BDooBs

Hey everyone! I've not dropped off the face of the planet. I just got a full time job and it's midnights so I've had to scale back on crafting to the extreme. I still pop on to check in on things, and will hopefully get back into swapping when I'm more settled into my schedule. Happy Holidays and swap with you soon!

Hi all, my name is Brenda. I'm Canadian, and love mail art and swapping letters & ATCs/inchies. I've been pen palling for about 12+ years now, on and off. With that I've been crafting, which recently included making ATCs and inchies to go along with said letters.

At last count I have 105 ATCs in my collection! Holy moly!

I'm friendly, open minded, honest. I'm with Big Guy (as I call him), or Tyler, who's my boyfriend.{{Edit as of 14/10/09: Big Guy is my fiancé!}} I love music, reading, the outdoors, photography, and spend a fair bit of time video gaming.

I would also like to reiterate on the honesty factor. I will always send my packages. I've no intentions of flaking on someone and causing them to feel that burn of putting effort into something only to not receive something back. That's a big let down. I'll take karma on this one and treat others the way I'd like to be treated. Simple rules to live by.

If, for some reason, something has not been received yet please send me a message and we can arrange to fill that void that has been caused. In most cases things that are crafted are re-craftable, with slight variations (depending on supplies I guess). But I'd rather send out a secondary package and keep things friendly (and have YOU pleased) than receive a bad rating for something I worked hard on and was lost in the mail or something of the like.

I've got a fairly eclectic taste when it comes to music. From Tool to Nine Inch Nails to Pearl Jam to Bob Marley to Sublime to Tegan and Sara to Neil Young to some Yeah Yeah Yeahs or maybe even tone it down a notch for some jazz or blues. I love music without lyrics too, Do Make Say Think, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Thievery Corporation to name a couple.

I really like getting random mixed cds from people of what they're listening to lately. I know that's not allowed for swaps but my friend and I send each other a small selection once and awhile and it's really dear to me to receive those mixes. I'd love others.

I really like making inchies and ATCs, book marks, cards and post cards. Paper art! I enjoy letter writing, which should be considered a craft. I'm into collaging, breakin out the Mod Podge and being creative with layering and textures. I like painting, mostly water colour, some acrylic. Maybe not very good, but this is art we're talking about, it's subjective. I also like pastels, conte crayons, chalk, glitter pens, crayons...there's plenty textures to be had there. Also one of my favourite past times is rubber stamping, its a pretty relaxing activity.

With a new sewing venture happening for me I'd also like to say, though I've not much practice yet that I like quilted ATCs or postcards as well as quilts in general. I'd like to try to make clothes. And I'd like sewing to be a craft I can master soon.

As for colours I pretty much like them all though I'm not really a girly girl. I'm okay with glitters and sparkles and the like, I just don't really go for pink too often. My favourites would have to be earth tones I suppose, as I enjoy outside time a fair bit. So, not pastels but more rich blues, greens, browns, oranges. I love colour!

My favourite book of all time is The Drifters by James A. Michener. That being said my favourite authors are Michener (obviously), Kerouac, Kesey, Palahniuk, Pratchett, Vonnegut, Ayn Rand, David Sedaris..hmm probably some others out there slipping memory's grasp.

Also, I enjoy photography books, either ones featuring photos, amateur or professional, or really old instructional books from the 50s and 60s or older. I have a collection of cameras, enjoy their old manuals quite a bit.

When it comes down to it I enjoy books. My boyfriend and I collect old books, such as a copy of Treasure Island from the 1930s.

So, it's not as new as it once was, but still exciting to try new things in the craft world. Extras aren't mandatory, obviously, but that little bit extra always helps. I like to send extras because, of course, I like to receive them. And, after all, Nice things make life nicer!

Wishlist time!

-While I don't really need any more scrapbook paper I do like ATC blanks, either painted or homemade in some way.

-Those brads/eyelets that are available in all kinds of themes/colours

-Rub ons. Those are really nice to work with. Would use any theme, clock parts, alphabets, sentiment sayings, etc.

-White gel pens would be super helpful! As would fine tipped black pens, super fine like .005 or .01 etc.

-Any embellishments of any type. Little things to stick on bigger things. Metal bits are hard to come by. Keys would be fun. Chipboard pieces? Things like neat ticket stubs or ephemera pieces I am lacking. Small images for ATCs or inchies, or small random clipped out words.

-Any rubber or acrylic stamps that need a new home. Or clear stamps.

-Also, ink pads. Either embossing or dye ink.

-Copic markers? I'd like to try them. Though I know they're steep in price.

-Stationary or envelopes, or nifty matching sets. Handmade envelopes of varying sizes. I love handmade mail art envelopes, collaged and decorated.

-Address labels. Something with a tree or turtle on it would be awesome. I've none since I moved!! Yikes!

-Actually anything (and everything) with a tree on it. I like trees a lot. Not specific to type, birch, oak, maple, willow...I just like trees.

-Postage! Either new or used. New, because any little bit of assistance helps. Used, because they're fun to craft with. I have A LOT of stamps. I'm also willing to trade if you like to craft with them too.

-My wonderful mother helped me get a sewing machine. I have one! I've joined the ranks. It is a Singer Prelude. I am now at a complete loss for fabric and materials, as well as knowledge! I would love any help or guidance on the matter. Older books you don't need or patterns or any things that help you when you sew would be helpful. . Any extra fabric pieces (patterns, bright colours, old neat teeshirts/pillowcases, fat quarters or even smallish pieces, quilt batting, etc.) will be put away into my hopebox for future potential brilliance.

And thank you in advance to anyone who looks at this stuff and tries to help me out!

BOOurns.. I've been flaked on:

So far I've received no communication back from @craftyjackie for the ATC Recycle Scraps swap. I have seen her profile updates, but have not received word back. Thankfully the coordinator @druideye has agreed to angel. How nice!

Secondly, up until now @countrygirl68au has failed to send an ATC for the "ATC EASY ink blot fold print #2" swap back in Nov. My good friend @Katica sent a great blobby ATC to angel this. Thank you!

-Also, @pinkangelfishy has flaked for the I'm New to Inchies or Just An Inchie Addict swap.

-I`ve been flaked on by @lyn44246 as well for the Rubber Stamp & Embossing ATC swap. Damnit!

Yargh.

Likes: - nature-y stuff. trees, clouds, flowers, all animals (especially sea turtles or land ones!, tree frogs and snails, platypus). -paper. textures. stripes and polka dots. though I have lots! -photography -postcards!! -sunsets (or when I'm still awake), sun rises -coffee, hot chocolate, chocolate in general. (though I'm not sure how I feel about receiving food in the mail.) also, tea sometimes. -cooking/baking..and with that trying new recipes -music -CRAFT TIME!! (obviously.)

Dislikes: -people who are judgmental as a hobby -rudeness, closed mindedness. -lack of free time -lack of winning the lottery and rolling around in piles of cash -postage costs -dwelling on the bad -receiving "art" that appears to have had no effort/thought put into it.

While my name is Brenda, and does start with a B, I just want to let it be known that I have a strong dislike for images of bees, usually. The letter B is fine, the creature bee is no good. I do not find them cute or cuddly. Sorry, please leave them out! Not tryin' to be a jerk, just personal preference due to personal history. Thank you!