secretterrabite

:-) Hello, I am Ali and I live in the middle of England and spend a ridiculous amount of time filling books with "stuff." I have been keeping and filling them since around 1988 and am currently filling numbers 199-201.

I write as well as make art. I was a freelance journalist in London for 10 years before coming home to study for a degree in Graphic Design and now live as a single Mum with an 8 year old daughter.

I like doing journal swaps but have really cut back as UK postage prices are astronomical (and they take weeks to do). I'm trying to find cheaper swaps, making things with stuff I already have swaps, I collect so much stuff, what others might call junk, but I see potential in rubbish & it's always a challenge to make something out of nothing.

If I make a journal for you it could contain writing, paint, drawings, doodles, "stuff" stuck in, collage, print, quotes, photo's, transfers, colour obsessive patterns, lettering, stamping...

My second love is zines. I like zines about real life (and death), funny, sad, confessional, arty... anything really. My favourite zines are Your Pretty Face by Tukru at Vampire Sushi distro and Telegram by Maranda Elizabeth.

I like old-fashioned British comedies like Only Fools and Horses, Likely Lads and dinnerladies which I watch over and over for background noise to keep me happy while I create.

I like yellow, blue with green, bright colours, spots, stripes, patterns, maps, and pens that write on black but don't smell. I don't like brown. Yuk. I like to spray ink over things, try out new art materials, clash colours and get messy. If the table isn't clear for dinner so be it.

I like to receive washi/deco tape, especially bright colours, clashing colours or ones with pictures of houses. We have Paperchase in England who make their own tape, but have to order proper washi tape from the USA or Japan. I love tape with spots, stripes, triangles, chevrons, love greys, orange, yellow, teal - just not brown!

I like urban postcards that have graffiti on, underground trains or anything to do with the seaside.

My obsessions are towers, maps, death and the ankh symbol (Egyptian symbol for everlasting life). I also like rainbows and angels. My favourite shape would be the triangle. And if you make a zine I would love to receive a copy.

I usually only join journal or zine swaps which are big time/effort swaps, so I don't expect or need extra's and don't send them in my swaps. They are pretty irrelevant if you have spent 2 months making a journal.

I don't like spiders, insects or anything creepy crawly.

I don't need scraps of paper as I have a cupboard full of the stuff. I am mad about stickers but with a Paperchase close by I don't really "need" any. The only ones I have trouble finding are surfy/urban/graffiti stickers, so I would love to receive those if you have a spare.

Please be aware UK customs don't accept liquid items. I will never receive your package if it has liquid in.

I'm allergic to lots of things so don't sign up for food swaps or smelly swaps. Nuts are my worst enemy!

I break out in a skin rash with soaps, perfumes, make-up, sun tan lotion... so please don't send me anything like cosmetic, toiletries or lotions.

Anything smelly upsets my sinuses and can bring on a migraine, even smelly pens like Sharpies.

Animals are a big no-no because of hair/fur (more sneezing), so if you have a pet, please don't let it sit on a journal you make for me! I would hate to have to throw away something that you have lovingly crafted because I'm sneezing the house down.

I normally only join journal, zine or paper-crafting swaps so I don't normally have a problem.

I have a history mad 8 year old daughter who loves anything to do with Egypt/Cleopatra/Pyramids or Tudor England, Richard III etc.

She lives in the world of Monster High, saves all her pocket money for the latest doll, buys the magazine, wears the clothes, carries the bag... she also plays with Lego Friends. She is very crafty, keeps her own arty journal and loves stickers and writing letters. She also likes tins to put bits and bobs in.