snpyrunner

If you do not get my EMAIL swap... please PLEASE let me know before you rate and I will resend. I save all emails that are sent, it will take two seconds. Emails often get sent to the SPAM folder and thus get lost. I ALWAYS send email swaps on time!

I have a Masters in Art Edu and another in Special education. Unfortunately due to the reduction in jobs, I have inevitably lost my teaching license since I haven't found employment. NYS wants me to jump through hoops of fire to get it back, and at this point, I just don't have it in me emotionally, financially, you name it. I recently started a job as an office manager with an audio and video installation business. I honestly love it! I also have recently become a member of the local volunteer fire department. Wish me luck!

I live in upstate New York... where it's very cold in the winter, and equally hot in the summer. Besides practicing my art I enjoy just about anything outdoors like running, kayaking, hunting, camping, fishing, yoga, biking, CrossFit, exercise of most kinds, all of the above. I LOVE cats and have three named Bear, Effie, and Lola. We also have a hunting beagle named Ellie. I live with my husband and our twin boys. They were born April 14, 2012.

I used to do A LOT of swaps, but since having the twins I am now a part-time worker and a full-time mom. I stay at home during the day and leave for work just after my husband gets home. We are certainly among the many struggling in this economy, and there are the occasional days when the cupboards look a little bare. That said, I am only taking on swaps that are USA only and that I know shipping won't be over $3. Yes, I could just not participate in swaps, but I never purchase anything for myself, or go anywhere, so swapping is a way to treat myself.

Just a side note: I have a pretty busy hectic life (don't we all?) and sometimes I forget to rate... PLEASE just PM me and let me know! It's no problem and I will rate right away. Along with that, if you have not received a package, please contact me! I always send, it might be late by a day, but I ALWAYS contact you first. I never try to slip a package by, send it late, and not tell you about it! Please respect this by contacting me before you rate me. Thank you!

Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Brad Paisley are my favorite country artists. Taylor Swift, Lorde, Cam, Pink, Justin Timberlake, Black Eyed Peas, Nickelback, etc. are the right tempo for a run. Easton Corbin, Justin Moore, Lady Antebellum, Chris Caigle, Gary Allen, and the list goes on...

Authors named Sarah Addison Allen, Wally Lamb, T. Greenwood, Alice Sebold, James Patterson, Kay Hooper, Lisa Gardner, Maggie Shayne, Alex Cava, Iris Johansen.

Also love how-to books on the arts or anything on art criticism. I subscribe to Fitness magazine and get my step-mom's back issues of Weight Watcher's, Oprah, and Family Circle. Anything fitness related, outdoors, baby, or running. Would love your back issues of Crafting or Art magazines.

Love audiobooks on CD... so send them my way if you have finished and would like to pass it on!

I have a Nook Color, so if you want to "lend me" any books or send them on CD that would be awesome!

When I get the chance to watch TV (which is never) I enjoy crime shows, The Following, Criminal Minds, Castle, The Mentalist, Dexter, Cake Boss, Chopped, The Next Iron Chef, The Next Great Baker, Roseanne, The Killing, Seinfeld.

Love the Investigative Discovery channel, AMC, and Food Network, Lifetime Movie Network, and The Hallmark Movie channel. I'm a sucker for a good romance.

I am trying to get back into my artwork, and am really just drawing right now using non-bleed ink pens. I'd love to see your pictures of alley ways, bridges, cluttered counter tops or studios. Send them my way. I also paint, use colored pencils, and create with recycled objects.

Other than that, I am still working on an I-Spy quilt for my boys and can use any 6 inch fabric squares you might have that have objects on them.

I do enjoy dabbling in this and that, but sewing is the one thing I still go back to. I enjoy quilting, sewing bags, and sewing things for my boys.

I also love to look at new types of artworks, enjoy painting (although it never seems to provide satisfaction for me). I would like to try liquid acrylics and paint abstractly. I also enjoy outsider art, and artworks/sculptures that use mundane overlooked materials (think pipe cleaners, scotch tape, toothpicks).

These are things I wish for!

• Yardage of lace, trim, other things that can alter a dress or clothes (I'm upcycling my clothes, altering them to make better... new addiction!)

• bandanna to wear on my head

• long fashion scarves

• purse sized lotion

• a slouchy beret style hat

• lemon scented anything

• lemon flavored anything (sugar free please)

• holiday decor ($$ store is fine), please only send if it is the season for that holiday (i.e. no Halloween at Christmas time)

• Colorful patterned socks (my boys like the patterns) or super soft and warm ones. I am size 9

• steering wheel cover

• seat belt cover

• I NEED 28 more I-spy squares, prefer 6 inch since I am cutting octagons (food fabrics or animals or trucks are great, cartoons too)

• paint brushes (pref. 1" foam throw-aways and decorative brushes)

• handmade bag with pockets on the inside and outside. I have one that I am using that I love, but the straps always break (tote size or a little larger)

• cute ceramic container (animal?) for the back of sink to hold a sponge (My grandmother used to have a frog with a big wide open mouth)

• Lipton makes a Ginger Twist tea that I can no longer find in my area, would love some!

• Pumpkin Spice coffee or any flavor accept amaretto and banana

• LARGE yo-yo maker

• Yogi teas (any of them, I enjoy Cold Season in the Winter)

• ebooks (I have a Kindle Fire)

• dark chocolate, hot cocoa (like flavored ones too), sugar-free is best

• dark chocolate dusted almonds, cocoa dusted almonds, baked good made by you

• scented chapsticks (anything BUT soda and banana and cherry)

• link to Pinterest boards about artwork, art made of reflections, altering your t-shirts or other drab clothes, art that inspires you, easy sew or no-sew clothing, your Christmas gift ideas (crafts))

• handmade knitted/crochet sleeve for my kindle fire.

Although these things are lovely, I don't really have a use for them:

• Scrapbook related items

• embroidery related items like cross stitch or thread

• ATC related items (used to do them, but not so much anymore)

• kitschy things

• big prints on fabrics (accept for the I-Spy fabrics)

• plastic canvas

• plastic jewelry or cheap jewelry

• pins

• religious items

• stickers (unless specifically requested in my boy's wishlist)

These things would be great little treats for my twin boys who 4 yrs old (as of 4/14/16). Also, we are at the stage of EXTREME jealousy, so if you could afford to send 2 of something (especially the small things like cars or books) that would be awesome! Also $$ store or thrift store or garage sale is always welcome as long as items are in decent condition.:

• My one son loves purple, and it's of course hard to find a shirt for a boy in purple. My other son loves pink. LOL. This MUST be a phase right? Both boys love everything rainbow.

• fun socks with pretty much anything on them/Sz 7-9 toddler (Target has them in their $ bins all the time)

• Despicable Me/Minions anything

• anything trains, tractors, garbage trucks or monster trucks, planes, helicopters

• HUGE into Ninja Turtles

• Teddy Grahams

• goldfish crackers

• recipes for fun bite-sized foods to make for them, or recipes they can help make (they LOVE to help cook)

• Favorite movies/shows: PAW Patrol, Disney's Planes or Cars themed anything, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Brother Bear, 101 Dalmations,, Peppa the Pig, Scooby Doo, Despicable Me/Minions, Angry Birds, Ninja Turtles, Zootopia, Lego Movie, Snoopy, Big Hero 6

• iron-on patches in any of the characters above

• your unwanted Disney or Pixar animated DVDs

• small kitchen utensils, or anything their size that they can use in the kitchen

• clothing sizes 4T shirts, 4T shorts/pants, size 8.5 and 9.5 toddler shoes/socks. gently used, unstained welcome

• baking related items (sprinkles, candy eyeballs for cupcakes, etc)

• Snoopy anything

• Matchbox cars (especially Volkswagon Bug, cars with a number on them, and purple colored trucks or cars, dinosaurs on cars, helicopters/planes)

• Minion figurines (surprise packs)

• anything with their names on it (PM me for names please)