fishsteak

My Swapping Philosophy
Please don't send extras; I'd love a little note or letter from you instead. I rate when I receive and send promptly. Please message me if there are any problems on your or my end (postage due, late sends, possibly lost mail, etc.). I want to make my partners happy! Our local post offices are understaffed, but mail usually arrives. I angel all swaps I host.

Lately, mail has been inconsistent. I'm not fussed about transit time, especially around the holidays. I do still care about a swap being sent on time. I've had mail take 2 months or 1 week, domestic and international, and any time in between. I'm patient and hope others have the same courtesy.

Private Swaps
I’m usually open to private swaps for anything. It doesn't have to be a 1:1 trade. I do ATCs, inchies/twinchies, postcards, packages, and decorated envelopes/mail goodies.

About Me
I love food and traveling, including road trips. My guilty pleasures include tasting menus and kooky tourist traps like the Biggest Ball of Twine (still on my list!). If you don't know what to write, recommend something to see, eat, or do in your area! I have a huge Google bookmark list and love adding to it. :)

My Goodreads - books I want to read

Digital art by me:

General Likes

I can always use unused postage.
Any poker/playing cards are much appreciated, especially if they’re in a theme I like!

⋆ assorted things I like: architecture and good design, aerogrammes/postalettes, blackout poetry, cats, calligraphy, cherry blossoms, cooking, diecuts, the Golden Gate Bridge, fairytales, fountain pens, Flow magazine, geocaching, glitter (not loose), pens, handmade/unique papers, hand-carving, hot air balloons, illustrations, ink or gel pens, Japan, landscapes, lighthouses, mail art, mahjong, mountains, all kinds of mythology, national parks, outer space, pin-ups, Pokemon (favorites: food, cute, or Ditto/Mimikyu as other Pokemon), postage stamps, sharks, shiba inu, snow, typewriters, trains, Japanese/Taiwanese washi, wax seals, watercolor, long staircases, vocaloids, zentangles, fashion/couture/streetwear

⋆ I like puns, sarcasm, satire, parody, and dirty humor.

Package Swap Likes

These are just things I know I like. I love trying new things and supporting small local businesses.

⋆ eat and drink: aerated chocolate, single origin chocolate, cookies and cream flavor, chips/crisps, crackers, sour candies, spicy foods, tea (loose leaf okay!), regional snacks, instant noodles; generally salty snacks more than sweet candies

⋆ makeup/skincare: I prefer mini/trial sizes. I use nail polish, colorful makeup, scar-removal products, makeup removers, and skincare products.

⋆ random useful things: double-sided tape, command hooks, books on my very long to-read list or related to my likes

Postcard Info

⋆ In swaps for naked postcards, I'd love a tourist postcard from your area with a long message! I prefer tourist PCs written and stamped from place of origin (postcards sent on vacation are my favorite).

⋆ Otherwise, I prefer 4" x 6" unwritten/blank postcards sent in an envelope. I like: gotochi, neat postmarks and stamps (on the outside of the envelope), illustrated cards, vintage travel poster, maxi cards
⋆ Specific postcard wishlists/favorites: one and two
⋆ I love stamps in themes I like, and especially ones with unique materials (notable countries are Switzerland and Austria for concrete, cloth, etc.)
⋆ I love maxicards or postal cards (notable countries are UK for PHQ cards and Australia for maxicards)

Dislikes

⋆ religious sentiments
⋆ sticky notes/page flags
⋆ dystopian novels with romance in them
⋆ cigarette smoke or strong scents
⋆ mint or cacao husk tea
⋆ "0 sugar" sweeteners (stuff like monkfruit sweetener, sucralose, etc.)
⋆ lip gloss
⋆ kids/childish stickers
⋆ faux vintage postcards (vintage reprints are fine, just not those thin fake-aged ones)

Favorite Reading:

Chew (comic book series); Discworld series by Terry Pratchett; books about food, textiles/fashion, or urban planning; favorite manga subgenre: isekai food slice-of-life

Favorite Crafting:

I love art and would love to receive anything handmade by you. Watercolor and letterpress are near and dear to my heart.

Favorite Games:

Rune Factory, Professor Layton, Touch Detective, Genshin Impact, Shining Nikki

Favorite Stationery Brands:

Sakura of Japan, mt Japan, Pilot, Cavallini & Co., Papaya, Rifle Paper Co., Paperchase, Chronicle Books, Q-Lia, Mind Wave, Paper Source, Peter Pauper Press, Punch Studio

Favorite Characters:

Nameko, Gudetama, Totoro, Catbus, Jiji, Paddington Bear, Calvin & Hobbes, Miffy, Garfield, Bugcat Capoo, Yotsuba, Llama from Shirokuma Cafe, Moomin, Bluey and Bandit

Favorite Artists and Musicians:

Roy Tabora, Thomas Kinkade, James Coleman, Sarah Gibb

Vance Joy, Jeremy Loops, ABBA, Léon