Kessie

Hi, I'm 46, single, and have a 25 year old daughter. I like to think I'm quite artistic, but my job as a computer analyst doesn't give me much oppurtunity to express my creativity! I enjoy fancy dress parties, and once took part in a mass pub crawl in London - about 50 people all dressed as Pirates - great fun! When not dressed to a particular theme, my 'fashion' sense ranges from quite gothic/punk (e.g. black lace, red pvc, studded dog-collars) to camp girly kitsch (day-glo pink tutus, feather boas, sequinned fairy wings, glitter spray...)

I'm an atheist and not easily offended by nudity, religious symbols or swear-words - so feel free to express yourself!

I love the idea of Swap-Bot - keeping in touch with people all over the world, the kindness of strangers, sharing your creativity... Fabulous!

When I'm out, I like dancing to cheesey camp pop-music - Girls Aloud, The Ketchup Song, Mika, various Eurovision hits etc. But at home my tastes are more eclectic - UB40, Eagle Eye Cherry, Joanna Newsom, Enya, Meatloaf, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Queen, The Pogues, Dolly Parton... Just about the only things I don't listen to are jazz and classical music, although even there must be some famous pieces which I would like if I heard them? I'm always happy to listen to new bands or genres of music... is there anything you think I might like? I would LOVE to receive a mixed CD of music I haven't heard before!

Authors I like include Terry Pratchett, Barbara Kingsolver, Kate Atkinson and Douglas Adams.

I also have a soft-spot for all the children's books I enjoyed as a child; fairytales, Alice in Wonderland, the Moomins, Chronicles of Narnia, Children of Greenknowe, etc.

Apart from children's books, I generally like reading things that 'make you think' (e.g detective novels, science fiction etc), rather than romances and 'chick-lit'.

I read quite a lot, as I have a long train journey to work every day, so feel free to send me a paperback book if you think it's one I'd like!

Mostly painting & drawing. I used to do collaberative art at www.anexquisitecorpse.net but unfortunately it closed down. I might try creating an online swap to do something similar if I think there is enough interest...

I also like doing collages with ephemera and found objects, and would like to try altering books etc.

I take lots of photos, which I then incorporate into some of my other artwork.

I do make my own fancy dress costumes, but I'm not really very good at sewing so it's mostly things just roughly tacked together so they can be worn once, and then dismantled.

My bedroom is decorated with dark woorden furniture and garlands of red roses, while my bathroom is a dazzling, psychadelic colour scheme of yellow, sky-blue and day-glo pink, with rubber ducks and giant flowers and stuff...

I'd never even heard of ATCs before I joined Swap-Bot but I'm addicted to them now! I'd be happy to receive craft materials: brads, sharpies, unusual papers, acrylic paints, pens, good quality drawing pencils etc.

Raising Arizona, Always, Harold & Maude, Toto the Hero, Ma vie en rose, Donnie Darko, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, The Rocky Horror Show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

I feel a bit guilty writing an 'I want' list - and I promise I will be happy to receive most things! PLEASE don't feel you need to include extras - I am trying to destash at the moment as I have too much stuff already!
This section is really just me trying to be helpful, so my swap-partners have lots of ideas to inspire them.

In general I like things to be either beautiful, or thought-provoking, rather than cute. I prefer things which are unique or quirky, rather than mass-produced.

Obviously I don't want to be sent rubbish, but I am happy to receive secondhand things such as books, and I don't really care about labels or brands...

I like a lot of artists including David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Frida Kahlo, Magritte... I'm not so keen on old masters or anything too traditional.

My favourite colour is dark green, but I like most other colours too! Maybe not so much 'wishy-washy' colours like pastels or grey or beige. I like shiny metallic colours (silver, gold, copper etc). Some of my favourite patterns are leaves, snowflakes, masses of red roses, and fractals.

I do like some kitsch, pink fluffy things but prefer them with a slight twist, like altered Barbies, erotica, anything a bit bizarre and edgy, rather than 'pretty and tasteful'.

I also like more urban designs including street art, Banksy, the band The Gorillaz, vinyl toys like Qees, art with a political slant, or art which includes text in some meaningful way.

I like food, especially candy, cookies and cakes! Favourites are Reeses's peanut butter cups, Fudge, and chocolate-caramel-nut-praline type things. I like white chocolate, and recently discovered (on another swapper's profile) that white chocolate Resses's peanut butter cups exist. I've never seen them over here (England) and would love to try some... I'm also happy to receive sachets of hot chocolate or flavoured instant coffee etc.

I collect ornaments made out of natural wood, e.g. small carved animals, or little lidded pots made from a slice of branch.

I love Moomins!

I like jewellery - the weirder the better - but I don't have any piercings, so clip-on earrings only! (I'd love to receive handmade clip-on earrings?) I also like badges etc which light up or have flashing LEDs etc. I'd love to receive an altered-art brooch, or pendant...I like gothic style chokers and crosses etc... Favourite colours for jewelery would probably be black, silver, ruby-red or emerald green....

I love little tiny backpacks, (just big enough for maybe a wallet, a lipstick, keys & a phone) - much more practical when out clubbing as it leaves your hands free for dancing and drinking! I had a pretty red one with diamante trim, but one of my best bargains ever was an 'Elmo from Sesame Street' mini backpack from my local 99p store!

I'd also be happy to receive lavender bags or drawer-scenting sachets, a funky dog-collar large enough to fit around my neck, 'Alice' style headbands, tiaras or fascinators, or art materials, including printed backs to go on ATCs.

I love unusual tights - bright colours, fishnets, striped etc - in a largish size

As I mentioned earlier, I'd love to receive mixed CDs.

WISHLIST!

Freezer paper - apparently people who do quilting, stencilling onto fabric, etc. use this, and I'm not sure if the stuff we have in England is the same... I don't do much sewing but would really like just a small sample to experiment with!

Felt and embroidery thread
- any colours; I just want to experiment with making little felt creatures etc. Also perhaps other materials that might be useful for that, e.g. fake eyes, stuffing, sewing needles?

Anything Moomin - either things with pictures of Moomins on them, or books about them (can be secondhand - I only have one so far, Moomin Midwinter).

small clean animal skulls
Yes I know that one is REALY weird, but hey, it's worth asking...

Modge-Podge
because I have never seen it in the shops here and would like to try some...

Patterned Tights
E.g. striped, tartan, floral etc. Either 'one size' or 'large'.

A 'Clock' rubber stamp
Any sort of ink-stamp with a clock or pocket-watch design (for Time/Alice in Wonderland themed art)

Notecards
Especially ones with designs I like, e.g. Alice, red roses, pirates, science etc. Can be handmade. Without envelopes is fine as I will often send them inside a swap package.

DISLIKES
There isn't really much I DONT like... however things I don't use much are yarn, stickers, buttons, memo-sheets. I won't complain, but I'm sure there are other people who would appreciate them more!

Please note: I'm an atheist without much respect for religious beliefs so its probably best not to send me 'Jesus loves you' type items. I don't mind religious items if they are being sent because they are aesthetically beautiful or interesting in some bizarre way.

Formatting text on Swap-Bot

Sent Tuesday 8th Nov
100,000 swap
Wishlist group to Renate
Wishlist group to Marryth
Wishlist group to JulieF (via etsy)
Happy Swappers RAK to Momto2girls
Tag Crazy wishlist to Dramagymnast
Down the Rabbit Hole WTA
RAK to PirateGrrl775
Swap what you make

Sent Monday 24th Oct
Booklets of ArtiStamps

Sent Tuesday 18th Oct
Tiger drawing for Dramagymnast (A-Z forum game)
Buttons & lavender bag for Darkshines (not crappy forum game)
RAK to JF
Halloween ornaments for WTA

Sent Tuesday 4th Oct
Lavender bag to LucyStar
ATC for WTA forum game

Sent Monday 19th Sept
Holloween ornament
Art exhibition challenge
DIY destroy this

Sent Tuesday 13th Sept
Do Something New zine
WTA for Down the Rabbit Hole

Sent Wednesday 31st August
Not ordinary canvas swap
Alice inspired swap

Sent Friday 19th August
London souvenirs for private swap with Gambit
Envelope book resent.
Digital ATCs swap

Tags to do next:
Postcard using supply chain materials
Something for Wishlist Group
Something for Happy Swapbot RAK group
May need to resend to Revolutionaries if it's got lost

Flaked on:
Towel Day Card
Artistamps

Waiting for Rating:
Artistamps
ATC Backgrounds
Towel Day Card