Hi! I’m Alfie… mom to the best human ever, traveler, friend, weight lifter, foodie, crafter, Cancerian, bartender, adventurer, postcard collector, breast cancer survivor, penpal and so much more! I’m learning as I go, about myself and life in general. I’m always trying to better myself and just do better. We’re all going through something and having a creative outlet such as Swap-bot really helps at times 💝 I am a work-in-progress, learning to love myself more everyday.

I live in sunny ☀️ San Diego, California with my amazing daughter. She’s a high school senior and applying to college in a few months…time goes by so quickly 🥺 Getting to raise her has been my best accomplishment & is THE best part of my life! 💜 Her dad, (my ex husband), is a great person and we all hang out together fairly often and on holidays. ! I’m so fortunate to have him in my life.

🌎 Travel is my passion! 🗺️ I travel with my daughter as much as possible; we’ve been to Europe for a month (twice in the last 5 years) including driving a camper van around Iceland, as well as some domestic spring break trips. Planning on Greece & Sicily next year! She’s going to college next year so I’ll be doing a lot more solo travel.

My mailman is the best 💌 He’s also my life partner - we met during Covid when he came to my door!

Other things I enjoy… being with my daughter, the Office, tattoos, House of the Dragon, travel shows, the Sound of Music, planning trips, Postcrossing, stationery, health & fitness, logolepsy, longevity & “bio-hacking” podcasts, thrift/secondhand shops, Willy Wonka (the original with Gene Wilder), time alone at home, foreign languages, entertaining, trying new cafés, fine tip pens, exploring neighborhoods, self-help/psychology books, magazines, quotes…

Long time SB friends, please check out my new group Creative Mail! 📬

I would love it if you follow my mail art Instagram!

ilovemail (may contain spoilers)

Postcrossing: WorldTraveler74

I used to have a baking business🧁 Sweet by Alfie

I love vintage ephemera & maps, travel-related and foreign ephemera, mail art, handmade envelopes, collage, making stickers, anything mini, scenic postcards, hand-carved stamps relating to mail/postage/travel, all things postal related, vintage fodder, zines & zentangle .

I appreciate when swappers read my profile and I can tell when someone takes the time to send a thoughtful envelope. I’m more interested receiving handmade mail art, postal items, anything airmail or snail mail themed & vintage ephemera than collecting more "stuff". I only join or host swaps when I collect/make/enjoy receiving the items below. The following is my wishlist & likes in no particular order....

I Like to Receive:

• handmade, decorated envelopes made from anything that wasn’t born as an envelope

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

• any ephemera or memorabilia from 1974 (my birth year) or before

• vintage ephemera - for me this is anything from 1979 or earlier

• handmade profile-specific swap cards (like what I would include when sending my swaps that say “swap from: iLoveMail”)

• 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” or postalettes

• 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 or boarding passes

• maps or map printed items, pieces of maps, city maps, county maps, world maps

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

• REAL stamps (postage) on my swaps or actual unused postage that I can use

• handmade paper tape or handmade stickers of something relating to my profile

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

• a sample of something YOU make or made, or are good at making

• Colors I Like: aubergine (deep purple), turquoise, chartreuse (cross between avocado green & neon green), shades of orange, brown, black, gunmetal gray, Tiffany blue, taupe…not a fan of pastels, pink, olive green…

I prefer single-view cards (1 picture on the front), like countrysides, cities, neighborhoods, beaches, oceans, waterfalls, famous natural landmarks.

I prefer my postcards BLANK & UNWRITTEN, in an envelope.

I have lots of postcards available for trade. Let me know what you're looking for - I will search my stash to send what you want! The only postcards I would be interested in for trade are map cards from foreign countries/cities & vintage cards from most anywhere. I'm happy to private swap postcards & receive something different from my wishlist. I only join profile-specific or private postcard swaps.

• vintage (or anything from 1974 or earlier) - if it’s a swap option

• map cards of other countries & cities (I have most states)

• new, store-bought scenic, single-view postcards ESPECIALLY from other lesser-known places & countries, especially Iceland, South Africa & southern African countries, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Seychelles, Maldives, Azores, Mauritius & islands in the Indian or Pacific Oceans.

Please don’t send any of the following postcards:

• cards with animals or insects especially (I have a phobia) or cards with people on them
• art cards (unless its a really cool black & white vintage card)
• Disney, cartoon or any children’s characters
• ad cards
• zazzle cards
• cutesy, drawings, country, flowers or floral
• churches, crosses or any religious persons

I Don’t Want/Don't Collect/Don’t Need:

• anything religious or related to religion, including crosses, stickers, bible quotes, etc. I'm not religious, yet to each their own.
• anything with bugs or insects, including cards, prints, stickers
• anything flower/floral-printed, including postcards
• seasonal items (Halloween - especially NO spiders please, I have a severe phobia; Easter, X-mas, Valentine's, NOT any holiday) I don't usually join holiday swaps
• scrapbook paper or pieces
• flower embellishments or anything floral printed, flower stickers
• Disney, cartoons, any children’s characters
• country/Americana/folk art crafts, prints, kiddie stickers
• anything scented - I have a very sensitive nose & allergies
• bath & body items or cosmetics (I have VERY sensitive skin and don't wear/use anything scented
• postcards I'm not collecting (above)
• key chains or refrigerator magnets
• post-its or note pads
• candy
• blank recipe cards, unless handmade
• things smelling of cigarette smoke - I have allergies
• glitter or sticker flakes

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 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. Most importantly, please put some effort into it. I host the majority of swaps I’m in and I will start being more selective as to who joins. I never join blind swaps or swaps that aren't profile-specific, and I always wait until partners are assigned to complete swaps. I’m happy to angel all swaps I host!

I usually 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'm open to 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, lots of ephemera (mostly vintage), stationery sets, stickers… just let me know what you’re looking for!

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

I love getting re-used packaging/envelopes! I always use real postage on my swaps and wait in line to have them hand-canceled. I REALLY appreciate it when there are real stamps (not metered) on anything I receive. Thank you ☺️