hollycm6

IIIIIntroducing... Holly! I am sort of a colorful chaotic mess. Married for thirty+ years with kids, and grandchildren, I stay busy!

I'm a Swap-bot Ambassador and happy to answer any questions or to do a private swap with you if I have time.

I work with (for??) my husband and I enjoy it... But it is exhausting. I also try-to-be an artist, teaching myself drawing and watercolor and urban sketching. I'd love to write and illustrate a book one day, and have it published. UPDATE 9/2022: I HAVE ILLUSTRATED A BOOK! 100% of the profits go to newfietherapy.org which is the only newfoundland therapy dog group in the country providing free therapy to veterans, first responders, hospitalized children, etc... if you purchase through this link I might receive a few cents from Amazon as well:

Try this link for the book Chewie the Newfie To The Rescue

I'd really really REEEEALLY love it if you'd check out my blog, and follow if you enjoy it, And comment, too!

I also have tumblr and twitter (which I've never checked!) linked to the blog if you prefer to follow that way... the page threesixfive.art and tumblr I'm threesixfive-art. (2018: I've continued the project!)

BOOKS:

I love everything about books. :-) Especially classics, mysteries, quirky stuff like jasper fforde, YA (especially YA and childrens from decades or generations ago) I have a room in my house with shelves and tables full of beautiful books and a big comfy chair ...

No horror (even classics), or graphic violence, or overly sexually explicit books. I do love pretty much anything else that's well-written.

I love the poetry of EE Cummings, Mary Oliver, and others, and I like to write my own as well. And I'd like to read yours! Send me one!

COLORS

I like them all. :-) Especially color THEMED groupings. I guess "fall colors" are my go-to's... deep rich jewel tones. Plum, brick red, mustard yellow, burnt orange, mahogany brow, olive green, all mixed up together. :)

Vivid colors over pastels.

Orange, lime green, olive green are my favorites. Deep yellow, Bright or dark pink, teal blue, brown... also faded old colors...Well... okay really whatever color you enjoy. I adore color themed mail!

THEMES AND THINGS I ESPECIALLY ENJOY (but... I love to be surprised by random things, so skip this if you prefer!)

-wrapped surprises for my Christmas stocking, any time of year. I WILL SAVE THEM.
-holly leaf items, especially notecards or postage stamps (Anything Christmas or holly leaves) -art supplies, esp drawing, or watercolor, or gouache
-handmade items and unique little art you find or have made
-Mail and mail art
-newfoundland anything. The dog (I have two)
-a new letter opener
-large-ish handmade or up-cycled envelopes
or lettersets
-Color themed swaps!
-books and book stuff (see book section above)
-very old beautiful book covers for repurposing into sketchbooks, and/or book pages
-anything funny, or sweet
-a Handmade journal or sketchbook
-nature
(esp FIREFLIES/LIGHTNING BUGS! dandelions! And clover. And... pussy willows, honeysuckle, daffodils, poppies, ladybugs, moths, leaves, acorns, the beach, beetles, birds)
-fingerless gloves (yes please!)
-calvin and Hobbes. LOVE!
-your favorite Bible verse, encouraging idea, interesting quote, poem, or song lyric.
-Words, letters, typography
-anything from England (my birthplace) or Norway (my heritage)
-quirky, feminine, or hopeful anything
-hamster anything, or hamster treats... I have a black one named Picasso in my art room
-elephants (and probably any other animal you like)
-seasonal mini garden flags, potholders, kitchen towels, etc (Off season is cheaper and fine!)
-command hooks. Why do I always need these??
-good quality glue sticks or tape runners, adhesives, etc
-office supply type things
-fun, quirky little notebooks like the decomposition books
-a little craft kit of any kind
-jigsaw puzzles (any kind? but especially wooden puzzles, or unusual puzzles, or one you think is beautiful. It doesn't have to be beautiful though, because a puzzle and wall art are different. What makes the best wall art may not make the best puzzle!)
-I'm really into collecting cool vintage jewelry, bags, vera bradley bags, vintage fashion images...
-cool stickers
-an interesting cut-out to add to mail
-miniature anything
-fairy garden bits (especially if you make them! Or stuff to make them with?)
-something representing your town or area?
-a card or letter from your vacation
-a card or letter from/about your everyday life
-anything that makes you say "Oh isn't that fun??" I probably will say it, too.

Basically, if you enjoy making it, or shopping for it, and packing it up with love and sending it, I will enjoy receiving it from you!

PLEASE NOTE:

I have enjoyed learning about other people's religious views here on swap-bot, as much as about other cultures, but I've also been surprised and saddened by the closed mindedness of supposedly open minded people when it comes specifically to MY faith. I respect yours, even though it isn't what I believe, and I respect your right to believe it and share it, please respect my faith, and me as well. I will never NEVER try to criticise or belittle you or your faith, or even lack of faith, or judge you based on assumptions I've made, or things I've read about other people who practice your religion. I will not try to convert you or even discuss religion unless you ask to discuss it. Please show me the same consideration regarding respect and belittling comments. That said, I am happy to discuss religion or anything else with you, and would love to count you among my friends whether we are the same or very different in the way we think and how we see the world!

(eternal life spoiler... skip this part if reading about Christianity offends you) I am a born-again Christian... I firmly believe being sweet or kind or caring is important for every person of every religion, and plenty of religions teach people to love each other... and plenty of "Christians" DON'T love others... but I understand that my deeds and behavior are not the way to eternal life, which can only be found through a personal relationship with Christ. And while I do have that relationship, that doesn't mean I think I am better or worse than you or anyone else. I am a sinner by nature and will often do selfish thoughtless things, just like everyone else, and need to turn myself back to face Christ. Please don't blame my Christianity for my shortcomings or weaknesses, which are completely mine, and I won't blame your religion for yours. Of course I don't enjoy my errors pointed out to me, but sometimes it is necessary and I'll thank you now for doing it (because honestly I may not thank you at the time) but I know I probably needed it said, (whether you say it out of love and concern or just petty mean spiritedness, either way if it's true, it's true, and I need to look at it)

In short: Being nice doesn't save me, and being Christian doesn't make me nice... it makes me realize how different I am from how God wants me to be and how much I thoroughly require his grace. This is the extent of my "preaching", and all I will ever say unasked. And thank you for letting me!

Do that which you fear to do, and the fear will die. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. -Leo Buscaglia

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. -Leo Buscaglia

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. -e e cummings

What I pledged

I should have created this section years and years ago, but I was simply too lazy! Now I am kicking myself.

So as of January 20, 2017, these are some very sweet thoughtful things I have received, and I'm so sorry for the hundreds of things which happened before and are not recorded here. And can never be repaid. I have been so blessed and so moved by the thoughtfulness of Swap-bot members over the past years. And I'm also sorry (ahead of time) for the probably erratic attempts to keep this part current.

12/17: @sandyponey sent me a big sweet Christmas Eve birthday package, a complete surprise. Full of special stuff. Such a nice thing to do for a person she barely knows!!!!! Made me feel great.

1/17 @djcamp04 sweetly sent me a replacement of the Calvin and Hobbes book Emmett my Newfie puppy ATE. Thank you! How sweet!

(3/2018 update: ugh, I forgot to add things here and I received such awesome stuff over and over! I'm not good at keeping things up. Now this section just makes me sad because I'm such a jerk. But happy because other people do nice things, so I'm leaving it. Even if I only record a few, it's better than none.)

(Sept 2020 AAAAAAND I SUCK. )