kindbydesign

I'm taking an extended break from swap-bot. This past year has been really tough, and I just need to get my life back together!

My Etsy Favorites

I'm married, and live in the suburbs of Washington, DC. I have a very cute, bratty little Bichon Frise. I love animals, especially dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, cows, deer, goats...okay, I pretty much love all animals.

I'm a graphic designer, and I love taking photographs.

I'm vegan, so I don't eat, buy, or use anything made from animal products. This includes chicken, fish, honey, gelatin, milk, wool, silk, leather, and feathers. I'm not preachy, though, I just live my life the best way I know how and let others live theirs.

I love to travel. I've taken several trips to Europe and across the U.S. I can be very shy, and I have an incredible sweet tooth.

I love to cook, bake (bread, especially!), and garden. I run, hike, and also practice yoga several times a week.

I just joined, so at the moment my profile is a constant work in progress.

My kitchen is overflowing with gadgets and pans, and I use them all.

I love my Mac and iPod. :-)

I am a very novice sewer. I love paper crafts, cross-stitch, beading (love vintage lucite and glass!), jewelry making, playing with polymer and precious metal clay, and embroidery. I'm learning to knit and crochet, because I need yet another craft or hobby!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Amelie, Monsoon Wedding, The Big Lebowski, Napoleon Dynamite, The Usual Suspects, American Beauty, Chocolat, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Baraka, The Princess Bride.

Grey's Anatomy, You Are What You Eat, Ugly Betty, Meerkat Manor, House, Six Feet Under, The Wire, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, The Universe, Anything on the History Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet, HGTV, and similar channels.

I read cookbooks like they're novels, and I have way too many books on my "to read" list, but I've recently enjoyed The Kite Runner, The Time Traveler's Wife, A Natural History of the Senses, Never Let Me Go, and all of the Harry Potter Books.

I like an odd mix of music. I don't like everything, but I like musicians across all genres. Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Beatles Cream, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Rufus Wainwright, Nickel Creek, Ani Difranco, Tribe Called Quest, Jurassic 5, Feist, Death Cab for Cutie, Travis, Joni Mitchell, The Dixie Chicks.

I love dark chocolate (no milk ingredients, please!),real coffee, and tea. I love anything cherry or sour green apple flavored, hard candy, and mints (except Altoids).

Favorite flowers are gerbera daisies, peonies, and any wildflower--pretty much anything except red roses.

I love fairies (the less "cutesy" type), anything with an elemental theme such as water, fire, air, or earth. I also love dragonflies, ladybugs, and butterflies.

I love Hello Kitty, Kawaii, and Paddington Bear stuff.

All things craft related --card stock, paint pens, stickers, beads, buttons, DMC embroidery floss (anything's fine really, but I use DMC for cross-stitch), how-to's on crafty things, fun hole punches, pretty paper, blank cards, stamps, ink pads, embossing powder, and so on.

I like the smell of fresh flowers in my garden, but I prefer fruity or food scented things like candles (prefer soy, but just no beeswax), and bath stuff.

I also love 20's-60's era vintage, anything pre-psychedelic or disco era.

I love old photographs, ribbons, lace, interesting photos of people, old advertisements. I love anything that gives me a little insight into the person who is sending it. I also like handmade papers, or just paper with an interesting pattern.

I'm a designer, so I love any color in the right context, but I wear and surround myself with a lot of reds and pinks. In fact, my office has cream walls and burgundy shelves.

I also use a lot of purples, deep blues and greens, and pale yellows. Always prefer silver colored things over gold colored things. I have pierced ears, but I am severely allergic to nickel, even in necklaces, so any jewelry has to be nickel-free.

Favorite color combos: Pink & Brown "Tiffany Blue" & Brown Pink & Green

I love things with interesting typefaces or patterns. Polka dots and stripes are always fun.

I am learning to knit and crochet, so needles, and acrylic, cotton, bamboo, or soy yarn would be great.

Anything handmade!

I don't like the taste or smell of black licorice or root beer.

I'm allergic to nickel, cats, and feathers.

I really don't like are clowns and spiders. Even "cute" spiders or hobo clowns. I'm not a huge fan of red roses, either.

I'd rather not receive things that have a religious theme, anything resembling a Thomas Kinkade painting, and obviously nothing with animal products (don't get too worried, though, I can always give things away).

Seriously, no spiders or clowns. They really freak me out.