punchypirate

Hi! My name is Leila, I'm in my 30s, and I'm an artist that spends my days painting and illustrating.

I live just outside of Austin, Texas in Smithville. It's a quaint little town with lots of charm. I live in a 120 year old house that I am slowly restoring. Even though it's hot outside most of the time, I love to sit on the porch, and watch the world go by while sipping coffee or a glass of red wine.

I have 3 kitties (Mr. Meow, Saki, and Queenie) and a Corgi (Edward, see photo below). I am an animal lover!

I am a thrift shop junkie and I collect unique, vintage treasures. I have a great love for the past, I am antique obsessed. I have a phonograph and stereo-viewer that I enjoy. I have a booth at our local antique mall, where I sell the old treasures that I can manage to not keep for myself, lol!

I'm all for homesteading and classic pastimes. I love using my sewing machine, but am still a newbie and learning! I take a lot of pleasure from being outside and the natural world. I enjoy writing and receiving letters. I love reading, but have discovered that I can listen to audio books and paint at the same time. It's perfect for me! :)

I enjoy collecting folk and traditional art from around the world, my home is very eclectic and I surround myself with items that inspire me. I'm a bit of a non-conformist, and enjoy the unusual.

My favorite time is Fall/Winter here in Texas. I love that first cool day in October, and look forward to Halloween through New Year's. I love the Holiday season! I am just looking for a reason to celebrate, life is good! ;)

*Antique, vintage, old...if it's from before 1950, I'll probably love it.

*I love to set a table that is "mismatched". Meaning, I enjoy having old plates, glassware, and fabric napkins that are all different. I would love to receive a cotton napkin for my collection!

*Squirrels

*Birds (especially song birds and swallows)

*Victorian Style/Victoriana

*Fairy Tales and Folk Lore

*Sacred geometry and mandalas

*Virgin Mary and Saints

*Mexican Folk Art and Frida Kahlo

*Vintage Circus or Carnival

*Fortune Teller or Gypsy themes

*Things to make packages and gifts pretty! I especially love Kraft paper items.

*CHRISTMAS!! "Old timey" Santas or Father Christmas, deer, snowy trees, glitter, glass and silver colored ornaments, Victorian style, woodland Christmas...

*HALLOWEEN!! Black cats, witches, pumpkins, skeletons, moons, owls, spider webs, haunted mansions, orange and black polka dots, man in the moon, glitter, decorative banners/garlands, paper treat bags, gift tags, twine, napkins... Really love Halloween, especially retro and classic themes. Also, love Victorian Halloween. I'm not as crazy for "kiddie" or cartoon Halloween.

*Cotton fabric for my newbie sewing projects. I love Calico, small prints, holiday, animals...Retro style is fun too! I also would enjoy receiving old linens or pieces for use in sewing.

*Yummy smelling bars of bath soap (I love floral scents: rose, lavender, gardenia. Sandalwood too!)

*Kraft paper (brown paper bag type) envelopes, tags, bags, or boxes

*Old, black and white photographs. Old portraits are super cool! Also, love ones featuring people and their pets or just the pets. :)

*Functional crochet, knit, or sewn items (cotton napkins, wash clothes, hot mitts, trivets, aprons, dish towels, etc.) I would also be thrilled if you made me something!

*Catholic prayer cards, rosaries, charms, ceramic/chalkware statues of Mary/Jesus/saints, prints, or postcards. (I have a huge collection)

*Black or red Sharpie markers (I can always use them!)

*Wood carved figurines or statues. Also, love wood burned items (pyrography).

*Old candy/cookie/tea tins with no words, just pictures.

*Cotton lace

*twine, jute, or hemp cord

*Paper ribbon/raffia

*Velvet (or velvet like) ribbon

*Skeleton Keys or little oddities (found something rusty or nature related? I'll probably like it)

*Silver or brass containers and utensils with an old patina.

*Clear glass containers or glassware. I'm crazy for cut or pressed glass!

*Figurines, postcards, and art featuring Mexico or made in Mexico. I especially love burros/donkeys!

*Coffee beans or ground (unflavored and caffeinated, please). I love my black coffee in the morning!

*Walkers Shortbread cookies, yum!

*Anything Corgi related! I love my dog, Edward! :)

*I would love dog toys for Edward (his favorite toys squeak! He is a big time chewer, so sadly they don't last long). No rawhide please, Corgis can't eat it for safety reasons.

*Vintage postcards or art postcards. Ones featuring illustrations of pretty ladies, animals, cats, dogs, birds, Christmas, or Halloween are my fave! (see more on my postcard likes below)

*Disney, cartoon characters, Hello Kitty, or clowns (they completely freak me out).

*Neon or pastel colors

*Animal prints or camo

*Scented bath items make me itchy (salts, shower gel, bubble bath). I do love soap bars, though!

My favorite kind of postcards are vintage postcards or vintage style postcards. Those are not always easy to come by though, and I definitely enjoy many other themes (see below). I don't really like tourist or advertising postcards (unless they are pre-1960s). Otherwise, I like most kinds of postcards!

*art postcards from museums or ones featuring illustrations/paintings

*illustrations of farms, old England, simple life

*children's book illustrations (love fairy tales)

*photographic portraits (black and white)

*images of "days gone by" and "old timey"

*illustrations of the ocean or seaside

*cats

*dogs (anything Corgi, especially!)

*animals (donkeys, burros, and sheep to name a few)

*birds

*woodland (squirrel, fox, owl, deer, bunny)

*Christmas and Halloween

*Tattoo designs or tattooed people

*Virgin Mary or Saints

*Gypsy/Fortune Teller

*Vintage circus or carnival

*art deco

*the unique or offbeat

*pin ups or artsy nudity (I won't be offended by the human body or sexuality)

*Mexico (art or photographic images)

*New Orleans (art or photographic images)

*Children's Books and Fairy Tales - a few illustrators and authors I enjoy: Chris Van Allsburg, Arthur Rackham, C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, William Steig, Kay Nielsen, Edmund Dulac, N.C. Wyeth, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Brothers Grimm

*A few authors I love: Kahlil Gibran, Isabelle Allende, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Kate Morton, Anne Rice

*Crafting/creating books (painting, drawing, illustrating, decorating)

*Homesteading and gardening books

*Sewing books or magazines

*Art books (please no modern, I'm more of a classic fan)

*Wood working, restoration, home improvement books

*Tattoo references and books (I have an extensive collection)