igobylorib

Life is full of curve balls and challenges that make life interesting. I think some are sent your way to make you appreciate all you have. In early September, my husband was diagnosed with Cutaneous Lymphoma. It is a very rare form of skin cancer, not associated with Melanoma. Steve has started treatment and so far so good. I would love to hear from anyone who has had experience with this type of cancer.

An article I wrote titled " With One Palette" was published in Somerset Studio in April 2007 was reprinted in a special magazine titled Artist Cafe: the Best of Somerset Design. It should be available on newstands now :) Go grab a copy and tell me what you think :)

I have been an Artist on Call for Stampington & Co. since 2004 and a sample designer for Inkadinkado since late 2006. My artwork can be found in Somerset Studio, The Stamper Sampler, etc. as well as online at both companies websites. At times it is a challenge, but I still get giddy when I see my artwork in print.

I really enjoy swapping and have made some great online connections. I am online often so please pm me about a swap before rating me a 3 or a 1. When I am late, I try my best to pm my partner. Sometimes I have a package ready to mail out and get caught up in life and it ends up being mailed a few days late. This is never intentional and I try my best to avoid this from happening. I feel I am generous with my swap packages and always make sure they are profile specific so that my partner receives a package I put together just for them.

I have NEVER and will NEVER flake on a swap. I will gladly replace a package that has gone missing and would hope that I receive a rating based on the package and not be penalized because it is late due to it being a resend. I have received many late swaps and have never rated anyone a 3 because of it. Swapping is supposed to be for pleasure and sometimes life gets hectic, which cause delays, which even the most organized person can experience. I hope my partners can consider the same philosophy when rating me.

I am a 38 year old - stay at home mom of two - my daughter is 8 and my son is 5. I'm originally from NY but am living in South Carolina. I've been married to my wonderful husband for 10 years and absolutely adore my family.

Right now my favorite hobby would definately be thrift store shopping. I LOVE the nature of the hunt and collect and HOARD way to much. I must confess, I am a fabric, felt and paper junkie and love combining all three in my artwork :) I started taking drum lessons just after my 38th birthday in March and am completely addicted.

I am NOT a holiday person (birthday's are an exception :). I do appreciate them but do not celebrate or use craft materials for them. However, I do enjoy handmade goodies and craft items for Halloween and Hanukkah.

and trade with fellow collectors. I might be able to find treasures for you here in South Carolina that you can't find in your neck of the woods. My list of collections have grown and I've broken them into categories:

VINTAGE ITEMS: * fabric / unique ribbon * buttons * office supplies (labels, staplers, label makers) * red and white plastic salt and pepper shakers * child sewing patterns (anything pre 60's) * papers * grade school photos of children (I LOVE class pictures and good copies ROCK!!!!) * cool socks to make stuffies from (knee highs are great and single socks will be great)

THRIFT STORE FINDS: * 100% wool sweaters * sheets, pillow cases and linens * mugs and small figurines (or other cool item) stamped "Made in Japan" * children's books pre - 1979

OBSESSIVE COLLECTIONS: * anything with birds (i have a soft side for the owl and sparrow) * thimbles (see states I need below) * 100% cotton polka dot fabric - need more :)

HANDMADE: * plushies * felt anything * pincushions * needlebooks * 4 x4 altered art

NOVELTY ITEMS: * novelty pencil sharpens / erasers * Wood Matryoshka Dolls (the nesting kind)

for those kid swaps and all others that might be interested :)

My daughter Jordan is 8 years old. She has a style all her own :)

She LOVES:

• the JONAS BROTHERS, Demi Lavato, Selena Gomez, Avril Lavagnie
• The Nightmare Before Christmas / Goosebumps
• Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends
• Fairies and dragons
• Electric Guitars
• novelty erasers and sharpeners
• cool pencils and pens
• notepads, journals, stationary & stickers
• American Girl
• skateboarding, spy gear, basketball
• webkinz
• Stickers (of the above things she likes)
• anything with her name on it
• socks with small seams ( ankle height prefered)

FAVORITE COLORS: * purple, red, blue orange, green, black

FAVORITE COLOR COMBOS: * Black & Red and Black & white.

She is crafty like her mommy and loves to create art :) She loves to make beaded necklaces and loves getting fun charms and zipper pulls

She also likes puzzle books (hidden objects in a picture, search a word, figure out the code).

My son Jake is 5 and ALL boy.

He LOVES:

• Electric Guitars
• Cars and trucks (he's a matchbox junkie)
• dinosaurs
• pirates
• anything Spiderman, Batman, Superman
• POWER RANGER MANIA HAS HIT !!!!!
• anything Scooby Doo :)
• bathtub toys- boats, scuba men, etc.
• castles, knights and dragons
• hand me down Legos ROCK
• hand me down Play Mobile figures / sets
• playing school with his sister
• anything for there play kitchen, especially handmade food.
• Stickers (of any of the above things he likes)
• anything with his name on it - Jake is hard to find
• stencils of anything above.
• candy: pixie sticks (the tubes filled with colored sugar LOL), milk chocolate, ;affy taffy (any flavor but banana), nerds

He also loves to craft with mommy so small, put together craft kits ROCK (Foam, felt, paper)

He LOVES work books that you can cut up. He also loves to practice writing the alphabet and numbers, coloring books, dot to dot - Pre-K age.

I love scarry movies and lately have been on a zombie kick. I'm definately not a chick Flick type of gal. As for TV, I watch all the CSI shows, Law and Order SVU, Prision Break and The Mentalist. I am also drawn to several reality shows: Survivor, Amazing Race and Big Brother -they humor me :)I don't have much time to read but am a craft magazine junkie.

I love to sew, create collage / mixed media art, altered art and embroidery. Wool felt has taken over as my favorite medium lately. With the right scissors, it cuts like butter and can handle so much. I love cotton and linen fabrics - polka dots and cute florals are always a hit. You can never go wrong with a cotton vintage print either :)

Here is a list I had on Flickr of my favorites for swap partners to see:

FAVORITE COLORS: * green (leaf and other light to medium shade) * blue (aqua, baby blue, robin's egg, navy) * black * orange - becoming a new favorite * red

No PASTELS please

The type of things I LOVE to RECEIVE:

ACCOUSTIC DRUMS: I started taking DRUM lessons in March and am ADDICTED !!!. Anything girl drummer or just drums related :)

SEWING RELATED: * buttons ( 2 and 4 hole prefered) * iron on transfer pen or red transfer pencil * handmade sewing button blanks (med-large) * snap tape * 100% WOOL FELT (thrifted sweaters ROCK) * tea stained soft 100% cotton muslin * japanese cute fabric

- FABRIC THEMES - * Small florals * polka dots * cute animals (listed below) * cupcakes * stars * houses * trees, mushrooms, gnomes, * robots

- FAVORITE ANIMALS (cute and animated not the real animal depicted) * hippos * deer * birds (especially owls and sparrows) * hedgehogs * elephants * giraffe

- EMBROIDERY PATTERNS - * animal list * fabric themes * cute children

- VINTAGE ITEMS - - see list in collections

- KAWAII - * Favorites Charatcers: Pandapple, Hello Kitty, Deery Lou

- MISCELLANEOUS - * letters and numbers * stencils * metal and interesting bits
* mini staples * colored tape / deco tape * small jars, bottles and containers

- HANDMADE - * rings * wrist cuffs * pouches * anything felt * softies

- CANDY - * milk chocolate with nuts, raisins or caramel * colored rock candy * swedish fish

Things I DON'T LIKE: * children's art supplies, like pipe cleaners and pom poms. * shaped paper clips and brads * Stickers (reward kind) * religious items * items with cats or dogs on them * Japanese cartoons * licorice * coconut * plastic beads * bugs

http://www.flickr.com/groups/swap-o-rama/discuss/163500/page3/#comment72157594170006961

• Alabama
• Arkansa
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Maine
• Massacusettes
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Montana
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Vermont
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Please pm me if you would like to trade for one of these thimbles. I'd love to have a completed set :)