I am Joyce in Texas. Here is a rambling list of things about me. I hope it helps.

How to guarantee you get a heart from me:

Here's a new item that I'd love to get - the free postcards that LaQuinta gives out. They are usually sitting on the check-in counter. If you have access to one or more and would like to do a private swap, just let me know.

A single playing card or am empty gift card with a dragon, elephant, deer, caribou, owl, moose, or bats on it will guarantee a heart! Actually any item with those themes will get you a heart! I would really love a single card or deck of cards for the game Authors and single Old Maid cards. Also, I'd love to receive single dominoes, especially doubles.

Another thing I would love to receive is any GEICO gecko junk mail. I save all envelopes with the gecko on them (please open the envelopes carefully so that they are in good shape) and mailers with his picture. Here's a way that junk mail can get you a heart!

I love to find the stickers/pens/bookmarks/dream catchers/other stuff that charities send with "free" address labels when they want you to donate. If you have any of these or some arrive in the mail, don't throw them away. Send them to me and get a heart! I'd also enjoy receiving the notepads that St. Jude's Hospital sends. Any theme is acceptable.

I'd love to receive church bulletins/programs, especially if they have interesting graphics/photos/pictures on the front. This is another automatic heart item.

Send me any of the small Christmas cards (singles - 3 1/2" X 5"-ish; just the front is fine, even) from companies like Peter Pauper Press. The more glitter and shine, the better! You'll get a heart for this, too!

I really prefer not to get anything Kawaii-themed, except for the Jetoy cat postcards. One of those would also earn a heart!

I always send out my swaps, usually right after the partners are assigned. If you don't get one from me, it's lost in the mail. Please let me know so that I can resend.

Here are some fun, odd, etc. facts about me:

• Travel - we have a travel trailer. The mountains, especially Colorado, are my favorite place. I was born in Colorado, so I love the chance to visit "home" again.

• Reading - anything but bloody stories. Especially books on women in the Old West.

• My husband and I enjoy geocaching (geocaching.com).

• Quilting & crocheting - Hand quilting is my favorite part. I'd rather thread crochet than use yarn.

• Paper crafts - I love working with paper. My favorite paper activity is making and filling junk journals. I also do journal pages and whatever other paper crafts grab my interest.

• Junk Journals and Smash Books - I'm loving making and filling these!!! I can finally use all of that stuff I've been hanging on to for years - LOL! I really love using "found" and repurposed papers. I try to use stuff from the mail rather than throw it away.

• Altered Books - I'm hooked!!.

• Popcorn - the perfect food!

• Bats - I'm a cave fanatic (over 60 caves so far). I collect anything to do with bats.

• Moose - I love these guys. I have lots of moose items, as well.

• Reindeer / Caribou - see moose

• Armadillos - living in Texas, I've come to really like armadillos - postcards, stuffed, etc.

• Owls - owls are a new favorite of mine, especially postcards and pins/pendants.

• Mountains - especially in Colorado. This is my favorite place to be.

• Altered books. Since I enjoy doing these, I'm always looking for goodies to use in them.

• Purple - my favorite color. I also like peach and teal. Really I like almost every shade of purple (lavenders, lilacs, etc., too) and almost every green. Any of these colors combined with black is great, too.

• Tea - I'm a devoted tea drinker. My preference is for black teas, but I do drink green and white teas, especially fruit and minty ones. I don't like coffee flavor in anything. If you have a good licorice tea to share, I'd love to try it!

• Postage Stamps - I would call myself a casual collector. I love postage stamps and keep my favorites. The rest I trade with others. Some of my favorite themes are bats, moose, woodland and mountain animals, teapots, Chinese (Lunar) New Year, Christmas, Colorado, rocks and minerals, and the British Machin series.

• My favorite Christmas themes are reindeer (not big on Santa, though), Christmas trees, and churches.

• I'm a collector at heart. My family says that I have collections of collections. Some of my collections are listed below.

• Yellow is my least favorite color. I'm blond (or I was - now it's blond and gray) and fair-skinned, so I can't wear it either. My face just disappears.

• I love junk journals, including making the journal itself. It's a fun challenge to see what I can turn into a blank book to junk in.

• I really like flowers. My favorites are: iris, moss rose, carnations, morning glory, lupine (especially Texas bluebonnets), Indian paintbrush, and columbine (especially blue columbines).

• Forests are a favorite place (especially in the mountains). I love aspen trees!!! Blue spruce is another favorite tree!

• Unfortunately, I'm sensitive to most scents. They give me headaches. I can't do scented candles, bath products or even perfumes. I've only found one perfume in my whole life that I could wear.

Here is a list of the postcard themes that I really like:

• free postcards from LaQuinta Inns and Suites
• all black "by night" cards
• bats (the flying mammal)
• caribou & reindeer
• aspen trees
• caves
• cows
• gems and jewels
• Jetoy cats
• lava
• map cards
• moose
• mountains
• owls
• rocks and stones
• rubber ducks
• teapots
• volcano (active)
• wild cats
• wildflowers, especially columbines

Here are some of the things I collect: (** - my favorite collections)

• Starbucks ephemera, planners, sleeves,etc.
• cardboard/paper coffee cuffs/sleeves*****
• coffee club cards (business card size; buy 10, get one free, etc. Also called "loyalty cards")*****
• bats - anything with bats (the flying mammal). I LOVE bats.*******
• offering/tithe envelopes from churches (vintage or new)******
• gift cards (with no money on them) that picture bats, deer, moose, Christmas trees, teapots, Year of the ***, elephants, odd shapes (not rectangular)*****
• single playing cards with a fun/different back. It's extra wonderful if it has bats, owls, moose, reindeer/caribou, elk or dragons on it.****
• single Rook cards, especially the 20 point card.***
• ace of spades and jokers from decks of cards****.
• Scratch-off lottery tickets with bats, dragons, moose or any of the things I've mentioned that I like on them (already scratched off)****
• images on paper of the Gieco gecko (like the ones that are on the envelopes they send when trying to get you to buy their products).
• Smokey Bear -- I love all things Smokey!*****
• vintage handkerchiefs with purple flowers on them
• airmail labels****
• miniature perfume bottles (ones specific to a scent)
• moose - small items with moose (stickers, pins, etc.)**
• owls - pins, pendants and on paper****
• teapots by Hall China Company***
• needle threaders
• Christmas tree pins with rhinestones**
• rubber ducks*
• spark plug gappers
• teapot pins
• troll dolls (original, not the new ones)
• postcards (see list above)**

Here are some of the things I love to find in thrift stores:

• decks of playing cards, except for plain decks like Bicycle
• Mahjongg tiles or game sets
• ex-library books that still have the pockets and cards (one from each library)
• baker's twine
• old ledgers (used or unused)
• ledger paper
• old, interesting postal ephemera
• Old Maid card decks, standard size (2 1/2" x 3 1/2" ish)
• old metal recipe card boxes
• solid or patterned men's ties with purple (the more purple, the better)
• necklaces with small, plastic leaves
• blingy jewelry, especially purple (I want to make a framed jewelry tree)
• dice, any but standard white with black dots
• watches (they don't have to be working and the bands can be broken), especially Mickey Mouse ( but not Minnie Mouse) and Christmas trees.