February 2021

Thank you Swap-bot Family for the care and prayers sent toward Texas during the crippling winter storm. Feb. 14-20 was a week like no other here. The Gulf Coast knows hurricanes, but not winter. As of Feb. 21, we are still under a boil water order. City authorities said it will remain at least through Monday. If you're a praying person, send some to those who are struggling. If you want to help, donations to the Houston Food Bank, Star of Hope Mission or Red Cross would be appreciated.

Updated August 2018

I'm artistic and I now live in Texas after calling Virginia home for 30+ years. I've been swapping since 2004, and found out about this site on 2.22.07 and have been swapping here since then.

My first name is Felicia.

Please: Nothing edible in swap packages (exceptions being specific to a swap). I'm on a very restrictive diet.

My favorite colors include blues, golds and purples.

I love flowers (the iris is my favorite), nature (I'm a master naturalist), books, water (sea, ocean, rain), Asian culture, hearts, tigers and traveling. I write fiction, poetry and essays, I paint (watercolor), and quilt (by hand). I have a thing for handbags and tote bags. Bible art journaling and Zentangle are new obsessions.

Every November, I participate in National Novel Writing Month. The challenge is to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. So I'm usually scarce around the site, except in the NaNoWriMo Swapping group.

I'm a voracious reader and love things related to books and tea (i.e. notecards, teapots, stickers, etc.)

I collect letter openers and blue & white porcelain.

My crafting style is eclectic and artsy simply because I'm willing to try almost anything at least once.

I love to read, travel and listen to music, and I enjoy puzzles (all kinds from crosswords and word searches to mystery and thriller novels), game shows, board games ... and swapping!

mellow jazz, blues, instrumental, Celtic, gospel, Bossa nova

comedies, romantic comedies, and old romantic movies (preferably in black and white for those)

I like 'em dead, laughing, cooking or playing games/challenges. :) So that would translate to: NCIS (love Gibbs!), Meet the Press, various cable news stations, Chopped, Project Runway, Top Chef, Fixer Upper, Pose on FX, game shows and late-night TV monologues. Also enjoy Madame Secretary, the reboot of Charmed and Snowpiercer.

FAVORITE RADIO: "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" on NPR.

Bible art journaling, painting, scrapbooking, quilting, dotee dolls, assorted other papercrafts, including ATCs and Zentangle.

Because writing is a craft, I'll list it again here. :)

I enjoy receiving ATC, card and/or dotee kits or creating them for people.

I love making, buying and receiving bookmarks. (I usually have about four books going at a time -- a thriller or mystery, a romance, a self-help and an inspirational or faith-based work.)

Big Ticket wish list:

• worldwide eradication of zika and ebola, and a vaccine for coronavirus COVID-19.

• a major, breakout book contract

• Mont Blanc fountain pen

Basic wish list:

• U.S.presidential campaign buttons! ANY party, any year. (Every four years on the second Tuesday in November, I put on a vest and then ALL of my campaign buttons.) Would love any from this election cycle.

• books about creative writing or writing

• for Christmas swaps: I like the blue/white Christmas color theme; would LOVE for some items to be for my Mom (see below)

• gorgeous stationery (for letters, not note cards)

• Gift cards (noted below in Flat wish list area)

• Screw or clip-on earrings

• Wrapped and labeled surprises for my Mom (see below)

• Pin back buttons about writing, tea, humor, political campaigns (any party/any year)

• NaNoWriMo swag

• Profile surprises!

• Scarves

• Ink pens (preferably blue ink; hearts for Zebra, Tul, or Cross brands)

• A copy of the newspaper from your town/city

• Did I mention profile surprises?!

Flat mail wishlist items for specific swaps:

COUPONS: Dove products (soaps, body wash, etc); Ivory Snow soap; EAS Advantage protein (shakes, bars); Atkins proteins; Premier Proteins.

FLATS: I enjoy bookmarks, articles/essays about fiction writing and the creative process, maps, postcards from/about where you live, inspirational or sassy quotes and stickers (especially stickers related to writing, books, reading or tea -- but no actual tea, please -- UNLESS IT'S SPECIFIC TO A SWAP OR FOR TEA IS LOVE GROUP swap/activity).

TEAS: See note above about the Tea is Love Group.

GIFT CARDS/GIFT CERTIFICATES: These make me happy -- Panera, Google Play, Starbucks, Barnes&Noble, Target, Amazon, Teavana, Michael's Arts & Crafts, Club Scrap, Keepsake Quilting.

Hope these lists help. :)

Mysteries, thrillers, romantic suspense. See note above about puzzles. :)

Among some of my favorite authors: Jo Nesbo, Robert B. Parker, Steve Berry, Elizabeth Lowell/Ann Maxwell, James Baldwin, Kay Hooper, Langston Hughes, Jayne Ann Krentz, Paulo Coelho, Ha Jin, Michael Connelly, Brian Freeman, Daniel Silva, Martha Grimes, Jeffrey Deaver.

Sometimes I join swaps where gifts/items are for my mom.

She like blues and yellows, lace-edged handkerchiefs, Jesus, C-SPAN, politics, activism, non-fiction books about religion, and information or books about natural foods/eating/wellness. Her flower garden in the summer is spectacular and she's an ace at Sudoku puzzles and Boggle-type word games. She collects angels, Nativity sets and loves surprises.

Any items for her should be addressed to or labeled for Miss Bernice. Thanks!