alysowl

UPDATE: My tastes run to scrappy in the extreme and I don't throw away any fabric. I have my stash from 20 years ago, my current stash (which seems to breed like rabbits) and my mother's stash which I just snaffled the last time I went back to VA. Lots of vintage. I like the new stuff, too, but there is no LQS up here (only Wal-Mart) and besides, it's all awfully expensive. I use fabric crumbs down to about 1" or so, and anything smaller than that goes into a muslin pillow form. :-) I also have various "leaders and enders" quilts going at any given time using squares and other one patch shapes.

I am very open to private swaps and often do RAK destashes of stuff I will never use.

Current WIPs:

Too many to list (argghh!)

Please check my flickr site - now that I have a camera, I'm trying to post pix of what I'm working on.

I moved from Richmond, Virginia, in 2009 to about as far north in upstate New York as it is possible to be. The change from extremely urban to very rural has been quite nice for the most part, but I have yet to find a fabric store within easy reach. I was an avid quilter some years ago, but drifted away from it with the advent of children, employment, etc. Now I have returned to quilting and sewing with a vengeance! I try to be as eco-friendly as possible and can usually find a way to recycle almost anything. (You probably would not believe how small some of my fabric scraps are!)

I have a BA in History with a focus in medieval Europe. I used to do medieval re-enactment in the past and am very interested in fibre arts (and other so-called women's arts) through the ages. I am interested in comparative religion/philosophy and have some knowledge and preferences in both mainstream and alternative paths. Like most historians, I believe that there is nothing new under the sun and that humanity must learn from the past if we are to move forward. I read often and love to learn more about most anything. I really enjoy symbolism and try to incorporate that into my arts and life.

Preferences: Fabric: Most anything is fine. I LOVE other people's scraps! I particularly like botanical prints or prints with wild animals on them. I love color! I use a lot of black, grey and jewel tones in my art work, but also enjoy other colors and themes for utility and balance. I like retro, historical and most "modern" styles (those quotes are on purpose - I have a rant on that subject that I save for special occasions!). Never met a batik or tonal print that I didn't like. WARNING: I am a natural fibre snob but any natural fibre is fine - cotton, linen, rayon, silk, wool, etc.

Other: Handmade items, found objects, thrift store forays, recipes, books, audio books, music (too eclectic to list!), apropos quotes, dialogue, chocolate, pictures that provide creative inspiration, classic children's literature and illustrations (Kate Greenaway, Rackham, Beatrix Potter, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Baum, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Susan Cooper, and many others), 1920s-1940s women's magazines, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, minimalism, eco-friendly anything, the list goes on...

Dislikes: Fabric: Not many. I'm not fond of "country" themes and I have a lot of that already. Sports themes are not my strong suit. I also do not seem to do (or have done) much with majority white/very light colors. Please no polyester, nylon, lycra, etc.

Other: I'm very picky about books, music and movies, so please ask if you have any questions. My home and workspace are very small and I have very little room to house things I do not and will not use. Ergo, I pass on to others what may not suit me. I have a Kindle and IPhone that reduce the physical space taken up by books and music. Stickers, cutesy, Kawai, excessively girly are not to my taste. Please do not send buttons!

MORE RECENT UPDATE: Opened my own etsy shop so I have something to do with the projects I'm finishing. Can't seem to work on less than 10 projects at any given time. I have items for sale and display in a local gallery and am looking for other venues. I am working on a more artistic level than I have done in the recent past (again, returning to where I was before the aforementioned 20-year hiatus). Seriously trying to stashbust at the moment. :-)

EVEN MORE RECENT UPDATE: Not employed at the moment, so even more in the reduce, reuse, recycle mode. Lost a great deal of weight recently and am getting used to the changes that has wrought. This past summer, did a great deal more gardening and preserving (herbs and veggies) than in the past and discovered a skill in building drystone walls - retaining walls, raised beds, etc. (Often idly wonder what Freud and/or Jung would say about that...)

Without a daily commute, I rarely go to town and the reclusive part of my nature is much more to the forefront than it was. Hopefully, with the help of my Swapbot community, this tendency will not run rampant... ;-)