alirae

Current Swamps - If you haven't received an item from me...I appollogize. I was in a major car accident last weekend and have been out of commission for a week. I was released from the hospital this morning and will send all items to the post tomorrow....withdelivery confirmations. If you want my Dc info, pm me and I will be more than glad to send it to you.

My name is Alison and I am a native Texas girl in my early thirties. Crafting has been a part of my life in some form since before I could walk. Although I have tinkered with many arts, most of my current work includes some form of hand or machine sewing (quilting, baby/wedding items, home upholstery, etc). I love color and am not afraid to use it in my art or home. Most of my free time is spent with family, cooking, or in my craft room.

After dating for almost seven years, my fiance and I plan to get married this September. I began making my muslin for my wedding dress this week.

We have two beautiful nieces: Maddie Grace is six years old, very very girly, and claims every school supply she can get her hands on, and Aubrey Joy is a wild, carefree almost three year old that loves Curious George and believes that no-one should wear a tutu when there is an option to wear four; and one nephew: Alex who is a big boy for a year and a half. We can't wait to see his personality shine, but currently food and Momma still seem to be his biggest interests! With three children, my future sister in law loves us to take the kids on dates, and we love to spoil em.

My sister is also planning to get married in about a year. My dad, her fiance and Thomas love to go hunting together....and I have a feeling camo baby items will be needed in the not to distant future.

Although I do not prefer to have a bunch of religious ephemera, we are Christians and I would prefer to not be sent pagan or Halloween based items for me or the kids. I do love swing dancing and vintage styles, and would love any gluten free recipes that you that are tried and true in your homes....my favorite piece of furniture is a chair I rescued from the dumpster then re-upholstered.

I always welcome your extra red, white, and blue quilt squares and your Civil War reproduction quilting fabrics....I use these in quilts for an organization called "Quilts of Valor" http://qovf.org/ These quilts go directly to our wounded veterans...from my own experience with a close family friend - something as simple as a homemade quilt can really bring love and warmth to the sterile military hospital rooms. I watched my good friend's little brother go through countless surgeries after being shot six times in the gut. The quilt he was given has become a cherished symbol of Scott's miraculous recovery, and will be a family heirloom for many generations to come. Scott is the second person close to me that was wounded in our current Middle Eastern conflicts. Whether you agree with the politics or not, I hope you will continue to support our soldiers and their families.

Michael Crichton is my favorite contemporary author, but most of my reading is more of the how-to variety. My library is too big already, but my fiance has dreams of a large dedicated library in our future home. I secretly hope for it too. Maybe I can steal some of that space for all my craft books. ;)

I like many movies, but Tolkien, George Lucas, and Mel Brooks have special places in our home. And yes, we embrace our nerdy sides whole-heartedly. :)

Books: Bridal Couture by Susan Khalje and/or Couture Sewing Techniques by Claire Shaeffer

Fabric shopping bags

Mug Rugs

Fun kitchen magnets

Narrow Grosgrain ribbon

Scalloped Scissors made for fabric: http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-97917097-Scallop-Fabric-Shears/dp/B000B7OSSM

Fat Quarters/Quilting Fabrics in Batiks, Civil War reproduction fabrics, and/or Patriotic Themed fabrics

Materials: I love quality quilting fabrics (100% cotton), 100% wool suiting scraps, 100% cotton chenille or terry cloth yardage, antique lace (soft, cotton or silk types, not the scratchy polyester stuff you find everywhere today), old silk ties.

Production scraps of wool or silk fabrics. Doesn't matter if the scraps are organza, shantung, taffeta, dupioni, satin, etc.....but I only want quality, natural fabrics for these projects.

Half square and quarter square triangle paper.

Non edible bribe items for my 3 and 6 yr old nieces (their mom has them on a very strict diet...so sadly candy is out.) Stickers, cute erasers, crazy pencils, hair bows, etc, etc, etc are much loved.

Nylon tulle....to make tutus for the previously mentioned little divas. (This needs to be yardage.....I am okay with multi-colored tutus, but I do not make the no-sew varieties)

We also love little girl tights in fun colors, or with ruffled butts! :)

Quirky egg timers

Buttons: vintage glass, sewing themed, or something that looks like the center of a flower.

Knitters/crocheters will be my best friends forever if they send me dishcloths or funky hats (stegosaurus spines, Sock Monkey, etc) More ideas are in my etsy favorites.

The two younger ones would also love crocheted/knitted, stuffed animals....maybe a giraffe, an elephant etc. As long as they are not scratchy and big enough to snuggle with at night, they will be loved.

Quilt blocks: 8" or 10" finished size (plus 1/4" seam allowances) in red, white, and/or blue fabrics. Again these are used to make Quilts of Valor so please send quality work made out of quality fabrics.....these young men and women have been through terrible tragedy. They deserve the best.

Woodworkers: a scissor block or an organizer for my quilting rulers would also be much loved.

Handmade glass beads

Aunt Philly's rug patterns/DVD - round, oval, or bar stool cover

A knitted market bag like this one: http://www.iliveonafarm.com/1bag.html

As if this list isn't long enough, my etsy favorites list is quite long. Please note...I do not want the patterns listed - rather I am looking for someone to make me a similar product :)

Non-natural fabrics.....except for the above mentioned tulle.

Scrapbook/ATC Materials....I don't do either of these

Food items....my fiance is a celiac and I have a soy allergy and a caffeine intolerance. So everything in our house is gluten, caffeine, and soy free. This makes our goodie choices very limited. :( One exception - Thomas LOVES sour patch kids and would welcome their addition to my swaps.

Gold-tone, silver-tone jewelry....allergy/skin issues :(
(I would love vintage and vintage styled gold tone buttons though)

Kawaii.....just not into it....save these goodies for someone who loves em.

My mother was a florist, I have been collecting a variety craft materials all my life, and in the last five years I have inherited three very large crafting stashes and seven sewing machines......but I currently live in an apartment. :( Because of space and crafting time, I have given away whole houses full of materials, supplies, and more than a handful of sewing machines, yet I still have most of my collection in storage. If I decline a trade, please don't take it personally. At the moment I am trying to de-stash and really only want wishlist items for one-on-one trades....I will try to keep a large wishlist to facilitate as many trades as possible.

Felters, crocheters and knitters are always desired swap partners since these are not my own areas of crafting expertise.