iLoveMail

I enjoy making things, from envelopes & mail art to breads, cakes & pies. I love the idea of starting with just raw materials or ingredients and ending up with something tangible that I've created! I enjoy giving things to people, especially when they appreciate all the time & effort I put into my work. I love paper! Hand-carving stamps is my new favorite thing. Now, if there were only 10 more hours in a day =)

I'm a married mom from California, now living in Massachusetts & always missing southern CA, especially the weather!

I've been working in the restaurant industry for all of my adult life (and then some!) I used to work in a bakery and have been doing wedding/special occasion cakes, by referral only, for the last 10 years. I currently work part-time (in a restaurant) and spend my free time baking & crafting.

HOW I SPEND MY CREATIVE TIME:

~ mAil arT ~ paper crafts ~ decoupage ~ altered anything ~ making envelopes~ mixed media ~ stamp-carving ~ photo/memory crafts ~ cake decorating & baking from scratch ~ zentangle ~

in no particular order

♥ vintage ephemera (non-paper) & anything retro or travel-related ♥ mail art, espcially decorated/handmade/zentangled envelopes ♥ anything by Tim Holtz ♥ open-mindedness ♥ small handmade books & mini handmade journals ♥ foreign languages, etymology & grammar ♥ travel - there's no place I won't go! ♥ retro/vintage/kitsch/shabby chic styles ♥ postage stamps (new & unused) foreign or domestic ♥ paper - vintage pieces, like order forms, receipts, ledger paper, food ads, etc.- not scrapbook or designer paper - and no magazine ads unless they're food ♥ tutorials ♥ graphic arts ♥ scratch baking & cake decorating ♥ quotes ♥ vintage stationery & note cards (only vintage, not collecting any new stationery right now - no time to write a proper letter :/ ♥ making things by hand & creating in general ♥ organizing anything & everything ♥ printed matter (rather than e-mail or internet) ♥ vintage posters, especially travel or food ♥ kitsch prints/patterns from the 60's & 70's ♥ travelogues or stories of pioneer women travelers ♥ my family memorabilia, keepsakes & history ♥ taking pictures ♥ thrift store/second-hand shopping ♥ neat fonts, hand-lettering styles, zentangle ♥ how-to books ♥ ....just to name a few....

THINGS I DO NOT TOLERATE & HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR / racism, biggotry or ethnocentrism of ANY kind / classism / anti-LGBT people, laws or beliefs / ultra-religious fanatics (the kind who want you to believe what they do and think you're a bad person if you don't) / people who push their religion on me / people who tell me how to raise my kids / closed-minded politicians with antiquated views who actually get elected [scary] /

I'm more into creating things, sending & receiving handmade items than collecting more "stuff". Aside from the list below, there's not too much I really want to receive. It would be great to get any of the following, not in any particular order....

I'd Love to Receive:

• postal/airmail themed things like deco tape, hand-carved (or store-bought) stamps with a postal theme, foreign (non-US) postal forms like customs or registered/express mail

• unused airmail stickers from any country (like the kind you get free at the post office!)

• unused airmail envelopes from anywhere

• aerograms - vintage, new, or foreign (so hard to find!)

• any memorabilia or ephemera from foreign airlines or that are no longer in business, like PanAm or TWA or even existing airlines (like the safety cards in the seat backs; menus from foreign airlines)

• something from my Etsy favorites

• stamp-carving supplies, or hand-carved stamps relating to my profile

• printed paper tape, deco tape or washi tape - handmade is fine too

• UNUSED US postage stamps - any denomination, vintage or new. I don't collect cancelled (used) stamps anymore.

• cake decorating magazines from any country (current or dated)

• foreign maps or pieces of maps (for crafting & collage

• unusual foreign packaging, like food packaging from other countries or packaging with foreign writing on it

• vintage recipe cards (written or unwritten)

• vintage kitchen utensils

Though I'm not collecting like I used to, I have lots of postcards available for trade. Let me know what you're looking for - chances are I have it. The only postcards I would be interested in are map cards from foreign countries/cities & vintage cards from most anywhere. I'm happy to send postcards & receive something different from my wishlist.

Postcards I'm collecting now:

• vintage (1970 or earlier)
• map cards of other countries & cities (I have most states)
• new, store-bought scenic, single-view postcards from other lesser-known places & countries, especially Iceland, South Africa & southern African countries, Kenya, Morocco, Seychelles, Maldives, Azores, Mauritius, New Zealand & islands in the Indian or Pacific Oceans.

PLEASE DON'T SEND ME THESE POSTCARDS -

• animal cards, insect cards or cards with people on them
• art cards (unless its a really cool black & white vintage card)
• ad cards
• cutesy, country, flowers or floral
• churches, crosses or any religious persons

I DO NOT WANT/Don't Need/Will probably end up in the trash/recycle...

• anything religious or related to religion
• anything flower/floral-printed, including postcards
• please don't send seasonal items (Halloween, Easter, X-mas, Valentine's, NOT any holiday) I don't use or care for holiday-themed items, thanks!
• scrapbook paper (I have more than I'll ever use!)
• vintage book pages - I love vintage, but have ENOUGH book pages - I just scored big at my library's annual book sale! Let me know if you'd like some :)
• tea or tea bags
• stuffed animals
• flower embellishments or anything floral printed
• country/Americana/folk art crafts, prints or colors or ANYTHING
• perfume & scented things such as lotions
  & soaps
• bath & body items or cosmetics (I have VERY sensitive skin.)
• postcards I'm not collecting (above)
• key chains or refrigerator magnets
• atc's, no matter how awesome (maybe eventually, but no thanks for now)
• drink mixes (hot chocolate, coffee, etc.)
• post-its or note pads
• candy
• dotees (?) I'm not into dolls at all.
• blank recipe cards, unless its that kind of swap
• I'm not religious at all, so please DON'T send religious items, bible quotes, stickers, etc.
• I prefer things I can use year-round
• things smelling of cigarette smoke - YUK!

I always try to respect others likes/dislikes, beliefs, etc. as well, and I go out of my way to send what you like. Thanks in advance :) and THANK YOU for reading my profile!!

I don't belong to many groups anymore, and that's by design. I've scaled back so I can be an active founder/officer/member in the groups I am in currently.

I would love to do private swaps with dependable swappers! Just PM me :) However, I won't be hosting or joining any more public swaps; they're just too risky. Whether its flakers or half-ass swaps, I'm over it! I'm going to start being pickier with whom I let join my group swaps as well. Habitual late-senders (even if you let your partner know) and mediocre swappers will not be tolerated. I'm not trying to be militant; I'm just tired of putting so much into my swaps & receiving less than average in return. I spend a lot of time and postage - both of which cost money - on my swaps and I'm tired of being disappointed. I don't want to give out 3's either, but its hard to rate generously when its obvious there was little thought/effort given.

I've been on Swap-bot for 3 years now and have learned so much! For the most part, I've received some amazing stuff, both handmade & store-bought, and "met" some amazingly talented & kind people. Lately though, I've received some "just okay" swaps, meeting the bare minimum of the swap requirements. I'm not expecting perfection (except from myself :), but I do expect people joining the same swap as me to put some thought & effort into it! It is so disheartening to work so hard on something and send it off, only to receive something just thrown into an envelope. I'd much rather receive an amazing swap that my partner put their time & care into, (and met the swap requirements), than receive extras!! Any creative person can tell whether or not an effort was made.

99% of the time, I send extras with my swaps. It is never to make up for the swap, or that my swaps are lacking in any way; I send extras if I have things you like, according to your profile. Hearts are nice (& always appreciated), but I like to make others happy as well & don't mind sharing my stuff! I only join & host swaps that I know I can complete and am able to do well. I don't like to send mediocre type-3 swaps and feel free to let me know if I send you something that you don't love. (and tell me why). I read my partners' profiles repeatedly to make sure that I never send items that your profile says not to send! By the same token, if you want a heart from me, please don't send items I don't like or want according to my profile, but more importantly, put some effort into it please!

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this!

I re-use packaging a lot, so please don't be surprised if one of my swaps comes in a used envelope - its what's on the inside that counts! (Besides, I tape the crap out of it! My worst nightmare is to have a swap ripped open in transit.) I don't mind getting used packaging either :) I always use real postage on my swaps - I'm on a 1st name basis with everyone at my town's post office - and I REALLY appreciate it when there are real stamps (not metered) on anything I receive. Thank you :))))

Again, these are all just requests, not demands :)

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