My name is Kathryn Harper. I'm a purple-haired 60-something woman who loves reading, making art, and spreading kindness. I recently returned to Swap-bot after a 9-year break, because I'm longing to slow down, create, and connect again. This is a wonderful place to do that.

UPDATE 3/27/26: This week I received a breast cancer diagnosis, so my life is about to change dramatically. I plan to follow through on my swaps in a timely manner. I'm sharing so recipients have some context and might offer grace if I am ever late. I will communicate as efficiently as possible if I think that will be the case.

Here is what I do/make/prefer:

Art: abstract painting (acrylics and watercolor), collage/assemblage, photography, Zentangle, SoulCollage

Write: poetry, essay, blogging, memoir

Read: fiction (historical, suspense, mystery, literary), memoir, biography, science, history

Spiritual affiliation: Buddhist, mindfulness

Smoker: No

Allergies: none to food, animal, dust, wool or smoke

Colors: I love color. My walls are a neutral color so I can put up paintings and photos; they look best with the contrast. I have purple hair. However, I also love green in all its shades. I wear a lot of purple, green, and blue. I love light spaces. We chose our house based on how much natural light came through the windows. I like dark cozy spaces also; I just didn't want to live in one.

I like images of people, food, nature, animals, mythological beings, humorous postcards, feminist images, art, monuments, cityscapes, waterscapes, landscapes. I'm open to all kinds of postcards. Cathedrals and other religious structures are fine (the architecture can be fascinating).

I love paper -- all colors and textures. I like making collages.

• Papers of all colors, prints, and textures
• Postcards (see above category for ideas)
• Embellishments, ephemera, & stickers
• Buttons, beach glass
• Natural items like shells, acorn caps, dried flowers, leaves, seeds, bones, feathers
• ATCs and Zentangle art
• Bookmarks: handmade or store bought
• Paintbrushes (for acrylics, not natural bristle)
• Blank mini canvases or panels (2x2", 4x4", 5x7")
• Images: moon, Buddha, feminine divine, animals, trees, natural places
• Dark chocolate, including sea salt, caramel, chili pepper, mint; I like white chocolate in small amounts
• Beverages: coffee, black teas, Starbucks/Peets gift cards

Vacation: camping in National and State parks

Favorite holidays: Christmas.

Favorite natural places: Forests, bodies of water, mountains.

Music: Folk, world, alternative, new age, ambient, trip-hop.

Letters: newsy letters that tell me about your life, what you are reading, what you notice and appreciate around you.

• Loose glitter
• Opera, country, heavy metal music
• Horror genre (t.v., books, movies)
• Makeup, Nail polish/gels
• Fundamentalism
• Precious Moments anything
• Reward stickers, kiddie stickers