rhoz

My name is Rhonda and I use rhoz for art/online stuff so I answer to either! I have done a lot of mail art and swapping in the past (like 20 years ago) then stopped for a while and recently have let my inner artist come out out play again!

I consider myself a collage/mixed-media artist, art journalist and bookbinder. I was a Middle School Science teacher and have recently retired so I hope to have more time for swaps and mail art! Yay!

I am 62 years young and live in Sacramento, California, USA. I am married, and currently have 2 cats. Sadly my 2 oldest cats and my dog all passed away this last year. No kids.

I speak English, fairly good Japanese and French, some Russian, Spanish, Italian and a few words in a bunch of other languages but only enough to politely ask where the toilet is and say thanks!

I have traveled a lot in Western Europe and some Eastern Europe and have lived in Japan, Taiwan, Norway (ages ago) and a summer in Italy. After I retired in May I took a month and went to Nova Scotia, specifically Cape Breton Island. Beautiful place!

I enjoy looking at the art of Nick Bantock, Sabrina Ward Harrison, Teesha Moore, Roben-Marie Smith and a lot of the current art journalists online.

My favorite artists are: Miro, Picasso, Klee, Kahlo, Matisse, Gauguin, Gaudi.

My favorite holidays are Day of the Dead and secondly Halloween (but not cute). I love skulls and skeletons (but not super cute ones).

I have always enjoyed the weird, unusual, slightly off center and out of the box art. I do not have a favorite color or any color to stay away from, although I tend to work either in brights, neons, or dark earthy colors.

Lately my favorite art tools are the gelli plate, acrylic or water colors, pens, markers, white pen doodles, etc. I like making ATCs, postcards and small books. I have done a bit of bookbinding in the past and am also getting back to that. And I love washi tape!!!

I love things in foreign languages and made up worlds (a la Nick Bantock's Griffin & Sabine).

I love those little Russian nesting dolls (Matroyshka) and other Eastern European and Russian folk art items.

I am fascinated with Zentangles/Zendoodles lately. I can see them as a great stress reliever for when I have to sit in a boring teacher inservice meeting!

Casablanca, some Woody Allen (old stuff like Annie Hall and Manhattan, and newer stuff like Midnight in Paris), most Tim Burton (didn't see Planet of the Apes),a lot of foreign films (latest examples Bread and Tulips), and films like Amalie, Chocolat, Pan's Labyrinth, Everything is Illuminated, etc. I don't usually see current movies at theaters.

Don't watch much tv but when I do it's: Jeopardy, Big Bang Theory, Barefoot Contessa, How's It's Made, and anything about the universe/astronomy. On occasion I will watch reruns of ST:TNG and CSI (original).

classic rock mostly, also Jimmy Buffett, world beat, some classical (Mozart is my fav).

I am not going to say anything about favorite foods as I do NOT wish to be sent any edible items.

For a tea exchange: I drink coffee and tea mostly. I prefer simple green tea, jasmine or black teas. I am not all that fond of flavored or fruit teas.

Please do not send anything with artificial sweeteners!

I am not fond of cute, cuddly, overly saccharine fuzzy stuff. I am not a fan of glitter! Please do not send overly religious or preachy stuff.

I do not enjoy horror or slash and kill movies, stupid comedies, or sad movies involving animals or people.

*** PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY SORT OF FOOD PRODUCTS (including candies, gum, etc) -- the only thing I would use if you sent it is teas (green, black but not sweetened or flavored)

Postcards (preferably handmade) sent through the mail or ATCs. I love making ATCs!

I would love to swap almost ANY sort of ATCs these are my current interests:

• zentangles/zendoodles
• postage stamp people
• ATCs with maps or postage stamps
• steampunk
• gelli plate prints
• abstract designs

Might be interested in small booklet/hand-bound book swaps. Also interested in round-robin swaps of small books (used to be called Decos), or altered books.

Would also love to swap collage items (papers, ephemera, foreign newspaper or dictionary pages, etc. See list below).

• washi tapes (lengths on plastic transparencies or sheet protectors)
• gelli plate printed papers to use for collage (scraps ok)
• non-English newspaper or book pages (scraps ok)
• vintage paper ephemera (scraps ok)
• ledger pages (scraps ok)
• small pieces of colorful decorative papers (scraps ok)
• old photos of people, especially in sepia
• pages with collage items
• interesting used foreign postage stamps
• blank ATC cards

• highly scented items
• bath items (salts, lotions, bubbles, etc.)
• candy
• gum
• hot chocolate mixes
• anything with artificial sweeteners
• glitter
• confetti
• coupons

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY SORT OF FOOD PRODUCTS (including candies, gum, etc) -- the only thing I would use if you sent it is teas (green, black but not sweetened or flavored) -- I have many food allergies and sensitivities so I am very particular about what I eat or drink.