squintgrad

10/17 UPDATE - I just mailed lots of swaps today and several more are done (just need to get envelopes and get back to the post office), so I should be caught up soon. Thank you all for your patience/understanding. P.S. I have had one interview. 10/4 NOTE to those that I owe swaps - I have been laid off from my job, but WILL send all promised swaps ASAP. I apologize for the lateness of many of them, but this was quite unforseen. Thank you for understanding. I will continue to do Swap-Bot, but on a much smaller and less frequent basis. Thank you all for understanding my situation and the good wishes that have been sent my way.

I'm 42 years old and happily co-habilitating with the love of my life. We have 4 kids (3 girls and a boy)(ages 13 - loves purple, basketball, field hockey, paper crafts, talking on the phone, plays clarinet in band, is in chorus and does school plays, likes girly stuff, and just made the Junior Dance Team (both Tap and Jazz), 13 (his)- loves horses, purple, pink, and paper crafts, 16 loves blue, practicing driving, reading, knitting, and her boyfriend (eek)- just got her first job at Big Lots (with 20% discount - woohoo), and 15 (the boy - his) loves/lives for video games, football, and lacrosse (but not a big fan of me -ugh). We also have a house full of pets (4 cats, 2 cockatiels, 2 hamsters, and a 1 1/2 yr old beagle). The beagle is more challenging then all the others combined - good thing for him that he's so darned cute!

I enjoy crafts - knitting, crocheting, ATCs and other Altered Arts

I'm not a girly girl - the only makeup I do is lipgloss/lipstick and sometimes nail polish, I have short hair, and prefer jeans and a top to dressing up. I do however, use body sprays and lotions. And, I love the handmade bracelets and pins. (Earrings are fine too, because all 3 girls have pierced ears).

I worked in social services as a case manager for young adults (ages 18-21) who are homeless - at least until the Federal government decided they would no longer fund it (UGH!) So, currently I'm job seeking.

My favorite colors are purple, earthtones (especially dark yellow- like antique or mustard), aqua/turquoise/teal, and being an Aries red surrounds me. I have a red car and probably 1/3 of my shirts are red. So any of those colors will most likely put a smile on my face :)

I collect porcelain bells (you know the touristy ones - though they can also be made of other materials), postcards, and election buttons.

I love to write (you know like by hand! - anyone still remember that? - lol). Therefore, I enjoy receiving interesting pens. I like to journal, but don't do so as regularly as I'd like (because I'm spending the time creating goodies for swaps - grin).

My decorating style is "Early American Lawnsale" meets "Packrat Eclectic" LOL! But, I do have a couple of themes. My livingroom is decorated with lighthouse stuff. My kitchen is decorated with cat stuff. My bedroom has a spring garden theme - a light sage green with lilac accessories and white bunnies. My bathroom is dark blues/purples. Of course, all of this is surrounded by craft stuff from all the projects I've started and the things I'd like to do some day (yeah like you don't have any unfinished projects - wink, wink).

If considering scents - I like lilac, citrus, spice/cinnamon, and would prefer not to have cherry, blueberry, or vanilla.

Favorite flavors include: strawberry & chocolate, coffee, caramel, cinnamon, and orange. Again, cherry, blueberry, and vanilla (except in teas)- not a fan.

I've also become a tea fan since joining swap-bot. OMG - I'm my Mother! lol

Love to get handmade stuff! It's great to see everyone's creativity!

I hada bulletin board in my office that I used strictly for art, cards, pics, etc. that I receive through swaps. It has ATCs, postcards, cards, and even a bookmark or two (and lots of room for more goodies - hint, HINT!) They include hand-painted items, inspirational or amusing quotes, and of course cats, and now some lemurs, too! These items will follow me to a new location.

I also have a special spot at home for all of the handmade magnets(and a couple purchased ones) that I've received from swaps.

I've once again started working on some afghans -so if you knit or crochet, I'd love to receive 8" squares to add to one.

Oh, and I would be really impressed if someone sent an item with a Lemur on it!! I absolutely love them. This would definitely warrant a heart, and a laugh if you picture me prancing around the house giggling with glee - no seriously!

Whole Lotta Swappa

rock and country, but I'm open to listening to just about anything. I also love music from the Andes.

I've only burned a couple of CDs myself, so it would always be nice to receive those that others have made.

not a movie fan - it may be on, but I'm too busy crafting to pay much attention :)

Law and Order, CSI, Fox & MSNBC news shows, and yes I've been sucked into the American Idol fanpool by one of my daughters. I'm also a New England Patriots (football)- WOOHOO it's Football season!) and Boston Red Sox - another World Series Championship perhaps??(baseball) fan (even before my sweetie came into my life). He also watches NASCAR and is a big Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan (doesn't do it for me though - more crafting time for me :)

depends on the day :) - right now I've got like a hundred different ideas in several mediums, so I've been trying out new things. Currently I do: ATCs,Altered puzzle pieces, Altered tins, Matchboxes (new), magnets in several mediums, crocheting, recycling wool sweaters, knitting dishcloths and other items, some clay embellishments, and seeing what else I can create.

I especially like the Altered crafts because it's another excuse to shop at Thrift Stores, Yard Sales, etc. Consequently, I have TONS of old book and magazine pages to use (and/or swap), puzzle pieces, wool from sweaters, and buttons.

And recently I discovered that all of those knit dishcloths that I am constantly working on, when combined, make beautiful afghans.