LOLA

Hello again. I am back after a long hiatus. Since I have been away from the bot I have crazy busy but I have managed to start knitting again. I am obsessed with yarns, now more than ever. Ravelry is a favorite hang out. On my list of projects is the the Beekeepers Quilt!

summer days...

Arlonzia Pettway, "Housetop" nine-block variation, 1982, 87x80 inches. From the book "Gee's Bend: The Women and Their Quilts," Tinwood Books 2002)

I savor my time at home! I enjoy all things crafty and domestic, sometimes with humor and irony in the mix. My tastes are diverse and dark, airy and bright, depends on my mood. I love beautiful and unusual things but hate predictable pretty. It is so sad to see an idea or look become cliche, it is something I am always trying to fight.

My listing of stuff is to give you an idea about who I am and what makes me tingle. I enjoy swapping unusual items and fun stuff but please don't consider my list of likes a shopping list. I can buy, make do and do without - just fine. I am primarily here to share, be creative and get inspired.

Ratings

I don't like to pressure anyone about rating but I do follow up if I don't hear anything, generally 2 weeks for packages and 3 weeks for postcards. I am incredibly busy myself and don't like to bother my partners with unnecessary messages. I send my postcards out early and packages are sent with delivery confirmation when possible.

Sewing and Needlework

Gees Bend style, quilting (fresh modern, Victorian crazy quilts,), embroidery(Subversive/Sublime, irreverent and vintage/anthropomorphic patterns,) dolls:raggedy ann, monster dolls, ala Junker Jane style

• vintage, retro and novelty buttons!!!
• wools, cottons and linens (the best come from old clothing)
• denims, chenille, recyled t-shirt fabric, (jersey knit)

Interested in trading?

Fabrics, looking for thrifted vintage sheets, salvaged curtains with fun designs or roses, unusual or irreverent items

Kitsch (I am looking for Jesus and Mary items they are beautiful on packaging tape and stickers, but I am not interested in negative or vulgar references.

Favorite Craft Magazines

UK and Japanese craft magazines like Cotton Time, Molly-Makes and Making,
Cloth Paper Scissors Green Craft

Artists that make me drool...

Banksy
Margaret Kilgallen
Nick Bantock
Yoko Inoue

Favorite themes

Dark Victoriana
Decadent New Orleans
Old time Jazz "The Devils Music"
Surrealism
anthropormorphic cats!

Favorite People

The Virgin Mary
Harriet Tubman
Marie Antoinette
Mary Wollstonecraft

Favorite lil' things

Lucky cat, any Kawaii cat items
fun kitty cat items in general. Korean stationary,stickers. stamps for diary, the translations from Korean to English are so fun, love it! teeny tiny crochet items like mushrooms or robots, kokeshi dolls!
doll sized buttons, fabrics with super small prints

Ridiculous cute stuff I like:

monsters
creepy antique dolls
owls
mushrooms
rainbows
hearts
stars

Sad and serious stuff I like:

Victorian mourning items: junk and broken jewels, velvet ribbons, cabochons, beads and settings, heart and star shaped charms, macabre and mysterious looking trinkets
old cemeteries
any musical piece in minor key
Schubert and Chopin
dilapidated mansions
graffiti scrawl
gray clouds
hearts
stars

Found objects and random-ness

There is so much good design out there (street art, packaging, advertisements, the back of boxes etc). I am not above picking up random items stuck in gravel on parking lots, cleaning them up and saving them for something. I gravitate towards odd metal bits and broken jewelry or ran over, rusty pieces, in my opinion they have a poetic quality. I don't like to see any of it go to waste. Also I am a firm believer that nature is the best art teacher. I pay attention and take notes.

anything heart or star shaped
the effects of weather on wood, painted surfaces and metal
birds nests (I once spotted an abandoned nest with paper from Hershey kisses.
urban graffiti (stencils)

Books

I mainly read non-fiction. I do have a list of classical fiction that I need to read before I die. However I would love and appreciate any fictional book recommendations. I don't go to the movies and I seldom watch tv but I love a good story.

Express yourself!

I love the printed word and trying to carve out more time in the day to do creative journaling. I enjoy altering text and images but i am trying not to get hung up on the pretty factor. I like a piece to look good but i would rather be raw and productive than perfect and pretty, easier said than done, at least for me.

Styles I love

Zakka: (anything in Cotton Time Magazine, and Japanese craft books)

urban graffiti: street art especially Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Margaret Killgallen)

New Orleans: (decadent decay, trees with hanging moss...infused with some voodoo and mystery
.
Victoriana on the edge, Hippy or Goth...

Cool stores with websites I love to visit:
Love this look especially the colors

Fairytale themes:
Alice in Wonderland
Little Red Riding Hood
Hans Christian Anderson
The Brothers Grimm
Folk tales

Papers and more papers...

I collect quotations and forgotten grocery lists. I am fascinated with bits of paper with handwriting; diaries, love letters, handwritten recipes.

I've been a fan of collage for years, since I was very young. I just never knew the name for it. I have a crumbly yellowed collage I assembled for my husband over 24 years ago, with scotch tape!

One of my goals is to learn more about mail art. Good old fashion correspondence, altered, new and vintage postcards. Trying my hand at making stencils and stamps, my efforts look raw and primitive but in a sexy way and I happen to love the look!

• office stamps or stamps for crafting, new or used.

• postage stamps of all eras: flowers, birds, women, cats, I love hearts and stars, typography, text, Great Britian, Eastern European, Japan and China.

Cookery, Chocolate and Teas

If I had to choose what type of teas I prefer I guess I would have to say the blacks, especially fruity or flavored but there are very good green and white teas as well. I tend to lean towards the earl greys but I am always excited to try new flavors.

I admit it. I am a chocoholic. It does not matter if it is common or gourmet. I like the tried and true American chocolate candy like Reese's and Hersey's, snickers bars etc, there are some fabulous new chocolatiers, higher end stuff that I enjoy sampling as well, burnt salty caramel fillings, or cacao from sustainable or eco minded souces. European chocolates are DIVINE! I would love to try your favorites whether gourmet or not!

I can spend hours reading new and vintage cookbooks. I collect cookbooks of all types. Zines with cooking themes are a great addition to my kitchen library. Next on my list of major book purchases is the The Darwin Cookbook. Yippee!

My Dad was from Mexico and my Mother was from Texas. I had a rich and diverse childhood. Growing up I was constantly asking questions. My parents never denied me books or trips to the library. I had the best of both worlds. My Father with his cultural superstitions and practices would proudly sit and listen to me read. He was a gardener who specialized in growing roses and chili peppers. My Mother was a proud Texan and I inherited my love of learning from her.

I probably spend too much money on books, magazines, and newspapers. I never go anywhere without my nook. I am intensely interested in the world around me and I relish the freedom I have as a citizen to stay informed. Generally speaking however I am here to share artsy crafty stuff.
Swapbot is my escape.

I get giddy when I receive a package from another country

*What is it? The handwriting, the stamps, the think the paper is different too! Who knows? I just love it!

It is an honor to learn about other cultures and countries and would love to trade almost anything with international swappers.

Please note: I am constantly reading on people's profiles their distaste and horror in receiving anything religious or patriotic. I wish I knew what swappers are bombarding folks with religious and nationalistic themed items. No worries from my end swappers. I won't send you anything even remotely religious or patriotic, but...

If you so desire, please share with me any patriotic items from your country! The same applies to religion! I enjoy learning about world religions and the influence on culture and society or in your personal life! By the way, if you happen to have any crosses or rosaries lying around without a home. send them my way for trade! I am a cradle catholic and religious iconography has tremendous meaning and value in my life.

• Catholic saints or santos
• rosaries
• crosses ( anything classic or kitsch, glow in the dark and LED are totally wonderful too.)
• prayer cards
• sacred, bleeding or flaming heart
• heart in hand (this a Quaker motif?)
• vintage images of the Virgin Mary/baby Jesus and their manifestations (Our Lady of Guadalupe, Fatima, The Holy Infant of Prague, Santo Nino de Atocha)
  
  • Any pins, items or pieces that say "I love Jesus"

Do I dislike anything?

I don't want to inhibit anyone's creativity and I love surprises. In fact I prefer you share the stuff you love to receive or make yourself. If you love it. I am sure I will too! There are a few things however that I really don't need or that I don't like.

• magnetic note pads. I buy these for myself and have cool ones to share.
• Disney/ Princess items
• no scrap paper.

Classical piano, violin concertos: Vivaldi, Handel, Bach. 1970's rock, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Led Zepplin, 1980's rock revisted, The Virgin Suicides, Marie Antoinette soundtrack, Pink Martini, world music, Buddha Bar type.

Classical and Mississippi River Blues

Classic gospel and church hymns.

The French Quarter( New Orleans)
Historic Savannah Georgia
Little Five Points in Atlanta Georgia
Big churches, tiny churches...

Superstitions, folklore, traditions...I get my inspiration everywhere.

tattered loveliness
the most beautiful ugly babies
A Fanciful Twist
American Couture

geesbend
butterfly gardens
eating locally