Kessie

Also, I live in England, and sometimes mailing things internationally can take a while. If you're waiting for something from me, and it seems a little late, please be patient - I promise I won't let you down.**

Hi, I'm 42, single, and have a 22 year old daughter. I like to think I'm quite artistic, but my job as a computer analyst doesn't give me much oppurtunity to express my creativity! I enjoy dressing up, and recently took part in Yo Ho 07 - a mass fancy dress pub crawl in London - about 50 people all dressed as Pirates - great fun!

When not dressed to a particular theme, my 'fashion' sense ranges from quite gothic/punk (e.g. black lace, red pvc, studded dog-collars) to camp girly kitsch (day-glo pink tutus, feather boas, sequinned fairy wings, glitter spray...)

I'm an atheist and not easily offended by nudity, religious symbols or swear-words - so feel free to express yourself!

I love the idea of Swap-Bot - keeping in touch with people all over the world, the kindness of strangers, sharing your creativity... Fabulous.

Unfortunately I don't have the equipment to burn CDs, so I can't join any of the Mixed Cd swaps - however I would LOVE to receive a mixed CD of music I haven't heard before!

When I'm out, I like dancing to cheesey camp pop-music - Girls Aloud, The Ketchup Song, Mika, various Eurovision hits etc. But at home my tastes are more eclectic - UB40, Eagle Eye Cherry, Joanna Newsom, Enya, Meatloaf, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Queen, The Pogues... just about the only thing I don't listen to is classical music, although there must be some famous pieces which I would like if I heard them. I'm always happy to listen to new bands or genres of music... is there anything you think I should hear?

Authors I like include Terry Pratchett, Barbara Kingsolver, Kate Atkinson and Jaspar Fforde.

I'd like to read the Dark Materials books by Phillip Pullman, as my daughter's boyfriend has recommended them... I generally like books that make you think, rather than romances and 'chick-lit'.

I tried joining a book club a few months ago but only read one book - it was 'Middlesex' which won a Pulitzer prize a few years ago - it was very good.

I read quite a lot, as I have a long train journey to work every day, so feel free to send me a paperback book if you think it's one I'd like!

Mostly painting & drawing, and also collaberative art at www.anexquisitecorpse.net.

I' also like doing collages with ephemera and found objects, and would like to try altering books etc.

I take lots of photos, which I then incorporate into some of my other artwork.

I do make my own fancy dress costumes, but I'm not really very good at sewing so it's mostly things just roughly tacked together so they can be worn once, and then dismantled.

I'm currently trying to decorate my bathroom in a dazzling, psychadelic colour scheme of yellow, sky-blue and day-glo pink, with rubber ducks and giant flowers and stuff...

I'd never even heard of ATCs before I joined Swap-Bot but think I'm starting to get addicted to them...

I'd be happy to receive craft materials: brads, sharpies, unusual papers, acrylic paints, pens, good quality drawing pencils etc.

Raising Arizona, Always, Harold & Maude, Toto the Hero, Ma vie en rose, Donnie Darko, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, The Rocky Horror Show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

I feel a bit guilty writing an 'I want' list - and I promise I will be happy to receive most things! In general I like things to be either beautiful, or thought-provoking, rather than cute. I prefer things which are unique or quirky, rather than mass-produced.

Obviously I don't want to be sent rubbish, but I am happy to receive secondhand things such as books, and I don't really care about labels or brands...

So this section is really just me trying to be helpful. Personally I'd rather my swap-partners had full profiles with lots of ideas to inspire me!

I like a lot of artists including David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Frida Kahlo, Magritte... I'm not so keen on old masters or anything too traditional.

My favourite colour is dark green, but I like most other colours too! Maybe not so much pastels or grey or beige. I like shiny metallic colours (silver, gold, copper etc). Some of my favourite patterns are leaves, snowflakes, masses of red roses, and fractals.

I do like some kitsch, pink fluffy things but prefer them with a slight twist, like altered Barbies, erotica, anything a bit bizarre and edgy, rather than 'pretty and tasteful'. I also like more urban designs including street art, Banksy, the band The Gorillaz, vinyl toys like Qees, art with a political slant, or art which includes text in some meaningful way.

I like food, especially candy, cookies and cakes! Favourites are Reeses's peanut butter cups, Fudge, and chocolate-caramel-nut-praline type things. I like white chocolate, and recently discovered (on another swapper's profile) that white chocolate Resses's peanut butter cups exist. I've never seen them over here (England) and would love to try some... However I'm a vegetarian so please avoid anything made with gelatine.

I'm not so keen on fruit teas. I prefer my tea with milk and loads of sugar! Hot chocolate or flavoured instant coffee etc would be nice though.

I like fragrant bath stuff like bath-bombs, shower gel, shampoo etc., but don't use soap much. Also love silly bath toys! Rubber ducks, squirty things, wash-mitt glove puppets etc...

I collect ornaments made out of natural wood, e.g. small carved animals, or little lidded pots made from a slice of branch. I especially like dark reddish-brown wood.

I like silly toys, especially anything that lights up or make a noise or catapults small objects acrosss the office....

I like cheap jewellery - the weirder the better - but I don't have any piercings, so clip-on earrings only! (I'd love to receive handmade clip-on earrings!) I also like small badges with bizarre or witty slogans, or badges etc which light up or have flashing LEDs etc. I'd love to receive an altered-art brooch...

Instead of traditional handbags, I love little tiny backpacks, (just big enough for maybe a wallet, a lipstick, keys & a phone) - much more practical when out clubbing as it leaves your hands free for dancing and drinking! I already have a nice red one with diamante trim, but my latest aquisition was an 'Elmo from Sesame Street' mini backpack from my local 99p store!

I'd also be happy to receive lavender bags or drawer-scenting sachets, a small manicure set, a funky dog-collar large enough to fit around my neck, 'Alice' style headbands (particularly the hard plastic kind), socks, or art materials, including ATC accessories like printed backs or protective sleeves - I haven't seen anything like that in the shops here.

I love unusual tights - bright colours, fishnets, striped etc - but I'm an extra large size (5' 7", UK size 18) which are difficult to get to fit. ("One size fits all" probably won't!)

As I mentioned earlier, I'd love to receive mixed CDs, and also little personalised address labels, as they are both things that I can't make myself...

There isn't really much I DONT like... however things I don't use much are yarn, stickers, buttons, kawaii things. I don't mind you sending me these, but I'm sure there are other people who would appreciate them more!

Notes to myself so I don't forget anything:

Still to send:

Something in the colours she likes for Noa.

A Kit to make Bottlecap magnets for Anam - promised on Sept 23rd

Dark Chocolate for Dulcimer on edible wishes, promised Sept 24th. Need to get address.

Make a surprise Humpty Dumpty ATC for Mary

A Naughty Nun ATC for Anam promised Oct 12th

Angelling Dolls House miniatures

Will be receiving: address labels or swapcards from Elizabeth45?. Polymer clay from Tsampa. A pirate ATC.

Already Sent:

Sent 7th Dec: Zombie! swap (angelling).

Sent 15th Nov: Birthday thing for LadyB's mum.

Sent 6th November: Shrine for Wicked Faerie for Crafty PIB, Edible Wishes for ideiascomestilo - (promised Oct 14th).

Sent Oct 30th(?): BBQ Hulahoops and disney stuff to lisajhoney for 'cant find it in my country'

Sent Oct 16th: Something Owls, kingfisher or seahorses themed for Anke - promised on Sept 23rd.

Sent on October 12th: RAK for Cherrythepig. Private swap with JanW for 3 Halloween ATCs. Sent on October 10th: Bottlecap shrine magnets for Rosehips on "Crafty Pay it Back shall we start again". Hangman Prize for Boatbird. Sent on October 2nd: Kinder Surprises to Mere for Edible Make a Wish. Sent on Tues 25th Sept: Birthday stuff to Gayle's mum Mina Sent on Wednesday 19th Sept: Envie of assorted ribbons & unusual fabric scraps to Tsampa for 'Tag you're it' Ephemera etc to Elizabeth45?? for address labels (sent with Drag Queen ATCs) Sent on Friday September 14th: Some ATCs to Kittymui as she's never seen them. Something for Brokenfaedoll's boyfriend Joe. 'Send to the person above you' thing to Squintgrad Baggie of ephemera, used stamps and magazine cutouts for justbreathe Sent on 5th/6th Sept: Handmade card making kit to Chappykat. Sweets & chocolate to Sam. Postcards for diddldonna's kid's collection. Profile surprise to Saalis for Europe swap tag. Something made from maps to Mediatinker for Crafty swap tag. Thing requested from UK to classychica.

Formatting text on Swap-Bot Symbols e.g snowmen to use on Swap-Bot