sweetypiedie

Hi, I'm Diane. I'm an artist, designer and crafter living near Wollongong, Australia. I'm back on Swap-bot after a very long break.

Wow, my last profile update was in 2015 and boy has a lot changed in my life since then!

I've deleted old things that are no longer relevant to my profile and added some new things.

I'm not sure what the profile trends are these days, what to include and leave out.

Since I was last here I took the creative inspiration that Swap-Bot stirred in me and ran with it out into the world as an exhibiting artist, gallery committee member, and curator.

I went to Japan in early 2019, and it was amazing! Just before the world was truly changed.

I am now at the tail end of my Bachelor of Creative Arts Degree and working on my design business whilst being an official guide and workshop volunteer at the local regional art gallery.

I've missed crafting on small projects and I've started organising my supplies and hand-making cards again. I've also started thinking about designing craft supplies in the future, what a dream that would be!

In my house, it's just me, my husband and our cat. We both work from home. We have lots of books and lots of art. We love meeting and supporting local artists.

I'm a big fan of op-shops (thrift stores), mending things that can be fixed and donating things I don't need to someone who will use it. I get a lot of things I need and give away a lot of things I don't through a local 'everything free' group on Facebook.

Useful Links ... that I really need to test and probably update

Swap and Craft Term glossary

Trick out your profile - Markdown tutorial on Swap-bot blog

From @Katica ... In the interest of promoting understanding amongst swappers

Profile last updated 1st May 2022

• Favourite Animals: cats, giraffes, owls, seahorses.

• Bright happy colours. My favourites are blue, teal, turquoise and purple.

• Japanese stationery, paper and washi tape I've been to Japan twice now and loved it. Such a rich culture and an intriguing mix of traditional and ultra-modern. I still want to get back there again and spend more time in Kyoto and explore other places I haven't seen, like Hokkaido.

I love everything from the Kawaii, that is cute and so full of joy. Geishas are beautiful embodiments of living art. Temples and Shrines are such special places, and also beautiful. Their gardens are amazing. I need to get back to Harajuku with a bigger budget!

Symbols and creatures I return to and still love: - The Moon (my namesake), - Cats, - Teapots and tea cups, - Realistic/unconventional unicorns and dragons (less sweet and glittery more artistic, also other animal forms).

Authors - Brene Brown - Paulo Coelho

Favourite places to re-visit and explore more - Japan - Florence - Venice - New Zealand - Malta - Melbourne (Australia)

Places on the bucket list - Peru - Serengeti - UK to trace my mother's family history - Uluru - Tasmania

Hand-made arts and crafts
- Art Journals and pages
- Altered Journals - Altered Playing Cards
- ATCs hand drawn/painted
- ATCs other media
- Zines
- Skinny Cards
- Drawing I love my Derwent Inktense, Graphic and Watercolour pencils.
- Painting (Acrylics & Watercolour) - Embroidery and textile printing - Screen Printing - Digital art and design - Long letters!

• I'm allergic to chilli and paprika.
• I am gluten and lactose intolerant. This means no dairy, chocolate or anything with milk powder in it.

• I am allergic to chilli, paprika, capsicum and anything peppery or spicy. This is not a taste preference, this is a physical allergy.

• I don't have pierced ears. Please don't send me earrings.

• I have asthma and eczema. Anything that smells like smoke will go in the bin. No soaps, perfumes or skin creams, please.

• Due to Australia's strict customs regulations DO NOT send any raw plant/animal material if you're sending from outside Australia. See the link at the top of my profile for more info....... This includes pressed flowers, seeds, feathers, beeswax, and some tea (with any flowers, like hibiscus, nuts, seeds or fruit pieces or peel). If you do it will either be sent back or destroyed (and that would be sad). Processed packaged food is OK so long as it is heat-treated, sealed and has a list of ingredients. (Usually, plastic/vacuum/foil-sealed).

• Please keep your religious and political views at home unless this is specified in the swap.

• I'm telling you this because I think you want to send me something I'll really like, not because I'm fussy and don't appreciate your efforts. :)

• Ratings I expect that a swap rating is for what the swap description states and ratings should be based on that. I do not like being told to put in extras to buy a heart. It is not what I believe swap-bot is about.

• Late swappers If you are friendly, communicate with me and let me know why you're running late you can still earn a heart.

• If you don't receive a swap from me, please contact me before rating. I will always resend.

• I reuse packages, envelopes, etc as we all need to be kind to the earth.

• I will re-gift swap-items, if you send me something which is perfect for someone else I may pass it on. Please don't think, I don't like the items you sent me. I will never take credit for your work.

• You are more than welcome to re-gift or swap anything I send you - even if it is handmade. If you think it's good enough for someone else then please share, but please do not claim my work as your own. My artwork is protected by copyright.

The Angel Honour Roll

• I am happy to say some coordinators are on the ball and offer to Angel before I chase people up. Kudos to @TangleCrafts

• Altered Reuseable Bag Challenge. I have had this swap angeled this for me from the lovely @ChinaCat To show my appreciation I am rating her here.

• The gorgeous and talented @crescendo sent me an awesome altered reusable bag as part of the 7 things in 7 days swap after seeing here that I needed an angel. How lucky am I?

• @Kokopelli has kindly offered to Angel the Journals Me This

• @whowillloveme has kindly angeled the Swapper's Alphabet Bingo!

• @ravenshadowcaster has kindly angeled the - THE UPCYCLED BOOKMARK PROJECT.