CraftyHamster

Well, it was gonna happen sooner or later... I just didn't know it was going to be back-to-back. Yes, someone flaked out on me... actually, two people. One right after the other. Nice :-|

I guess it's a risk we all take. It didn't get to me that much. What I am bummed out about are ratings. I don't understand why someone would give me a heart for an email swap but not for something I spent more than 4 hours working on.

It's like many out there are expecting extras, otherwise they won't give hearts. If it's something easy then I completely understand...but if it's for a handmade item that took a great deal of time to make then why would someone not take that into consideration when giving out ratings? I guess very few people appreciate others' time and efforts.

I wonder if this is how grandmas feel when they give a child a handmade sweater and then never see them use it. Or they find out that they gave it away or trashed it. Ouch. :-(

If you are expecting something from me and have not received it please contact me.

Greetings everyone! I'm 34 (but sure don't feel or act like it). I've been married for 10 years and recently had a baby girl (March 2008).

I enjoy reading, cooking and crocheting. I started with knitting about 5 months ago and moved on to crocheting shortly thereafter. In the past few weeks I've discovered that I'd like to learn how to paint (watercolor) and perhaps sew (stuffies).

I love food. Although I don't consider myself a food snob nor a foodie I definitely enjoy critiquing food :-)

As I stated above, I enjoy crocheting & knitting. I also think I'm going to start sewing (stuffies) if I have more time. As a matter of fact, at this moment I have another tab open because I'm about to buy a sewing machine. I hope that doesn't turn into another one of my passing delights.

When I first started knitting I was so excited I purchased a bunch of circular needles and guess what? The following week I switched to crochet. :-P My husband calls me "kitty" because he says I am easily distracted. He also calls me "monkey brain" because I get bored of things rather quick and move on to something else. Not sure if monkeys are that way.... I guess he just made it up. Either way, I'm not insulted because I happen to like monkeys (stuffies or anything with monkeys).

ATC's seem like lots of fun, but alas, I don't think I have artistic abilities. At least not for ATCs. Yeah! I singed up for Yo Gaba Gaba ATC swap, that's different (cause it's easy).

LOST = I've yet to meet someone who started watching the show and lost interest/didn't like it (This season is a nail-biter! eheheh hmm, then again, I bite my nails all the time. I take it back.. this season is a cuticle-biter.. hehhe)

24 = this season doesn't seem that great, but it's still suspenseful enough for me that I bite my nails through a whole episode.. not my cuticles though ;-)

HOUSE, MD = All these years I'd quickly change the channel the moment I saw Hugh Laurie's face because I couldn't stand his character's personality. My husband started watching reruns about two months ago. Eventually I got used to it and now I really enjoy it. We're still watching previous seasons.

Psych = easy, fun to watch

Monk = same as Psych, although I think the stories from the earlier seasons were more interesting. However, I prefer the personal assistant he has now.

Iron Chef America = I watch it when it's on TV, but I don't go out of my way to record it mainly because I don't have much free time.

Eli Stone = I can't believe they cancelled the show! :-(

Pushing Daisies = this one got canned as well

These are all I can think of at the moment.

I mainly like action, adventure and sci-fi movies. There is no way in hell I'll sit through a musical! gag

Some of my all-time favorites are: Pulp Fiction, Indiana Jones (the trilogy; not so crazy about the most recent one), Star Wars (the old ones), U-571, Fifth Element, Independence Day, Air Force One, Lola Rennt (German), Das Experiment (German), Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (French), The Closet (French), Ghostbusters (don't laugh!), Galaxy Quest, Finding Nemo, Monster's Inc, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Only You (this is one of the few chick flicks that I actually like), Mickey Blue Eyes (another romantic comedy), Zatoichi (Japanese), and others I can't think of at the moment.

Industrial, trance/techno, goth/ethereal, 80s, new wave, classical, jazz, some classic rock, new wave, just about anything EXCEPT rap, hip-hop, r&b, gospel or christian rock crap.

What to eat? what to eat? So many choices, so little time.

Favorite cuisines: Indian, Japanese, Thai, Mexican, Turkish (similar to Greek but NOT the same - it's better), and I'd like to say Korean & Vietnamese but I really can't.

The reason is that I have only tried about 2 dishes from both cuisines - but only because I'm so into those foods that I haven't had time to try more. At the moment I am nuts about kimchi & bulgogi and hopelessly in love with Pho. For the past three months every Friday I drive to my favorite Vietnamese joint and order some pho. It's no longer just Friday - it's Pho Friday!

Although I like surprises (who doesn't?) these are some of the things that make my heart feel super happy (as Kai-lan says):

• Bookmarks (I love to read!)

• Anything with gnomes, mermaids, fairies, mushrooms, penguins, & animals (esp. sea life), cute-looking monsters, Yo Gaba Gaba characters (especially Muno, Brobee & Foofa), Hello Kitty, Chococat....

• International food items in particular chocolate [and I mean good stuff not cheap crap like hershey's], anything spicy, salty, or with garlic. Nuts are okay as long as it doesn't have peanuts (not allergic, I just don't really care for them).

• anything Celtic, Japanese, Egyptian or Ancient Rome related

• crochet or knitting patterns (currently looking for Hello Kitty and/or Keroppi but always on the lookout for other fun stuff), yarn (any type is fine as long as it's on the soft side), anything that can be used as a stitch marker

• seeds for herbs or vegetables (mainly peppers, especially if they are for hard-to-find varieties); I also like little cacti; anything easy that can be grown indoors or outdoors for zone 8 - USA; bonsai trees are AWESOME!!

• I love foreign languages...especially these: Turkish, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, Latin, French, Greek, & Icelandic

Additional info:
Favorite colors = In the red? Green with envy? Feeling Blue? I like pretty much all colors except for a few. (wow, it rhymed! Maybe I should consider writing poems ehhehe - Not!) I'm not too crazy about orange and lilac.

People who fascinate me: Dante Alighieri (poet), I'll be adding more later

Favorite sculpture: Paolina Borghese by Antonio Canova

Favorite painting: Destiny 1900 by John WIlliam Waterhouse (I love pretty much all of his work)

Uh, that's not mine! Is it?

I'd rather not receive:

• religious items (Christian or Islamic; all others welcomed)

• items from a smokers home; I know there are smokers out there and maybe no one has said anything but believe me when I say that what you send REEKS of cigarette smoke when it is received. Please leave items in your car or somewhere outside for a day or two before sending them to me - I don't care if I have to wait longer - I prefer that over the nauseated feeling I get when I open a package that smells like an ash tray. I know this sounds mean, but it's true. (My husband smokes, but never indoors and when he comes inside I make him wash his hands, rinse his face and sometimes even brush his teeth).

• country or vintage items

• shiny or puffy stickers

• stuff with clowns, puppies or horses

• scented candles

• anything that's vanilla flavored or scented

• salt water taffy or fudge

• anything with insects or reptiles (scorpions are ok)

• black licorice

• any kind of food containing pork

I'm interested in swapping items with people from Europe, Korea or Japan. This doesn't mean I'm not open to swapping with ppl from the good ol' U.S. of A. ;-)