donetta

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with leukemia in early July, complicated by pneumonia and a UTI. I knew I was sick, but I had no idea HOW sick. I was hospitalized immediately and although I went through a few very scary episodes (primarily due to extremely low oxygen saturation levels due to the pneumonia), I responded very well to the treatment, which included large doses of a steroid, chemo, arsenic (!), and many, many blood transfusions. After more than a month in the hospital, I was transferred to a rehabilitation facility for intensive physical therapy. You see, due to the fact of being completely bedridden since 7/5, and possibly as a side effect of the steroid, the muscles in my lower legs and feet have atrophied and I have lost the ability to stand and walk. I literally cannot feel my feet on the floor. I imagine this is similar to the sensation of being paralyzed. I'm working very hard to be able to walk again, because I can't go home until then. Progress is being made, but it's slow and frustrating. I miss my life so much! My cats! My crafting! Cooking and baking! I miss all of YOU so much...this wonderful community of artists and crafters! Trust me when I say that I'll be back as soon as I'm home where I belong.

Hello! I'm Donetta, in Portland, Oregon. I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and lived there most of my life. I moved to Portland in 1992, to Vancouver (Washington) in 2012, and except for a 2-year hiatus in Dover, Delaware and a 4-year residence in Grand Rapids, MI, I have lived in the Pacific Northwest for (oh my!) over 30 years (yes, I am old!). Love it, love it, love it...I honestly feel like I should have been born here!

I have three adult children, five grandchildren, and although my daughter and her family live in Idaho, we are very close and chat at least weekly and often more frequently than that. After what feels like a rapid-fire loss of several of my cats, I now share a home with Cali and Maisie, a tortie and a calico. I started fostering bottle baby (orphaned) kittens for the local shelter, and Maisie is a "foster fail" from my first litter of kittens.

I enjoy spending time with friends and family...and I also love my "alone time", when I craft to my heart's content.

My home is extremely important to me; it's my haven, my joy, and the place I feel most relaxed. I enjoy decorating for the different seasons and holidays, and my home is a reflection of my style and personality. I love items with a vintage look, rich wood tones, vintage linens, and roosters. I'm a thrift store fanatic, and have found some wonderful treasures for my home.

I had a thriving little jewelry business, and before I moved to Michigan, I sold my wares at two salons in the Portland area, as well as at a boutique In Oregon City. I designed for two international bead companies, and love the creative process. I've recently opened an Etsy shop and an Amazon Handmade shop...neither shop has a single item for sale, which I swear...I keep promising myself to stock my online shops!

My jewelry has a classic look; I love vintage-looking findings and beads, and use lots of crystals, pearls, and antiqued copper, silver, and gold wire and findings. I enjoy making wire wrapped jewelry, and am working to perfect the art of polymer clay beads...they can be amazingly beautiful!

I make cards as well, using my Spellbinders machine and adding embellishments such as ribbon, sequins, pearls, and paper and silk flowers. I used to take classes (card making, mostly) at a local scrapbooking store, but the store went out of business...and now I use Pinterest and You Tube for inspiration and lessons!

I spend part of each day stitching...I have a project rotation list that contains cross stitch, needlepoint, hardanger, crewel embroidery, and redwork, as well as knitting and crochet. My latest interest is crazy quilting; I am addicted! (Truth in advertising: I'm addicted to the idea of creating a beautiful crazy quilt!)

I enjoy making and receiving ATCs...they are such a great way to practice new techniques on a small scale. I get inspiration from the beautiful cards I receive, and enjoy seeing my own style evolve and become more sophisticated with time.

My sewing and craft room is also my bedroom. it contains more craft supplies, jewelry supplies, and random supplies that I could ever want or need. If just half the time I spend in this room could be spent creatively rather than looking for something I could have sworn was on my craft desk, I'd be a happier crafter.

My favorite place in the world is my home, but Vancouver Island runs a close second. I have friends who live on Vancouver Island, and it is my favorite place to visit.

Favorite colors...so hard to choose! My home is decorated in deep red, yellow/gold, some blue, and mossy green...Tuscan or Provencal colors! I love buttons, and use them extensively in my crafts. I love flowers...roses, hydrangeas, and dahlias, plus any other beauties I find locally to add to my patio garden.

Extras: people either love 'em or hate 'em...I happen to adore sending and receiving "extras" in my swap envelopes. I usually check profiles to see if I have any readily available items that my swap partner might enjoy receiving...little things that are flat (ish) and easy to include in a standard envelope. Some of the things I love to receive are old book pages...especially in foreign languages, snippets of sheet music, lengths of wonderful washi tape, and random embellishments such as bits of ribbon and trim, rhinestones and pearls, etc. I make inchies, twinchies, ATCs, and rolos...I make use of little pieces that might otherwise be thrown away. If I receive something I think I might not use, I save it for someone who loves that sort of thing...I have never understood swappers who say they will only accept certain items, or they will withhold a heart if what they receive isn't to their liking. What...why? Extras are just that...EXTRA! Be gracious, people. It costs nothing to say "thank you" when someone has cared enough to include a treat...even if it isn't your kind of treat!

Rather than listing flakers, I'm taking something I've seen on other profiles, and listing those extra-special, super swappers...you know the ones I mean: when you see an envelope with this person's name on the return address, your heart sings!

Arabella (Nancy), who creates such gorgeous works of art that I'm constantly challenged to find the right words of thanks. Beautiful, beautiful ATCs. An inspiration.

Tigermousecat (Bev), who is the most wonderful of swap partners, and a dear friend...from afar. Bev creates beautiful works of art and sends the loveliest little letters with each swap. She is kind and generous, in addition to being a fabulous swap partner.

Isabellasnow (Kristy)...an amazing swap partner! Her work is beautiful, and every possible detail is polished and perfect. Packaging is Kristy's special gift...it's absolutely as beautiful as the artwork inside.

Really, I do hate to mention my few actual dislikes, but it's helped me to read this on other profiles...it gives me a better insight into what sort of extras and RAKs to send. So here goes: not fond at all of cutesy stuff (Precious Moments, big-eyed children, Disney to name a few). Intensely dislike cigarette smoke and flashing icons...these are migraine triggers for me. Lights and certain smells, oh my. And of course it goes without saying (but here I am, saying it) that I am never in favor of poorly planned and executed artwork. Construction paper, crayons, and silly stickers do not belong here, imho!

One more thing...something that makes me sad. Non-raters. I speak for most of us when I say that we put a lot into our artwork. A lot of time, special embellishments that can be quite expensive for an addict such as myself...even postage is expensive! I do this because I love it, and because it makes me happy to receive good ratings and lovely comments. To fail to rate is more than rude...it's unkind.