UPDATE: December 2023 - Life happened… and as a result, I’ve needed to step away from Swap-Bot for a little bit. You’ll notice I haven’t been as active lately. I believe I am all caught up on sending swaps - although it feels like the mail has been running very slow lately - but if there’s something you have not received from me yet, please let me know. Thank you for your patience!

More about Katy Mike

Greetings! My first name is Katy Mike, and that's what I go by as my first name if you're personalizing a letter. To be clear & because it's a common mistake, please don't shorten my first name to just "Katy" - thanks! More on nicknames later... ;) I live in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA and love it here by the Mississippi River. Professionally, I work for a local university, teach yoga and advocate for sustainability. In my free time, you'll find me at the library, in the garden or out hiking if I'm not holed up in my studio room working on some odd project.

Speaking of names, I've had a number of nicknames over the years, including "Killer," "Prairie," and "Maestro," if that provides you with some insight. Here are some more words that have used to describe me...

• yogi (RYT-200)

• academic (EdD.)

• Leo (with Capricorn rising)

• bookworm (7 different library cards)

• treehugger / hippie (LEED-GA and Sierra Club member)

• "campaigner" (ENFP)

• witch (Woman In Total Control of Herself, lol)

I love handmade objects and items with a unique story or special history (even the ordinary and obvious) so I'm drawn to art-making and collecting weird miscellany.

These odd bits usually show up in my crafting in the form of collage. I am a newbie when it comes to ATC's so as I experiment with those, you'll find examples of this.

Journaling, however, is a lifelong habit/hobby. I would no longer consider myself a "planner addict," and I'm in the process of purging all the planner accessories for something more streamlined. These days my everyday carry journal is smaller - about 3x5 - and I love anything passport or index card sized. I've decided I can't do away with paper completely, but I dabble with digital journaling & digital collage too.

I enjoy textile arts and handicrafts like embroidery and knitting, but I often don't find time for them. It's just too easy to set aside a sewing project in the Spring when it's time to play outside in the garden! To bring the garden indoors, these days I'm building terrariums, forcing bulbs, and sprouting seeds - so I gladly welcome houseplant starts and sprouters!

I REALLY enjoy mail art and snail mail. I've been a Postcrosser for five years and a member of the Letter Writers Alliance & the League of Extraordinary Penpals. I love picking up various pen pals along the way. I joke with my family that I am more likely to write you back via snail mail than an email! Also, because I think it's worth a read, I'm posting this article here -- Why The Post Office Is Even More Awesome Than You Think It Is.

If I had all the time in the world, I'd travel and get really good at taking photos. I toy around with a blog, and am always hoping to improve my writing skills.

The library will always be one of my favorite places, and I will always have a stack of books in every room.

The best way to see what I'm reading and what books I've favorited in the past is to find me on GoodReads : www.goodreads.com/katymike.

I appreciate my fellow Swap-botters and I love this opportunity to participate in this act of reclaiming the postal service from generic mailers & boring bills. It's always a welcome relief to receive something in the mail that was sent with care!

Know I'm Grateful

I am thankful for what you send - it truly brightens my day! I am not quick to rate someone down and appreciate that everyone has different preferences.

Don't Send

Because sending something personalized means so much, here are some tips on what I'd prefer not to receive. This list is shorter, and a good deal of it stems from my work as an environmentalist.

• Animal print (I'm working on going vegan!)

• Kid-related or kiddie-themed (I'm happily married with no plans to have children!)

• Crappy or clearly cheaply made (I believe in up-cycling, not down-cycling!)

• Scraps of paper (I’m swimming in bits & bobs and can’t possibly upcycle it all right now!)

Consider Sending This

If you're looking for more specific info about my preferences, it may be helpful to know I especially like:

• vintage pencils (I'm a legitimate card-carrying member of a pencil club!)

• actually, I’m a fan of most vintage office supplies, tbh. Or vintage anything, especially if it's campy, kitschy, or retro (especially atomic era adverts, old signage, outdated film cameras & fountain pens ...)

• letterpress, linocuts, woodblocks, printmaking & maybe even letterboxing

• bicycling stuff or subway/metro maps (I support public transit!)

• documenting what's going on outside (what does your backyard look like? what's growing? how has the climate changed?)

• occult themed, including cemeteries, altars, Dia de Los Muertos, and tarot (I'm v. into New Age / Now Age lifestyle but not "goth")

• Matching stationery (either Lisa Frank print or elegant linen paper, I like a matchy-matchy set sometimes. This includes some of the Kawaii stationery - Kutusita Nyanko and Shirasutai are my favorite San-x characters - but I'm more interested in it all as stationery products rather than the characters.)

• anything with French Bulldogs (I have two!)

Please do reach out if something hasn't arrived in a timely manner. If it arrived with postage due, or damaged, I will do my best to make it right!

Please Pass It Along!

Feel free to reuse & repurpose anything I send!

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