ChinaCat

ABOUT ME:

I'm retired with two grown children and two grandsons. I also have an 8 year old granddaughter. I live in Arizona where it's very hot in the summer. I like fall best of all, especially when it finally starts to cool off.

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. Hand made items are wonderful, but finding vintage items at a thrift store or yard sale also takes time and energy, so I really appreciate what is required to complete a well done swap.

I won't flake and I will rate. If I should happen to forget to rate a swap, please let me know. I always try to send something my partner will like and I read all profiles, regardless if the swap says "sender's choice". Profiles are fun to read and they help me create a good swap package.

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. I host swaps sometimes and if necessary I will angel any swap I host.

I like ocean colors - different shades of blues and greens mixed together and sometimes a bit of purple is thrown in. I love that.

I like Halloween colors together - black and orange. I like fall colors, especially when they're natural.

I like all colors really. It's how they are combined and mixed and put together that is pleasing to my eyes.

I DO THESE CRAFTS: * Apparently I've become addicted to making gift tags! I have three shoe boxes full of tags I have made. I'd love to share with you - just ask and you shall receive!

• I do VERY simple jewelry making, mostly just pendants on cords and chains and earrings. I would LOVE to learn some jewelry techniques like wire wrapping and beading. But for now, I do make some interesting jewelry with my limited skill set. =)

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

*mixed media - configurations, shadow boxes, dioramas

*cardmaking, tags

• I like to alter dolls, especially for Halloween. I'll turn them into zombies, witches pumpkin heads, scary stuff. Sometimes they are cute too. And speaking of my Halloween dolls...I don't sew and I'm forever in need of witch hats. If you ever want to do a private swap and you will make me a witch hat for a doll, yay!!! I like to decorate them myself so I just need the basic hat, any size because I alter all sorts of dolls. Honestly, it's my favorite crafting activity.

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

I DO NOT sew, nor do I embroider, crochet, knit...but I admire the talents of those who do! Nothing better than receiving something hand crafted that I could never even begin to know how to do myself.

A...antiques, art, archeology, animals, abalone shell jewelry & charms, Arizona

B...bats, books (vintage), book covers to use as a canvas for projects, Buddha, butterflies, blues music, baskets, batik

C...chihuahuas, Celtic history, crafting, Christmas (kitschy, vintage), clouds, circus (vintage) including vintage clowns, cactus (especially saguaros),

D...dolls (old ones especially) that I can alter into Halloween decorations, art dolls, handmade dolls, doll parts, I LOVE DOLLS, desert, dinos, dioramas

E...earrings (especially bigger and boho style), elves, ephemera

F...Frida Kahlo, flowers (deep red roses, black roses, geraniums, sunflowers, azaleas), fairies, Flannery O'Connor

G...ghosts, goblins, ghouls, ghastly gnashers, goddesses, gothic stuff, geraniums

H...handmade everything, HALLOWEEN!!!, history, hippos, harpy, hats for my altered witch dolls!!! Any size or color or material. =)

I...Ireland, indigenous cultures

J...jack-o-lanterns, jewelry, junque

K...Krampus, kitsch, kitchen witches, kitchen towels, keys (vintage), Ken Kesey

L...lovely vintage lady images (fortune tellers, witches, Victorian, flappers, ethnic, fairies, mermaids, etc.), loteria images, laboradorite crystals

M...mermaids, Mexican arts and crafts, moon, miniatures for crafting, mountains, milagros, mammoth & mastadons, mushrooms

N...Nosferatu, Neanderthals, Native American art and history, new discoveries - I like to experience newness

O...ocean, orange (the color), old lace, October

P...pumpkins, plants, photos (vintage), prehistoric everything, photography - I love Cindy Sherman, Francesca Woodman, Vivian Maier, Diane Arbus, and I absolutely adore Claude Cahun

Q...questioning everything

R...robins, ravens, roses, Rolling Stones, random things - sometimes I don't even know I like something until I'm introduced to it

S...sandy beaches, stars, sunsets, sea, Stonehenge, succulents, saguaro cactus

T...toads, toadstools, thrift stores, tie dye, tomorrows

U...unusual anythings

V...vintage...vintage...vintage, Valentines, Viking history

W...witches, windmills, waterfalls, witchy craft supplies, cool washi tape

X...x-tra special surprises

Y...yummy sweets, yellow moons

Z...zzzzz...(naps)

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

scrapbook supplies - I do some scrapbooking once in awhile but I already have a lot of supplies on hand, and I usually need something specific when I do scrapbooking projects. And please, no scrapbook paper scraps. My cup runneth over with paper scraps already.

ATCs ~ Please, don't send me an ATC!! I actually do like making ATCs and I used to make and swap tons of them, but I stopped collecting them years ago.

Kid's stickers..

I know that bookmarks are very popular, but I really don't need any. I do most of my reading online. I do enjoy making bookmarks though.

I'm not fond of random dollar store items. Some of the crafting items are cool though.

I don't do stamping so I really have no need for stamps or ink pads. I will gladly pass them on if I receive them though.

weird, funky clay faces - especially painted ones

small Halloween or otherwise spooky things that I can use for Halloween shadowboxes - I like them kind of creepy! Did I mention witch hats for my altered dolls? Sorry, I'm a broken record.

old keys

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

vintage needlework - small doilies, crochet, embroidery, etc.

THRIFT STORE FINDS - small items I can use for shadowbox and assembly pieces, especially items for Halloween, Day of the Dead shrines and retro or kitchy Christmas projects

cool vintage stuff

handmade items that you LOVE to make!

nautical, ocean, seashell, MERMAID items

Old discarded small doll clothes - Barbie sized or smaller. I don't sew, but I do re-fashion doll clothes for some of my art dolls/altered dolls.

I'm in love with retro Christmas items - kitchy 1950-1960s elves, Lefton china figurines, retro stickers, wrapping paper, cards, etc. These items don't have to be in "like new" condition because they are VINTAGE! I can hide all sorts of flaws and cracks with paint, glue and glitter...=).

I like candy, especially chocolate. I dislike gummy candy. I don't drink herbal teas, but do drink black tea. Spices from other places interest me. I started drinking coffee a few years ago. I like regular (unflavored). That way I can add flavored creamers.=)

I like to try unusual (regional) things.

I am a pescaterian and have been for 35 years. (I do eat fish, eggs and cheese.)