DreamCloud

Hi, my name is Eleanor. Me in a nutshell: Artsy-litsy, kinda flitsy, quasi-bohemian. Semi-gothy, slightly crunchy, completely quirky, nature-based, contemplative mom.

Retired from the publishing industry, I spend the weekends with my husband who is a chef and an artist. Our house is decorated in a pan-Asian style with a special emphasis on Godzilla. We enjoy going to ethnic grocery stores and to thrift stores together. I mostly 'thrift' for art supplies, books, vintage needlework, and boho odds-and-ends. I crochet and am starting to learn boro and sashiko. My journal is my favorite starting place for creativity of all kinds. I write in it every morning.

-book-themed postcards/notecards, stickers, bookmarks, mail art, happy mail, etc.

-quotes on creativity from writers and artists

-beautiful letters and decorated envelopes that I can glue into my journal. I make pockets out of the envelopes and keep the letters in them!

-illustrated recipes on 8.5" x 11" paper. I keep them in a 3-ring binder

-pretty much anything that I can create a journal page from that reflects any of my interests

-favorite colors: lavender, violet, pink, aqua, jade, sea-foam, coral, electric blue

-favorite color combinations: dark blue paired with fuchsia/magenta, black-and-white, lavender and green, magenta and orange

-iridescence, metallic accents, sparkle, non-shedding glitter

-foxes, mushrooms, forest creatures and scenes

-magical beings like fairies, unicorns, mermaids, dragons, gnomes, etc.

-goddesses

-books, reading, libraries

-mindfulness and meditation

-chakras, yoga

-art journaling

-women authors

-space/stars/moon/cosmos

-herbalism

-crystals

-afternoon tea

-writing and journaling

-tarot

-zodiac signs: Gemini and Year of the Snake

-Godzilla

-Asian motifs and patterns

-British royals

-Britain, Ireland, New Orleans, New York

-Paganism, Buddhism

Fiction:

I tend to read mostly classic literature and science-fiction/fantasy, though I will usually read a few works by contemporary authors every year. Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath, and Donna Tartt are a few of my favorite authors. In science-fiction and fantasy, I am reading Charles Yu, Becky Campbell, the Liaden series, and almost every magical Regency ever written.

Non-fiction:

Keri Smith, Austin Kleon, and books on creativity. Artists Studio and Flow magazines. I collect books on tea. Other non-fiction interests: books on how to write, paint, draw, journal, grow houseplants, garden, and meditate. Cookbooks on afternoon tea and British and Asian cuisine.

-Children's books:

The Moomins, Trixie Belden, the Oz series, the Greene Knowe series by L.M. Boston, The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton

Writing:

Julia Cameron's The Artists Way is a big influence and I do morning pages every day.

-Images of historical life, architecture, clothing etc. I'm a sucker for castles and quaint villages

-I would love to receive British royal family postcards.

-Book, art, or literary themed postcards with coordinating quotes

-Tea or cuisine/cooking postcards

-Postcards with mail art or decorations

Tea Preferences:

-Green, Oolong, Puerh, Honeybush, Rooibos, Lemon Verbena, Almond, Decaf masala chai

Tea Dislikes:

-Licorice root, Lemongrass, Chamomile, Mint, and artificial flavors, colors, or additives

-Please, no Lipton's tea or tea bags that aren't in a factory-sealed moisture-proof wrapper

Food and Recipe Preferences:

-Afternoon tea, Dim Sum, regular or gluten-free baking, cakes/cupcakes, traditional recipes from your country or culture, party foods, cute hors d'oeuvres, craft cocktails, tea parties, fancy cookies

-The Ramones

-Blondie

-X

-The Cramps

-Ska

-The Kinks

I would prefer not to receive classroom reward stickers, Disney, incense, things with artificial scents, or religious items that aren't Pagan or Buddhist in nature.