CSNYfan

My flickr might have a swap that is being sent out, so if you like surprises, please don't look!

I love swapping, art, being on the computer, reading, music, and walking with my dog. I live with my husband and my greyhound. My sweet ferret died on Friday, 2/19/10. She is very, very missed.

I don't have everything, and I don't need everything. I'm a believer in the idea that whatever you have, it'll be enough.

I take art classes whenever I can. I am lucky to be in an area with a great art museum that offers fantastic classes throughout the year. I went to the Art and Soul Retreat on the other side of the United States in October, 2009 and plan on returning there this year as well. Some classes I've taken (to give you an idea of the things I've tried and have interest in) include colored pencils, whimsical art, abstract art, poetry, and currently, collage and altered art engineering.

I am a huge Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young fan -- I've seen them in concert in various forms, (CSN, CN, CSNY) four times so far. I'll see them anytime they come to the area for as long as they will tour! I would love to get some ATCs with CSNY lyrics - that would be the ultimate swap for me, I think!

My family would probably tell you that I am a pretty honest, funny, sarcastic person, with a bleeding heart liberal attitude. I'd say that they are about right! I put my all into things. I have two modes - lazy and full speed. If it is important to me, like a swap or my work, I'm in full speed.

I am usually happy to do private trades with newbies to help get ratings started quickly. If you'd like to trade ATCs or something similar, pm me! I am also usually up for a private swap with anyone who wants to trade ATCs.

ATCs and Zentangles, and some journals. I wouldn't mind trying a larger type of art swap, like a canvas board, either.

What do I use for my art? The list is ever-growing, but so far: Prismacolor colored pencils, Prismacolor markers, Stabilo markers, acrylic paint, water soluble crayon, beads, sequins, glitter glue, thread, buttons, ribbon, ephemera...Whatever seems to fit the bill for the intended subject. I recently made two ATCs out of shredded fabric. Very time-consuming, but super cool.

I don't sew, knit, or crochet. I've done some other crafty stuff, like jewelry making and stuff, but my heart is really in making ATCs right now.

COLOR COMBINATIONS... My all time favorite color is GREEN!
* My favorites in the green range are grassy, ferny greens, but I pretty much love all green. Other favorite colors/color combos are:

• aqua and red
• black and white
• brown and anything.
• hot pink and red
• Retro looking color combos, even the ones from the seventies that some people think are just gross, like brown and orange or avocado green and harvest gold. Bring it on!

I like pretty much all colors -- they all have a place with me. I do like some gaudy stuff that I've termed "tacky-chic." Anything with too much bling, garish colors, etc. -- I have to say, I love it!

I do prefer silver over gold with regards to decorations or jewelry type of stuff.

Love greyhounds, but not stuff with greyhounds racing -- that is not my thing.

Other stuff I like:

• Handmade stuff that's clever
• Dangly earrings
• Prismacolor pencils and markers
• Micron Pens
• Synthetic paint brushes - if you are no longer needing some of these for your own work and would like to swap for something, I am on the lookout for some nice synthetic brushes. Just pm me and I'd love to consider a swap for these!
• Coffee
• Chocolate
• Penpal letters
• Looking at other people's art
• Peace symbols, like doves, peace signs..
• Seaglass
• Modern art
• Abstracts
• Things that are clever or different
• Irony
• The ocean

• Beautiful sunsets

  I like to learn and find beauty and truth in all faiths, so if you send religious stuff, I'm cool with that.

I am interested in seeing what YOU like, so if you are sending an ATC, don't feel like you need to follow something on my profile, although that would be fine, too.

• Disney anything
• Kawaii and diddl (I just am not into it.)
• Walmart - I don't like them as a company.
• Companies that test on animals.
• Things with animal products in them/on them (i.e. real feathers, wool, etc.)
• white chocolate
• artificial watermelon flavored anything
• American Idol and the like
• Morbid themes -- these just aren't really my thing. *I'm not really into clowns or dolls (paper dolls are cool, just not actually dolls - for some reason I think they are just a little creepy.)

I am not a big fan of stickers - it's not that I don't like them, just that I don't really use them.

My only allergies are bleach and some medications, so I don't think anyone really needs to worry about that!

Please do not send me chain letters, even those disguised as "financial blessing letters." I really strongly dislike these and will resent getting them. Grrrr.

Music Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (of course!) Classic Rock especially, but I am into all sorts of music: classical, Broadway, pop, you name it... Anything by CSNY, CSN, or any solo work from any of them, The Doobie Brothers, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Bob Marley, Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens, Eric Clapton (solo, Cream, Derek and the Dominoes), George Harrison, Eva Cassidy. Disco, dance music, songs from Apple commercials. Bluegrass, some gospel hymns... Songs from Broadway shows -- The Life, Company (and anything by Stephen Sondheim, really.) Classical - Brahms piano works especially, Gershwin, some Chopin. My iPod is very important to me -- I love it.

TV Favorites include old TV shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Dallas, The Golden Girls, The Love Boat, old sitcoms like that. Currently re-watching The West Wing. I'd much rather listen to music than watch TV, though. And I'd rather be on the computer while listening to music and watch TV even more.

Current TV that I watch: Lost, Hell's Kitchen, Project Runway, and Top Chef.

Movies Under the Tuscan Sun. Pride and Prejudice. I absolutely love watching The Godfather -- what a great movie -- a true classic. I don't go out much to the movies. Yes, I am in my thirties, but I did love the Transformer movies.

Literature I loved The Shellseekers by Rosamunde Pilcher -- I've read it over and over. David Crosby's autobiography titled Since Then. Microserfs by Douglas Copland. Jane Eyre. Jennifer Crusie novels. Some poetry, such as Robert Pinsky and E.E. Cummings. Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes, one tiny apartment kitchen -- fun read! I'm currently reading an art history book for some fun learning. Diane Mott Davidson - great books and pretty much the only mysteries I've enjoyed. Just got a new art book called "Art Escapes" which is a book with practical exercises to keep you creative - I haven't tried anything in there yet, but there is a lot of inspiration going on.