inoracam

Hi! I'm Erin. I am 42, just got married in May '24. We have two dogs and currently live in a small town in Colorado - I get to see mountains every day!

I have several pen pals from around the globe - some long letters and some short. I also participate in Postcrossing and random swaps here and there.

I also enjoy non crafty things such as going for hikes, swimming, reading, exchanging letters with pen pals, video games, and I collect houseplants.

I like to collect hobbies. I've been knitting/crocheting for 15ish years, I think. That has led to spinning, felting, weaving, and other fiber arts. I like to draw and paint and that has led to discovering mixed media so I am enjoying the freedom that allows for creating stuff out of other stuff. Other crafty hobbies include sewing (clothing and quilts mostly), embroidery, French beaded flowers, and anything someone wants to teach me!

My musical tastes are pretty eclectic. I love Elton John and Queen. I enjoy Post Malone and Doja Cat. I stan Dolly Parton (but she is a queen beyond her musical career too).

Recent songs that have been getting stuck (happily) in my head: Steam Powered Giraffe's "Honeybee" Avenged Sevenfold's "Fiction" Post Malone's "Mourning"

I read a lot of fiction. Historical fiction, classics, romance, fantasy, sci-fi.... I like it all really. I've been listening to a lot of audiobooks lately to keep reading while doing other hobbies too.

Recent Reads I Really Enjoyed:

• "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt (I really loved it)
• "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" by V.E Schwab
• "The Women" by Kristin Hannah (sounds wrong to say I loved it but I was deeply moved by this book)
• "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries" by Heather Fawcett
• "Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands" by Heather Fawcett

Currently Reading:
"Nona the Ninth" by Tamsyn Muir

I don't tend to like to rewatch a lot of things because there are so many movies I want to see. I don't tend to love musicals unless it is animated. And I don't tend to love movies that are just talking heads with nothing actually happening.

Last movie I saw in the theater: Inside Out 2 Last movie I watched at home: If

Oh man, I haven't watched current TV in a while so my watch list is a bit behind. I really loved Ted Lasso. I have recently caught up with Loudermilk. I have been known to binge some of the bad reality dating shows to work out my anxiety of drama without actually having any drama in my life haha.

I've more been watching True Crime podcasts on YouTube than any shows lately though.

I enjoy playing video games a lot (mostly on Steam/PC but I have a Switch and we have an Xbox and PS5). Some of my faves:

Ark: Survival Evolved
Powerwash Simulator
Stardew Valley
House Flipper
Slime Rancher
Borderlands
Mass Effect

I mostly like "cozy" games - farm/factory sims, puzzles, etc. I am NOT a fan of COD, battle royale, or other shoot em up PVP type games though.

I am always excited to get mail that isn't a bill. I am a quality over quantity sort of person.

I like weird art and silly jokes.

I am more of a dog person than a cat person, but love animals in general. I really love deer, rabbits, and hedgehogs.

Feel free to send the postcard you can't find another recipient for because it is weird or random or even ugly. Vintage ads are fine, if it is modern please limit to something local and personal to you (bonus if you tell me why you like it). Horror, Nudity, Offensive humor are all ok too if you have a card you need to find someone to send to.

Pretty landscapes

Maps

Handmade cards/postcards are welcome!

Friendship books welcome (even if not part of the swap, feel free to include any you need to pass along!) or any other sort of pass along you need to keep moving.

Things postal related - used stamps, clear and rubber stamps, stickers, washi tape, address labels to jazz up my outgoing mail

Unique letter sets, paper, envelopes. I try to write on different paper each time I write to my pen pals.

I have a ton of houseplants, so anything plant related - stickers or washi tape, postcards, paper, whatever!

Old book pages of different types. Different languages, old ledger paper, sheet music, even papers with writing on them especially in cursive and other languages.

Vintage illustrations - especially botanicals and animals. Old fashion sketches or pattern paper.

I enjoy random bits of trim and ribbons.

Interesting paper napkins - maybe it is a cool pattern or pretty floral or just cool color palette.

If you need more ideas for any of the Holiday Gift Swaps:

Old Books (I use for collage so don't need to be in perfect condition)

Sheet Music (Also for collage so again not necessary to be perfect and crisp)

Any ephemera or collage fodder (even stuff you've made!)

Wax Seal stamps (I'm new so anything) or wax or the stickers to attach them

Postcards (not of locations) - store bought, handmade by you, blanks to make my own

Your favorite craft supply you want to share the love of

clear or rubber stamps (no holiday ones)

If you want to do random things - I love deer, blankets, rocks, scarves, stickers, washi, plant related things, 80s and 90s nostalgia, used stamps (I'm trying to collect a ton to make a giant collage), address labels - either with my info on it or even cool blank things I can put addresses on to send swaps, I wear an XL unisex tshirt, bath bombs (no melon or cucumber scents please) or salts or bubble bath, wax melts (no food smells please).

Anything religious beyond generic holiday greetings.

Anything with a conservative political message.

No coffee. If a swap requires it, I will send but please do not send that part to me and I will not rate you lower for it. I do like tea so feel free to substitute that. I don't like chamomile or chai.

No "reward" stickers

No teacher stickers

No stickers that are more for businesses (free gift, thanks for your purchase, etc).

Like to use older stamps instead of simply Forever stamps? A friend of mine puts together packs of older stamps in the current denominations for mailing at postage.store

If somehow something comes postage due, send me a message and I will absolutely get you that money, either through a money app of your choice or sending you some extra postage you can use towards your next swap - your choice. If anything seems at all tricky with postage, I take it into the post office so hopefully this won't ever happen but just in case!

If somehow you don't receive a swap from me please let me know and I will happily resend. I recently had something delivered that was just a piece of cardboard with my address on it - no clue what it was attached to or where it originated. Mail is weird and I would hate for you to not get your swap.

If I haven't yet rated you.... it just means I haven't yet received your swap. I rate the day I get it. I know mail can take a wonky amount of time to get delivered sometimes so I am just assuming it is taking its time to arrive.