Vianna

Hello! I'm mainly a postcard collector, though I'd enjoy having a stimulating correspondence should the chance arise. I'm also interested in small fabric swatches that can be used for quilt appliques. I dont join many swaps, and when I do I read people's profiles and take pride in sending a something that the recipient would enjoy receiving. I also exchange postcards at Postcrossing, SendSomething.net and Walltype (again, occasionally). Please contact me if you have not received my swap, if you think we share an interest or if you want to set up a swap.

I am a working professional, 49 years walking this planet, married for 21, living on the West coast of Florida since '86, no children. My husband and I share our lives with two 'fur-babies': one dog (King Charles Spaniel, 5 y.o) and one huge tomcat who joined us in 2003 and whose age remains a mystery. Here are some pictures:

"My husband and fur-baby Mia, Christmas 2010"

"My husband and I"

"Our other fur-baby, Kitty Nolan Amongus"

I am also caregiver to my mother who, in her nineties, continues to live in her own home, just around the corner from ours. As you can imagine, working and being a caregiver (and trying to have some fun now and then) makes for some very busy days around here.

"My mother and then four-months old Mia, 2008"

I have a very large postcard collection. I've collected cards from all over the world for decades, although not always in an organized fashion. Only these last few years I began concentrating my efforts on WORLD CHURCHES, LIGHTHOUSES, MAPS OF ALL SORTS, and BRIDGES - but all postcards have a good home here, though some multi-views are too small to be properly appreciated. At some point I want to have all the cards categorized & in albums because too many are still languishing in shoe boxes ...

My music of choice is classical, but on occasion, depending on mood and activity, I also enjoy jazz, blues, and bits and pieces from other styles and countries. (I also like Rob Zombie, so go figure!) I'm told my music tastes are "eclectic" - they certainly cover a wide range).

When I was a child I took piano lessons for ten years. I occasionally still enjoy being in touch with the keys. Pieces by Chopin and John Field are my favorite, but mostly I play CD's now, MP3s or Pandora radio. I dont know that I can get much done without background music ...

As time permits, I LOVE READING and have a large personal library. I could get lost with a book and Mozart for days ... I'm a member of two local book clubs and I enjoy hearing about new worth-while authors from around the world. I generally read two books each week, one fiction and one non-fiction, in addition to newspapers, magazines and a number of blogs. I also enjoy poetry. Yes, I'm a reincarnated bookworm, and we could talk books all day long!

The fact is, I've had a love affair with all things paper since childhood: end-table surfaces are always populated by magazines, walls by bookcases and my desk by writing paraphernalia: fountain pens, postcards, stamps and related what-not's. I even collect pre WW-II books just for the way they look, smell and feel and I'm saddened when people "alter" these gems.

Occasionally I scrapbook or create funny cards in Photoshop for my friends - but I'm no artist. I'm left-brained (programmer, technical writer, MBA & all that) but I work hard at expressing myself creatively. I believe the world would be a better place if all of us nurtured our creative side.

I love hand-written anything, preferring snail-mail letters & cards to their electronic versions. Short notes, at short intervals, work best because my handwriting leaves much to be desired and let's face it, neither my eyes, nor my span of concentration is what it once was ...

If I watch television (which isn't much), I hand embroider or quilt something at the same time. I've been watching episodes of Bones, Castle, Body of Proof, anything Masterpiece Theater on PBS, and this year again, The Borgias. I'm also a Doctor Who fan from waaay back and I enjoy all costume/period movies (that is, where the story takes place anytime before WW-II).
On occasion I also crochet or knit, but in Florida it's rather warm for woolly things, so I crochet edgings for pillow cases, curtains, for scarves or tee-shirts. As much as I like to craft/sew for the sake of art, I mostly work on projects that pay back with practicality, if not beauty ☺

I have an adventurous and inquisitive spirit, pursuing Beauty and Knowledge at every step.
I'd rather be outdoors than not and I dislike architectural styles stingy with windows. I'm interested in foreign cultures and their languages, their music and foods, history, archaeology and art. I traveled half the world, and though for now my mother's care only allows for overnight RV trips close to home, someday I plan to see the other half of the world. I 'm a hopeless Romantic born 200 years too late, who would have been very happy in a Jane Austen world. I have kept a "diary-cum-journal-scrapbook thingy" for over thirty years. The practice helps me organize my thoughts, sort thru my feelings, work thru various issues, but mostly, it's a great memory aid ( and one comes to appreciate this property more and more as one ages). I live in harmony with the seasons, the time of day, with nature and all things. A sense of balance is paramount. Poetry soothes me, I love the Internet, I enjoy all performing & visual arts, and I work continuously on improving my photography skills. My camera goes everywhere with me (all hail Cannon!) and I keep Photoshop on every computer. I enjoy my home, prefer warm weather to cold, adore chocolate, love good single-malt scotch and fine cooking; wine and desert with every meal is the motto in this house - and then, walk that extra mile at every opportunity. I'm no sports afficionado, but I live a fairly healthy life-style. I believe Life is good and there is hope for humanity. If there are a few things I'm not too fond of they probably are (in no particular order) politicians, telemarketing, noise, and ignorant, rude people. Some pictures of me, my family and "stuff" can be viewed at Flickr (where I have not gone PRO) and also on Facebook - if you're the visual type.

So ... I wish you, reading this (if you're still reading at this point) a rich & happy life, lots of fun swaps and only positive ratings. I'm always delighted to make contact with kindred spirits of all ages and from all planets. See you in the mail!

Mostly I'm here to swap postcards.

And though all postcards have a good home in my large collection, I am currently working to enlarge my collection of world churches, maps, bridges, lighthouses and sports venues/stadiums. If any of these are available to you, I would be more than delighted - Thank you!

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I'm also looking to make (one day) a FLAGS OF THE WORLD art quilt. If you dont live in the United States, and if you can send a small piece of fabric printed with your country's flag(s), please let me know and I'll swap for it if I have something you want. A piece as small as 6x6 inches (20cmx20cm) would quite suffice (though a bit larger would be better) and also, I could even incorporate one of those touristy fabric patches that is a flag from your country (they are generally sewn on jackets/hats and such). As I said, it's going to be an "art quilt", so there is a lot freedom in design and materials. Contact me if interest, and thank you. ♥