tempest

Hi, I'm Denise and I live in sunny Tempe, Arizona with my sweetheart and our 5 fur babies (kitties). Along with my love for crafts, I am a huge foodie and love to cook for the people I love. My husband and I host huge themed parties once a month and I spend hours and hours planning menus and cooking for our ever expanding circle of friends and family. I am looking forward to becoming a part of the swap-bot community.

Major Lingo, Lady Elaine, Ben Harper, Sonya Kitchell, Emiliana Torrini, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Keller Williams, Tom Waits, Outback, Joss Stone, Todd Boston, Matt's famous and fabulous Mix CD's, Nick Drake, The Chieftains, The Gypsy Kings, KD Lang, KT Tunstall, Alicia Keys, Steely Dan, David Lindley, ali farka toure, Joni Mitchell, Portishead, Poe, Ani Difranco, The Pogues, Cassandra Wilson, The Beatles, Chili Peppers (old school stuff), Janes Addiction, Afro Celt Sound System, Bob Marley, The Doors, The Beatles, Talking Heads

Whatever I'm currently reading (and I'm a voracious reader!) Some of my favorites of all time revolve around food, either as an element of fiction or as food memoirs. I have a collection of more than 200 or so cookbooks and literally read them like novels. I love the writing of Ruth Reichl and have enjoyed all of her books and Like Water for Chocolate is probably on my top 5 list. Just in the past couple of months, these are some of the titles I've read and enjoyed: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, Five Quarters of the Orange, Blessed are the Cheesemakers, Toast, Undomestic Goddess, Sacred Time, Barrel Fever, Confessions of an Actor, Cry the Beloved Country, Confederacy of Dunces, Holy Cow, Big Night

Favorite Magazines: ReadyMade, Cloth Paper Scissors, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Utne Reader, Somerset Studios, Legacy, Art Doll Quarterly, Communities,

I am an avid crafter and a mixed media artist, mostly involved in paper arts of late, but I'm always willing and ready to try something new. I have big home studio that was meant to be a dining/living room, and I have tons and tons of supplies, and I enjoy sharing my space with friends. I do a lot of card making, and other paper arts. Some basic book making, collage, altered books, atc's, etc. Those are the things I'm most confident at. I have dabbled in lots of other media, such as doll making, crochet, wet and needle felting, etc. If money were no object I would love to learn how to make fused glass and I'd love to try my hand at blown glass. I dream about making beautiful extravagant art dolls like the ones in Art Doll Quarterly, and would love to have mountains and mountains of fabrics, yarns, button, embellishments.." I am inspired by being with other people who are also creating. I love the exchange of energy and ideas that happens when a group of people are working on projects together. I am also inspired by music, my environment and culture and by the amazing work of artists I find in magazines and on the web. I am a huge fan of Frida Kahlo and my home and a great deal of my artwor is hugely reflective of that

I recently made the decision to 'kill my television' which has opened whole new worlds of creativity and inspiration for me. When I did watch, I tend to like things like Project Runway, anything on The Food Network, Dirty Jobs and lots of pretty geeky stuff on The Discovery Channel :o)

I tend to like documentaries, and a lot of weird foreign or obscure stuff. Some of my faves are Chocolat, Like Water for Chocolate, The Motorcycle Diaries, The Darwin Awards, Little Miss Sunshine, Amelie, Being John Malkovich, Talk to Her, The Meaning of Life (and just about anything to do with Monty Python), School of Rock (Jack Black is my guilty pleasure :o), Ed Wood,

a red haired boy, apple green and chocolate brown, converse 'chuck' low tops, great quotes, cooking for crowds, organic foods, dark chocolate, garlic, ice tea (love all flavors), rainy days (don't get many here), thrift stores, snuggling with all of my kitties, Trader Joe's, latin inspired art/writing, etc., artistic collaborations, finding a new food or art blog, partying with friends, playing games--loooove games (board and card, not video), going out to eat at fabulous locally owned restaurants, cheering for the Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers, long phone coversations with my mom, learning something new, teaching someone something new, lemon flavored anything, delicious fabric, ribbon, and paper, vintage ephemera, pin up girls (old school style), live theatre, a great novel or memoir, tiny things (miniature chairs, tiny books, etc.), a great ink pen, nice colored pencils like prismacolors, cloth napkins, anything 'green' or earth friendly, vintage ephemera of all kinds

olives, beets, artificial sweetners, my dessert on the same plate as my dinner (weird, I know), neon or bright primary colors, anything cartoon (most especially Disney related),bracelets (I'm weird about anything on my wrist), religious themed items, anything rose or floral scented, anime, white chocolate, coffee (I love it but it doesn't love me :o( )I am a staunch supporter of local and home grown/made products so I do not shop at WalMart or other large chains with poor business ethics. I would always prefer something you made yourself.