Lady

Back in town ... for now. I think I am all caught up on swaps. I may be only joining what I can finish before sign-up dates for a while.

January 27, 2019 - US postage rate: First class (to $0.55 or "forever), postcards remain $0.35.

If you are my partner in more than one swap and want to just put them in one envelope, that's fine - even for "naked postcard" swaps.

Always please let me know if you think I missed anything or if something has not arrived. I Pledge to Rate. Items mailed on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday may not be postmarked until Monday, sometimes Tuesday.

Dh and I are allergic to cigarette smoke. Let me know if you've got smokers in your house. The house is also allergic to dogs - but that should not be an issue with paper craft, more with fabrics/lace.

This is long; please use the headings to find what you need.

I love getting mail, creating, the light in autumn, purple and jewel tones, and some people. Right now I am most into collage and a bit of sewing for my crying, I like to design/sew clothes by machine, cleverness, zetti, paper craft, mandalas, steampunk, dotees & using postage stamps (especially to make "people"). Purple is my favorite color, followed by turquoise, lime green, burgundy, ... bright colors, jewel tones, ethnic mixes, dark colors, most anything but princess-y pink and not find of pastels generally.

Lots of collage in 2017 and 2018, sometimes bigger pieces. I don't have room to really paint regularly or work on anything really large. More sewing in 2016. Fewer mandalas and ATC jams in 2014. More collage in 2013.

I use clean scraps (crap to some) that don't rise to the level of ephemera. I have printed onto book pages or tissue paper to get the look I want. In 2012 sketched animals quite a bit, got more realistic with birds, insects, butterflies, and some less common ones. What is next?

My ears are pierced for light weight earrings. Bracelets are a fav but I have small wrists. Allergic to cigarette smoke.

My homeschooling family is active in Boy Scouts, a local food coop, hitting the gym, and travel.

I prefer natural fibers: 100% cotton, linen, or silk (but not wool) for fabric.

Read a lot, especially science fiction, fantasy, and mysteries and information on education & learning. I love myths and legends and non-Disney fairy tales, and the different versions of the same story whether folk tales from the same place or similar stories found around the world. Is Lon Po Po from China really "Red Riding Hood"?. I enjoy YA and mysteries and history. Don't appreciate Twilight nor JK Rowling's clever but also derivative work.

Favorite authors: Family's: Terry Prattchet (for his DiscWorld books) & Tamora Pierce. Mine: Tolkien, A. A. Milne, Tamora Pierce. Picture books: Jan Brett.

we rarely use bookmarks, any would have to be glitter-free and the bit that goes in the book must be thin and flat, sad this needs explaining. (Charms or beads may hang out or over the top!)

Jewel tones. Handmade Postcards. Paper dolls, altered postcards. (no longer collecting ATCs although have a ton) Clever use of book pages and maps. Love non-English papers & music sheets, maps, custom paper

I don't need extras but if the swap requires QUICK FLATS: washi tape, napkins, (used) postage stamps (especially people, animals, flowers, architecture, art/artists). I don't want/need recipe cards, memo pads, ATCs nor bookmarks. Thanks.

Postcards: love hand-made! In general: art, natural settings, architecture or "local people", Photos of animals. Not interested in kitch-y tourist postcards or naked people on (or off) the beach. geek-y ones are appreciated

Love art pens, Sakura micros, Copic with a brush tip & thin Sharpies & new things to sketch/design with. Alphabet (rubber) stamps and interesting rub-ons OK. No more stationery please.

FALL 2012, I am using mostly watercolor colored pencils. 2017: mostly collage/mixed media, still love paint pens & great white pens. Starting to use acrylic paints.

Most Asian & ethnic things are fine - but I don't appreciate much kawaii.

AMERICAN GIRL: funky or uncommon.

MANDALAs, when no size is specified: a 6 inch by 6 inch with a one inch edge on one side (so 6 x 7) can be nicely stored with many of my others.

• • My family is allergic to cigarettes, cats & dogs so for crafts with fabric & pets walking around, I probably should not be the one you send it to! If you do with a sender's choice - PLEASE let me know so that I can keep it away from the family, or pass it on.
• • Dh & I are allergic to cigarette smoke. When it's sender's choice, I will rate ignoring it but warn me so someone else can open it - outside. Thanks.
• No Christian religious pieces. (non-religious Christmas items are OK in November & December.)
• Don't appreciate much pink or princess. No Disney.
• No loose glitter, it's fine if it will stay on the ATC. None on bookmarks! Thanks

Tea only in manufacturer's packaging, thanks! No drink mixes, unless required in swaps. (Dh & I get that unpleasant after-taste from artificial sweeteners.) Favorite tea (today): (black tea) Prince of Wales, mint green tea.

love dark chocolate and I can not eat any dairy anymore (in anything), but I could easily walk away from milk chocolate even when I was eating dairy. Prefer European chocolate, made in Europe (even Cadbury made in the US is different!) I've never appreciate Godiva. Do not like peanuts in chocolate.

Most of those who flaked on me went on to be suspended. If my swaps do not arrive, I resend & I angel swaps that I host (if not it will be very clear in the description but I don't think I've ever done that). * Lozzabee flaked on Triptych ATC in Jan-Feb2012). Aug. 2012: hosted some triptych ATC swaps myself. * ANGEL @tc angel'ed "Artistically Inclined ATC/Note Card" in 2013 after she saw that the host & one other offered to angel but didn't. * Recycle unwanted swap items #3 * Sweet First aid kit in Dec2011-Jan2012. Host & 2 others said they'd angel but did not send. Letting go was hard - but my partner's happy note when she rec'd hers left a longer glow than the bad taste from the flaker(s). I am so glad it brought her joy & she shared it.

THANK YOU! Host-angels include: @rngstgstll
@jaminthemail @CraftyReflections @muses76 and @sagesparrow .

Beautiful RAK or forum give-away swappers include: @TerryF (RAK postcards, to-do stamp), @jukejan (Real estate plans) , @bedazzle ("gold foil"!) , and @giddyani Lovely ANGEL @tc for ARC card swap!

Wonderful swap-bot traders include @RoobaRoo @tesscalhoun @tigermousecat @sagesparrow , @lsmahutchin and special mention to angels including: @artg33k74 (owl ATC). Great hosts include @rngstgstll

Last updated 2/2018: -?Mail Art: at least every 3rd month: Green/Words July 2018, Next before: Oct 2018

-The Paper Dragon: Members at least once in 6 months, 10 Things, 2/2018. Officers need one RAK & host a swap every other month. Last 10 things, 2/2018

-First Class Mail Art: every 4 months, last mailed 2/2018

"normality is a paved road; it's comfortable to walk but no flowers grow there"

For the postcard rate mailed within the USA: * $0.35 since 1/21/2018 * rectangular, * at least 3-1/2 inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick, AND * no more than 4-1/4 inches high x 6 inches long x 0.016 inches thick.

If it is larger than 4.25 x 6 " (but less than 6-1/8" x 11-1/2" x 1/4" thick) requires first class postage. Bigger than that and the "flats" (large envie) rate applies. (I got tired of looking it up on the USPS site.)

(First class & "forever stamp" value $0.50 sinice 1/21/2018) Each "additional ounce" on first class is $0.21