Hi I'm Vicki from southern Indiana (thus the hoosiergirl name) :0) I was born and raised here - with some time spent in southeast Missouri and 6 months in Germany.

I'm a person who loves life, LOVES to travel - my goal is to visit all 50 states - i think im at 32, and loves to indulge my creative side. I make jewelry (this is on hold for now while i redo my studio) - & have tried my hand at many crafts (crochet is my current obsession)- surf the web, frequently sell things on eBay, etsy and Amazon. I've discovered altered art, Matchboxes, etc. through swap-bot.

I'm working on my photography skills and enjoy looking at things that make me smile ...... such as the silly picture on my profile :0)

Career-wise I work fulltime for a large telecommunications company, and I'm a part-time manager for Yankee Candle. Yes, I'm a workaholic - these 65 hr weeks are tough sometimes.

I'm a grandma - or "Mimi" - to four wonderful munchkins. And a momma to two adults who still expect an Easter basket and a Christmas stocking!

Although I have had little time to craft this year, the jewelry I make usually consist of gemstones, glass beads and Swarovski crystals. I love to find vintage jewelry and repurpose the bits and pieces. I'm trying my hand at wire-wrapping, and making jewelry and findings with Artistic Wire. I'm a sucker for rings and bracelets. I also make necklaces and earrings, and attach beads to household items because it makes me happy :0)

I prefer colors inspired by nature - blues, greens, the salmons and pinks of a sunrise. I love to wear sweaters and Fall is my favorite season. I'm a sucker for pasta and I've never met a brownie I could pass up (unless it had coconut in it/on it/around it).I love chocolate and nuts!

As for freetime, I enjoy trolling antique and 2nd hand shops,flea markets and yard sales. I love to look for vintage things to use in art projects. I LOVE buttons and often use them in my jewelry and craft pieces. I like miniature things - I still have my itty bitty china tea set from childhood. I love the vintage OWL objects that have become popular again - that's my newest quest when I'm "junking". That and garden GNOMES :0)

I fell in love with New York City and have visited there a few times. I shamelessly gawk at Times Square and spend hours in the Impressionist painters section of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts. And no trip there is complete without several rides on the Staten Island Ferry!

If money were no object I would have a house on the beach. No matter how messed up things are in life or the world, strolling in the sand and listening to the ocean sets me at ease. I love the sandpipers that run the beach. I have seashells I've picked up and assorted jars of sand sitting around to spur memories of those times at the beach.

I recently received a Keurig and am loving tasting all the different varieties of coffees and drinks - if you share with me, please mke sure they are sugar free :)

*Beachy stuff *Original Artwork *amateur photography *Vintage jewelry *garden gnomes of all sizes and types (they make me smile) *sterling silver charms from places I've traveled - trying to recreate my bracelet from my teens *UNIQUE reusable grocery bags are my new weakness and I'm getting better at remembering to put them back in the car! *Vintage owls *vintage linens like aprons, pillowcases, tablecloths, linen dischcloths - my current quest is a vintage tablecloth with the map on the United States

*Food Network/A&E/TLC/MSNBC *Impressionist artists *Favorite flower - peony *I make jewelry/some paper crafts/matchboxes/ altered notebooks/recipe journals *journals have been my swap focus this past year *Religious (christian or catholic)medals/art are gladly accepted *I believe in doing what we can to preserve the planet - recyling, taking your own bags to the store, energy efficient bulbs - I DO recycle packaging , but only if it's clean *Traveling - spontaneous stopping along the way to explore interesting sites is half the fun of getting there *My grandbabies *Family and friends - and taking the time to appreciate them *taking pictures of nature

Im a voracious reader - I love mysteries, and I'm an avid Harry Potter fan (yes even us "old" folks love the kid with the scar). I finished the Twilight series in record time - LOVED it! I also read travel guides, maps and atlases (to dream and plan my next adventure) and cookbooks.

I love children's books (old and new), especially those with beautiful illustrations. Some of my favorites are Winnie the Pooh, Little House series, Harold and the Purple Crayon, the Story of Ping, Babar, Beverly Cleary, Charlotte's Web - too many to name really. I have a hard back, well-loved copy of Little Women that I have read so many times it is falling apart - a gift from my brother when I was ten :0)

Most of the magazines I get have to do with jewelry making, but I also read Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion (sadly this is no longer being printed), AllYou, Redbook, Woman's Day, Family Circle, etc. I also enjoy reading Family Fun, Whole Living, Parenting (altho my kiddos are grown - it helps me keep up with the grands, lol)

I don't have any strong dislikes or likes in regard to flavors/colors/ preferences,etc. If you are my partner rest assured that I will probably be happy with whatever you decide to send. If I can't use it I'll pass it on to someone else who will enjoy and appreciate it. I do LOVE handmade items and marvel at other people's work!

I am definitely up for one-on-one swaps :0) - especially with international swappers!

*International partners - I would love it if you included gnome related items from your country, such as postcards, etc.

I joined several Advent and profile surprise swaps for this Christmas this year and last. My best friend passed away very suddenly in October 2011 and since I'm single and the adults don't exchange gifts in our family (we concentrate on the kids) these packages replaced what my friend and I used to do for one another. *a HUGE thank you to my swap partners - I felt so blessed! What great packages!

If you have any questions about what I might like, or not please feel free to message me. I never let anything go to waste. If I can't use something I receive, I pass it on to family, friends or in another swap :)