I’m Alfie… 50 this year 🤯 which still feels so crazy to say! I’m mom to the best human ever, traveler, friend, weight lifter, foodie, crafter, Cancerian, bartender, adventurer, baker, postcard collector, breast cancer survivor, penpal and so much more! Like most of us, I’m figuring it out as I go. We’re all going through something; I definitely struggle at times and having a creative/sharing outlet like Swap-bot really helps 💝 I am a work-in-progress, learning to love myself more everyday.

📬 My mailman is my second favorite person 💙 He’s also my life partner - we met in 2020 when he came to my door. Talk about lucky!

I live in a suburb of San Diego with my amazing daughter. She’s a high school senior and applying to college soon (UC BERKELEY is her 1st choice, so I’m just gonna put that out into the universe 🪐)… time goes by way to fast! Getting to raise her has been my best accomplishment and is THE best part of my life! 💜 Her dad, (my ex husband), is a great person and we all hang out together fairly often and on holidays. I’m fortunate to have him in my life.

🌎 Travel is my passion! 🗺️ I travel with my daughter as much as possible; we’ve been to Europe for a month (twice in the last 5 years) including driving a camper van around Iceland 🇮🇸 and always have great Spring break trips! We lived out my Sleepless in Seattle dream by staying on a houseboat there last year. Currently planning a trip to Greece for her graduation! She’s going to college next year so I’ll be doing a lot more solo travel. (The mailman has to work ☺️)

I enjoy: being with my daughter, time with my mailman 🥰, the Office, tattoos (got my 1st at 47 and now I have 11!), House of the Dragon, GOT, travel shows, meeting people when I travel, kitsch, the Sound of Music, planning trips, collecting postcards, vintage travel ephemera, 70’s music, stationery, party planning (especially with a theme!), health & fitness, Emily in Paris (it’s not a spectacular show but I love seeing Paris), longevity & “bio-hacking” podcasts, collecting vintage kitchen items, Gidget (Sally Field, the 60’s), thrift/secondhand stores, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (the original with Gene Wilder), time alone at home, foreign languages, entertaining, trying new cafés, fine tip pens, exploring neighborhoods, self-help/psychology books, magazines, handmade stickers, quotes, homemaking (when I don’t have to work) - I’m a strong, independent woman but would gladly stay home and take care of everything if given the chance!

I would love it if you follow my mail art Instagram!

ilovemail (may contain spoilers)

Postcrossing: WorldTraveler74

I used to have a baking business🧁 Sweet by Alfie

I love vintage ephemera & maps, travel-related and foreign ephemera, mail art, handmade envelopes, collage, making stickers, anything mini, scenic postcards, hand-carved stamps relating to mail/postage/travel, all things postal related, vintage fodder, zines & zentangle .

I appreciate when swappers read my profile and I can tell when someone takes the time to send a thoughtful envelope. I’m more interested receiving handmade mail art, postal items, (anything airmail or snail mail themed) & vintage ephemera than collecting more "stuff"(except new postcards). I only join or host swaps when I collect/make/enjoy receiving the items in the swap. The following is my wishlist & likes in no particular order....

I Like to Receive:

• handmade stickers of any of the themes in my profile
• anything with my name on it (would be custom/handmade as they simply don’t make things with “Alfie” on them!)
• wallpaper samples, especially 70’s or vintage!
• washi or washi samples of any of the themes in my profile (postal, travel, stamps, etc.)
• handmade, decorated envelopes made from anything that wasn’t born as an envelope
• postal/airmail themed things like washi or deco tape, ribbon, hand-carved stamps with a postal theme, foreign (non-US) postal forms like customs or registered/express mail
• any ephemera or memorabilia from 1974 (my birth year) or before
• vintage ephemera - for me this is anything from 1979 or earlier
• handmade profile-specific swap cards (like what I would include when sending my swaps that say “swap from: iLoveMail”)
• unused airmail stickers from any country (like the kind you get free at the post office)
• unused airmail envelopes from anywhere, vintage or new
• aerograms - vintage, new, or foreign (so hard to find!) and/or “fold-n-sends” or postalettes - handmade ones are great too!
• any memorabilia or ephemera from foreign airlines or that are no longer in business, like PanAm or TWA or even existing airlines (like the safety cards in the seat backs; menus from foreign airlines), used tickets or boarding passes
• maps or map printed items, pieces of maps, city maps, county maps, world maps
• hand-carved stamps relating to my profile - if anyone is interested in a hand-carved stamp private swap, please message me!!
• REAL stamps (postage) on my swaps or actual unused postage that I can use
• handmade paper tape or handmade stickers of something relating to my profile

• UNUSED US postage stamps - any denomination, vintage or new. I don't collect cancelled (used) stamps anymore but have lots to trade!

• a sample of something YOU make or made, or are good at making, with my name ALFIE or any of the themes listed here

• Colors I Like: aubergine (deep purple), turquoise, chartreuse (cross between avocado green & neon green), shades of orange, brown, black, gunmetal gray, yellow, Tiffany blue, taupe…most colors are fine, just not a huge fan of pastels. Pink is fine in small doses.

I prefer single-view cards (1 picture on the front), like countrysides, cities, neighborhoods, beaches, oceans, waterfalls, famous natural landmarks.

I prefer my postcards BLANK & UNWRITTEN, in an envelope.

I have lots of postcards available for trade. Let me know what you're looking for - I will search my stash to send what you want! The only postcards I would be interested in for trade are map cards from foreign countries/cities & view cards from specific places. I'm happy to private swap postcards & receive something different from my wishlist. I only join profile-specific or private postcard swaps.

• vintage (or anything from 1974 or earlier) - only if it’s a swap option

• map cards of other countries & cities (I have most states)

• new, store-bought scenic, single-view postcards ESPECIALLY from other lesser-known places & countries, especially Iceland, South Africa & southern African countries, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Seychelles, Maldives, Azores, Mauritius & islands in the Indian or Pacific Oceans, Eastern European countries (like the ‘stans).

PLEASE don’t send any of the following postcards:

• cards with animals or insects especially spiders (I have a phobia)
• cards with people on them
• art cards or illustrations (unless its a really cool black & white vintage card)
• Disney, cartoon or any children’s characters
• ad cards
• zazzle cards
• cutesy, drawings, country, flowers or floral
• churches, crosses or any religion/religious persons

I Don’t Want/Don't Collect/Don’t Need:

• Please DON’T send anything religious or related to religion, including crosses, stickers, bible quotes, etc. I’m not religious, but I respect it if you are.
• anything with bugs or insects, including cards, prints, stickers
• anything flower/floral-printed, including postcards
• seasonal items, especially NO spiders please, I have a severe phobia! Easter, X-mas, Valentine's, NOT any holiday) I don't usually join holiday swaps
• scrapbook paper or pieces
• NOT a fan of flower embellishments or anything floral printed, flower stickers
• Disney, cartoons, any children’s characters
• country/Americana/folk art crafts, prints, kiddie stickers
• anything scented - I have a very sensitive nose & allergies
• bath & body items or cosmetics (I have VERY sensitive skin and don't wear/use anything scented
• postcards I'm not collecting (above)
• key chains or refrigerator magnets
• post-its or note pads
• candy
• blank recipe cards, unless handmade or vintage
• things smelling of cigarette smoke - I have allergies (and work in a bar so I get enough of the smell)
• glitter or sticker flakes

I always try to respect others likes/dislikes, beliefs, & profiles; I go out of my way to send what you like. Thanks in advance and THANK YOU for reading my profile!!

I only join & host swaps that I know I can complete and am able to do well. I host most of the swaps I’m in and they’re specific to what I like to receive of course. I don't like to send mediocre type-3 swaps and feel free to let me know if I send you something that you don't love (before rating preferably; and tell me why). I read my partners' profiles repeatedly to make sure that I never send items that your profile says not to send. Most importantly, please put some effort into it. By the same token, I will rate down if swap requirements are not met, and I will ALWAYS message you before rating. As I host the majority of my swaps, I will start being more selective as to who joins. I never join blind swaps or swaps that aren't profile-specific, and I always wait until partners are assigned to complete swaps. I’m happy to angel all swaps I host! Though I don’t look at postmarks, I do expect communication if a swap is going to be late for whatever reason. I would much rather receive a late swap that respects my profile (with communication), than a mediocre, bare minimum, ‘just threw some random stuff in an envelope’ swap. Just saying…

I usually send extras with my swaps. It is never to make up for the swap, or that my swaps are lacking in any way; I send extras if I have things you like, according to your profile. (And because I have a craft supplies addiction 😂) I like to make others happy & don't mind sharing my stuff!

** I'm open to private swaps with dependable swappers! Just PM me :) I have the following available to send: postcards, note cards, handmade envelopes, airmail labels from many countries, lots of ephemera (mostly vintage), stationery sets, stickers… just let me know what you’re looking for!

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this!

I love getting re-used packaging/envelopes! I always use real postage on my swaps and wait in line to have them hand-canceled. I REALLY appreciate it when there are real stamps (not metered) on anything I receive. Thank you ☺️