bluehighways

Spoiler Alert! Do not go to my pictures if you are my swap partner and want it to be a surprise. I'd be willing to Angel for most swaps I join if need be

Please let me know if you haven't gotten my swap - I would never sign up for a swap and not send.......I rate straight away, if you haven't gotten a rating from me let me know, chances are it never arrived.

I am 44 and live on a lake in northeast Ohio with my husband and boxer dog. I manage a busy construction office and have been a hospice volunteer for about 5 years. My interests vary - I am a book nerd, gardener (perennials are the best, sort of like old friends showing up year after year), home renovation and art of all sorts. If I were to pick one catalog that reflects my style it would be Sundance. I have recently started trading ATC's early this year and really love it. Most of my ATC's are hand drawn/painted. I am pretty laid back and love making people laugh and truly believe it is more fun to give than receive...but not so much as to not mind getting flaked on.

I love music, nearly all kinds No Rap.

Here are a few favorites:

• Van Morrison
• Bob Seger
• Fleetwood Mac
• Joe Cocker
• 10,000 Maniacs
• Toby Keith
• Randy Newman
• Andrea Bocelli
• Koko Taylor
• Joshua Kadison
• Grateful Dead
• Aretha Franklin
• Elton John (old stuff)
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Bruce Springsteen (old stuff)
• Boston
• BB King
• Dave Matthews
• John Mellencamp
• The Temptations
• Uncle Kracker This list could go on forever.....

Watch a couple hours a week if that but like home renovation shows, Ace of Cakes, LA Ink, Dr G Medical Examiner, House - and the Independent Film Channel for a good movie.

I enjoy visual journaling, I work in stained glass, painting - mostly spraypaint and acrylics, knitting, crochet, embroidery and will try just about anything once.

• Wildflowers (LOVE poppies)
• Red
• Deep bold colors
• I like getting unusual things from other countries
• Just about anything handmade (I haven't done match boxes, dotees or tons of other things swapped here but I would be thrilled to get anything you are good at making)
• Vintage advertisements
• Old used ledgers
• Unusual rubber stamps - Check out @Neeky8 's website www dot darkroomdoor dot com for some REAL super stuff! Love anything from Tim Holtz's line too
• Georgia O'Keefe
• Natural embellishments
• Sandpipers
• Handmade stitch markers
• Mittens (not gloves)
• Kitsch / Camp
• My favorite scents are pine, sandalwood, lemon, wild sage, citrus basil
• Personalized notecard junkie I am
• Street art
• Fine tipped paint brushes
• Mica
• Sakura pens - any type or color
• Cool long necklaces
• I give hearts for things done with love and effort - not for extras...I don't expect them nor do I send them but will if I have something I know my swap partner would love

• Cutsey things (kawaii and the like)
• Shiny or frilly ribbons or lace
• Bling
• Science Fiction
• Slapped together trade - I spend a lot of time on my swaps and appreciate those who do the same

I've just finished "Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan, really good book about Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick.

Favorites? Too many to name but a few off the top of my head:

• Blue Highways (hence my name here) - William Least Heat-Moon
• Heart is a Loney Hunter - Carson McCullars
• Girl With A Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier
• East Of Eden - John Steinbeck
• Madame Bovary - Gustav Flaubert
• Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
• Pippi Longstocking - Astrid Lindgren, Louis Glanzman (Illustrator)
• No Angel - Penny Vincenzi (3 book series)
• Pillars of the Earth - Follett