PaulaF

Hi! I am just getting back into stamping and mixed media after a hiatus of about 15 years--when the kids came, all my "me" time disappeared. But now that they are adolescents, I'm just pulling all the supplies back out and having fun buying more! New toys...yay!

Back around 2000-2001 I had a few pieces published in the Somerset mags, but now I can't believe what a proliferation of fun opportunities for sharing art have arisen on the Internet in the time I've been "away." I'm looking forward to making friends here and communing with like-minded artists. :)

I am a professional classical musician living in the Atlanta area with my husband, our two kids, and our two cats (a Tonkinese and a Bengal). My work takes me all over the country and sometimes to fun parts of the world I never would see otherwise! I play historical harps--copies of instruments that were in use in the 1500s-1700s mostly.

When I'm not traveling for work, I love to play tennis. I will play every day if I get the chance. There are lots of competitive leagues in our area, so I usually have a couple of those going at once. Singles or doubles or mixed doubles--it's all good!

I am Swedish-American and lived in the Stockholm area for several years. I am married to a foreigner too and a lot of our friends are in the international expatriate community.

I love perfume, especially niche houses and indie perfumers. My perfume collection is too big. :(

I love(d) Downton Abbey! I occasionally watch John Oliver and Bill Maher...and lots of Tennis Channel. :)

In my early 20s I was a professional calligrapher active in the national scene and taught classes and workshops. I still do like to incorporate hand lettering into my ATCs from time to time.

I am primarily interested in ATCs, especially mixed media, stamping, collage, and hand-drawn or -lettered elements.

I like letterforms, history, and historical themes. I like the quirky and the weird and sometimes the borderline ugly, if it is thoughtfully done and makes you think a little! Pieces that seem to say something instead of merely being pretty are my favorites. (Although I do like pretty, too!)

Some labels for things I tend to like: vintage...Tim Holtz style...mixed-media art-journaling style...Finnabair...Michelle Ward. Feel free to have a look at my blog or my photos (links above) to get a feel for my style. :)

For swaps I tend to prefer to receive things that are more on the arts side than straight-up craftsy. I get excited by good design and composition, and am always looking to learn new techniques and be inspired by the work of others!

I do prefer ATCs that are ATC-sized. Lately it seems there has been a fashion for embellishments that stick out over the edges of the card by quite a bit and add significantly to the overall dimensions of the card. If the card can't fit into a 9-pocket sleeve and/or covers up part of its neighbor in that 9-pocket sleeve, I have to find a special place to store it away from the rest of my collection, and the card languishes unseen and unappreciated--a fate it surely doesn't deserve!

I'm not really huge on themes that are saccharine-sentimental, cartoony, or pious-religious (though I do like historical references to religion, preferably several centuries removed from the present day LOL). I fear clowns (AAAAAAaaahhhh!) and dislike circus themes. :( I tend not to love obviously machine-made or too-perfect-looking embellishments like stickers, lots of punches/die cuts, etc....although if a piece is beautifully done it is beautifully done, and I will still appreciate the quality!

I post most of my projects on my blog or Flickr/Pinterest, so if you are my partner and want to be surprised at what is headed your way, don't peek until after your envie gets to you! :)