ContraryHousewife

About me:

I enjoy a variety of hobbies; sewing, quilting, wool felt, gardening, dollhouse miniatures, travel, costuming and dance, as well as just generally noodling around with crafts. I have 2 indoor cats. They like soft catnip toys that crinkle or jingle that they can grab with paws or claws.

In addition I have a few neutered feral cats that I care for.

2022 was a very sad year for me as one of my beautiful Maine Coon girls died very suddenly of cancer.

I have two dollhouses in the works. One is a Greenleaf Pierce which is being furnished in a modern/current style. The other is a Greenleaf Harrison which I am doing in a mix of old European styles, medieval to Victorian.

Special notes about gift swaps: I have sensitive skin and have reactions/allergies to most cosmetics and skin creams. Please do not send face masks or lotions. I can wear lip balm and use bath products like soap, scented oils and bath fizzies.

Holiday foods: I enjoy peppermint, hot chocolate, gingerbread and marzipan. I prefer my tea plain and black. I cannot have coffee or peanuts.

Holiday cards: While I am not a religious person if God is part of your holiday then I am happy to receive a card with seasonally appropriate verse or quotes that have meaning to you.

Most Recently Finished Project:

This is going to a hospice care center.

Current project:

Also destined for hospice.

I have broad tastes in music, from new age to hard rock. I also enjoy reading a variety of books, from detective fiction, to romance, to sci-fi. My husband and I enjoy movies on a regular basis, I like action and suspense, but not horror movies. Recent tv shows I've watched include The Crown, Victoria, Grantchester, Father Brown, Dr Blake, Miss Fisher, Killjoys, Dr Who and Daredevil.

I like color but I'm not sure I have a favorite. I like blue/green/aqua/turquoise colors, and also gold/orange/peach colors especially if there is a yellow-green involved. Burgundy/eggplant/purple is another range I really enjoy.

For quilt fabric I am really into white, lights and neutrals right now. Grey, white, beige, etc in solids, tone on tone or very subtle prints. Boring background colors and low volume prints.

I like flowers. Love to look at them and smell them. I also do flower scents as perfume and candles. I try to grow flowers, but nature isn't always cooperative. Every spring I buy a rose bush and every winter it dies. I love zinnias, but the squirrels eat them to the ground.

My tea of choice is strong and black, like English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast. I'm also liking the new French Breakfast with Lavender. If it says "Ceylon" or "black" it is probably a good bet. I don't mind if the tea is loose or unwrapped, as long as it is clean and dry. I don't do herbal or flavored teas, except for Teavana Peach Tranquility loose leaf. I'm a chocolate snob. I much prefer a small square of very good dark chocolate (70-72%) to a large bar of something cheap. I dislike 'pumpkin spice' flavored anything. Please do not send peanut products.

I love candles, incense, soap, bath salts and oils in natural scents like pear, rose, lavender, orange, jasmine, honeysuckle, heather, evergreen and berries. I do not like food scents like cookies, pumpkin spice or vanilla.

Please, no facial cosmetics (allergies) or nail polish.

Postcards (if you're looking here for ideas): I'm partial to historic sites and natural wonders, museums, monuments, old buildings, houses, famous scenic locations like national parks, waterfalls, bridges or canyons. And cats. If it is "anything goes" feel free to send something you like and tell me why you like it.

Extras: I appreciate the thought, but please do not send extra bits unless the swap specifically calls for it. One thing I've learned during covid lockdown is that I have too much stuff already.

Please don't send kiddie stuff. I don't have young kids, or know any to pass it along to.

Art I like: I came here to share ideas and get inspiration from others. I like to think I am open minded and accepting of other's artistic expressions. I'm not going to force a long list of requirements on you if you want to make something for me. It's your art. However...

I like to keep it PG-13. I'm here for fun and entertainment. Please no violent imagery, vulgarity, tasteless nudity, sex, blood, gore, religious or political statements. I get enough of that in real life.

NOTE: I often use my husband's return address labels. For some reason he gets them free in the mail and I don't. Just in case you were wondering why there was a strange name on the envelope.