samjowers

As of march 1st, I will be pushing the button on swap-bot and ending my time here. I loved every minute. I just have other plans for my life and won’t have time to swap anymore. I can still be found on flickr.com and atlasquest.com under sea maid. I am the founder on two separate groups. If anyone would like to run either group, let me know so I can put you in as a founder. They are pretty low maintenance. The members joined knowing what the parameters of each group are and expect things to stay the same. I run a monthly WTA or “Winner take all” that is hosted by the previous winner. You would need to approve new members (in both cases the lowest would be a 4.8 rating with no 1’s or 3’s in the past six months. This helps keep your membership safe.) I checked the membership every six months and got rid of anyone who did not qualify. I have always maintained at least two founders for my groups so that if something happens, the other one can step in. I highly suggest this practice. It will save the group. I also make anyone with at least five hosted swaps an officer; this lets others support the group by making and hosting new swaps! Not so much burden on one person and it spreads the love! I really hope one of you will consider taking on either of my groups.

Nov 4, 2011 Im looking for a book by Sesyle Joslin called: "The night they stole the alphabet". I read this in 6th grade and it was one of the most wonderful books Id ever read. Now, I see that it cost clost to $300 dollars! What? if anyone has this book and wouldnt mind selling for a lot less, please let me know.

I am a graduate of the University of Houston. I have a Batchelor's of Fine Arts in painting. I did not get my degree until I was close to 40! I made better grades and learned more because I was more focused and cared more about what I was learning. My favorite classes were the art history classes. I am married to a man from Zimmapan Mexico. (Near Pachuca and just north of Mexico City). We have a son and homes in both Mexico and in the United States. Our home is a bi-lingual home. I am a high school painting teacher. I absolutely love my job! I basicallly get to be creative all day long! Sometimes, I dont even want to go home! I raise chickens and goats, and my husband has a large garden. (He has a very "green" thumb.) My part of the garden has 10 foot tall blue glass bottle trees. I have collected blue glass bottles, nailed them onto wooden poles and wired them on. I have about three large ones and 2 smaller ones. I have more planned. They look like giant blue bonnet flowers. they glow nicely in the morning sun and our neihbors keep asking us what that blue glow in the morning is! :D When I was growing up, My dad moved us around a lot. I have lived in Hong Kong, Thailand, Hawaii, Peru and a lot of the southern united states. I have visited Kenya, Japan, Mexico, Chile and been to London on layover. (went down the Thymes but fell asleep and used a postcard to do the subway.) good trip that one!

Taylor is my neice. She is ten. She LOVES skeleton keys and anything to do with locks. she is homeschooled and very good at art. she loves cell phones and girly talk, purses and shoes, anything sparkly.

My son Oscar is thirteen and still loves Legos and is constantly begging me for flash drives! I dont even want to know why he needs so many!

I love all kinds of music. I had one of my high school students fill my Ipod for me. He went "old school", mariachi, rap, etc. My students love my ipod. ...and sometimes I get to use it myself.

I like to read the books at the junior high level. More adventure, quick paced action, and I get to share the time with my son because we discuss the books after we have read them. we just finished COMPOUND. Such a good story! 12/10 Just read UNWIND. What a weird book! I think everyone should read this! I love JRR Tolkien, the Narnia Chronicles, and the Dragonriders of Pern series. for awhile, I was really into the reading about the Jewish experience during WWII but after a bit i had to quit because it was just too much to deal with. As far as movies are concerned...Johnny Depp, anything with him in it is my favorite. I just saw "Alice in Wonderland" LOVED IT!

1-7-11 I am learning how to make books by sewing them and binding them. I am currently working on a valentine book and a mermaid journal. I cant wait to see how they turn out! My first love is oil painting, i do a lot of work with Polyurethan and bottle caps. I live, breath, eat found objects because all of it ends up in my art. i am currently scouring the ground for any bits of colored trash to make a 10x5ft paisly. If it will fit inside of a bottle cap... I would love to have it! beads, little plastic barets, colored size markings from hangers, fuses I find in the parking lot. You name it, if it is colored, I would love to have it! (I want to thank all of you who send me little bits of colored stuff! keep it coming!) love collage, anything with altered images and combinations of materials. Color copies are my friend right now.

12-10-11 Well, I just tried making a Rolodex card. I dont think I enjoy this craft. the little holes are a pain in the ass to keep aligned.

I am currently working on an altered deck of cards. This is a MERMAID themed altered deck of cards. I would welcome one from anyone who wants to send me one!!! (I collect Mermaid themed ATC's and APC's). Each card in this deck has at least one mermaid on it. I would like to trade for the following Altered Playing cards:

My mermaid name:

Star Port Singer (stellatus portus) A nocturnal variety, known to glisten with natural phosphorescence under the light of the stars. City lovers, the portus congregate near to large ports, (That's funny, because I actually live near the port of Houston!) exploring netting, anchors, and any other man-made curiosities they find. Scavengers by nature,(you should check out my found object artwork!) they have been reported to steal fishermen's catches and are occasionally snared in trawler nets. Note: Known for its alluring song, this variety is rarely quiet, luring sailors to their doom.

for the MERMAID ONLY deck; please send me one of these!

SPADES: Thanks to Cocoa, I finished my deck!!!! HEARTS:
CLUBS:
Jokers: still need two more (or more!)

DIAMONDS: I have all of the diamonds!!!

(Thanks! @Starrgazer )(Thanks! @kd7iem )

I collect rainbow colored pieces of junk, but it has to be able to fit inside of a bottlecap. I think I already said that but ... I LOVE colored junk! I love hand made christmas ornaments (I dont really like religious ones or anything with santa clause - I have never understood putting your child into the lap of a man wearing a disguise!!! What happened to "beware of strangers!"?). hand made ornaments are all I will put on my tree! I collect 12"x12" origional paintings. If I like an artist style or subject matter I will commission the artist to paint anything they like on a canvas that i provide for them. they all fit on one wall, floor to ceiling) I love artwork. It doesnt need to be of a special subject (I do like mermaids and paintings of women etc.) I love to see abstract, collage, techniques of all styles...as long as the art is good. I love stories about women, both historical and mythological. (everything starts with a small kernal of truth) If a woman gets mentioned in history, I figure she probably did something very extra special or something very horrible, either way....I still like to hear about it. I finally broke down and got my first cell phone. My son has to text for me. What a time waster!

Since I plan to participate in some christmas ornament exchanges I should tell you a little something about my CHRISTMAS TREE.

• I only put hand made/crafted ornaments on my tree.

• I love cranberry red, All greens (esp. sage, pea, and any odd off color greens like puke colors,) Gold, creams and off whites.

*No SANTA CLAUSES please. No actual candy (dont want bugs or vermin). Not fond of religious ornaments but will put them up if you send me one.

*I like winter folk, snowmen, gingerbread people, elves and winter fairies, fake candy, cakes (would love a knitted doughnut!). any thing christmas is good. I only put 5 pointed stars on my tree. (keeps me from buying too many!) Any thing creative and fun, even christmas monsters and mischief is good. My family also puts a new train ornament on the tree each year.

The things that I dislike are people being dishonest, racism, sexism,injustice to any being. I also wish people were accountable for their own actions. I am a child of God and He made all of us. and everything...so we all are part of the same and I strive to love everyone as He does. It's not always easy but I still have to try! :D

@Ladyhightower for 2 Christmas Tassel Ornaments swap that she hosted and never sent out. @Kaylarp @Maraspires for USA:christmas ornaments in july swap (two in one swap!)

People who flaked on swaps that I hosted

@Charon Handmade Ornament swap 2010 @mousef handmade Ornament swap 2010

I want to recognize an ANGEL!

@yelaklleps for angeling the seahorse charm on Mermaid lovers unite! group

Designer tissue papers

BOTTLECAPS (beer ones are OK)

small colored pieces of junk

miniature objects.