kimpe

12-25-2011 Wow here it is over a year since I've been on this site. So much has happened but I think I'm on the right path now and things seem to be getting better. Had my 2nd back surgery on December 20th and I feel better already. I sincerly hope to get back on SwapBot and participate. Elli my little friend will be happy to be back Swapbotting again. She just loves it. So here's to a go ladies. Hope to see everyone again. Kim

9-24-10 Realized it's been ages since I've been on here or anywhere actually. Been in for spinal injections twice so I could try and walk again. Back at the pain clinic. It seems I have some lost swaps that need to be resent. I will do this again.

August - Life sucks right now. Been to the ER three times this week alone. Hubby had to take time off of work to stay with me. He's such a good man. Trying to get the swap resent that were vandalized or something from my post box. Hang in there with me folks

July 8, 2010 - Met with the specialist today. Verdict is - Advanced Osteoarthritis and Acute Fibromyalgia. Now the journey to manage this begins. I can do this

Most current medical will be listed here, others are moved to bottom as I don't want it to take up my whole life

** 9-16-09 - We have a beautiful new granddaughter. Ainsley Adelle Petroske, born 9-16 at 11:08 am 7.1 lbs 20.5 inches. She is beautiful. Pics on my facebook photos. Her birth has put such joy in my life and has helped pale the medical crap.**

I'm an empty nester, as my husband says "Just two old people and a dog!". I'm not really THAT old but the kids are gone. I grew up crafting at my grandmums knee. I knew how to cut quilt squares before I even knew it wasn't kid cool. She taught me how to crochet over the old oil heater grate in the co-op they owned. Grandmum did it all and I have had the bug all my life.

I am an avid quilter and papercrafter. My kids grew up amid 'mom's creativity' and still indulge me with gc's everyone once in awhile so I can soothe the itch!

I have a limited budget so my husband says I am and will always be the queen of discount finds. It's amazing what you can find in the discount bins if you're willing to dig. My best has been Anna Griffin stamp pads at JoAnn because they got new stock colors in. Found the best dollar store. Brand new styles of K Company for $1, chipboard, stickers, you name it.

I also am always looking at noncraft things to see how I can use them in my crafts.

Since the kids are gone my husband repurposed our downstairs into my retreat haven. I have one bedroom set-up just for my papercrafting and fabric storage. Another bedroom turned into a reading area with an old couch, my magazines sorted, the TV on a rolling stand so it can travel around down there and my music. The family room he turned into a quilting studio for me with a desk set he found for $25, a 4x8 cutting table he made and a huge design wall. I am blessed with a wonderful hubby who understands my need to be creatively fulfilled. Now that I have more time to indulge I am thirsty for learning new techniques and styles.

I decided to move the medical stuff to the bottom. I want more enjoyable things to be the forerunner of my life, not this.

July 5,10 - Don't know if I should be happy or frightened. I see the rhuematologist this week. Hopefully this will help me move forward in a better way!

June 2, 2010 - Had a DR appt. They ran a bunch of tests and they want to send me to a rhuematologist. The pain in my body is getting almost to the unbearable point. As always, I can do this just give me the informatin that I need and let me move forward.

May 2, 2010 - Things are looking up in someways. I can make it through a 3 day work week without crashing during it but I sleep for a day and a half afterwards. Going back in because I think nutritionally something is still going on. Every part of my body aches constantly and I can't get away from it or find relief from it. They tested for rhuematoid arthritis and said no it wasn't that even though I have osteoarthritis. My husband said I should get checked for Fibromyalga (sp?). I don't want that or anything. I just want to continue getting better and enjoying each day, the new grandbaby, being outside this year instead of house bound, my baby graduating from college, etc. So much to be thankful for and enjoy in this life. I just would like it to be pain free.

2-8-10 Woo Hoo! I'm back on, feeling better and looking forward to swapping again. I've missed this site and everyone on it!

11-22-09 Sorry I haven't been on for a while but I don't have the energy to do so. I have a freind coming over this weekend to help me finish up the two outstanding swaps that I have. Thank you to those who have been patient. I am so tired of seeing Dr's and being told I have to be refered to another specialist. There has to be an ending in sight. That is what keeps me going and the support of family and friends

10-10-09 Went in yesterday for a complete work up and liver panels. The weight is dropping again and all the muscle weakness, loss of appetite and pain in right side is returning. I'm nervous but I'm hoping I can catch it in time so I don't end up like last time.

10-4-09 I'm getting a little nervous here. Things seem to be starting all over again. I've been down for days. Slept for over 2 and am totally disoriented and confused on what day it is etc. Don't like this.Things must be a little off as my dog won't leave me and my husband seems to always be hovering somewhere close.

9-29-09 Small set back medically. Not sure what's up but the energy has dropped again so has the desire to eat anything which doesn't help at all. Find myself falling asleep anytime/anywhere. Skin is itching all the time again which is what happened last time my liver went haywire. Making appt. I wish this journey was over. I can do this.*

*9-24-09 Well I will be picking and choosing my swaps and tags very carefully for a while. I will still be active but just selective. Hard times are closing in tighter and my husband told me tonight that it's going to be getting tougher for a little while. So until his company can put him back on 40 hrs and full wage we need to really tighten up for a while. That just means I need to get creative with the supplies that I do have on hand!!

• 9/6/09 - Thought I had this all under control but it's been a few weeks now since going off PICC/TPN and it's starting to catch up to me. Weight is starting to drop again and the constant desire/need to sleep and exhaustion is returning. Tried going back to work PT and ended up in bed for 3 days from exhaustion.

• 8/27/09 - I think I might make it!! I've only lost 3 lbs and they told me I would lose some of what I put on just due to inactivity and water weight. Feeling pretty good as long as I don't over do but who can over due crafting right!! Check up next week. Hopefully I can start to go back to work a little bit. No employment without disability for over 3 months is a killer. I guess that's what happens when you work in the Home Health field for several different companies. Oh well, I love what I do!!

• 8/18/09 WooHoo, the PICC line is out!! Now on to the next part of this journey and that's seeing if I can get all the nutrition my body seems to need orally to maintain my weight.

• 8/15/09 Weight is staying on a little more than I like but then that's better than none at all I guess. Tuesday is the big day and hopefully I will get this line removed for a while. It will be nice to be able to do things like swim with the kids at the lake!

• 8/3/09 Finally got my protein into the acceptable range. I get to go back on my calcium and B12. Starting to finally make progress in the right direction. It's been a long 2 months. Maybe a few more until the journeys done but I can do this!!

• 7/23/09 Gained a whopping 7 lbs in 3 days. My blood sugars are dropping really bad. Not sure what's going on. Have an appt today. Hopefully he can answer some of my questions.

• 7/14/09 - Lost all that I've gained and my blood pressure has dropped down to 81/57, not good. On the PICC/TPN for another month, no work or activity for another month. Someday this will end.

• UPDATE 6/30/09 - Had some appetite today! I've gained 4 lbs and that's good. I'm down to 12 on 12 off on my PICC/TPN.

• UPDATE - 6/23/09 - Very tired, on house arrest and no activity. My line has moved in my arm. Getting it looked at tomorrow alog with my weekly check up. Hope it's OK, I don't want to go through that again.!!!

• UPDATE - 6/20/08 - I've been in the hospital for the last week. I'm home now except that I have a PICC line in with TPN 24/7. Kind of exhausted but I'm doing my best to make sure that none of my swaps are late. If I miss someone please pm me and I'll let you know what's up.

I love music! Actually the more of a beat it has the happier I am. I like to bounce a little when listening. I enjoy country and true backwoods blues, etc. Although I do listen to classical and rock. I can't really say I'm a certain genre just love what makes me happy.

I'm an avid reader and am known for always having a book along with a portable craft/quilt item in my tote. I like mystery, scifi, etc. My first love book was 'Christy' which I think I still have. I'm also a technique junkie when it comes to crafting, sewing, quilting, etc. so I'm always reading those. I love going through books on quilting or cool craft ones. I have one on quilling which is just a wonder to look at. someday I'm going to learn how to quill!

TV CSI, Law & Order, SciFi channel series, HOUSE, Mental, The Listener, etc.

Quilting- I love anything to do with it. Someday I want an 'Aunt Becky' tool, they're only $5, to learn how to use it to hand quilt. Big or small, bright or quiet, easy or hard I love them all.

Sewing - I made my childrens clothes until they we're in elementary school. I did custom wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses and tailored work wear for years as a source of income. I loved the beauty I could create with my own hands. Now I sew for personal satisfaction and enjoyment. My daughter shows horses so I do custom clothing for her and her animals. She's very tall and can't find items that fit her well. Also, I can copy a ready to wear item that looks better, fits better, is custom at a tiny fraction of retail.

Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts I'm addicted to paper and all that goes with it! Scrapbook pages, albums, cards, you name it and I'll try it.

Embroidery by Hand I love to work with my threads by hand. I am amazed at the 3D work like stump work which is something I want to learn or try. The Nordic Needle puts out an amazing catalog. Some day I will go to their store. I'm sure they will have to pull me from the ceiling!!!

Technique New techniques of any kind that incorporate fabric, fiber or paper. Love the new technique stuff. There's so much I haven't tried and want to learn. Jewelry making, clay, ATC, punch needle, etc..

Alcohol Ink & Markers My latest favorite is Tim Holtz for Ranger. He does some amazing things. The markers that are out now by Copic and Ranger and some others highly interest me also and what they do with them.

Parchment Embossing I want to learn to do parchment embossing. What I have seen is absolutely beautiful, embossed, cut, colored. Wow. You tube has some wonderful demos from Australia!!

Watercoloring I see beautiful cards that are done with watercoloring techniques.

• I can believe I almost forgot this one and had to put it at the top!!! I love my chickens! We've had chickens for so many years, in fact my Mother's Day present this year was a new batch of baby chicks! I remember my Moms chicken statues growing up and Granmums too. I like chicken notepads, etc. If it's chicken related I willl probably love it!!

• I also love ribbons.

• Handmade soaps! I absolutely love and so does my husband. He loves the lye process with peppermint!!

• I love my quilting, scrapbooking, cardmaking and trying new crafts.

• I also LOVE my pens! I love to doddle on things to decorate them up a bit. I'm really into the Sakura Gelly Roll Star pens right now.

• I like ephemera, charms, things to decorate stuff up with.

• Dark Chocolate. I am in love with Hershey Nuggets Double Chocolate!! I have discoverd Gummi Bears! Woo hoo.

• Patterns, ideas, I'm easy.

• I love anything to do with vintage sewing items. I love it when I'm out and about and find some cool old sewing item. I have sock darners, metal needle cases, old buttons still on the cards, ricrac, stuff like that. It all reminds me of happy times with Grandmum.

• Pansies, flowers

• The scent of Almond! mmmmm Musk is good also. Floral scents make me sick.

• Colors - pink, purple, black, white, yellow, turquoise, you know I think I love them all

• sparkle.

• I'm very eclectic. To me a room done as a theme is nothing compared to a room that tells a story. Old things have stories and man some of them are great.

• Warm rich colors have become my favorite lately when looking at fabrics for quilting.

• Glass christmas ornaments. I love and collect blown glass ornaments. I have some extrordianary ones from all over the world to some simple cute and even antique. I had some from Germany where I was born but they have slowly disinegrated over the years, losing their shine and sparkle. I do a tree with only these ornaments each year.

• Cartridges for the Cricut Expressions my husband bought for my birthday, anniversay and christmas present for this year. I was so excited. The kids think it's neat because there is a never ending list of things for gifting now. I don't care if they are used. The kids gave me 'Sure Cut's Alot 2' for my birthday. Now I'm learning how I can import the files and save them as another to use later and share. Also, there are tons of wonderful files for free on the internet.

• SVG files to cut on my Cricut with my new SCAL software!

*New ideas, thoughts, challenges, inspiration

After reading other profiles I discovered this could be crucial.

Dislikes: * INCHIES - every swap I've done of these I've gotten basically bad stuff. I don't know how a piece of a cereal box with some glitter glue smeared and I mean smeared on it with a teacher reward sticker works but I guess for some it does, just not me. I try and put a lot of thought and care into what I send out.

*I dont really care for this Hello Kitty type stuff that is going around It's not my thing.

• Anything floral smelling although I love my flower garden. I love the smell of my flowers also. Don't get me wrong, it's just that some of the scents can actually make me physically sick.

• Animi type stuff, Hello Kitty and stuff like that just doesn't do it for me

• don't send yarn to knit or crochet as I do these but not anymore. It will just visit with the killer dust bunnies or get recycled to the senior center.

• I don't drink. Not because I'm antialcohol but after growing up in that kind of household I've just chosen not to.

• I'm not a candy eater other than dark chocolate and gummi bears. Any of the dark chocolates are good. They don't have to be sweet.

• I don't do tea or coffee. Once in awhile I'll enjoy a cappucino or a hot chocolate.

• No craft sticks please. I can build a house with what I have!! Anybody have ideas on how to use these up?

• I'm not interested in postcards,. Just have never gotten into it. Although vintage ones are cool for my journals and altered items.

Right now a lot of my inspiration comes from Elli. She's my 5yo BFF. We quilt together, craft together, get crazy, whatever we do it. She comes to Nanna Kim's once a week for a sleepover and a day with me. We have such fun. She loves to help put swap packages together and go to the post office with me. I save packages for when she comes so we can share in the excitement together!! I'm training up another in the fun and addiction! She has her own papercrafting bucket. Her sewing bucket has now expanded to her own table, along with a featherweight I got an exceptional deal on (otherwise I never could of afforded it, but the lady knew what it was for) and her notions. She has confiscated a corner of my homemade design wall as her own.

This seems to be an important one when I'm reading profiles looking for ideas. So here goes and I'll update as things pop into my head:

• Parchment Embossing (I seriously want to try this. It looks so beautiful!)
• Alcohol Inks and supplies
• Bling
• Dark Chocolate - only in cold weather though!!
• Embellishment pens
• Glimmer mists or equivalent or the micas to make my own.
• Pearl powders
• Tim Holtz/Ranger products (or like items)
• Embellishment markers
• Crocheted or knitted cotton dish clothes
• Anything you make let's talk
• Old quilts and/or quilt related items
• Unusual crafting papers
• Old jewelry especially pins for some altered items I do, altered journals, etc and homemade purses.

It seems we all end up with to much of some things or something we thought we were going to love only to discover we didn't. So I'm thinking why not trade them out for things I do want or maybe I have something someone else could use or needs and vice versa.

• Die Cuts
• Altered Journals - your choice of style
• Quilt block(s) It seems I always have extras
• Quilt fabric
• Astrobrights cardstock
• Used cd's for making cool scrapbooks out of.
• Quilt patterns
• Quilting magazines
• Card making magazines
• Scrapbooking magazines
• Yarn
• Cross stitch patterns
• Leisure Arts cross stitch books
• Beanie Babies - have tons of these