Melusine

English female who currently lives in southern England but not close enough to the sea for her liking (I grew up by the sea).

I like the colour purple and to this you can add emerald green and blue (think peacock feather here) or turquoise ... I love the way they go together. They are also very good individually - especially the purple. One of my crafting mates says what I like is contrast.

If I had to choose an animal it would be a tiger, though I do confess that I also have a soft spot for Sand Cats (Felis margarita harrisoni) as they are very cute. If we go under the sea then I think that sea horses are amazing creatures. I also like ladybirds - the traditional "red with black spots" ones of childhood stories and rhymes.

And because I saw this on some other profiles I thought I would add the following: if you want to send extras then please do not send food or perfumed items. However, things like an unusual bead, button, braid or thread would make me very happy.

I have made stuff ever since I was little, mostly self taught and I usually try out a new technique each year (e.g. in 2006 I learnt how to wet-felt).

Textile crafts are the thing I do most with my free time - this includes, at various frequencies, patchwork, quilting, cross stitch, knitting, crochet, needlepoint, chain stitch embroidery and other things which don't come to mind at present. I love to make braid - tabletweaving, kumhimo, whip-cord, finger-looping, Danish 12-strand flat braid and so on. Goldwork (metal thread embrodiery) was something I wanted to do for years and in 2006 I finally started exploring it - I am currently waiting to start my City & Guilds Level 2 course in the subject, having passed my Level 1 with "flying colours" (according to my tutor).

Paper crafts - I like to make my own cards (and presents for that matter) and so have learnt many techniques over the years, which I often revisit, to create them. Generally my birthday cards have a theme for the year which gives me a chance to explore - for 2008 it is fish and so far I have used ink-and-salt, cross stitch, vellum embossing and needlelace techniques. I have even had a go at using Fimo for the first time but I need a LOT more practise with this suff!

13th Warrior, The Captive Heart, Highlander, Strictly Ballroom, The Fifth Element, Frida, Dogma, Shrek

Series: Priates of the Carribean, India Jones, Star Wars (esp. IV-VI)

Actors: Clint Eastwood, Johnny Depp, Salma Hayek

Historical murder mysteries. Craft books. Authors I like to read and re-read: Diana Wynne Jones, Terry Pratchett and Jane Austin.

Just finished/in the process of reading: Artist Trading Card Workshop - bernie berlin / Gut Symmetries and Art Objects - Jeanette Winterson

Series: Charmed, Criminal Minds, CSI:LA, CSI:NY, Doctor Who, Firefox, Hercules, Midsommer Murders, NCIS, New Tricks, Rome, Sharpe, Silent Witness, Spooks, Star Trek (all), Torchwood, Xena

Detectives: Lord Peter Wimsey, Miss Marple, Poirot, Sherlock Holmes,

Others: David Attenborough, Nicholas Crane (map man), real forensic, cookery and wildlife programmes, University Challenge

This section is currently a work in progress.

Peter Gabriel (including when he was in Genesis) and Kate Bush - loved both of them since my teens.

Blowzabella, Bon Jovi, Chris Conway, Duffy, Ed Alleyne-Johnson, Heart, Mich Sampson, Mika, N'Early Music Consort, Nigel Eaton, Runrig, Shooglenifty, The Waverley Consort

OrigamiGrace's Septemer WTA: send ATC to Ellie1200 (to be made and sent once my damaged hand has healed).

I do not send "extras" with my swaps to earn hearts. I spend my time and effort creating a special piece of art that I want to speak for itself.

I do not guarantee that you will recieve a heart for sending an "extra", unless it is very profile-specific. Hearts are reserved for those who put special thought and time into swapping.