joybells2426

I'm a wife and homeschooling mother of three. I spend a lot of my time at home with my kids or participating in all of the activities that come with having homeschooled children. When I can, I squeeze in time for reading and crafting/creating. I love art and while I don't consider myself an artist, I love trying my hand at painting and drawing. When I get outside I like to bike (bicycle) and I've discovered I love camping.

I love reading all kinds of books. My house is basically a library. My husband jokes that we are going to have to learn how to make my bookshelves a structural part of our house if I buy any more of them. I'm currently in a classics book club and I'm really enjoying it. The only genre I do not really enjoy is romance, but if it is recommended, I'm willing to try just about anything. I do believe my favorite author of all time is Neil Gaiman. I also have recently started to enjoy reading some of my kids' books too. I find juvenile fiction delightful. Favorite books of all time would be Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman (most things by Neil, really) The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, A Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, A Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, and Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain just to name a very few.

I have read some of the best books lately. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Melendy Quartet by Elizabeth Enright, A Horse Came Running by Meindert DeJong and Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.

I love all kinds of music with the exception of post-1980s country. I am always obsessed with finding the next great song that makes me want to listen to it over and over again. Old favorites are The Smashing Pumpkins, Tori Amos, Pearl Jam, The Cure, BT, Bjork, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Chevelle, Fiona Apple and Beck. These people made me want to be rock stars. Some favorite bands/singers that I'm listening to right now are Regina Spektor, Pete Yorn, School of Seven Bells, The Joy Formiddable, Wolf Alice, Silversun Pickups, Meg Meyers, Grimes, The Kills, K. Flay, GEMS, Ryan Adams, The Replacements, Alt-J, Doomtree and Dessa. I could literally go on and on. There is so much good music out there!

I’ve got some new music. The new Florence and the Machine and Neko Case are great! Love every song. Also loving the older Greta Van Fleet album and a new song by Cat Power.

I love crafting in most of its forms. I love to scrapbook, art journal, make cards, paint, draw, knit, crochet and spin yarn. I HATE sewing. I used to think I'd like it, but every time I try it, I end up hating the process and the finished product. So I've given up on that one. I go through phases with all my preferred crafts. Right now, I'm trying to learn to knit brioche and finding it very challenging. Working in a store that sells art supplies and scrapbooking paper has helped me amass quite a stash of crafty things to work on. ATCs have become my preferred art form for the time being and I can't get enough of them!

I don't watch a whole lot of television lately. Shows I have really enjoyed in the past are The Office, Arrested Development, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Seinfeld, Parks and Recreation, Firefly, Fringe, Battlestar Galactica and Gilmore Girls. I haven't had actual network tv or cable or anything in my house in almost 14 years. Everything we watch in my house is on DVD.

Recently watched and loved The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, and Call the Midwife

My favorite movies are pretty much all older ones. The Shawshank Redemption, Star Wars episodes 4-6, Empire Records, Pillow Talk, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Braveheart, Roman Holiday, Amelie, Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth one), The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and I do like the new Star Trek movies just to name a few.

• anything handmade
• vintage
• ephemera
• die cuts
• coffee
• colors (I love them all, except for things that are predominantly orange. Aqua, turquoise and red are favorites)
• vintage Pyrex
• tea (all kinds)
• Star Trek
• Star Wars
• geek
• natural fiber yarn
• tattoos (I have none, but love them anyway)
• stamps (rubber, acrylic and postage)
• Chapstick
• pop art
• graffiti
• geometric patterns
• markers
• watercolor
• Tim holtz products
• ATCs
• art made by you
• mermaids
• children's book illustrations
• books
• socks

I promise, if I receive something handmade and it is obvious you put effort into the item, I will love it! I am a huge proponent of handmade crafts.

I also promise that I will rate you the day I get your swap or shortly thereafter and I ask the same of anyone who receives swaps from me.

I am ALWAYS looking for someone to swap privately with me. If you are interested, please send me a message. I am more than willing to set it up. I am interested in swapping:

• music playlists/recommendations
• book recommendations
• postcards homemade and store bought
• ATCs
• yarn
• knitted items
• stamped images
• vintage ephemera
• die cuts
• washi tape samples

Please don't send:

• foam stickers/shapes
• anything scented
• Christmas themed items-I'm just not into Christmas crafting. I've tried, but it just doesn't excite me.
• Disney stuff

I'm pretty easy to please!