mgallardo68

November 27/2018: UPDATE: National strike is still on and, by now, Minister of Education has threatening the teachers of our country with massive dismisses but the teachers are strong and willing to take the risk but not stepping back. The services of our country are, then; in the same stage: SLOW!!! So please, bear with me as there are important delays with my post (incoming and outgoing! Thank you for your understanding!

VERY IMPORTANT: DO NOT send me anything edible, PLEASE. This has became prohibited in Costa Rica and whatever food category I might get, Customs will impose on the package importation process that takes several days to be resolved including a quarantine (even for a bag of tea as crazy as it sounds). They are entitled to do this and more! It wasn't as bad as this before and it would really depends of package getting caught by Customs but with the strike, the Government has taken measures and policies destined to push citizens and pay more and more to make them believe the Bill for taxes is the best thing to do. So, the odds to get packages sent to pay taxes has increased considerably (have gone there 5 times already, this month) and more than paying taxes the problem arises when it's related with food coming into the country in any form it's made because nothing is giving to me that is in a box until I clear up the food part. Have learned this the hard way today so really stick to this please :-(.

PLEASE write me if you have not received from me. I promise I will do my best to make it right. PLEASE do not rate me down without even giving me the chance to talk and act.

Maria Gallardo
Po Box 1891-2050
San Pedro de Montes de Oca, San Jose 11501
Costa Rica

My :

mgallardo68@gmail.com

I am Maria, 50 years old. Mom of three grown children and grannie of 5 beautiful grandbabies and one more on the way (can't wait to see if girl or boy) :-). I have a beloved sister and a niece and nephew that are like my own children and we live all together (we are 10 at home, a very organized one). I also have 1 DIL and 1 SIL that treat me as their mom and I love them dearly (even if we fight jajaja).

I love my family above all, also love art, reading, traveling, Internet, movies, classic and indie music, talking, philosophy, philology, history, anthropology, even politics.... I am atheist but I love anything/everything related with religious icons, symbols, ethereal spirits, angels, pagan and so on and I have no problem receiving any of this (only do NOT indoctrinate me please).

I am a sharing person, I do not like hoarding (really minimalist in my possessions). I love to send extras and try to make my best to send your way a good package but by no means, I expect extras back. Though, I do appreciate the love you put in your swaps. This is more important to me.

I quilt, sew, do mixed media, altering, recycling, up-cycling and more. Love cotton fabrics (QSQ only), ethnic textiles and batiks, fibers of all kinds, buttons, papers, pretty stuff, VINTAGE stuff, doing collage, painting, using watercolors, the stars, the cosmos, the humans, the leaves and trees, the ocean, the planets, ribbons & laces. SNOW!!

If you send postcards, I would like them in an envelope and blank, even if the swap calls for a written one (I won't rate you down, I promise it). However, I love used postcards (note cards, greeting cards, etc) for my collage. I also love used postage stamps of any kind. Your leftovers and de-stash too.

I do love handmade items that show your soul, envelopes 4''x6'' and bigger (colorful and handmade are the best), happy mail into decorated envelopes, painted papers, jelly papers, unique things. I love lighthouses, cherry blossoms, stars, the cosmos, supplies I can use to produce, roses, Christmas and Fall, the snow (oh the snow)... Did I say snow?

I do not like:

• Dirty stuff
• Smoking smell stuff
• Vulgar stuff or rude
• Pets

I am an honest person, passionate, intense and straightforward (this gives me problems all the time) ...