digitalmaven

I live near San Jose, California, and I work as a designer.

I like sending and receiving mail of all kinds, including postcards, packages, and the occasional letter.

I enjoy reading, especially literary and historical fiction.

I like being crafty, mainly with paper or yarn. I make envelopes, stickers, postcards, collages, cards, etc. I've also been learning how to knit and love making cotton washcloths.

I love hamsters.

I’m interested in Japan, including the culture, traditional design and art, and some of the modern pop culture (kawaii).

I like researching my family history (genealogy) and learning where my ancestors were from (Poland, Czech Republic).

You will make me happy if you send:

• Postcards of any kinds, especially: design or art of any sort (photos, illustrations, paintings, etc.); anything Japanese; birds; flowers; animals; vintage (used or unused); handmade; ones from Chicago, other parts of Illinois, California, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany (especially Berlin), UK/Britain/England, New Zealand, Japan, Korea; weird/unique but not too creepy.
• Postage stamps (I collect them casually, mostly for neat or pretty designs. I especially like ones from Japan, China, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland (Helvetia), other parts of Europe; also those with birds, animals, flowers, colorful designs); I also like stamp bags and/or games
• Airmail stickers (etiquettes) (I've been collecting these and other postal stickers, used or unused)
• Mail / postal themed items
• Airmail envelopes (the kind with thin or onion-skin paper)
• Hamster items (anything with or about them)
• Japan/Japanese things, especially seasonal, traditional, and other designs
• Pretty envelopes
• Glassine envelopes
• Papers of all sorts, including nice patterned designs, origami, old security envelopes; I usually make my own envelopes and stickers
• Old atlases and maps
• Handmade items
• Washi tape / paper tape
• Anything related to old movies or film stars from the 1930s/1940s (especially William Powell, Myrna Loy)
• Anything to do with British comedy
• Books, especially fiction (historical, literary, classic mysteries)
• Yarn, especially cotton yarn

Please do not send these items:

• Anything that smells of smoke or is musty or moldy. (And please don't try to cover up the smell with something, that only makes it worse!)
• Anything covered in animal hair or fur (it's happened before!)
• Anything religious, including religious holiday items (Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah, etc.), even if they do not show religious images
• Other holiday items, except if sending a written card or postcard (Halloween, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick's Day, etc.)
• Hello Kitty, Disney, Pixar/computer-animated characters, Diddl, Barbie, Looney Tunes
• Teddy bear, house mouse, goose, country-style, or shabby-chic items
• Deco / glossy tape
• Anything junky
• Business cards, pamphlets, or ads I didn't request  

Let me know if you're interested in any of the following:

• Vintage cards of churches
• Used vintage cards