bluehighways

Spoiler Alert! Do not go to my pictures if you are my swap partner and want it to be a surprise.

I'd like to do one-on-one swaps for wooden Christmas ornaments from different countries, I can send profile surprises or ??.

If you are looking for nice handmade books visit my shop !

Please let me know if you haven't gotten my swap - I would never sign up for a swap and not send.......I rate straight away, if you haven't gotten a rating from me let me know, chances are it never arrived.

I am 48 and live on a lake in northeast Ohio with my husband and boxer dog. I have been a hospice volunteer for about 7 years. Laid off in January 2010 I have decided to take my art and book binding full time. My interests vary - I am a book nerd, gardener (perennials are the best, sort of like old friends showing up year after year), home renovation and art of all sorts. If I were to pick one catalog that reflects my style it would be Sundance. I, for the most part do ATC's or other paintings up to 8x10 here on Swap-Bot and nearly all are hand drawn or painted. I am pretty laid back and love making people laugh and truly believe it is more fun to give than receive...but not so much as to not mind getting flaked on.

I love music, nearly all kinds No Rap.

Here are a few favorites:

• Van Morrison
• Bob Seger
• Fleetwood Mac
• Joe Cocker
• 10,000 Maniacs
• David Gray
• Randy Newman
• Andrea Bocelli
• Koko Taylor
• Joshua Kadison
• Grateful Dead
• Aretha Franklin
• Elton John (old stuff)
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Bruce Springsteen (old stuff)
• Boston
• BB King
• Angela McCluskey
• John Mellencamp
• The Temptations
• Bob Dylan This list could go on forever.....

Watch a couple hours a week if that but like home renovation shows, Ace of Cakes, NY Ink, Dr G Medical Examiner, House - and the Independent Film Channel for a good movie.

I enjoy visual journaling, I work in stained glass, painting - mostly spraypaint (I love to cut my own stencils) and acrylics, bookbinding, knitting, crochet, embroidery some sewing, I will try just about anything once.

• Wildflowers (LOVE poppies)
• Red
• Deep bold colors
• I like getting unusual things from other countries
• Just about anything handmade (I haven't done match boxes, dotees or tons of other things swapped here but I would be thrilled to get anything you are good at making)
• Funky cool fabrics - not cute food with faces (no offense)
• Old used ledgers
• Unusual rubber stamps - Check out @Neeky8 's website www dot darkroomdoor dot com for some REAL super stuff! Love anything from Tim Holtz's line too
• Georgia O'Keefe & Banksy
• Natural embellishments (natural fibers, leaf skeletons, raffia etc.)
• Batik fabrics
• Sandpipers
• Handmade stitch markers
• Mittens (not gloves)
• Kitschy / Campy Things
• My favorite scents are pine, sandalwood, lemon, wild sage, citrus basil
• Eyelets
• Handmade soaps - woodsy/citrusy
• Street art
• Fine tipped paint brushes
• Christmas ornaments (love wooden ones, nothing too flashy)
• Mica
• Sakura pens - any type or color
• Cool long necklaces
• I give hearts for things done with love and effort - not for extras...I don't expect them nor do I send them but will if I have something I know my swap partner would love

• Cutsey things (kawaii and the like)
• Shiny or frilly ribbons or lace
• Bling
• Science Fiction
• Not big on sweets gasp
• Slapped together trade - I spend a lot of time on my swaps and appreciate those who do the same

Favorites? Way too many to name but a few off the top of my head:

• Blue Highways (hence my name here) - William Least Heat-Moon
• Heart is a Loney Hunter - Carson McCullars
• Girl With A Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier
• East Of Eden - John Steinbeck
• Madame Bovary - Gustav Flaubert
• Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
• Pippi Longstocking - Astrid Lindgren, Louis Glanzman (Illustrator)
• No Angel - Penny Vincenzi (3 book series)
• Pillars of the Earth - Follett
• Loving Frank - Nancy Horan
• The Help
• The Kitchen House