ukstash

Edit on 24th Sept 2009.

Recently I have lost my creative spirit and my head has been firmly in the sand. I am sorry to say that I have not been a good swapper. I do not intend to dance off into flake land. I will send all my partners something, even if I have to forward on what was sent to me. I am just back from the post office and a few packages are on the way, so I have made a start. I will do some rating this evening and soon everything will be back on track. Thanks everyone for being so understanding.

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My name is Helen and I was born in the USA (Miami, Fla) 40ish years ago, but have lived in the UK since 1977. Hubbie and kiddos are British, so I guess I am here for good.

Once upon a time I was a scientist, then I did admin in an office. Now I am an at home mother to two girls (10 and 6) and much happier!

If I had to describe my craft in one word it would be "quirky". I don't like rules and might break them just because I feel like it.

My personal style embraces the boho, eclectic look, even if that is on the way out (lol). I love the slightly missmatched messy look.

I love green and all the colours of nature, so am happy with a bright pallet and a more muted one. I do like contrasts in tone, so lights and darks together. If pressed for colours I like pink and orange together, brown + blue, and gradations of cream to dark brown and of course green and anything.

I enjoy crystal jewlery. The different colours and patterns that can be found in rocks fascinate me.

I don't do cutesy, unless it is so overdone that you can call it kitch. So fluffy, feathers, bling and sparkle are just fine with me.

I like things to stay positive, so I don't like images with violence or weapons of any kind. I also dislike pin up girls or sexy images.

I don't watch much tv, so the private lives of the stars don't interest me, as I don't know who they are.

My favourite artists are in two camps. The abstract ones like Joan Miro, Kandinsky and Hunderwasser. And the romantic like the preraphaelite painters and Klimt.

click on the badge to see what I pledged.

I always rate as soon as I get a package, so if you don't have a rating from me then chances are I don't have your package yet. International post is very varied, I have had overseas swaps arrive in 4 days and some take two months.

I will rate a 1, and list you on my profile if you flake on me. However I do understand that life happens. So if you are having a problem please contact me first and I will be much more understanding, than if I have to chase you.

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Love the Cure, Smiths, Joy Division, New Order and other 80's indie bands.

Coldplay, Radiohead, Kings of Leon are also my kind of thing

Recently discovered Terra Naomi. Like haunting female voices like Terra, Enya, Kate Bush.

I also like wordless music for meditation and relaxing.

This varies so much depending what my mood is. Sometimes chick lit, or thrillers. I will read anything that is gifted to me and often am surprised what I enjoy. Recently loved "the secret life of bees". Always turn to Jane Austin for a pick up.

I like films where not much happens but you learn about the people involved, like Sex lies and videotape, secrets and lies, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Costume drama always go down well, but I do get too involved in the details of the costumes.

I am mainly a textile person. I make clothes, quilts, embroidery, dolls. beads on fabric.

I love making postcards and ATC's using recycled materials like junk mail and magazines as part of a collage. I would love to get some paper scraps, small is great as I do collage type stuff.

I am trying to teach myself to draw and paint and am getting a little better every day.

I made my first dotee doll and I am hooked.

I love trying new things, and seeing what others love to do. So I would be happy to see an example of what you do best.

I love all kinds of wonderful stuff and will happily take it off your hands. I save precious things to use in my art. ..

• tea, any strange flavours, my current fave is redbush tea.
• pens, gel pens, metalic pens, marker pens, well just any kind of pen.
• Holly Hobbie (I still have some dolls from the 70's)
• candy corn
• ugly fabric
• 70's calico fabric
• ribbons
• buttons
• somerset studio mags, used are fine
• sparkly things
• beaded things, bead and things that I can use like beads. I am not a bead snob, I will use anything.
• fabric dolls
• kitch
• 50's and 60's retro
• vintage sewing patterns
• issey miyake patterns
• anything wierd and mismatched
• black and white photos
• paper scraps for collage
• unusual magazine articles
• books with unlined paper for drawing, any size
• crystals, pretty rocks, tumble stones
• I love cooking so anything that will help is great
• old issues of threads magazine, I started subscribing with issue 68 and have a few older, but would love some more of the oldies.
• pens, especially metalic, bright or muted, did I mention that I love pens?

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• cutesy
• disney (but my kiddos do!!)
• perfectly matched stuff
• victorian images
• celebrity gossip
• cheese
• smelly cosmetics
• makeup
• scary images
• gory things
• pin up girls

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@Skippymom to send this tag

complicated wood

I also need to send nothing, yippie

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@Twerlz - Old clothes become new something

@PurpleTX - Green or Shamrocks: Make your favorite craft!

@pillendreherin - ATC's specially for you!

@myhalfofthebrain - Complicated Collaborative Themed ATC

@mpontalba - Yarn swap for Rapunzel Scarf Round 1

@jennie - beginners handmade fabric heart kindly angeled by @Magpie55 thank you.

@jnaos - quotecard postcard 17

@sanguinemuntjac - quotecard postcard 17 .

@Christie - Recycled Needlebook Swap sent 15 April 09

@quadgirl - A Handmade Journal For You sent 3 Feb 09

@cerwinrhiannon - Yarn swap for Rapunzel Scarf Round 1 sent 27 Nov 08

@suipacha - No Godless Straight Lines - ATC's Int - sent Nov 21 08

@LilyO - item scavenger hunt - Int'l angel package sent Nov 14th 08

@JennieMaeD - quotecard postcard 17 sent October 17th '08

@daffodilgirl - Same day ATC swap 2 sent Oct 1 '08

@Raylyn - Quick and Easy Postcard swap 2 sent Sep 30 '08 .