kittell

cookbooks! oh how I adore thee and don't get me started on cupcake cookbooks, not so much the recipes but the hundreds of ways you can decorate them! I absolutely love photography books, but the subject doesn't have to be photography it just has to be a book with great photos in it! i.e. kevin aucoin's making face? that's a make up book and the photography is BEAUTIFUL! I adore elaborate studio set ups rich in vibrant colours, it's always something I wish I had the means to create myself.

• I thoroughly enjoy photography (I did study it once but it got too expensive!! studio style that is)
• I like painting with acrylics and also water colours (only dabbling - inspired by Shahzia Sikander when she showed at the MCA)
• I know how to do a little bit of knitting (even some intarsia work!) and
• crochet - taught by my mum and can only do throw overs at the mo hehe but I love learning old school arts and crafts

I think it's important to keep these things alive and to carry on to future generations so I have to learn to teach my future children and grandchildren!! I used to be a manager at spotlight (oz craft store) and learned a lot about everything crafty, I've dabbled in:

• scrapbooking
• jewelry making

even did a day course in how to create my own glass beads (was awesome) I can sew my own clothes and curtains (very important haha) the list could literally go on!

Here are some of my photos below

I'm a 25 year old lass living with my lovely boyfriend in a cute apartment. I'm trying to grow herbs on our balcony (I love coriander) and decorate our home with a indonesian/african/tribal feel with heaps of knick knacks, cool fabrics and plants all over the place. I've always been creative when I was young and encouraged by teachers to follow that path! I'm trying!

ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE MAG OF ALL TIME IS FRANKIE! I haven't come across another mag as special as this. not only is the content awesome but the finer details as the print and even the stock they use. I also enjoy Dumbofeather - very inspirational it's just sad it only comes out quarterly!! and then I enjoy Real Living because it's always bright and happy and has plenty of ideas for interiors! oh and Lovatts Cluewords - because I get to lay in bed with my boyfriend doing the easier version of crosswords :D

I'm really looking forward to creating some ATC's. I remember hearing about these about 2 years ago and wanting to get into it but didn't find any groups I was comfortable joining (weird that) but after finding swap-bot I'm all for it!! I hope I don't let anyone down as I'm quite critical of my own work!

I'm a huge fan of Florence Broadhurst wallpapers and think it's sad that people prefer painting their home with block colours instead of awesome wallpaper (I remember as a kid watching my dad wallpaper my bedroom and the hall way - he was very clever :D) I love modern geometric patterns in vibrant colours but I also love ancient asian tribal looking themes. Art deco is hot, B&W photograph is awesome, I collect postcard art flyers with interesting & exciting artwork.

I also adore Frida Kahlo. I recognised paintings before but never knew who did them, then Salma Hayek made 'Frida' and I made a point to see it (after hearing that BEAUTIFUL soundtrack) and just fell in love with her and all her work, the vibrancy and the honesty you can't compare to anyone else.

after looking around on this site I see how important it is to rate and not to flake! I promise here and now that whatever swap I partake in I will not flake and promise to rate as soon as any item has been received.

I can only hope I don't get flaked on and those I send to rate as well

Also I think as a general rule for myself, being from Australia, even though I really want to do international swaps (I get excited thinking about having a collection of ATCs and trinktets, ephemera from around the world) it's just so pricey to send!! so I may have to limit myself only to swaps where it's only 1 person :( sending 7 postcards overseas cost me about $20 or so, wasn't expecting that!! but after all that I'm looking forward to receiving mine!!

• Anything Jungley
• Funky Geometric Patterns (think 80's)
• Intricate Designs (i.e. wood carvings)
• Miniature Anything (I think it has to do with the intricacy deal, I love attention to detail)
• Anything from Kikki K. (A stationary shop)
• Art Deco anything
• I am obsessed with Palm Trees, nothing says relaxation like Palm Trees
• I have a thing for anything tropical as well