Bananers

Just to get this out of the way, my name is spelled: Juli. There is no “e” at the end of my name. I don’t find this too bothersome unless I will be using what is being sent to me. (For example: swap cards).

Well, it seems like life is starting to calm down. I’ve had a bunch of surgeries…finalized on a divorce…and really started to pay attention to my needs.

I am a mom of 2, one boy and one girl. (I got lucky there!) In March 2015, after 21 years, I retired from the US Navy, during which I worked as an electrician for the nuclear reactor plants. Talk about a stressful job! But, that was then and this is now! For the last few years, I worked in a hospital as a pharmacy technician, but recently quit. And then (8/20), I got my old tech job back...so now I am working again. lol!

I'm not really a social butterfly and prefer to just hang out at the house and avoid the crowd.

My son and I go to Brazilian Jiu Jujitsu classes together. At first I thought I would just go because there was no sense in sitting around and just watching him....but, I love it!!! I had been fighting (MMA) and participating in BJJ tournaments, but due to injury (and age in the case of MMA), I currently am not.

So now, I've been doing a lot of backpacking. I really enjoy being out in nature by myself. I did my first solo overnight trip in Congaree NF; it was quite enjoyable (and I got to see wild pigs).

I've learned that age is only a number and that it isn't something that should be used to keep you from moving on with your journey.

Tattoos....I love them! I have a large wrap around "gardeny" type teal rose on my left calf/ankle and a steampunk "gardeny" type on my right shoulder blade/upper back area. I have a half sleeve with steampunk elephants on my right arm. I also have started an underwater scene on my left arm, steampunk of course. All are original art by my tattoo artist; he is super awesome and a great artist. If you are in the Charleston, SC area and want to get an awesome tattoo, let me know and I'll give you his name. :)

I love to buy stuff, especially if it is for crafting and I can order it online. But oh my gosh, get me near a thrift store.....I absolutely love, love, love thrift stores!

I started my journey into the world of crafts with sane quilting. For several years, I collected hundreds of yards of fabric, kits, magazines, and books. I even put together some of my own kits. Many UFO's patiently remain in my sewing room for their turn under the sewing machine. It has been a while since I have finished a quilt.......I'm going to have to remedy that! :)

I'm in love with crazy quilting. CQ encompasses sooooo much stuff! There are beads, and threads, lace, charms, more beads, and more threads, yarns, every type of fabric that you can think of, paint, markers, broken jewelry, more beads and threads, and the list goes on....and on....and on! Of course, this feeds right into my love of buying stuff! The options are endless. If it can be sewn on or used on a crazy quilt block, it is fair game. I haven't really been doing this in quite some time either unfortunately. My love for paper crafting has taken over.

I've delved into painting/dyeing fabric/lace/threads, making polymer clay faces for CQ blocks, dotee dolls.

I'm loving making ATCs! I find that making them in "series" form is more suitable to my style than just creating one ATC at a time. It must have something to do with not being able to do only one thing at a time. LOL!

I also enjoy making pocket letters and flip books. Just like the ATCs, I like to make at least two pocket letters at a time, both with the same theme, but sometimes with different pockets. If I'm lucky enough to be able to make them the same, this allows me to have an actual physical "copy" of my own work to keep for myself. :)

Collage...yes! I find this extremely relaxing. Cut or tear pictures from books or magazines and glue them onto something else. It's mindless but not.

I haven't figured out art journaling yet, but I would really like to. I think the size of the page is very intimidating to me. I would also like to figure out how to do all of that pretty lettering that some people are able to do.

In the Past: Game of Thrones, Orange is the New Black, Elementary, Person of Interest, Gotham, Bones, Girls, Second Chance, Ink Master, Penny Dreadful, Major Crimes, Preacher, Sabrina, Counting On, Sister Wives

Likes:

-Jewel Tones/Brights

-pink/brown

-turquoise/brown

-purple

-pink

-turquoise

-just plain fun, but not overly childish

-While I don't care for overly childish, I do LOVE the Kawaii style

-steampunk

-sugar skulls

-funky colored owls with big eyes

-1930 to 1950 ish ephemera

-getting packages in the mail!

-dark chocolate!!

Dislikes:

-plaid

-baby themes

-I don't have young children nor do I send cards/items to young children. Please try to avoid sending those types of items. This is just a preference, I will re-swap these types of items, but it is very hard to because there are a lot of people that also don't want this sort of stuff.

-Sports related items.

Please Don't Send:

-religious items/quotations

-teacher/reward stickers

-strong smelling/stinky items (perfumes/cigarettes)

-anything that has been around a pet or that has been dusty (think allergies)

-Household items. I don't sprinkle knick-knacks around my house. My husband is a clutter freak, so that is a no-no. LOL! I also have a lifetime supply of candles. I have the barest number of magnets on the refrigerator; they are plain so as to not clash with anything in the kitchen/living room. I have 1 painting and 1 quilt on the wall in the living room and dining room. (Kitchen/dining/living room are all open to each other.)

-Please no cosmetics. I do not wear them and would have no use for them. Thank you. :) I've been told that these can be used in crafting. I agree that something like nail polish can be used to paint charms (of which, I have a ton for that purpose). I could even see eye shadows being used by somebody, I just have not. There are still a lot of cosmetics that I don't think would be suitable crafting items, so if they can't be used in a crafting type situation, I would prefer not receive them.

-I don't wear jewelry. If it is something that can be used for crazy quilting or in a pocket letter/card/flip book, that would be my exception.

-Socks or other clothing items (unless it is specifically called for in the swap). Most of my day is spent on the mats (no shoes/socks) and in work out clothes. As for my clothing choices, I am extremely picky.....I only wear a few brands of very specific types of clothing.

-Also, it gets super hot from about late March to September/October, so I wouldn't recommend sending food items or anything that has the potential to melt. Items like wax tarts, Chapstick, gum, etc.

*****Please Don’t Send*****

I am routinely training for fights or BJJ tournaments. This means that I am either cutting weight or following a fairly strict diet in preparation for cutting weight. Unless, a swap very specifically calls for sending some type of food or drink item, please don’t send any. It will go to waste. Thanks for understanding.

I really don't need:

-Common office supplies (I coupon/scour sales adds, so I have normal office supplies galore. These include: ballpoint pens in all colors, highlighters, pencils, glue sticks, index cards, square sticky notes, colored pencils, crayons, permanent markers in all colors.)**

-Ephemera (especially vintage)!!!!!

-photographs (the real kind; especially people)

-Old books/magazines

-Magazine cutouts/tear-outs

-stickers (not overly childish; I do like kawaii)

-scrapbook bling

-die cuts/punchies

-brads/eyelets

-ATC size vintage pictures or other interesting pictures that would make for a unique -ATC/altered postcard/altered business card

-glass/vintage buttons

-lace

-fabric trim (not the bulky type for household items)

-postcards/postalettes

-small steampunk parts (gears, keys, etc)

-washi tape

-scrapbook papers/card stock (especially those that have been embossed or otherwise created by you)

-postage stamps

-handmade/decorated envelopes

-stamped images

-papers/book pages; especially foreign print or those that have been painted/stamped by you

-tissue paper: printed, painted, stamped

-painted or stamped papers

-words/word pages/word cut-outs

I will never flake on a swap! (Never ever!!) I have been flaked on so many times, some being pretty time and effort significant, and it really sucked. I just simply can't believe that a person can feel ok with themselves when they do this.

If you don't receive a swap from me, it has been lost in the mail. Please message me ASAP, and I will happily mail out something new. If the old package/mail item arrives, lucky you; you get something extra for being so patient.

If for some reason you receive a swap from me with postage due: First, I profusely apologize. I try to pay particular attention to things like that. Next, please message me. I will make it right by sending you postage stamps, money, or an envie of goodness.

I like to use postage stamps in my artwork. If you are able to use stamps instead of metered mail when sending to me, I would truly appreciate it. If you do use stamps, pretty please try not to overlap them. I have a heck of a time trying to separate them. I just haven’t found a good way to do it.

Also, if we are in a "mail art" swap that allows you to choose what type of art piece to send (PC, ATC, envie, etc.), I prefer an ATC. Understand though, that is only a preference; I will still love whatever you send!!

If you would like to or have the time, I would love a handwritten note about anything. I have started to use them in my collages. (Any type of paper is great, even the inside of a recycled envelope or random scrap of paper.)