marchy

Hi there. This is just me, trying to make a cineback and enjoy swapping again! Before the pandemic, some mail would take some time to get to me, and I am VERY understanding about that, but since the lockdowns there were actual restrictions between South Africa and certain countries. Since then I've been reluctant to swap again, due to fear of postal failure. I'm about to plunge in, though, coz life's too short and I miss swapping.

With that out of the way...

Okay, so I'm Marchy (nice to meet you).

You're either here because you are swapping with me, or checking whether I am swap-worthy, right? Well, welcome no matter WHY you're here - I'm glad you stopped by :)

I am a Graphic Designer -Illustrator. I love my passion - illustration, and my life is pretty good right now.

Pro-recycling: I like re-using stuff, especially in crafts. I love crafting... just wished I was better at recycling though...

I get an immense joy out of reading your profile, finding a theme I think you'd like and sending you your swap according to that! Mail Art swaps are my FAVOURITES hands down! I sometimes post pictures of what I send (and sometimes what I get) on Instagram as @MarchyMakes Feel free to pop by! You might just see something I sent you on there... It's been a while since I've been active, but there's still lots of lovely illustrations to look at! :)

I am a total heart FREAK.

I love hearts, pink hearts, red hearts, embellished hearts, vintage hearts... the list goes on... BUT I have an EXTREME dislike for the CLICHE Valentines red and white theme ESPECIALLY (want to die thinking about it) white bears holding a red heart saying 'i love you'...eeeeeeeeeeekkk!! BIG NO-NO.

Otherwise: hearts hearts hearts hearts :)

So, I have a little one!! (Update: 2!! A baby boy and 6 year old girl now!) who grows SO fast I cannot keep track! -This is HUGE part of the reason I've swapped less!-

Basically, I'd love and appreciate for example project life cards or even alphabet stickers to use in this album that just isn't getting done at the moment! I love gender neutral, but blush, navy, neutrals etc would be great. Green is now highly favoured, lol. * baby is now not such a baby anymore, (6 years, but she has a baby brother now) but I still appreciate baby journalling stuff together with toddler things, and yes, other kiddie colours (brights and pastels) are welcome. My favourites, if interested, are guava/salmony red, blush, mustard/gold, turquoise, green and navy...but any colour is welcome at this stage.

• travel themes...
• french (I'm trying to learn french) getting better I must admit!! - I've fallen off the wagon, and think I need a penpal or chatpal if something like that exists!!
• Spanish (so, as the polyglot I'm aiming to become, I'm learning Spanish now) I'm progressing well in Spanish I'd say and would love Spanish sentiments or even a Spanish pal!
• black and white and neutral...(or gold or grey) are back in my good books now!!! like big time!! ...though i am also really into BLUSH and ROSE GOLD these days!! i mean, who isn't, right??
• YOUR favourite theme
• frangipanis are my favourite flowers
• other flowers I've come to like are proteas (beautiful) jasmine (the smell! oooh)
• as chatty as I am, I quite like alone time and quietness to collect my thoughts and to craft :)
• I'm a container-freak, to my husband's detriment!
• baby theme - in neutrals and greys (who says everything has to be pink and blue!!)
• typographic elements
• learning new things
• project life etc cards!!! PROJECT LIFE CARDS AND SLEEVES!!
• my new obsession is lotion and bath samples of luxury brands. I love testing out and collecting them! My favourite right now is Purple Water by Asprey. Pity I cannot find it in any shops here in SA. Another favourite is Crabtree & Evelyn's Lavender & Verbena which is currently discontinued here. They also used to have Himalayan Blue (i think) which I also loved.

• TEA!!! I LOVE tea My favourite to drink is Earl Grey with milk, so I can never have enough. I like trying out other teas as well. Other teas that fall under favourites are chai, mint and ginger! I'm not crazy about fruity teas, but I dont hate them. What I DISLIKE is Darjeeling and English Breakfast tea.
• project life, etc/similar type journalling cards
• pretty notecards
• TN NOTEBOOK INSERTS!!!! (Standard size - 21x11cm) I struggle to find the standard size here. :( I now made my own themed ones - which I can share if you want, but I'd still appreciate getting esp plain, lined, grid or dot Standard Sized ones.
• planner things
• notebooks!!! (especially blank, dot and grid ones)
• adhesives are ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS welcome
• ALPHABETS! (stickers, stamps, whatever!!)
• stamp pads
• paper punches and stamps (or just stamped and/or cut paper) ephemera and die cuts
• BOOK RINGS!! (new thing i want to mess with)
• anything HEARTS, see clause above, lol
• doilies & lace & ribbon! oh and washi tape
• garlands & bunting!!! (LOVE!)
• travel themed stickers and journaling cards etc.
• whatever you'd think I'd like based on EVERYTHING I WROTE HERE lol!!!:)

I have a new little bambino, yay, as mentioned, so I'm decluttering like crazy. (Round 2 with 2nd kid, lol) Now, more than EVER I am PROJECT LIFE AND SIMILAR obsessed so i can just document life effectively! Please feel free to send milestone project life or journalling cards, there are SUCH cute ones out there!!

I'm also experimenting with digital media, so watch this space - struggling to figure out where or how to make free printables available for people to download...

I am always experimenting with planners, but right now Happy Planner, but esp Maggie Holmes planners are my fav! If you are into Filofaxes and the Happy Planner and midoris, share with me your favourite links and/ sites and tips, I'd appreciate that! I discovered how beautiful GOLD and esp ROSE GOLD items are in these planners!! So excited! Anyway, send those links and tips please! Maggie Holmes stuff are my favourite out there.

PS: I've received some vintage, neutral, black&white stuff - and I loved it thanks!

There aren't many things I don't like receiving in swaps, but here are they: * fruit-flavoured tea (tastes like warm cooldrink to me) * used or damaged items (of course)

That's about it for now :)

PS: I kinda hate it when partners alphabeticise their interests... it takes me SO long to get any ideas from that, what they might like. Bad idea in my eyes.

Thanks for visiting my profile! I look forward to swapping with you!

PS: those who tried to help me add pics to my page, thanks, as you see I didn't get it right. But I'm cool for now about it :)

Ciao for now ;) Marchy