Clayshaper

UPDATE 7/12/07: I have cancelled all the swaps I had been hosting that had not yet begun. I have dropped all swaps that were not yet begun. I will fulfill the swaps I currently am IN, which cannot be dropped at this time, because they have already started. I will NOT be 'angeling' any more people who did not get their swaps from others, in anything I hosted, or was a part of, or offered to angel in for another host. If you have NOT gotten a swap from me, WAIT. It may arrive late DUE TO THE POSTAL SYSTEM, which clearly is not good here. If I have not marked "sent" then it has not been sent yet. If I have, It has been.

Updated 7-1-07:

Yes, I'm a guy. :) Men DO join Swap-bot, I swear! (and we'd join even more often if it wasn't somehow embarassing in this culture to be 'craftish' and male.) Me, I care not- I love ART! I love projects that challenge me, and make me really work on my creativity and allow me to express my artistic side all at once. :)

I especially enjoy pen pals and postcard swaps, because they're fun- lets face it, you live in a big city with thousands you don't know, or a small one with a few you do... but pen pal letters or postcards give you a chance to meet all KINDS of new people. Brief encounters (like a postcard of your ten favourite foods) or a longer term pen pal 'relationship' (writing back and forth, in otherwords) doesn't matter at all to me- both are equally fun! I do usually type my letters, since my hands tend to get painful and shaky after writing too long, and then you can't read my handwriting! So instead, I write really long letters, because typing is much easier on me! I also love that when printing out letters, you can add pictures if applicable! (who doesn't like to see the dog you're talking about, or an image of your dream home, etc...)

I really enjoy swapping things that feel like a 'connection' to me. Meaning, things like ATC's- they are art that you're sharing with someone. A unique swap will often draw my attention, not because I need any more STUFF in my life, but because it will be interesting to see what a total stranger chooses to send.

I avoid high-cost swaps, but I am often willing to do pre-arranged private swaps for those kinds of artwork or stuff we have a mutual interest in already. :)

I'm what I would call an 'ecclectic pagan'. I do have a church/community that is /totally/ non-denominational, and described as 'an earth-based' church. We get to see all sorts of different faiths, and participate in all sorts of different celebrations this way. The once-monthly community meetings are my joy. I love connecting with my community and such diversity it holds!!

I do such a WIDE variety of crafts and hobbies, I'm always open to suggestions. If you have been a partner with me in a swap, or are a host of a swap you think I might like, I would be delighted to hear of unique swaps you think I might like.

I am the 'Nanny' of three children, aged 11, 9, and 5, and they're one of the lights of my life. The two oldest (both boys) are currently on vacation to visit grandparents, but the youngest (a girl) is not old enough to travel on 'her own' that way, so I may be doing less kid-oriented swaps while the boys are gone, since she isn't really old enough yet to truly work on the kids swaps as much as her brothers. When that changes, I will change this part of my profile, as they LOVE to see what comes in the mail, and help me get swaps together to send out. They think Swap-Bot is about the coolest thing ever. :)

Thanks for reading all my spammy profile here! ;)

I love Historical music. I'd love to get my hands on old 1700's (or earlier!) songs, or any historical recordings or old folk music. I admit to having an unhealthily large collection of unusual and unique Disney tracks- like old ride tracks and music from old attractions. I love it. O:)

Skeeeeery ones. I prefer spooky and creepy to blood and gore, but it all has it's place! Even a 'bad' movie can be entertainment. Zombies can be scary or funny, but they're still zombies. ;) Spooky creepy sets, and good plot twists are the best tho! I love Japanese horror, and old stuff like William Castle films.

...mostly I play games on computer (PC) -The Sims 2 is ADDICTIVE! I occasionally play on our PS2 (KATAMARI!! aaaugh! So... addictive... painful... tearing... away...)... and I am waiting on the fundage for the Zoo Tycoon 2 updates. :( (wantwantwant) don'tcha hate that?

I am also a Neopets fan/addict! If you play there, or you want to join, consider using my link- it will give me a spiffy little referral point. It's free to play and stuff, and SUPER family/kid safe. even if you don't use this link, feel free to 'neomail' me there to swap stuff on Neopets too! (grins)

http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=human_crouton

ATC's are a blast because they're tiny works of art you do in a shortened period of time. I like to use digital (computer printed) material along with hand-done linework, or one or the other with added elements, most of the time... fun! It really delights me that they're traditionally only given or traded, and 'never' sold... tho I know some people do, I don't. :) It's neat!

I sculpt, and I love to 'adapt' sculptures as well (for instance, customizing a breyer model, or adding/altering a warhammer figure for my otherhalf or the kids)- painting or decorating other's sculpture is a blast too, but I enjoy making my very own works most of all.

I am really in love with Ceramics- wheel-thrown, hand-built, or sculpted... but I don't currently have a kiln or wheel. sniffle

I have a Service Dog who is a Rottweiler, (yes, they DO make good service dogs!) and we own an "OTTB" (off the track thoroughbred. In otherwords, an ex racehorse! She was VERY successful, but is our baby/pasture pest now!) I love horses, but mainly pleasure/trail ride, with high hopes for endurance someday. (when my health permits it)

I love little figures of animals (PVC kind, like Schleich, Papo, Safari LTD, Bullyland, etc.) because I love to create little dioramas with them... or sometimes I just alter and adapt them with apoxie-sculpt and paint... it's like taxidermy in miniature, without having a dead thing on yer wall. (wink)

I don't /play/ warhammer, but I like to do 'terrain' for them, which really is nothing more than diorama work for a specific game system. I am always looking for broken or un-used 'bits' of warhammer figures to do neat things with- you can always contact me for trades regarding this, if you want to get rid of some and want something totally different in trade. I love to gift the kids or my otherhalf with spiffy new (well newly done/adapted by me!) warhammer stuff.

We do have cats... I blame that on my otherhalf, who is a certified cat-person! (grin) We have more 'cattage' than one should, in my eyes... but you know cats, they own YOU, not the other way around!

Yes, I'm a guy. :) Men DO join Swap-bot, I swear! (and we'd join even more often if it wasn't somehow embarassing in this culture to be 'craftish' and male.) Me, I care not- I love ART!

I am an ecclectic pagan who does not follow a single path, and is very very accepting of everyone else around me. If it works for you, and it's not predatory or hurtful to everyone else, It's ALL good. To each his (or her) own!

I blog incessently, (livejournal) and tho my link is temporarily down here, you can always private mail/message me for it if you're interested. I have public and private/friends only posts, because that just makes sense.

I love to write to people, and so you'll see me in a lot of penpal or postcard swaps. I love to meet people from all over- it's just cool.

I also love to join 'random' swaps... I don't so much love getting the stuff as i do SENDING it. There's just something that delights me, in mailing a small package/envelope to someone that contains small goodies I know will make them smile. I need more smiles in my life, and somehow, I get them when I make someone ELSE happy! Go Figure!

If I didn't belong to swap bot, having tons of pagan friends who love handiwork, and random giving trees at yule-time, my house would slowly fill up with stuff I have made... and then I'd REALLY be in trouble. ;) It's cluttered enough, without tons of FINISHED projects hanging around! Yeek!

Update, 7-1-07: Right now, I am currently working on getting any unfair ratings handled, and attempting to regain that "5" I had.

If that can be done, I don't know. I want to see if there is any way, with the new features, to 'redeem' an unfair rating, so people have a chance to actually KEEP a 5.0 rating if they are fulfilling their obligations. A good swapper is always going to end up with a few unfair ratings... but holy cow. It seems as if a single person can cast enough doubt (and lower your ratings) with one /unfair/ rating that you become a target for more them... I find it hard to believe that SO many things don't get through...

Many swappers are rejecting anyone with any "no sends" and anything less than a 5.0 rating- which means one person can hold you 'hostage'... and that's not right. I am trying to change that somehow. I just don't know how that can be done yet.

About Me and Swap-Bot in GENERAL...

If you join swap-bot to GET STUFF, you're missing the point entirely. Swap. It means to give AND get. I haven't got more than HALF the items I was supposed to get, and I didn't send nasty letters to people. I was patient, and it either showed up or did not. That's the rating system. Notice, I don't have a total rating of 2.3 or something horrible like that. I DO have a couple people who didn't get packages, and I don't KNOW why. I sent them. I was even happy to RESEND something. I MIGHT be late, I ALWAYS send the packages. (and REsend, or even RE-RE-Send when it goes astray... but this shouldn't be happening to MORE than half the swaps! I'm starting to wonder...)

I am finishing up the 'karma' process as it were- fixing ratings where I can, and deciding if I want to continue to pariticpate here. I hope that I can. There have been many POSITIVE experiences too, and I would hate to miss out on more of those.

A HUGE thank you to all the people who helped nudge the Swap-Bot people to add the "Respond" feature! (And to them for doing it!!!) Thanks too, for the notes or letters I have receieved from those of you who had similar problems. hugs

All I WANT from being a part of Swap-Bot, is to continue to pariticipate in creative, artistic endeavors, send perfect strangers neat stuff because it's COOL to do (and fun!) and to be able to make new friends and aquaintences.

If you are a swap co-ordinator, or a swapper who had given me a poor rating for some reason, consider helping me get back that 5.0, let me know what I can do, or how you can help me do it.