Sparkles

Firstly, I must apologize for my late swaps to everyone as of late. After our house recently flooded, there was a lot of damage and a lot of work to do to get it tidied up. At the same time, my partner and I split, so have been sorting out the house even further. I'm just catching up on everything and wanted to thank everyone for their patience.....and for not giving me horrible ratings!! Will be back on track soon, promise!!

I really just enjoy creating, but my favorite, in no particular order, are Jewelery making, cross stitch, knitting, making softies, scrap booking and experimenting with fabric dye. I have also done felting, stenciling, furniture “rejuvenation”, decoupage, paper mache, sewing, crochet, working with Fimo, candle making, soap making, using gold leaf, card-making, photography and tie dye. I also used to be a picture framer (commended by the Fine Arts Trade Guild, no less!) and a qualified makeup artist.

I can't, however, paint or draw to save my life. The only thing I can draw is a "figure-8" duck and a "figure-8" fish.....

Crafts to try: Silver art clay, stained glass, paper making, screen printing, mosaics, millinery, needle felting, macrame, resin moulding, batik, stamping, whimsy jars (I fear I may get addicted to that one), looming, pottery, flax weaving, latch-hook rugs, fabric-covered buttons, the list goes on. I find something new every day!

Being a solo-mum now, my 11-month old son is my only “non-craft hobby”.....we take lots of walks, go to swimming lessons, play with the kitties, etc.

When I can find the time, I always have, always will love reading.

Origami paper, crazy kinds of yarn in purple/magenta shades, sea glass/tiles/porcelain (very weathered), foreign paper currency, photo mats, anything stars/full moon/Oriental, buttons, foreign newspaper, stickers, Moroccan influenced stuff, general scrap-booking items, anything Fiji or tropical, the sea, tattoos, anything glittery/shiny/sparkly (I'm a magpie!), rubber ducks, anything kitschy, cats, historical royalty, Geisha anything, blossom branches (oh, so beautiful), iron-on interfacing, pirates, skull & crossbones, mini-golf, antique religious icons, Mexican Day of the Dead, Sanrio characters, the 80's (hey, I'm a 70's kid), anything retro, dichroic glass beads, sterling silver corner-less cube beads, nag champa incense, Converse and Vans shoes, coconut, Dr. Pepper, candies from my youth (Starbursts, Mike n Ikes, Milk Duds, Pop Rocks, Jolly Ranchers, Big Hunk, Laffy Taffy, Jelly Belly's, wax lips, Butterfinger, etc. I can get very few "American" candies over here and I lust after them, big time!) Rit or Dylon dyes, hibiscus flowers, velvet, antique wallpapers, anything "South Pacific" themed, Hawaiian Tiki's, dragonflies, Japanese fashion, costuming (especially historical costuming), herbal tea: chamomile/vanilla/cinnamon/chai, chipboard photo frames and letters, x-stitch supplies, fabric offcuts (for making softies), moonstones (I used to collect them off the beach on the central coast of California, but haven't seen one in ages), astrology/feng shui, The Great and Wonderous Outdoors. Ooh! just an afterthought...always looking for 100% pure wool jumpers/sweaters, etc. for felting, so I can turn them into softies. Even scraps of pure wool knitting are great :)

Amy Butler Design (I simply LOOOOOVE her graphics/images....totally, totally my style. www.amybutlerdesign.com - can't get it in NZ, but can in Australia..)

In regards to wants, being in New Zealand, the extent of certain craft supplies is limited, so anything that arrives internationally will probably be something that I can't source locally, which is GREAT!!!

I've never seen a "live" ATC, so would love to receive one, as well as an "inchie" (and maybe a bit of an explanation about the craft and what attracted you to it and why you enjoy it....c'mon, convert me to yet ANOTHER craft LOL)

I keep thinking of things at inconvenient times, like in the shower or at 2am when I'm feeding my son and by the time I get to the PC, I've forgotten....

Rather than put a favorite colour (ok, blues/greens/purples with Green the winner), I'll put what I don't like. YELLOW. BEIGE. Basically, I love MOST colours. Teal, magenta, copper, turquoise, deep midnight blue, robin's egg blue are some of my favorites.

Small Asian teapots and teacups/saucers, small cocktail glasses, buttons, all manner of craft supplies (heeeeaapps of craft stuff, actually), themed coasters, books about gnomes. Cats (live ones, we have four).

Uber-cutesy baby stuff, scratch-n-sniff, roses, corduroy, yellow, "country kitchen" style (you know, with the chickens and folk art, etc.), patriotic stuff, "frouffy" kinds of stuff - fussy lace, baby pink/pale yellow, padded tissue boxes, Victorian stuff (with the odd exception).

ALL TIME, HANDS DOWN – TAVEUNI, FIJI.

Other great spots: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Sydney, Australia, San Francisco, California....

Places on my "GO TO" list: Japan, Italy, France, wherever else. I'd never say no to travel.

I'm 34 years old, live with my partner and baby son on the north shore of Auckland, New Zealand. I came here in '96 to go backpacking (originally from Reno, NV, but left from California) and never went back. It's been a crazy ride so far, but it's resulted in an awesome outcome...my wee Casper-baby. I started scrap-booking just a few months before he was born to make books for him to look at about himself when he was a bit older. I try to keep up with it now, but he grows so fast and there are so many photos that I am several months behind....

I have been a full-time mum for 8 months, but prior to that, held full-time jobs and contracts in various industries for the past 20 or so years...

We have 4 cats. When I hit Lotto, I'm going to have my own farm/ranch/plantation and have two of everything, like an ark! Not for eating, just for hanging with.

Anything but country. Seriously. (Although, in saying that (I can hear everyone laughing already), I love Dolly Parton!! "Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jo-lene, I'm begging of you, please don't take my man" LOL