Swap-bot Time: December 6, 2023 3:26 pm
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teejlc

teejlc
Date Joined: January 18, 2021
Last Online: December 5, 2023
Birthday: October 7, 1978
Country: United States
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About Me

Hello Swappers!

ABOUT MY POST OFFICE: I've had several of my regular swapping friends tell me that my post office is seriously overzealous with requiring the extra postage! I don't want things sent back, so I try to review everything I receive and return on a case by case basis. Sometimes my mail carrier just sends things back immediately (usually if there is over $3 postage due.) I take almost all my swaps to the post office to double check the postage. If you ever get a swap that requires additional postage from me, please just contact me with a photo of the envelope or feel free to refuse the package!

My name is Tracy and I am so excited to be a part of this community! I believe that mail is one of the great joys of life. Sending and receiving has became very important to me during Covid. It is so much easier to be honest, thoughtful and compassionate in letters than it is in an email or on social media. We need to bring back the lost art of this type of intimate correspondence!

I have lived in Michigan for most of my life and am a huge lover of the Great Lakes. Before I left work to stay home with my three young boys, I worked as a wetland biologist for the state. First I worked in the permitting program, then moved on to help head up monitoring, restoration and protection programs for Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands. I miss my work, but don't regret leaving.

We live in Brighton, which is just north of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. U of M is my alma mater and I love visiting the campus as often as possible!

When I'm not focusing on my kids or writing letters, I am an avid crafter. Needlework, knitting and collage (with both paper and fabric) are my favorite pastimes, but I also enjoy dipping into other arts and crafts that I'm not as good at, such as watercolor, drawing and coloring. I love art journaling and am lucky to have two wonderful friends that I trade journals with. We give each other a prompt and encourage imperfection.

Reading is another favorite pastime (especially classics and historical fiction) as is hiking, and exploring our local antique shops. At the beginning of the covid lockdowns I decided I would try to relearn Spanish. I practice every day, but it's going to take some time! I would love to attempt to read and write some Spanish postcards or letters!

Prior to the lockdowns, I became a certified health and life coach and I was working on building a business. My focus clients were women who have never learned to love their bodies and who have been perpetual dieters throughout their lives. (I fit into this category for most of my life.) My program helped teach women to accept their bodies, learn to eat intuitively and pursue health without focusing only on weight loss. I believe that ALL bodies are good bodies and that we must honor and trust these vessels we occupy during our time here on earth. While I loved my wetlands work, I felt that coaching was actually my calling. When schools closed, and my kids were home and needing me so much, I found I couldn't sustain being mom, teacher and business owner. I have temporarily shut my doors on that dream and am trying to work up the will to begin again.

On most people's profiles I see that many are not interested in discussing politics or religion. I completely understand that, and agree that I do not want to be preached to or persuaded. However, I do think that conversation and mutual respect is how we can heal the world, so I am very open to learning about the opinions, passions and stories that make you who you are. I just ask any discussions like this take place with an open mind and heart and always focus on compassion and empathy, rather than anger or an insistence that there is only one "right" way to think.

Thank you for swapping with me!!

THINGS I LOVE

Decos are my favorite thing to swap. I love them all- the beautifully made art ones, taped ones, any theme and from any country! I prefer the ones with specific themes. I am often open to taking extras and homers, but please just send me a quick note to double check first.

I love original art, hand colored items, collage, ephemera, washi, postcards, stationery sets, notecards, new postage stamps, and, of course, STICKERS!

Your handmade postcards will make me happy.

As far as subjects go, I am really open to receiving anything you think is beautiful, but here are a few things I particularly enjoy:

Animals: birds (especially parrots and cockatoos), fish, cats, snakes, frogs, turtles

Plants: ferns, cactus, trees, wetland plants

Natural history: ancient creatures, geology, crystals and fossils, ancient peoples

Vintage: Victorian, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, mid century style, Georgian/Jane Austen style... really anything vintage is fun to me.

Places/culture: Local landmarks and history from where you live, regional recipes, fairy tales, folktales, mythology

You: Mostly I want to hear about YOU. What, Who and How do you love? What makes you tick?

Thank you for swapping with me!

Favorite Music

The Indigo Girls, Michael Franti, O.A.R., Dar Williams, Mumford and Sons, Travis, The Avett Bros, Carol King, The Head and the Heart

I LOVE musicals especially Hamilton, Rent, Les Miserables, Wicked and some of the old classics like Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music

Favorite Books

I love so many books that I can't even begin to list them all here.But here is a list of 10 books that I loved enough that I read them two or more times. (In no particular order.)

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

My Life in France by Julia Child

Union Street by Pat Barker

Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett

I am also in a book club that focuses on self improvement and spiritual growth. We've read many wonderful books, but my favorites have been "Women Who Run with the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, "Soul Craft" by Bill Plotkin and "Big Magic" by Liz Gilbert.

Favorite Crafts

I am a perpetual crafter and love to keep my hands busy. Right now I'm especially loving collage with paper, but I also like fabric collage, embroidery, knitting, coloring and watercolor.

Ratings

5
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Comment: Thank you for a perfect swap!! Love this gift! Merry Christmas!!
Response: Merry Christmas to you too! Thanks for swapping with me and hope you host this one again in the future. Even if it's just you and me it's still really fun!
5
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Comment: LOLOL that is a classic!! I have yet to drop a whole turkey but I have come too close for comfort!! Happy Thanksgiving!!
jeka396 rated for CPG: Fussy Cut Booklet - US 🇺🇸 on Nov 20, 2023
5
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Comment: OMG, this booklet was absolutely spectacular! Your stamp assortment is just fab and I feel like such a lucky duck to have snagged you as a partner on this one! For the hand-carved ones- did you carve them yourself or purchase ones someone else had carved? Now time to figure out which I will use first!!!!
Response: I am so glad that you liked this booklet! I had a lot of fun making it! I did the hand carved ones myself. I have a book called Making an Impression by Geninne Zlatkis that is a really great resource!
5
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Comment: Thanks so much for both the Landscapes and Summer Nights deco books - it’s nice to have some easier themes to work with! Nice stamp assortment on the envie too!!
5
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Comment: Yay! I found it! Thanks for the fun Deco and for replying to my email💕
5
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Comment: Thank you for the adorable Halloween card! I'm sorry for the late rating. I hope you still enjoyed handing out candy this Halloween. Take care!
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Comment: Thank you so much for the walk the dog deco, what a sweet sentiment! Also, I’m super excited to add a page to your gorgeous Halloween deco!!
joppagirl rated for DB ♥: Small Deco #351220 on Nov 1, 2023
5
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Comment: Thanks for the great deco!
DeboraCreates rated for CS: Letter-Rate Decos Only #5 on Nov 1, 2023
5
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Comment: Thank you for Toni's Vintage ICM - love your page!
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Comment: Hi Tracy, I love Sonya's bird deco! Thanks for sending! Warmly, Ginger
MissKayeIdaho rated for Halloween Postcard swap 🎃 on Oct 24, 2023
5
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Comment: Thank you for the Halloween postcard! My oldest is 16 and is in the "no more trick or treating" phase of life as well! Always changing! 🎃 Happy Halloween!
MuggleMom rated for DB💜: Bulk Deco Package 10/23 on Oct 20, 2023
5
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Comment: Great selection and I'll send home Speedy's deco! Thanks for always sending wonderful decosxxMuggleMom
estromberg rated for WIYM: World Postcard Day 2023 on Oct 15, 2023
5
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Comment: Many thanks for the wonderful World Postcard Day PC!! And all the glorious stamps!!
inventacharm rated for WIYM: World Postcard Day 2023 on Oct 8, 2023
5
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Comment: Thank you!
ccmmsu rated for DB ♥: Small Deco #349932 on Sep 24, 2023
5
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Comment: Hi Tracy, I'm glad to see you back! :) Thank you for sending me Sonya's hand drawn/painted deco. You're right, it's so pretty!
jeka396 rated for DB ♥: Just one ICM deco #349931 on Sep 22, 2023
5
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Comment: Thanks for Apelser’s ICM… only 2 pages left and then it can start its long journey home!
lrm1980 rated for DB💜: Bulk Deco Package 7/23 on Jul 30, 2023
5
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Comment: Thank you for 5 great decos! All of your pages are great, but my personal favorites are in the watercolor one and in Vanessa’s No Theme. Beautiful and interesting!
Response: I'm glad you liked them, Lindsay! Have fun decorating!
5
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Comment: Super cute summer deco! Thanks!
laprochaine rated for Deco Deco #4 on Jul 14, 2023
5
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Comment: Tracy this finally came in the mail today! Thanks so much for sending it out last year 😯
Response: What?! That’s crazy! It took 11 months to get to you. Where in the world did it get stuck? Gives me hope for other lost mail…
5
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Comment: Hi Tracy, LOVE this little deco! I can't wait to add to Sonya's Poisonous Plants deco. Thank you for the helpful list, too! Warmly, Ginger

Rating Overview

Overall Hearts Stars Hosted
5.0000 434 11 12
Completed Fives Threes Ones
399 460 0 0
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Uncategorized
4 133 262 0
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Comments

DeboraCreates on Nov 1, 2023:

Thank you for returning my full Nature ICM! It came out great!

DeboraCreates on Oct 7, 2023:

Happy Birthday!

9O96O on Jul 12, 2023:

Hi Tracy, I thought you might like to see how your 'Boat on Lake' deco to Sparkie in Finland turned out.

For a bigger photo go here.

DeboraCreates on Jun 10, 2023:

Thanks so much for making the gorgeous "Vintage Winter" deco for me. It came out so lovely. It was returned to me by Bettina.

I will take pix and email them to you.

What fun! Thanks!

lrm1980 on Jun 2, 2023:

Thanks so much for sending home my full Valentine’s Day ICM deco! 💕

DeboraCreates on May 16, 2023:

Thank you for the private deco swap - I do appreciate multiples of the same theme - these books are so gorgeous, so many tough acts to follow, including yourself!

PrincessLeia on Mar 27, 2023:

PH WTA DEC2022 Hello Tracy, just received your envie! They are all great! My favourite amongst them is the beautiful turtle.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

colleenbUSA on Dec 19, 2022:

Thank you for the CPG wish of printable the bookmarks are so cute!

user6937 on Dec 6, 2022:

Hi, Tracy - thanks so much for my November wishes; the paperclips are new for me - I like the idea that the blue and white one is a mountain, although I guess it could be a cake with icing, too. Let's stick with a mountain! I do just save them :) I'm going to stamp on the labels and make my own stickers.

DeboraCreates on Nov 28, 2022:

Thank you for granting my November CPG Wishes! I will put it all to good use!

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