November 10, 2008

Hello!

Hi Everyone!
This blog is full of information about me for craftster swaps! yay! Information that you wouldn't otherwise know! Anyways, I got this idea from haroldlovesmaude, my last swap partner, and thought it was BRILLIANT! It helped me a lot, so I figured I'd make one too! Happy reading and crafting!

Basic Measurements, etc.

Shirt Size: I wear an adult unisex medium or large. I have swimmer shoulders, and really really long arms, so girly shirts look weird on me and I never wear them.

Shoe size: 9.5 or 10 I have narrow feet, so 9.5 is usually too wide. :)

Skirt/pant size: size 16 long in women.

Bust/Waist/inseam, etc.: 38" bust, 32" waist, 33" inseam, 27" arm length (shoulder to wrist), 44" hips, 10" ankle, 6.25" wrist, ring size 6 on right hand ring finger, probably 7 or 8 for the others. I don't know why in the world you would need these, but you never know!

Height: 5'7''

Jewelry: My ears are NOT pierced! I occasionally wear necklaces, but I really enjoy ankle bracelets and rings. :)

Things I can do!

Here are some crafts I like to do and/or am proficient at:

Sewing: I am really awesome at sewing. Haha! No, but really, I currently work in my college's costume shop, and pretty much have to sew everything, from silks and tulle to leather. I also make some of my own clothes so if you're reading this for a personal swap, don't be afraid to ask! I really enjoy making stuffed toys, so just ask!

Embroidery: I am not brilliant at embroidery, however I am proficienet. I need to learn more stitches. I am really good at applique though!

Quilting: I am just starting to learn how to quilt. I made a quilted tetris scarf for my husband for his birthday and a tetris quilt for his college graduation. I'm almost done with one for my mother in law.

Stenciling:
I am okay at stenciling, however the only way I do it is with freezer paper and acrylic paint, and I've never done multi-layer/color stencils. I really prefer to embroider and applique designs.

Decoupage: Hand me mod-podge, a magazine and something to slather it together on and I'm on my way!

Clay: I like using polymer clay, but am no where near brilliant at it. I usually just make little animals and beads. 

Recycled Crafts: I am good at reconstructing clothing, and making birdfeeders out of milk cartons. haha!

Knitting: I can do the knitting basics, but my hands usually cramp really badly because I have too much tension in my hands, so I haven't gone past learning knitting and perling, scarves and 3/4 of one sock! haha!

Crochet: I am getting A LOT better at crocheting, I am proficient in hat making, broomstick crochet, and am learning more techniques past sc, hdc, dc, and tc. I hope to make my first afghan soon. Crocheting goes fast for me because I don't hold the crochet hook with too much tension and it's a smoother rhythm, although if I do too much at once I get tennis elbow...ouch!

Baking: I LOVE LOVE LOVE to bake! I spent all of 2007-2008 in Maine (where I went to college at the time) baking my life away because it got dark so early and light so late. I am now one of those people that can taste a baked good, tell what is missing, what would make it better, and if it should be cooked for shorter or longer at a higher or lower temperature. I know. Lame, BUT AWESOME!

Things I like to do!

Reading: I am a children's librarian, and I read ALL the time! I am the programming person in our department, and also do quite a bit of art, storytelling, and music. I cannot resist new puppets/felt board sets/ anything that has to do with books!

Playing the Oboe: I was music major in school (have my bachelors in music), and I have been playing the oboe for 15 years now. (yes, a bit over half of my life thus far). I LOVE my oboe! I also sing, dabble on piano, alto saxophone, and guitar. I also compose music. :) I play in an orchestra and thave 4 private lesson oboe students. 

Sewing: I LOVE TO SEW! I now have two of my very own machines. I worked in the costume shop at school, so I used to sew a lot. I recently won best costumes for costume design and construction for Seussical at Richmond Civic Theater 2010-2011 season. :D LOVE!

Theater: Along with winning best costumes for Seussical, I also won best female cameo role for being a Bird Girl. I LOVE acting and singing, and am currently particularly in love with Mary Poppins.

Sleeping: NAPPING! I love to curl up in lots of blankets and sleeeeep!

Drawing: I really enjoy drawing, especially with charcoal and coloured pencil. Charcoal for human form, and coloured pencil.oil pastel for nature. I was going to be an interdepartmental Art/Music Major in Drawing and Performance, but the school decided I should focus on one thing since I only had a year and a semester left from transferring twice.

Crochet: I love crocheting because there is such a beautiful rhythm to it!

Camping: I love to camp and be outside with nature!

Gardening: So last year I worked in the greenhouse as the manager in training, needless to say I left that school, but I LOVE plants, though I know more about tropical and houseplants than I do horticulture, but I still love them all!

I love other things too, like reading and checking craftster, and organizing. I am an organization whore, and nothing can stop me once I start!

Favorites!

Books, Graphic Novels, Plays etc.: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery, The Starcatchers Series by Dave Barry, Theodosia Series by R.L. Lafevers, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, Anything by Roald Dahl, The power of One by Bryce Courtenay, anything by Marjane Satrapi, The Birds by Aristophanes, The Yellow Rain by Julio Llamazares, Anything by Richard Preston, All Jane Goodall, All Michel Pollan, Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Any Shakepeare, The Giver by Lois Lowry, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

Music: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Faure', Debussy, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Music from the 20's-50's, Sweet Honey and the Rock, The Beatles, Alanis Morisette!!!!, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, James Taylor, Musicals, and Anything that was and is ever on any Grey's Anatomy soundtrack.

TV: New Girl, How I Met Your Mother, Bachelorette, Tosh.O, Animal Planet.

Movies: Beauty and the Beast, anything with John Cusack, Amelie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep, Disney Movies, you know, stuff. I'm not that into specific movies.

Colors: Browns and Greens and Purples.

Least Favorite Colors: Yellow and Pink

Favorite color combinations: Purple/green, blue/orange.

Most hated color combinations: Black and any neon color.

Fave Patterns: plaid and paisley

Quotes: 


Anything said by Eleanor Roosevelt.


" She is too fond of books and it has turned her brain" -Louisa May Alcott

"I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library" Jorge Borges

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." Cicero

"A dream is a wish your heart makes" Cinderella


"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities." Theodore Seuss Geisel

" Some stories are true that never happened." ~Elie Weisel


"The immortal god of harmony." (about Bach)
-- Ludwig van Beethoven, 1801

"Music that gentlier on the spirit lies,Than tired eyelids upon tired eyes."~Alfred Lord Tennyson

ALLERGIES!

So, I am one of those people who is allergic to EVERYTHING, so here is a list for you, so I don't break out in hives when I open my swap package! haha!

1. Wool, lanolin- I get hives REALLY BADLY

2. Rabbits- hives, sniffly, red ithy eyes, you get the picture.

3. Cigarette Smoke- it irritates my asthma

4. Mold, mildew- if you crafted something really awesome from gramma's basement, just makes sure there aren't piles of mold and air it our REALLY well if it smells like mildew.

5.Garlic, Onions, Eggs- I don't know if these matter, but eggs upset my stomach and the other two trigger migraines! eek!

November 9, 2008

What could YOU possibly make ME?

Start here!

1. Bags- I have so much music and sewing stuff and yarn and, oh goodness! I need bags for EVERYTHING!

3. Anything on my wists !

4. Anything music, dinosaur, book, or vegetable related!

5. I also have pet cats, dogs, and guinea pigs, so anything for them if you feel so inclined!

Things I really want or need
1. I always need more blakets!

2. SOCKS! My feet are FOREVER cold!

3. Bags and boxes... again, I need things to put my things in, and I am an organizing maniac!

4. Bookmarks!