ChinaCat

ABOUT ME: I'm 54 years old with two grown children and three grandsons. I work with special needs high school students, and I love my job. I live in the southwestern United States where it's very hot in the summer, but lovely in the winter.

I'm actually very easy to please - if you make it for me, I'm going to appreciate the effort. I'm thankful when people put time, thought and heart into what they make and send. Finding vintage items or even shopping at a thrift store or yard sale takes time and energy, so I really appreciate what is required to complete a well done swap. Heck, even putting together a nice de-stash package takes a lot of time (at least it does when I do one), so thanks in advance swappers!

If you're ever in doubt about what to send...I really like hand made over all else. But vintage is always a good choice as well. And vintage does not have to mean antique. A dollar or two will go far at a thrift store or yard sale! And "repurposed" items are the best! Take something old or discarded and make something new and wonderful! Fun for you and I'll love it.

I won't flake and I will rate. I think I rate fairly, at least I try to. Please rate me! I really like to know that my swaps have been received, so I'd love it if you could rate my swap as soon as possible after you receive it. Or at least drop me a message and let me know it arrived. I'd appreciate it.

If you don't receive a swap or tag from me, please let me know right away. I have no problem re-sending or doing whatever it takes to fix a problem.

Classic rock: Rolling Stones (best rock & roll band ever!), The Beatles, Van Morrison, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan...etc.

Blues

R&B

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

The Godfather

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

Alice in Wonderland

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Charlotte's Web

A Wrinkle in Time

Classic children's literature (including Peter Pan, the Oz books, Winnie the Pooh, Little Women, the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder), beautifully illustrated fairy tales and nursery rhymes, Beatrix Potter's work

Some of my favorite modern book authors and books for children include: Mercer Mayer, Maurice Sendak, Richard Scarry, H.A. Rey's Curious George series, the Amelia Bedelia books, Russell Hoban's Frances series

I love very old, out of print books for children. I would love to collect vintage books, but they are usually too expensive. I do find them sometimes in thrift stores though!

The Wizard of Oz

anything with Johnny Depp

Seinfeld

Big Love

True Blood

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Antiques Roadshow

The Office

true crime shows

history, nature, Nova type shows

I do:

*altered objects - matchboxes, rusty old tins, altoid tins, boxes, lotsa stuff!

*mixed media

*cardmaking

*some jewelry making (nothing complicated)

** I LOVE to make ornaments for different holidays or occasions

I love to receive all kinds of handmade items. If you make me something cool, I'll love you forever! I'd prefer to receive something that you consider your specialty, that you LOVE to make, rather than something randomly selected from my profile.

I don't sew (other than sewing on a button now and then), so anything that's sewn is like magic to me. Same goes for embroidery, knitting and crochet. I LOVE that kind of stuff.

I like all colors. It's more about the way different colors are combined that appeals to me rather than one particular color. But I do have to say that I'm always drawn to ocean colors...aqua, turquoise, teal - mermaid colors...

I especially like items made from batik and/or East Indian fabric and prints - I love that beautiful and colorful, exotic look. Love fabric with texture as well.

handmade items

art

Day of the Dead ~ Frida Kahlo ~ Loteria

Halloween - devils and witches are faves

Gothic and spooky (but not necessarily gory - not a fan of too much blood and guts)

Christmas - vintage, kitchy, fun, funky - think elves, gnomes and such

vintage circus and vintage magician images

vintage ephemera from all eras

vintage crocheted flowers - or new ones!

MERMAIDS!!!! - yep, even Disney!

Tarot cards

garden gnomes

majick, fantasy, fairies, whimsy, weird, wacky

religious symbols of all kinds (Buddha, Hindu, Pagan, etc.)

items from other countries, cultures and eras

robins, robin's eggs and nests

Kewpie dolls - they're too cute!

jewelry - I have average sized wrists, and my ring size is a 7. I mostly wear silver, but I love all kinds of different jewelry, especially handmade of course!

I like suns and moons (especially the man in the moon), stars, clouds...

My hobbies, which include crafting and thrift stores, go hand in hand. I love shopping in thrift stores and yard and estate sales!! And I especially love finding really cool stuff I can swap or use in my crafting.

country decorating - I did it in the '70s and got burned out.

uninspired stickers - I do use stickers sometimes, but most of the ones I use are 3-dimensional flower types or specific stickers for a certain project. I do like vintage looking stickers - butterflies, flowers, stamps, etc. I'd prefer not to receive stickers that are designed for children.

I do like stickers that represent art (those sold exclusively by the artist for example). Artists on Etsy often sell stickers, and those I like.

rodents, especially rats. I have a bit of a phobia, I guess. Realistic rats and mice freak me out.

really cheaply made craft supplies (But I do have a love for Michael's dollar bins.)

cook books - I'm not much of a cook and I don't eat meat. I don't use recipes much.

dollar store memo pads, note cards, etc. (unless they are altered or upcycled). A dollar store item can be turned into something awesome if you're crafty! =)

I really need CLAY FACES right now!! I especially like painted ones but unpainted are also appreciated. I use them for various crafts.

I'd like small Halloween or otherwise spooky things that I can use for a Halloween shadowbox - I want it to be scary but not overly ghoulish. Quirky/scary and fun, if that makes sense.

milagros

yoga socks - oh, I'd love these!

charms & other things for jewelry making and embellishing

old keys

old photos, especially of people...the older the photo, the better!

vintage (or new) rick-rack, vintage seam binding

vintage kitchen towels

a sarubobo doll - please!

unusual crafting supplies - I love old stuff!

sea Glass, sea stones, sea/beach pottery (especially drilled)

Frida Kahlo and Day of the Dead items

handmade items that you LOVE to make!

I like candy, especially chocolate, and black teas. I don't drink herbal teas. Spices from other places interest me.

I don't drink coffee, but I LOVE iced mochas. Is that coffee?

I like to try unusual (regional) things.

I am a semi-vegetarian (I do eat fish, eggs and cheese.)