winemakerssister

I live with my husband and son in a house we built about 4 years ago (I love my house!). We have a Golden Retriever named Winston and six cats. Oh, and I run my family's winery; my sister is our winemaker.... hence my name...

I like:

Quality items that fit my profile. I would much prefer 1 nice item that fits my "likes" to many inexpensive, generic items. Thanks!

HANDMADE ITEMS - I'd love to receive anything handmade by you!

COLORS - Red, dark red, lots of greens (sage, chartreuse, very dark greens), blues (Swedish blue, cobalt, periwinkle), black. I like lots of bright, clear, sophisticated color, either mixed together or separate. I also love natural linen colors mixed with one or more other colors.

GENERAL ITEMS: Food - black (my favorite tea is Earl Grey), green, or herbal tea (no sweet teas or chai, please), dark chocolate, decaf coffee, maple

Green tea scented items, lemon, bees & honey, herbs (especially rosemary), gardening, dogs and cats, zakka, art/craft made with recycled materials, vegetarian cooking

VINTAGE/RETRO: My favorite eras are: 1) Arts & crafts (1890s-1925 or so) 2) Depression era (1930s and 40s) 3) Mid-century (1950s and early 60s) I love vintage items from any of these eras.

I especially love sewing items, vintage buttons, kitchen items, china, teacups and teapots...

COLLECTIONS: I collect Depression era china such as Fiestaware and Hall. I also collect cookbooks.

IMAGES: My favorite images are leaves and botanicals, and herbs. Also birds (flying birds, swallows, owls, crows...), acorns, bees, fruits and veggies, and pine cones. Some of my favorite artists/designers are: William Morris, Marimekko, Amy Butler, John Singer Sargent, Gustave Baumann. I like simple, clean design.

LITTLE THINGS YOU CAN SEND: Here are some ideas for little things I'll always like - a few teabags, a nice pen, wool felt, embroidery floss, vintage (or wonderful modern) buttons, vintage sewing trims, little maple candies, a bit of dark chocolate, little bits of beautiful papers, pretty ribbons, cute fabric, a little toy for my cats, a ball of wool yarn, charms, a little rubber stamp, little stamp pads, a few doggie cookies for Winston

I AM LESS INTERESTED IN: Kawaii - I think it's cute but don't really want it myself, stuff for kids/juvenile stuff, white chocolate, kelly green, pastels, anything religious, artificial flowers (love real ones, not particularly fond of artificial ones). Purple and pink in moderation, please. I'd prefer not to get things with Christmas imagery.

NOTE: If you can't figure out what to send me, please ask -- thanks.

Also, if I don't get a chance to rate you, please feel free to remind me! I try to rate when I first receive a package.

I like just about any music. My least favorites are heavy metal and hip-hop.

Dear Frankie, Amelie, most Studio/Canal stuff, Young Frankenstein, High Fidelity.

Project Runway, 6 Feet Under, Dexter, Weeds, Top Chef, Slings & Arrows.

Paper Arts: ATCs, chunky books, hand-carved rubber stamps, handmade notecards;

Handmade charms; beads

Knitting, sewing

YARN PREFERENCES: In terms of yarn, here are my preferences: nothing lighter than DK weight (I just don't work with lace weight or sock weight... that sort of thing), natural fibers (wool, silk, bamboo, alpaca, llama, cotton, linen, etc), I like traditional yarns and also funky handspuns. Man-made fibers are ok if included in funky handspuns that are mostly natural fibers. No commercial novelty yarns, please. I would prefer to stay away from commercial blends that include synthetics. Thanks!

FABRIC PREFERENCES: I love - linen, Scandinavian prints, most Japanese fabrics, strong graphic images, polka-dots, stripes (see above for the images I like). I love many vintage fabrics along with reproductions from the eras I listed above (craftsman, 30s & 40s, 50s & early 60s). Please stay away from - cutsey, country, Victorian, shabby chic, acrylic and other synthetics, cartoons, Christmas, neon, pastels. Thanks!