Schwallie

Update as of 02/18/15: Hello everyone! Thank you for all of your support. I lost my job the week before Christmas. That was very rough for me and my family. Fortunately, I have recently been hired full time. However, this also means that I have less time to spend on Swap-Bot. If I am late on any current Swaps, rest assured that I WILL be sending them out. I just started this new position and therefore have a lot to learn each day. I have been worn-out when I come home. So I am facing some lifestyle changes. Please bear with me. I will get my account squared away over this coming weekend. Then I will reassess what I can do on here. Thanks!

I took a small break from Swap-bot. My life got very hectic (as in a death-in-the-family-kind-of-way), resulting in those two “one” ratings. I am currently working on making the Swaps up. These ratings sadden me, as I love Swap-Bot. I also feel very guilty about them. I have returned this Christmas for the card swaps, which I love. In fact, I bind the cards into a book each year. I have them displayed this year on two shutters in my front hallway. I am the original host for the popular “Show Me Your Christmas Tree” Swaps. I am hosting one again this year. Please join the swap by Dec. 22nd at: http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/189635

I promise to rate your Swaps in a timely fashion and to PM you should anything delay my Swap. I hope that we can reach some sort of agreement if something serious happens to delay my Swap.

Now, a little bit about me. I am a late twenty-something Technical Writer by trade. I worked my way through school and attained a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a concentration in Technical Writing. I was an only child and a military brat. I lived in four states growing up. I am married with one dog named Piffy. She helps me craft. Our wedding was a theme wedding based on "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." It was held outdoors on my husband's late grandmother's farm. It was a D.I.Y. wedding. My mother-in-law sewed the bridesmaid dresses and the flower girl's "Alice" dress. We self-catered to approximately 125 guests. My husband's cousin photographed the wedding for free. Another one of my husband's cousins was in charge of all of the decorations. It turned out beautifully for a small fraction of what most weddings cost. I am very blessed. I am a “Downton Abbey” fan. My favorite color is green. I like more shabby/ rustic/ nature themes. If I could pick a store to classify my tastes, I would pick Anthropologie – but they’re (usually) outside of my budget. I’ve been outside of the States once, to Taiwan. It is a very nice place, I could live there. I hope to travel more.

My biggest hobby is photography. I take a picture nearly every day. I like to collect photo stories. I also enjoy sewing. It’s liberating to make something your way in your own style. One of the very first things I sewed was a Dorothy doll for my sister-in-law. Of course, I had to start off with something difficult. I’ve also tried my hand at crochet, counted cross stitch, and embroidery – I’d like to try knitting, felting, and tatting. I’ve also tried painting in acrylics and in watercolor. I’ve always liked to draw. I’ve tried charcoal, but haven’t tried pastels. I’d like to get into making Zentangle patterns. I like to scrapbook, but it can get expensive quickly. I also make iris folded greeting cards and make Artist Trading Cards (ATCs). I dabble here and there. I am currently teaching myself how to play the piano (keyboard) and I hope to one day learn how to play the violin. I’ve wanted to learn since I was a child, but my parents couldn’t afford lessons. I’ve taught myself most everything I know.

I collect vintage Christmas décor (including greeting cards), linens, hankies, and sewing items. I love all things tea-related as I also collect teacups. I hope to get a cabinet to display all of my (thrifted) teacups someday. I often join teabag swaps. One of my dreams is to own an Airstream or a teardrop trailer to go “glamping.” I would also like to restore an old home to its previous glory. I think that if I could pick an alternate career, it would be interior design. I like to re-decorate a lot. That’s when thrift stores and estate sales come in handy. I am a bargain shopper. I always ask for something cheaper, in a tactful way. I always seem to find things for free or near free. You’re invited to visit my blog above, Sew Southern, where I document my adventures in decorating and sewing.

Wish List: Loose Tea Infuser/ Ball, Any Types of Tea, Non-Kawaii Stickers, Sheet Music, A Tube of Watercolor Paint, Paper Quilling Tools, Tatting Shuttle (Prefer Metal), Tatting Thread, One Yard of Fabric to Sew a Kitchen Apron, Sewing Notions, Anything Handmade/Crafted

P.S. For International Swaps, I like to receive Swaps in your native language :)