Ralphsrascals

I have been in rubber stamping for over 10 years, and finally have a craft room in my house. I have been in several ATC swaps through different rubber stamp stores. I love postage, carousel horses, crocheting, counted cross stitch and am a member of www.three-rivers-arts.org in my town. I am soon going to teach a class on windchimes that adults can make and plastorgans that kids can make at the same time. We recently made paper flowers to decorate the art space.

I am unemployed, and use art to fill in my time as well as using it as therapy - to relax, dream and create. Currently I meet with a friend and we color once a week. I am learning about shading with colored pencils and pastel pencils.

Joining Swaps will keep me focused on creating art and give me a jumping off point - I'm not good on creating a theme for myself!

I am listening to a lot of CW and the oldies - I especially like the 70's. Where did those great bands go? I love Beatles over the Stones. Elton John and Billy Joel, Doobies, Chicago. I also like smooth jazz, bluegrass, appalachian music, and peruvian music. I also like dulcimer, and harmonica.

It is easier to say what I DON'T like than what I do! I don't like dark themed, such as dark fantasy, or witchcraft, demonic books. I do love John Saul, Dean Koonz, Michael Crichton. I like the new "series" books - the tea, coffee, sewing, food series books. These are fun and light to read in between the mentally challenging books of the aforementioned authors.

I just watched The Client - loved it. I love John Grisham on the screen rather than reading him. I love It's Complicated - because I loved all the actors, esp. Steve Martin (one of my favs!) And RHPS - if you don't know what that stands for, it's ok. But those who do, know what I like!

I collect carousel horses - I prefer the early 1900s artwork. I have books, horses, coloring books, photos, I go to museums to see them. I find the art and history are intensely interesting.

I also collect small boxes - I recently added a beautiful box I found in Goodwill for $2. I could tell the quality of the box and when I looked at the bottom of the box, it's original price was $20! from a store! I also added a small box from Mexico - I love it for the authentic art on it.

I also collect paperweights, although have not added to my collection in a while. I would love to try making my own paperweights.

I also collect crochet patterns - and never throw any away! If you need something, I probably have it!

I am going to learn to make windchimes at the local Arts Center. I would like to learn to make kaleidoscopes, beaded jewelry, and to carve my own rubber stamps. I am working with a friend to learn to take excellent pictures of animals. I would like to enhance my photo skills in the area of nature - especially birds and flowers. I want to join a birdwatching group, but we don't have one close enough to me. I want to learn to identify birds by sight (including flying - wingspan) and their calls.

I don't like licorice! I don't like black jelly beans, I don't like rap, hip-hop, etc. I don't like when someone rips off another's artwork and claims it as their own. I don't like other's sharing their faith with me if it's in conflict with my beliefs. Please, NO: wicca, metaphysical, rosacrucian, new age, hare krishna, etc. I am a Christian and follow Jesus Christ, I am a fundamental independent Baptist. I do not believe the same as Catholics, Mormons, or 7th Day Adventists. If you are a Christian following Christ, I would accept what you send. Please respect me on this, as I respect others and don't force my religion on them. If you have questions about my faith or anything else I've listed please PM me.