flowerchild

So sad right now...my little bud Parker (that is him in the photo) crossed over the rainbow bridge on 3-18. Bud has been sick for awhile and I know he is now running free with all the snacks and tennis balls he could ever want, but I miss him. Please hug your fur kid(s) for me and in memory of Parker.

Thank you for stopping by and if there are any questions feel free to message me.

Hello, I am Val a not 30 something anymore crafting supplies collector from southwest Pennsylvania, USA. I work fulltime as a floral designer, spend my spare time shopping, scrapbooking, crocheting, making paper crafts and cards, sewing, collecting Westmoreland glass, making 1:12 scale miniatures for my dollhouse and occasionally cut some glass for a stain glass project. I have been told I am artistic, I prefer crafty…give me a pile of randomness and enough time and I will create something out of it. I do not have kids, unless you count my Father and the dog…both seem to require about a much care and time as a newborn! I have been on Swap-bot actively for 2 years and even though there have been a few flakers along the way the journey has been fun, challenging, and a new experience! I am looking forward to continuing and trying new things along the way.

I think I can say I’ve tried just about everything! But there are a few things that have lasted over the years… Paper Crafts: scrap booking, card making, art journals Sewing: mostly little items but I can follow a pattern and make clothes Crochet: I think I like the colorful, multi textured stash the best! Jewelry Making: an on again off again craft but I still can’t pass up pretty beads

Someday I would like to make soap, maybe really attempt to learn to knit, and sew a quilt start to hand sewn finish…as I said…someday…

I have discovered the wonders of pinterest and am in big trouble. I now officially have more ideas than I will ever have time to do...but if you would like to share your boards with me send me a message! Looking for Christmas crafty projects…you know the ones that are over the top but soooo easy you can’t imagine why you never thought of it!!!

TEA SWAPS - I have loved joining tea swaps, they give me an opportunity to try teas from all over the world right from my mailbox! While I have enjoyed most selections, I have found there are some teas that I just do not care for. Maybe it is my taste palette, no matter what combo of milk/cream/creamer and sugar/honey/equal I just do not care for the following; plain green tea, licorice/anise flavored, chamomile and floral teas, herbal teas including chai, medicinal/medical teas. I will pass these on or take them to work for others to enjoy. I have discovered Stash gingerbread tea and I am in love. Any non-herbal chai is still my all time favorite. I do not mind loose tea as long as it is commercially packaged. Someone had sent me Nova brand "Teh Tarik Halia" Ginger Milk Tea - I love it and would love more!!!!

GRANNY SQUARE SWAPS I have 3 afghans in progress…variety is the spice of life…right! Non traditional granny squares, pattern swatches, or knitted squares welcome. Monochromatic, solid color or mixed colors - your choice. Please no eyelash, neon, sparkly/metallic, novelty or boucle yarns.

Afghan 1. Thanks to all the crochet swaps this afghan is DONE!

Afghan 2. This is my inspiration 6 inch non traditional granny squares, Worsted weight yarns, machine washable. This one seems to be turning into a turquiose/aqua/teal, ocean blue, periwinkle, some purple, touch of light yellow blanket with dark teal trim...almost 4 rows done but I'm loving the colors!!!

Afghan 3. This is my inspiration 6 inch squares, Cotton yarns only, colors: lavender/violet/light purple, pale yellow, off white/cream/light tan and white. Plan on this being more of a shawl…unless of course I get carried away!

Afghan 4. my newest inspiration Love the variegation in this afghan. Would love colors of light to medium pink, peach to orange, light to medium green, tan or off white. Now I have a reason to venture into different size granny swaps! and buy more yarn...

INCHIE and ATC SWAPS I mount all my inchies on canvases so anything goes. I want to start working on small holiday or seasonal 5 inch x 8 inch framed piece, to rotate for the season or given holiday. I also want to do another rainbow quilt canvas; each row a solid color from white thru the rainbow to black or one like this All other little creations go onto a large canvas that is quickly filling up and will someday grace the wall in the office. I use ATC’s as scrapbook embellishments so any of the following themes work; travel related items (Paris, London, Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Canadian Maritimes, Alaska, Florida, New England, cruising, road trip), beach items (Florida keys, Caribbean, Hawaii, ), seasonal items (winter/spring/summer/fall), snow items, dog (Boston, Poodle, Scottish Terrier)

ADVENT SWAPS I fell in love with these here on swap bot and love all the goodies I received but please note…My Christmas decorations are very specific and magazine worthy (if you see enough mansions decorated at the holidays you too will come home with all sort of ideas!) I need some creative ways to hold all my goodies: door knob baskets, fabric baskets, small/short garlands

PRESSED PENNIES USA - Alaska, Hawaii, Seattle WA, NYC, Key West Fl, Islamorada FL, Tampa FL, Cape Cod, Boston MA, Salem MA, Vermont, Washington DC, Tybee Island GA, Atlantic City NJ, Wildwood NJ, Lewes DE, Rehobeth Beach DE, Niagra Falls NY, Bar Harbor ME, Cumberland MD, Beckley WV, Charleston WV, Seneca Rocks WV, Canaan Valley WV, Ohio Amish Country, Ohio Turnpike,

CANADIAN - Vancouver, Niagra Falls, Toronto, Halifax

INTERNATIONAL - the list is long, message me if you have any to swap, trade, sell. Also see travel under themes below.

ALL OTHER SWAPS I love handmade, I think it shows you care and want to share your artistic side. I work mostly in these color waves;

• think ocean blues/greens/turquoise
• think sunset yellow/orange/teal
• think woodsy greens/browns
• think snow whites/blues/purples/silver
• think fiesta red/orange/yellow/blue/purple
• think old world vintage gray/brown/taupe

I have found that the only colors I don’t care for or can’t ’fit in’ anywhere are neons.

Themes of scrapbooks include - travel related items (Paris, London, Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Canadian Maritimes, Alaska, Florida, New England, cruising, road trip, Universal Studios Orlando, Disney World), beach items (Florida keys, Caribbean, Hawaii), seasonal items [winter/spring/summer/fall], snow items, dog (Boston, Poodle, Scottish Terrier)

Pincushions, needle books, sewing needles, I keep my collection of pincushions in a basket on an antique sewing machine so anything will work. Small fabric baskets, little zippered pouches, creative small bags are fun since I am a compulsive organizer.

Yarn, nubby, slubby, chunky odd yarns for freestyle crochet, any weight, any colors. Crochet thread- #10 in any variegated colors, brown, hot pink, any metallic, any yellow or any color bamboo. Roving, any color any amount. Very large size "S" crochet hook. Granny squares you don’t like.

I do not care for anything that is country cute, childish/child like, religious, very dark (morbid), hello kitty, Japanese cutesy, dirty, worn/torn, or very used. Garbage I will throw out, something’s I will pass on, and the rest I give to friends with those sort of tastes.

When I have the time...OK, I'll skip dinner for a few of these...

Grey's Anatomy- Big Bang Theory- Private Practice- (I usually don't eat on Thursdays!)- Hawaii Five-O YUM!!!!- Dancing With the Stars- Modern Family- Dangerous Catch- Diners Drive Ins and Dives- Most cooking shows on Food Network, although coming in the middle of a recipe can be tough!

Old movies on rainy, ugly, cold afternoons.

DISLIKES I really hate to say dislikes, it more like things I have way to much of or no personal use for…

Anything childish, kiddy, cutesy, country, cat related, precious moment type stuff, Hello Kitty/Japanese cute/anime/ type things, whimsical/fairy, religious, sculls/dragons/dark stuff

Paper scraps smaller than ATC size

Holiday specific items, I don’t scrapbook the holidays and have more than enough card making supplies and decorations.

Sequins, rhinestones and glitter

Amagari, stuffies, I-pod, I-pad, kindle, notebook, or cell phone covers, dottees, harry potter, twilight, hello kitty/animai/kawaii, store bought jewelry, socks

Postcards, FB, LB, slams, decos, zines, sticker bags or anything of this sort…I have a swap problem now and don’t need to add to it!

Anything to do with knitting, I cannot knit I have tried; It does not work for me…

Pens, pencils, address labels, small notepads, notecards - seriously I cleaned out my desk (9/23/12) I might be stocked for life with labels, notepads and cards!

Scented candles, make-up, hair care, lotion/potions and that sort of thing, bath items, incense

Stickers and address labels…I have so many, never use them and always forget to put them on envies…

LOVE EVERYTHING ELSE! Handmade is wonderful and I don't care if you are over-the-top or plain and simple, it is the love and creativity that counts.

Scrap booking embellishments; especially flowers, flourishes rub ons/stamps/stickers, alphabets, anything Tim Holtz

Rubber or acrylic stamp - card sentiments, flowers, flourishes, any ink pad, any embossing powder, anything Tim Holtz

Buttons, ribbon, bakers twine, brads, charms

Fabric charms/desert stripes, fat 1/8's FQ in primary colored solid or prints, decent size scraps of lace, velvet, satins, tulle (must be poly blends for making burnt edge flowers).

Milk or white chocolate anything!

Things you can't walk into a store and find in the states, food, crafts, stuff! No allergies here, non sugar free stuff welcome, encouraged (helps feed the “house boy”!) would love postcards from any of the places listed in 'themes'

Coupons - keeps us in interesting goodies! I can always use; any yogurt - pepsi - coke - orange juice - spagetti sauce - frozen entrees - tide - downey fabric softner - any mexican, oriental, or ethnic foods - breakfast anything - pop tarts - Loreal Preference - Ulta Store coupons - bath and body works store coupons - drink mixes - Pillsbury anything

Coke reward points

Hot chocolate, tea, water sachets, instant coffee, individual coffees/cappuccino/espresso, any one-cup drink or bottle mix

Japanese craft books: polymer clay, crochet, jewelry, felting...if you want to trade please let me know!

Flattened pennies lost my bracelet in a move and the machines seem to have disappeared.

Dad likes/loves snacks, candy, hot chocolate, foreign food. Sweet, salty Ok bitter, sour not.

I will mail all swaps by the deadline. Please note my local Post Office sucks…mail does not go out everyday and postmarks can be from other local Post Offices and days after the sent date. I know this for fact, the neighbor and I did an experiment! I try to mail from other Post Offices but there are days when the schedule doesn't allow it...

I will reuse mailing envelopes whenever possible, except for the 2 beautiful envelopes I received that really should be framed!

I will mail the cheapest way possible, more money saved on postage allows more money to swap. I will not do delivery confirmation unless requested, the swap is higher dollar or it’s free…

The dog is gone now but I'm sure I will find his little hairs for months so occasional ¼” long hair might be wrapped in a swap. But please note I shed more than he ever did…so that long multi colored hair is mine!

I will rate within 48 hours of receipt and hope you do the same (rate me that is, I don‘t expect you to have any of my compulsive tendencies!) If you do not like to rate your received swaps I respect that but could you please let me know the swap arrived safe…I worry that you have never received the swap goodies you were promised. I have also stopped begging for ratings, if you don’t rate that’s OK but if you never receive something you have to let me know…OK?

I love to use real postage in some of my crafts, if you can mail your swap goodies with regular postage stamps I would love it.

I know life can get in the way. If you’re going to be late just let me know, communication is the best way to avoid swap hassles…at least with me!

I never thought I would need this…

FLAKED ON: Yes I do think this is necessary. I hope that every person on this list really enjoyed the items they received from their swap partners and every time they use, look at or enjoy the swap items they feel good.

If you have been flaked on for similar type swaps and would like to do a private swap I am all for it. We might as well get some credit for our efforts and maybe even a star in swap heaven!

Swapbotbaby007 - Round 11 Craft a Surprise For Your Partner

Bonlee - Theme in a Ziploc Group recycle- reuse and use substitutes #1

kikilala - Its Tea Time #2 VERY GENEROUSLY ANGELED BY MIABIFF

Meej - Free Pattern Creations Group stash buster pillow

moonday - Tea + note card

bloomincute2 - Christmas Card and a Tea Bag Swap (International) Hope you enjoyed the tea I sent.

jmadison - December Teapot VERY GENEROUSLY ANGELED BY MIABIFF

lucyjeong - Quick Stamp Bags # 37

mollysuzannedonahue - Red Somethings #1 VERY GENEROUSLY ANGELED BY LISHMO

CraftyLass - Crafted Item From Tea Wrappings VERY GENEROUSLY ANGELED BY THE COORDINATOR BARSOOK

cthalken - 6 gifts 1 theme #8 - sewing VERY GENEROUSLY ANGELED BY THE COORDINATOR HOOSIERGIRL

semi flake - buffisan - 6 Week Snail Mail Swap #4 only sent 2 random weeks out of the 6. VERY GENEROUSLY ANGELED BY THE COORDINATOR TAMTAMLEE

brabbit 2 chocolate bar swap users account now deleted

vickygr winters chocolate swap

flaked on for two (2) chocolate swaps in a row...sad...very sad...

terryharvey Stash Builders FQ Swap - Feb VERY GENEROUSLY ANGELED BY debhous

SafNastasiaButterflies and More Butterflies VERY GENEROUSLY ANGELED BY EveryLastScrap This swap was received 4-24-13...2 1/2 months after mailing. I have messaged all involved.

Flybynight Pinterest Crochet

HAPPY TO ANGEL FOR:

Hippy Dotee Doll - Happy to angel for Ilovesurprises2

Time for Tea - Happy to angel for leashingfear