mle

My swap preferences have evolved. I used to be very active on Swap-bot doing ATCs, postcards, handmade postcards, charms (years ago when there were more charm swaps), and other happy mail swaps, but recently I have been focusing on my bookbinding/craft business and haven't had the extra energy for swaps. I still enjoy swapping and sign up when I have extra time and energy to send out good swaps.

I'm not too hard to find on Instagram. My professional account is @meliora_books

One of my goals for 2022 (and beyond) is to write more letters.

I've worked in all sorts of mediums but mostly in paper and jewelry. I like to explore new techniques and mediums and look to have my creativity challenged.

I like making charms, cards, and art from found objects, and upcycled materials.

I'm an RN and I also do bookbinding. I have a working bindery at my house and it makes me happy because I really love books. And paper. And glue. And string.

I like books about food such as Food in History; and Pickled, Potted, and Canned.

I like pretty much everything by Dorothy Gilman.

I like classics by authors such as Shakespeare, Dumas, Austen, Twain, Doyle, and Rand.

One of my top favorite books (I really can't pick just one) is Possession by A. S. Byatt. And I like that she is also a critic.

I like sci-fi/fantasy/romance by Mercedes Lackey, Tamora Pierce, Douglas Adams, Roald Dahl, Kurt Vonnegut, Diana Gabbaldon, Isabel Allende, Ray Bradbury, Robin McKinley, and MCA Hogarth.

I like non-fiction that takes a deep dive into a subject or a period of history or an event.

I deeply appreciate handmade items... effort & risk taking is always admired!

I like swears, sassy everything, nudes and pinups. That inappropriate postcard you bought when you'd had one too many margaritas - I'm the girl you send it to.

Handmade books or restored books (bookbinding) - I like to reback and rebind old medical textbooks and medical books for home use.

The periods I like are the Renaissance, the Romantic period (Rosetti, Wm. Blake), and the "Arts & Crafts" movement (late 1800's to 1920's), the Silver Screen era.

I like Edward Gorey, Erte, Gustav Adolf Mosa, Aubrey Beardsley, William Morris, William Blake, Gabriel Dante Rosetti, Edward Burne-Jones, Frank Lloyd Wright, Salvadore Dali, Maxfield Parrish, Arthur Rackham, Andrew Wyeth (especially the Helga pictures), N.C. Wyeth, and pre-1900 lithographs. I like modern lithography too, but I really like the old stuff.

Street art/graffiti

Altoid tins that have been altered or filled

sassy art/collage

I like collage and assemblage. Some of my favorite artists are Nick Bantock, Joseph Cornell, and Lance Letscher.

My favorite colors are blue and green. I love all the colors, but I don't wear yellow or orange.

Handmade charms including shrinky dink charms

Interesting papers - especially handmade, marbled, pages with foreign (not English) languages, japanese paper, odd natural fiber paper, old maps (pre 1900), dictionary pages

Day of the Dead anything - skeletons/calaveras, papel picado, milagros, prints by Jorge Guadalupe Posada

Mexican folkart - lucha, loteria, saints, etc. Plus Mexican artists such as Frida Khalo and her dear husband.

Fairy tales, folk tales and mythology from all cultures. I especially like the illustrations from fairy tale books.

Tarot, Wheel of the Year, European/Northern hemisphere lunar calendar, Chinese/Lunar calendar

Patterns I like include paisley, vintage looking, travel inspired, Victorian and french flourishes. I like fleur de lis, peacock colors, butterflies, Asian inspired, French or Latin American roosters (not the cute country ones), feminine - think Victorian, and the artists I listed above.

Washi tape.

I love rainbows, rabbit and butterfly images.

I like to travel and plan to see the world. Some of my favorite places are San Francisco, England, Belize, Austin TX, and the Sonoran desert.

TV: Derek

Postcard swaps: If you don't know what to write on the back, I like trivia, quotes, and recipes.

Not a fan of plastic pony beads, polyester yarn, plastic mesh crafts, needlepoint-type stuff.

Not into "cutsey" stuff like Disney, kittens or puppies, babies or children, country or cowboy, sports, school stuff or super girly.

I don't like Christmas themed items.

I don't like religious items meant to convert me, especially crosses.

I promise I will always rate swaps. Even if it takes me a while.

On the other hand, I am not on swap bot to collect ratings. I like the creative outlet it provides me. I'm not going to post flakers or send out reminders to rate me. I figure if you didn't get my swap or it wasn't what you expected, you will let me know. I send out things I'd like to receive and am pleased when I get the same in return. This site is for fun and that's it. If it isn't fun, there's no point.

For food and recipe swaps:

I love food. I and my family have no allergies to food and love trying new things. Any and all recipes welcome.