VASaint

Craftiness/swapiness: Mostly I am here for postcard swaps, but sometimes feel a bit crafty, or gifty. I like to make ATCs, and postcards (sometimes), and am slightly obsessed with glitter glue. I also do a little cross stitching, gardening, and would like to get back into photography and printing my own photos again... Yes, film and paper photography!

I enjoy messing around in my yard and doing things to personalize my house, and traveling. Of course, I always end up coming home with stacks of postcards after a trip!

I have many likes and interests, and it's rare I receive something in a swap that I don't like, or appreciate as long as it fits the swap description. I will never rate down for a card sent naked, stamped, and written on even if it is against swap guidelines! My "likes" list is long but even if you don't find something from my list, I'll still like it! :)

• My newest postcard obsession -- LANTERN PRESS postcards! GF, FOTW, WT, MCPS. Love them all, and they'll definitely get hearts!
• I LOVE love LoVe Maxi cards with the stamps on the front!
• I am just learning about UNESCO, and would be happy to receive postcards that are UNESCO World Heritage specific http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/
• I would LOVE any of the beachy postcards that are "The Legend of the Seahorse, Sand Dollar, Sea Star... Etc.
• Red Hot Chili Peppers! Have been a fan of their music for more than 30 years (yikes! And, yes, they have been around that long!)
• All things Halloween (especially vintage postcards and decoration)
• Anything related to dia de los muertos (Day of the Dead)
• Anything vintage circus/side show/freak show
• Vintage Photography esp. Cabinet cards, Tintypes, daguerreotypes, vintage photography books, and cameras
• Beachy things - LOVE Lighthouses, sea turtles, seahorses, starfish, sand dollars, sea glass, I love beachy colors like blues/blue-green and light tans... Did I mention I love lighthouses?
• Cemeteries (I do grave rubbings)
• Oddities
• Pretty much anything Russian! But, esp. vintage cold war era stuff, Chernobyl, St Basil's Cathedral
• Vampires (not Twilight), witches, and elves (Legolas ::sigh::)
• Scandinavian gnomes
• My favorite dinosaur is the Ankylosauras
• Cherry Blossoms, Koi fish, Asian themes
• Animals I can't get enough of - baby piggies , elephants, pit bulls, HIGHLAND cows, sea turtles, seahorses, hyenas, narwhals, manatees, honey bees!
• Colors - cobalt blue is my favorite, I also like purples, greens, jewel tones
• Fave artists - van Gogh (I LOVE anything starry night), Monet, Picasso, Degas, Jasper Johns, Mucha
• Fave Photographers - Sally Mann, Annie Leibovitz, Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz
• fleur de lis anything!
• New Orleans - LOVE MY NEW ORLEANS SAINTS!!!
• Pagan stuffs. I have considered myself a pagan for more than 25 year. No, I don't worship the devil, or cast evil spells on other people - I believe that what you put out into the universe will return to you three fold, be it good, or evil. I have practiced a a solitary Wiccan, but am very interested in learning more about hedge witchery, so I guess I'd have to say I am eclectic at the moment.
• Catholic things, especially holy cards and prayer cards (the ones from funerals)
• My fave Disney characters are Eeyore, Tinkerbell, Lilo & Stitch, Maleficent
• Movies - How to Train Your dragon (definitely one of my all time favorite movies), Guardians of the Galaxy, Horror (the suspense kind, not the gore kind), Mr & Mrs Smith, Documentaries
• TV... don't really watch it right now and don't even have cable, but used to be obsessed with Survivor, Amazing Race, Z Nation, The Walking Dead, American Horror, Penny Dreadful, Big Bang Theory, Lizzy Borden Chronicles

These things I'm just not into or can't use.

• Hello Kitty
• Kawaii
• Stickers
• nickel - I'm allergic
• recipe cards
• LOOSE glitter or confetti
• Cats - I'm HIGHLY allergic... A stray cat hair or 2 will not kill me, but please don't send me a cat... (Halloween kittys are welcome:)~
• SF 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Atl Falcons
• Costume jewelry (unless it meets my likes, and none of my dislikes) I really don't wear jewelry much

At one point I think I started collecting collections! I try to keep it to just a few things now that don't take up a ton of space:)

• 1st edition Anne Rice books
• Vintage Halloween postcards and decorations
• Tattoos (very easy to store and display;)
• New Orleans and New Orleans Saints stuff
• Cobalt blue bottles (I may have an unhealthy obsession with them)
• Vintage medicine bottles and medical things
• Vintage Photography books
• Tarot card decks (have Rider Waite, Halloween, Nigel Jackson... **received "Favole" deck from the amzing @mandymo as part of a swap!!! Ah-mazing!)
• Vintage Photography - Tintypes, daguerreotypes, cabinet cards, vintage cameras
• Vintage salt cellars and silver salt spoons
• Nativity sets (or just random pieces of them)

I LOVE getting little things in the mail; isn't that why were all here:). I think postcards are fun because they don't take up a ton of space, and can give a little glimpse into someones world. When I am sending postcards, I like to try to find one specific to the person I'm sending for... I'm sure I don't always hit the mark, but I've spent days looking for cards that I think my swap buddy will like.

When receiving cards, I like naked (no envelope!), stamped, and written (preferably with more than just the swap info:) I would LOVE any cards related to my "likes"or "collections" listed above. If you are sending a "touristy" card, and you have been there and can share something about the location it would be nice (I love the London Eye because...) Handmade cards are awesome!... If they are more than just a cut out from a box. I would be open to regular pen-palish postcard swaps.

Gift type swaps: I LOVE glitter glue, so smaller tubes would be nice since they seem to tend to dry out. Stickers or washi that look like they would fall under my likes. Vintage postcards - I especially like the linen ones, and the ones that are "Greetings from..." and the place (with pictures in the letters), lighthouses, or Halloween pc's. Unused postage is always nice! Fine point Sharpies (purples, blues, greens) since a lot of my pc's have glossy backs. Cobalt blue bottles. Cool nature finds like sand dollars, sea glass, small drift wood, cool rocks, stones with holes in them, crystals. Anything New Oleans/ New Orleans Saints. Starbucks gift cards. Interesting seeds or plants (or cuttings) for my yard or garden (bee friendly). Prayer cards (especially ones given at funerals - makes me sad to think they get thrown away), misc nativity pieces (I have adopted a few random Baby Jesus...es and Josephs, and a stray Mary from thrift/Goodwill, and make them one big happy extended family). Funky pins/buttons, pins or patches from lighthouses, National or state parks, states. Miniatures of any of the animals I have listed. Just some ideas, I am grateful for anything you see fit to send :)