AnnaHannele

I live on the Aland Islands in the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. We have more than 6 600 islands here but only 60 are inhabited.

I retired 7 years ago after working for 42 years at the same company. Now I call myself a fulltime artist. I make visual arts using acryl, watercolour, mixed media and collage.

I have two children and two grandchildren.

I love the music from the 60's: Beatles and Elvis just to mention two.

I read a lot, mostly detective stories. Lee Child is my favourite number one. Jeffrey Archer is another favourite author. I loved his Clifton Chronicles and Kain and Able. Patricia Cornwell, Jo Nesbo, Camilla Lackberg, Anna Jansson, Liza Marklund are other good detective story writers.

Besides making visual art (paintings) I make things of papier maché. I crochet, knit, embroider, weave rug carpets, sew quilts.

ATC card is somthing I have made year's ago but nobody has heard of them here so I had nobody to echange with. I hope to be able to exchange some through this channel.

I have a big garden at my summer home in the countryside. I live ½ of the year there and spend all my time in the garden. I try to grow a lot of trees and bushes which are easier to maintain than the flower beds. But as I love flowers, I still have a lot of them too! I try to reduce the amount and dig up some plants and put them in pots which I then have for sale.

I love turquoise most of all. Blue is also one of my favourite colurs and they both go well with violet and green. I love everything colorful and bright.

When I was young I had more than 50 penpals all over the world. Now I hadly get any letters written to the few ones I have left. In February I like to take part in InCoWriMo = International Correspondence Writing Month. then I get some letters written at least.

I once wanted to become an author and have 2-3 book ideas which I have begun to write. That is thanks to NaNoWriMo = National November Writing Month.

I am also a member of Postcrossing.com. My Postcrossing name is Anna-Hannele.

I collect cards with sewing machines.

I also like to receive cards of the US flag, Coca-Cola and yellow cats. I plan to make somthing of these cards for my grown up kids who love these three themes.

I decorate my hall at my summerhouse with black and white cards. It is a very tiny hall and I will try to keep it black and white as a contrast to all the strong colors I have in the rest of the house and in my art studio.