Snowflake Challenge #1

[faitsu]

Challenge #1

The Icebreaker Challenge: Introduce yourself. Tell us why you're doing the challenge, and what you hope to gain from it.

I'm Litda or Faitsu (if you met me before 2019). I draw art and comics, but I definitely make more zines (or comic zines really) than whole comics. I'm an overall artsy person. I sewed non-cosplay a lot in 2025, so I need to sew more cosplay in 2026 and finish my HUGE backlog and photograph everything and half my fabric stash (It's like 2.5 giant bins).

For fandom stuff, I like Kamen Rider, Utena, Maria-sama ga Miteru is still my comfort show and knitting show, I haven't been following along with anime because I read a lot of manga. I've been big into 'villainess manga' for the past two years. I play A LOT of Animal Crossing, Fields of Mistria, Stardew Valley, Fist of the North Star Fitness Boxing and Princess Maker.

I lift weights everyday and do Fitness Boxing to help me ease into my workout routine. I like vegetable and flower gardening, my favourite plants are rice, cucumbers, tomatoes and sunflowers. My favourite flower is the Casablanca lily.

I like doing Dreamwidth challenges. I do meet one or two people through the challenge, I'm not good at staying in touch. I'm constantly putting myself out there and hopefully meeting people who click.

Comments

Hello!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I draw art and comics, but I definitely make more zines (or comic zines really) than whole comics. <<

If you do crowdfunding with those, the Rose and Bay Awards are currently open for nominations.

There are lots of Graphics communities.

>>I sewed non-cosplay a lot in 2025, so I need to sew more cosplay in 2026 and finish my HUGE backlog and photograph everything and half my fabric stash (It's like 2.5 giant bins).<<

There is sewing101 but general comms like justcreate and get_knitted are more active, if you like to share projects.

>>I haven't been following along with anime because I read a lot of manga. <<

You might like anime_manga.

>>I like vegetable and flower gardening, my favourite plants are rice, cucumbers, tomatoes and sunflowers.<<

Here in central Illinois, I grow native plants, herbs, flowers, and a few vegetables. I have a marigold landrace, and I'm trying to develop some for zinnias and sunflowers too.

>>I like doing Dreamwidth challenges.<<

fandomcalendar is best for finding those. goals_on_dw has signup posts for challenges in 2026. allbingo hosts a new fest each month.

I agree, challenges and blogging events are a good way to meet new people.

Re: Hello!

[faitsu]

Thanks for all the community links!!! I'll go through all of them and see what communities are a good fit for me.

I saved a jar of marigold seeds with a cloth lid to re-plant this year. It's such an underrated plant. Growing native plants is so good! I'm trying to get more milkweed into my garden in empty spots this year. We grow a lot of dahlias, cosmos and flowering bushes in my garden.

Re: Hello!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Thanks for all the community links!!! <<

I'm happy I could help.

>>I saved a jar of marigold seeds with a cloth lid to re-plant this year. It's such an underrated plant. <<

By this point, mine are knee-high, tough enough to sprout in grass, and can take a few hits of light frost before they die. Consequently they're among the last flowers blooming in fall, a favorite of honeybees and migrating butterflies.

>>Growing native plants is so good! <<

Agreed.

>>I'm trying to get more milkweed into my garden in empty spots this year. <<

This is my go-to for that:
https://www.americanmeadows.com/products/monarch-butterfly-wildflower-seed-mix

>>We grow a lot of dahlias, cosmos and flowering bushes in my garden.<<

I don't grow dahlias, but there's cosmos in the seed mix, and I have some flowering bushes like lilacs.

Some dark flowers from this summer:
https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/14967827.html

And part of the yard:
https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/14953434.html

Re: Hello!

[faitsu]

I'm located in Ontario, Canada and there are inches of snow so everything is dormant right now. We have a lot of plants that come back every year. Being from Ontario, I probably have to source my milkweed locally and I would get hit by those tariffs.

I don't really think about it but we grow a lot of herbs here. I had a glut of shiso that I turned into shiso syrup. We also grow a lot of wax melon, kabocha, bitter melon and chayote on a horizontal trellis "in the sky." Our back yard is small but we use all of it and our front yard. We end up with a lot of tomatoes that I turn into tomato jam and salsa.

Re: Hello!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I'm located in Ontario, Canada and there are inches of snow so everything is dormant right now. <<

Oh, wow. Pretty territory.

*laugh* But now I have "Blackfly" in my head.

>>Being from Ontario, I probably have to source my milkweed locally and I would get hit by those tariffs.<<

Local wildflowers are best, but yeah, tariffs screw everything.

>>I don't really think about it but we grow a lot of herbs here.<<

I have garlic chives all over the place.

>>Our back yard is small but we use all of it and our front yard.<<

The best food forest I've seen is small enough to fit in a town yard and has dozens of things.

https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/15178338.html

Re: Hello!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I'm located in Ontario, Canada and there are inches of snow so everything is dormant right now. <<

Oh, wow. Pretty territory.

*laugh* But now I have "Blackfly" in my head.

>>Being from Ontario, I probably have to source my milkweed locally and I would get hit by those tariffs.<<

Local wildflowers are best, but yeah, tariffs screw everything.

>>I don't really think about it but we grow a lot of herbs here.<<

I have garlic chives all over the place.

>>Our back yard is small but we use all of it and our front yard.<<

The best food forest I've seen is small enough to fit in a town yard and has dozens of things.

https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/15178338.html

Re: Hello!

[faitsu]

The "Blackfly" animation is something everyone at leave twenty-five and older has seen here.

The tariffs are really bad. It's good we both have gardens, cuts down on grocery costs. From spring to fall I have access to fresh veggies. I'd love to can again but we have so many people running around that it's tough.

Garlic chives are a must for every garden!

My yard is pretty small but fits a crazy amount, but it does attract all the squirrels which I am not a fan of.

Re: Hello!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>The "Blackfly" animation is something everyone at leave twenty-five and older has seen here.<<

I figured. That and the rocking chair one are two of my favorite Canadian cartoons. My partner is a major animation fan.

>> It's good we both have gardens, cuts down on grocery costs.<<

I've also found afternoon and evening farmer's markets. <3

>>I'd love to can again but we have so many people running around that it's tough.<<

Yeah, it's not an interruptable project, so people can pose a challenge.

... unless you shove a bowl of peas in their lap and make them help. Canning in a group can be fun.

>>My yard is pretty small but fits a crazy amount, but it does attract all the squirrels which I am not a fan of.<<

I like watching squirrels, but I admit they can be pesky.

[potentiality_26]

Good luck with the challenge!

[faitsu]

Thanks!

[faitsu]

Thanks!!!

[alchemicink]

Happy to see you on my reading list again 👋 Hope you have a fun time with the Snowflake Challenge this year!

[faitsu]

I love the Snowflake challenge. It's always fun!

[mywitch]

I would love to see some of your art! I also draw, and I am just learning how to sew. It seems like a really satisfying thing to do. Good luck with the challenge!

[faitsu]

My art is usually stuff like this. I like solid lines with CMYK and city pop colours. I feel like sewing can be done a lot of ways and still be wearable. It's sad that my worst sewing still lasts longer than anything I bought from the store.