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 (the sewn on variety, not badges), 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 was fish and I used ink-and-salt, cross stitch, vellum embossing and needlelace techniques ... I 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: Kate Sedley "The Dance of Death" / Bio of T E Lawrence / Meg Cabot: "Size 12 is not Fat", "Size 14 isn't fat either" and "Size doesn't matter"

About to start or in the process of reading: Kate Mosse "Labyrinth" / Makiko Tada and Hiroyuki Hamanda (ED) "Space, Time and Braid" / Michael Wood "In Search of Myths & Heroes" / Jane Nicholas "Stumpwork Embroidery - a collection of fruits, flowers and insects for contemprary raised embroidery"

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 and Connection

This section will always be 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

SWAPS: Current swaps:

2009 swaps with posting deadlines passed:

Purple Fat Quarter Swap (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/21705): Flaked on by ArtGirl (partially suspended ID)

Swaps with posting deadlines in 2008:

September Senders' Choice ATC (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/17336). Not received from: CherryBlossom (ATC never arrived)

February Themed ATC Swap (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/10242). Not rated by kittyprints.

Valentine Hearts Gallore ATC (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/8867). Not rated by ohnayam.

Recycled ATC (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/9225). Not rated by artzylady.

Swaps with posting deadlines in 2007:

Yule or Winter Solstice Card Swap (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/7784). Not received from: Ruby Green (item never arrived)

Pink in October! - Breast Cancer Awareness month (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/8057). Flaked on by SueFitz (suspended ID)

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 ... and often I give the heart sometime after the initial rating when I have had a chance to enjoy and appreciate the object(s).