JuliasAlteredArt

I just feel like I need to make a quick comment here to say thank you to all my recent swap partners. I am so humbled by the extreme kindness that has been shown to me by all of you since my return. Thank you so very much!!!

06/2012 Hello Everyone. After taking a few months off to adjust to some major life changes I am back at Swap-Bot and so very exciting to be participating in swaps again. I have really missed this community and can't wait to get my swap on again!!!

11/14/2011 Hi everyone. Just a quick update on things. I am trudging along thru PT and doing well, some days are better then others, but that's to be expected. I am finally able to go most of the week without anyone at the house helping me out and that is just AMAZING! I am beyond appreciative for all of the help, but I really can't wait not to need it anymore LOL! Thanks again to everyone here who has offered well wishes and positive thoughts, your kindness means a lot to me. On a completely different note I also wanted to let everyone know I just started my own Flickr site for my crafts and stuff, just search JuliasAlteredArt if you've interested in checking it out. Thanks again everyone & happy swapping :D

CAR ACCIDENT: Hi everyone. As some of you may know I was in a fairly bad car accident at the end of AUGUST. This accident left me with some pretty bad injuries, I was in the hospital for 12 days and then spent an additional couple of weeks recuperating at my parents house, as I was unable to do a lot or take care of my two kiddos without help. I am now back at home and slowly but surely catching up on all that I was behind on, including all my swap bot crafts...

Thank you all for your understanding and well wishes.

Hello everyone! I am a very proud mother of two amazing children, my son is ALL BOY. His name is Owen and he teaches me something new everyday he starts kindergarten this year, I can't believe how fast he is growing up. I am also blessed with a beautiful daughter named FinleeLou, she is an absolute joy. Neither of my children are shy nor do they have much fear, it is likely that if you run into us at the park or grocery store you will know our life story and be invited to dinner in a matter of minutes...LOL...I live in the Pacific Northwest, one of the most amazing places on Earth. I am constantly finding inspiration in and around where I live. I have been crafting one way or another my entire life, and find that it becomes more a part of who I am the longer I keep at it. I continue to experiment and craft in every extra minute I have (not that there are a lot of extra minutes these days) My focus shifts between Altered Art, Scrapping, Jewerly making and Knitting. I am ALWAYS looking to join new crafting communities and try out new crafts and new techniques.

I haven't watched a show intended for someone over the age of 5 in about as many years...

I absolutel LOVE to read. My taste in books is as varied as my moods. I will read just about anything and everything I can get my hands on, and would love suggestions for new authors or books.

As I mentioned in the "about me" section I am particularly drawn to Altered Art (specifically repurposing containers and tins, altering books, and creating ATCs and larger Collage), Scrapping (mainly I create mini albums, I haven't worked in "traditional" scrapping for many years), Jewelry Making (I love to work with wire), and lastly I LOVE to knit. I find that when I feel like I have hit a wall with my other crafts knitting allows my brain the space it needs to recharge. Also, a trip to a yarn store (or to my stash storage) will often release a flood of inspiration that carries over into all my crafty activities! My most favorite yarn right now is Noro...although it is insanely expensive I LOVE the colors and patterns it creates and I have yet to knit something with it that doesn't turn out amazing.

ATC & ROLO preferences: For the backs of both ROLOS & ATCs I request that my partners please include the title of the card (if it has one, many of mine don't), the real name of my partner, my partners swap handle, the name of the swap, the date, where the piece of art was made (city/country), and if you are comfortable I'd love to have your contact info (an email addy). For ROLOS: I would like the punches to be on the bottom of the cards, and although more is always appreciated, covering the backs with colored or patterned paper is just fine, so long as I can read your into clearly. Thanks everyone!!!

There is so much I could list here that I think it might be easiest to list the companies/themes/eras that have been inspiring me most right now: Graphic 45, 7 Gypsies, Tim Holtz, the Victorian era, Steampunk/NeoVictorianism, Lace, Vintage (ephemera, buttons, fiber, sewing patterns, pictures, postcards, ledger books, journals, etc.), Old Cigar Boxes, 19 Century International Ship Travel, 19 Century FootLockers, John William Waterhouse, The Renaissance, Shakespeare

Although I appreciate all things that are sent to me I kindly ask that my partners avoid sending food, scented items, confetti of any kind, Sanrio type stuff (Hello Kitty etc) UNLESS IT IS MEANT FOR MY KIDS) reward stickers, religious items (unless part of a vintage send)...neon, plastic beads, animal print, etc

Music has been an amazingly huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up listening to my parents favorites and developed a love for the Allman Brothers, Jesse Collin Young, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, etc...As for more current artists I could listen to forever and ever... Ben Folds, Ben Lee, The Decemberists, Ani DiFranco, Aimee Mann, Broken Bells, Death Cab For Cutie, the Shins, Cowboy Junkies, Mumford and Sons, Connor Oberst/Bright Eyes...the list goes on and on and on and on....

Hope this gives you all an idea of what kind of music inspires me while I'm creating...I'm sure I will be adding to this list as new things pop up on my iPod or Pandora Site!

I love swapping and almost always have my swaps finished by the send date (unless of course it is a profile swap). I also LOVE to send a little something special with each swap, I joined swap bot to make others smile :)

If for some reason you do not get a package from me OR you feel the package does not meet the requirements PLEASE contact me before rating. Like I said, I joined to make my swap partners smile and I will do whatever I can to fix the situation :)

Thanks everyone and HAPPY SWAPPING

• Anything by Tim Holtz, Graphic 45, 7 Gypsies or any other company that falls in line with their aesthetic
• Victorian Imagery (preferably people, but scenery is also loved)
• Trinkets and small found objects (Although these things COULD be found in a junk drawer, I an NOT referring to junk). These things might include porcelain or ceramic miniatures, game pieces, thimbles, small commemorative spoons...etc...
• Ephemera: this includes.both vintage and new. Things like ticket stubs, train passes, old books and book pages, journals. Basically any paper item that tells a story (or has a story waiting to be told)
• Tins, boxes, jars, any container that can be altered. I esp LOVE wood cigar boxes
• Ink. I love ink.
• Extremely fine tipped pens. My favorite pen right now is by Pentel called Slicci and has a .25 point.
• ATC backs. I love the different backings there are and would love to have more options!
• Lace and doilies
• Tattered Angeles glimmer mists in all colors
• Industrial Chic
• Lockets
• Big Chunky Charms
• Watch gears and parts
• Yarn (natural fibers only please).
• Moleskin journals
• Somerset Publications ALL