graydragon

Because of where I live it isn't possible for me to get on the computer everyday and even when I can the dodgy rural internet goes down from time to time! I promise that I will get on-line and check messages etc. as often as I can but please try to understand if I don't respond to something immediately.

It can also be difficult for me to get things in to the post because the nearest postbox is over a miles walk away and even though I can pay postage on-line the box can only take packages up to the size of a small paperback book. For larger items I have to go another mile to the nearest shop which doubles as a post office for three half days a week! This doesn't mean that I won't make every effort to get your items in the post ahead of time but I would really appreciate it if people could be understanding when this isn't possible due to adverse weather conditions or health problems etc.

It seems that the postal service where I live (and in general!) is none to reliable and a percentage of what I send out never makes it to it's recipient. Please don't give me a 1 rating without contacting me first and giving me the chance to resend. Sadly I also don't receive everything that is sent to me and certainly not always in the expected time scale so if I haven't rated you for a swap please feel free to get in touch.

I always give fair ratings. If I recieve a swap from you I will give you a 5. If I really love something or it's extra special I will give you a heart too. I will not give a 3 unless there has been a problem and we have discussed it. I will only give a 1 rating if I have recieved nothing after giving many chances and I will change it when the situation changes.

I like doing private swaps and I'm happy to do these with newbies to help them boost their rating. I am also happy to swap with anyone who has a history of being a good swapper but due to health or personal problems has had their rating drop, I have experience this several times and it can be discouraging. If you would like me to set up a private swap just send me a message, some of the things I have to swap are; postcards, stickers, lettersets, herbal tea bags, ATC's and other handmade items.

I reuse packaging and other items as much as possible, not bacause I'm mean but because I think it's important to respect the planet. I would like it if people would send to me in reused packaging too.

CRAFTS SUPPLIES; Papers, ephemera, vintage items, origami papers, inks, rubber stamps (especially unmounted stamps), buttons, ribbons, wool and fibers, brads, charms, beads, fabric scraps.

STATIONARY; Pencils (esp mechanical), memo pads/sheets, letter sets, envelopes, postcards, stickers, deco tapes and colourful pens (esp gel).

POSTCARDS; B+W, vintage, sculptures, architecture, nature, buddhas, dragons, rabbits, faeries, magic, kawaii, cute, free ad, handmade. I prefer them sent without envelopes and with real stamps if possible.

FOOD; Herbal or fruit tea, dried fruits, candies (sweets), milk or dark chocolate (with cornflakes or rice puffs are my fav), chips (crisps), cookies, cup cakes, marshmallowfluff. I'm sorry but I really don't like black (normal) tea, coffee or white chocolate.

FLAVOURS; ginger, mint, cinnamon, chilli, rose, violet, lavender, vanilla and any fruits except bananas.

BEAUTY; Lipbalm, soap, tissues packs, hand cream, body butter. I prefer natural based products and delicate floral scents, herbs and spices. I have sensative skin and don't usually wear make up.

SCENTS; Rose, lavender, violet, bluebell, mint, basil, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, raspberry, peach and similar.

JEWELLERY; Bracelets, necklaces, pins/brooches, handmade, beaded, funky, crystals, naturals, silver. I am allergic to gold, titanium and nickel and don't like plastic jewellery much.

COLOURS; Jewel, bright, rich, earthy or pastel shades; purple, blue, turqoise, pink, green, brown, cream/beige and silver. I don't like neon or flourescent colours.

COLLECTIONS; Sylvanian Families/Calico critters, dragons, rabbits, puppy/kitty/zoo in my pocket, littlest pet shop, me to you bears/tatty teddy, Hello Kitty, buddhas, postcards, world coins, used postage stamps, used metal bottle caps, healing crystals, Japanese and Russian dolls, chopsticks, tea bag papers, playing cards (jokers and aces).

OTHER; fabric/reusable shopping bags, fish, frogs, butterflies, dragonflies, rainbows, faeries, mermaids, candles, crystals, angels, incense, wiccan/magikal items, matryoska/babushka, anything Japanese, birds (especially owls), giraffes (for my hubby), diddle or other mice (for my Mum), rabbit treats (for Mina).

** I am also happy to receive re-swapped, second hand or unwanted items, as long as they are in reasonable condition. If you do send me something I don't really like I won't rate you down for it, I'll just pass it on to someone else**

I live and work with my husband at the residential Steiner/Wardolf school for children with emotional and behavioural disorders and learning disabilities. The school is small, less them 50 kids, and the sit is at the end of a mile long dirt track on the edge of the village, it is surrounded by the most beautiful countryside. The school is set up in small family style groups, each with their own house and "house parents", my husband and I are now proud "parents"of 6 boys aged 11 to 18, some of them live with us during the week and some only come during the day. It is challenging at times but we have a lot of fun too! We have not yet been blessed with children of our own but we have a 3 year old rabbit called Mina who is my baby and will sit on my lap for hours!

When I'm not with the boys or Mina or crafting I like to go for walks in the surrounding country, read, cook, bake or go to the cinema. I am learning green witchcraft at the moment and studying European traditional religion.

I have chemical depression and agraphobia, I have now returned to work after taking a break for almost two years. Being part of a creative community and living in beautiful contryside is helping me a lot. Crafting and swapping are a life line for me, as they are for many here, and I feel very privilaged to have found swap-bot and met so many great people. I am also dyslexic so I apologise for any silly spelling mistakes I make!

I have several blogs and a flickr account where I display photos of my art work and other random stuff . I have also started trying to sell craft supplies and some of my handmade items such as greetings cards, earrings, bracelets, magnets, keychains, accessories and soft toys on Etsy and folksy and I hope to start doing craft fairs soon. My greatest dream is to make a living from crafting or at least to be able to fund my craft addiction!.

I am a postcrosser, to feed my postcard addiction, my user name there is also Graydragon.

I am a BookCrosser, my username there is littledragon.

I am on bookmooch as graydragon.

I love paper, fabric and yarn crafts. I go through phases but among my favourites are stamping, cardmaking, scrapbooking, altering items, sewing, quilting and patchwork, embroidery, beading, collage and my newest obsession crochet.

I like to make; bags, jewellery, cards, ATC's, skinny's, Moo's, inchies, match boxes, bottle cap shrines, softies, stuffies, felties, postcards, mail art, dolls house miniatures and much more!

I have just learn to crochet so I'm into that at the moment! I still can't seem to figure out knitting!

I love to read and once I find an aurthor I like I tend to read all of their books in an obsessive way!

I read all kinds of stuff depending on my mood but my favourite genres are horror/supernatural, sci-fi/fantasy and travel writting.

Some of my favourite authors are; Anne Rice, Darren Shan, Phillip Pullman, Kelley Armstrong, Tanya Huff and Alexander McCall Smith.

I also love reading manga, especially horror and fantasy and mange versions of classical literature such as Shakespeare or versions of books by my favourite authors.

I collect old childrens books and books of fairy stories, folk tales, myths and legends.

Here is a little list of things which it would make me extreeeeemly happy to recieve;

• An anigarumi.
• Origami Papers.
• Marshmallow Fluff.
• Hello kitty postage stamps (new or used)
• Lucky star, star straws or strips
• Bento box accessories.
• Hello Kitty Matrioska doll anything.
• Balls of wool or crochet needles.
• Used bottle caps from anywhere in the world.
• Cute Japanese fabric, even tiny scraps.