madhatter76

I'm in my 30's and have been an elementary school teacher for almost 15 years now. I love to travel and have been many places inside and out of USA. I am fascinated by all cultures and am drawn towards Eastern Philosophy. I was born, raised, and live in the desert-AZ. I absolutely love it...like the Joni Mitchell song-guess I'm a Lady of the Canyon! Arizona is a beautiful & magical place.

**********I'm gonna put this out there. I have bad ratings. There I said it. I am NOT perfect, however one thing I've never done is: not put heart and effort into a sent item. Another thing is I've NEVER not sent a swap. If you have not received from me, you need to tell me, so I can resend. I tend to go over and beyond. Its the OCD in me. The 1 point rating I received is 100% cursable. It's why I am nervous about Intntl Swaps. It was a pretty penny to send that precious swapper (cough cough) the package. Then to resend it...TWO more times. My 3s are legit if you prefer timeliness over quality & effort. If you read the ranting swapper's essay she wrote with the rating of a 3- notice she says she liked the items at the beginning, then contradicts herself at the end. ?? I've sincerely apologized to all unforgiving raters and am obviously paying a high price ....I leave it now in karma's hands.

I am pretty eclectic in my style. I can appreciate and see beauty whimsy & value in almost anything.

Themes I adore: Native Amer., southwest, modernist 80's (like Nagel art),pop art,mermaids, sailor, taxidermy, crystals, woodland, science, math, splatter art, Gothic stuff, supernatural, anything outside of what most would call "ordinary"

Hobbies: Friend dinners, road trips, thrifting, mixed media art, terrarium making, jewelry making

I read a lot! I enjoy so many genres...books on botany, science, housekeeping advice (like 1960's Heloise books), vintage do it yourself books, vintage appliance manuals (I know-strange), Emily Dickinson, Carson McCullers, Shakespeare's MacBeth (my fave of Shakespeare), sci-fi like Stranger in a Strange Land, anything Heinlein, campy horror books- anything by William H. Johnstone... I like to read about different religions & saints (though I am NOT religious), old funky craft magazines like Macrame art..... and my all-time fave book is Alice in Wonderland. What a work of genius...turn to any page and I'm spellbound by the imagery.

My favorite musician has always been and will always be the Sorceress of the Moon herself, Stevie Nicks. I have seen her umpteen times in concert and have met her 3x. She's my "Desert Angel," as we call the same place our "true home"- the desert.

Pet peeves: Ungrateful people, lack of common sense, lack of empathy, loud noises, assumptions, pettiness, people who don't swat their kids

Guilty Pleasures: ugly 80's early 90's pastel décor,John Waters' Movies, anything crass or offensive, cursing like a sailor,vintage junk I have no use for

My Fave Crafts...are too many to count! I dabble in anything that fits my mood. I would say my number one favorite craft is ALTERING objects...such as creating unusual jewelry and magnets, boxes, collages....And as Pippi Longstocking would say..."I'm a thingfinder!" I love finding treasures that others may call "junk", and bringing them to life!

***Note: I have been making jewelry for years, and have a side business selling southwest costume & fine vintage jewelry. If you ever wanna do a private vintage jewelry or junk jewelry swap, let me know.