MrsMJ

Special notes: I strive to go above and beyond with my packages, take people's profiles into consideration when selecting what to send them, mail my swaps out early, and rate swaps that I receive. HOWEVER, despite the fact that I can usually mail things whenever I'm ready, I only get to my post office to check the mailbox 2-3 times a week.

I am married to my best friend whom I met when I was in high school. We got engaged before I graduated high school and stayed engaged for almost 6 years. Now we've been married for almost 8 years. We have an awesome little girl who turned two in February. This May we are expecting our second child, a boy this time. -=perfect family!=-

I am a photography and computer graphics teacher for grades 9-12 at a high school in a suburb of Indianapolis, IN. I love teaching and I love opening my kids' eyes to new ideas that will hopefully stick with them for years to come regardless of what career or life paths they are on. My art area of choice is book binding because it is so limitless. Anything you want to do CAN be done if you wrap your brain around it enough to figure it out. The artwork I like and what I try to create steps so far beyond the bounds of what is expected that it amuses and confounds its viewer. That's not to say that I don't enjoy the simple and sometimes mundane artworks - sometimes that's just what you need to let your mind go and think about bigger projects.

A few years back (about 5 or so) I stumbled upon the world of mail art. I was so facinated by it, I taught it to my photo students. I've repeated the lesson every year since and I love seeing what the kids get back. I don't know why I didn't get myself into it too, I guess I just fell into the trap that many teachers fall into where they think that they have too much to do and they don't have time for their own work. Well, enough of that! I want to explore too! So here I am.

I'm inspired by simple things - interesting designs, unique colors, old and new ideas, funky shapes/forms, problems that I have a hard time solving, and things I can't identify. I love reality TV, reading to my 2-year old, watching her play and experience new things, solving problems, making lists, and... well... I love Japan!

Weird huh? I've been there twice once for a one week honeymoon and once for a 3-week teacher grant/seminar. I had a blast! Both times! It's the only place that I've ever gone where I came home and felt homesick.

Take care! I hope we can inspire each other at some point. Thanks for stopping by.

Favorite color is Purple and/or Green

Favorite animals are monkeys, squirrels, and cute unidentifiable creatures.

Things I've never seen before

Retro stuff (like REALLY retro not just fake new retro stuff.)

Cool designs

Pretty papers!

Japanese stuff (stuff from Japan or looks like it's from Japan.)

Bookbinding supplies

Strings

Weird stuff

Fun stuff

Artsy stuff

BUTTONS! (the kind with pin backs not the kind that hold your shirts shut.)

ALLERGY ALERT!! I'm allergic to tree nuts (which means most chocolate is out because of the chance of contamination)

I'm also allergic to sunflower seeds (which means anything that uses sunflower oil is out - chips, chap stick, etc. I need to look at the label.)

Last food no-no is artificial sweetener. I can't have it.

Anything that smells makes me sick usually. Perfume is definitely out!

I don't typically like flowers or girly stuff unless it's really cute or designed well.

Disney or other mass-market American cartoon characters.

Gross stuff.

Religious stuff.

Political stuff.

Anything that is discriminatory towards other people.

I'm really into handmade paper, but I'm not into scrapbook paper (the quality of the paper fiber doesn't meet my needs.)

Dotee dolls don't interest me.

I wouldn't be able to keep track of inchies, so they don't interest me either.

Though I love handmade mail art postcards, I don't like store bought postcards at all.

I am morally against pirated media.

BOOKBINDING!! Coptic binding is my favorite by far. Second favorite is probably Japanese stab binding.

I like paper making also, but I always forget to do it because I feel that I never have the right equipment on hand to do the job right... I need to get over that...

I have a sewing machine... I should use it more often. I like using it when I do. LOL

My newest toy is a button maker... I'm always looking for something random and unique to turn into a button.

I love the look of Amigurumi creatures and felted wool pets. I want some, but alas, I don't know how to make them. :(

Sometimes I like to make stuffed animals out of felt or other materials I have around the house. I've made a few for my daughter and a couple for friends of mine.

I like making mail art postcards and I would probably like making ATC's as well.

Really artsy kids books and fantastically constructed artist books. One of my favorite kid's books is "My first book of Sushi" (though the entire series is awesome visually.) My favorite book artist is Julie Chen.

rengawk GaijinGirl

My daughter is two. She loves checking the mailbox with me so it would be fun to have something in there for her.

If you could please put a robot on the package so she knows it is for her.

Likes: Robots, monkeys, Mario (we call him "man"), Totoro, most animals, stickers, wind-up toys, art stuff (including playdough or playdough accessories), and books.

Dislikes: We don't expose her to mass-market American characters for the most part, so no Disney, Spongebob, Dora, Elmo, Thomas, etc. She doesn't eat sugar so no candy or sweets. No nuts or peaches as she is allergic to those. Please don't send cheaply made things. I'd rather have quality than quantity.

Fuzzy and/or cute amigurumi

Sanrio used to make photo wallets that were made out of vinyl and were very very thin. It was really just a vinyl folder a little bigger than a credit card with a photo holder insert that could be taken out. I don't think they make them anymore :( if you have one (or more) I am desperately looking for them. I don't care what character is on it.

Pin-back buttons (the one inch size ones are preferable) I also love post-back pins too especially from Japan (school crests, enameled characters etc.)

Stuffed robot for my daughter. (not felt and no buttons or beads - she's too young for those.)

Paper currency from other countries (not valuable ones)