ArdeaSwap

I am a married mother of two, (young) grandma of one. I have 3 Puggles, Frank, Sammie, and Dean-a. I work full-time outside the home. I try to be as green as I can, eat organic, and recycle more than I throw away. I love to cook American and International dishes, but we do eat lowfat. I am not personally religious and don't like to be preached at, but I do believe in a Greater Good and am accepting of all faiths that "do no harm" and appreciate their good wishes. I love learning about other cultures and ways of life.

I love to sew purses, bags, and totes. I have made Dotees and a few dolls. I love to quilt. I like to do piecing, applique, and art quilts with all sorts of embellishments. I would love to try other crafts and have in the past, but I found myself stretched a little thin and have mainly focused on anything to do with fabric most recently. I have carpal tunnel and am able to do less and less hand stitching. I have just become the proud new owner of a great Embroidery Machine and am having fun with it!

To see examples of my work, visit my Picasa Slide Show above.

I love receiving handmade items from other crafters. I also love receiving things which represent the sender's locality whether bought or made, US or international. My favorite styles are folk and fantasy, but I am open to most anything. I love the colors of Autumn best, but prefer all colors to be saturated rather than pastel. My favorite scents are musky and spicy. I love raspberries and limes. I make fresh ground french roast coffee in a french press every morning. I prefer tea in the evening, especially green. I like candles that smell like baked goods. I love second hand trinkets or items that can be used in decorating or crafting. I love Outsider Art. I like religious art for the sake of its art quality and by that I mean the art of any benevolent religion.

I don't care much for pastels or neons. I don't like grotesque (i.e. bloody) art or depictions. I don't care for floral scents or wear makeup. I am allergic to kiwi and don't care much for cake - especially chocolate - and I don't like dark chocolate. I don't care for floral or fruity candles or use heavily perfumed bath items. Though I like looking at ATCs and such made by others, I don't care to do paper crafting much.

Classic Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Classical, The Rat Pack, Piano, Acoustic Guitar, World Music, Michael Buble

Pockets off jeans and other old clothes, esp. with interesting stitching or other design on them.

Appliques - secondhand cut from old clothes, especially

Embroidered collars/pockets/cuffs cut off of old clothes

Patches cut off of old clothes

Doilies of all sizes secondhand or new

Vintage cotton cloth (yardage, table cloths, napkins, hankies, etc...)

Vintage lady's gloves

Handmade items -secondhand or made by you!

Items related to your culture or where you live

Quilt/sewing craft magazines (incl. second hand)

And of course, Fabric!!

Retro

Birds

Dogs

Folk

Fantasy

Oriental

Food

Novelty fabrics

Hawaiian prints

Chili pepper prints

el Dia de los Muertos