MorahLaura

I have cut WAY back on swapping because I can't afford postage. Hopefully this is a temporary situation; I have a job now, but unfortunately, groceries are still more important than swaps! With any luck, I'll see you in the spring of 2012.

I'm a 40-ish mom of 3. I'm happily married to my high school sweetheart (we've been together since we were 17). We have 9 hens (I eat a lot of eggs...yum!). I'm Jewish and I'm really inspired by Jewish themed art but haven't really made any of my own. I hate to cook but love to bake. I don't like messes but I'm not a big fan of housework; my house is "clean enough to be healthy, dirty enough to be happy." I have a daughter in elementary school, a daughter in kindergarten and a son in preschool; they all love My Little Pony; my son loves Cars. I work part-time in a local bank doing the budgeting and billing for the Facilities dapartment. My politics lean decidedly to the right. My houseplants are required to thrive on neglect; if they can't survive being watered once a month and never getting repotted, I have no use for them. I had a cockatiel who was my companion since I was 14; he passed away in November 2011 so now we have no pets. I love coffee and tea (but NOT Earl Grey, raspberry flavor or herbals), but lately mostly coffee since my mom gave us a Keurig brewer, which I LOVE since I can make a different flavored cup every time! I don't exercise enough. I homeschooled my oldest daughter for a year and a half.

I don't watch very much TV; the most that gets watched is by the kids. Therefore I am a fan of Bubble Guppies, Wow Wow Wubbzy, and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

When I get to watch TV, I like House, Chuck, Fringe, and I loved The Sarah Connor Chronicles and I'm still mad they cancelled it. I like to watch "Mystery Diagnosis" and "Cold Case Files" but the kids don't let me. My husband and I like to watch Top Shot, Mantracker, zombie movies and Hell's Kitchen together.

I got started making ATCs in August of 2009, and I participate in ATC swaps around the internet but I rarely make any that aren't for specific swaps. My favorite media include watercolors, marker drawings, Zentangle with a Sharpie Pen, and some collage.

I learned to crochet from myGrandma Dolly (z"l) in the mid-1990s and have been creating ever since, mostly following patterns and adapting them to my needs. I love cotton yarns, and Simply Soft in earthy and jewel-y colors. I love silk and bamboo yarns also but can't afford them!

I recently made some chunky pages that I really enjoyed, and also some polymer clay beads. I'm working my way through "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain."

I love handmade papers and I want to try making my own.

I own a lot of rubber stamps, but most of them are leaves, flowers, birds and "flourishes." I love getting stamped images of objects, words, people and non-cutesy animals.

I'm trying really hard to teach myself tatting. It's quite challenging! I wish I knew someone who could teach me in person, but for now I'm relying on a DVD and YouTube.

My sister gave me a sewing machine and I am trying to learn to use it well.

I am open to learning how to do just about anything!

Crafty Wish List

• Charms of tea, coffee, nature items
• Dotee doll-making bits and bobs
• Fat quarters in purple, fall/earth colors, jewel tones, patterns or solids
• Cotton crochet and embroidery thread
• Tatting needles or shuttles

I read a lot and I'm not sure I could list a favorite book. I enjoyed Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany" and Kristin Hannah's "Winter Garden." I have a thing for reading authors' first novels. I like non-fiction and how-to books, and I'm learning to read poetry. I really like Tana French; I enjoyed her novel, "Faithful Place." I like mysteries, "true crime" and medical detective stories. My husband likes it when I read romance novels!!

Books about art techniques (stamping, sewing, polymer clay) are fun too.

I enjoy Roald Dahl (especially Danny, Champion of the World), Anne of Green Gables, A Secret Garden and The Little Princess, and the Little House books, and I revisit them from time to time; it's like coming back to visit old friends each time.

I am PURPLE. I cover my hair when I go out of the house and I have a purple hat and a couple of purple scarves. I love birds, and I collect eggs (not the real thing, but carved from stone, wood, metal etc). I love fall and fall colors. But mostly I love purple!

Other favorites/Wish List:

• Rocks, crystals, gems, pretty stones
• Beanie Baby birds only
• Lupines and lavender and lilies-of-the-valley
• Chickens
• Owls (charms, beads, fabric prints, or postcards)
• Glass and gemstone beads
• Unusually shaped or carved beads
• Chapstick, lip gloss (mint or unflavored), lip/skin/nail stuff with sparkles in it, bright colored nail polish for my toes! (reds, purples, pinks and browns)
• Anything purple, even weird or totally mundane things
• Note cards
• Swap cards
• Genesis (the band) and Phil Collins
• Jason Mraz is totally sexy
• My favorite bug (!!) is the Pill Bug
• I love lavender, sandalwood, eucalyptus, pumpkin pie/cinnamon/spice and mint scents. Florals and patchouli are icky to me.
• I love chocolate of any variety, but it has to be the real thing, no imitation chocolate flavor/scent.
• I love candy corn!
• I have no allergies, B"H

I don't decorate the outsides of envelopes/packages. This doesn't mean that no thought went into the contents, I just don't want the Post Office folks to be distracted in any way from getting my package to you!

I love that SB is breaking down swaps by Type, but I don't think I've ever participated in an email swap (Type 1) so I'm not sure why it says I have 4.

I am not a Christian and would not like to receive Christmas or other religious-themed items.

I don't celebrate Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's, or Easter. I don't dislike hearts, clovers or pastel colors, and I love eggs, but I'm just not into the holidays themselves.

I LOVE Autumn, but do not celebrate Halloween. Pumpkins, yes; with faces, no. However, I love candy corn!

I don't like Earl Grey, Herbal or Raspberry-flavored tea.

I keep sort of Kosher and can't use any recipes with pork/ham/bacon or shellfish.