mercmom41

Writer, Artist, SAH-mom to 4-yr old girl. DIY junkie.

I have an MFA in Writing and love to make and read zines (I have 3 different ones in my Etsy store right now, and I'm working on more). I love to read mysteries like anything Deborah Crombie writes, quirky non-fiction esp. about popular culture, like Finding Betty Crocker, essays like David Foster Wallace's A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again. I write a couple of blogs, and book reviews for Rain Taxi.

I'm in a local art group that meets once a month to trade ATC's, and swap projects we set up ahead of time. Last year we did a Day of the Dead shrine swap and a robot paper doll swap, and currently we're doing a round robin with sketchbooks. I went to ARTFEST in Port Townsend, WA for the first time this year and was in absolute art heaven!

I'm into zines, altered books, ATC's, collage and mixed media assemblage art (shrines, etc.),knitting, weaving (mostly with paper) some quilting (mostly for use in other art, sewing anything other than clothing, and love to just play art. I have all kinds of weird supplies--store mannequins, bottle caps, twigs, the front of a large birdhouse,etc. Game pieces are my favorite supply, and I love retro imagery and motifs from the 50's and space-age 60's.

little pin-back buttons with cute or cheeky things on them

Pressed Pennies

Kawaii stuff- I like Japanese cute, but not much other cute stuff, deco tape

floaty pens and souvenir pencils

handmade stuff, especially drawings and sewn things like stuffies. I bought my current wallet from Etsy and it is made with Kawaii Little Red Riding Hood fabric and I love love love it.

postcards with b/w photos, esp. old ones from 1950's or earlier

used stamps, esp. non-U.S.

Robot things (postcards, drawings, figurines, stuffies)

tote bags, handmade or otherwise

I am a Mommy, I get it. If you are going to be late sending your stuff to me just let me know. I am not going to check the postmark, and I would rather you take the time you need and ENJOY making the swap item than dash something off at the last minute because you didn't have time after you were up all night with your sick doggie/baby/self. Remember, this is FOR FUN!!

I really love to reuse things, or upcycle them. Going to the thrift store is one of my favorite things to do! So I don't mind used stuff at all. Here are some of the things I go nuts for:

retro/funky knick knacks (no Hummel): dogs, owls, monkeys, robots

Snoopy/Peanuts anything.

Character drinking glass (peanuts, curious george, Disney, etc.), jelly jars fine.

Language reference books: quirky, old, esp. on slang or foreign (foreign to me would be not English) terms. Condition not an issue, it can be falling apart.

Fabric - bright colors, retro, or children's theme.

Rick rack of any color or size

Stationery: almost anything except pretty flowers. I love kids' stationery (I scored some Curious George cards last time I was there).

Rubber stamps of: dogs, monkeys, owls, abstract pattern or scrolly architectural patterns

Chipboard letters or scrolly, curly bits

Religious items, patriotic items,or anything from a smoked-in enviroment (it's a migraine trigger).