Fittzwm

November 20 - Good news, I got my computer back. Bad news, ALL my data was lost. I have sad...

WARNING: If you like surpises and are my partner, you may not want to look at my flickr. I try to take photos of my swaps. I usually remember I want a photo after the package has been sealed, so I don't get all of them

I am a mom living in Tacoma, WA. Former military, as is my husband. We have two boys (b.1992, 1999), a Border Collie (Malcolm the Reluctant) and two psycho cats (Vlad the Non-Impaler & Fiona the Impudent). All three beasties were rescued and have found their forever-home with us. We have a 100+ year old home and are always searching for cool things to make it more ours.

I love stitching and crafting with found objects. I do historic embroidery, as well as more current stitching. I don't quilt. I don't cross stitch.

This is new to me, so I am building my likes and dislikes. If I post something as a new like/dislike after I receive it in a swap, unless it's reaaly contra to the tops of both list, it's a learning experience.

I do like:

• dark chocolate
• black licorice (is there really any other kind?? Red 'licorice' just doesn't work for me!)
• border collie art anything! I'm a sucker for that dog!
• retro items ( I remember many of them the first time around!)
• STEAMPUNK or sometime called Neo Victorian. New fascination, probably not. I have always found the works or Jules Verne wonderful and classic TV shows like 'Wild Wild West' quite clever. So I guess I liked steampunk before it was steampunk!
• recycling - whether it's the fifth trip around the world for a padded envelope or recycling paper packing at the landfill. Use a few newer resoures to maximize the life of the old ones. Make a game out of many times a box or envelope has been used.
• embroidery, but not cross stitch - my counting sucks!
• found-object art
• dark humour
• fabric
• threads/flosses
• silk
• wool
• linen
• small, cute, USABLE items - kits packed in Altoids-like tins are always cool
• baking
• dogs & cats - if asked whether I am a dog person or a cat person, the answer is both. Rescue them from the shelter, from some horrible situation they are in - just save their life & the rewards will be immeasurable.
• For colours, I prefer rich shades of blue and green. True red will always be a hit!
• most hot drinks - coffee, cocoa. many teas
• I like scented candle in spicy aromas like cinnamon and vanilla . I seem to prefer the fall & winter scents over the spring & summer florals.

I DON'T like:

• peanut butter - I am not allergic, but it sickens me (My husband & boys like it, though. They appreciate that little something form time to time)
• white chocolate - the greasy crap that's left over after all the good chocolate stuff has been removed.
• coconut - sickening to me
• Vampires. Twilight & sparkly, glamorised vampires. Just say NO! In my opinion, vampires are a classic monster, not some neo-gothic poser.
• stickers - I don't really hate them, but when I do use them, they are specifically themed. I don't have much use for random, loose stickers.
• tootsie pops & most other lollipops
• reality TV
• politics
• whiners
• craft foam - it stinks, really! Please don't send it to me as the smell gives me an instant headache!
• Same for cigarette smoke as craft foam. Call me picky, but if you do smoke, please don't light up while putting together a package for me, Thanks.
• uber-girly things - fairies, pixie dust, unicorns and the like - not my 'thing'
• princess-motif anything - especially Disney Princess
• I don't care for pastel colours.
• not a big fan of green tea, unless it has lots of citrus.
• dotee dolls. not sure why, but the do not appeal to me.
• I prefer to NOT receive dollar store items, unless the swap SPECIFICALLY calls for them.

• NON-RATERS! I can't say this enough! If you didn't receive a swap from me, please let me know. I will resend if need be. Please respond to PMs if I ask whether or not you've received something. It's just the decent thing to do.

  Please refrain from sending me old, expired goods. If you thought it was old or icky, chances are that I will, too.

My tastes are very eclectic. It is easier to say what I don't enjoy.

Not a big fan of opera, country, rap/hip-hop, speed metal or 'hair bands'. David Lee Roth types really creep me out.

I love Big Band era jazz/swing. The Blues make me smile. Still love that funky '80s fun stuff. Flogging Molly will always be a fave.

I don't care for romance novels or much SF/fantasy. I prefer suspense, thriller & the like. Dean Koontz, Ridley Pearson, Ken Follett to name a few. I think Stephen King has jumped the literary shark.

NO MORE REALITY TV!!! toss Big Brother, Survivor, Wife Swap & their exploitative ilk right in the nearest trash bin. Please, I have enough drama in my life.

I watch TV for diversion. Education, too, on occasion. History Channel, TLC & Discovery rock.

Shows I would Tivo/DVR if I had one:

• Lost
• ORIGINAL CSI
• Big Bang Theory
• The Mentalist
• 11th Hour
• Heroes
• Numb3rs
• Bones
• Fringe
• Monk
• Eureka
• Warehouse 13

Classic musicals - Brigadoon, West Side Story. We all know the songs & love 'em. I also totally love mindless action movies - great car chases, explosions & wafer-thin plots. Wow, I just described a Bruce Willis movie :)

I am an active member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA.) I belong to the Barony of Blatha an Oir, which is Pierce County, WA.

Yes, we re-create the nicer parts of history - 600-1600 - but it's just a hobby. I only wear 'funny clothes' at events, and can pass for a relatively normal person. This hobby kind of explains my love of historic needle work, although I am not sure which came first - SCA or historic embroidery.

I am not infatuated with mythical creatures and my house is not decorated like a wanna-be castle. I've been to enough real castles around the world to know this would be an exercise in futility.

Many of the values we hold dear in the SCA, honour, chivalry, and the like, would greatly improve the rest of the world if we practiced them all the time.

I am sort of a crafting hummingbird, never totally settling on one discipline. I've done ATCs, altered tins, and other crafty things. Sewing & needle arts are my first love. Still can't knit or crochet DAMN! I would love to learn I am up for a challenge.

Craft-wise, for the most part - jack of all trades, master of none. And that's fun! I've been felting a bit lately. It's really addictive!

I saw this animation on how a sewing machine works - very cool!

Wish lists seem pretty popular. Whilst I am wishing, I shall ask for the world - For my 17 year old son to get his act together and figure out how to achieve what he wants from life. More realistic wishes:

• Foreign fun candies
• a magic filter around my home to obliterate peanut butter, coconut & white chocolate candy before it gets in my home
• little charms of various sorts - polymer, clay, metal, for embellishing things - tins, atc, journals, etc...
• a moment of sanity, on demand. ShannonElizabeth@ contributed to that with her awesome coffee cup she sent me. "wait until I finish this cup, then I'll worry about you."
• Small bento/lunchbox accessories - NOT hello Kitty (I have plenty)
• things sent that show you actually read my profile. (seriously, that red coffee cup is divine)
• silk threads for embroidery. I have pretty decent access, but with so many beautiful colours, I can't pick just one.
• hand-dyed fabrics & thread, Adds such a cool dimension to a piece of work.
• acorns - more specifically, their unbroken caps. Don't ask... Okay - the caps are just adorable and make great tops to pincushions or, oh, a fairy hat, or something equally whimsical.

Well, that's my wish list so far

I really hate to even start this topic, but feel I must, even if it's just to get it off my chest.

FLAKERS:

• @mcltweety for flaking on her own swap for a smashed/elongated penny
• @bohohippy (now @BeautifulMess ) for flaking on a private swap. This has been sent by @BeautifulMess Thank you.
• @user6755 for flaking the Winter 2009 warm-up swap
• @Sunshinesmiles for flaking the cookbook from your area swap Angel'd by @monstermansmom05 the charming hostess.
• @senacrafts for flaking on the May Birthday Present Swap. Beautifully and awesomely angeled by @niecedenise
• @janal14 for flaking on a kool-aid swap. Angel'd nicely!

Non-raters:

• @enchantednightbird - Liar Liar postcard. I have PM'd you on this. You took the time to respond; how about rating?
• @swyatt2534 and @angellica for the Postcards_ Lots of em #3 swap.
• @swtbrandy for a private swap. I know you got it.
• @lafaiete & @elizabethof course for the 090909 postcard swap