SimplySuze

I am a bookkeeper and part-time caregiver. I am hoping that doing swaps will be relaxing... It's easy for me to switch gears to do a little craft project or send a letter, and feel the weight of the day fall away.

I love seeing other ideas for what is beautiful and interesting. I have a lot of casual interests, if you are sending me something to my liking:

• flowers, in almost any configuration or style
• rock walls, pebbles, river stones
• blues
• watercolor
• hand drawing, urban sketches

I think because I grew up in the country, I like nature tones and colors to be around me. I've lived in the city a long time but -- you can take the girl out of the country...

My favorite author is Jane Austen. I also like some more recent fiction in a lot of styles. For example: Lois McMaster Bujold, Ursula LeGuin, Becky Chamber, Martha Wells, Dorothy Sayers. Looking at my bookshelf, I'm realizing it's mostly non-fiction. Whole Brain Living, The Evolution of Dogs, Philosophy in the Flesh (seems to be mostly about physical metaphors for abstract concepts).

I've been watching Madam Secretary -- I'm 75% through. But it's unusual for me to watch series very often.

Last month my daughter mentioned she'd like me to make her a quilt! That is a blast from the past. When she was little, I did make baby quilts as gifts for weddings.

She is talking about a queen-size quilt. That would be fun! Probably take years to make? So I should shake out my sewing machine, and maybe practice on pot holders.

When I shop for note cards, I like nature images in pastel browns, blues and greens. I love to see lakes and rivers, and if there are canoes or kayaks, that's a plus!

My favorite painting, up on my wall, is of an old stone wall in New England. I love the 'painterly' daubs of ochre, shadows in blue. Above is a thin line of spring buds, against clouds in the blue sky. So beautiful.

I also love a rich yellow gold, paired with jewel tones.

And, as I think about it, I realize I do like seeing human faces, human silhouettes, in art. People, especially women, in motion or repose. I've been sensitive to the 'male gaze' for a long time. There's a magical quality of a woman's image when seen by either another woman, or a man who is not glorifying or romanticizing the woman's image.