SweetClementine

Updated October 21, 2009

Please note that I have had problems with vertigo for the last couple of months and am still limiting my time on the computer since it seems to trigger some of the dizziness. My "dizzy days" are thankfully occurring less often, but it still may take a bit longer to return PMs, etc. If you think I've missed something, please don't hesitate to ask!

Chocolate or anything else "meltable" doesn't survive in the long, hot Texas summers...but it's almost cool enough! If you send chocolates during this time of year, please put them in a plastic baggie. Thanks!

To tell you a little about myself, I am a 34-year-old mom of 2 young children, married for 12 years to my best friend from high school. We met in a karate class...but that's another story! I was formerly a junior high foreign language teacher and an elementary gifted & talented specialist. If you are Spanish-speaking, I am "Spanish reading"! ;-) Just go easy on me; my Spanish is getting very rusty!
I am now enjoying staying home with my 2 kiddos (girl 4, boy 2 years). I am continuing in a volunteer position that I've held for last 8 years as an advocate for gifted children.

My home is non-smoking, but we do love animals! We have a black & white kitty, Gypsy, and a Labradoodle, Tofu Loki. Both were rescued pets. We really believe in giving animals another chance for a happy home; if you're looking to add a pet to your family, please consider adopting a homeless animal from a rescue group, humane society, etc. There are some great animals out there needing loving homes!

I pretty much stick to sewing & fabric-related crafts. I'm always thinking about how something can be repurposed to make some cool new thing. I'm a huge fan of embroidery and enjoy making things like embroidered flour sack towels. I sew SIMPLE children's clothing, accessories, reusable tote bags (like Morsbags). I've been a quilter for 8 or 9 years and started taking quilting classes before I had a sewing machine. Back then, I pieced and quilted everything by hand! I still love to quilt when I can find the time (machine piece & hand quilt). I'm sticking to smaller projects that I actually have a hope of completing! I also wet-felt fibers around soap and am learning how to needle-felt sweet little things.

I truly enjoy learning new things. If you assemble a kit to teach me something new, I will undoubtedly love it and give it a try!

Fabrics: I purchase only quilt-shop quality fabrics. I would prefer to receive a smaller amount of quality fabric than a larger amount of lesser quality. These are some examples of my "fabric style". I love bright, modern fabrics, but I also love vintage fabrics (especially 1930s & 1940s) and Japanese-import juvenile novelty fabrics. :-)

I don't do paper crafts, scrapbooking, crochet, or knitting. It's not that I don't like the idea, just that I'm out of space and time.

Prior to having children, I was an avid reader. Now it's difficult to find time to fit in anything of length. I'm still always in the middle of a book; I'm just super slow getting through one!

I most enjoy crime, mystery, and suspense novels, like Jeffery Deaver and Patricia Cornwell. I also enjoy series like Harry Potter and Twilight. I really love to write and hope to find time to write my own book some day.

I also read cookbooks, crafty books, and magazines for a quick fix. My favorite magazines are Country Living, Clean Eating, Cooking Light, Psychology Today, Mental Floss, and Discover. I prefer mostly cooking and science-related magazines with an occasional quilting/sewing magazine thrown in for good measure. :-)

I also collect:

• children's books in other languages with simple words and lots of pictures
• books of quotes and sayings (including bilingual books and libros de refranes y dichos en Espanol)
• cool vintage classics and vintage cookbooks
• copies of Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST (sentimental reasons for my daughter!) in any language.

As the founder of the Edibles Group, I'm sure you'll believe that I adore receiving international foods. I will love:

• Something typical of where you live or locally made

• Something edible that you have good memories of. Tell me a little about it!

• Sweets~I just can't help myself with sweets. I love all kinds of candies, especially fruit-flavored candies, gummy candies, toffees, malted candies, white chocolate, and marzipan. But I'm NOT picky! ;-)

• I love See's peanut brittle & Awesome Peanut Brittle Candy Bars and Fannie May Trinidads. Unfortunately we don't have See's and Fanny May candies in Texas!

• Mixes (dessert, dry soup, beverages, etc.)

• I especially enjoy citrus flavors (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit).

• We like spicy foods and spices in general.

• Things I REALLY LIKE that many people don't: coconut, nuts, peanuts, white chocolate, marzipan, dates, figs, mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes, spinach

• I cherish receiving tried and true family recipes and have recipe boxes that can accommodate recipe cards that are 3 x 5 inches/76 x 127 mm or 4 x 6 inches/102 by 152 mm.

• Local cookbooks are prized. I read them as if reading a "regular" book. :-)

• I'm not so fond of: artificial sweeteners (I get headaches; Splenda is OK.). I also don't enjoy fish-flavored snacks (though I eat fish), strong black licorice, anise/licorice/mint teas, or chewing gum.

• I like chocolate, but it arrives as a melted puddle between April-October.

If you live in one of these places, I love these things that I can't buy here:

• Chicago & Milwaukee~ The Spice House spices, especially Back of the Yards seasoning rub
• Europe ~ mini Haribo packs of candies; we can get the gold-pack gummy bears but that's it. I love them all! :-)
• France ~ caramel
• Germany ~ mini Haribo packs (Star Mix, etc.) and any local brand of gummies
• Italy ~ Goleador gummy candies (have tried cola and fruit; love them both!)
• Minnesota~ Ken Davis or Roscoe's barbecue sauce
• Spain ~ chocolate bar with cornflakes & peanuts together (I think it was a Ritter Sport?)
• Sweden ~ fruit soup mixes
• UK ~ Horlicks Malt & Caramel flavors
• USA ~ See's peanut brittle, Awesome peanut brittle candy bars, & molasses chips, and Fanny May's Trinidads

• Reusable cloth shopping bags that I wouldn't find here in Texas, especially international ones. I love ones in other languages and those from local farmer's markets. Just something different to spice up a trip to the grocery store! ;-)

• Locally-made items and handmade things

• Anything "cultural" really~I love stuff from other places, in other languages, etc.

• Fruit (especially citrus), vanilla, & coconut scents & tastes (if it's an "edible" scent, I generally like it)

• Old black & white photos--my favorites have old cars, dogs, candid children, bicycles, or holiday themes, but I like any old photos, really! I make copies for artwork and never destroy the original.

• Dragons (my son's name means "dragon")

• Copies of Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST (my daughter's middle name)in ANY language :-). We have English, German, and Greek.

• Fabric~cotton fabric, especially vintage or ethnic fabrics, 1930s/40s reproduction prints, Japanese juvenile prints, fabric from where you live (cotton preferred)

• Colors~ I'm very eclectic about color choices and there's very little I don't like. I usually choose bold, vivid colors over pastels, but yet I like the faded, vintage, shabby chic colors and style too. I probably gravitate slightly more towards blues, purples, and greens. My kids, on the other hand, are not so eclectic. My daughter will choose blue and my son green every time!

• Vintage embroidery/applique/quilting books & iron on transfers for embroidery

• Vintage buttons

• New dishtowels representative of where you live

• Crocheted or knit dishcloths

• Recipe cards; even better are recipe cards with your handwritten recipes on them!

• Private swaps~Is there something you want from the US or from Texas in particular? Send me a note~I'd be glad to swap with you!

• Artificial sweeteners often give me headaches, though Splenda is alright

• Smoky, perfumey, or floral scents or tastes (migraines)

• Jewelry made with metals other than sterling silver, stainless steel, or 14k gold (metal allergies-boo!)

• Commercial characters (Disney, Winnie the Pooh, Barbie, and other cartoony characters...but I have 2 & 4 year olds that enjoy them!)

• I have a very eclectic style, but I just don't care for old-fashioned, country-styled things (apples, geese/ducks in bonnets, roosters...)

• Religious propaganda (stickers, music, and other items meant to promote a particular religion), though I do like religious items if they have cultural significance. I am respectful of others' religious choices, and I hope for the same in return.

• Chocolate doesn't do too well in the Texas heat from about April-October. If you do send something chocolate during this time, please wrap it separately. White "chocolate" withstands warm temperatures better.

• Bubble gum/chewing gum

• Red meat...but I can't imagine you'd be thinking of sending me that! :-)

Here's a little information about my children in case you'd like to include a little something for them. My 4-year-old especially loves to receive mail.

My 4-year-old daughter "L" is into:

• Playing doctor, kitchen, and dress up
• The colors BLUE, purple, and pink
• Anything "science-y"; she doesn't get grossed out and likes anatomy-related stuff, etc.
• Arts & Crafts projects, coloring, and stickers
• Fireman Sam, Caillou, Sid the Science Kid, The Little Mermaid, Shrek
• Children's music (sing along songs) & classical music. (We also find it hilarious that she seems to love 80s dance music! How did that happen?!)
• Copies of Shakespeare's The Tempest in any language
• Wears US size 4T clothing
• ANY mail for her, including postcards--she is always interested in where things come from and asks questions to learn more about the different places

My 2-year-old son "D" is into:

• Anything with wheels or dragons (dragons relate to his name)
• Balls
• Simple puzzles
• Wow Wow Wubzy
• Fruity snacks
• The colors GREEN and blue
• He's a giant for his age and currently wears US 3T clothing.

I am completely reliable with a good moral compass, and I ALWAYS send out my swaps. If you are expecting something from me and it doesn't arrive, please PM me and we'll get it worked out! Thanks!

I also always give my partners a rating no matter how small the swap--sometimes it takes a few days, but I WILL rate or send a PM/profile post. If I've missed rating you, please send me a PM so I can hop to it! I appreciate those who remember to rate me as well.