Stindragon

sewing- I learned to sew in college from a friend when pregnant with my oldest boy but never had any formal lessons. I do mostly things for around the house with the occasional strip-pieced quilt (Trip Around the World is the only pattern I know how to do). I like cotton fabrics and sometimes linen.

knitting- I learned to knit in 2004 at the local community center but had tried to teach myself way back in 1990, failing miserably. Socks are my favorite thing to knit, especially Fair Isle ones, and I have begun to design them myself sometimes. I am "Julie" on http://www.ravelry.com/ I prefer to knit with natural fibers, mostly wool but sometimes alpaca or angora blends. Cotton hurts my hands so I seldom knit with it.

spinning- It wasn't long after I learned to knit that I was dragged into spinning my own yarn. I prefer fine wools, cormo and targhee are favorites but if I need something sturdier I'll use a cormo/romney cross.

gardening- I have been gardening since I was a tot and used to call nasturtiums "nasty urchents" (toddler's mangling of urchins), they are still a favorite for bordering my vegetable garden along with marigolds. I keep perennial flower beds as well as a smallish vegetable garden. I grew up gardening in the deep South and have been learning how to garden in New England for the past several years.

cooking- I am a "from scratch" sort of cook which developed in my 30's when I began to have migraines and was told to avoid preservatives among other things. I love to make my own marshmallows and I do a lot of baking in the cooler months. I have a silly fear of making my own pasta which I would like to get past. I am trying to work more whole grains and vegetables into my diet. We try to buy local and organic or naturally raised whenever we can. We are in a meat CSA and frequent the farmers market weekly when it's in season. I drink cocoa (I make my own blend because I like much less sugar than the prepared mixes have) or genmaicha tea in the mornings but I cannot have coffee as it gives me migraines.

origami- I dabble in origami but haven't done any folds more complicated than the crane. I have a big expandable folder full of origami papers. I would like to learn how to fold a letter into it's own envelope.

fountain pens- in the fall of 2009 I was introduced to fountain pens and began collecting several less expensive ones. At this time I also got interested in writing to pen pals and now have several. I enjoy fountain pen friendly papers. I like the smoother types of white paper, especially Clairefontaine and Apica. I'm terribly fond of Noodler's Inks.

cats- I have always had at least one cat since infancy. I love cats and anything cat themed, calico cats in particular as that was my first cat that was "my own" in second grade.

soapmaking- I have been making cold process soap for a few years now and quite enjoy it. I make a sort of rustic soap scented with essential or fragrance oil but do not include any coloring or fancy shapes. I have sensitive skin so I wanted something that is not drying or heavily scented. Along those lines, I also make my own hand lotion bars.

The Lord of the Rings Mists of Avalon The Darkover Series Anything by Charles de Lint Memory, Sorrow and Thorn Millenium trilogy Kushiel series Ender's Game Dune

Dr. Who Foyle's War Inspector Morse Miss Marple Kojak Poirot Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett version) Chuck Monk Saving Grace Fringe Iron Chef Japanese Thirty Something Bones Torchwood Firefly

I am married with two grown children and three cats. I grew up in south Louisiana but now live in the New England area. I miss the food but not the bugs. I have a background in science but quit work when we moved too far from the city to commute with young boys, we haven't looked back since.

I have been participating in online swaps since 2004 and have made some fast friends through the experience. If you dislike your package for any reason at all, please contact me so that we can resolve the situation.

I like: dragons cats blue and white jewel tones fruit jellies caramel lavender recipes seeds vintage postage (that you can still use)

please do not send coffee or coffee flavored things