RiverTopanga

Hi, I'm Leslie.

12/9/20: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa - Happy and Merry for any and all Holidays!! I pray that you all have a safe and happy holiday... please stay healthy.

Well, it's December and the house hasn't sold. There are just too many Manufactured homes here in Florida and so many people unable to travel here due to COVID-19. I hesitate to host any swaps right now, because almost everything I have (craftwise) is still packed. I still want to move, but the CA window has closed. Will start looking for apartments in the new year. On a happier note - I treated myself to a Cricut Joy for a combined birthday and Christmas gift to myself. Now, if I could only get to the rest of my crafting items!!

10/20/20: I have now completed all the swaps that were on my dashboard. I will not be participating in swaps again until I have sold the house and moved. If anyone in my group would like to host a swap, let me know at my home email, and I will make you a temporary founder/officer so you will have control over the group for your swap. I miss swapping... pray the house sells soon! :-) God Bless for the upcoming holiday season and always.

7/29/20: I am in the throes of decluttering for another possible move. Across country. My swaps will be very sparse until I end up at my destination. I will start participating again at full steam when we are settled. It is a move that we are really excited about, and have waited for a long time to accomplish. Please pray that all goes well. 🙏🤞

7/6/20: I am now participating in select International swaps. I am trying to keep my postage budget down this month... I went way over the last 3 months (Aaacckk!).

4/15/20: Just as an FYI: Due to COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions, I will not be participating in International swaps at this time. I am out of Global stamps, and my stamp budget increased exponentially this month due to all the regional swaps I am participating in. This is, in no way, a reflection on the Int'l swaps. I am hoping the restrictions will be lifted in May, and I can get to the PO to buy some Int'l stamps to add to my May stamps. (fingers crossed!!). Craft on everyone!!

Please note that I am a responsible and reasonable swapper. I always try to bring questionable envies to the post office, but sometimes one will slip through and need extra extra postage 🙁 Please, if I owe you postage, let me know. Also, if you owe me, know that if you are uncomfortable sending money, I will accept the amount owed by check, postal money order, or unused American postage stamps.

I love Snail Mail! It's so fun to come home from a long day at work and find some wonderful Happy Mail!

*NOTE: Since the move to Florida, I have been mailing most of my swaps from the mailbox. If your swap has a post date on the item that is one day later than I sent from the mailbox, I apologize. I always hit the sent button after the mail has been picked up, not when I drop it in the mailbox. Unfortunately, it may take the mailman (yes, it's really a man!) a long time to get it back to the post office for sorting and mailing. And, I regret that the postal service may have issues if I tell my postman to get the items to post office ASAP ... and darn the rest of his route!! Lol. 😉 I do usually send swaps out ahead of the swap date, so it should still be in compliance.

If you have not received a swap from me, please let me know before you rate. I very rarely miss a swap deadline, and will always message you if I think it will be late.

I can't believe that I actually have to put this on my profile: Swappers that owe me postage: ***Speedy Found Image #16 - $2.68 UPDATE: 1/22/20: I was told by a member of the Swap Bot Flakers that it could be a problem at my end of the postal system. I should go and talk to my post office. So, I did. Here is what they told me: PO stated they would never let an envie that size, with a tracking number, be mailed for $1.10 in stamps. The Post Office will give out piles of tracking numbers to people that mail a lot of items (who knew?). She had to have put the tracking on herself and mailed it. So, when I got home, out of curiosity, I Checked USPS website, here is what it says for the tracking number on the envie: "Label Created, not yet in system A status update is not yet available on your package. It will be available when the shipper provides an update or the package is delivered to USPS. Check back soon."
If it had been mailed with the PO and they put the tracking number on it, it would be in the system as having reached its destination at my house. And the proper postage would be on it.

POSTCARDS.... PLEASE be thoughtful when rating your partners. A heart rating might make that person's day a bit brighter. It confuses me no end that some people refuse to give a heart rating for a postcard. One swapper here pointed out the duplicity in people's rating.... You say, "Thank you for the beautiful postcard, I loved it.", but you rate with just a 5 and NO heart. How can you love that pc and not give a heart? Most swappers are thoughtful when choosing a pc for their partner and try to find one in their collection that the partner would like to receive (unless it's a blind swap). Then, they take the time to write a nice note, stamp it, and mail it before the deadline. WHY would all this NOT deserve a heart rating? Unless it is obvious that person is just in it for ratings, and took no thought or time to write a nice note, then what is the problem? Are the raters just lazy and rude? How much effort does it take to hit the square for "this was an extra special...." and give your partner a smile a for the day? Do you not like to receive hearts?

My 89 yr old mother lives with me. She still has her license (but doesn't drive here in Florida), and makes friends easily.

I also have a son who lives in California (lucky him!)

For Crafts, I am a long-time stamper and scrapbooker. I have stopped making full size Pocket Letters- they are very time consuming. I can do most crafts, however, I have not yet been able to get the hang of sewing, crocheting, or knitting... but I would still like to learn.

I have found an inner artist me from being on swap sites. It's exciting to be challenged like this!

My all time favorite books...

1. Martians Go Home

2. The Disc World series by Terry Prachett

3. The Harry Potter Series

4. A book from childhood... The Diamond in the Window.

5. Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

6. The Golden Compass trilogy

Favorite Movies... hmmm So Many!

I love old movies: Examples: Singing in the Rain, Bringing up Baby, Oklahoma, Carousel, The Philadelphia Story, American Graffiti, Back to the Future (the first is the best! and yes, it IS a classic!), Dirty Dancing... and the list goes on.

I saw La La Land before Christmas 2017, it was Fantastic!

If you like classic movies check out this website... http://www.omahafilmevent.com. My friend Bruce puts on these events, and before I moved, I was a volunteer at the bi-annual events. A fabulous evening!

Also, I love all things Dyan Reaveley/Dylusions. I use the Dylusions paints and inks in a lot of my Swaps. The colors are so vibrant, and the Dyan Reaveley stamps are so funky and fun, I love them! So receiving anything you create with these would be fabulous!

I have taken classes from Dina Wakley, as well. She is a beautiful, warm, talented woman! I learned how to use a gelli plate, and I love it! Never thought I would want to learn something else, but Gelli printing is awesome.. try it if you have a chance. Loved, loved, loved the Dina Classes!

And, I really love Smash Books. They are what I have been using on my trips for the past year. Anything to be used in a Smash Book would be great!

Swap On!!

..Thank you!

PET PEEVES:

SMOKEY OR STRONG SMELLING ODORS. I have severe allergies and any smokey, moldy, or other strong smelling odors (including perfumes) will be thrown in the trash before I even open them.

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING SWAPPING WITH ME: If you are going to be late, PLEASE NOTIFY ME. I would do the same for you. Rules of swaps are there to be followed (as are all rules in life!) I follow them when I send to you, I would sincerely appreciate you follow them when sending to me.

99.9% of the time we know If we will be late completing a swap. Please do not hit the mailed it button if you did not. I'm sure everyone would appreciate the truth more than some lame excuse we all know isn't true.