gem

I have been HIDEOUS about leaving my ratings for rec'd stuff lately - so busy w/back to school and then this dumb neverending tropical storm - but I am trying to go through it all and get caught up ASAP - my apologies for the lateness!!

Hi! (first off, I'm usually no good at "favorites" lists like movies & music, etc - I have way too many faves plus ever changing tastes) But here's a little info bio & artwise - I'm a married 30something stay&work-at-home mom of 2 boys (14 & 11), living in Florida USA, who's currently 'on a break' from graphic design and am using the time off to "just make art" ...

That takes care of the family biz ~ but you can read on to see what kinda art stuff I'm into right now ...

Some current artforms I'm doing ATCs! of course - Altered Books - Art Journals - Gluebooks and other collaging - Decos and other random stuff like photography, painting, etc. *I'm starting to SEW! Got machine for my 2007 birthday and just tried it out last month - hah! So fun fabrics and trims are catching my eye now ...

Some current themes I'm liking BIRDS! Collaged, handdrawn -whatever, I love'em ... Vintage Circus (even though clowns freak me out ~ send'em anyway!)... The 80's Movies & Music ... Exotic places ~ Asian, Egyptian, Morroccan, Parisian (ooohlala I adohhhr zee Eiffel Towair!), etc and so on ... Times Gone By ~ anything vintage from Victorian to Mod 60s but the 1800s has been holding my attention alot lately. Weird old sepia pics of strange faced people = cool.

I'm also very into pretty, tranquil Asian themes these days - like muted tonal colors, cherry blossoms, cranes in the mist type 'a thing ...

I'm a sucker for embellishies - 'specially any odd, old, weird, ugly dangling metal doo-jobber piece of something I can glue down or string on to something else.

Things I love and/or use alot: Sharpie markers and paint pens (white, all sizes), gel pens (the UniBall Signo in white is my most used), scissors, Elmers Extra Strength gluesticks, artistic rubberstamps - particularly any decorative accent or alphabet CLEAR stamps - they're my new fave, black and all shades of brown ink pads, vintage images & book text and old photos for collage, BIRD images! old keys, old letters and numbers (like from signs or houses), clock and watch parts, rusty stuff, STARS, alphabet stickers, felt, colorful fabric, patterned ribbon (not sheer), embroidery floss, old buttons, interesting used postage stamps, kawaii stuff, weird stickers from gumball-type machines

You can also check my Etsy Faves link above, to see what other things are catching my fancy at any time - you don't necessarily have to shop there! (though I WILL NOT ARGUE, hehe), but perhaps you have similar items in your own stash that would find a nice new home with me ...

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I don't scrapbook but I CRAVE scrapbooking supplies like the papers and embellishment type things. Eyepopping graphical prints, chipboard letters and tags, brads, eyelets, etc. LOVE!

I love ALL the COLORS. Of everything.

I have a collection of vintage OWL planters & vases I keep my paintbrushes in ...

ZEBRAS are my all-time favorite animal and what I collect.

I adore SNOWFLAKES!

I sorta collect (amass would probably be a better term) cool, colorful, pretty, and unusual paper gift bags

Currently obsessed with unique pens (fun shapes, designs, etc)

I love to eat Good & Plenty candy ... and the Mike & Ikes, the fruity ones, etc

... and any kind/flavor of gum or mints, especially in cool or unique tins ...

I am a lip balm fiend (think Chapstick, LipSmackers, Burts Bees, etc - any and all flavors welcome!)

Into those metal or wood barn stars at the moment ...

Love stuff that says "gem" on it

and I love cute lil' yella chickies, of course! (particularly the San-X Sweet Face chick! Bawk!)

I have inadvertantly started a collection of reusable grocery store shopping bags (the ones that cost about a dollar, sold at most retail checkstands) Until I got used to always bringin'em with me, I'd buy a new one in whatever store I was in. I probably have about 18, now! - most recent accquisition is one I got from Food City while on our summer vacation ... I will happily accept any from you in swaps, and will even do 1x1 private trades for them (I can send you greenbags from Albertsons or Publix supermarkets, or a RED greenbag from Target) And YES, I really use them EVERYWHERE I GO, from grocery shopping to the library to the mall. They're great!

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Some DISLIKES (sorry!)

I really do appreciate all the thought and care that goes into each swap!, but I will enjoy your gift that much more if you can please try NOT to include any of the following:

Scented items - scented markers are cool! and I do like lighter, fruity scented body mists - but I can't handle incense, candles, perfumed soaps, air fresheners, etc ...

Chocolate - sigh, I LOVE chocolate but if you mail it to me in Florida it's gonna melt. Boo. No fair.

Kidcraft - Please no foam shapes, pompoms, glitter or glitter glue, plastic pony-type beads, Disney or cartoon characters (kawaii characters excepted!) - won't use it and will be regifted elsewhere ... also! I don't care for art or handmade items that are covered in glops of glitter. A little sparkle now and then is nice - tons of glitter glue globs is NOT.

I really don't drink any kind of tea but do like hot chocolate and cappuccino mixes!

Don't care for seashells or the seaside theme ... Not into the country-cute type items or decor either, (aside from the barnstars) - thanks!

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Note about POSTCARDS - In postcard swaps, I prefer to receive a written-on-stamped-and-sent-through-the-mail card rather than one in an envelope - unless the swap specifically calls for unused cards in envelopes, thanks! I also appreciate keeping them 4x6" as that fits my collection album ...

Note about SHIPPING - Please please PLEASE don't feel you have to ship any packages or envelopes to me using Express or Priority services - Postage is expensive and even if your swap is going to be or is late, just letting me know that is enough, no need to make up for it by using a quicker mailing method. (I know that sometimes the faster shipping rate can be cheaper or just a few cents more than regular post, and even I will use it then, heh.)

And I'm not picky about whether you use actual postage stamps or metered mail from the postal machine on my things - whatever is easier for you!

Thats it for now - update when I can, see ya later!

~ gem ~

*oh yeah, and I'm a Gemini ~ born June 14th (yeah that was a hard one to figure, huh?) :D