Ilovepostcards

Okay members, I'd like to request that you please, please, please put a date on your card when you write your message. I like to know how long it takes a card to reach me and with the new postal machine cancellations half the time you can't make out the date. I would certainly appreciate it and thank you in advance!!

Now a bit about me!

I celebrated my 62nd birthday on September 12, 2011, in Badlands National Park, SD where I purchased my lifetime National Park Pass for $10!! My gift to me for my birthday!

I live with my significant other, Robert, and our two long-haired Chihuahuas, Chaz and Megan. Robert and I have been together 15 1/2 years.

I have two grown children - a 33 year-old daughter and a 31 year-old son. I have no grandchildren but wish I did!

I am more or less retired although I do substitute teaching at a Montessori pre-school about 2-4 times a month. I am a trained Montessori teacher.

My love for postcards started when I was around 8 years old. I have now turned my #1 favorite hobby into a business. Since 1997, I have been participating in postcard shows as a dealer. I also promote the Denver Postcard Show (http://www.DenverPostcardShow.com) which is held twice a year so am quite busy from October to the middle of January and from March to the first part of May. I am also a member of Postcrossing and Walltype - another site for members to send and receive postcards. www.walltype.com.

I probably join way too many swaps for my own good but I sure love going to my mailbox every day and seeing all those postcards! I love when the person writes something about his/her self or about why they chose a particular card to send me.

When I'm not working on my postcard collection or getting cards ready for a swap, I am busy doing volunteer work at an assisted living facility. I love working with the older folks!

For whatever swap I am in I read each profile of the member I am to send to - even if it says “sender’s choice”! I get just as much pleasure from searching through my cards trying to find the right fit as I do from receiving cards in the mail! I also like to use interesting older U.S. postage and try to match the stamp to the theme of the card. I also LOVE seeing a variety of stamps on the postcard or envelope.

I have a large collection of wonderful vintage postcards which I love, however I have a fast growing collection of the modern 4 x 6 cards in many favorite categories. I have added over 100 cards to My Wish List on flickr.com This will give you a good idea of some of the cards I really like!

FAVORITE POSTCARD TOPICS:

Beautiful art cards - especially of children, ethnic cultures or women

Ethnic cards showing way of life

Ethnic cards of babies being carried - PLEASE, NO MORE of the Pomegranate card of the Hopi mother and child - I now have 5!!

Ethnic cards of people carrying large loads on their head or on their back

Did You Know?.../Fact cards from various places. Just started collecting this a short time ago so would love ANY!

Beautiful Poster Art – Art Deco and bright colors especially!

Cards pertaining to wash/laundry day

Illustrations from children's books

Beautiful art cards from your region or by local artists

People's faces (children and adults) - especially if they are smiling!

Interesting people – especially people of Lappland

Indigenous children

Strange & unusual roadside attractions and architecture

Canadian Province maps

Canadian and world flags

US State Flags

World maps – other countries

Cards showing mailboxes or anything related to mailing a letter or postcard

Any cards that would bring a smile to one's face

Love all the holiday/greeting cards - Christmas, New Year, Halloween, etc., but nice modern ones are hard to find!

A card that shows me something you would take me to see if I were to visit you!

Handmade/homemade cards are fine as long as they are tastefully done with some creativity. I love the ones made with used postage stamps especially if there is a theme to the design!

I'd love to receive a Zentangle postcard or an ATC!!

POSTCARDS OF PLACES:

Great structures of the world such as the world's tallest building in Dubai, the Millau Viaduct in France, Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel, etc., Malaysia's Twin Towers.

Great Wall of China

Eiffel Tower

World Trade Center - these can be the ealier views also - or cards showing the memorial site.

Thank you to all who read my profile!

While at home I listen to a mix of music on my ipod - Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Coldplay, ABBA, music from soundtracks, Norah Jones, Eric Clapton, Cat Stevens (now Yusef), Chris Isaak, Nick Drake, Dido, Patsy Cline, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, Jack Johnson, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, Art Garfunkel, The Beatles, Andre Bocelli, Bob Seger, Carly Simon, K.D. Lang, and BeauSoliel just to name a few.

About the only thing I watch on TV is Biggest Loser, or if I'm checking weather conditions or getting updates on breaking news. I have watched a few episodes of Parenthood.

Some of my favorite all time movies are:

Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sound of Music, Gone with the Wind, Shall We Dance, Sweet Home Alabama, Catch and Release, Mamma Mia!, and Secret Life of Bees, just to name a few!

I used to do crossstitch and dabbled in other crafts but seem to have no extra time anymore! However, I have recently started experimenting with watercolors and have painted and sent a few of my handmade watercolor postcards.

I am fascinated by the whole ATC thing and the Zentangles but have never attempted to make either. I'd love to have an example of each one so if any of you are artists and make this for fun and feel like sharing, I am open to receiving them! It might inspire me to attempt making my own!

Scandinavian art

Russian art

Ethnic art and ethnic cultures

Work by Elias Rivera

Block prints

Mary Cassatt

Renoir's works of children

Children's book illustrations

Mili Weber - Toadstool Children

Fritz von Uhde (Dutch)

Carl Larsson

Martta Wendelin

A. Larionova (Russian)

Lisi Martin

Boris Kustodiev (Russian)

Raija Nokkala (Finnish)

Elsa Beskow

Connie Snoek (Netherlands)

Inge Look and many other Scandanavian artists