cathlud

2013 is going to be a big year for me. I am going to celebrate my 50th Birthday in July. My family are organising a special holiday for us later in the year when the weather will be better.

I am married with two boys (13 years and 15 years), who keep me very busy, at present. I work part-time as a medical scientist at a pathology laboratory. And I also have a casual job as a Patient Model for an Ultrasound Training company.

In my spare time I like to do craft, research my family history (genealogy) or travel with my family.

I have joined swap-bot initially to swap postcards and pressed pennies.

Later on I may try making some cards or ATCs to trade.

My favourite postcard themes are:

• Animals (wild or in zoos): Wolverines, Hedgehogs, Badgers, Meerkats, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Prairie dogs, Lemurs, Bush Babies, Lorises, Marmosets, Tamarins, and any other animals
• Birds: Puffins, Owls, Hawks, Eagles, Penguins and any other birds
• Australian animals (koala, kangaroo, wombat and others) on postcards from countries other than Australia.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Map Cards
• Maxicards
• Flowers, especially red ones, and yellow ones (after International Women's Day), and any other colour!!!
• Illustrations of cats (drawings, paintings, comical, real life)
• Children's Book Illustrations
• French Impressionalist Painters: Monet, Renior, Degas, Pissarro, Manet, Sisley, Cezanne, Morisot and post-Impressionalists
• Churches, cathedrals and other places of worship
• Castles and ruins
• Views with snow
• Famous places
• Not-so-famous places where you live, work or visit.

I like the following ad-card themes:

• Health and social issues such as: Cancer, AIDS, Homelessness
• Animals and Birds

• Any themes listed above
• Hand made postcards and ATCs (to give me inspiration to try it myself)
• Pressed Pennies (I am open to private swaps)
• Any Zoo related items: postcards, maps, key rings, magnets, pressed pennies, other souvenirs
• Christmas cards that are representative of your country (Christmas in Australia is in summer and does not include snow)
• Store bought Christmas postcards (I have never seen any in shops in Australia) or for any other celebration (New Year, Halloween, Hannukah)
• Stickers that I can use in card making
• Anything else I can use in card making (no feathers, SEE BELOW)
• Souvenirs from where you live, or have visited
• Items relating to Pixar Movies (for my children)
• Items relating to Stop-Animation or Clay-Animation movies (for my children)
• I am trying to collect the US 50 State Quarters. So far I have: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CT, DE, GA, ID, IN, KY, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NV, OH, OK, RI, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WY
• US National Park Quarters. So far I have Olympic.

This is my list of special requests, mainly they are postcards. Some of the suggestions come from my teenage boys, who love to set me challanges. I will add to it as I discover particular things that I would like. I would be very happy if I receive any of these items.

• Postcards of the following animals: Groundhog or Woodchuck, Walrus, Skunk, Porcupine

• A postcard with a view from any of the following US states: Alabama, Delaware, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. At present I do not have many postcards from these states.

• These are the US state map cards that I still need to complete my collection: CT, IA, IL, MA, ND, NH, NV, VT. I am in no hurry to complete the collection as I enjoy all postcards.

• Postcards featuring the following music instruments: trumpet, trombone or tuba. (These are the instruments that my sons play)

I love making cards with stamped images, punched shapes, stickers, buttons, ribbon, sequins and other embelishments. I am trying new techniques.

I also like to make beaded jewellery (mainly bracelets and necklaces)

I have tried crocheting, knitting, scrapbooking, beading.

I would love to try making a Dotee Doll. Perhaps someone will send me one to let me see how they are made :-)

I attend a local craft group where we TRY lots of crafts: silk painting, hand sewing, card making,decoupage, felting. They are quite simple due to the ability of the other attendees and I often spend more time helping the older members than actually doing my own projects.

I live in a house of sport-loving males so much of my television viewing involves watching sport.

Due to my work hours (evenings) I do not get to watch much television. My favourite shows are usually police or medical based such as: N.C.I.S., C.S.I., Law and Order, Dexter.

As I enjoy researching my family's history both here in Australia and in Britain some of my other favourite series are: "Who Do You Think You Are?" (UK, USA and Australia), Heirhunters (UK), Coast (UK), "Who's Been Sleeping In My House?" (Australia) and Restoration Home (UK).

I also like documentaries about animals, travel and world history.

I have two boys aged 13 years and 15 years.They are normal, active, adventure seeking youths. They play Field Hockey in winter and go sailing in summer.

They have just become interested in American Football and Ice Hockey (after my sister brought them back Canadian Ice Hockey souvenirs from her recent trip). As many of you live in the USA my boys asked me if anyone would send them some football, baseball or hockey souvenirs from the USA or Canada. My younger son wants to be a Sports Journalist when he finishes school and he would love to receive postcards of sports venues or players.

My younger son also collects postcards featuring mythical creatures or cartoon characters. He LOVES Lego and would buy every set available if he had lots of money.

My older son likes anime characters and loves reading graphic novels. He enjoys making stop animation movies with his brother's Lego figures.

Flakers

"not-so-QUICK cute animal postcard x4 #3" - @Nibbler2011 (fully suspended)

"Bird Postcard Swap" - @IndyUpcycle (account deleted)

"Seen Better Days Postcard Swap #7" - @sebastian (partially suspended) ANGEL COMING SOON

Difficult Swappers

Elongated Penny Patrol, WTA#3 - @jannieb - would not send to me as I am not in the USA

Thank you, angels!

"Christmas Cards with Postcards Inside-Now INT'L!" - @Treksek (account deleted) - Angeled by @Alias who sent me 5 beautiful cards from Estonia

"Merry Christmas: 1 card to 5 partners" - @LambInBlack (partially suspended) - Angeled by @LINBUR0100 who sent me a lovely handmade Christmas card.

"Penny, Postcard & Brochure" - @Duffity (not active) - Angeled by @tiggerski who hosted the swap.

I live in Australia and we have strict quarantine laws. Please do not send any plant material (such as dried flowers, seeds or leaves) or animal products (such as feathers) to me. Recently I had an envelope opened (and destroyed) that contained lavender.

If you have any queries please check http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/mail/cant-mail