camelsamba

Mom of 3, wife of 1. Grew up mostly in New Mexico, went to Rice University in Houston, currently live in Michigan.

I pledge to rate - but sometimes I forget. If you think I've forgotten you, please send me a message!

and I reuse packaging, but it appears that badge is no longer available...

Right now my favorite artist is Carrie Newcomer. I enjoy mellow, acoustic, female singer-songwriters. Other genres I like are folk, celtic, world music (esp instrumental), acoustic, mellow jazz, and kid-friendly silly songs!

I started with ATCs in summer 2008 and then branched into postcards - I'm not the first to say it, but the larger canvas of a postcard appeals to me! I like to make fabric / needlework PCs and ATCs, or collage-y style postcards.

I'm starting to dabble in colored pencil drawings - I mostly draw botanical and entomological subjects (flowers and insects) from photos. I'm going to be taking a colored pencil class starting in October 2010 and am looking forward to improving my technique. I always appreciate a hand-drawn ATC! And no matter how you make it, I appreciate a note about how you made your creation, what you were thinking of, etc. The creative process fascinates me.

I'm a blues and greens kind of gal! I like botanicals and nature-inspired items, or abstract/geometric/swirly stuff. I also like maps, postage stamps, zebras, okapi, pangolins, fish, interestingly shaped leaves (like bloodroot - have you seen a bloodroot leaf? very cool!), etc.

My least favorite colors to work with are 'muddy' colors, like drab browns and yellows and such. I admire people who can make them work!

We don't have a TV, but I have watched some recent series on DVD or via Netflix. If I had to name a favorite, it would be Foyle's War. Mostly I'd rather read or create than watch TV (i used to be able to do needlecrafts in front of a TV, but don't have the patience [or lighting!] for it anymore.)

My 9yo son has been prodding me to state a favorite book, so I've decided that it's Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers. My favorite authors are Madeleine L'Engle and Dorothy Sayers. My favorite books are mysteries, especially when they incorporate an interest of mine (cooking, needlework, etc) without it being too forced. I recently learned about the term "cozy mysteries" and that pretty much sums up the kind I like (not too much gore or sleaze). No interest in the various vampire series.

And I've been reading quite a bit of young adult fiction to keep ahead of my boys or find books they might enjoy. Recent favorites include The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Our whole family enjoyed The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers - great especially for boys! Others: Mysterious Benedict Society (I liked the first one the most), The Wednesday Wars, Flipped, Madeleine L'Engle, J. K. Rowling, Blue Balliet, Elise Broach.

This will probably never be relevant, since I mostly swap ATCs and postcards, but I'm allergic to avocados and shrimp. And naproxen (aka Aleve) - so don't send me any OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs! :^)

For postcards: I ADORE handmade postcards!! But if you don't make your own, I also like maps, native plants or animals, quirky local sites, artsy stuff.

For recipe swaps, I have recipe boxes for 3x5 and 4x6 cards, and a file folder for 8.5x11 paper. So I'm flexible on formats. I love to cook from fresh & seasonal ingredients, and I like ethnic recipes and "food with flavors" (interesting spices). And chocolate - I loves me some chocolate!

Not keen to receive Disney, overly cutesy, pagan, wiccan, goth, or erotica. But it's not like I'll faint in horror or defriend you or anything, those just aren't themes that appeal to me.