CraftyHamster

7/29/2010 Wow...it's been over a year since I last swapped/logged on. I missed swap-bot :-) Hope to join a swap soon!

I'm pretty much done updating my profile... might add a few things here and there.

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

Greetings everyone! I'm 35 (but sure don't feel or act like it). I've been married for almost 12 years and recently had a second baby girl (March 2010). My older one was born in March '08.

I enjoy reading, cooking, crocheting, knitting and sewing. I'm not done just yet...I'm sure I'll eventually get into more crafts ;-)

It was only about two years ago that I realized (discovered?) I like crafts - can you imagine all the fun I've been missing?!!

I'm currently working on my first two quilts. This one is for me:

and this one is for my older daughter (actually, I'm thinking of making two quilts instead of one):

I have other projects I started that I'm currently working on as well (will list them later when I take pics)... sigh....wish I had more free time ;-)

Castle = just started watching it this past February - I love the chemistry between the two main characters.

LOST = sigh I'll miss that show :-(

24 = I'll miss Jack and his ever handy 'man purse' hehe

American Dad = Roger is my favorite...he's hilarious!

Family Guy = Stewie is so cool ;-)

No Reservations = interesting, informative & entertaining...oh, and there is food!

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...eventually I got used to it and now I really enjoy it.

Sunrise Earth = so relaxing...mmmm

Psych = easy, fun to watch

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.

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

Lord of the Rings Trilogy

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

Natural Born Killers

Ghostbusters (don't laugh!)

Galaxy Quest

Finding Nemo

Monster's Inc

GERMAN FILMS: Lola Rennt, Das Experiment

FRENCH FILMS: Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, The Closet

KOREAN FILMS: Il Mare (yes, it's a Korean flick), Daisy

CHICK FLICKS (not into these types of films, just like a few): Only You, Mickey Blue Eyes

JAPANESE FILMS (can't remember others at the moment): Zatoichi

Bollywood movies (I've seen too many over the years and never paid attention to the names; wouldn't know how to spell nor pronounce the titles anyway)

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 .

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.

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

• Fabric, fabric & more fabric! Most of the stuff by these designers would be awesome: Heather Bailey, Amy Butler, Laura Gunn, Michael Miller, Robert Kaufman, Alexander Henry. Just about anything except Christmasy or country stuff.

• miniature stuff... anything the size of an American quarter or smaller

• sewing patterns... especially for totes/bags (yes, even diaper bags!), costumes, clothes for babies/toddlers, aprons, dresses...anything :-)

• Anything with owls, gnomes (cute looking ones not the old scary type), mermaids, fairies, mushrooms, penguins, & animals (esp. sea life), cute-looking monsters, food w/ faces

• charms (plastic, clay, glass or metal) & beads (any type)

• miniature perfume bottles (even if they are empty)

• soaps...especially if they smell like lavender or honeysuckle. I've loved Yardley of London English Lavender soap since 1985!

• candles w/ light scents: orchid, peony, lavender, honeysuckle, green tea, ginger, mango, papaya, coconut, sage.

• anything 'organic'

• regular or mandarin green tea; any kind of flavoured tea: peach, ginger, etc.

• International food items, 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). Fun-shaped pasta would be cool.

• anything Celtic, Japanese, Egyptian or Ancient Rome related

• 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 stuff written in foreign languages (especially Italian & Latin). I adore foreign/ancient language scripts

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 (purple is ok). Green is also not cool, unless it's sage or olive green. Neon colors hurt my eyes - ouch! heheh

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 lotions

• anything that smells like patchouli or vanilla

• salt water taffy or fudge

• anything with insects or reptiles (butterflies, dragonflies & 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. ;-)