Melusine

English female who currently lives in southern England but not close enough to the sea for her liking (I grew up by the sea).

I like the colour purple and to this you can add emerald green and blue (think peacock feather here) or turquoise ... I love the way they go together. They are also very good individually - especially the purple. One of my crafting mates says what I like is contrast.

If I had to choose an animal it would be a tiger, though I do confess that I also have a soft spot for Sand Cats (Felis margarita harrisoni) as they are very cute. If we go under the sea then I think that sea horses are amazing creatures. I also like ladybirds - the traditional "red with black spots" ones of childhood stories and rhymes.

And because I saw this on some other profiles I thought I would add the following: if you want to send extras then please do not send food or perfumed items. However, things like an unusual bead, button (the sewn on variety, not badges), a length of ribbon or thread would make me very happy.

I have made stuff ever since I was little, mostly self taught and I usually try out a new technique each year (e.g. in 2006 I learnt how to wet-felt).

Textile crafts are the thing I do most with my free time - this includes, at various frequencies, patchwork, quilting, cross stitch, knitting, crochet, needlepoint, chain stitch embroidery and other things which don't come to mind at present. I love to make braid - tabletweaving, kumhimo, whip-cord, finger-looping, Danish 12-strand flat braid and so on. Goldwork (metal thread embrodiery) was something I wanted to do for years and in 2006 I finally started exploring it - I am currently waiting to start my City & Guilds Level 2 course in the subject, having passed my Level 1 with "flying colours" (according to my tutor).

Paper crafts - I like to make my own cards (and presents for that matter) and so have learnt many techniques over the years, which I often revisit, to create them. Generally my birthday cards have a theme for the year which gives me a chance to explore - for 2008 it was fish and I used ink-and-salt, cross stitch, vellum embossing and needlelace techniques ... I even had a go at using Fimo for the first time but I need a LOT more practise with this suff!

13th Warrior, The Captive Heart, Highlander, Strictly Ballroom, The Fifth Element, Frida, Dogma, Shrek

Series: Priates of the Carribean, India Jones, Star Wars (esp. IV-VI)

Actors: Clint Eastwood, Johnny Depp, Salma Hayek

Historical murder mysteries. Craft books. Authors I like to read and re-read: Diana Wynne Jones, Terry Pratchett and Jane Austin.

Series: Criminal Minds, Doctor Who, Firefox, Midsomer Murders, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, NCIS, New Tricks, Sharpe, Silent Witness

Detectives: Lord Peter Wimsey, Miss Marple, Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Roderick Alleyn

Others: David Attenborough, Prof. Brian Cox, Dr Lucy Worlsey, Nicholas Crane (map man), real forensic, cookery and wildlife programmes, University Challenge and Only Connect

This section will always be a work in progress.

Peter Gabriel (including when he was in Genesis) and Kate Bush - loved both of them since my teens.

Bellowhead, Blowzabella, Bon Jovi, Chris Conway, Duffy, Ed Alleyne-Johnson, Heart, Mich Sampson, Mika, Mumford & Sons, N'Early Music Consort, Nigel Eaton, Paloma Faith Runrig, Shooglenifty, The Waverley Consort

SWAPS: Current swaps:

2009 swaps with posting deadlines passed:

November Sender's Choice ATC Swap (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/45496): flaked by denisecouser (partially suspended ID)

Purple Fat Quarter Swap (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/21705): Flaked on by ArtGirl (partially suspended ID) / Angeled by Mystmaiden

Swaps with posting deadlines in 2008:

September Senders' Choice ATC (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/17336). Not received from: CherryBlossom (ATC never arrived)

Swaps with posting deadlines in 2007:

Yule or Winter Solstice Card Swap (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/7784). Not received from: Ruby Green (item never arrived)

Pink in October! - Breast Cancer Awareness month (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/8057). Flaked on by SueFitz (suspended ID)

I do not send "extras" with my swaps to earn hearts. I spend my time and effort creating a special piece of art that I want to speak for itself.

I do not guarantee that you will receive a heart for sending an "extra", unless it is very profile-specific. Hearts are reserved for those who put special thought and time into swapping (especially the hand made items) ... and often I give the heart sometime after the initial rating when I have had a chance to enjoy and appreciate the object(s).