I'm excited to be living in California again (returned to San Diego in 2014). I moved (back) across country, changed jobs a couple times, started my own baking & cake decorating business (2017) and had breast cancer last year. Life is crazy, but I’m so grateful for everything I’ve lived & learned.

My health has been my #1 priority for sometime. I was "healthy" when I got cancer, now I am truly WELL. I eat "clean" mostly & love working out - lifting weights specifically!

I enjoy creating, from envelopes & mail art to all things baked. I love the idea of starting with just raw materials or ingredients and ending up with something tangible that I've created! I enjoy giving things to people, especially when they appreciate all the time & effort I put into my work. I love vintage ephemera, travel-related or foreign ephemera, stamp carving, zentangle & mail art.

I've been working in the restaurant industry for all of my adult life (and then some!) I’ve worked in a few bakeries and wedding/special occasion cakes on my own since 2005. I started my own baking & cake decorating business here in San Diego in 2017 and was extremely busy for about a year & a half before my cancer diagnosis. I have immensely cut back accepting new clients since last summer. When I'm ready to be in business again, I'll offer keto/low-sugar/gluten-free desserts only. I've been working part-time in the same restaurant for about 3 years and spend my free time at the gym, reading, baking & being grateful. I love being creative!

Creative things I enjoy

mAiL aRt ~ handmade envelopes ~ stamp carving ~ journaling ~ decoupage ~ altered anything ~ mixed media ~ zentangle ~ photo/memory crafts ~ baking from scratch

I'm more into sending & receiving handmade items & creating, than collecting more "stuff". Aside from the list below, there's not too much I really want to receive. It would be great to get any of the following, not in any particular order....

I'd Love to Receive:

• postal/airmail themed things like washi or deco tape, hand-carved stamps with a postal theme, foreign (non-US) postal forms like customs or registered/express mail

• vintage ephemera (most of the swaps I join/host have a vintage element)

• unused airmail stickers from any country (like the kind you get free at the post office!)

• unused airmail envelopes from anywhere, vintage or new

• aerograms - vintage, new, or foreign (so hard to find!) and/or “fold-n-sends”

• any memorabilia or ephemera from foreign airlines or that are no longer in business, like PanAm or TWA or even existing airlines (like the safety cards in the seat backs; menus from foreign airlines), used tickets

• stamp-carving supplies, or hand-carved stamps relating to my profile

• REAL stamps (postage) on my swaps

• handmade paper tape or washi tape

• UNUSED US postage stamps - any denomination, vintage or new. I don't collect cancelled (used) stamps anymore but have lots to trade!

• vintage recipe cards (written or unwritten)

Though I don't collect as much as I used to, I have lots of postcards available for trade. Let me know what you're looking for - chances are I have it. The only postcards I would be interested in are map cards from foreign countries/cities & vintage cards from most anywhere. I'm happy to send postcards & receive something different from my wishlist.

Postcards I'm collecting now: (I prefer my postcards UNWRITTEN, in an envelope if possible.)

• vintage (or anything from before 1970)
• map cards of other countries & cities (I have most states)
• new, store-bought scenic, single-view postcards from other lesser-known places & countries, especially Iceland, South Africa & southern African countries, Kenya, Morocco, Seychelles, Maldives, Azores, Mauritius, New Zealand & islands in the Indian or Pacific Oceans.
• I prefer scenic "view" cards - countrysides, cities, neighborhoods, beaches, oceans.

I DON'T CARE FOR OR COLLECT THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF POSTCARDS but have some to trade!

• animal cards, insect cards or cards with people on them
• art cards (unless its a really cool black & white vintage card)
• ad cards
• zazzle cards
• cutesy, country, flowers or floral
• churches, crosses or any religious persons

I DO NOT WANT/Don't Need/Will probably end up re-gifting or sending to someone else

• store-bought rubber stamps; I prefer only handmade or vintage
• anything religious or related to religion
• anything flower/floral-printed, including postcards
• please don't send seasonal items (Halloween, Easter, X-mas, Valentine's, NOT any holiday) I don't use or care for holiday-themed items, thanks!
• scrapbook paper (I have more than I'll ever use!)
• flower embellishments or anything floral printed
• country/Americana/folk art crafts, prints or colors or ANYTHING
• perfume & scented things such as lotions
  & soaps (I have eliminated most chemicals from my house since healing from cancer)
• bath & body items or cosmetics (I have VERY sensitive skin.)
• postcards I'm not collecting (above)
• key chains or refrigerator magnets
• post-its or note pads
• candy
• blank recipe cards, unless handmade
• I'm not religious, so I would appreciate not receiving any religious items, bible quotes, stickers, etc.
• I prefer things I can use year-round
• things smelling of cigarette smoke - YUK! No offense meant, I have allergies

I always try to respect others likes/dislikes, beliefs, etc. as well, and I go out of my way to send what you like. Thanks in advance :) and THANK YOU for reading my profile!!

** I love to do private swaps with dependable swappers! Just PM me :) I have the following available to send: postcards, note cards, handmade envelopes, airmail labels from many countries, ephemera (mostly vintage), stationery sets, stickers...try me ;)

99% of the time, I send extras with my swaps. It is never to make up for the swap, or that my swaps are lacking in any way; I send extras if I have things you like, according to your profile. I like to make others happy & don't mind sharing my stuff! I only join & host swaps that I know I can complete and am able to do well. I don't like to send mediocre type-3 swaps and feel free to let me know if I send you something that you don't love. (and tell me why). I read my partners' profiles repeatedly to make sure that I never send items that your profile says not to send! By the same token, if you want a heart from me, please don't send items I don't like or want according to my profile, but more importantly, put some effort into it please!"

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this! Again, these are all just requests, not demands :)

I don't mind getting re-used packaging :) I always use real postage on my swaps and I REALLY appreciate it when there are real stamps (not metered) on anything I receive. Thank you :))))