Mantia

NOTE (Oct 15, 2008): I am going through a rough time right now. I HAVE sent out everything I've promised and am not in any new swaps. I may not get a chance to rate for things that are on their way to me, so please accept my apology for any missing/late ratings in the near future.

Private Swaps: I'm trying to clear out some of the stuff I have that I'll never use. Send a pm if you're interested in trading for any of this stuff.

• 7 badge buttons (punk/rebel theme)
• Hearts bracelet
• ATC blanks (cut from recycled materials - cereal boxes and such).
• ATC envelopes (made from recycled materials-calendars, maps, etc.)
• Small tatted butterflies
• embroidery on card stock (these are like the old string-art)
• Amber flowers bracelet (made from a kit with plastic beads)
• Orange/White crocheted draw-string bag

Things I would like to trade for: ATCs, handmade postcards, most any yarn or thread, any needlework kits (even partially started ones), or anything else you think I might like. :)

I'm about 35 and married to a wonderful fella. No kids or pets, we have our hands full just taking care of ourselves. I'm a civil engineer by trade, but lately have only been working part time in that. I also sell a few crafts and do a little work doing diagrams for a craft publisher. I'm generally a shy, soft-spoken sort that prefers to sit back out of the way and just watch whatever madness is afoot. I do have a very wacked sense of humour and generally see things in a different light than the average person.

I have a wide range of tastes in music... just a few favorites: The Cure, Pink Floyd, Duran Duran, Tori Amos, Simon and Garfunkle, Bach, Fairlight, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rich Mullins, Gordon Lightfoot, Patsy Cline, Vangelis, and the list goes on... :)

The Black Company series by Glen Cook, Jane Eyre by Bronte, The Redwall series by Jacques, anything by James Hogan (I highly recommend Kicking the Sacred Cow), City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke, and the list goes on... :)

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Fifth Element, Over the Hedge, just about anything sci-fi, just about anything in black and white (especially musicals), just about anything with Judi Dench, and the list goes on... :)

My favorite channel is PBS. I love British comedy (Waiting for God, Last of the Summer Wine, Faulty Towers, etc.) and most sci-fi things (Doctor Who, Babylon 5, Stargate, etc).

So many favorites, so little time! I crochet, tat, cross-stitch, embroider, bead, sew, needlepoint, glue things together, and am slowly learning to knit.

Things I Love: Anything handmade! I have always felt that the work and love that goes into handmade items make them far more valuable than the most expensive thing you can buy off the shelf. You will definitely make me happy if you send anything you've made yourself!!

Colors: I don't really have one favorite color. I generally prefer deep colors (forest green, burgandy, etc) to pastels and I also like earth tones. Most of my home is "decorated" with a mix of a little of this, a little of that. The kitchen is the only room with a theme, it is black and white with a touch of red (mostly apples).

Animals: Elephants, fish, inchworms (especially with apples!), birds (especially peacocks, hummingbirds, and ducks), pretty much ALL mammals. I also think T-Bone from the Clifford cartoons is adorable!

Flowers: Daffodils are my absolute favorite, but I like all flowers.

Sweets: I love the sugary/sour candy like sweet tarts, spree, smarties, pixie sticks, etc.

Collect: I collect ATCs and handmade postcards. I don't have a lot of room and I love how I can have tons to look thru in just one small binder!

There is very little that I actively dislike, but there are a couple things that I can't really use... strongly scented items irritate hubby's allergies so I can only use lightly scented things and I don't have any holes in my ears so any pierced earrings I receieve are likely to be regifted.

OK TO SEND... I'm not easily offended, so it is perfectly fine to send any of these things to me:

• religious items or texts
• erotic pictures or texts
• "tasteless" jokes or items
• things from a smoking home (we don't smoke, but I grew up around it and don't have a problem with it)

• ATC's!!!
• Postcards (preferable handmade)
• A small piece of crazy quilting
• Cannery Row, the movie
• A copy of The Silver Nutmeg by Palmer Brown, even just to borrow! (I'd love to read it again, but it has become a collectible and is far outside my price range!)
• A learn to quill kit (used is fine)
• A learn to bobbin lace kit (used is fine)

I LOVE handmade postcards of any kind... even if the swap calls for store-bought cards, feel free to send handmade ones (I won't complain!). If you want to send your card in an envelope to keep it safe, that is fine with me. I love all postcards, both nekkid and clothed! :)

I'm happy with postcards that depict any of my favorite things listed above. I also enjoy pictures of buildings, bridges, and scenery.