sknittymama

A woefully perfectionistic, hopelessly procrastinating, crafting, sewing, knitting, baking, photographing, all-night reading, bento-making mama who likes to play with Blythe dolls. I'm not one of those people (wish I was!) who does it all, makes it look easy, and still mops the kitchen floor. I SACRIFICE a lot - mostly sleep and said kitchen floor - to indulge my creative nature.

Nodding off as she types. . .

I like to swap because I really enjoy crafting and I love the challenge of putting together a well-thought out package that someone will be tickled pink to open. If I don't already know my swapee, I use my "detective" skills to learn about them through their profiles. Likewise, I am thrilled when someone takes the time to figure out what rocks my boat & sends me something that they think will make me smile.

And a confession: I have TOTAL "crafter envy." When I see other crafters' fabulous creations, I feel inferior and unaccomplished. I have to go back and look at my "babies" to remind myself that I make pretty things, too. . . ;^)

Currently head over heels crazy for all things Shinzi Katoh...

I am an on-again, off-again obsessive crafter who dabbles in many mediums. I craft with needle and thread, fabric and felt, yarn, flour and sugar, a camera, and sometimes paper.

Currently, I can be found sewing (bags, robots, bears, bunnies, chibis), baking, making paint chip wallets, altering jars, making bottlecap art, burning CD mixes and putting together bentos.

Knitting is on hiatus, but I have an enormous stash and many patterns on hold. . .

Some things I make. . .

My dream swap package received would include:

• Something handmade with lots of ♥!!!
• Something for crafting (vintage or unique buttons, pretty ribbon, cute fabric)
• Something sweet, preferably from another country!
• Something whimsical or kawaii
• Something for my 5 year old son (doesn't have to be much, just earmarked specially for him!)

Check out what I dig for more hints. . .

Please note, cough, ahem, I really don't like, cough cough "fun" yarn, sorry... :)

I love to read, but go through books so fast, I don't retain as much as I would like to. Mostly fiction, frequently "slice-of-life stories," definitely side-splitting mysteries, often women writers, some chick-lit.

The last book that made me cry: The Memory Keeper's Daughter (Kim Edwards)

The last book that made be laugh: Bet Me (Jennifer Crusie)

Most re-read: The Sandman (Neil Gaiman's graphic novel series)

Some favorite authors, in no particular order: Wallace Stegner, Edith Wharton, Sue Miller, Anita Shreve, Elizabeth Berg, Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie, Olivia Butler, Sue Monk Kidd, Neil Gaiman. . .

Unfortunately, when my head isn't buried in a book, I watch too much TV!

Some favorites: Rescue Me, Cold Case, The Closer, House, Saving Grace, Bones, The Shield, The Office (American version), Fawlty Towers (recently watched again on DVD), Weeds, Big Love, Law & Order (ALL of them), Project Runway, What Not to Wear, and American Idol (hangs head in shame. . .)

My music tastes are eclectic, but not exactly current. I'm working on this and have a growing collection of music from the 21st century! It's challenging when one's prime music-imprinting years are past. . .

Please, introduce me to contemporary artists of all genres.

What I like: 50's jazz (Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holliday, Nina Simone); Folk, Bluegrass, etc. (Nanci Griffith, Alison Krauss, Lucinda Williams); 60's/70's Singer-Songwriters (Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, Eva Cassidy); Bruce Springsteen (everything BUT Born in the USA); Johnny Cash; 60's Soul/R&B, blue-eyed or otherwise (Dusty Springfield, Gigi and the Charmaines); Music for little people (Elizabeth Mitchell, Dan Zanes); Random 80's music (The Cure, New Order, Madonna, Frente!, Prince, Elvis Costello, Violent Femmes, Blondie); Random contemporary (Duffy, The Strokes, Libertines, Corinne Bailey Rae, Angie Hart, Jason Mraz, Coldplay, Maroon 5, Dido); Alt-Country Singer-Songwriters (Bright Eyes, Whiskeytown, Ryan Adams); Random Indie (Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis, Glossary, Imaginary Baseball League, and Aaron Robinson - go check him out!); New Favorites (Lykke Li and Cyndi Lauper)

To:

• Girlonaglide - Colors mix CD (CD PIB) SENT
• cbzcando - RAK SENT
• jannikinz - Tootsie Rolls ("Edible" I wish) SENT
• lucindalynn - Indie mix CD (CD PIB)SENT
• RudeNun - Indie mix CD (CD PIB) SENT

From:

• RudeNun - 80's ska/Culture Club mix (CD PIB)RECEIVED
• simonjester - RAK RECEIVED
• lucindalynn - Indie Mix (CD PIB)RECEIVED
• jannikinz - Pink Cookies ("Edible" I wish) RECEIVED
• Jennifer - Desert Favorites Mix (CD PIB) RECEIVED