robinjeree

Hi, my name is Robin (I often go by RJ.) I'm new to Swap-Bot and I love it - I'm excited to be here!

I've been a mail artist for a few years, so I do have some experience with exchanges by mail. In fact, I learned about Swap-Bot from a friend in the International Union of Mail Artists, IUOMA.

You can read more about why I fell in love with mail, below! Mail is my way of being a "virtual explorer" and connecting with other people, places and the world.

I'm mostly intersted in mail art, notecards or postcard penpals, writing prompts, book groups - US and International - Type 1 & 2 swaps.

I love to read my partners' profiles, and really appreciate the personal aspect of exchanging. My profile is a bit long but I hope you will enjoy reading it!

~|| IMPORTANT ||~ If you have any questions or concerns, please message me here instead of emailing me. I might not recognize your email name and overlook it.

• fine art
• museums
• math, science
• artists, art shows
• literary, book-related
• empowering women
• human rights, equality
• quotes, interesting facts
• care for our environment

Swaps

Hand made items, drawings or paintings are very special, because I believe everyone's creativity is valuable--I like whatever is sincere or uniquely you. I enjoy fun little notes like your word for the day, or a book recommendation, a haiku by you, etc. - whatever comes to mind!

Oh, one of your kids' drawings?!? Definitely throw that in! I LOVE children's art.

I like to use maps and book pages in collages. My favorite art medium is watercolor. I'm fascinated by handwriting, manuscripts and asemic art.

• I don't use stickers, journal cards, washi samples.

• Sadly, I'm allergic to animal hair and feathers. So please vacuum your mail before sending it. No, I'm kidding don't really do that!! I think I will be fine, at this distance from your pets ;) but I really do wish I could hug them.

More details are at the end of my profile. Also, visit my Pinterest! https://www.pinterest.com/robinjeree/

I'm on goodreads.com/robinjeree - you can see my bookshelves there. Some favorite books from this year:

• Night of Cake and Puppets - Laini Taylor
• Once Upon A River - Diane Setterfield
• Girl in Hyacinth Blue - Susan Vreeland
• Unfurl - Meghan Genge

Genres: historical fiction, inspiring women, artist biographies, art-related books, classics. I enjoy e-books and audiobooks. I read a lot on Scribd.

Penpals might like to know:

• I'm very happily married, and my husband has two grown kids whom I adore.

• I just turned 50 y.o. this year, and I don't even relate to that number! (how in the world can it be?!) In my mind and heart I'm still in my 20s. Alas, my body is not, but we are still friends ;)

• After living in some nice places, I've returned to the city and neighborhood I grew up in. It's home-y and nostalgic. But I miss walks on the beach, hiking in mountains and redwood forests.

• I used to work in the field of mental health and education.

• I love humor and the unexpected. And silliness.

• My word of the year is "delight" - to notice one thing that is delightful every day.

• One of my favorite memories is flying kites in the park. I love to feel like a carefree kid again whenever I get the chance.

• My husband M does all the grocery shopping and cooking, he's quite talented.

• We have a tandem bike, and we ride it around the neighborhood when the weather is nice.

• I enjoy going to libraries and museums. I went to school at a children's museum and I've felt at home in them all my life.

• I like to watch: Masterpiece Theater, international documentaries, artist biographies, science, NOVA, National Geographic.

• My favorite subjects were/are still Math, Geography and Art.

• I taught basic ballroom dance when I was in college.

• I'm a watercolor nerd. I'm fascinated by the different pigments and their properties.

• I eat super dark chocolate every day for breakfast.

• As an experiment I gave up my smart phone for a dumb phone, and yes, it's really awkward.

• Are you still reading this? You are a Superstar!* There's a bit more, if you're curious.

Mail has always seemed kindof "magical" to me. Ever since I learned how to mail a self-adressed stamped-envelope SASE. And definitely after I mailed in the picture I colored from Cappy Dick in the newspaper, all by myself without telling anyone, and won a camera!

My grandmother was my first penpal and as it turns out she kept all my childhood notes to her, and gave them back to me 10 years ago.

Anyway, later on, I had a penpal from Korea. We exchanged some fun letters and little gifts.

When I was in college, I made a lot of friends from other countries. I decided to travel around the world on a ship, stopping at ports. This was before email, cell phones, etc. so I communicated by MAIL.

Going to the post offices in different countries was always quite an adventure! This is when I began to collect stamps and postcards.

*Oh my gosh this profile is SO long! If you've taken the time to read this far, let me know! You totally deserve a heart. Maybe write "I'm a Superstar" plus something fun about yourself somewhere in your mail to me. That would be so great!

• If you have any questions or concerns, please message me here first, rather than email.

• I might not recognize your email, but I check my Swap-Bot messages every day.

• Please message me if you've sent mail to me but haven't received a rating from me, or if you haven't received something I've marked as sent.

• I want to be prompt, keep track and stay organized. If I've missed something, don't hesitate to message me!

~|| UPDATE 12.3.19 ||~ I have received a 1, but I hope it will be changed, regarding a Type 3 swap to Germany. My partner and I exchanged messages, and she was very helpful. It's important to me to follow through. As an artist I would not want to betray the goodwill intention of any swap.

I've enjoyed trying Swap-bot and meeting everyone. Please do message me if you would like to keep in touch.

I've learned on Swap-Bot it's important to list likes/dislikes. Well, ok here they are for your convenience.

It's the little things that make me happy :)

• small-sized art
• mini mail art
• inchies, twinchies, etc.
• rubber stamped labels or stickers
• faux postage stamps, postoids
• tiny books, booklets
• bookmarks
• decorated envelopes
• home-made or painted collage papers
• faces (drawings, self-portraits) and people
• I adore children's art! If you have any random kids' art/scribbles that you'd like to share, please send.

My Art

I enjoy making abstract art. I like elements of design, patterns, different marks and materials.

• cool colors, naturals, neutrals, black & white
• watercolors or inks
• patterns and designs
• textured or embossed papers
• old book pages
• handwritten pages, manuscripts, notations
• painted papers for collage
• Maps of any kind
• math and science themes
• rubber stamped things
• used postage, fake stamps
• tree motifs

I'm not a cute-frills-bling kind of person. But if that's what you're feeling, hey, don't hold back ;) I enjoy seeing what inspires you too. I love to be surprised.

One thing for sure: I don't like flashing gifs or animated things in comments. I can't concentrate if they are there!