Onyx

January 2018 Update: We are helping family back in Arkansas for a while, and have rented a PO Box for mail purposes. So send with confidence! Happy Swapping New Year!

December 2017 Update: We have been doing some traveling in November/December and leaving cash for our (former) friends to collect and/or forward mail ... which they have not done. Evidently they kept the cash and have just. been. throwing. the. mail. away. It took us a bit to figure it out and I am so sorry everyone. If you have swapped with me then you know I am crushed on multiple levels. I have gone back and rated everyone but understand that for many people on here that is not good enough. I usually try to go above and beyond in swapping, and I have been a member here long enough to know how harsh people can be when someone has an issue, so I understand. For the folks who have been understanding and sent words of support, I appreciate it more than you know.

I love this site, especially the swaps that encourage creativity or that push me outside my craft comfort zone. I try to send something you will like every time and appreciate it when you put that effort in as well.

Likes: images of globes, maps, travel, agriculture, UNESCO sites and national parks. I love doodling and mail art. I also love quotes about strength and starting over.

I also like things related to history; particularly food history, women's history, WWII, the history of the postal service, Eleanor Roosevelt or the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Dislikes: domestic cats and kittens, kitschy farm things (like with stencils or checkered boarders - just not my thing), sunflowers, rodents, snakes, pictures of babies, religious texts, holiday items except for St. Patrick's Day or quirky holidays, things that smell, candles or anything that burns; also anything too cutesy (pink princess stuff, country cutesy, etc.).

Favorite colors: blue, yellow, green; I also love aqua & red together and pink & brown together.

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

I LOVE post cards. In addition to the categories above I am fond of scenes showing a path or road going off in the distance, farm animals in other countries, black and white pictures featuring people, and cards that reference agriculture or food and beverages.

I also really like reproductions of art featuring people reading, pretty scenes from nature (like overlooks of lakes and rivers), or scenes showing tunnels or doors.

Also retro cards, particularly retro WWII cards or retro fashion cards, are awesome.

But people are always sending me surprising things I love too: funky cards, lovely scenery, things from your local area, etc.

If you think it is great, and you tell me why, then I probably will think it is great too.

I am trying to push myself to try new mediums in art and particularly mail art. I am trying painting, mixed media, watercolors, etc. That is one of the great things about mail art: it is about imperfection! There are mixed results but overall I enjoy the loveliness of making something damaged into something appreciated again.

While I used to be a fanatically fast rater when I first joined SB, life has changed drastically and now I am somewhat of a slow rater. I sincerely apologize. But "somewhat slow" I mean that I used to rate everyone the day I got their package and now it may take me a week or so ... but I ALWAYS RATE.

My mailbox is no longer right outside my house (read - 20 feet from my front door) and is instead near my office. I only check it a couple times a week as a result.

I do not sign up for swaps I cannot send. I always read my partner's profile before I send my swaps. And it may take a bit but I always rate.

If you have any questions, or heaven forbid do not get something I have sent, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.