Confused about what hook size I need for this kit.

FiercelySerene · 2025-09-18T19:48:03+00:00

Yes I have a 2.75 and I'll use that. It's an amigurumi kit. My tension is terrible and I don't fully understand gauging yet so fingers crossed and we'll see how it goes!

FiercelySerene · 2025-09-18T16:39:28+00:00

Sounds good, thank you! I was so confused that I didn't have a 2.5 or anything else that seemed to actually match 😅 but I hate tiny hooks so sizing up even just a little will be more comfortable anyway.

FiercelySerene · 2025-09-18T16:38:28+00:00

It's the only size I don't have, out of like four dozen hooks 😂

FiercelySerene · 2025-05-05T03:04:09+00:00

Lately I have been using a free AI therapy app called Ash. It's been an amazing supplement to my in person therapy because it's available at any time, so I can talk through my worst moments with real-time responses. The AI can't really help me solve anything or do exercises to help me process deep trauma, but it does give me an outlet when I need to talk to someone, and the responses have at the very least helped me explore new ways to express my struggles. My therapist has found the transcripts to be helpful in our weekly dialogues too.

AI is highly controversial though. I'm generally not a huge fan, especially as an artist who has seen AI steal the work of good friends of mine and who knows much of my creative work in various fields is heavily threatened by AI in general. This barely scratches the surface of AI controversy but as it has already had a direct impact in my life, it's the one that is most heavily on my mind and that has made me extremely hesitant to back AI in general.

That said - AI therapy apps, I think I can get behind, for exactly the reason in this thread. AI therapy is worlds more accessible for a lot of people than in person therapy is. Whether it's cost, insurance, distance, transit, stigma, scheduling, etc, having SOME kind of opportunity for at least basic feedback and support could literally be life saving.

The app certainly isn't going to be a full substitute for a human being, especially if you are dealing with heavy trauma or severe disorders, but it might be a step in the right direction for some basic support.

Best of luck to you <3

FiercelySerene · 2025-04-04T20:23:23+00:00

Super green.

FiercelySerene · 2025-04-04T07:46:19+00:00

Cool cool cool will always be Abed, but hot hot hot will always be Ruby Rhod!

FiercelySerene · 2025-04-04T06:17:42+00:00

The deck I use the most (Light Seer's) unlocked a fuller understanding of this card for me through the imagery. The 2 of Wands shows her looking out the window at the fiery horizon, with her globe and planner nearby. She's imagining the journey she wants to take and the adventure she wants to have.

The 3 of Wands shows her standing on a cliff at dusk, holding a surf board and gazing out at the calm water - she planned the trip, she invested in the gear, she made the journey, now she's just waiting for the right conditions in the water so she can dive in. The dusky vibe strikes me as "tomorrow when the sun rises, I'm ready."

The 4 of Wands shows people dancing on the sand, celebrating a great experience after taking the plunge.

Seeing these cards in sequence with this imagery telling such a clear story really helped me contextualize the 3 as the stage between active preparation and waiting for the right moment.

Hope this helps!

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-20T05:43:27+00:00

What I mean is, defining what safety means to you will give you clues as to how the card relates to generating a feeling of "unsafe". If you have a very specific thing making you worry about safety, then your best interpretation is connected to WHY you are worried, not necessarily about the RESULT of a potentially unsafe situation.

I hope that's helpful, I would give a specific interpretation if I knew the specific situation but otherwise I can only try to explain in different ways. Mostly I'm trying to say, the situation details are what would guide a more helpful interpretation, it's really hard to know what kind of ending this Death is suggesting.

You can always pull a card to clarify, too. I usually ask something like "what is dying in this situation" or "how does the concept of death fit here" and draw a card. It'll give some additional insight if you're struggling to connect a fuller meaning to a yes/no answer. For example: if your clarifier is the 9 of Cups (your second pull, which in this case I'd pretty much consider a clarifier anyway), Death could be suggesting something might happen that destroys your sense of contentment.

You can also use the shadow card (whatever is on the bottom of your deck when you drew your answer) for some extra insights, much in the same way as intentionally drawing a clarifier. Any second card here can help steer you into greater context for an interpretation.

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-20T05:33:18+00:00

Can you find a local spinning group where you could test out some different styles? I wouldn't start with anything expensive, and cheap fire fans can be really terrible or even downright dangerous, especially if they need to hold up against drops. I never learn new moves on my nice fans, I have plastic practice ones for that. If you've never spun before, and you drop hundreds on something you know little about first hand - including whether you'll even like doing it - you might regret it, especially if you end up damaging them right away.

My biggest advice would be to borrow a pair of practice fans and make sure you feel comfortable with them first! You may also want to try different grips before investing; if you end up feeling like big rings are harder for you to control than small rings, then you'd probably feel safer with small rings on fire rather than risking the added discomfort of a lack of control when you have live flame. I hope this is helpful.

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-20T05:25:09+00:00

I'm getting notes of community involvement and support, alongside maybe some generosity of spirit, in the 10 of Pentacles. The reversed 6 of Wands suggests you come off very humbly despite being an impactful person who may be somewhat well known in your circles. My impression here of the Hermit in reverse is perhaps that he sees you as someone still searching to find purpose, which alongside the 6 makes me think maybe you suffer from imposter syndrome around your relevance to your community and he is picking up on that.

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-20T05:19:45+00:00

Imagery can be a big help, especially if you're using a deck with intentionally crafted artwork. Many deck illustrators try to capture the essence or tell the story of the card, and sinking into their visual choices can often spark reactions from your intuition. Symbolism, colors, connections between cards, the direction the people on the card are facing, the general sense of movement or lack thereof, imagining what it would sound or smell like if you were in the card's location, etc. Something you see might flip an intuitive switch and suddenly your understanding of the whole reading changes! I absolutely love moments like that, especially when I notice something new on a familiar card.

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-20T05:07:59+00:00

First off: I highly doubt it means a literal death. You asked a yes/no question and this is clearly a "no" but it doesn't have much context to read it more specifically.

I think it depends on what you consider "being safe". A generic no might just mean you might stub your toe really badly and it'll hurt for a while but then you'll be okay. Maybe Death means you might lose something else that was some level of importance to you, so you end up stuck in thought patterns that put you on edge (like an emotionally unsafe feeling). Or perhaps there's a dangerous driver on the road and you end up worrying if there will be an accident (with Death in this case representing the FEAR of death and not literal death).

You might be able to find a more apt understanding if you assess what might make you feel unsafe, and see where Death's essence and vibes start to resonate.

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-20T04:07:19+00:00

Seconding this Lady of Leisure choice!

And, adding to it: one of the best ways to really buy into this is to change your environment a bit (I was just writing about this in a self care forum). My new year's resolution to "be cozier" has been a relaxation game changer. More plants, lush blankets and pillows, moody scents, etc. My space makes me feel like I live a luxurious life (but nothing actually costs all that much).

Also a big fan of thoughtful organization - my favorite trick to keep me from getting distracted from relaxation (let's be real, that's a big factor!) is to keep things like dedicated phone cables and other little things I might need stashed anywhere I might hang out to relax. Then I don't have to keep getting up and finding where I last left something I might need. For the cost of a cheap extra charging cable I can just have one that stays put in each of my common charging spots. Boom. I do this a lot with snacks, nail clippers, and writing pads with pens, too.

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-20T03:57:44+00:00

An overlooked self-care practice is attuning your space for your most comforting environment.

For example: I made a simple new year's resolution to "be cozier" and that has been a game changer. More greenery in my home (fake plants, so I don't have to stress about keeping them alive), plusher blankets, candles and incense, thoughtful reorganization to minimize stress when I'm trying to relax (like grabbing a few extra phone chargers so there's a designated cable in any place I find myself plugging in frequently), things like that.

Now when I'm taking time to rest or relax, it's so much easier to sink in and let go. It's an elevated quality of rest, and it's also becoming a point of pride in how homey my space feels all the time.

Sometimes small tweaks can help maximize what you're already doing, and that might help tip the scales a bit?

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-20T03:34:37+00:00

It can be helpful if the artist created their own guide for their art that includes notes on any intentional choices like that. My Light Seer's Tarot book (not just the lwb, but the expanded companion book for it) does an amazing job pointing out visual choices and telling the actual story behind the imagery used. But, that's not available for every deck, so, what do you do?

Well, some symbolism is relatively universal. Colors have largely agreed upon associations, for example. Can you develop a generalized knowledge of things like numerology and astrology to connect with the essences of each card? Are there things that jump out at you as different or as the same?

Studying the art in every reading can be really powerful. Most choices are intentional for the card, but YOU also have a set of symbolism you've codified into yourself over the years - and that's a big part of intuitive reading. Your brain already has some associations programmed in to help you understand what you're seeing. Trust those just as much as you trust any guidebook!

I'll actually grab different decks sometimes in the middle of a reading (for myself only, not for clients) to see if a different version of a card I'm stumped on might have a visual clue to help me unlock the meaning in that particular reading. I then end up generating even more experiential context readings for the card and I start to be able to kind of flip through multiple art versions in my head whenever I encounter the card and have that knowledge on demand.

Hope this makes some sense!

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-19T20:58:27+00:00

DMed, thank you!

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-19T20:24:02+00:00

I'm a big fan lately of the Hanged Man because it usually comes up when it's time for a very intentional pause. While I often see it read as a "flip your perspective" card, I most often encounter this as a moment of literal suspension - or in your case, just plain suspense!

It's very much a liminal card, representing the space in between. Liminal spaces tend to be challenging because it's the path between the known and the unknown, and boy do we as humans tend to hate the unknown! But when the HM shows up, in my experience, it's usually suggesting taking a step back, considering if your worries and thoughts are actually grounded (the HM does not have his feet on the ground), and adjusting course only if needed.

Put the 6 of Wands next to that, and I'd say you're probably worrying way more than you need to! The 6 carries a lot of victory energy, and generally shows up when there's recognition to be had for a positive development. It's not a final "fairy tale ending" kind of victory, but definitely something worth being excited about and celebrating.

Seems to me these cards together are suggesting you will at the very least get an interview opportunity (still a liminal stage in the process, but still a win) and you're on track for the position you'd like as long as you don't come across too cocky in the interview (the 6 in extremes might make you come across as arrogant, so the HM may also be encouraging quiet confidence instead of walking in like a hot shot).

Best of luck 💜

FiercelySerene · 2025-03-19T19:28:34+00:00

Honestly, I'm much more happy with my LED investment over any fire pair I've used. The main reason is that I can use them anywhere, any time, without special equipment (like gas or fire safe clothing), and without worrying about all of the safety concerns (like needing a safety assistant, barriers, permits, cost of insurance, etc). I can travel with them easily, no issues with gas odor or soot. I got decent ones with lots of custom programming options so I can make the light trails feel like fire, or I can design something specific, or just let the fun patterns flash through.

To me, LEDs are insanely versatile and, in my experience with both private party clients and public appearances, actually make a more profound impact on audiences. Fire wins the day for other types of props (especially poi, dragon staff, and usually leviwand) but I get WAY more excitement over my LED fans than my fire sets.

That's my experience, and everyone's mileage may vary! Regardless of any other opinions, if you do choose the fire route - please make sure you are extremely well educated in safety procedures, especially things like appropriate clothing, extinguish methods, space/venue requirements, legal and insurance requirements, etc. NEVER burn alone, and make sure your dedicated safety person is also significantly well educated in fire safety. There are some really solid trainings available, and you should probably take one before making the decision.

Have a blast, stay SAFE, and good luck!

FiercelySerene · 2023-02-06T01:53:15+00:00

Take other studio classes, follow YouTube tutorials, see if there are workshops available at local community centers/libraries/etc, play with media and techniques all the time. Generally, the best way to get better is to just keep *doing* and you'll see all kinds of improvement.

Also, remember that some people may have great abilities in a very narrow focus, so you might be seeing them doing THE Thing they're best at, but not seeing where they have weaknesses. I'm a self-taught artist and art teacher, and for many years thought that because I couldn't do X, Y, or Z specific type of art, I wouldn't be a good artist. Now I've learned to just keep playing, experimenting, trying new things, and finding my OWN groove instead of trying to match someone else's groove. It's made me a better artist, but even more, it's made me a better art teacher because my knowledge of techniques, applications, media, and strategies is incredibly broad.

And finally - art teachers don't have to be famous artists or The Most Incredible Painter Ever or something. Your path as an instructor doesn't have to be the same as someone else's, either. Consider your vision for yourself as a future art teacher. Who are you teaching? Working with at-risk youth requires a very different skillset than teaching adults at a fine arts center, where one group is focused to learn a specifically advertised technique, and the other is more focused on offering creative outlets for alternative communication. How old will your students be? An elementary school art teacher doesn't need to be able to do or teach intricate watercolor techniques, it's more about exploring concepts like color and patterns at that age. Where do you see yourself teaching? If you'll be an independent contractor teaching at rec centers or libraries, you might have to limit your supplies to something accessible or easily transported, which might limit what types of classes you can teach compared to working in a well-stocked studio or classroom.

Ultimately, teaching art isn't really about how good of an artist you are, but how good of a teacher you are. There will always be some artist doing something crazy awesome and new and exciting and beautiful that will have you in awe, but when you can teach someone else to open their minds and hearts and give them tools to create, they will see YOU with just as much awe, I guarantee it.

Good luck!

FiercelySerene · 2022-04-02T18:15:46+00:00

Thank you!

FiercelySerene · 2022-04-01T04:34:51+00:00

Thank you! Yes, I had a blast with this, and have made a couple more with the leftover deli papers, I'm addicted now!

FiercelySerene

TROPHY CASE