countrylanegirl

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I live in country Victoria, Australia. I am married and have a 27 y.o. daughter, who is independant, beautiful and smart!!

I am privileged to own a sprawling country garden and I enjoy my flowers and vegetable garden.My garden is nearly 2 acres and includes over 100 roses. I especially enjoy sitting on the verandah looking out over the hills of the countryside. Our area is rich dairy country and I love watching and (trying) to paint the cows, sheep and my chickens!.
I have had lessons in botanical painting and paint in watercolours and have just had my first exhibition in 2009. My husband and I lived in Asia for 6 years in the 1990's and I have a wonderful collection of blue and white chinese porcelain. My first painting lessons were in Chinese brush painting with a master in Taipei. Collecting was one of the fun things to do while living overseas.

Consequently I love collecting blue and white. I like old china, vintage sewing items,euphemera, patchwork, antique prints, old fashioned prints, animals - especially dogs and chickens, lace, and a new favourite - paisley. I collect vintage fabrics and trims and make shopping totes, handbags and soft furnishings.

My home is decorated in pastels and I love french provincial and shabby chic.

My Christmas themes are always pastel - especially pale blue and white/cream and usually vintage and/or shabby. I especially love mercury glass either vintage or new.

I volunteer at a local nursing home and help with their their weekly craft sessions which is incredibly rewarding ( and tiring!!) I also attend a local art group each week. During the summer we have painting outdoors which I love.

I enjoy patchworking with hand dyed fabrics which I have dyed professionally for over 10 years. I have taken a break from the business side of this now to enjoy my other crafts and painting.

My hobbies are collecting blue and white china, english cornishware china, and chinese art.

Vintage sewing items including sewing boxes, scarves, and fabrics.

I love collecting old buttons, and ribbons and I love pastel colours - especially florals and paisley. I also collect old hat pins, old thimbles (not souvenir ones) and brooches. I love anything shabby or handmade.

I love gardening, painting flowers, plants and birds,embroidery, and patchwork.

I was recently given an old spinning wheel and have had spinning lessons - I love hand dyed fibres, including alpaca and find spinning very relaxing.

I don't like sci-fi - dungeons and dragons - dark themes, - comics - bright fluoro colours - religious themes - angels are OK - sitcoms - science fiction

Please do not send any tea bags, seeds etc. to Australia - we have very strict quarantine laws and any inclusions of seeds etc. with ATC's may well mean that they are not delivered! Of course all sorts of craft items are fine!! ) just no food).

Pastel and soft muted colours

stripes, polkadots and paisley

vintage fashion

lace, buttons, beads - pref. old.

Embellishments

vintage or shabby style

ephemera

old postage stamps, old maps and book pages especially in languages other than english.

I ALWAYS send my swaps - if you don't receive a swap from me, please PM me - I will resend - I want you to be happy with our swap.

NEVER flake - I know how disappointing it can be to not receive a swap. If you haven't received a swap from me, please PM me.

I love anything someone else has made for me, but also have a small wish list....

• ezycarve blocks - just impossible to find in Australia.

• vintage buttons, lace, jewellery findings.

• paper punchies - I don't own a diecut machine!!

• old keys, old beads,

• metal thimbles

• watch pieces.

• fine tip felt pens

• any old copy of Somerset Life or Studio - impossible to buy in Australia!