cspt

I swap because I like to make someone smile or provoke some reflection. I hope I can learn a bit about you, in order to send you something you will enjoy. Maybe you like pop culture, animals, mountains, books, poetry, or seashores? Whatever your interest, I hope to suit it with a little something in the mail!

As for me, I love hiking, traveling, literature, and healing arts. But mostly I am interested in meeting YOU. Therefore, whatever you choose to swap, if you have time and inclination, please send something meaningful to yourself, or tell me a little about yourself, your family, or your location. Or, tell me about your favorite place in your hometown or country. What makes it special to you?

Although I don't actually collect stamps, per se, I love getting interesting stamps, and will repurpose them into craft work later. Favorites: saint stamps or religious Christmas stamps. I also try to use interesting stamps on the swaps I send to you. More about stamps follows below.

Novels: Kristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset, the best I have ever read. Bar none.

Poems: Ballad of the White Horse, by G.K Chesterton. Or maybe Hound of Heaven, by Francis Thompson: "...though I knew His love Who followed, // Yet was I sore adread Lest having Him, I must have naught beside..."

The Seventh Seal. And, Princess Bride.

Don't own it, don't use it.

Woah, love 'em all to do and to view. As for the making, I only have time for card making, at this point. (I also swap cards at SplitcoastStampers.)

In all categories of craft, I most love the idea of re-purposing and salvaging things, love the story that goes along with the prior and current uses of the materials. However, I am not averse to using new materials, either!

Hmm, have loved patchwork quilting, cross-stitch, others...Have a "problem" with collecting fabrics and notions, but have given most of my stash away to others who could enjoy and use the pieces better than I have time or skill for...

Also love drawing and watercolor painting (yes, these are "crafts" in my hands, no elevation to "fine art" !)

In summary, I think I have simply never recovered from learning to embroider at my mother's hand, nor from learning to apply glitter to paper in kindergarten.

As for others' work, I totally love the Mingei, or unsigned craft, ethos which I learned about when living in Japan. But if you sign what you make, that's fine, too! Overall, I love to appreciate culture via textile, ceramic, paper, furniture, and other applied arts/crafts.

Lotsa loves, but a common thread in music with vocalists is that I most appreciate being able to hear the words (even when not in my mother tongue)--I actually hate when I can't make out the lyrics. But I also love music that does not have lyrics (of course).

Totally love to travel, even if it just means turning a new corner in a known neighborhood, just to try an alley I have not walked before.

Have lived in Japan, Korea, Italy, Alaska, Illinois, New Mexico, Maryland, New York (state & city), & Oklahoma...have traveled in many more states & countries...am temporarily marooned in Maryland, but actually have discovered many, many remarkable sites and sights here.

General faves: mountains and sea, and historic structures & vistas, plus folk villages.

I also trade at Postcrossing. PC faves: those that are meaningful to the sender, especially if accompanied by the sender's thoughts.

Stamp faves: religious themes, esp. Christian. Also, non-current U.S. stamps, and many other interesting international stamps.

Healing arts.