sewhappy

I live in El Paso, Texas...far, far west Texas on the New Mexico and Mexico border. I am an elementary school counselor. I'm mom to three grown children (Jenn, Chris, and Bekah), two dogs (Liberty and Belle), and a cat(L.S.). I am currently writing a series of children's books using homonyms. (For example, the town mayor is an ol' gray mare. The local beauty salon, The Wild Hare, is owned by a pink bunny.) My mother, who passed away this past spring after living for years with Alzheimer's, has been my artist inspiration.

I enjoy many creative venues. I'm a...quilter - rug hooker - stamper - altered art fanatic - book-maker - jewelry-maker - polymer clay enthusiast. I'm a hoarder/collector of lots of "stuff"!

I collect crosses - both to hang on the wall and to wear. I have a cross wall with 250+ crosses. My 3 children have also started cross walls at their homes. It's a great conversation started. My mother collected snowflakes and I have "inherited" her collection. She always said we are all like snowflakes - unique...and a lil' flakey!

I'd love to have anything relating to: hearts - houses - keys and/or locks (the older the better!) - birds and birdhouses - ephemera - lace, buttons, and unusual beads - paper scraps for collages - rubber stamps - old books to be altered - blank books of any size or shape - books in languages other than English - old pictures - crosses - religious things - purple with any other color...red, green, orange, blue - ants and bees (they work so hard and so well with each other) - sweets - teas

I don't like: scarey or morbid things - mean people. :)

I never really considered myself an artist. I thought to be an artist you had to be famous...sell your work for lots of $$$...have a fabulous studio...and be a little off-key. Well, I'm at least the last one! Recently though I've discovered we are all artists. We create with our hands from our hearts. We give generously to one another and expect nothing in return. Swap-bot and each of the people I have swapped with have given me the opportunity to share myself and my talents. However small they may be - they are mine! Thank you all.