Retired. Husband retired. Two daughters both married. Two granddaughters. One cat. I am spiritual, but not religious. I embrace tenets from many beliefs and recognize the existence of a higher power. I dislike "good ole' boy" politics & do not identify with any specific party. I am a tree-hugging animal lover & love nature.

Crafts: Sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery/crewel, dried florals, papercrafting; Arts: drawing, painting, calligraphy, writing prose/poetry, journaling, cooking, playing piano, reading.

Likes: Traveling, cruising, salt air, the ocean, crisp morning air, rain on my face, fall colors, laughter of children, smiles, soft snowfall, the wind, fantasy, meditation, metaphysics, silence, hugs

Genre: Folk, Blues, Alternative, World Music, New Age: Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo', Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Fleetwood Mac, Moody Blues, David Bowie, Dr. John, Annie Lenox, Carly Simon, Paul Simon, Gary Jules, Jason Mraz, Josh Groban, Andrea Bochelli, Bonnie Raitt, Wilco, Mumford & Sons, Five for Fighting, Bare Naked Ladies, CCR, Steve Winwood, Dead Can Dance, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Emmy Lou Harris, Nancy Griffith, Patty Griffin, and oh, so many others!

Books: American Dirt, Cutting for Stone, White Dog Falling from the Sky, Game of Thrones series, Harry Potter series, Dune series, Water for Elephants, The Silent Patient, Where the Crawdads Sing; Authors: Steven King, Sharon Kay Pennman, Ken Follett, John Grisham; Poetry: Gail Mazur, Rod McKuen, Maxine Kumin, Edgar Alan Poe (poetry/prose), Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost

Not a movie goer-- just watch whatever's playing on HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax, Netflix, etc.; Love foreign films (with subtitles, not dubbed); Like suspense, sci-fi, drama and deep movies that leave you thinking.

Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, Chopped, Master Chef, Master Chef Junior, American Horror Story, Survivor, Chicago Med, Vikings, VICE, Frontline, NCIS (all), Blue Bloods, Ice Road Truckers, The Deadliest Catch, The Amazing Race, Dr. Pimple Popper, My Aching Feet, & all the veterinary sites (Dr. Pol, Dr. T., etc.)

Knitting, Crocheting, Embroidery, Crewel, Any papercrafts (but especially Inchies, Twinchies, ATCs & Moo cards), Journaling, Sewing, watercolor painting, calligraphy, shell pictures, drawing

Likes: Coffee (not decaf) Caffeinated tea of all kinds, All colors, Handmade papers, Used postage stamps from anywhere, Die cuts; Dislikes: Herbal teas, Instant coffee, Religious stuff, Disney (I’ve outgrown it)

I have been doing papercrafts all my life & have a whole room of supplies & tools. I can honestly say I don't need another thing. I just replace supplies.

Favorite Artists: Jaime & Andrew Wyeth, Winslow Homer, Alphonse Mucha, Erte, Norman Rockwell, Peter Maxwell, Maxfield Parrish; Art Deco, Art Nuvo

PLEASE NOTE: I try to get my swaps done as soon as I sign up because I sign up for so many. Therefore, they do not reflect partner preferences as partners are not assigned until weeks later. I don't sign up for profile swaps for this reason.

Please don’t feel you must include extras in our swaps. Your awesome creative art is enough to make me happy and is the base for my rating.

I take my membership in the groups I belong to or have created very seriously. The founders/coordinators/officers of these groups work very hard to think of swaps, vet participants, and troubleshoot any problems. I do my best to support them by signing up for swaps and being available to host when needed.

I create upstairs & receive mail downstairs. I rate on the day I receive swaps (or the next day at the latest) & after rating, place the swap on the dining room table to go up & be entered in my swap journal. If you’re missing a rating, I’m missing your swap. Please pm me so I know you will resend.

I have never, nor will I ever flake on any swap I undertake. If I find, by some cruel twist of fate, that I cannot complete a swap by its deadline, I will notify you & the coordinator to obtain a mutually agreeable solution. I would appreciate it if you have any problems with or do not receive any of my swaps that you notify me so I may rectify the problem. I promise to do the same for you.

Thank you for allowing me to participate in this wonderful creative journey with you!