RandiG

HOW I GOT INTO MAIL ART & SWAPPING:

I have always loved making pretty things with paper, ever since I was introduced to origami when I was about 5. (I’m a lot older than that now.) In the late 1990’s I started making cards, and got a few books on fancy lettering. I felt very alone in my interest; this was before YouTube and Instagram, even before there were so many scrapbook companies.

A few years ago I found Ginger Ropp on YouTube (she calls herself “My Sister’s Scrapper”); Ginger makes great tutorials about creating and decorating mini-albums, tags, and other paper-based novelties. I was hooked, and made several different types of embellished albums and tags, which I mostly gave as gifts.

I recently joined Instagram and found postings of beautiful snail mail letters and packages. These really interested me, especially as I still have tons of papercraft supplies (Scor-tape, cardstock, designer paper, old books, rubber stamps, clear stamps, stamps I carved from erasers, TH Distress Inks and stains, purchased doodads, doodads I created, Big Shot machine and dies ... the list goes on).

In order to attract potential penpals, I created pretty envelopes and posted the photos on IG. My ploy (and commenting on others’s posts) worked; in the past 3 weeks I’ve accumulated 7 penpals (both domestic US and Europe), and am now in the thick of it!

I’ve also started doing a few Swap-bots.

Rather than use my home address, I am renting a mailbox at a UPS for a 7-month trial period. So far I’ve only received one piece of mail ... not sure how that’s going to pan out. (Some letters were sent to me from within the US, others from overseas. I’ve only received one envelope, from Scotland ...)

HERE ARE SOME OF MY INTERESTS:

British TV and culture.

French language and culture.

Spanish language and culture.

Mixed media art.

Altered books.

Assemblage. I actually have a bunch of wood pieces, etc, but haven’t yet gathered the courage to give it a whirl.

Word play: puns, portmanteau words, limericks, Spoonerisms, Tom Swifties, etc. I went through a period when I did cryptic/British crossword puzzles, but it’s been a few years.

I read a range of genres, but F. Scott Fitzgerald has been a favorite since middle school (especially his short stories!). Historic fiction is a special favorite genre. My favorite fiction authors include Diana Gabaldon, A. S. Byatt, Patricia McKillip, Angela Carter, Kate Atkinson, Maeve Binchy, Joanna Trollope, Liane Moriarty, Jane Feather, Lionel Shriver, Angela Carter, Jane Austen, the Brontës, and Georgette Heyer. New favorite authors include Amor Towles and Charles Belfoure.

No real favorite color. Maybe deep, bluish red. I tend to like combinations of colors. My favorite Crayola crayon color has always been Midnight Blue.

I collect cake stands. Yup, cake stands.

I own a few glorious antique French posters.

Did I mention that I used to do Traditional Rug Hooking? (a hobby) I gifted away most of the things I created. I think about picking it up again.

Sometimes I knit SMALL things, like baby sweaters.

I like SMALL embroidery and counted cross-stitch projects. Lately I’ve been cross-stitching little tags/bookmarks.

I don’t watch a lot of TV. Mostly PBS, Netflix, and Hulu. I’m very lucky to get a PBS station that focuses on British television, including the Poirot series, Miss Marple, Pie in the Sky, Agatha Raisin, etc. I loved the first two seasons of The Crown, and I love the Victoria series.

I drive a 2016 Mazda 3 hatchback. I drove a MINI Cooper before that (of course. Must have a British car!).

I tend to dress a bit Bohemian, but not too far out. I mostly like to wear block-print cotton dresses from Mata Traders, an American ethical and earth-friendly company. (No affiliation, I just like to support these types of businesses.)

Similarly, I have been recycling for 30 years; mainly I think it’s a bad joke, since it turns out we’ve just been shipping the stuff to China, and most pollution comes from irresponsible manufacturing and businesses. Plus, I’ve seen what some people put out to “recycle” ... it’s a mess. No wonder China doesn’t want it anymore.

I eat a mostly vegetarian diet, but do eat chicken and fish weekly, too. I’ve eaten this way for most of my adult life.

I grocery shop mainly at Trader Joe’s. Sometimes Aldi and Target, too. But mainly TJ. During December they sell trios of mystery reusable shopping bags. These are so fun, and I tend to buy and share them with strangers. Yeah, that’s me. (Oh, you’re from Oregon? Here, take this bag.)

SOME PERSONAL HISTORY:

Divorced after 25 years of marriage to same man. (Notice that I wrote SAME man, not SANE man.)

I have two adult children, a son and a daughter. Both of my children live in the same town as I do. (My second son, born before my daughter, passed away as a newborn.)

I live near my elderly parents. I’m their middle child, and the only one nearby. I help them with errands, doctor visits, meals, etc. quite a bit.

I earned a Bachelor of Arts (Humanities and French) from Johns Hopkins Univ. 1981.

I earned a Master of Arts (Teaching) from Notre Dame of Maryland Univ. 2012.

Prior career as a mainframe programmer/analyst.

Recent career as a teacher; I have educator certifications in both Early Childhood and Special Ed. Going into Education was a huge mistake, as the hours of prep are continuous, today’s kids are very troubled, the demands on teachers is crazy, administration is full of petty-minded bureaucrats, and I easily spent $5,000/year of my own money to pay for supplies. On top of that, I felt unsafe and was fearful for the safety of my students, especially those with behavioral issues. Yes, I taught some children to love school, and had some 4 and 5 year-olds reading, but it was ultimately too upsetting and stressful. I had a short career, now I’m out. (Give me a few minutes while I take some deep, calming breaths.)

I was a stay-at-home mom for many years in between careers, and dabbled in web design (self-taught HTML and Photoshop.) I owned a cool web-based store during the early aughts. I also worked p/t at Anthropologie for 10 years. (After DH insisted I close my shop. Nothing like going from being a visionary shop owner/buyer/web-designer/everything to being a shop-girl not even getting commission!)

On the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, I am an INFJ. This type of personality is empathic, intuitively sees problems and their solutions before the real trouble begins, is generous and loyal to a fault, and tends to slam the door permanently on people who disrespect him/her (usually only figuratively, but don’t push us). We’re a lot of fun!!!!! (Just leave us to our books and cake stands, and all will be well ... We tend to be happiest and calmest living in our heads.)

No comestibles or drinky things, thanks.

Ephemera from GB, France, Spain, etc. Going to Versailles or the V & A ? Bring back a pamphlet or postcard, please.

I love children’s literature and book illustrations. Especially French.

Vintage board game cards and tokens, esp. French.

Cute, clean ephemera from different US states.

For mail art, I am interested in acquiring some rubber stamps from Chamil Garden or similar style.

I have a LOT of papercraft supplies already. I would love some special washi tape or ribbon, or something small that you’ve crafted.

Book recommendations are ALWAYS welcome.

Thanks for reading this far. You’re a trooper!