Liebster Blog Award - Questions and Answers!

Hello my crochet (and knitting) friends,

Recently I have been given the Liebster Blog Award by fellow bloggers Anne and Michelle from Crochet between worlds (http://crochetbetweentwoworlds.blogspot.de). Thank you, Ladies!
They have asked me to answer the following questions - please find my answers thereafter. (I will write an update on my current projects soon separately!)

1. What is the name of your blog? And what does the name mean?

My Blog is called funkycrochet. I first named my etsy shop funkycrochet because I like the idea of Retro crochet, but with a modern ('funky') edge. It seemed a good idea to use the same name for my blog!
 

2. How many blogs do you follow?

Is this a trick question or what??? Well, by my own count I follow approx 200 blogs, however bloglovin says I follow 326 (but that includes people as well as blogs).

Basically, too many! ;) But then again, I seem to be compelled to add a few more - some stuff is just too good not to read! ;) By the time you read this, the figure might have changed again!
 

3. Do you have a creative soul? 

I'm convinced I have! I did lots of crafting/making from childhood on! I have this constant urge to create, to make, to try this and that!
 

4. At what age did you learn to crochet or knit?

I think I must have been about 8 or so when I first learned to crochet and I remember enjoying it very much. I did not take to knitting quite so easily (at school), that came later when I started to make my first jumper around the age of 18!
 

5. What are your future projects?

Just check out my previous posts and you might get an idea what I like making! ;)
To be honest, I have a multitude of inspirational books, pdf files of patterns and even more patterns saved on my Ravelry account. (This doesn't mean that I am a natural follower of patterns, far from it!) Not to mention the constant inspiration I get from other people through blogs or by sharing their projects!!! 

I have so many ideas! So it is very difficult to say! I want to knit some more Fairisle, and I am sure I will do more with Granny squares. I love colour, it's very important to me!

The main thing is to keep experimenting and trying and learning new things all the time. I walk around with my eyes wide open, I look at knitwear/jewellery/accessories in shops with critical eyes and ask myself, how was this made? How would I make it? What would I do differently? and so on. I find inspiration everywhere! I also have an inexhaustable amount of enthusiasm when it comes to making things! This is what keeps me going!
 

6. Why do you blog?
  
Why not? Hahaha!!! This year when I realized how many things I was making, I thought it would be nice to share this with lots more other people! Also I had started reading a number of blogs which greatly inspired me. So it seemed a natural process to start blogging!

To me starting with blogging was a challenge! I wanted to learn (and apply) how to blog! Again, I am basically picking things up as I go along! (Nobody told me how to go about it!)

I want to pass on some of the things I have learnt to others - and likewise benefit from my blog readers' expertise and support , I want to share the fun I'm having when I create something new - to me this is what my blog is all about! 

And I love being part of the blogging community! :)
 

7. What will your Christmas look like this year?

Having a relaxing time at home with my family.
  

8. What are your plans for 2015?

To continue my own path and do the things that I love! Start using up the wool I have!!!
 

9. If you could travel anywhere, which 3 places would you visit and why? 
  
Hmm, that is a tricky question! Obviously there are lots of places I haven't been to yet! I've always loved South America, with the many rich traditions of knitting, crochet and sewing, not to mention the lovely, spicy food!!! Sounds great to me! ;)

Apart from that, of course, England and Germany, because my family lives in these countries and I have strong ties there!!! 
 

10.What made you smile today?

My cat Jasper coming to sit on my crochet blanket as soon as I sat down and started working on the blanket!!! 
 

11. What do you do on a rainy Sunday?

Drink coffee, do some crochet, read blogs, watch a film, go for a walk with my partner (yes, even in the rain!), bake some crumble, or simply enjoy pottering about! 

You know you're a knitter when... you just happen to be knitting in every photograph of you!!! ;)

What comes next?

Well, I hope you all enjoyed reading a bit more about me! A part of this blog award requests that each recipient should nominate a further 11 people to pass the award on to them. 

I know that the award is meant in a positive spirit, but personally I find it practically impossible to choose! Most of all, I do not want to offend anybody! 

Someone might feel put out if I didn't nominate them, others I cannot nominate because they have already been named by somebody else and another group of people have made their point clear that they do not wish to receive such an award!

Ideally I would love to give an award to all of you, just because you do what you do! :)

For this reason I am passing the following (fun) questions on to you, my readers! 

Feel free to answer (or not!) 

Try to keep it short and funny! ;)

You can answer as many questions as you like from the following:

1. What do you prefer, crochet or knitting?
2. How much time do you spend on your hobby?
3. Do you like to follow patterns?
4. What is your favourite stitch?
5. What is your favourite place to sit and crochet (knit)?
6. Coffee or tea?
7. What is your favourite colour?
8. Do you want to tell us about your yarn stash?
9. Do you visit far away places to check out a yarn shop?
10. Chocolate or crochet?
11. I know I am a knitter/crocheter because.... (complete the sentence)


Last, not least, thanks again for thinking of me and giving me this award! And thank you all for reading this and giving your support!

Please leave your answers below - looking forward to reading them! ;)