krycek

FYI: If you take a look at my profile and you'd like to do a private swap, please send me a PM. I love participating in handmade private swaps.

I also recently added a link to my etsy favorites. I certainly do not expect anyone to purchase things for me from there, it's there to give potential partners an idea of the styles and themes that I prefer.

Updated: 11/2010

I am a 31 year old SAHM of a beautiful 4 year old little girl. I have my degree in Polymer Chemistry, and worked for a GE owned business before I became a mom. I have been married for almost 5 years to a wonderful man, who just recently became an American citizen. He came here from Indonesia about 20 years ago.

I love paper crafts, even though I don't make them myself. New stationery-notecards & envelopes, bookmarks, and stickers. I love stickers!

I am big into recycling and repurposing things. I use reusable shopping bags at the store, my daughter was in cloth diapers, I use natural cleaners and detergents.

As an FYI...I am owned by three cats, one of which is a long haired Persian. My cats do not have access to my fabric or yarn, and I am very stringent about keeping my swaps cat hair free. I have a sister who is very allergic, and enjoys receiving handknit sweaters.

Updated: 11-2010

Reading is absolutely one of my favorite hobbies. I have been devouring books since childhood, encouraged by my mother who is an avid reader as well. My mom had my sisters and I enrolled in book clubs for as long as I can remember and made trips to the local library at least once a week. My first real job was at that local library and I worked there during high school and into college. While I was a shelving page, I shelved the children's section. I am still fond of children's books and now that I have a toddler I am able to share my favorite stories with her. Every night, we read a Maurice Sendak book (Victoria likes "Where the Wild Things Are", while my favorite is "Pierre"). We also enjoy Dr. Seuss (Victoria has "The ABC book" memorized, but my first choice would be "To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street".) I also have beautifully illustrated copies of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz" we like to read from occasionally as well. We have all of the Pigeon books by Mo Willem too.

Regarding my reading for personal pleasure, my books span all of the genres. I enjoy reading for mindless entertainment, e.g. trashy romance novels, or to learn something new, e.g. military history, or the British Monarchy. I read the classics, horror, psychological thrillers, and graphic novels. The only genre I really can't get into is fantasy.

Some of my favorite authors include:

• Stephen King (my absolute favorite)

• Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (they wrote "The Relic" among other things)

• Ray Bradbury

• Mark Bowden ("Black Hawk Down")

• Edgar Allan Poe

• Chuck Palahniuk

• Philippa Gregory

I always welcome author/book recommendations, as I am always on the lookout for a new author. Sometimes I get into a rut, reading the same things/author again and again, and need help getting out of said rut.

I love fabric, all colors, and prints, quilter's cotton to special occasion fabric, is useful to me and would be going to a good home if you choose to send me any. I love sewing notions, pins with decorative heads, and new little gadgets that theoretically will make my sewing easier. I love new pens and markers, especially Sharpie markers. I have baskets full of trims, and ribbons. And don't even get me started on buttons!

I love to sew, knit, quilt, and make stained glass. I do hand embroidery, and love cross stitch too. I love sewing super complicated ball gowns for my daughter. I enjoy making period clothing, and Victoria likes playing dress up so it works out perfectly.

I like making sock animals and seasonal outfits for them. I knit teddies, along with other not so conventional stuffies including exotics like giraffes and sharks, and not so exotic like chickens and horses.

I have discovered art journals and I am completely hooked. I'd love to do a long term, short term, journal page, etc with anyone interested. I'd also be happy to swap supplies because it's always nice to have a nice variety of supplies while working.

My current works in progress are: Victoria's Christmas dress (it's Victorian inspired with an overskirt, bodice, and underskirt with tons of tulle), Christmas ornaments for everyone, and I'd like to make chain maille earrings or bracelets for family Christmas gifts.

Aprons! My sisters and mom received aprons and matching kitchen towels for Christmas. Even the sister who is NOT a homemaker received one. My brother-in-law said that she could wear it whilst making bowls of cereal in the morning.

I like making fabric postcards, it lets me crazy quilt and complete a project in a relatively short amount of time. My crazy quilting projects usually end up being really complicated and take a long time to finish.

My favorite themes are celestial, astrology, cats, goddess themes, butterflies, and angels. I do like Hello Kitty and Spongebob as well. (When I say I like Spongebob, it really means my daughter likes Spongebob and anything Spongebob I receive in a swap goes to her.)

My favorite colors are purple, yellow, sage green, and black. I love brights.

I love to do tarot card readings, and making little charms to help my friends.

I love writing letters and receiving snail mail.

More things I like:

Tea-all kinds, black, green, herbal. I love loose tea, I actually prefer it to tea bags. I think you get a better brew from your tea, plus I have a teapot that has a built in strainer. I love doing tea swaps, but they are mostly for wrapped tea bags. If you get me as a partner, and you like your tea loose as well, feel free to send me some in a plastic bag or whatever. Please label it though so I know what it is.

Candles, and candle holders

handmade hippie clothes

Candy--sour candy, gummy candy, chocolate covered cherries

crafting books-embroidery, knitting, dress and pattern making, stitch dictionaries

Homemade marshmallows

Earthy stuff--altar cloths, seashells, herbs, crystals.

I love lavender--the color and the herb.

I collect little lidded boxes (I have since childhood), and boyd's bears. I also have an extensive collection of pez that I have been collecting since childhood. I have never given up my love for stuffed animals, and I collect the bird beanie babies.

Since joining swap-bot, I have been introduced to even more things to 'collect', much to my husband's chagrin. I have discovered kawaii, which I can not get enough of and wish I had better places locally to shop for said kawaii. I love the cartoon food with faces, especially the happy tofu. I am just mad for the storybook character letter sets, and use them for my writing to my pen pals. I also love bento boxes, and accessories and if you are interested in doing a private trade for kawaii or bento stuff, please feel free to PM me. I'd love to sew something for you!

I have also discovered friendships books, sticker bags, label bags, x-slips and would be happy to pass them along to you. I like to keep them moving.

I don't like pastels (unless I am making a gift for someone's new baby), Dora the Explorer, green and pink used together, wasteful attitudes.

Please no incense (makes my husband nutty just having it in the house), rune sets (have too many as it is).

Please no lotions or soaps. I have eczema and I can only use certain products with certain ingredients, plus I have a girlfriend who makes it special for me.

While I would absolutely love to try whatever your favorite edible is, I would appreciate it if you could avoid sending things with tree nuts. I am allergic.

Office Use Only

This section is just to help me keep track of the status of my tags and other forums games.

P.S. If you are as thorough a person as I am and have actually read my profile all of the way to the end, I'd like to reward you with a little treat. Please send me a PM. Yay! Free Stuff!!