bluehairedmary

If my list of current swaps seem small, it's because I'm trying to lower my commitments these days. I want to be able to send out quality swaps. Don't worry, I won't disappear!

I'm a 30yr old new mom, a middle school English teacher, and a crafter. Crafts are my passion, aside from Jane Austen novels - that makes me sound old, huh? I actually love lots of different kinds of books. I just finished reading A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon and started The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles. I also have 4 chihuahuas. So, along with a 7 month old newborn, my husband, the dogs, all the sewing, knitting, and crocheting, I've got my hands full. I can also cross-stitch and love embroidery. And cooking. Oh, I'm a vegetarian, too.

I lost my first born child last year, after I developed pre-eclampsia. This came less than a year after I lost my mom suddenly due to heart failure. The last couple of years have been hard, to say the least.

After a difficult, very high risk pregnancy (during the last month and a half, I went to the dr 3 times a week, was on bedrest the last 3 weeks before finally being in the hospital for a week before delivery), we finally welcomed our beloved son Ishmael. He is the new love of my life and I'm grateful for every day I have with him. He is almost a year old! I can't believe how quickly he's grown!

Life has changed, but I'm still crafting and being inspired to create. Actually, more inspired! I want to create things not just for me, my husband, and my baby, but for all the friends and family that have loved and supported us the last few years. As I said, I'm a crafter. Due to a recent bout of arthritis (crazy at my age, I know), I can only do cross-stitch and embroidery. Knitting, which used to be my primary craft, and crocheting have been put on the back burner. Go see my Flickr account or my blog.

To make room for the baby, I cleaned out my stash pretty well, maybe too well. For instance, when I started my ripple blanket, I had to go out and buy acrylic yarn because I didn't have any! I had purged my acrylic stash, but it didn't mean I could afford anything better for an entire blanket!

Yes, I am thrifty. Thrift stores and yard sales are my favorite shopping places. I've only splurged on expensive-ish yarn for some baby items.

When it comes to fabrics, too, though I will buy a yard or two when I come across something cute or irresistible. I stick to cotton or fabrics that don't stretch. I just bought this awesome quilting book and hope to have a quilt finished by the end of the summer. My general style or aesthetic is vintage or vintage inspired. I love vintage fabrics and patterns. Pink is my favorite color, but I am really into aquas and blues lately. Pink and brown, turquoise and brown. Yum. I love Japanese and French crafts, too.

*The Matrix
*Hate
*Fight Club
*Pride & Prejudice (the A&E version)
*Lord of the Rings

*House
*CSI
*Law and Order
*Project Runway
*Top Chef

I've got a major sweet tooth ever since my pregnancy. I haven't met a candy I didn't like. Oh, wait, licorice. I hate anise or anything anise flavored. I am a vegetarian, have been for over 10 years. I love tea and coffee - thank goodness I'm not pregnant anymore! I missed that morning cup of joe! I do cook too, veggies, tofu of course, and baked goods.

* If you could, where would you max out a credit card? Hobby Lobby, Target (where I have maxed out a card or too), Ikea
* Why do you like the music you listen to? I feel a connection to the lyrics or it's just really good (Radiohead)
* What are your favorite colors? Pinks (not hot), blues, greens, brown, black
* What fires you up? Politics, things I'm passionate about like a new craft project or a great book or movie
* Do you collect anything? Vintage craft supplies, craft books, books, fabric
* What are four things you always keep with you? Cellphone, a book, a picture of baba (the baby), and nowadays baba
* What's your dream job? Stay at home mom and published writer. For now, my job as an English teacher, at a good school with a great principal is exceedingly good
* When is your birthday? July 14, Cancer
* Favorite Cosmetics Brands: Oh, I hardly wear anything at all, except chapstick! Occasionally lipstick, like parent conference night! I do love a good body wash and Lush bath bombs.
* Favorite Clothing Brands: Most of my clothes are from the thrift store or bought on sale
* Favorite Scents: Lavender, Jasmine, Rose
* Favorite Flavors: hazelnut, raspberry
* Favorite Magazines: ReadyMade, Interweave Knits, Giant Robot, Adbusters, Marie Claire Idees
* Favorite Piece of Jewelry: a mother of pearl locket that holds a picture of my husband and resized footprints of the son we lost, a purple "tiger's eye" ring which belonged to my mother
* Favorite Room in the House: The bedroom, where baba is and most of my current craft projects are stashed
* Favorite Holiday: Halloween
* Favorite Season: Fall and Spring
* Favorite High School Subject: English
* What's in your Purse/Pocket right now? a bag of Dark Chocolate Peanut M&M's, a brag book with tons of baba photos
* What 3 words would you use to describe yourself? giving, creative, hard-working
* What do you prefer to drink in the morning? nowadays, coffee! strong! But I also love green tea and jasmine tea
* Do you have pets? Yes
* What kind, how many? 4 chihuahuas - I know, it's crazy
* Where would you go on vacation if you could go anywhere? Japan or Cuba Do you have children? Yes, finally! Ishmael, who's about 2 months old now
* Do you like to cook? Yes, everything from tofu stirfries to lasagna to veggie sushi rolls
* Do you like to bake? I used to make foccacia bread from scratch! Yes! Lately, it's mainly Nestle Toll House cookies!
* What do you look forward to in the future? Watching Ishmael grow up, losing weight and hopefully having more children in a couple of years

* fabric
* craft books
* blank postcards
* cute or nice stationary (loose or set)
* wool felt
* hannari tofu stuff - I love tofu and this stuff is so cute it hurts!
* Other Kawaii stuff (not Hello Kitty) * nice soaps, incense or candles
* magnets
* Owls, squirrels, mushrooms
* things made from recycled or reused items

I added this category because I've seen it in other people's profiles.

• furry or glittery yarn
• notepads or memo books or blank journals; I have too many right now
• ATCs or matchboxes
• licorice, gummy candy
• too flowery fabric
• fluorescent colors
• patriotic or religious imagery
• lotion, I have too much lotion already!
• candy-flavored lipbalm
• cheap or dollar store items I wouldn't buy my worst enemy
• packages that don't have a hand-written note included