kawaii

Note: 5 August 2011 - I'm back! My "little while" turned out to be quite a hiatus.

6 July 2010 - Taking a break for a little while. I moved July 1 and enjoy a new address! So much to do and so many postcards and pretty papers to organize! Thank you all!

I like...

birds, kawaii, gadgets, dark humor, nerds/geeks, the weird, supernatural, and the fantastic

I enjoy...

taking pictures, people watching, succulent plants, deltiology, thrifting, research, candlemaking

@ The Tallahassee Museum of Natural History

My Postcard Swaps

I am not one to send out cards immediately after partners are assigned. My enjoyment in swapping postcards includes reading partner profiles to get to know each person, and then lingering in my collection to find the right ones to send. I usually send closer to the swap date and always before the deadline.

I try to rate received swaps as soon as possible. If for any reason you have not received any of my swaps or my rating for you, please contact me.

Suggest...

• maps...I really love mapcards! Even vintage maps.
• scenic view or multiview souvenirs of your town, country, region, etc.
• historical buildings, churches, landmarks
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• birds
• vintage linen and chrome cards
• recipe cards
• die-cuts and odd shapes
• more suggestions are on my Postcrossing profile. I am not easily offended.

Prefer...

store-bought, interesting stamps, trivia about your location, anecdotes about yourself, information about the postcard subject. Maps and die-cuts/odd shapes in an envelope, if possible.

Anything weird, Japanese or Korean, especially San-X, Kamio, Crux, Mindwave, Q-Lia, & classic Sanrio. My favorites are Banao, Afro Ken, Badtz Maru, Kogepan, Tarepanda, cats, penguins, music, and ghost & skull themes. Otherwise, I also really like weird kawaii (for example: sad/mad characters, strange Japanese foods, screaming bunny, the innards, poop, etc.).

I also love any Dark Horse stationery, both the kawaii (tokidoki, domo-kun, gloomy bear) and the unusual art.

I am also in love with envelopes! I love teeny-tiny ones, vellum, metallic, odd shaped, anything out of the ordinary. Seeing one in my mailbox makes my day.

Not a huge fan of really girlie stuff, pink, or hearts -- except the ratings kind

Candlemaking

I'm a candlemaker. For many years, I had a studio downtown in Tallahassee's Railroad Square art park. I sold candles regularly and taught candlemaking classes/workshops. In 2000 I was fortunate to author Candlemaking for Fun & Profit, a technical candlemaking guide. Craft business guru Barbara Brabec wrote the general craft business stuff at the end.

It was a great hobby when I had hours of time to devote to melting wax and finishing candles. Now my two little girls take up much of my "spare" time. When they get a little older I'll unbox my molds and start over.

Sewing

I liked to sew before I had kids...but I hadn't had time to sew for quite a while! But now my youngest has taken an interest, so I just bought a new Brother machine on 8/17/11. It's awesome! I love showing her how to sew, mainly making quick stuffed animals and tiny kawaii dolls to keep her interested. When my husband was performing I made him lots of sparkly pants...he is too tall for anything cool off-the-rack...

Postcards

So lately I've come to enjoy collecting and sending postcards. This is why I'm on swap-bot. I have very little time to devote to crafts nowadays and so this pastime is great for me because it doesn't take too long and I can work on cards while multitasking everything else. I also like to file and categorize them...I'm just weird that way.

Gardening

Ok...It's not technically "crafty" but another big pastime of mine is gardening, indoors and out. Bought a great house in summer 2010 on a rare acre lot inside of town. Some nice trees around the edges and a few old camellias, but for the most part, a big blank empty space that I will transform into my gardening wonderland. When it's not 100 degrees outside, I'm working on a couple of traditional veggie patches, chicken coop (6 hens), butterfly garden, annual beds, and kids' gardens. Inside, I work on seed starting and babying my houseplants. My favorites are episcias -- I can't get enough of them!

I love the Daily Show, Colbert Report, All in the Family, Project Runway, Hot in Cleveland, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. I also can't help but watch Yo Gabba Gabba with my girls...it's AWESOME!

Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Tim Burton, Hitchcock, Wes Anderson, Peter Jackson, Monty Python, Coen brothers, sci-fi & space movies, James Bond, & disaster flicks. Not a big fan of chick flicks and drama, but sometimes I am compelled to watch.

Billie Holiday, the Beatles, Queen, Prince, Duran Duran, Ween, the blues, and whatever my husband is performing or listening to...I love his taste in music!