Swap-bot Time: September 29, 2023 1:50 pm
www.swap-bot.com

MamaMangrove

MamaMangrove
Date Joined: May 7, 2012
Last Online: September 29, 2023
Birthday: January 1
Country: United States
My Flickr Photos
My Postcrossing Favorites

About Me

UPDATE JUNE 25. 2023 My new address in Gainesville is now valid and listed

UPDATE: DEC 11, 2022

I am now living with friends in Tallahassee, Florida who have graciously offerred me the space and time I need to figure out what I want to do next. It's a peaceful place surrounded by forest with lots of nearby trails for hiking. I see deer and other woodland animals every day..

UPDATE: OCT 1, 2022

I lost my home in Fort Myers to Hurricane Ian. Fortunately I had evacuated to a friend’s house on higher ground so I am fine, just rather overwhelmed by being a refugee and having to start all over.


I'm a former wandering gypsy, now living in Florida where the primeval beauty of the Big Cypress swamp and the longest coastline of any state except Alaska satisfy certain of my inner needs. It's also a great jumping off point for the Bahamas, the Caribbean & Latin America. I lived in India for several years working with a snake catcher; traveled with Ringling Brothers Circus (living on the train); lived on a sailboat in the Bahamas & Caribbean for 5 years. My numerous occupations have included newspaper staff writer, assembly-line worker in a cockroach trap factory, librarian, charter-boat cook, dog walker in NYC, proprietor of a shop selling beach paraphernalia in the Virgin Islands and, most consistently, free-lance travel writer. Travel, adventure & being easily distracted are all prime motivators in my life!

Writing & photography were always my creative outlets, but lately I'm exploring mixed media collage. I originally joined Swap-Bot for non-touristy postcard exchanges as I'm always on the lookout for quirky or whimsical imagery. But I'm a long-time fan of (and participant in) mail art, so I've become more involved in collage & handmade postcard & mail art swaps. I appreciate things created with wit, originality, a sense of humor - or just because they're beautiful or intriguing. I like clever, off-beat, esoteric stuff. Girlie cutesy doesn't cut it for me. (Maybe I'm still rebelling against a mother who tried too hard to make me pink and frilly.) But I do enjoy whimsy. I love getting postcards & envelopes decorated with art work, collage, etc. And lots & lots of cool stamps!

Though I caved to peer pressure & created a Flickr account, I'm REALLY bad about keeping it updated with images of mail art I've sent! Social media in general eludes me. There are never enough hours in the day for all the other things I find far more interesting to do.

Favorite Music

My musical taste is pretty eclectic, but I particularly like acoustic guitar, Reggae, Latin jazz, World Music in general. A few of my favorite musicians are Mose Allison, Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell & Paco de Lucia.

Favorite Books

My passport is my favorite book. I read a lot of nonfiction. When I get interested in a subject I read about it voraciously. I enjoy poetry & have been trying my hand at haiku and tanka. Theodore Roethke, ee cummings, & Shel Silverstein are often on my bedstand. Nick Bantock always inspires. Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Kurt Vonnegut, Mark Twain, Ursula Le Guin & Kipling are among my long time favorites.

Favorite Movies

My top 5 favorite films are La Strada, L'Atalante, The Gods Must be Crazy, Walkabout, The Triplets of Belleville. My choices seem to reflect my penchant for living on boats; circuses; exotic locales & eccentric characters. I watch a lot of foreign & indie films because I find them to be generally more subtle and thoughtful than mainstream Hollywood.

Favorite Crafts

Mixed media collage, (mainly postcards) & occasional zines. Because I've always been a writer and photographer I often incorporate words and photos into my crafts.

Postcard Preferences

My preference is for Non-Touristy postcards.I much PREFER RECEIVING POSTCARDS SENT BLANK, IN AN ENVIE, even if the swap calls for them to be sent naked. I understand if you can't do that, but that's my preference & I'll never rate you down for sending that way.

POSTCARDS I'D ESPECIALLY LIKE TO RECEIVE

  • Ken Brown's cards

  • Cards featuring HANDS or EYES

  • Black & white photography (anything from Fotofolio & Nouvelles Images for example.) I especially like the photographs of Robert Doisneau.

  • Inge Look's old ladies

  • Magazine Covers, especially New Yorker

  • Brest Brest Brest cards from The Curious Feast PC Box

  • The graphic art of Corita Kent

  • Famous People

  • Mythology, mythological beings

  • Astrological symbols & animals, etc.

  • Blimps, dirigibles, Zeppelins

  • Bromeliads -my favorite plants!

  • Orchids

  • Palm Trees

  • The Little Prince

  • Kliban's comic art

  • Mexican Loteria cards

  • Dia de los Muertos

  • Lantern Press cards

  • Birds

  • Closups of nature, like the patterns on a beetle, the eye of a fish, etc.

  • The Everglades

  • Art cards, particularly collage art, graffiti art, street art, "outsider" art, & found object creations.

  • Paintings by the Florida Highwaymen.

  • Some favorite artists: Magritte, Robert Rauschenberg, Charlie Harper, Joan Miro, Keith Haring, Dali, Georgia O'Keefe, Joseph Cornell, Mayumi Oda, Frida Kahlo, Saul Steinberg.

  • Winslow Homer's paintings of Florida and the Bahamas.

  • Seminole or Miccosoukee people

  • Snake Charmers

  • Magic, magicians,

  • Weird Science

  • Cyanotypes (blueprints or sun prints)

  • Edward Gorey's illustrations

  • Great graphic Design

  • Humor, particularly off-beat, droll, or dry, like the postcards of Glen Baxter.

  • Signs, especially odd or humorous ones

  • Rock & Roll & 1960's musicians

  • Che Guevera

  • Cuba

  • Snoopy (from the Peanuts cartoons)

  • Kaj Stenvall cards

  • Charlie Chaplin

  • Popeye the Sailor Man

  • Troubled Birds (a series of postcards that crack me up!) or anything from the Mincing Mockingbird folks.

  • Lenticular (3-D) cards (but not those "Magic Eye" cards. I have monocular vision & can never see the hidden images.)

  • Postcards that squeak!

  • Postcards with googly eyes!

  • Squeaky postcards WITH googly eyes! (I have only one - a circa 1950s alligator - and he'd so love to be the start of a collection :)

  • Surprise me!

  • My Postcrossing favorites (link above) may give you an idea of the kinds of cards I like.

  • Good quality unused Florida postcards are welcomed since Hurricane Ian washed all mine away. I prefer ones that are not city-specific.

Extras/ Other Likes

  • I can always use uncancelled US stamps. Any denomination

  • Faux postage (artistamps)

Please NO

PLEASE DON'T SEND

  • NO tourist cards please, unless the swap specifically calls for them. Even then I'd prefer something non-touristy.

  • NO more 3x5 vintage cards, please. I have way too many of them!

  • NO Christian themes or Bible verses.

  • NO super cute, overly sweet or girlie

  • PLEASE DO NOT SEND Those cheap sepia 32-pcs faux Vintage-Travel-Sights-Landscape-famous people-Retro Postcards from AliExpress (smaller cards without description on the back. The back is a sepia tone with just boxes on the top left.) I hate them! {Thanks to Highlander 18 for her description}

Ratings

Stampalia rated for PH: Scavenger Hunt for PCs #236 on Sep 25, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Thank you so much for the great postcards and for the two extras. My favorites are the gorgeous painted Pony and the Easter orchid!
Response: Happy I was able to choose some that pleased you. I picked that pony out of a series because it used colors you said you liked. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
5
rating
Comment: What a cool postcard! I love your creativity. Thank you.
Response: So glad you liked it. I love making postage stamp people and including used stamps in my collages in general. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
5
rating
Comment: Thanks!
Response: You're welcome!
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for the selection.
Response: You're welcome. Thanks for the rating and πŸ’—.
simcoe54 rated for Three Postcards in an Envelope #10F on Aug 29, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for the lovely postcards and for the extra coin.
Response: You're very welcome. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
Bavarija rated for Non-Touristy Postcards #51 on Aug 29, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Hello, Thank you for nice card! Evelina
Response: You're welcome. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
5
rating
Comment: Great PC. thank you!
Response: Glad you liked it. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
5
rating
Comment: Thank you very much for the lovely cards. I do love the bug one the most. Happy swapping ❀️
Response: Thank you for your rating and πŸ’—. I'm pleased you liked the cards I chose. What's a picnic without insects?!
5
rating
Comment: Sorry; I took so long to rate. Thank you for the great cards. I like them all.
Response: So glad you like the cards, Barbara. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
strwbrrymoon rated for PH: Scavenger Hunt for PCs #232 on Aug 22, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Thank you so much for the postcards and your note, Linda! I'm doing the exact same thing in the AC this summer. I love your choices of cards and I'm extra excited because I've always wanted a key lime pie postcard!! Take care, Kai
Response: So pleased you liked the cards I chose for you. I just got back from Fort Myers, where I lived before Hurricane Ian. My friend made key lime pie for dessert last night. Yummy! Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
Maddashin rated for PH: So Many Choices #3 on Aug 21, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Hearts πŸ’• Thanks πŸ™ Great cards. Love it
Response: You're welcome. Glad you liked what I sent. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
5
rating
Comment: Thank you! I love each card!! Wonderful choices!
Response: So glad you like the cards I chose for you. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
simcoe54 rated for PH: Scavenger Hunt for PCs #231 on Aug 18, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for the great pcs, extra tractor pic and pc. Glad to hear you have your own place now and starting to get a little bit back to a normal life. Take care!
Response: My pleasure. Good to swap with you again. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
ArtsyAbby rated for PH: Red, White & Blue #5 on Aug 17, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the cool cards!
Response: Very welcome. My pleasure. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
5
rating
Comment: WOW!!! I cannot say enough good things about the amazing things you shared with me for this swap - cats, penguins, rainbows, those amazing stamps for my burgeoning collection - all wonderful. And, I see on your profile that we share a fairly uncommon favorite film - La Strada. You, my ex-husband and I are literally the ONLY three people I know who have seen it! So that was a super-cool surprise!
Response: Yay! I enjoyed scavenging for things you might like. So glad I hit the mark. Delighted to meet another fan of La Strada. Giulietta Masina did such an outstanding job portraying her sweet/sad/quirky/winsome character. Time to watch it again - if I can find it. Lost my old DVD copy to a hurricane. Thanks for your comments, rating & πŸ’—.
mchesser12 rated for PH: Non-Touristy PCs #10 on Aug 12, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for all the great postcards. Glad to hear to are getting settled.
Response: You're welcome. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the wonderful selection of postcards. Does this mean you didn't lose all your postcards to Ian?
Response: I salvaged a few postcards, but lost the bulk of my collection to Ian's storm surge. But, thanks to the generosity of fellow swappers and my own diligent (OK, fanatical) collecting, I'm amassing a new stash. Thanks for your rating and πŸ’—
RockyBeach rated for Altered Postcard 5 on Aug 8, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Haha, such a funny card, thank you! It looks like the penguine jumped from the diving platform and landed right on the gigant ladys head. Or does it use the lady as a lookout to spot the fish? Good to hear that you're savely settled down again.
Response: Glad you got a good laugh. I try to inject humor into my creations whenever I can. Thanks for your comments, rating and πŸ’—
JaneG rated for NYUP: 3 B/W Postcards # 5 on Aug 7, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Wahoo, all your postcards are tremendous. Many thanks! I would love to see whatever circus those clowns came from. I read your profile that you traveled with Ringling Bros. Can I get any more jealous right now?
Response: Yay, Glad you liked them! It was hard to part with the clown card as I usually save them for an RB&BB clown friend who now lives in Alaska. Thanks for your comments, rating and πŸ’—
susieq11 rated for Three Postcards in an Envelope #9Z on Jun 7, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the wonderful postcards!!! The Yuko Higochi and deer are fabulous - I love them all! Hope your move goes well! Thanks for joining my swap and hope you’re back soon. xoxo

Rating Overview

Overall Hearts Stars Hosted
4.9984 2381 0 0
Completed Fives Threes Ones
2198 2503 0 1
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Uncategorized
1 1505 692 0
View all

Currently Hosting

  • the user is not hosting any current swaps

Comments

simcoe54 on Jan 1, 2023:

Happy Birthday and Happy New Year! Hope you have a great day!

simcoe54 on Dec 25, 2022:

Merry Christmas! And best wishes for 2023!

susieq11 on Dec 9, 2022:

Hi Linda! Just saying HI and hope you are doing well! xoxo

shirleyinCA on Oct 10, 2022:

Heartbroken to hear of the loss of your home but very glad you are safe. Take care dear Linda!

user6937 on Sep 29, 2022:

Linda, I've pm'd you but you probably don't have any internet during this trouble in Florida. Hope you're okay, my friend - please let me know when you can.

LadyJo on Sep 29, 2022:

I have been thinking about you, since this hurricane has hit your area! The photos I am seeing it is very bad! I do hope you are safe! It sure must have been, still is a very difficult situation with so much damage and lives lost! Thinking of You!

user6937 on Jul 20, 2022:

You're an awesome swapper - everyone who knows you will ignore that rotten rating!

susieq11 on Jun 30, 2022:

Hope you are doing well! Just wanted to say Hello!

shirleyinCA on May 6, 2022:

P.S. Thank you for the cute Minnie Mouse notecard, too!

shirleyinCA on May 6, 2022:

Hope you see this! Thank you so much for the wonderful packet of all those darling little Little Golden Books! And the 2 little Sendak books are utterly delightful! I have a full size Potter's Mrs Tiggle Wiggle but now I have the tiny version and love it! And I have not seen The Tale of Pigling Bland so that is a real treat! To top off your surprise for me, it did arrive before my birthday - so that brought me extra smiles. Many, many thanks. Writing to you soon - take care.

Login to leave a comment now!