Bonafyde

Happily married to my DH Christopher(non crafty)

Mother to two DS`s (6) (20 months) both crafty!!! Hey even the baby loves scribbling, painting, etc...could a Mother and artist be prouder?! I am also a proud StepMother to four Teenage sons (14,16,18,19) Can you tell that I am far outnumbered and totally surrounded by Testosterone! Hoping for a baby girl one day to help me even out the playing field!

I am proudly Canadian with a mixed heritage of Irish Canadian and West Indian, Italian and Spanish. Big up Jamaica and Barbados! Truth be told I have family everywhere! From Holland to Jamaica to throughout Canada and the United States!

that being said I reside for the most part in Quebec, Canada but also own a private villa in Jamaica.

I am a self taught artist who loves many mediums and is open to anything. I truly believe there is nothing I cannot create something beautiful with and love to challenge myself with new mediums. I have studied and earned degrees in Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing.

I am all about living an Authentic, Creative Life and have decided that I am going to focus and carve out a career that combines my need to create with my acute business sense. Therefore I am determined to hone my skills in various areas by taking various workshops in the future and see where my path takes me. It`s all about the journey!

I engage and love the following mediums/hobbies; *Papercrafts, Scrapbooking, Cardmaking * Acrylic Painting *Mixed Media Art/collage * Art Journaling *Book Binding *ATC`s *Altered Art *Drawing *Crochet *Beading/jewelery making *Cooking and Baking (especially Cupcakes! YUM! *Digital Photography (no expert but am learning more everyday!)

Styles I like: I like vast amount of styles so in that sense I am eclectic! I love stuff that has a lot of detail to it as I am a very detail orientated person. world/ethnic, tropical, modern art, graphic, anime, kawaii, hand drawn, painted, fashion related, colorful, vintage, shabby chic, feminine, distressed, urban, mixed media, sparkly and blinged out!

Styles that are okay in small doses: extreme minimalism, americana, overly religious

Things I like receiving (and giving!): Craft related; Handmade Cards, ATCs, interesting papers or Scrapbook supplies...especially items that are unusual...like found items, retro,kawaii items,ribbons, lace, decoartive tape etc... Stamps oh gosh I love love stamps, DIY/scrapbook/cards kits; fiber crafts (anything knit, crocheted or stitched); altered art; Wool felt in all colors, anything skull related especially if it`s cute; Glitter/Bling, aprons, handmade/sewn items, cupcake themed, corset themed, damask anything, magazines/zines (another obsession-anything craft,food,fashion,kawaii, papercrafts,design and art related), books, collage sheets, the letter M

Beauty related bath stuff...I love Lush and the Body Shop; I am obsessed with M.A.C products; nailpolish, I am obsessed with lip gloss; I love Vanilla/musk anything! Funky handmade jewelry

Food/beverage related;

*Coffee (can we say Starbucks obsessed?) *Tea... I love Chai, Green Teas, flowering teas , Earl grey and other flavors of black tea but to be honest I`m up for all flavors of tea! *Chocolate, especially dark chocolates and those dove chocolates that come with the cute affirmations (sucks that none are to be found in my part of Canada!) *Artisan Jams/ Honey

Things I don't like to receive: I`m not too big on Candy overly flowery/ocean scents oldschool die cuts overly cutsey stuff (think bears, kittens,etc...)

Please NO dollar store cosmetics, candy/food, personal care products or jewelry - thanx!

I love all kinds of music but my absolute favorite kinds are

Neosoul -think Alicia keys, India Arie, John legend, Jill Scott, Floetry, amel Larrieux, Erykah badu, Angie Stone

Reggae - I mostly enjoy roots and concious music over dancehall but it`s all good. Think Bob marley, Jah Cure, etc..

Jazz - Nina Simone, Billy Holliday, Michael buble, etc...

R & B and Soul- The real singers not the fluff! I enjoy Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Rihanna, etc..

Hip Hop

Oldies from the 60s and 70s

and just general easy listening music

I devour art books on painting, the creative process, scrapbooking,mixed media, sewing, cooking, baking.DIY, crochet, studio organization,etc..

I also love mystery, historical and fantasy fiction

favorites include; *The Harry Potter Series *The Mists of Avalon *The Davinci Code *Eat, Love pray

I am currently reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron and book 3 of the Golden Compass triology.

I also love love love magazines...favorites include; *Martha Stewart *Oprah *Adorn *Somerset Memories,Mixed Media, Artful blogger and any of their special issues... *Creating Keepsakes *Papercrafts *Scrapbooks Ect... *Simple Scrapbooks *ME Home Companion *Wish *Marie Claire *Art Zines

I am a movie fanatic...in fact I mainly watch movies and don`t really watch much television...

The Thomas Crown Affair Amelie Chocolate The Pirate of the Carribean series The Harry Potter Series Low Down Dirty Shame

I mentioned it above but I`ll put it here again for easier access;

*Papercrafts, Scrapbooking, Cardmaking * Acrylic Painting *Mixed Media Art/collage * Art Journaling *Book Binding *ATC`s *Altered Art *Drawing *Crochet *Beading/jewelery making *Cooking and Baking (especially Cupcakes! YUM! *Digital Photography (no expert but am learning more everyday!)

I have been burned a number of times in swaps...mainly scrapbook/circle journal related and therefore I will be diligent getting my Swaps out on time and in making sure I fairly rate/praise everyone I swap with and am happy that, that is encouraged here.In the event that the Post kidnapps ;) the Swap in question I will be more than happy to resend out! I am very generous and like to go the extra mile when I swap and RAK and greatly appreciate when others take the time to do so with me also. here`s to Happy Swapping!

Halloween...what can I am a big kid at heart! One of the greatest priviledges of being a parent is that you can go all out and have an excue without other people thinking you are too weird...well...they still think I`m weird! But seriously i love the fantasy of Halloween and each year i add to my collect of decorations and always throw a party of sorts. I collect and use Halloween themed craft/scrapbook stuff...from the cute, to the dark and even Vintage I love them all!

Christmas...ahhhh....another favorite...I do the same as above!

I love color! It really has an impact on my mood as does pattern...funny enough though my favorite combination of all time is actually not made up of colors but is...

Black & White

Apart from that these other colors make me smile; Fuschia Lime/apple green Olive Turquoise Orange Red Brown Brown combined with pink or Turqoise caramel/taupe

favorite fabrics/patterns...

damask tulle (another obsession) toile polka dots Anything by Amy Butler Anything by Michael Miller

not quite a fabric but alas I LOVE WOOL FELT! Especially in yummy, bright colors! Anything by Heather Bailey

Frida Kahlo Suzibluu Paulette Install Elsie Flannigan Teesha Moore Celine Navarro Donna Downey Lynne Perella Rhonna Farrer

...to be continued