I am retired and became a widow in 2014 after 51 years of marriage.I have a large support group of family and church friends around me. My 2 sons & their families live in the St. Louis area so I see them several times a month. I have a daughter in the Chicago area, of course I do not see her as often. I live in a rural area of Missouri with two beagles. I began swapping with photo swaps, using them as therapy. I also swapped fabric postcards for a time. My other hobbies include quilting and other fabric crafts,reading and enjoying nature. I have a large flower garden that keeps me busy during growing season, but also gives me much joy.

I have recently joined a photography group hoping to learn from their expertise. Photography has become a real joy to me - I mostly take pictures of landscapes, skies, birds, flowers,and bugs. Oh yeah, and of my wonderful 3-year-old grandson - a real blessed part of my life.

Update August 2016: Paper crafts have pretty much taken over replacing quilting & fabric postcards. Currently I am swapping various kinds of handmade postcards - Pass & Paste, collaborations, scavenger hunts. These swaps give me the opportunity to explore a lot of different techniques. I like to incorporate humor into some of the cards. I have begun to use images from some old magazines (1930's) that I had collected. Decided it was time to share them instead of stashing them in the closet.

Likes: Vintage images, images from nature, illustrations from children's books, interesting photos taken by you, butterflies.

Quirky/humorous interpretations of themes in swaps from you. Seeing your art work.

Unusual book pages & ephemera to use in making swaps.

I would like postcards from all 50 states. I want the ones that say "Greetings from" with the state name spelled out. They were popular in the 40's and 50's and now I have been seeing reproductions. I would like either ones- vintage or reproductions :)

I have recently begun swapping pocket letters and I am beginning to zentangle.

My new endeavor for 2016 is an art journal, mostly based on Bible verses. I would be interested in receiving swaps with Christian/inspirational quotes or artwork.

Dislikes: Anything gothic, Sci-fi, zombies, steam-punk.

Currently reading: Maisie Dobbs mysteries by Jacqueline Winspear. Have read the first eight in the last few months. Set in England in the 1920's & 30's with ties to events of World War I. I am working on the 2015 Reading Challenge posted by Popsugar. Still reading the Maisie Dobbs series, therefore have not progressed very well on the Reading Challenge.

Thrift Shop Wish List: I have just joined a thrift shop find group. Here are some things I look for at thrift shops, flea markets, etc. Vintage PC's, vintage portraits (photos), books on CD (Nora Roberts), Broadway musical DVD's, vintage sewing notions, vintage quilt patterns - Aunt Martha's books or newspaper clippings, books by Sue Henry (Alaska) and Bill Noel (Folly Beach SC) - paperbacks are fine.I will add to this list as I think of more things. Adding a few more things: charms or charm bracelets, foreign language book (other than German, I have those). I now have a Cuttlebug so would like embossing folders & cutting dies.