Lady

If you do not receive something from me, please message me before rating, I will do the same. Appreciate you using real stamps, especially if they are older/unusual. If you can not use the stamps I put on your envie, please pass them on.

Jan. 2013 Apologies: in hospital 1/31/2013 to 2/5 swaps due on 1/31- 2/4 were all mailed by 2/6. Rate as you feel is necessary. Took most of Feb. & March to keep healing & stay current! As ever, PLEASE let me know if I missed anything, or if you have not received! I will re-send.

Smokers: PLEASE, please warn me or mark the envie or something especially with lace or cloth that traps the smoke & residue. I will rate fairly - but I need to be able to open it and air it out safely. I am allergic to cigarette smoke - if I have to go wash off & start Benadryl, I might not rate until the next day. Pet allergies here too but dog & cat fur don't set ME off.

On my to-do list: revisit March 2012 mail for a pillbox hat request. Hope I can re-find you!

  WARNING: Flickr and blog may contain spoilers.

!I recycle icon I always send. If you did not receive something, please Let Me Know so I can re-send. "Sent" means in post office hands - postmark can be 2-3+ days later with Sunday/holidays. If you don't have your stuff 3 weeks from "sent date" internationally (or less for the USA), please let me know! I do appreciate comments when you rate.

I pledge rate for every swap, as soon as I am able, rate fairly, and not badmouth. I might rate a 5 right away and add a star or comment later. I promise to PM any member before giving a 1 or 3. I will only give a 3 if the swap didn't meet the requirements and it is not corrected. We do travel but I will rate as promptly as I can.

If I forget a TAG or RAK, please remind me! Life can get hectic - we do have some older relatives that don't live nearby & do travel, sometimes on short notice.

I swap for the encouragement to create art.

Homeschooling two curious children in NJ in the USA. The family is active in Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts, and a local food coop.

I like to sketch, design/sew clothes by machine, make or eat home-made bread.

I am doing collage and abstract work lately. I use clean scraps (crap to some) that don't rise to the level of emphemera, and have been known to print on book pages or tissue paper to get the look I want.

(In 2012 sketched animals quite a bit, got more realistic with birds, insects, butterflies, and some less common ones). I enjoy zetti, mandalas, and steampunk. Trying to do zetti-style with postage stamp ATCs.

Purple is my favorite color, followed by turquoise, lime green, burgundy, ... bright colors, ethnic mixes, dark colors, most anything but princess-y pink and not find of pastels generally.

My ears are pierced but I only wear light weight earrings. Bracelets are a fav. I have small wrists so adjustable is best. Allergic to cigarette smoke.

Read a lot, especially science fiction, fantasy, and mysteries and information on education & learning.

Family's fav authors include: Terry Prattchet (for his DiscWorld books) & Tamora Pierce. I enjoy YA and mysteries and history. My favorite authors include: Tolkien, A. A. Milne, Tamora Pierce. Picture book fab authors include: Jan Brett. Don't appreciate Twilight - and not a fan of Harry Potter.

Sad that I have to explain this but since we read, any bookmarks need to the bit that goes in the book to be thin, flat & glitter-free. (Charms or beads may hang out or over the top!)

AMERICAL GIRL: for a young friend whose favorite color is RED.

QUICK FLATS: washi tape, pretty "post it" (stick once), ATCs, ribbon. I don't need recipes or memo pads. thanks.

MANDALAs, when no size is specified: a 6 inch by 6 inch with a one inch edge on one side (so 6 x 7) can be nicely stored with many of my others.

Love non-English papers & music sheets, maps, custom paper, ... for crafting

Postcards: i've only gotten great ones when hand-made! In general: art, natural settings, architecture or "local people", Photos of animals. Not interested in kitch-y tourist postcards or naked people on (or off) the beach. geek-y ones are appreciated

Love art pens, Sakura micros, Copic with a brush tip & thin Sharpies & new things to sketch/design with. Can always use more alphabets stamps. Rub-ons are OK. N more stationery please. FALL 2012, I am using mostly watercolor colored pencils.

Most Asian & ethnic things are fine - but I don't appreciate kawaii. (OK, that flattened panda guy is fine as my nephew loves him, but no other kawaii please!).

• • My family is allergic to cats & dogs so for crafts with fabric & pets walking around, I probably should not be the one you send it to! If you do with a sender's choice - PLEASE let me know so that I can keep it away from the family, or pass it on.
• I am allergic to cigarette smoke. When it's sender's choice, I will rate ignoring it but warn me so someone else can open it - outside. Thanks.
• No Christian religious pieces. (non-religious Christmas items are OK in November & December.)
• Don't appreciate much pink or princess. No Disney.
• No loose glitter, it's fine if it will stay on the ATC. None on bookmarks! Thanks

Negatives first:! I am allergic to cigarettes, so please as smoke-free as possible so I can keep it, or let me know so I can rate you & pass it on. Family members allergic to dog & cat.

Tea only in manufacturer's packaging, thanks! No drink mixes, unless required in swaps. (Dh & I get that unpleasant after-taste from artificial sweeteners.) Favorite tea (today): (black tea) Prince of Wales, mint green tea.

love dark chocolate, but I can easily walk away from milk chocolate! Prefer European chocolate, made in Europe (even Cadbury made in the US is different!) favorites: Cadbury Bourneville, "fruit & nut" (I know it's dairy) and "flake". See's with dark chocolate (love dark walnut chews). I don't appreciate Godiva. Do not like peanuts in chocolate.

My kids' favorite (US) candy is "Three Musketeers". My daughter loves Swedish fish. We all enjoy "ice cubes" soft gum -- and it has the additive that even our dentist is happy with! -- but it has gotten impossible to find locally.

Most of those who flaked on me went on to be suspended.

• Lozzabee flaked on Triptych ATC in Jan-Feb2012). Aug. 2012: hosted some triptych ATC swaps myself.

• Artistically Inclined ATC/Note Card in August 2012, the host & one other offered to angel, but nothing w/in 6 months.

• recycle unwanted swap items #3

• Sweet First aid kit in Dec2011-Jan2012. Host & 2 others said they'd angel but did not send. Letting go was hard - but my partner's happy note when she rec'd hers left a longer glow than the bad taste from the flaker(s). I am so glad it brought her joy & she shared it.

THANK YOU! Host-angels include: @jaminthemail @CraftyReflections @muses76 and @sagesparrow .

Beautiful RAK or forum give-away swappers include: @TerryF (RAK postcards) , @jukejan (Real estate plans) , @bedazzle ("gold foil"!) , @giddyani ,

Wonderful swap-bot traders include @tesscalhoun @sagesparrow , @lsmahutchin and special mention to angels including: @artg33k74 (owl ATC)

TPD swaps at least one every quarter: http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/145774 Mail by May 21, 2013 AND "TPD: May sender's choice ATC x2"

ATC Addicts Club: "Postage stamp ATCs #7 - Transportation + any"