adastra

May 2010 - On a personal note, my schedule and finances have left me a bit overwhelmed with having been laid off by corporate America, and I am behind with some of my packages with trying to juggle swaps. I am not making excuses, just being honest, as I love sending/receiving mail as you all do, hence why I joined Swap-bot. Almost everything is on its way, in the mail to my assigned partners. I do sincerely apologize for the delay to those affected, and I do intend to send ALL mail, as I hate it when swappers have left me hanging. My sincere apologies.

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I consider myself a Jill-Of-All-Trades in love with Lindy hop, photography, and theatre. That's my byline.

I should have been born in 1920, as I adore all things vintage. The music, the stage, classic films, pinups, vinyl records, big bands, the musicians. I cannot get enough! My record player and I get along very well.

I live on the east coast in a gorgeous town where the ocean meets the river. It has a bustling arts community and rich local history. I live in historic downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, though I am not from here. I love everything about the 114-year-old building that I live in...except the bugs!

I have been a vegetarian for almost 8 years.

I love words, proper diction and grammar, and I love literature, including children's lit. "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery is a favorite book of mine. For me, books get me thinking about things I may not have considered otherwise. Topics I read are often a great conversation starter. Finishing a book is like conquering a mini mountain to me. And, it also leaves me feeling a bit empowered.

I am also an avid dancer of swing, Latin, ballroom, belly - you name it! I have been dancing for many years and I do have my favorite genres to dance and teach. But, above all, I am in love with Lindy hop (the original swing dance) and travel about going to Lindy exchanges and workshops with notable instructors, dancing to live bands, and the like. I love many genres of music and dance, but swing and Lindy have risen to the top as my favorite genre of dance over the years. The nostalgia of it all is quite alluring.

I also thoroughly enjoy live theatre, both as a patron of the arts but also as one who works behind the scenes as a techie (theatre technician.)

And, to top things off, photography is a passion of mine. It is an outlet, solace, stress relief. I love to work in the darkroom, processing my own film and making my own prints. I do also shoot digital in addition to film. The best part of all is that it allows me to put smiles on peoples' faces.

I think I have a love affair with paper. :) I guess it started when I was a kid, collecting postcards when my family lived in Europe.

I like cards.

And stationery.

And cute little envelopes.

I find myself purchasing cards at times, because I hope to have an occasion to send them to someone who would appreciate the quip, design, or laugh at the "inside joke." Or, because they would be a great piece to put in a little frame or add to a collage or piece of art.

Sewing is another craft I thoroughly enjoy. The most recent things I have made are dresses for me to wear when swing dancing, and I also created Max (from the book Where The Wild Things Are) costumes for both a friend and also a newborn this Halloween. THAT was a lot of fun!

Black tea ● Coffee ● Chai ● Baking and being in the kitchen ● Red ● Vinyl records ● Moleskine notebooks ● Post-It notes ● Stars (not celestial, I mean - they are great. But, "stars" in relation to fabric prints, designs on paper, etc) ● Sewing ● Totes ● Amy Butler fabric prints ● New York City ● Pin ups ● Polka dots ● Recycling ● Organic foods and products ● French films ● Theatre ● Literature ● Vintage paper items such as magazine ads, sheet music, and the like

I do have allergies. Fabrics or paper items that smell like smoke, come from a smoker's home, or things that have a strong floral scent can be quite irritating to my senses.

I also do not eat or cook recipes that contain gelatin, animal fats, or sauces/bastes that contain fish products. Thank you in advance for being considerate!

Licorice ● Spearmint ● Coriander ● Patchouli