madcrazy

I love mysteries, but I'm currently rereading classics. Still trying to get into War & Peace, but finished and enjoyed Dickens' Bleak House. It gives me a little peace of mind in this chaotic world to see how little the world has changed. I am voraciously reading mysteries again. You can tell what my schedule's like by what I read. When I am overscheduled or stressed (youngest just left for college), I devour mysteries because I can read a few pages at a time, if need be. I have just finished a novel that has a mystery at its core, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton; I couldn't put it down! Next classic list: the House of Seven Gables (Hawthorne), Great Expectations (Dickens), Henry Esmond (Thackery), Pere Goriot (Balzac), and Ethan Frome (Wharton), as well as trying to get excited about War and Peace.

I am a total Supernatural fan, and I'm sorry that Medium and Ghost Whisperer had to end. Also watch the Daily Show whenever possible. My updated favs are Weeds, In Plain Sight, Justified, Wilfred, the Good Wife, Alphas, Burn Notice, Eureka, Haven, Warehouse 13, Falling Skies, the Walking Dead, Mad Men, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. I will have to watch Game of Thrones and Big Bang Theory on DVD because I missed them first time around.

I always gravitate towards grungy or vintage, love to make and dye my own paper and embellishments, and always use collage. I also sew, but I am very picky about how I spend my sewing time, love embroidery and make art quilts, and do counted cross stitch. I am swapping for fun and to meet other like-minded crafters/artists/ all round fun people. I want to send you something you enjoy, so please let me know your reaction. If you do not receive something from me when you should, please let me know. i try to send within a day of getting your name and address, if possible.

I am afraid that I have to do another update. This has been a horrendous year for me, and I found myself having to leave my home for my safety several weeks ago. I have just gotten back into my house and will be contacting any swap partners who have not received swaps or been rated in a timely way.

Time for another update. I had surgery before Christmas, then found myself back in the hospital because I wasn't healing. I have one resend that will be sent out (finished but not sent before I was hospitalized), and I should be able to get my other swaps sent on time. I will let you know if I will be running late. I've missed swap-bot!

It's been so long since I joined swap-bot that I find I need to update my profile! I've been caring for my 95-year-old DMIL this past year, and we've found a wonderful home for her where she'll have round the clock nursing care available. I finally had to acknowledge that I am not a nurse, and it's been a bittersweet process, but she's got her own little apt., is close to her daughter, and will have wonderful care and company.
I've been a sahm for a very long time, and, because my daughter is an artist ,I started expressing that part of myself finally! I swap in several groups and love doing atcs, fabric swaps, poetry, handmade books, art journaling, drawing, and on and on - even dying my own embellishments. I always try to recycle whenever possible and love to find ways to make unwanted items part of my artwork. I still have my original husband (we reconsider that on a daily basis kwim?) and 2 little foofoo dogs, a bichon frisee and a maltese.

Likes: handmade items
all colors, but I love complex color schemes and layered textured pigments
love to combine fabric, paper and embellishment, so I'm happy with most items in swaps
postcards and other ephemera from swappers' hometowns, vacations, etc.
antique book pages (can be reproductions)
unique embellishments
steampunk
subtle grunge
vintage
handmade and children's art
lace and crochet
rubber, clear, etc stamps - LOVE them I do tons of collage and use pretty much anything in them. I have used: envelopes, cardboard, dryer sheets, fabric, feathers, wire, plastic, magazine photos, acetate, labels and much, much more! I am not picky; I especially like weird stuff that inspires me. graphic45, basic grey, crate paper and studio calico papers I like: girly, vintage, shabby chic, eccentric, comic book art, clean and simple, hand drawing, your handwriting, poetry, found word poems and stories, steampunk, graffiti, guerilla art, children's art and book illustrations, digital design (lots to learn there!), and I'm sure there's more . . . odd and/or weird and whimsical objects in artword - I would love to receive small pieces of metal or wood (or any other found material, even plastic) that could be used in artwork. I'm always watching where I step for treasures!

Dislikes: not a huge fan of cute, but I love kawaii
puns
misspellings
anything thrown together without thought and care

meanness; I respect the act of trust you make by sending me your art.

i will love to receive your original work, whatever the medium. I really love all colors equally, even neutrals and neons; just use whatever seems best for the message you want to send. I will never rate lower because you didn't make something according to my profile, because I want to know what you are trying to say. If you must have a favorite color, use blue; it's a peaceful color to me. I am having so much fun meeting people and making my own little art statements through swapbot, and I look forward to meeting you.

I do not require extras with your swap items. I will not be offended if you send them, but they have no effect on how I rate you. If I send extras with my swaps, I do it because there's something in your profile that inspired me to do so. Don't ever feel obligated to rate me because of extras.

All swaps I've signed up for will be sent, and I will continue to rate any swaps I receive in a timely manner. Thank you all for swapping with me and, especially, for being willing to host the many fun swaps I've been privileged to enjoy! Hugs, Kathy