schin

My name is Schin and I am a full time fantasy illustrator. I'm from Malaysia but today I live and work as a graphic artist in Las Vegas with my cat Rice Purridge. She is what I call a Highlander cat and have given me long scars on each arm, which I wear proudly. I am unmarried but do have a boyfriend Ken whom I adore.

I try to mail my swaps out and rate ASAP, but sometimes accidents happen, especially international mail. If you have not received my swap please ask and I will let you know when I have mailed it out. Every swap is important to me and I always mail out way before the deadline. Thanks for your understanding!!

Sometimes my emails gets dumped in a junk folder. Please check your 'all mail' folders!

About my 3 rating:

My swap was late because I mail my swaps out in big batches then mark them as sent. But then I realized this envelope fell off the batch and I discovered it under the seat of my car many days later. I sent it out as soon as I can but it was late. Anyway despite it, the swapper liked the journal. Please check my ratings for her comment if you like.

I put a lot of work into my swaps but sometimes a mistake makes all the difference. I am determined that this will be my one and only rating that is not a 5.

I love calligraphy and paper and pen paraphernalia. This includes anything that has a picture of a fountain pen or a nib, or anything written with them. I also do wedding and greeting card calligraphy in [ my shop ] so don't be surprised if your swap looks like an invitation to somewhere fancy.

I collect modern and vintage nibs, pen holders, inkwells and bottles, fine stationery, inks, stamps and writing stuff and trying to limit to my new fountain pen collection. I am known as the 'pen lady' in my local antiques store. If you're a penhead, let me know and we can nerd out together.

I love long letters and poetry.

When I can, I try to paint and sketch the occasional ATC, or to send you some ATCs that I have received (they're meant to be traded!).

Unfortunately, I don't knit or sew or do anything that involves thread. As far as I know, turning bits of string into a sweater involves sorcery.

I enjoy classical music, big band jazz, and sometimes I enjoy the worst pop music imaginable, and everything in between. Yes, even country (...mandolins).

Here are some of my favorite musicians, randomly picked off my playlist:

• Classical and jazz: Beethoven, Henry Mancini, Chopin, Schubert, Soshtakovich, Glass, even Chinese classical music. I even like 'new agey' stuff like Yanni and Kenny G.

• Kpop: these are so catchy and ridiculous. I love 2NE1, Wonder Girls, Miss A, f(x), and of course, Girls Generation. (PS: If you have no idea who these are, run! Run for your lives!)

• The soundtrack to Bueno Vista Social Club, or anything traditional Cuban music.

• Pop music: Daft Punk, Tori Amos, Kanye West (love the art, not the personality), Massive Attack, Radiohead, etc.

I love these high schoolish books: Grapes of Wrath, Lolita, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, 1984. I prefer non-chick lit books.

I also enjoy romantic poetry by Neruda or similarly romantic haikus.

Currently I am reading Gaijin from James Clavell's Asian saga, The Man Who Laughs by Hugo and The Silmarillion. I recently finished a Canticle for Leibowitz.

I am also a huge fan of Terry Pratchett. Don't get me started. Actually, you totally should.

I like non-fiction as well. Books I tend to avoid are chick-lit (Twilight, 50 Shades) or 'self-help' (Eat, Sleep, Pray).

As an artist, I love comic books and manga as well: The Sandman, Kabuki, Sailormoon, etc.

Here is my Goodreads profile: [ Schin ]

I discovered Netflix in 2008 and I have not been the same since. I am a huge documentary addict and will watch generally anything that is not a chick flick, reality show or sitcom.

My favorite movies tend to be more subtle, darker stuff.

-In The Mood for Love -Pan's Labyrinth -The Dark Knight

I hate horror movies :(

My favorite TV series is The Wire, Game of Thrones and Parks and Recreation. I also enjoy Firefly.

I love cartoons! This includes King of the Hill, Harvey Birdman, Simpsons, Robot Chicken, you know stuff like that.

I collect postcards, so I would prefer unwritten cards in an envelope even if the swap says it should be sent naked. The card can be new or vintage, I don't mind either way :) Thank you!

Of course, I will love whatever you send but I have a particular tingle in my bones for any postcard with:

• Used postcards and stationery with beautiful fountain pen calligraphy from olden days. Even better if it has a penny stamp, but I'll take what I can get.

• Fantasy imagery: Fairies, mermaids, pixies, etc.

• Classical or modern art postcards: oil paintings, watercolor, art nouveau, pop art, handmade postcards, etc. Vintage advertisements or pulp artworks are welcome too.

• Old movies stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Clara Bow, Audrey Hepburn, etc. Pinups, portraits, you get the idea.

• Anything aristocratic and royal, portraits of beautiful old royal families, palaces, museums, courts.

• Asian themes: Japanese ukiyo-e or kimono patterns, Geisha, Chinese inkbrush painting, etc

• Hipster selca, lomography, instagram style postcards are much loved, too.

• Flowers: either photographs or painted. I love all kinds especially roses and peonies.

• Also cats. I like cats.

• Funny cards are great too. Don't worry about offending me, you probably won't.

I can eat anything and will cook anything. I will even go out of my way to find the ingredients or source a restaurant that will serve your favorite dish!

My favorite flavor is green tea and my favorite tea is jasmine and rose. At the moment though, I am all about matcha tea lattes. Mmm.

However, please keep in mind I am a little lactose intolerant.

These are things that I collect and love.

• Writing paraphernalia: fountain pens, nibs, ink, inkwells, blotters, papers. Anything that has these on it, I would give you anything if you can find me stationery with fountain pens and nibs in it!

• Dolls, particularly Blythe and Pullip dolls. I also love Barbie, Asian ball jointed dolls, paper dolls and handmade dolls.

• Cats and ducks and flowers.

• Elegant stationery like notepads and stickers. I like vintage or shabby chic themes: Victorian, Steampunk, Asian, music notes/sheets. I also enjoy postal art themes, things with stamps on, or the postcardish red and blue stripe thing. You know the one.

• I also love all kinds of decorative envelopes and washi tape. I love mail art.

I'm pretty easygoing with my swaps but if you could avoid sending me these it would be really appreciated!

• Disney or large company related stuff

• Touristy postcards

• Religious/political stuff

• Sports

• Photography or landscape cards

• Bugs

• Recipes with too much milk in them, I am lactose intolerant