mjhaertling

June 2025 - I am back in a limited capacity. I've missed my Happy Mail so much. For now I am going to do two or three swaps a month and hope that I can stay on schedule with getting them mailed.

JANUARY 2025 - It is a difficult decision, but I am stepping away from Swap-bot for the immediate future. I will miss sending and receiving happy mail as I have for almost 10 years. I have met so many lovely people and learned so many art techniques through the swaps, but I am directing my efforts elsewhere. I feel a need to use my time and my sewing skills to convert my enormous stash of fabric into clothing and blankets to help those less fortunate than I. If I learn to manage my time, I may pick up a few swaps in the future, but for now God bless you all.

Update December 2020 A year later but now I will be moving. My address has been changed on this site. *Update December 2019 At the present time I am hoping to move in a month or so.

I am retired and became a widow in 2014 after 51 years of marriage. I have a large support group of family and church friends around me. My 2 sons & their families live in the St. Louis area so I see them several times a month. I have a daughter in the Chicago area, of course I do not see her as often.

My "new" home is in a St. Louis suburb, a first for me. A change for sure, but recycling. I lived my first 19 years in rural Missouri. Then lived in small towns for a few years before 27 years in the city of St. Louis. Now after 25 years near my birthplace, back to the St. Louis area. I will be a few blocks from one of my sons, 20 minutes from the other.

I will join another congregation of the Lutheran church and probably a quilt club. I would also like to find a group that does paper art like the swaps we do here. I have joined an online group that does collage art and would love to meet some like-minded people.

I have been a part of swap-bot for quite a few years now. It has added so much to my life. I have learned so many new techniques as I made my swaps. I feel like my creativity has really grown.

My favorite swaps are the scavenger hunt PC's and collaboration PC's. I usually try to make something a little off center for these swaps.

I am still trying to hone my photography skills but use my phone a lot more than my camera. It's just so much easier. I use my photos in some of my swaps.

I am always buying vintage books and magazines as sources for images to use in my swaps. It will be hard to part with any of them when I move, so I will probably keep them all.

I enjoy swapping with other Christian women. I hope to do some Bible journaling in the future. I will join at least one new Bible study group after I move.

And a new quilt club. I have enjoyed meeting so many friendly women over the years in the three quilt clubs I have been in at different times.

Likes: Vintage images, images from nature, illustrations from children's books, interesting photos taken by you, butterflies.

Quirky/humorous interpretations of themes in swaps from you. Seeing your art work.

Unusual book pages & ephemera to use in making swaps.

Dislikes: Nothing specific here.

Reading and TV: I read mostly historical fiction and mysteries. I am still enjoying the Maisie Dobbs series of books. Most of my favorite TV shows are British or Australian. I have Netflix and Amazon Prime. I would appreciate recommendations of series to binge watch. No fantasy or futuristic please.

My daughter and I share a love of hunting for bargains in thrift shops. She does some buying and selling online. I look forward to furnishing a "new" house, probably one built in the 60"s or 70's.