ChristyC11

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10/17/11 I'm slowly coming back, starting to sort stuff out. Thanks for everyone's patience and especially my beloved squatches

Ohhhhh.... there are so many! My very favorite authors are Robert Crais, Jim Butcher (just the Dresden files LOVE THEM!~I'm not into the other sci-fi stuff other than paranormal) Janet Evanovich(absolutely HILARIOUS), Kay Hooper, Katie Macallister (the supernatural books for those two, not the romance ones), John Sanford, Joanna Fluke......gosh there is so many more.....I'm liking the paranormal mysteries alot too, historial non fiction......Oh! I enjoy a good cozy series mystery!

Anything funny! I'm a sucker for romantic comedies and I enjoy a good action flick with my hubby. Holiday movies.

I love TLC, HGTV, The History and Biography channels as well as any of the true crime shows or biographies. I'm a big fan of Project Runway, Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares and The Amazing Race.

Criminal Minds, Paranormal State, Haunting Evidence, The Office, 30 Rock and are my very favorites.

Oh boy, where do I begin??? I'm into just about all things crafty. I'll try and list them all here but I know I'll probably forget something :)
I'm really into painting. Tole, decorative watercolor and just started experimenting with oils. Collage, mixed media /altered art,sewing/quilting, needle felting, knitting (just hats and scarves), beading and jewelry making, woodworking, scrapbooking, card making, rubber stamps,colored and watercolor pencils, mosaics, just starting to get into stained glass. Making soy candles and bath/body stuff..... I like making my own soap.

My latest obsessions~ Shadowboxes/Dioramas and tiny things to go in them. Millinery supplies! The old fashioned velvet leaves and vintage flowers are what I'm drawn to the most.

I love making ATC's, Row Houses and APC's, and not the run of the mill altered matchboxes among many other crafty things. I'm enjoying learning new collage and texturing techniques. I'm drawn to the Japanese art of Wabi Sabi.

Re-purposing previously neglected or unused items into something wonderful is something I really am liking alot. I'll try just about anything and love discovering new methods of art/crafting.

Some Things That I Love~ (besides my family : ) they always are the very tops of the lists )~

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~A new paintbrush

~Shiny and Sparkly things

~Fall and winter

~Squirrels

~Planting a garden in the spring

~Looking at the stars

~Pretty Fabric and Soft Chenille

~Vintage country churches

~The brightly colored leaves of fall

~Rain

~Christmas lights

~Reading stories to my kids

~Jack O' Lanterns

~A good fire in the fireplace

~Glitter

~A good find at the antique shop

~The Ocean

~A great new author

~Sleeping in once in awhile :)

~Cheese and fresh bread when I'm stressed

~Pike Place Market in Seattle

~The movie "A Christmas Story"

~Watching the birds at the birdfeeder

~Forests and giant redwood trees

~Bodega Bay, California

~A good cup of tea

~Creating something I'm proud of

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These are just examples and ideas into what I like so you can get a better idea of me and my personality.
~LIKES~

~Anything homemade! I highly appreciate the care and artistry that someone puts into a handmade/homemade item...This is by far, tops on my list~

~ I love fabric! Cotton quilting, flannel, bits of silks, velvets and textures for crazy quilts, chenille (new and vintage) and wool felt. Moda and Thimbleberries are probably my favorites for quilting fabric. Retro and vintage repro fabric is a big weakness of mine.

~ Anything crafty! Beads of any size, wool rovings, paintbrushes, vintage/new sewing tools, soft yarn, any kinds of embellishments/collage for altered art, ATC's and altered matchboxes. I love little minis for altered art, ribbons, fibers,mosaic pieces, shells, glitter, card making stuff, paper collage pieces, ephemera, vintage images, Buttons!!! (especially vintage, antique buttons. Brightly colored Lucite, Art Deco, Bakelite +30's-40's era buttons are my all time fav's.) Angelina Fibers, pearl pigments, rubber stamps( I collect PSX Halloween,Thanksgiving and Christmas Theme rubber stamps) Micron/Sakura pens, Copic markers, Twinkling H2o watercolors,pretty paper, handmade paper........really just about anything!

~I love vintage churches, vintage postcards, birds and nature, anything snowy or wintry looking. Anything Fall/Autumn looking and anything holidays especially if it's vintage 30's-50's.

~I really admire the craftsmanship of handmade/handthrown pottery. I've started collecting all colors and shapes of pottery coffee cups/tea cups.

~Tea is my favorite. I always love to try new kinds. I also enjoy ground flavored coffee and hot chocolate.

~For food type goodies candy is always a good way to go. Milk chocolate, caramel, toffee types are my favorites. I love wrapped hard candy. Stuff like root beer barrels, butterscotch, coffee flavors, fruit flavors....I like most all. Just not black licorice flavor or passion fruit. It would be fun to get treats from other countries too. I'm always up for new stuff.

~I'd always love to collect anything from my swapping partner's hometown or region! Bookmarks, postcards, cookbooks, coffee mugs, magnets, pictures.

~Most anything associated with Fall or Winter. I have a huge soft spot for Halloween and Christmas.

~I LOVE squirrels! I know it sounds weird, but I think they are so cute! Well......not live ones or anything through the mail..... or dead ones that wouldn't be good either.....but pics, images and just about anything else is fantastic!!! :) Raccoons and owls (any type of owl) are tied for second.

~I love Ginko leaves. We had a beautiful ginko tree in our front yard when I was growing up. In the fall the leaves turned the prettiest shade of yellow and I always adored the shape of the leaf itself. I feel just about the same in regards to Maple leaves :)

~I'm a color lover....just about any color is pretty to me (but don't feel this is a challenge to prove me wrong lol ) . I tend to go towards fall colors like reds, oranges and earthtones. But I adore pinks, greens, blues , pastels and bright colors.....really anything but neons. I'm not of fan of neon colors.

~ I'd have to say bakery type scents are my favorites....anything that smells like something is baking :) I also love clean,light smelling scents and some florals like rose, lilac, orange blossom, lily of the valley and jasmine....stuff like that.

~LOVE Polka Dots, Hydrangeas, owls and a full moon just about anything retro 40's and 50's.

~ I love just about anything and am very easy to please. I never mind questions, so ask away :)

The allergies are not mine but need to be noted since they belong to my hubby and kids.

~My husband and one of my children have asthma and are VERY ALLERGIC TO ITEMS SMELLING LIKE CIGARETTE SMOKE. Unfortunately any items reeking of cigarette smoke would go directly into the garbage and I wouldn't be super thrilled that they ended up in my home after posting this in my profile. I am okay airing out items or doing the dryer sheet process unless the smell is just too heavy.

The only dislikes that I can really think of are:

~Dirty, musty or broken items.

~ I don't really care for retro /mod 70's items/prints.

~Incense. I don't like it at all.

I adore anything and everything handmade/homemade! These are a couple of things I'd dearly love to receive if it's in your crafty area of expertise :)

~Handmade soaps! Any types, any scents. My very favorites are cold processed or rebatched types but all are goooooood :)

~Crocheted Granny squares! I'm crochet impaired and I'd love to recieve handmade granny squares to make a blanket with later on. Any colors/mixes are wonderful :)

I collect PSX Rubber Stamps in Fall/Autumn, Thanksgiving and Christmas/ Winter themes. If you ever have any that are gently used or new that you would like to part with let me know. I'd gladly set up a private swap or trade if you are interested.