tunic with a smiling yellow sun embroidered on the front which is held on with a brown cloth belt that has a real brass buckle, and its feet have tiny rope sandals on them, made from heavy cotton string sewn together.

Dialecticdreamer pulls out a small ball of sage green yarn, the size of an orange, which had been tucked into her pocket along with a bamboo circular needle. She takes measurements of the doll, using her thumb and the middle joint of her index finger for smaller details, and the span of her palm or spread fingers for greater distances. In just a few minutes, she was knitting the garter tab for a simple shawl.

As she knits, her smile grows bit by bit, and her body relaxes.

Thanks!

*flappy slinks over to watch the knitting* ooooooooooooo!!!!!! O_O :D *is mesmerized*

Dialecticdreamer's hands are already slow, but she slows down to half speed, in order to make every motion of the next ten stitches distinct. Then she grins, wags her eyebrows, and resumes her normal pace, which is as slow as a dripping tap.

*ppppurrrrrrrrrrr*

*stops off at the sticker table*

*cuts the upper chest and hip area out of a yellow person sticker, writes "Anyx//xe/xyr/xyrs/xyrself" on the chest piece, and attaches the pieces to a green sticker. Sticks it on*

*grabs a nest's worth of pillows and sets up over by

dialecticdreamer where they can see each other's project*

*pulls out the project*

I'm currently on a finicky row of our host's commission. After I get this row done, it should look a lot less like a tangle of yarn and mesh with needles poking out everywhere, and more like itself. Pics likely then.

I brought some goodies and a story from where I've been and left them below. Today I'm wearing leggings with a galaxy print, and a purple top with little glittery bits woven in.

>> I'm currently on a finicky row of our host's commission. After I get this row done, it should look a lot less like a tangle of yarn and mesh with needles poking out everywhere, and more like itself. Pics likely then. <<

*glee*

>> I brought some goodies and a story from where I've been and left them below. Today I'm wearing leggings with a galaxy print, and a purple top with little glittery bits woven in.<<

I have seen some very fine galaxy prints on various items. Getting good glitter that neither scratches nor comes off is hard, though. :/

The yarn of the top has the glitz bits incorporated. It's got a look a bit like tiny stars in a deep purple sky.

I might have changed into this outfit for the Hugo Award ceremony, but there wasn't enough time to go back to the hotel for the top and shoes I had to wear with it.

That sounds gorgeous. I can't get what I want in a premade pattern, so I'm going to be designing my own, starting from the garter tab.

First off, it's a deep blue chunky yarn, but only two skeins, so it's not going to be huge. But I want a batwing shape shawl, so that it does NOT have that triangle pointing straight at the wearer's behind-- because it's annoying to sit down and strangle yourself with your shawl. (Snerk.BTDT!) I'm thinking of alternating a four row repeat of faggot lace (yarn over, knit two together, mirrored in the rows) with plain garter stitch, for the loft. Also, I'm wanting a solid, subtle edge in the panel, instead of using yarnovers for the increases.

Which, for those non-knitters all translates to: I'm enjoying the wool and the movement, and will probably have to redo the start five times before I get more than ten rows into the project!

>>That sounds gorgeous. I can't get what I want in a premade pattern, so I'm going to be designing my own, starting from the garter tab.<<

I am impressed.

>>First off, it's a deep blue chunky yarn, but only two skeins, so it's not going to be huge. But I want a batwing shape shawl, so that it does NOT have that triangle pointing straight at the wearer's behind-- because it's annoying to sit down and strangle yourself with your shawl. <<

Once you get a pattern worked out, that seems like something other people would appreciate. Can you take notes as you go, so you could write down the pattern? People sell those.

I hadn't even thought of selling the pattern. I get annoyed at the for-sale-only that's taking over Ravelry, when I felt Etsy was more appropriate for that. Hm. Will have to make careful notes and knit two versions, one to make the pattern, the other to double check the pattern for errors. Somebody's getting a nice Christmas present... next year!

>> I hadn't even thought of selling the pattern. <<

That's why I mentioned it.

>> I get annoyed at the for-sale-only that's taking over Ravelry, when I felt Etsy was more appropriate for that.<<

I agree. I feel that craft patterns should generally be free. I want to be able to link things for my viewers to buy, and unless that's a product (e.g. "you can make or buy X") I want the access to be free.

However, I know that money has been tight for you, so this seemed like another possible income stream -- and it's something where you do the work once, but it can generate a trickle of income over time. Consider that you could offer the pattern for sale now, but if you establish a comfortable income later, switch it to free.

>> Hm. Will have to make careful notes and knit two versions, one to make the pattern, the other to double check the pattern for errors. Somebody's getting a nice Christmas present... next year! <<

Awesome. \o/

Your shawl sounds interesting and fun. Are you making a scaled version for the doll?

I am just now leveling up to the point where I can figure out how to work things out on the fly, and write up what I did. The working out is as much fun as the making.

As far as for sale on Ravelry goes, I think that is fine for a fiber arts professional. Someone who makes their living from creating and selling patterns, or runs a craft store, shouldn't have to compromise their income stream to reach out to a sizable market. But for folks like you or me, I agree that it seems better to share with everyone.

What we need is a clear distinction between sites that share patterns for free and sites that sell them. But people don't seem to want to do that, which means users -- of both preferences -- get frustrated by bad signal-to-noise ratios and stop going there. That makes it hard for sites to stay active, which then makes it harder to find patterns of any kind. >_

I think your point about the signal/noise ratio is telling. Thing is, though, the sort of signal one is seeking might characterize itself along different dimensions. For myself, for example, I usually start with a garment type -- and then start looking for instances that I think would look good on me. It's only after that that my filters consider price. So if I must visit multiple sites to find my candidate patterns, that's a challenge of it's own. And unless there's enough overall volume (e.g., travel) to make an aggregator site profitable, I have to do it myself.

Ravelry does have a price filter, so those who want to limit their search to free patterns can do so. I think it's for the best when there's room for everyone, with good filters to remove the stuff one isn't interested in.

Edited 2019-08-30 15:52 (UTC)

Filters work -- as long as there's enough material and interest on both sides. If there's not much on the free filter, it's no use; and if people won't pay for patterns, there's no point pricing them.

Technically, I don't have to scale it. Switching to sock yarn would make it finer, but with the same yarn as the full-size project, I can stop when the project is long enough for the doll-- which means working the tab, the foundation row, and the first dozen rows of the top-down shawl, as is.

With the doll, it would look like the VERY oversized knits of the seventies, or modern arm knitting, which can be gorgeous and sumptuously fluffy.

Cool! Hope Holybell likes the result.

*cuddles*

Mostly human, but the fox ears are sticking around, I give you a quick hug, and shows off the book I got, when you managed a recommendation in said virtual space: Tangle Art Pack: A Meditative Drawing Book and Sketchpad - Adapted from the Best-Selling Book One Zentangle A Day https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1631590960/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bqZzDb0NBDD11

Because it's easier to carry and do for me, THANK YOU! :-D

You are very welcome! I need to pick up zentangling again, now that I'm mostly typing and writing normally.

(stickers she OR they, HUGS offered and cheerfully accepted once I know you're there)

Warning: with current medical conditions, startle reflex is high, and anything other than light touch feels like I'm bruising.

I had to go through our children's books today, because SlytherClaw Teen doesn't want kiddie cooking and history books taking up valuable shelf space.

Sorting through that is emotionally painful for a library technical assistant. But we made space, and I know younger kids who will be interested. :-)

Brought blueberry biscuits, chocolate chip biscuits, and the icing is on the side, in a nice little warmer. Also spiced cold cider, to suit the fall weather, but still humid and hard to breathe here.

I have Zentangle art supplies, and am looking through www.dharmatrading.com for tie dye supplies including clothing. I can't reach my sewing machine right now! :-)

>>Warning: with current medical conditions, startle reflex is high, and anything other than light touch feels like I'm bruising. <<

Options:

* Stickers/buttons for pain or no touching.

* Put a cushion between you and other people to avoid accidental contact.

* If you want cuddles, have the other person lie still while you snuggle up to them.

>>Sorting through that is emotionally painful for a library technical assistant. But we made space, and I know younger kids who will be interested. :-) <<

Congratulations and condolences.

>>Also spiced cold cider, to suit the fall weather, but still humid and hard to breathe here. <<

Murrrrr ... cider. :D

Oooh, Dharma Trading! I should look at them again.

My best friends here just discovered linen, especially for sheets. However, most places call bedcoverings "linens" while they're made out of cotton or polyester.

So if I can get real linen, they'll make SlytherClaw Teen real cloth yard napkins. 36" square hemmed, proper colonial napkins. :-)

I just really want to make mandala tie dye stars, as tallit and a tunic. ;-)

Edited 2019-08-29 12:54 (UTC)

*drags in and opens a large suitcase*

*pulls out a box, about a 1m cube. The edges are glowing blue, and very difficult to focus on.*

*opens the top of the box, and pulls out a small keg of Guinness, a large pot of Irish stew, a couple loaves of soda bread, and a crock of Irish butter. The last looks far yellower than one would expect absent food color, but it really is that color.*

*closes the lid of the box. Starts pushing on opposite sides, which, surprisingly, moves them toward each other. Switches sides every so often as the cube shrinks, and eventually vanishes*

Well, that was A Day! Started out in Dublin at 06.00 after three weeks of sightseeing and attending the World and European Science Fiction Conventions, for the first of two air legs that eventually fetched us up in an unnamed Midwestern town, where we will be attending a nibling's wedding this weekend, almost 24 hours later. Hence the goodies. The interdimensional gateway is my way of dealing with Guinness' not traveling well, but Charlie Stross has made it clear that leaving such things lying around is a Real Bad Idea. So I vanished it.

*locates bowls, plates, glasses, spoons, knives, and a ladle for the pot. Puts the pot on the stove, and the other items nearby. Pulls the knitting bag out of the suitcase, sets it in an out-of-the-way corner, and goes off to join the knitters*

Yay! It's good to have you back.

The poetry sale went well. All the sponsored poems have been posted. You can find the newly posted poems via the sale page.

Happy to be (more or less) back, and to have contributed to the sale's success via the pool. Was able to view the poems more or less as they went up.

More news you may find of interest above. Actually home Monday.

>>Happy to be (more or less) back, and to have contributed to the sale's success via the pool. Was able to view the poems more or less as they went up.<<

Yay! I wasn't sure what your travel access would be.

>>More news you may find of interest above. Actually home Monday.<<

Home is good. <3

Travel access was good; everywhere we stayed had free Wi-Fi. Time to interact was scarcer.

The cats definitely will concur that home is good.

You made a hypercube into a portable cooler?

I am impressed!

Not exactly. After all, the pot of stew is hot.

It's an interdimensional gateway with a Banach-Tarski replicator attached. I set up a couple of endpoints in the Guinness Storehouse and a pub in town that had a version with an excellent broth, then checked the other endpoints in my luggage. When I reached through, I got an exact copy on this end of what I hauled through the gateway.

OH, I have to figure out how to use that in a story! THANK YOU! I've now got something to mess with my brain for a WEEK!

You're ... welcome? It's fine, as long as you're OK with your mind being messed with.

I would be happy to share more details of operation, if you're interested, once I get to a place where I can type with more than one finger.

Rules for a board game have been taking up my brainspace for several weeks. Having a nice distraction would be LOVELY.

Yes, but the Dhoni Race / Atoll Game is so awesome. :D

It's not done.

I /am/ still working on the rules. When I get a complete set for the basic game, I'll open up an invitation to playtest.

All right, then. Enjoy your nice distraction!

Cuddle Party

No brains, no motivation, few spoons

Re: No brains, no motivation, few spoons

Re: No brains, no motivation, few spoons

Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

Re: Found some brains...

no subject

Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

Re: Thank you!

no subject

Ooo ...

no subject

Need a break

Re: Need a break

Re: Need a break

Re: Need a break

Re: Need a break

Re: Need a break

* shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: * shows up with the project bag*

Re: Need a break

Re: Need a break

Re: Need a break

Floppy

Re: Floppy

Re: Floppy

Re: Floppy

Arrives, somewhat disheveled

Re: Arrives, somewhat disheveled

Re: Arrives, somewhat disheveled

Re: Arrives, somewhat disheveled

Re: Arrives, somewhat disheveled

Re: Arrives, somewhat disheveled

Re: Arrives, somewhat disheveled

Re: Arrives, somewhat disheveled

Re: Arrives, somewhat disheveled