theanswerisseven

20 October 2011: Been back a month or so now, and have finally got my Tumblr back up to date with pictures from swaps completed months ago!

21 July 2011: Taking a break from swaps right now due to family illness. Also, I have received some beautiful things recently but not rated yet - hold tight I'm getting there - just moved house too so everything is a mess!

1st June 2011: Just to note - I'd definitely be up for private swaps! Take a look at my Tumblr and if you like what I make give me a message!

7th March 2011: I have now started uploading pictures of my recently sent swaps. So, if you're set to receive something from me and you'd like a surprise, don't look just yet!

Why, good day! 22. Literature graduate. Likes gardening. Likes cooking. Vegetarian, aspiring vegan. Wishes was better at sewing. Enjoys yoga. Feminist. Political. Definitely not right wing. Agnostic. Unemployed right now but would love to work in the non-profit sector.

I joined Swap Bot mainly for the creative, home-made aspect of the site. Although craft materials cost money, I'm all about thoughts and ideas rather than store-bought items or the monetary value of swaps. I don't mind things being a little rough around the edges if it means you've salvaged something that would have otherwise ended up in landfill, re-purposed or thrifted something.

I LOVE SNAIL MAIL.

I like recycling. Wherever possible I'll use recycled mailing bags... so you may receive something that is better travelled than you are! Maybe.

I don't really know how I feel about hearts. Especially when swapping with people you think are awesome or are your friends. So, please do not be offended if you don't get a heart from me, and never feel like you have to give me a heart just because we're friends. I'm going to keep hearts for above and beyond and things I just really love. Never based on extras.

I like rubber stamps, making greetings cards and other paper crafts. I like instant photography. I love recycled and re-formatted crafts, integrating old postage marks and the like.

Things I like/might send out:

• Collage and mixed media
• Rubber stamped designs
• Craft punch confetti/ mini-stencils
• Recycled stuff
• Scraps of ribbon or lace
• Cat related things
• Silly, cute things [eg, carrot stickers with faces etc.]
• Home made candles
• Home made bath salts etc.
• Simple vegan-friendly recipes
• Note cards or birthday/etc. cards
• Things including brown paper and string
• Scrapbook/journalling/card making pieces
• Other bits and bobs, usually craft related
• Graph paper
• Zines
• Small things, boxes or books.

Favourite colours:

• Grey
• Brown
• Neutral shades
• Muted deep colours
• 'Natural' colours, eg. unbleached paper or card

Favourite Topics:

• Feminism
• Gardening
• Yoga
• I like my fairytales Grimm style. I do like what you might call 'whimsical' themed nature stuff, but not too Disney-esque. I prefer something a little less polished and safe occassionally, I suppose.
• To elaborate on the above, I'm quite a fan of Angela Carter's 'The Bloody Chamber'. Fairy tales have always been designed to be didactic, political or sociological in some way so I really enjoyed this collection. I do, however, really need to get hold of a better collection of the original Grimm to find some of the less well-known tales.
• Recycling/environmental themed
• Cats! [but again, not in a childish cartoon OR over-realistic conservative way.. if that even makes sense...]
• Vegetarian
• Postage stamps and air mail themed
• Tree Houses

So.. I don't really like filling out this section, but I suppose it might well be important..! If it's sender's choice then you can totally ignore this and do what YOU like doing, this is only here for profile-based things.

Least favourite colours

• Pink
• Purple
• Day-glo anything

What I don't like

• Sincere, 'happy message' things. I like silly, semi-ironic Japanese-esque stickers and bits and bobs, but hate the whole smiling-sun-have-a-nice-day saccharine stuff.

• Along the above line, I unfortunately do not like things with Hallmark-esque teddy bears/fairies/cartoons/butterflies on.

• Religious conversion stuff. Purely artistic religious stuff is fine - I like images from the middle ages etc. Also, spiritual is fine.

• I dislike things that for some unknown reason are deemed 'girly', eg pink/sparkles/pictures of cosmetics or shoes etc.

• I am very fussy about shop-bought cosmetic or bath items due to eczema and attempting to eliminate preservatives, so no thank you =). I might like home made baths salts or such like as long as there are no animal products or synthetics.

• The same goes for any food items. I like herbal teas, but hate licorice. Tea is probably the only thing I'd like to receive, as I don't really eat candy or sweets etc.

As a child wish lists were never on the cards. And, in general, I'm still like this today - I love surprises and don't like to be demanding. However...

• A hand-knitted/crocheted over-sized beanie hat in charcoal grey in natural fibres. Not to be specific or anything! I am just totally untalented at those sorts of projects. If you have the talent then maybe we could do a private swap for stuff I can make/a few things from the UK you can't get?

Authors:

• Viginia Woolf
• Angela Carter
• Margaret Atwood
• Samuel Beckett
• Franz Kafka

And many many more, but often I've only read one book by that author, so.

I also enjoy non-fiction/theory related to politics, philosophy, gender studies and literature

I enjoy independent and world cinema in addition to the usual - always nice to see something different, or what can be made on a non-Hollywood budget.

Recently I have enjoyed:

• 3Iron
• M
• Metropolis
• Bladerunner [can watch this again and again]
• The Cat Returns
• Labyrinth [another favourite]
• Transamerica