This is my street-side mailbox. I use it to send most of my swaps (unless I go in-person to the Suntree P.O.) All my swaps are sent on time, if not early.

Profile updated as of: 22 April 2025

Please scroll all the way down to the very end section labeled “Do Not Send” if you’d like to just review my 🛑 Dislikes list. 🛑

Thank you for your consideration!

A Few Friendly Reminders:

Partner/Coordinator Communication will take place should my swap status change for any reason.

Missing Mail? Please direct message me if you don't receive something from me. I keep a photo log of swap contents and packaging, along with tracking numbers, when applicable.

Spoiler-Alert: My Flickr account may have photographs of swaps I’ve sent.

Postage Due? I have a postal scale. 😁 But, if this happens please send me a picture of your receipt and I'll send you the money back via PayPal or Zelle. You can also Direct-message me, and I will send you my email. Or, if you'd rather have unused USPS postage stamps, I’m happy to mail you those in-kind.

Allergy Alert: My home is smoke-free and pet-friendly. But I shed quite often, due to my autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s. I genuinely apologize ahead of time if there’s a stray hair stuck somewhere. I give all my outgoing mail a thorough once-over to keep things as neat and tidy as possible. Happy mail that leaves a good impression on my receiving partner(s) is very important to me.

Enjoy Supporting Small Businesses? This little STATIONERY store near me has the best owners ever! I just love Suada & Brendan! Some of the items in my swaps come from their Lighthouse Paper Co. BONUS: If you're a Hobonichi fan this store is literally the only Partner Shop where you can buy your authentic products in the state of FLORIDA!

🌺Aloha!🌺

My name is 🎵Harmony Joy🎶 (she/her) I like my name because it is a reminder of who I believe that I'm meant to be. Others refer to me as either "Harmony", "Joy", "Harmony-Joy" or 🍪"Cookie" (because of my last name) - call me whichever you please, just don't call me late for dinner! 🤣

My name is musically inspired because both of my biological parents were hippies. I am an atypical Berkeley ☮️-born and Nor-Cal foster-system raised “love child”, who now lives on the other side of the country. I met & married my husband (who's also neurodivergent) in the Sunshine State, while we were both active-duty Air Force.

💞My spouse and I have three neurodiverse children (two daughters, one son) and one grandson who calls me "Cookie". Children have always been my favorite part of life, and I get more enjoyment from 💙 Mother’s Day than my own birthday!🎁 This also includes all my fur-babies (past & present). 😉

🐾 My furred-family consists of 3 feline & 2 canines: Ella (a Great Dane & Pointer mix), Bubba (an AKC Golden Retriever), two tortoiseshell short-hair grand-mollies named Lily and Piper. Then, last but not least, Theo, who is my very cuddly ginger tabby grand-gib.🐾

On May 25, 2023 my sweet Kyna (a Carolina Dog) passed away. ❤️‍🩹 I miss her every day. She was the best service dog I’ve ever had.

Perhaps you can surmise that I've always really enjoyed animals. Especially my dogs! I think that my animals help me cope with my “people problems” better. 😉

Whether they're finned, feathered, furry, or humanoid, my ohana is “my whole world” 💕🌎 And I believe that family is who we make it, even beyond DNA.

I’m proud to be a Mama Bear! 🐻🧸 Which is just one more reason why Bettie White will always be my favorite Golden Girl! R.I.P.

My family says I’m “the jack of all trades, master of some.” 😆 I’m never bored! 🎨

So, besides my “V.I.Peeps”, I also enjoy many hobbies:

• (indoor) Alterations, Art-Journaling, Ballroom Dancing, Card-Making, Coloring, Crocheting, DIY, Face-Painting, Genealogy, Painting, Paper-Making, Pottery, Pressed Flower Craft (oshibana), Reading, Sewing, Smash/Scrap-booking, Watching Movies, Weaving, and West African Dancing.

(I own a Gemini Pro, Sizzix Big Shot Plus, Portable Tim Holtz Sidekick, & Cricut Explore Air2)

• (outdoor) Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hula Dancing, Kayaking, Rollerblading, Shooting, Stand-up Paddle Boarding, Swimming, and Shopping.

• I 💙 crafting! I like to try new things too. My hobbies are making booklets, ATCs & APCs. My portfolio has a mix of fiber art, beading, woodwork, and pyrography. My style is "moody" because I make what I feel. Sometimes I go for inky grunge and painterly splatters, but I also like clean-and-simple (CAS) designs.

Due to some health issues, I've been dealing with intermittent hand tremors and blurred vision. These are mostly under control (thanks to prescription glasses and thyroid medication). Just a heads up, though, there might be days when I can't art as well as I usually can. I'll always give swaps my best efforts and take my time, so I might send swaps a bit closer to the deadline date. I’m learning to embrace imperfections and see them as beautiful, unique qualities. I'm adopting a "Wabi-sabi” approach to my art. I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. 😊

• My current collections are: Cartophilia (trading cards) to include ATC/APC and the 7-of-❤️’s playing card (in all sizes & shapes)

• I’ve also started collecting the 7-of-clubs Poker Cards to use for a memorial project in honor of my late G’Mom Cook 3/17/19-1/1/20. The club looks like a shamrock ☘️ and they always remind me of her! We would celebrate our birthdays together with my mother every year, but since she passed and the pandemic began, that tradition stopped. I’m starting a new tradition of my own now, using these poker cards to record a fond memory, so I can dwell on the positive aspects of her life rather than dwelling on her absence.💚

• I enjoy listening to audiobooks and different genres of music. My go-to’s are usually classic rock & reggae. I have an all-in-one Radio/CD/Cassette/Record Player in my craft room, and I 🖤 my vinyl albums!

• I feel most at peace at the ocean where I can lose all sense of time hunting for sea glass, heart-shaped rocks, and tiny shells to use in my crafts. I also enjoy fishing, but I'm not cut out for boats! I've got a fair pair of fins 🧜🏽‍♀️, but no "sea legs!" 🤢

• I enjoy spending quality time at libraries, museums, galleries, or art studios. This is because I really enjoy folk arts & handicrafts. I ❤️ experiential arts.
• In my youth, I enjoyed traveling the Americas and spent time living in Chile as a foreign exchange student! Now, I prefer to travel in good company, whenever possible. However, most of my current travel has been vicarious via postcards.

I 💜 snail 🐌 mail! 💌

• When writing, please use neat, legible handwriting, print, or typed font.* No need to worry about perfect penmanship, I just want to decipher what you’re saying. Also, please use **dark ink colors on light backgrounds because I cannot see light on light colors (this doesn't apply to paintings because I'll most likely be able to tell what the image is).

❤️🧡💛💚💙💖💜🤎🖤🤍

I think it's important for others to know that I am a protective person. I've lived long enough to know that not everyone has good intentions. I despise trolls (always have, even when they were a rainbow-haired trend in the 90s) and people who instigate, trick, or bully others are the root of all evil in my book. I'm also a Pisces and my discernment/perception of people has been accurate more often than not throughout this life. I'm a hugger (which is important to understand if you ever meet me in person) and a defender of the underdog.

I am a LifeGuard & Peer Support Volunteer

There are many factors that can contribute to suicide risk. An estimated 90% of people who take their own lives have a health condition that is mistreated or undiagnosed. A suicide attempt is a sign that someone is in crisis. It should always be taken seriously and never ignored. That is why I will not tolerate cyber-bullying.

Known offenders are forever restricted from participation in my groups/swaps.

Will you take the LifeGuard pledge?

Report Cyberbullying!

I am 3 hours ahead of Swap-bot time!

FLORIDA hurricane season is from June 1st through November 15th, so please be mindful of that.

• As a swap coordinator, I often "close" my swaps a day earlier than the posted date because I can be a "night owl" and do my work while others are asleep! :-)

• Posted swaps that are left without any interest for 72 hours, might be deleted to perhaps re-post at a different time.

• Sometimes my swaps have a Sunday send-by date even though there’s no postal service because swaps can be dropped off in the “blue”(outgoing) mailboxes, and I often drop by the P.O. on my way to do other errands.

• If I’ve put a swap in my street-side mailbox for outgoing pickup, but the mail carrier doesn’t come, then I will unmark it from being sent that day. My mailbox is not water-tight and items left overnight can become damp, warped, and unsealed if I don’t bring them back inside the house. Florida is VERY HUMID and we get a lot of afternoon showers. This is also why there may be some clear packing tape on the outer swap packaging.

• I live on mail carrier route #76 which is considered a last stop so, there’ve been a few occasions when my mail wasn’t delivered/picked up that day. But I do check my USPS informed delivery digest daily.

• Since the pandemic began, we’ve had 15 different USPS personnel doing our deliveries. Penny, my regular pre-pandemic carrier has officially retired and the route will be up for "bid" soon. UPDATE: Chris “won” the bid and will be our regular mailman now. He doesn’t appear to work the Saturday shift though. We still have a handful of different people delivering on weekends so I’m not yet feeling secure about reliability. The past two months I've noticed what’s put in my box was the informed delivery from the day prior. ⁉️ LATEST NEWS: Chris has moved to a different route and we now have a wonderful mail carrier named “Dottie” taking care of our USPS and a few Amazon items. She's still not doing weekend delivery though, so I don't know who brings my mail on Saturdays.

• My servicing mail station is the USPS Apollo Annex of Melbourne, Florida (Phone: (321) 255-7589).

• Date extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for reliable swappers who communicate with me. I am a coordinator who understands that real life happens outside of this ‘bot. 💙 I also understand that circumstances can change in an instant, and this site is not a priority when real life happens. But, please communicate! I don’t think it should take months to login and at least post a note on your profile. At least let someone know when you’re out of commission. That way we don’t think the worst or grow sick with worry.

• I only coordinate swaps that I am willing/able to angel. I also make a sincere effort to vet each participant before assigning partners.

If you end up needing a swap angel'd, just send me a message after you’ve contacted your partner(s).

IMPORTANT: When I angel a swap it is strictly to ensure each participant receives something in-kind in return. It is not in any way meant to pressure someone into rating another individual. How someone does their rating is up to that swapper, and none of my business. Even if I ask for kindness and understanding of another person's extenuating circumstances, I will never tell anyone how to rate another person.

• • I {rate} incoming swaps within 48 hours of their receipt. It’s my practice to only archive them once received/rated!
• • I don't care about postmark dates. They’re completely unreliable and have been counterfeited by swappers here before. As far as I’m concerned, if I receive the swap described you’re good to go. 👍🏼 🖐 I won't rate a 3/1 on a swap without first communicating with my partner(s) and the swap coordinator.
• • I usually follow up on swaps if it's been thirty (30) USPS business days from the date I logged my swap as sent, (and at least two weeks from the deadline date) but no rating has been posted. I'll contact my partner about a resend because I know postal services can lose things sometimes.
• • I value your feedback and comments when rating, and I try to make an effort to respond to raters as soon as I am able. Even “silent” ratings I’ve received will often receive a simple “thank you” to show my appreciation for putting in the time to rate (although I am never fond of a silent rating). There are times when I cannot respond to every rating, but this does not mean that I am any less grateful for the valuable time that you’ve invested in me or the happy mail! I promise. 💙❤💙❤💙❤💙❤💙❤💙❤💙❤💙❤💙

• Hearts don’t cost me anything! I look for reasons to give them when I rate. They’re not tied to any extra items that you include in the envelope (I don’t want/need random toss-ins). And even though it’s fun to see in the mailbox, I don’t rate based on how the package is decorated either (there are Postmaster’s who strictly despise sticky embellishments on mail because it gums up their machinery. Every Postmaster is different and can interpret postal regulations accordingly).

I also don’t over-think the giving of a heart by withholding them on type-1 or type-2 swaps (a postcard can feel “extra special” to the recipient even though it’s not technically a “package”! The point is: When your swap shows me that you thought about me, I’m happy to share a heart!

I don’t give out hearts to everyone and I don't expect everyone to give them to me. A heart means extra effort or resources were involved with a swap. That’s why I won't heart a swap sent completely blind unless it’s specifically meant to be or named a blind swap. Any swap that’s supposed to be profile-inspired needs to have my name in it somewhere, at the very least.

I'm more cautious about trusting ratings and groups after encountering some dishonest swappers:

• There are swappers here who maintain a perfect 5 overall rating yet take peoples art and craft items.

One swapper, @Allegrae has taken ATC, postage-paid envelopes, and my late Grandma Cook’s heirloom haberdashery items from me. This betrayal has left me feeling deeply hurt and angry. I’m not ready to reconcile with this swapper yet, especially because my Grandma and I shared a close bond. Taking her belongings, even if I intended to share one, has shattered my trust entirely. Allegrae knows better but shows no remorse. which only makes me feel sicker. 🤢 But what’s most appalling is that Allegrae claims her grandparents are important to her in her profile, yet disrespects mine.

I've uploaded pictures of the heirloom haberdashery items I sent this swapper and all our communications are on my Flickr page. 9/11/2023 2200 hours: I apologize that I tagged these incorrectly and I have just resolved the matter. Thank you to the two kind members who pointed out my error. These items are now restricted to my albums and should not show up on the site homepage anymore. —————————————————————

To maximize successful happy mail deliveries (and minimize waste), I will be using Pirate Ship to mail most of my packages because their rates are cheap-aaar! 🏴‍☠️

Sadly, my craft room is still a bit disorderly! In September 2021, we had broken pipes in the walls that we had repaired via insurance. But then, our roof leaked and flooded the front bedroom before Christmas 2022. My house is partly packed up and/or in a nearby storage unit. All this to say, I have a lot of hidden supplies to create with that are still difficult to find.

Int’l Mail Suspensions

SOAK Old Postage Stamps

ZIP Code™ - The Basics

Want to make sure the domestic mail that you’re sending is processed quickly and efficiently? Then always use the standardized street address with ZIP+4® format!

Did you know USPS doesn’t want any punctuation in delivery addresses? In fact, all letters are to be in CAPS-lock and black ink on a white/light background.

Example

By addressing mail appropriately you’ll ensure that they are processed smoothly by mail sorting equipment. Using the standardized address with ZIP+4® format alleviates possible delays from manual handling.

Try this USPS lookup tool to find the standardized address and ZIP+4® you’re mailing to:

USPS

📩Postage & Postcards✉ - Handmade postcards are always welcome. But I really do not want any more random blank postcards, please. I am technically trying to get rid of the blank ones that I have because the USPS does not prioritize these anymore, so they get lost more than mail that is in envelopes with return addresses on them because there's no accountability for postcards.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💗💜💗🤎🤍🖤💝 I heart art!

Please share your PC collage, coloring, drawing, graphic design, painting, or photography. I also like receiving “print-on-demand” PCs by Zazzle, Red Bubble, Café Press, Society 6, etc. If it’s a postcard that you think I will enjoy (even if the swap says "No"), mail it and let me know why! I promise I’ll never rate down for thoughtful intentions!

• I will always enjoy used postage stamps from the Post-crossing movement or vintage/retro stamps with postal workers, mailboxes, and letters on them.

🍪🥠Special Request:

Please add a cookie to the back of my postcard or envelope🍪🥠

*I also ask that my postcards please be sent ✏written🖊 on, but in an✉ envelope🌎 (if the swap allows a choice). I understand that this request will require standard letter-rate postage and not a postcard stamp, but it's important to me that my postcards arrive alive. LOL! The envelope (or clear sleeve) simply protects the postcard from being smudged or torn by the USPS machinery. Everything goes through at least two machines at the USPS locations it's routed through; even if you request a hand-cancellation. Nowadays, there's simply no way around automated mail handlers, folks.

How To Mail Postcards in Clear Sleeves

How To "Trick Out" Profile Pages

How To Format Text

WISHLIST (a.k.a. Insta-smiles 😃 & hearts 💕)

• Mail with a postage stamp of: Betty White, PowWows, or Protect Sea Turtles (I especially LOVE the Leatherback and Green Sea Turtles stamps)
• New or used, on or off paper postage of the Cookie Monster; especially the one issued in 2019 by USPS for the 50th anniversary of Sesame Street
• Die cuts, punched shapes, and/or cut-outs of COOKIES for my junk journal/cookbook 🍪🥠
• Postcard-sized pieces of colorful fabric
• Quilted scraps I can cut into 💙
• ATC-sized (or smaller) Mixed-Media Master-board or painted papers/card-stock to make tiny shapes
• Stitched/Sewn Paper Scraps or (tiny) Fabric Snippets
• A Copy of Your Favorite, Tried-n-True Delicious Cookie Recipe
• Dictionary Pages with My Name(s) on them in any language: harmony, joy, cook, or cookie
• Royal Blue Ribbon and Fabrics Scraps (any size bits will do! ;0)
• Fabric bits or book pages with The Jetsons, Sesame Street, 100 Acre Woods, Care Bears, Autobots, or Rainbow Brite characters
• Any ATCs or APCs that you don’t want

My Wall of Fame

Where I will recognize the people who made me feel the good stuff! These humans have helped a differently-abled military Veteran to work through some Post Traumatic Stress and restore their hope in mankind.

I am eternally grateful to:

@YooperHill

@MuggleMom

@PoePrincess

@9O96O

@Autist

@AmericanHeiress

@GerberDaisy

@Isabellasnow

@DebbiesPoms

@Created46

@BeachChicken

@WatercolorGirl

@Sequoia183

@JuneRosebud

@DRMOM

@AZmom875 (R.I.P.)

@jannieb (R.I.P.)

ATC Art I’d 💙 to add to my collection:

1. A St. Patrick’s Cookie Monster wearing a top hat and enjoying shamrock cookies
2. A Mailman Cookie Monster 📬
3. A “Flower of the Month” ATC or APC for July, August, September, October, November, or December

*****WISHFUL THINKING*****

If anyone happens across a “Yellow Pages” phone book from the Bay Area, California circa 1977-78 I’m trying to find evidence of a plant shop called “Heavenly Houseplants & Other Divine Gifts” that was off Telegraph Avenue.

🤙🏽 Mahalo nui loa! 🤙🏽

Favorite Snail Mail Supplies Online

Updated: 4/23/2025

Some A to Z’s of Me!

A: Autobots, Ahsoka, Avatar-The Last Airbender

(My Fave ATC/APC Themes are: Trees, Star Wars, Marvel/Disney FanArt, Vintage Postage Stamps & Mail/post-boxes, Cookie Monster, Harmony Bear, Cool Phoenixes, Giant Pandas, Polar Bear, ☘️Shamrocks/Clovers🍀, Oceania, Mermaids, Orca Whales & Sea Turtles!)

B: Big Hunk Candy Bars, Bears esp. Giant Panda & Polar 🐼,💙 Blue (esp. cobalt), Blue Cats & Bald 🦅 Eagles

C: Chick-O-Stick Coconut Candy, Celtic Heritage, Clogging, 🍀Clovers, Chewbacca, Cookie Monster

D: Daffodils, Dancing, Drum Circles/Lines🥁, Dr. Seuss & Decoupage

E: Eighties (era) Ephemera, Elvis Presley, Eeyore & Emerald Green💚

F: Friesian Horses, Fern Fronds, Frangipani (plumeria flowers)

G: Guitar Picks, Golden State Warriors, The Goonies & GryffinPuffs (I’m a Hogwarts House Hybrid!) 😉

H: 🐾 Husky Dogs 🐾, 💕Heart-shapes, Hibiscus & Harmony Bear (purple Care Bear w/flower belly badge)

I: Ireland, Icebergs & Incredible Hulk

J: Jade Green 💚, 🏀Jordan #23 & ⚾️Jeter #2

K: Koi Fish, Kiwi 🥝 Fruit, Koru Loops

L: Leaf Rubbings, Lucille Ball, LEGOs, Luke & Leia Skywalker

M: Marilyn Monroe, Mandalorian, Music Notes, Mulan, Moana, Merida, Monarch Butterflies 🦋 & Maple syrup/leaves 🍁

N: Narnia Chronicles & Notes w/my Name on them 😉

O: Orcas, 🦦 Otters, Origami & Optimus Prime

P: Panda, Polar, Pooh, and Paddington Bears, Princess Bride, Ponyo, & Pansies

Q: Quilled paper, Quail (above) & Quotes (I collect positivity to refer to when I need a morale boost!)

R: ROYGBIV (spectrums-in-nature), Rocking Horses, R2-D2 & Redwood Trees

S: ☘️ Shamrocks, Strawberries 🍓, Smokey the Bear, Sheet Music🎼 & Sea Turtles (the marine reptiles w/flippers)

T: Tigger, Totoro, Tie-dye, Textiles, Tweeds, Tartan & Tribal Tattoos

U: Ukulele

V: VW buses, Valkyrie & Vintage

W: Walkers Shortbread Cookies, Winter Soldier, Wolves, Wicket the Ewok & Wyland Art

X: Xylophones, X-rays, X-men & “X” marks the spot (a pirate’s life for me!) ☠️

Y: ☯️ Yin-Yang Symbols (they remind me of balance), Yoda, Yaddle & The Child (Grogu)

Z: Zebras 🦓, Zines & Zentangle

Here’s a short list of my top ten (in no particular order):

Music –

1. Bob Marley
2. Enya
3. Tim McGraw
4. Iz Kamakawiwoole
5. Swedish House Mafia
6. Ladysmith Black Mambazo
7. Heart
8. Plumb
9. The Cure
10. U2

Books –

1. To Kill a Mockingbird
2. The Terminal List
3. Outlander
4. The Secret Garden
5. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
6. Willow
7. Hinds Feet on High Places
8. Call the Midwife
9. Windows of the Soul
10. Twilight: Breaking Dawn

Movies –

1. The Princess Bride (1987)
2. Short Circuit (1986)
3. The Goonies (1985)
4. Tombstone (1993)
5. Star Wars (ALL)
6. Hook (1991)
7. Dances With Wolves (1990)
8. Brave Heart (1995)
9. Whale Rider (2002)
10. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

TV –

1. New Girl
2. Elementary
3. Yellowstone
4. SEAL Team
5. Ted Lasso
6. Reservation Dogs
7. Peaky Blinders
8. Longmire
9. Sex Education
10. The Mentalist

Crafts –

1. Altering Playing Cards
2. Trading Artist Cards
3. Handmade Mini Art Booklets
4. Smash Booking
5. Junk Journaling
6. Painting Papers and Ephemera
7. Coloring with Alcohol Markers and Pencils
8. Drawing with Pastels and Graphite
9. Making Albums and Interactives
10. Photo Transferring and Collaging

🚫 Soy Anything (I'm allergic)

🚫 Religious Propaganda (I dispose of dogmas)

🚫 Claymation (plasticine stop-motion) Characters

🚫 Aliens, Albino Animal Imagery

🚫 Dolls, Zettiology Creatures, Zombies

🚫 Monkeys, Gorillas, Baboons

🚫 Scorpions, Spiders, Snakes

🚫 Fragrances, Cosmetics, Jewelry, or Socks**

• I have been sent very small socks in swaps and it's disheartening because I cannot wear any of them. Think Hobbit Feet! Tiny human socks all get donated to charity for the homeless in our area though (so no waste).

Here's my sizes for other clothing, if you're moved to share something you think I'd enjoy: I wear a unisex T-shirt is size Large, pants are a Women's size 10, and shoes are an extra wide in Men's size 10. I like fabric scrunchies, bandanas, and boho bandeau wraps for my hair if they're a soft, stretchy fabric that breathes well. Please avoid anything with animal print, glitter, or satin though.

• Some swappers like to have a list to “shop” from, while others feel overwhelmed by too many ideas. So, I've tried to create a balance in my profile by listing some of the things I like. This is not an exhaustive list, 😉 but I hope it helps my swap partners. Please know that you can breathe easy because my default mode is to find the good in whatever is mailed my way. 😉 😃 😊

Thank YOU for thinking of me!