MiracleFish

Hi! My name is Julia! I'm 23 and live in Kentucky, USA!

MY SWAP PAST: I did a bunch of swaps on this site about 3 years ago and thought of it the other day and how much I missed it! It's so much fun to get goodies in the mail!!

My old name was chimpieartist and I think its only fair you be able to view my old persona! I really want to start fresh on this site, but that's not to say I had bad ratings (I actually had reallly good ones except for the last swap I did when I had a death in the family) So feel free to check it out.

BASICS... Okay, so about me... My name is Julia and I am newly married (January 15, 2011!!!! :) :) ) to a wonderful, wonderful man! His name is Daniel. He is 25. We live in a small town in Kentucky, in-between Louisville and Lexington. He works in construction as a special materials tester. Basically he makes sure they are building by the regs and codes and things, so it'll be safe. I've had a lot of different jobs but currently I am just starting a new one as a nanny to two adorable girls, Claire (3) and Laura (5). I LOVE kids! And I love working with them!! But I don't have, nor am ready to have, any for now!

SCHOOL? After high school I went to MICA, a private art college in Baltimore, MD. I was majoring in printmaking (Fine Arts). Then I transfered and moved back home (my old Kentucky home!) and now am majoring in Elementary Ed. Though, I am currently on hiatus due to the wedding :) (totally worth it!)

ARTSY STUFF? MY NICHE? I love printmaking and stamping. I love making my own paper and books. I love ephemera and using it in my stuff. I treat anything I make, no matter how silly it might seem, as a work of art! I put my all in everything I do and everything I create!

I love sharing ideas. I love ATCS, inchies, and sharing things like stamps or just the stamped images, as well as fabric/fabric charms, and quotes!!

Themes: I love birds!!! I love love love birds! With crowns, or in cages! Or flying! Birds, Yay!

Artists: I love Roy Lichtenstein, Shel Silverstein, Picasso, Gustav Klimt and a lot of others!

MOVIES, MUSIC, ETC? I love movies and tv shows. I just finished The Sopranos - amazing! I love romantic comedy movies and zombie movies.

Music: I love a lot of music including, Death Cab for Cutie, Sufjan Stevens, current country and old -Hank Williams (Jr and Sr); basically everything from country to rock and alot in-between.

RELIGOUS? We go to church every Sunday and, while we are devout, we are quiet about it. Our home has a few decor items with Biblical quotes and things, but outside of the home we don't like to push our religion on anyone and, at least for me, prefer not to discuss it overall. People are so sensitive and there's no good reason to hurt feeling and argue over God. He's about love, not disagreements!

LIKES Ribbons, pretty yarns, Buttons, Beads (I collect evil eye beads too)

Fabrics (loove batik and hand dyed fabrics)

Stamps and Inks, any printmaking supplies (like linoleum and block printing inks, rollers)

Handmade papers of all kinds, from everywhere, and just beautiful papers

Mythology, and Nursery Rhymes/Fairy Tales

Postage Stamps, old and new, international

Handmade soaps and candles

cards, fortune telling cards, altered cards, unique playing cards

pop art (lichtenstein, warhol, jasper johns) Renaissance Early Christian art

flowers (pressed or images of)

images of outhouses, barns, Buddha, trains, symbols (love to learn new meanings behind images), old photographs (especially b/w) Victorian women pin-up models from first half of the 20th century

Peter Pan

I'm very much a 'vintage' person

Things with stories behind them, that have been touched before me, I don't mind things that are slightly worn but not damaged

random acts of kindness

Colors: blue and brown, green (cool colors are my favorites), my wedding colors were eggplant (purple) and white, but I love all colors!

Animals: BIRDS, lizards, dinosaurs, ducks, sparrows, kittens/cats

I love when my partners include a personal note or card with their swaps. I like to find out how they put together their ATCs/inchies/etc. and if they used a special technique to decorate their swaps. If you do this, you've got a great chance at getting a heart! Not many people include how they made something, and I'm not interested in replicating your piece, just what you did to get to your finished piece. It's a great way to learn new techniques and whatnot!

I'm really open to things. I love to see new things, new imagery, learn new things. I don't want to bog anyone down, much less myself, with this stuff. None of it's "strict." It's just what comes to mind.

DISLIKES Glitter pens (won't use em)

Stickers in general

Smell of cigarette smoke

Coffee

Candy

make-up/lip balm/etc

When it comes to language, erotic images, or other obscene images; I'm okay with it, if it's done tastefully or it's a specific swap (erotic atcs, obscene atcs, etc). I have no problems with these things when used in art, so long as they're not intended to offend.

I don't want to list too many dislikes because I'd hate for that to limit what a partner does in a swap. If you make something you love or would love to get, then I'll love it. Anything someone put thought into, I'll love and appreciate.

MISC... I am always up for private swaps

USA or International!! Please feel free to message me anytime about a private swap! ATCS, inchies, fabric (fat quarters or like 6" quares), postcards, or even just like a paper and ephemera swap! I've also recently gotten into making matchboxes! Would love to do small swaps of decorated and filled matchboxes.

If I'm overwhelmed by life at the time that you ask, it's not personal if I ask to do it in a few weeks or do it another time. Sometimes life happens. But I do loooove to do private swaps!

I reuse packaging

I pledge to rate!