Chantiemaya

Hi everyone! Newbie here as of November 17th 2019. My name is Chantal, most people call me Chantie, and I’m from the Netherlands (Nov 13 1979). Here’s some more about me.

I started penpalling when I was 14 or 15 years old - long before we all held the whole world in one hand all day long. I fell into it by accident; I wrote a letter to a teen magazine for their swap request section asking people to swap clippings of our favourite pop groups. Apart from swaps I also received some letters from people who shared my fandom and suggested we be penpals, first nationally, later all over the world. Any old time penpallers might remember the time when FB meant ‘friendshipbook’ ;)

When I moved out on my own and I could finally go online (my parents were a little late to that party), penpalling slowly dwindled down and I joined Facebook and found other places to communicate with fans. I started writing fanfiction, created websites and was active on forums. All of that is now behind me, but I’ve realised a while ago that I just miss paper A LOT. I started a journal to feed my need for writing with an actual pen and as an excuse to use some of the lovely stationery I kept seeing online.

I will probably love anything you send me, i’m not super picky! Follow the swap instructions and you’ll always get a 5 from me. Anything I can’t use or isn’t my taste, I will use in a swap, for my penpals or I’ll do a RAK.

Personal: I’m a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and I’m an ally to every letter of that acronym. I’ve determined my sexuality as a bi-romantic asexual. I am also an atheist liberal.

Work: I work as a logistic administrative assistant in a wholesale company that sells timber and building supplies. I’m surrounded by men, fork lifts and big trucks, our office is a small, smelly hangar and I wear work gear and safety shoes. It’s a fun job although trying at times ;)

It ranges from country to pop to dance. I’m currently into folk/americana, dance, pop, hardrock, metal, and I will listen to some classic or opera tunes from time to time. Some faves: Roxette, Lizzo, Danny Vera, Jason Isbell, Melissa Etheridge, Therapy?, Céline Dion, Cher, Ray Lamontagne, First Aid Kit, Todrick Hall, Brandi Carlile, Elton John, The Killers, Lenny Kravitz, LP, Marilyn Manson, Limp Bizkit, Rammstein, Green Day, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Ludovico Einaudi, Yiruma, Yann Tiersen, 80’s/90’s playlists

I love reading detectives and thrillers, especially Scandinavian writers. My all-time favorite is Henning Mankell, I even visited the area of Sweden he write about. Then there’s Patricia Cornwell who I’ve been fangirling over since I was a teen. Other names that come to mind: Michael Robotham, Jo Nesbo, Lars Kepler, Stieg Larson, Liza Marklund.

I love movies and I go to the cinema every week. I will basically watch any genre although I’m not very good with horror and I can’t deal with slapstick humor. I love super heroes (I’m a Marvel girl), animation, thrillers, and action movies. Recent favourites: Doctor Sleep, Bohemian Rhapsody, Jumanji.

I’m in love with Rupaul’s Drag Race and I’m a very big drag fangirl. For anyone who’s familiar, some faves: Alaska Thinderf*ck, Trixie Mattel, Katya Zamolodchikova, Bendela Creme, Chi Chi Devayne, Raja, Eureka O’Hara, Manila Luzon, Gia Gunn, Jasmine Masters, Latrice Royale, Crystal, Davina De Campo.

I LOVE Queer Eye on Netflix.

I love YouTube, I find it very calming to watch/listen while I’m doing other stuff. I like makeup reviews even though I don’t wear makeup ;) I love watching art videos, journaling videos etc. I like to listen to podcasts too.

I love crochet!

I have a journal that I glue full of stuff and write down my thoughts when I feel like it. I’ve been making junk journals for a while and I absolutely love it.

I’ve always loved writing, whether it’s journalling or fiction. I’ve written a gazillion words of fanfiction but I’m currently not producing anything. My brain sometimes locks down and I can’t think of anything - writer’s block, although as an amateur that terms is a little over the top ;)

What I’d love to get: Paper scraps/ephemera Paint color cards Stickers (no: journaling stickers, Disney) Washi tape (I prefer the paper tape to the plastic ones) Decorated writing paper Hand dyed paper Book pages/newspapers/magazine pages Decorated/color/ interesting Envelopes Magazine clippings Die cuts (shapes, embellishments, bought or homemade is all great) Decorative / cute / text / minimal / animal postcards (either written on or empty is both fine) Lomo cards (kawaii, landscape, botanical, pets, etc) Any paper crafts, hand made, hand written, crafty goodies Snail mail themed items (air mail, envelopes, etc)

If you’re unsure you can always ask! But I will never rate down if it’s not my taste. For me, when I rate a 5 it means you’ve met the objective and a heart means you picked items that I really love.