madebymimi

I live in London and enjoy going to exhibitions, theatre, markets and things like that. I also like fitness, in particular triathlon, wild swimming and cycle touring. But probably what I love the most is to stay in and craft! I do a lot of drawing, relief printing, embroidery and sewing (and a bit of knitting sometimes). My latest obsession is paper crafts and collage. I love vintage magazine/book pages, ads and illustrations for cutting out and decorating mail and making collage.

I'd say my taste is on the quirky side. If it seems a bit odd to you I'll probably like it, check out my Pinterest link at the top.

I like outsider art, abstract art, surrealism, masks, wilder mann, folk art, occult, vintage botanical and anatomical illustrations, insects, taxidermy, tarot cards, shamanism, lucid dreaming (anything about dreaming really), maps, Japanese, Scandinavian and mid-century inspired things. I love colourful things especially certain combos like yellows and pinks, turquoise and reds, blue and orange.

I really love making things and seeing things made by other people so I guess what I'd like to receive most in swaps is:

things I can use for crafting..vintage/retro illustrations from children's books, instruction manuals, text books, housekeeping magazines etc. Maps, postage stamps, vintage ads, foreign ephemera, packaging, ticket stubs, coasters, magazine pages, playing / fortune / games cards, stencils, patterned paper, cool magazine cut outs, any collagable paper ephemera...

and

things made by you! I'd LOVE to see what you make or receive your art work.

I also love snail mail stationery, chocolate of any kind (especially green tea flavoured) and liquorice.

I don't wear make-up and only use natural toiletry products.

Most of all I'd like to hear a bit about you and what you like :-D

I'm really interested in incorporating my existing creative interests into mailable form! So for instance I'm starting to make letter paper and envelopes combining collage, embroidery on paper and lino prints. So much fun!

Rule of the Bone - Russell Banks, Vernon God Little - D. B. C. Pierre, Arrow of God - Chinua Achebe, Memoirs of a Porcupine - Alain Mabanckou, Nights at the Circus - Angela Carter, The Painted Bird - Jerzy Kosinski, Orphans of the Sky - Robert A. Heinlein, The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao - Juno Diaz, One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Sisters Brothers - Patrick deWitt, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers, The World According to Garp - John Irving, The First Bad Man - Miranda July, The Story of the Stone - Cao Xueqin, Wild Swans - Jung Chang

Some bands I like: Dark Dark Dark, The Be Good Tanya’s, Frazy Ford, Joanna Newsom, First Aid Kit, Agnes Obel, Cat Power, Raina Rose, Joni Mitchel, Songs: Ohia, Tindersticks, Valerie June, Wild Child, Father John Misty.

I'm always looking for new music, I'd love to hear from you if you like any of these bands and have a recommendation!

I really want you to enjoy the swaps I send. Please do tell me if you didn't receive something, I take pics of what I send and would send again if something goes missing.