I go by the artist name Miss Wondersmith - my passion in life is creating free gatherings for strangers that feel like they've wandered out of a fairytale. I love hiding beautiful invitations in public spaces for strangers to stumble upon - and it's pretty likely that that's what I'm up to when I'm traveling. ;) (You can see my past projects at MissWondersmith.com ) I love learning, and I love sharing. I'm always eager to have a discussion about art or fine craft and happy to share what I know with just about anyone.

I used couchsurfing a lot several years ago but sadly my health took a dive bomb and I was unable to travel. Now I'm much more stable again, and have a new magic trick: I can eat without using my mouth! I have a tube that takes specially formulated nutrition right into my bloodstream. My wife (who is usually traveling with me) helps me hook it up every night. (btw, I'm not shy or offended about medical questions but also don't tend to talk about it a lot. If you have questions, feel free to ask :)

We're interesting in queer-friendly homes with a little space in the fridge for my meds (though we can also bring a cooler if that's not do-able.) Friendly dogs are a bonus!

I can't eat at all and my wife has celiacs, so it's usually easiest for us to bring/find our own food since even the tiniest amount of wheat contamination makes her sick for weeks. We don't smoke and would prefer to stay in cigarette free homes since the smell gives me migraines. (Weed doesn't bother me though.) Health issues aside, we are friendly and adventurous and love exploring new areas, especially bookstores! We can't wait to get the inside scoop on the best local places from you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I really enjoy making new connections and forging friendships. I've never been one to shy away from putting myself out there, and I find that sometimes the briefest encounters with strangers can be the most rewarding. When I went to school in Alberta, I went right out of high school to a foreign country without knowing a single person up there... and I have never regretted that choice. I look forward to meeting more amazing people on my travels.

Interests

Art. Lots of it. I have been doing art my whole life, and fine craft is where I really belong. I have done quite a bit of glassblowing, ceramics, metalsmithing, woodcarving, fabric dyeing, and other assorted processes. I'm particularly interested in how we interact with objects and each other- most of my work is functional because I like to think that people have a closer connection with a piece of art when it plays an important role in everyday life.

My other main love is definitely the outdoors. I spend a lot of time outside, and enjoy lots of recreational activities such as hiking, nordic skiing, canoeing, sailing, walking, and general frolicking. I am also quite an avid forager, and get a lot of satisfaction out of filling my freezer and pantry with wild foods (which I often go on to use in my art projects.)

• arts
• design
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• walking
• pottery
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• canoeing

Music, Movies, and Books

As for music, I'm pretty flexible. I'm not a big fan of most rap or country music, but there are always exceptions. I tend to be all over the board in what I listen to, from Van Morrison to Cat Empire to The Cars.

My favorite author is Terry Pratchett. My favorite books are "The Bromeliad Trilogy" and "The Wee Free Men," though I am also a big fan of "Good Omens." I tend to read a lot of nonfiction... I enjoy learning about different artistic processes especially.

My favorite movie is called "The Baker" (also known as "Assassin in Love.") It's got exploding sheep, awkward food-fight sex scenes, and quirky British humor. What's not to love?

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I accidentally saved someone's life once.

Teach, Learn, Share

Like I mentioned above, I absolutely love sharing what I know. I have a vast knowledge of lots of random art and craft techniques, and if you're interested in any of them, I'd love to show you how or at least talk to you about it. I am also weirdly good at gluten-free, dairy-free pie crust and have the best gf vegan donut recipe this side of Portland (probably.)

I am also open to learning about a lot of things... what areas around you are good for a hike, what wild plants you can eat in your area, where you've been and what you've seen!

What I Can Share with Hosts

A friendly personality and willingness to help where I can. I'd be happy to help with dinner or dishes, for example. (Even though I can't eat I still enjoy cooking for my wife and friends - old and new!) I'll share my knowledge and skills freely.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United States