Meba

Hello Everyone!

I'm so excited to be part of swap-bot. I joined in August 2015.

ABOUT ME

I'm a married woman, recently retired and really enjoying life. I have two grown daughters. I'm very proud of both.

ABOUT MY OBSESSION

I have always loved paper. I collected it when I was a child, spending most of my tiny allowance each week on colored paper and fancy pens. As an adult, I've worked in design (only as part of a much larger job) and it the favorite aspect of what I do. Even if it is only a design using text, I love it.

A couple of years ago, two of my friends bought me a Sizzix BigKick for Christmas. Talk about a hobby that took off like wildfire. I am obsessed and have learned from attending meetups, classes, and conventions that most papercrafters are just as crazy about the craft, the accessories, the dies, the embossing folders, the pens . . . as I am. I'm pretty sure that my husband is sorry that Janet and Kathy bought me the machine, although he dutifully admires each creation I show him.

I love ATCs. I especially love that I am making something new every time. My favorite projects are those that make me try something completely out of my comfort zone. I am often surprised at what I come up with. I love the idea that it is just art for art's sake

For the last few years, I've been working on original mixed media art, both in art journals and on canvas. I love the creative outlet (even when I don't really like what I've created, which happens). I trade art journals with a friend in Canada monthly and am always impressed with the art she makes.

I still make greeting cards but don't find this to be as creative a process as mixed media art or the ATCs. I do like to make a card for someone special.

I do some scrapbooking for a great niece that lives out of town and for my aunt. I enjoy the 8x8 size and love the results. I will likely continue to scrapbook for her. I am daunted by the 60+ years of photos that I have accumulated myself and am not sure where to start scrapbooking for myself. Maybe when I'm retired.

I've begun making mixed media canvases and collages from Gelli prints. Some are huge! And, if I say so myself, beautiful. I'm finally coming to terms with the fact that I am an artist.

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OTHER OBSESSIONS (I MEAN HOBBIES)

I'm a reader -- at least three books a week on varied subjects, mostly fiction. I like most genres but am particularly fond of mysteries/thrillers, fantasy, historical novels. I like European history best and really like learning about Medieval times in the British Isles, France and Germany.

A couple of authors that I am really enjoying right now are Louise Penny and Robert Galbraith (aka J. K. Rowling). I also discovered Estelle Ryan's Genevieve Lenard's series around the first of the year and have been gobbling up the books as fast as I can buy them. This summer I read all of Elly Griffith's book about archaeologist Ruth Galloway and Connie Shelton's books about baker Samantha Sweet. I'm still devouring Aaron Elkins's Gideon Oliver series. I reread Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series. I'm thinking I may reread the Game of Thrones this fall. There were things in the TV show I didn't quite remember.

I have a Kindle and take many of the free books that are offered by Amazon. I've read a number of really good books that most people know nothing about this way. If you have a Kindle, you should check out the free book section.

I like to knit and do counted cross-stitch. Any embroidery is delightful. I've been busily making afghans for my daughters and friends. I completed a cross-stitched picture for one of my friend's first grandson this summer. It turned out great. I hate to sew on a sewing machine because sewing machines hate me, but I do make pillows and curtains and things of that nature when it is necessary. I know how. It just isn't fun for me.

I like to cook (and eat!). I use Google and an ingredient list to find many recipes. I don't always follow the recipes but I get ideas.

I love my garden -- flower, fruit and vegetable. We grow (and I can or freeze) loads of vegetables each year. Tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, summer squash, winter squash, lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, eggplant, potatoes, green beans, raspberries, figs, blackberries, blueberries, etc. It certainly is nice to have those lovely fruits and vegetables on the shelf in the winter. I like eating locally and it can't get much more local than your back yard.

I've been playing with watercolor and finding out that I'm not quite an inept as I always believed. I guess that you really can teach an old dog new tricks! I also really like Derwent's Inktense and Faber Castell's Gelatoes.

I like to walk, especially in nature. Inspirational.

SWAPPING

I'm very interested in swaps of ATCs, pocket letters and journals and cards, especially handmade.

I really don't need any craft supplies so please don't feel obligated to send anything along with the swap. I find myself just sending it along to my next swap. I do not give hearts based on the amount of extras in the envelope. Maybe that is the purpose but I use hearts to show how much I appreciate the effort someone took in fulfilling the swap. For me, swap-bot is a way to share art and friendship, not stuff.

Please know that if you do not receive a swap from me, please PM me first before rating. I will always fulfill swaps. The postal service can be unreliable and slow and want to make sure you get your item(s).

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

On the advice of a few very friendly and welcoming people at swap-bot, I am adding things I don't like here:

I hate gory things. No blood, ever. I like Halloween themed things but not nasty, bloody ones.

I'm not into religious things. I like Christmas cards and Easter cards but I don't want things that have religious sayings or saints or anything like that. For me, religion is too personal to put on paper.

I don't like cutesy themes like Precious Moments or the big eyed kids. I do like the Stampendous House Mouse series, which is pretty cutesy. Oh well.

I think funny is in the eye of the beholder. It is a difficult thing to get right but when it is right it is hilarious!

MY FAVORITE COLORS

I love teal, turquoise, teal, coral, green, blue, yellow, and pink. I like purple, red, and brown. Black is always great but not as the main color. I don't care for florescent colors much. I really like colors that have a grayed tone.

MOVIES/TV

My taste in movies is very much like my taste in books -- I like most anything except horror. Well, I can read horror but I can't watch it. I don't like to see it.

I absolutely love the new Star Trek movies and can't wait for the next one.

I have begun bingeing on Netflix ever since my husband finished my art studio. I pick a program and watch (or listen) while I work. I now have a hard time watching regular TV because the next episode doesn't automatically start! I binge watched all of the Star Trek series while crafting. I've recently binged on Game of Thrones and Outlander as well. Loved This is Us and The Handmaid's Tale.