LindaRuthie

June 2022 * I have been away for quite a while due to life and family responsibilities being overwhelming and taking up my time and energy. Life is now settling down and I would love to start crafting and swapping again. I've found that many of my groups have no swaps. If I am asking to join your active group I hope you will consider me despite my absence.

Profile updated June 2016

Member since February 2008

I live in Western Massachusetts, in the town I was born in. I've been married to my sweet hubby since 1991 and my son was born in 1996. I enjoy mysteries, nature, history and collecting things vintage. I like thrift shops, flea markets and yard sales. We all like to travel, but finances keep our trips close to home (New England area). That's OK because there's plenty to see and do in New England. During Spring and Summer, I like to work in my flower gardens. Autumn is my favorite season of the year. I enjoy birdwatching and try to keep the bird feeders in the yard full.
We have a pet Eastern Painted Turtle named Neville.

If you are expecting a package from me and it does not arrive in a timely manner, please PM me so I can make it right.
I will rate your swap package, usually as soon as it arrives. And the only way I will know if my package has arrived safely to you is when you leave a rating for me. I love reading your comments!
I reuse packaging to save trees and $.
Please, feel free to re-gift anything I send that you can't use or is not your style. If you pass along anything I have handmade, I ask please that you not take credit for my work.
My home is smoke-free and furry pet-free.
I like private swaps. Just ask.
I swap handmade items and craft supplies. I sign up for a swap when it inspires me to create. I consider anything I send out to be a gift to you, from me and I hope it makes you smile.
When making a craft to send to me, I will be very happy if you make what you are inspired to make. I love to receive an item and say to myself, "I never would have thought to do that".

BOOKS- I devour mystery/cozy books. Love when the main character sews, bakes, knits, etc. I enjoy books like "Weird U.S." , local history and legends, including ghost stories.

TV- My all-time favorite show is 'The Andy Griffith Show'. I find I have to keep changing my favorites here as programs come and go. Hubby and I enjoy the Hallmark channels especially all the Christmas movies in November and December. I never thought I would spend my time watching 'reality' TV shows but in the past few of years we have loyaly watched Dancing With the Stars, America's Got Talent and The Next Food Network Star. I also enjoy Ghost Hunters and the like.

MOVIES- I have always loved old musicals from the '40s & '50s. Movies like 'Singing in the Rain', 'Easter Parade', 'Guys and Dolls', 'Camelot', etc. Hubby will watch chick flicks with me like 'You've Got Mail' and 'Sleepless in Seattle'. We enjoy watching family movies like Pixar stuff, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Night at the Museum, National Treasure. I do not enjoy watching horror or violence.

MUSIC- I grew up listening to my parents music and I still love Big Band and '50s & '60s Rock and Roll. Absolutely my favorite singer is Ella Fitzgerald, with Nat King Cole a close second. Thankfully my son is a fan of The Beatles and The Monkees (got to see Mickey Dolenz in concert on 9/08 and saw Mickey, Davy and Peter on 6/11) and doesn't mind listening to his parent's music.

I have been sewing and crafting for over 45 years. So, I have a lovely stash of supplies and ideas that I would enjoy swapping. My style of crafting is mostly romantic/vintage, sometimes cute and sometimes just fun. I don't mind stepping outside of my comfort zone to make something more suited to your taste. Crafts that I enjoy are;

Embroidery- I've done most types of embroidery. I don't do counted cross-stitch any more but I do enjoy redwork, chicken scratch and silk ribbon embroidery.
Quilting- I have made large quilts and I find that I enjoy planning and sewing the squares more than the actual quilting of a piece. For now, I'm happy to work on piecing and machine quilting small items.
Knitting- I mostly have been knitting quick things such as hats, scarves and dishcloths. I have made sweaters (with cables!) in the past.
Crocheting- I am still trying to improve on my basic crochet stitches, mostly learned from YouTube videos. I have made a scarf as practice and some Granny Squares that are actually square when I finished!.
Beads- I like working with beads, whether stringing them for a bracelet, hanging them from a Dotee or stitching them into my embroidery.
Paper Crafts- I enjoy making cards, tags and envies. I have a few scrapbooks in progress and I wish I spent more time working on them.
Sewing- This has been my favorite past time since I was 11. I've sewn most everything at one time or another (don't do slipcovers, draperies or upholstery) from doll clothes to wedding gowns, from dance costumes to holiday decorations.
My favorite thing to sew at the moment are aprons. I have fallen in love with aprons. My favorite are the farm wife styles of the '40s & '50s.Like this. But anything from 1920s-1970s is fun. I collect vintage apron patterns and I discovered the joys of collecting aprons on Pinterest.
Colors- I can't say there are any colors I do not like, but I prefer bright, clear colors as opposed to muted/grayed colors.

Store bought or from my stash...
Sewing supplies such as fat quarters, buttons, embroidery floss, ribbon, rick rack, and lace.
Paper supplies such as stickers, stamps, scrapbooking papers, die cuts, ink and pens.
Crafting supplies such as beads, glitter and charms.
Vintage and new things such as playing cards, post cards, memo pads, note cards, cook books and recipe cards. Also snacks, sweets and drinks
Handmade by me...
Dotees, button fairies, bookmarks, post cards, tags, envelopes, pincushions, mug rugs, tea towels, aprons and pot holders.

Vintage and Retro Style * Anything From Victorian to Flower Power * Buttons * Pincushions * Aprons * Fabric * Rick Rack * Beads * Embroidery * Fairies * Snowflakes * Icicles * Walks in the Woods * Chickens * Halloween * Linen Dish Towels * Scotty Dogs * Morning Coffee * Barns * Owls * The Ocean * Word Games * Sodoku * Homemade Cookies * Chocolate Covered Anything * Salted Caramel * Hot Tea * Felt * Vintage Greeting Cards * Collecting Sea Shells From the Beach * Scrap Quilts * Lady Bugs * Dragon Flies * Fireflies * Rhinestone Brooches * Pin-up Girls * Glitter * Sequins * Mermaids *

Felted Wool or Wool Felt
Glass, Metal or Pearl Beads
Metal Charms
Pearl Cotton or Silk Ribbon For Embroidery
Embroidery iron-on transfers such as Aunt Martha's
Vintage Images to use in paper crafts
Scrapbooking papers and stickers, especially seasonal
Buttons, especially vintage or Mother-of-Pearl
Odd playing cards to craft with (not the whole deck)

Skulls (unless it's for a Halloween theme)
Horror or Violence
Anything I can't show my son when I open my mail
Anything with a strong scent
Neon colors
Hello Kitty and the like