Michele1015

I'm a woman of many talents. I love music, crafts, swimming, reading, chocolate, and eating out with friends (I'm a diabetic so, unfortunately, I have to back off eating so much.) I am a Christian and I work part time from home - networking and communicating with people who support our ministry. I like simple pleasures - feeding the ducks in the park; reading on my backyard swing; having lemonade and popcorn on warm summer evenings. I LOVE being grammy to my precious grandchildren - Eliana, who is 4 and David, who's 18 months.

I've been married to the sexiest man in the universe, my high school sweetheart, for 32 years. He travels to Asia on a regular basis as a videographer and photojournalist! I have 2 children - Jen (5253), who is married and has the two grandchildren described above and lives about 45 minutes away; and Steve, who is dating a fabulous woman named Erin and lives near Seattle, WA.

I'm originally from Spokane, WA but currently live in the Dallas, Texas area. I miss the beauty on the Pacific NW but am mostly content to be here.

My favorite crafts are quilting, scrapbooking, reading, and swimming. I also make collage and embroidery cards. I have done crocheting, lap hooking, and cross stitch in the past. I tend to be more traditional in my fabric selections and decorating styles. My home is decorated primarily in maroon and forest green with hints of pink throughout.

I love to watch programs like House; So You Think You Can Dance; American Idol; Cold Case; Eureka; Everyone Loves Raymond; Fraser; Firefly; and Gilmore Girls. I also love to watch shows on PBS like Keeping Up Apperarances; Antiques Roadhouse; My Hero; As Time Goes By; and various documentaries.

I love Christian bands like Jars of Clay; Dennis Jernigan; Michael W. Smith; Steven Curtis Chapman; Dennis Jernigan; Twila Paris; Bebo Norman, Fernando Ortego; Watermark, Nicole Nordeman, and Jars of Clay. I like some country - Johnny Cash; Keith Urban; Josh Turner; and Carrie Underwood. I listen to vintage sounds from the 70s - the Eagles; Lilttle River Band; John Denver; Bee Gees; and the Moody Blues. I also enjoy classical music; Bing Crosby; artists from the Windham Hill label - like Will Ackerman and George Winston.

I love old classics with Katherine Hepburn; Spencer Tracy; Cary Grant; Jack Lemmon; Audrey Hepburn; Grace Kelly; and Leslie Caron. A few of my favorites are Father Goose; How to Murder Your Wife; Canadian Bacon; Secondhand Lions; Sound of Music; West Side Story; Quigley Down Under; Star Trek; and The Grinch who Stole Christmas.

I love to read Christian fiction from Francine Rivers; Jan Karon; Neta Jackson; Michael Phillips; Karen Kingsbury; Beverly Lewis; Judith Pella; Cynthia Woodsmall; Wanda Brunsetter. I also read self help books from Steve Arterburn; Beth Moore; Larry Crabb; and Joyce Meyer.

I also get the following magazines from either friends and the local library: Real Simple, Cottage Living - sadly no longer in print; Country Home - sadly no longer in print, Traditional Home; Guideposts; and Creative Keepsakes.

Here are a few of my favorite things. I love the artwork of Debbie Mumm, Susan Branch, and Mary Engelbreit. Moda is my favorite fabric company and I like most of the Thimbleberry fabrics. I love word stickers and Bible verses to use in my scrapbooking and collage card projects. I love to decorate with leaves in the fall and collect nativity scenes. I also collect Boyd Bears items - bears and figurines.

I like to reuse packaging, magazines, stamps, and flyers. I like to be surprised with little goodies in people's swaps.

I don't like real bright colors like neon yellow, green, or orange. I'm not a fan of batiks, animal, kiddy, Disney, or Kawaii stickers, papers, and fabrics. I also don't like reproduction fabrics. I don't decorate for Halloween and I don't decorate with Santa Claus items at Christmas.

I don't have any pets because I'm allergic to them. I don't like things that smell like smoke.

Here are some things I would love to have...

• Blade for the Creative Memories 12" paper cutter
• Scalloped circle punch
• Vintage, unique buttons
• Postage stamps (new)
• Huckleberry products!
• Starbucks' Pike Place Market blend coffee
• Gift cards to Target, JoAnns, Michaels. Hobby Lobby, and Amazon.com
• Boyd Bears - especially the Nativity set (I have Josepy, Mary, and baby Jesus.)