fuzi

I'm working on my PhD in Sociology. I spend way too much time in the world of academia, so arts and crafts are an escape.

I also coach and judge gymnastics, so I always need notebooks to judge in. I often pass on unwanted goodies and stickers to my students.

I tend to come and go from swap-bot. I'll be really into it for a couple of months, and then life happens, and I take a long hiatus. Of course, I always complete the swaps I commit to.

I've been enjoying fitness a lot lately. I'm training for my first triathlon and really excited about it.

I love knitting and crocheting, and I've recently rediscovered embroidery. I learned to sew when I was 8 years old, and still enjoy making clothing as well as smaller items.

My latest obsession is finding ways to use vintage magazines in craft projects.

I also enjoy jewelry making and paper crafts, although I don't do either as much as I once did. I still have a lot of scrapbooking stuff, but I've decided I like to simply put my photographs in albums. I'm more likely to make cards or ATCs. ATC are my latest obsession. I want to cover a wall in them.

Really though, I like all crafts, although I've never been a painter or a drawer. Give me random objects and glue, and I will be quite happy.

I'm pretty musically open minded on this one, although I am not a fan of country, R&B, religious music, or violent and degrading rap. I'm a total sucker for hits from the 80s and sometimes listen to musical cast recordings. I also miss going to punk shows.

A few favorites off the top of my head: Alix Olson and spoken word artists in general. Andrew Bird. Ben Folds. Brandi Carlile. De La Soul. Jack Johnson. No Doubt (in their glory days). Northern State. Pink Floyd. Rasputina. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Regina Spektor. Rilo Kiley. Simon and Garfunkle. Tegan and Sara. The Who.

I desperately need some new music. I'd love a mix cd.

Other than textbooks: Anything GLBTQ except cheesy mysteries. Books on gender and sexuality. Barbara Kingsolver. David Sedaris. Dorothy Allison. Fiction with well developed characters.

I want to read some in Spanish. I'd love some kids or young adult books en espanol.

Amelie, The Wizard of Oz, and Little Miss Sunshine are my all-time favorites. I'm not a huge movie person. I tend to like artsy, independent things, intelligent comedies (especially dark ones), and some dramas. I refuse to watch horror or thriller movies as I will have nightmares for days.

Community, Glee, Grey's Anatomy, Make It or Break It, Private Practice, Queer as Folk, Six Feet Under, Weeds

FOOD: dark chocolate, dots, twizzlers, tea (especially chai). I'm a vegetarian and love new and interesting recipes.

OBJECTS: books, bookmarks, anything Burts bees, beads (especially glass or wood ones), black lace, board games, embroidery floss or embroidery/cross-stitch patterns, interesting soaps, lotions (especially more natural types), music (I still love mix cds!), purses and bags, paper, Scrabble, yarn (especially soft natural blends, I have enough novelty yarn to last a lifetime)

THEMES/MOTIFS: a little bit dark, a little bit naughty, Betty Page and other pin-ups, black and white photography, anything circus or carnival, the colors green/purple/teal, cute children, dance, anything gymnastics, nature, peace, pin-up girls, rainbows, roller derby, saving the world, vintage kitsch

FOR MY PARTNER: seaturtles, rubber duckies

ACTIVITIES: circus arts, dancing, gymnastics, rock climbing, reading, swimming, water skiing, writing, triathlons

eggs (I'm allergic!), overly cutesy things such as Hello Kitty, religious images or symbols, stuffed animals (though if they are sea turtles or rubber ducky style, my partner will love them), things that just collect dust

CRAFT STUFF

*Origami paper

*Cross-stitch patterns

*Embroidery patterns

*Embroidery thread

*Old costume jewelry

*Interesting paper of any kind. Recycled is fine. For example: old sheet music, old comic books, old cookbooks.

*ATC Backgrounds

*Brads

*Envelopes and note cards

*An ATC stamp for artist info

*Watercolors

*Double-sided tape

*Stickers (like everyone, I don't prefer "reward" stickers for my own art, however, because I coach gymnastics, I do use rewards stickers as motivation for my students. If you have reward stickers you won't use, I will put them to use) and not mark you down.

*Organization supplies for craft supplies

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

*Notebooks, larger sizes preferred (when I judge gymnastics I usually go through at least one spiral notebook a day)

*Sticky tabs to mark pages in books (I go through SOOOO many of these)

*Highlighters

OTHER

*Letter is for __" ATCs (G, J, M, S-Z), vertical oriented preferred

*Cute underwear. I can never have enough. Bikini, hip hugger, boy shorts styles. Size medium.

*Larger barrettes for thicker hair, or medium size "claw" hair clips.

*New 2 gauge body jewelry for my ears

*Postal scale

*Anything on my Amazon wishlist

*Silicone swim caps