Equality72521

(my likes/dislikes are listed in sections further down the page)

I'm 30-something, married and live in a house hidden by redwood trees. I love to travel and go camping. I also love to stay home and garden (i love putting my hands in the dirt and feeling grass between my toes). I have a BA in Anthropology and like to learn about different cultures. I love most kinds of music, play ukulele, and am learning the banjo.

My husband and I have 3 cats at a dog, but I am much more a cat person and could do without a dog.

I've noticed that a lot of people on swap-bot seem to be really high-strung and uptight about this whole "swapping" thing. A lot of people seem to be real busy-bodies, enjoy criticizing what other people made, or like to stir up drama in the forums to prove they're "right". I don't understand it. I've noticed a lot of people leaving negative comments because the stuff they got wasn't expensive from fancy schmancy place. The more i look around the more i get the impression that this isnt just a simple group of crafters who like to make good quality handmade things. I signed up for this because i want to MAKE stuff. I'm a simple person, so im trying to avoid swaps that look like they might draw in high-maintenance prissy types. Life is too short to deal with that.

The Little Prince, Anthem. I also enjoy works by Dorothy Parker, H.D., R. K. Narayan, Italo Calvino, Ray Bradbury, Alan Lightman, and...

I like books about gardening, archaeology, philosophy, tea, camping, folk lore and fairy tales.

I tend to get ahead of myself and become frustrated with patterns and recipes, so in any craft I tend to make it up as I go along. Sometimes this leads to errm... unexpected results! ;)

i enjoy simple crochet, sewing and embroidery projects, as well as decoupage, beading, and seasonal crafts like christmas ornaments. I also like making things for the pets of friends and family (dog treats, catnip toys etc). Last year I got a Brother embroidery/sewing machine and am having a fun time downloading different designs for it.

I like musicals and kids movies a lot. I watch stuff like The Parent Trap when I'm sad. I like fantasy, romantic comedy, drama, action ... there's not really a genre i don't like. As a rule, I don't actively seek out horror films, but there are some i like.

City of Lost Children, The Gnome Mobile, Chinese Ghost Story, Labyrinth, Singin' In the Rain, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Arsenic and Old Lace, Sleeper, Love and Death etc etc.

I love rich color; earth tones/fall colors, cobalt blue, amber/golden yellow, royal purple, leaf green and things with botanical/flower themes (like old scientific drawings from botany books). In swaps i always welcome things that shine and sparkle, tea, holiday decorations, chocolate, quality machine embroidery thread spools (like the brands they have at Joann's), fat quarters, scraps of unique lace or trim. I also love getting beads and findings, as long as they're not cheaply made. I love copper findings and chain, metal beads, glass beads, lucite flowers and lots more!

In design, i shy away from "modern" and a lot of contemporary fabrics/colors. I like nature. I like things that make a dramatic and bold statement without being loud or busy (too many stripes, polka dots, or too much contrast like black/white squares tends to be a turn-off for me).

I like fantasy/mystical (faeries, unicorns) and mystical/spiritual (shamanism, runes, magic) themes as long as they're not too over-the-top and cheesy.

There's nothing that i dislike ALL the time; almost everything has its place, in moderation, in certain contexts.

colors not fond of: bright red and fluorescent colors, most pastel colors (i do love baby blue), not a huge fan of pink in most contexts, magenta.

I don't like bubble gum, plastic beads, certain kinds of folk/country crafts (like Americana style). I don't like religious stuff (angels, crosses etc), although philosophical and spiritual stuff is ok (yes, there's a difference).

I really dislike things with cutesie sayings on them like "If you don't like something and you can't change it, change the way you think about it!" or "Life is just a chair of bowlies" on pillows, buttons, shirts and the like. My mom thinks stuff like that is really cute, but its never appealed to me.

I'm not into stuff that is overly cute or cartoony (like little anamorphic cupcakes with giant eyes ... I don't get it), and I'm also not into stuff with "clever" or irreverent sayings on them (like the buttons or bumper stickers you find at Hot Topic or Spencer's Gifts).