royalshyness

October 29, 2012: I'm taking an indefinite break from swapping due to some unexpected (and exciting) life circumstances that will require a lot of time and attention. I have no outstanding swaps.

I'm still happy to hear from my friends here, so please drop me a PM and I'll respond ASAP! Pen pals: Responses will go on as usual... I've never been great at quick turnarounds anyway!

I haven't been on Swap-bot very long but I've had a good time so far! Rachel and Travis, if you happen to be browsing profiles and read this: THANK YOU BOTH for setting this site up and keeping it running well! And thank you to the lovely swappers who have enriched my life by sharing your art and sending me precious objects from your stash. You know who you are.

A little about me:

I was born in Malaysia and have spent most of my life there. In 2008 I left my career and life in Kuala Lumpur to study for a totally different career in Sydney, Australia. I had three and a half wonderful years in Sydney, and then in June 2011 I relocated again, clear across the country to peaceful, picturesque Perth.

I spend a lot of my time these days facing a computer screen. I'm grateful for modern technology, but I do miss the way people used to write to one another because we didn't have many other options.

I enjoy doodling, anything from word art to fruit with faces to bugs that don't exist anywhere other than my imagination. I wish I could paint better.

Zines are fun! I've wanted to try making them for years but it's only when I joined here that I really got started. Now it's hard to stop.

I have kept a journal for nearly 10 years now and am thankful for this tangible record of my journey so far. I'd appreciate things I can use in my journals: stickers, good quality scrapbooking paper (even odd sized scraps, provided they're in usable condition), brads, stamps, charms and embellishments. I prefer writing paper to be without lines but it's not too big a deal.

I'm sorry I even have to say this on my profile but I've sadly found it necessary: Please only send me good quality items in good condition. I am not a snob, but I do think swapping is meant to be about exchanging things that the other person can easily, joyfully use. I don't want your dusty, torn/dog-eared, yellowed letterheads (unless it is some super rare design that I said in advance I wanted). I don't need you to pay international postage to send me what I can find for a few cents at a dollar shop around the corner from where I live. And why would I sign up for an international package swap in order to receive low-resolution printouts of online content that I could very well print on my own, and not involve overseas postage?

My favourite colour to wear is navy blue, although I'm trying to be more adventurous and include brighter colours. My favourite colour to look at is sky blue. But that isn't to say I don't like other colours. My preferred colour schemes are bold (not primary) and soothing (lilacs, pale greens... think of what colour a whisper might be and follow the trail).

I sew and crochet. I dance. I take photographs, write, play music, sing, bake, sculpt. Anything that will keep me mindful of the fact that I live in a wonderful, wonderful world with so much to appreciate.

I love animals of all sorts and am fascinated with nature. However, please don't send me leaves/twigs/rocks/anything that's too "natural" as I live in Australia where Customs regulations are extremely tight. Photos are fine, of course.

If I had to pick favourites, I'd go for cats and elephants.

I do not like mythical creatures e.g. unicorns, Pegasus, fauns, centaurs... you get the idea. Similarly elves, fairies, leprechauns, sprites, goblins and the like.

I like cute, both kawaii and the less culture-specific "adorable illustrated animal or household object character" sort. I grew up with a serious Sanrio habit fed by my father who frequently travelled to Japan on business trips, and I don't think I've ever truly outgrown it. These days I mainly have a weakness for "classic" Hello Kitty with the bold/primary colour scheme. Can't do a lot of pink, I'm afraid. I'm also fond of Keroppi, Chococat and Tuxedo Sam, although I was very sad a few years ago when I found out the latter got retired. I have a growing fondness for Bad-Badtz Maru but I would throw him over for my above favourites in an instant.

I enjoy looking at things written in a language I can't understand... but I guess only as long as I know what they say and they're nothing outrageous.

(The languages I do understand: English and Malay, mainly. By extension, some Indonesian. I can make out a bit of Chinese with the help of my friend the Internet.)

If you're writing using the Roman script (which is what English and many other languages are written in), it would be great if you could keep your writing legible. I love seeing the character behind someone's penmanship but I do also want to know what you're saying!

I love learning about other cultures, places, foods (oh yes, foods! The things we can learn about people just by learning what they eat for breakfast!) but, once again... sigh. I can't receive any food, even if it's dried, preserved and hygienically sealed. I'd be happy to read about it and look at pictures, though.

Nothing religious/spiritual in any tradition, please. This includes vampires, ghosts (even cartoony ones), witch/wizard/priest characters, and also seasonal stuff: Christmas, Halloween, etc. The only exception is, obviously, when I've signed up for a swap along faith-based/spiritual lines. I don't have anything against the spiritual; I just prefer not to trade materials about it freely.

Please don't send any beauty, bath or body products including lip and fragrance items.

I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke. If something or someone has been in contact with smoke (even by being in the same house, a couple of rooms away) it's likely to trigger a reaction in me, even if others can't smell it. Please try your best to keep stuff that you're sending to me smoke-free.

I send things on time, but I live far away from nearly everywhere else on earth so please allow a couple of weeks extra. If you think you've waited long enough and still haven't received a swap from me, send me a PM.

I also do my best to rate as soon as possible after I've received a swap.

If you're sending late for any reason, PM me and let me know. Unexplained late sends will get a 3. (If you haven't been able to log on due to whatever happened, just PM me when you do log back on and I'll re-rate as appropriate.) I know life happens, but it shouldn't keep you from the basic courtesy of informing people about delays. I'll also rate a 3 if the postmark is a week or more after the date you clicked sent. I get that mail processing delays happen but they don't take a week to solve.

I give ratings consistent with the Swap-bot rules on what each rating means. But I also really want to give everyone a 5, so I tend to work things out with partners if they're willing to try and fix the swaps that warrant lower ratings.

Bottom line: TALK to me! If you're unsure what to send, ask. If you think my ratings weren't fair, tell me why (but please make sure you've read the guidelines on rating first). Most of all, keep it friendly because that's why we're here.

Thanks for reading, and hope I meet you through a swap one day. :o)