MelissaSimon

Hello everyone!

I live in the southern United States where the climate is mild in the winter, but very hot in the summer. I have three children and a sweet but very smelly dog.

My hobby is painting, and I try to spend a little time painting each day. I take lots of photographs of all sorts of things that interest me, and when I paint I usually draw inspiration from my photographs. I also love hand drawn lettering and type and have an interest in graphic design.

I like to read and am a member of a book group. I also enjoy going to the movies. The movies I have seen most recently are "Once" (loved it!), "Michael Clayton," "Juno," and "No Country for Old Men."

I'm not much of an everyday cook, but I love to bake and do elaborate kitchen projects. I like making creme brulee, pasta, meringue mushrooms, jams, and pies with fancy crusts.

I love to travel and am always planning a trip somewhere or other. I love to visit large cities because I like bustling city streets with lots of activity. I like sampling new foods and getting a taste of other regions and cultures. I love going into new and interesting shops and looking at art. My very favorite city is Paris. My favorite museum in Paris is the Centre Pompidou. I find modern art very provocative and interesting. But I also love many other periods in art history.

My taste is more artsy than crafty. I do not like cutesy things, glittery or glitzy things....I prefer things that are more funky, old or inspired by nature. I love creations that include a personal touch, even if it's just a hand drawn line or brush stroke added to an assemblage. I like natural fibers, handmade papers and especially little doodles, drawings, and lettering done by hand. I believe that anything made by hand and with care has value.

Thanks for reading my profile. I am looking forward to participating in some fun swaps!

Melissa