CelestialFreak

First of all, I don't use the computer on Sundays, and rarely on Saturday too. In addition I am away from home twice a week for physical therapy, so some weeks I only log on about once a week.

I am behind, plain and simple. MANY things have contributed to this. Broken computer (now fixed), printer out of ink, bad time with my various forms of arthritis, physical therapy appointments, having had three bad summer colds. Summertime has been super busy too, with a garage sale, wedding, family reunion, camping, and so forth.

To everyone I still owe swaps to, they are either on their way or will be VERY soon. I hope my ratings so far prove that I'm a swapper whose word can be trusted. I've seen comments like these were the swapper just gives up, I don't have any plans of being like that.

Thank you for your understanding!

For the time being, I'm not hosting any other swaps, and when I do make some swaps again I'm going to from now on require that I either know the swapper or that you have a perfect 5.0 score. Why? The last 5 or some swaps I've hosted have been nightmares. I've clicked the pair partners button only after checking out every person in every swap I make, and the last few have just been so much trouble. I want to be a great host, but I want honest swappers, I'm sick of flakers ruining my good swaps and disappointing the good swappers in them. When I started on here it seemed OK to have a little give, to let someone who's got a weak score from the one time they got behind or something, but this has been out of control. I just can't spend this much time hounding the few people who will even still check to tell them they need to send something.

The final straw in this for me was hearing that my best friend was flaked on her summer apron from my swap. It's just all disappointing.

I am going to be walking in the Bellevue, WA Arthritis Foundation fundraiser walk. If you can contribute please follow this link.

(click badge for more info.)

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Join my groups!

I just wanted to let you know the groups I've started and if any of them seem interesting to you, feel free to leave me a join request!

Swappers with chronic illness

We love postage stamps!

Apron lover's

Crafty Bloggers

Just Bead it!

Washington state swappers

sock monkey/critters fanatics group!

I know I've made lots of groups, and am a member of tons more. I don't feel a need to be completely active in every group I'm a part of ever single day, though with the ones I've created I tend to poke my head into those groups at least once per day. That being said though, I truly appreciate the officers of my groups. And also, with all the other groups I'm in, I'm thinking those will be places I just pop into occasionally when I have a question or am curious.

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Do you blog?

If you keep a blog and you're a swap-bot friend, consider yourself tagged! Read my blog post to participate on your blog, and be sure to leave me a link for your post in my blog post.

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I LOVE private swaps!

I LOVE private, or 1 on 1 swaps. I think I actually prefer them as you kind of get to know the other person better, and it feels more personal to send to the same person you receive from. If you're someone I've had lots of communication with on here, I'd love doing private swaps with you!

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I've been a swapper on Swap-Bot since October 2007.

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Wondering how to add links and pictures to you profile? I learned how to do it all here.

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Favorite Crafts & Swaps

• Soldiered altered art ornaments and jewelry
• Paper-crafts; scrap-booking, card making, ATC's, & Gothic arches, decorating taggies bead/button fairies, paper dolls...
• photography
• Beaded jewelry
• candle making (I don't make/use soy or gel candles)
• small sewing projects - aprons, pot-holders, pillows, cat toys, stuffies, pin-cushions, sock monkeys, purses, etc.
• cooking and baking
• handmade pin-back buttons
• I also love shopping theme swaps, especially ones that let me do some shopping and some handmade gifts.

One of the main reasons I swap is to give my crafts recognition so my Etsy shop does well.

If any of my crafts interest you please feel free to PM me about doing a private swap.

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Craft items I need, wishes, & Info requests

Needs

First up, I'm trying to find this fabric. It's probably impossible to find since it's from the 70's, but I thought I'd put it out there.

If I receive something off of this list in a package from you, you WILL get a heart!

• sturdy canvas or other fabric for making shopping bags.
• white or light colored fabric for doll-making.
• fabric blocks for my state quilt, check that section below to see the states I still need.
• fat quarters of fun fabric (smaller or bigger is welcomed too!)
• Sewing notions: Bias tape,ribbon,rick-rack,lace,buttons, patches, scraps of unique and fun fabric...
• Simple sew patters for sizes 18W-24W.
• permanent double sided tape, tape.
• Nice yarn, preferably wool or cotton.
• Spools of thread.
• I always welcome anything for paper crafts/scrap-booking.
• Plastic shopping bags from the following stores - Hot Topic, Sanrio, Victoria's Secret, and Torrid. THANKS!
• glass beads, seed beads, and metal findings.
• small pieces of glass.
• bird nests
• watercolor and craft paints, any colors.
• pretty, clean, leftover printed napkins from parties (not restaurants.)

Just a couple other things I'd always appreciate...

• The following state quarters are also something I'm looking for; Iowa, North Dakota, Washington, Wyoming, Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii.

I also collect smashed coins.

I'm looking for the following Madame Alexander dolls from Mc Donald's; Scarecrow, Wicked Witch (black outfit, green skin), Daisy Munchkin, and any from the sets before the Wizard of Oz.

Souvenir stickers for luggage. Not too flashy, more classic travel stickers. Kind of like these...

Info requests

• I'm looking for a good digital scrap-booking program, if you're into this please PM me your recommendations. I have both a Mac and a PC. (Prefer the Mac)
• I want to get into sculpting at some point. Any tips, books, etc?
• Really want to learn needle felting.

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THINGS I LOVE!

I'm easily entertained, you may find it easier to just scroll down to my 'No Please!' section! ;-)

• The real meaning of Christmas, & Easter, my Christian faith.
• Anything celestial, - with the exception of anything astrological based.
• Cobalt blue is my favorite color.
• Vanilla or fruit scented candles.
• Socks, any socks at all! If I won't/can't wear them, they'll become a sock animal! :-)
• Anything Beatrix Potter.
• Mice, Hedgehog, and Pig related anything!
• Anything kitchen related - especially; Tupperware, old cookbooks, salt and pepper shakers, tin boxes, and cookie cutters.
• Bert's Bees, Philosophy, and Lancome products, yes, I'm a specific make-up snob, but honestly it comes down to what my skin can handle.
• Cameo pins, buttons, pendents, etc.
• Czech ceramics and crystal, & garnets
• labels for organizing things
• Ephemera, especially from the 50's and older. STICKERS! especially from Mrs Grossman's or K&Co. But please see below what kinds I don't want.
• Dolls - Vintage dolls, Kewpie, Shirley Temple, fabric dolls (Amish, softies/felties, Raggedy Ann and friends, Dotee, etc. But Holly Hobbie was my sisters favorite), Matryoshka dolls, Traditional costumed (especially Czech), and handmade dolls that are whimsical and unique. My best friend is an amazing doll-maker!
• Craft stores, new & used book stores, thrift shops, dollar stores, furniture stores, antique shops
• Hello Kitty (just not the pink/juvenile themes), Little Twin stars, Badtz Maru, Pandapple, Chococat, Kerroppi, Kuromi/My Melody, Pucca, vintage snoopy, Dokidoki Yummychums, Hosikuma, Anything kawaii that is piggies, mice, green frogs, or hedgehogs. Cram cream! Vintage strawberry shortcake.
• Patterns: Black & white prints, paisley prints, geometric designs, fruit.
• GameCube, PS2, NES, GameBoy, Mac, and PC video games - If I don't play it, my hubby probably would.
• Smashed pennies.

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I always welcome and appreciate well-made homemade things. I always love to see/get crafts from other people.

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NO PLEASE...

Dislikes/No please...

I don't have kids, so I really don't have any use for any really juvenile stickers, please no happy face stickers, or cartoon characters, or juvenile kitty cat stickers, I'm all for having nice stickers for the cat album, but I don't want just any old sticker that has a cat on it. Also please don't send; cheap dishtowels that quickly fade and fall apart, Reality T.V., green tea, astrology, rude people, rule benders, Bratz dolls, new Strawberry Shortcake, pretty much all shades of the color pink, no candy unless it's banana. I don't shop at Wal-Mart, and I refuse to go to Starbucks.

I don't care for Looney-tunes, Most new Disney characters, Betty Boop (I love the old cartoons, but just not into collecting her), or Scooby Doo.

I'm afraid of plastic crochet hooks.

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Can't use/allergies

Anything with strong fragrance on it - I can handle some smells, but there are some perfumes and scents out there that just cause me instant headaches. Bar soap dries me out (pure glycerin soap is OK though), gum makes my jaw hurt, candy makes my blood sugar spike (I’m pre-diabetic), cola gives me headaches, so does anything that has any kind of smoke or mold on it. I'm allergic to lots of things. I can't have anything with soy in it and no seafood either. If you are concerned that something you want to send may be something I’m allergic to, please PM me. If I do receive something I can’t use though, I don’t get offended, I’ll just find someone else to pass it to.

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About smoke.

Personally my allergies are through the roof sometimes and the smell of smoke triggers my asthma. I'm not mad at smokers or anything like that, I just can't handle it at all. It's also a sad thing for me as I've lost two uncles because of their addictions. One passed away at 39, and the other in his 40's. Both were way to young in my opinion, and both confirmed by doctors to have suffered because of their smoking. So for me the scent also reminds me of my losses, how I miss them and like any scent memory it tends to flood my mind before I even realize it. I'm not trying to be defensive or anything here, I just to warn that smoke does bother me. That being said, I know I've received some things that have been a bit cleaned and that was OK with me.

I do wish my allergies weren't so bad. So long as I have warning that the package may have a smoke scent I won't rate down, but I do appreciate the warning, so I can open outside and such. Please either PM me ahead of time, or write it on the package.

Favorite Movies

Top of the list is With Honors... I pretty much love anything with Brendan Fraser, but that is by far my favorite movie. I also recently discovered that I love Garden State... I really will post more favorite moves, honest, I just need more time to work on this list.

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Favorite video-games

My all time favorite game is called Egg Mania, basically I love puzzle games. It's kind of a cross between two of my other favorite games, Tetris and Mr. Driller. I spent so much time playing tetris on my laptop in college to keep my brian alert during some lectures. I think I learned more by doing that believe it or not. I haven't got a Nintendo DS, but I'm really intrigued by a lot of brain games and really want an N DS just to play those. The game consoles I have are... NES, Gameboy Advanced, GameCube, Playstation 2, Mac, and PC (Windows XP, Mac OS X).

Feel free to pass on games to us, if I won't play it my hubby probably will. And my best friend has a 13 year old son, it's kind of crazy when my hubby and him get together because they can geek out about video games from now 'till Kingdom come!

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Favorite T.V. shows (past and present)

Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, Supernatural, How It's Made, Mister Roger's, Punky Brewster, Super-Book, Flying House, Davey & Goliath, Good Eats, Mythbusters, & pretty much anything on Fox News or the Disney channels.

And (I'll sheepishly admit) 90210, The Simpson's, Family Guy, and some of the shows on The N.

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BOOKS!

Yup, I love books, oh, my favorites, um, ones with words!? No really, I pretty much will give any book a chance. I particularly love Christian Romance the most, but I'll read just about anything. I also am a nerd and love theological studies (not bible study devotional stuff, but more academic.)

My favorite great aunt, as well as my mother in law, are both librarians, so books just is a whole lifestyle to me. I do not understand the phrase 'too many books', also don't understand 'not enough room for books'... :-) I've also seriously considered being a librarian myself, and probably would if the chance to be able to go back to school came up.

I personally know a few published authors. Kristen Billerbeck, Hal Urban, and Keith Walker, and hopefully someday soon myself... oh, and my grandma. I'm trying to follow in grandma's footsteps. She made a cookbook all about potatoes, I'm writing a couple community cookbooks myself, the first one is almost done. The DLH just has to help edit it. We will be self publishing and selling it in my Etsy shop.

I also am obsessed with old cookbooks, especially from the 40's and 50's! I just can't ever have enough cookbooks! I especially love cookbooks that are aimed at/for kids, and also entertaining.

The majority of the books I own are theology textbooks, that was my major. I also have a fair amount for family counseling as that was my ministry core, and also something I'd greatly consider going back to school to study more.

I also have a fair amount of health books since I have a few health issues. Mostly nutrition and science in relations to P.C.O.S. and R.A.

And finally like most on swap-bot who fill out this section I love craft books. I basically look at pictures for the ideas, and make up my own steps, but I still like using them.

I love Tomb Raider comic books... I'm not a big fan of lots of comic books, but that is one I've collected. I can't wait 'till they start making more. Last I heard they were waiting for the latest game release. I've also logged lots of hours playing Tomb raider on the PC, Mac and PS2.

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Favorite Music

12th Tribe, 4 Non Blondes, A.F.I., Alexz Johnson, Aly & A.J., Amelia's Jacket, Audioslave, Bad English, Bad Religion, Berlin, Billy Idol, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Bush, Chevelle, Cold, Coldplay, Creed, Cyndi Lauper, Dakota Motor Co., Damn Yankees, David Bowie, Deathcab for Cutie, Depeche Mode, Early No Doubt, Evanesence, Extreme, Foo Fighters, Frank Sinatra, Franz Ferdinand, Guardian, Hoi Polloi, Hoobastank, Hot Hot Heat, Jet, Johnny Cash, Johnny Combs, Journey, Kevin MAX, Linkin Park, Modest Mouse, Mozart, Muse, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Phil Keaggy, Pink Floyd, P.O.D., Poe, Poison, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Queen, Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Redline, Reliant K, Remy Zero, Sarah Masen, Sixpence None the Richer, Scott Stapp, Sleater-Kinney, Smashing Pumpkins, Staind, Stone Temple Pilots, Switchfoot, System of a Down, Tears for Fears, The Beatles, The Clash, The Cranberries, The Cure, The Donnas, The Eurhythmics, The Killers, The Wallflowers, The White Stripes, U2, Weezer, and so much more!

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About Me

I 'work' from home as my arthritis makes it hard for me to get around or keep a normal sleep schedule. I make all sorts of crafty things to sell on my Etsy shop, as well as place orders for Tupperware. I have work in parenthesis because I'm really not making much effort (or making much!) to get sales these days, though I really should. Let me know if you need any information about Tupperware, and if you are really interested let me know if you want a catalog, at the moment I can only send catalogs to people who will for sure make a purchase. The catalog can be seen digitally from my Tupperware blog.

My husband and I are Christian.

Social and economic conservative... I'm registered republican, but I much more fall in-line with Constitutional/American Independent parties.

What I geek out on; Star-Wars Theology/Psychology Mac/Apple computers Shows like How it's Made, Good Eats, and Mythbusters

My gothic side: I'm not very outwardly 'goth' I do love to dress in darker colors, and I don't feel compelled to have the latest designer brands or anything snobby like that. I sometimes dress with stuff I've bought at "goth stores" but I don't think those outward things are what "make" a goth.

I love dark poetry, not just Edgar Allen Poe, but others too.

I love old architecture; stone buildings with gargoyles and old statues. Old cemeteries are very pretty too, especially with all sorts of angel statues.

I love music that has deeper meanings, yes, Evanescence is one of my favorite groups, I also like a lot of grunge music from the 90's, and rock from the 80's. Adding to this list I'd also include the story telling songs from the original man in black himself, Johnny Cash.

I know this is a broken fallen sinful world. I try to keep an understanding that because we are all sinners I shouldn't ever expect much from others. Yes, people have the capability to be good, but they have to choose that.

I think Halloween is fun. I don't go into it beyond remember the dead and the fun for the kids because I do hold my Christian faith as highest importance in my life. But a day remembering the dead, seeing ghosts and skulls and black cats and flying bats, getting dressed up, and handing out candy is all pretty fun.

Gothic Lolita, and victorian gothic are both very pretty forms of fashion. I wish I could pull off some of the outfits. I especially love jewelry with odd cameos, lots of black lace, or velvet or silk.

I love black cats. I think they are beautiful creatures. They have a charm and character unlike any other cat. I love my own (not completely black) black cat dearly.

I love to just sit back and people watch, I'm not much of a joiner. I often get lost in my own little world.

I feel like having this section brings out a lot of cliches about what people think about goths. I had signed up for a goth swap, so that's where my attempts to write this section comes from. I'm also apart of the dark-hearted group.

If you are wondering anything more about this topic and me just feel free to PM and ask.

On-line I'm pretty social, but in real life I'm pretty reserved, and very much a home-body. The amount of time I spend on the computer has a lot to do with the fact that getting around is kind of hard for me.

Proverbs 11:24-26 (NIV) 24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. 26 People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.

This photo is from when Kevin proposed to me! I told him I wanted to be proposed to when we were on the Charles bridge in Prague. He told me he'd propose when he wanted to, and had me convinced it wasn't going to be there. As we were almost all the way across he got down to "tie his shoe" and proposed! We had our rings designed in Czech, and I am so blessed to have my best friend as my lover!

We want children, but due to infertility that dream still hasn't happened.

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My Hubby

I've been married to my best friend Kevin for 8 wonderful years! We just celebrated our anniversary in June. Yup, I was a June bride.

I'm proud to be a housewife, I love how my husband often praises me for my cooking. Who doesn't love flattery!? ;-)

He still plays with Legos! Well, so do I I guess... we make shelving, or containers, trying to keep it practical.

My sweetie likes techie/geeky things, downloading songs from iTunes, Lego's, different dark chocolate with fruit (but not really nuts), he really needs some kind of compact container for bringing spoons to work for his lunches, we like watching old movies from the dollar DVD bins, he could also use dark dressy socks. He loves to read Christian and Sci-Fi books. We're both completely fine with used books.

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Fur-babies

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Maddie (Madeline Salem Wilson)

We have two cats who are wonderful pets. Maddie is probably 11 years old. We don't really know. She was abandoned at a shelter and left with no information. Poor thing! We've had her for 9 years, and when we adopted her they said she was a few years old, but couldn't figure out just how old. She's very reserved and sometimes comes off as having an attitude, but she loves to cuddle if there are only one or two people around that she knows well and trusts. Her favorite thing to do is sit between my hubby and I as we watch movies. She's not much for toys, but she loves her catnip pillows, which she rubs and then gets all lovey dovey and then falls asleep.

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Siggy (Sigmund Freud Wilson)

OK, so that first picture isn't really Siggy, but it sure looks like how he acts most of the time! LOL! But yeah, here is a real pictures of him...

Siggy is probably 2 or 3 years old (also a rescue without prior info.) and in many ways is the complete opposite of Maddie. He's super affectionate and interactive with anyone he meets. He very much still acts like a kitten even though he's an adult cat now. He is a bit of a spaz, he knocks over anything that isn't bolted to the ground and will play with just about anything. His favorite toys seem to be milk tabs and realistic toy mice. He tries to eat any and everything though so toys he gets need to be super strong. He also loves to brush his teeth. If you have a supply of brushes from the dentist office that you'll never use send them our way, he chews on toothbrushes like dogs chew on meaty bones!

He got the name Sigmund Freud as I adopted him a few weeks after loosing my first cat and said I needed a new one to keep sane.

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Cat treats

The only treats I would like for my cats are Greenies or Temptations (hair-ball treatment) chicken flavor. They are both picky about their treats and wont eat anything else. Anything else will just turn into ant food, and I'd rather not have it.

I also don't want fish flavored foods for them, as Tony (Our angel kitty) would get bad urinary issues from seafood, that's true for lots of boy cats, and I just don't want to risk it with Siggy.

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I love the idea of a quilt made with fabric from all over the states!

I copied this idea from Lucky12324

I am trying to make a quilt with each block from a different state (block = 9 inch by 9 inch piece of fabric).

This can be either something you think I'd like, or something that best represents your state. You pick. My only pickyness is no sports related fabric, I'm looking more for historical, if at all possible. Like for my state I picked up an apple pattern.

Because I plan on actually using this quilt I need it to be smoke free fabric, and quilting quality cotton.

Here's my missing states list:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona - Thank you augustmoon849
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado - Thank you augustmoon849
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii - received from Jakfrostwife
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine - thank you augustmoon849 THANK YOU!
• Maryland
• Massachusetts - thank you augustmoon849 Thank you again.
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia - received from vintageartchic THANK YOU!
• Washington (This is my state, and I've already purchased my fabric)
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

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