LadyGuenevere

NOTE (1/12/23): Mail has been extremely slow getting to me lately! I just received two postcards dated 12/31..so I can assume if it is this slow getting to me, it's also slow getting to you. Many apologies! I live in a small town in the middle of the California desert, and I think I get more mail than the rest of the place combined. ;)

NOTE: I've been here on Swap-Bot for a long time, but ended up having to leave this site behind in 2016, save for popping in here and there. I lost both my parents in 2017, and then began to suffer my own health issues. My partner of 13 years was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in July 2020. It absolutely turned my world upside down, and there are a few here I wish I could have kept contact with because exchanging letters was a bright light. I also apologise to anyone whose swap wasn't completed. I know it's a small chance I can correct an issue from 6 years ago, but I would love to if you're still around!

I'm just a quirky and well-traveled artist, performer, and professional writer in love with life, adventure, and capturing beauty and uniqueness wherever possible. A little romance and innate flair for the dramatic never hurt anyone. ;) I now work full-time as a freelance writer. I'm kind of a boho-chic type of girl, with an attraction toward the flamboyant. I love the beautiful, the delicate, the creative, things that are old-fashioned, feminine, edgy, or have a personal touch. I love the idea of creating and sharing with others, since there's often so little room for that in everyday life, and I love the idea of making the world a smaller place.

I like everyone until given a reason not to, and give everyone hugs. I'm a bit snarky and would like to claim wit among my positive attributes (Dorothy Parker and Oscar Wilde are both beloved by me!), but it may just be a sarcastic attitude. :P I live my life according to the wisdom of Dr. Seuss, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

I'm a little avant-garde in my tastes. I'm flamboyant, romantic, and a bit in love with the periods in life where drama and beauty were a little more prized. However, I still love reality TV and social media, though the latter is kind of less important as time goes on. Once upon a time, I was a finalist for a popular reality television show. Didn't get the job, but I met so many unique people! I did participate in a blog-based "reality show" back in the day when people had blogs instead of YouTube. It's safe to say, I'm the most likeable narcissist you'll ever meet! ;)

I love travel, and worked on a cruise line in my younger, carefree days. I've been active with Couchsurfing, ran a successful Meetup group for a number of years, and have stayed friends with people I've met from all over the world! Even though I was diagnosed with a chronic illness and thought my traveling days were over, I recently made a cross-country trip from Atlanta to Southern California, where I now reside.

I've played on a trivia team called Unindicted Co-Conspirators for YEARS. I'm a total geek about musicals and reality TV and the first person to want to go to karaoke or costume parties. I never know what I'm going to get really into next, but I have a tendency to keep my geeky side to myself until you get to know me really well. I'm simply a life-enthusiast!

Unconventional, creative, Capricorn, ENFP, Enneagram #7, liberal, intellectually curious, excited about new projects, adventures, travel, and people. I have a geeky side that enjoys a video game or two, establishing friendships online, games that involve creating worlds, characters, and stories, and almost anything imaginative. I published my first book at the end of 2012, and finished my first full-length novel in 2019.

I created an art exhibition inspired by mail art that used sheet music, letters, postcards, and other ephemera from 1850-1950, and featured a poem written for the project. Many pieces received from SwapBot or rescued from Etsy made it into that installation. Inspiration lives on in many ways!

My degree is in opera and musical theatre, so I have a very eclectic taste in music, from classical and opera to jazz to alternative rock. I know way too much about musicals, listen to the 90's alternative station, and 80's music still makes me happy.

Unless you're devoted to country western and polka, you're probably not going to disappoint me in the music department. (and I have since met someone who changed my mind on SOME country music. ;)) Friends tell me they can't listen to Lana Del Rey or Tori Amos without thinking of me. I take that as a compliment. Us strange little girls need to stick together. ;)

Musical theatre influences and favourites include Kristen Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Josh Groban, Michael Ball, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Christiane Noll, Mandy Patinkin, Alice Ripley, Elaine Paige, Andrea Boccelli and Sarah Brighman.

Rock operas and opericals are my thing. :)

I've noticed during my many years here, there's always some issue popping up involving drama with ratings, comments, and people passive-aggressively "blacklisting" others. I don't buy into any of that. This should be fun, not an obligation or a stressor in life. I attempt to follow the rules, but I prefer to take a low-maintenance approach to this whole thing.

If you have an issue with a swap, please take the time to contact me privately before issuing a low rating. If you have a question about low ratings from the past, please ask about the situation and I'll happily provide an explanation.

Likewise, I always try to issue ratings and hearts and stars so people know I appreciate their hard work! If it seems I've forgotten you, rating the swap may have fallen through the cracks, so a gentle reminder is absolutely welcome---just please wait two weeks due to mail delays.

I prefer quality over quantity. I am always overjoyed to receive things I could use in the future, but don't want to part with.

I like to take the time to get to know people personally, and to share on a level they'll truly enjoy, so filling out your profile will help me be better at this! If you put up a profile, I'm going to read it. I will try to send things that reflect your likes and personality.

I keep journals, the hand-written type. I've done so most of my life, and am never one to say no to a beautiful journal or pens as a special gift. I also like little mementos, poems, quotes, etc, that end up in them. I'm the sentimental type, who will keep a pretty rock, bead, or piece of fabric with a story behind it. I even keep pretty envelopes or beautiful writing!

I love learning about people who live different lives in different places, so if you aren't shy, tell me about who you are and what the world is like in your little corner.

I'm not the crafty type; I don't crochet or knit or build awesome stuff out of Popsicle sticks. If I made you a card, you'd probably think you were communicating with a 5 year-old. So, you know, just letting you know. :) If I could make crafty things to share, I would, and I'm so impressed by those who do.

I love all things beautiful, glittery, and unique. I am a sensitive and old soul in many ways, always looking for ways to connect with others.

I actually do love to read, though I spend more time writing! My resolution this year is to read a book each week.

I'm a sucker for historical fiction and character-driven drama (Phillipa Gregory, Alison Weir, Jodi Picoult, and Marie Benedict are always on my must-reads when their newest come out.). I love character-based stories that are simply interesting, as well as biographies of fascinating individuals. I love learning about the lives of artists, bohemians, and the unconventional thinkers of any time period.

I am one of the few people who enjoys Russian literature, and worked with a repertory company that produced largely Chekov plays for a season. Every year, I try to set a goal of reading at least 10 books on the "Most Influential Pieces Of Literature" list and 10 from the "Banned Books" list. If something shocks others, I tend to be curious about it.

I don't just read serious literature. George R.R. Martin, Jodi Picoult, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Sarah J. Maas, and John Greene are favourites, and my favourite books are "Never Let Me Go" and "White Oleander".(by none of those authors; I see now how that sentence can be confusing.) I enjoyed "Hunger Games" and "Divergent" series immensely, and yes, I've read all the Twilight books. I've watched the movies more than once, fully admitting the writing is bad. :P

Anne Rice is my kindred spirit. (I write Gothic fiction and love New Orleans, and have spent years of my life on the adventures of a French Revolution-era vampire! ;) )

Though I write romance and erotica for my clients, I typically don't read romance novels. Every once in a while, a book comes around that's an exception.

I collect great quotes, and will frequently use them in my art, journals, or just daily correspondence. :) I used to scrapbook the blank space on my walls (seriously, two walls of my room were a giant bulletin board filled with photos and memories.), so beautifully hand-written quotes are welcome and will likely be added to the collection. Here are some of my favourites:

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting". ~e.e. cummings

"Take care of the luxuries, and the necessities will take care of themselves." ~ Dorothy Parker

"The question isn't who is going to let me; the question is who is going to stop me."---Ayn Rand

"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." ~ Andy Warhol

"Conventional people are roused to fury by departure from convention, largely because they regard such departure as a criticism of themselves." ~Bertrand Russell

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow Roman candles." ~ Jack Kerouac

"I drank to drown my pain, but the damned pain learned how to swim, and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good behavior. " ~ Frida Kahlo

Just a sample of my interests:

• Journals, letters, and other pieces of self-expression.
• Pretty ephemera and lace, especially vintage
• Unique beads, rocks, stones, and vintage jewelry.
• Postcards and handmade envelopes
• "Surprise" packages based on profiles or swap details.
• Unique things from other countries
• Martini glasses and 1920's speakeasy stuff. Even though I don't drink much anymore, I started collecting these things long ago.
• Things related to faeries, elves, vampires, or with a fantasy/Gothic feel.
• Things featuring redheads, particularly of an artistic, vintage, or fashion vibe. I have vibrant red hair and love to see redheads appear in art everywhere!
• The Arthurian/Camelot legends
• The Rococo era, particularly all things Marie Antoinette and Versailles.
• All things New York, New Orleans, or Paris; my favourite cities.
• Musical theatre, opera, and ballet.
• Chocolate. All kinds. Love it.
• Things with a dark but beautiful feel; I'm a gothic romantic at heart.
• Interesting items for scrapbooking and journaling
• Your favourite quotes

• Anything to do with costumes and costuming, or fashion...the more flamboyant, the better.
• Glitter, feather boas, masques, beads, and things that remind you of Mardi Gras or burlesque.
• Jewelry, handbags, makeup, and wearable art.
• Things designed for meditation and relaxation
• Gel pens, blank notebooks, junk journals
• Salvador Dali, Degas, Waterhouse
• Anything related to the Baroque and Regency eras
• Tarot cards, candles, spells, things Wiccan or Gothic in nature
• Scarves, gloves, or handkerchiefs.
• Perfumes and essential oils. I actually like those samples no one else wants!
• M&M's characters, Lilo & Stitch, Minions, and Smurfs

• The colour yellow.
• Bees. Also, beehives, honey, flowers with bees on them. I have bee-phobia.
• Taffy, caramels, and other sticky candy.
• Judgment and inauthenticity. Love all and accept all for the beauty they bring to the world. I'm a "safe space".
• Most stuff from the 1950''s; the more kitschy, the more I don't like it.
• Religious-oriented things that aren't inspirational or holiday-themed. Those things are fine from any religion.
• Advertisements, pyramid schemes, attempts to sell me items from your newest business. Self-promotion always rubs me the wrong way, unless we're friends.
• Cutesy stuff (e.g. Dotee dolls, Hello Kitty). It just isn't me.
• Children's stuff. I don't have them, I don't really interact with them, and I don't have many people to pass those things on to.

I don't ever really like to post "wishes", but here are a few things I am specifically seeking these days! :

• Anything 1920's-oriented!
• Paris, New Orleans, Versailles, Firenze---I'm all about the opulence and overdone beauty!
• Anything from the medieval, Elizabethan, Romantic, Victorian, or Belle Epoque eras
• Faeries, unicorns, and anything fantasy art.
• Disney villains, Stitch & Angel, and Vanellope!
• Blank postcards; the more unique and artistic, the better. I'm also active on Postcrossing, so these will be used.
• Notecards or stationery with envelopes. Again, I promise these will be used.
• Washi tape, even small samples
• Fine-tipped or gel pens in any colour--a new one will be put to good use.
• Creative stickers (not teacher/school/reward oriented)
• Perfume/scent samples, essential oils, etc.
• Candy, goodies, and items that are from your country/part of the country, but not necessarily available everywhere!

Some people hate when you toss extra "stuff" into an envelope. Not me...anything I can't use gets passed on, as long as it's in good condition. My craft drawers hate me!

I love pen pals! I'm often simply pressed for time and wish I could write more than I do. When I meet someone I have a lot in common with or we really get on well, I'll absolutely want to write back after the swap, so don't be surprised if I do. :) I'm outgoing and up for new friends.

My city is located in the middle of nowhere. If you look on a map, it's in a blank space near the words "Mojave Desert". :P We of course have a post office, but it sometimes can take up to two weeks to receive mail--so I'm assuming it sometimes takes that long to get from me to YOU. I'm very patient and would ask you show the same.