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: primarily abstract painting (acrylics and watercolor), collage/assemblage, photography

Write: poetry, essay, blogging, memoir

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

I've lived in: Syracuse, NY, until age 31; Austin, TX for 10 years; San Jose, CA 2004-now

Spiritual affiliation: Buddhist, mindfulness

Professions: former librarian and non-profit Manager; currently psychotherapist

Smoker: No

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

Colors: I love color. My walls are a neutral beige 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 all sorts of images. I like images of people, food, nature, animals, mythological beings, humorous postcards, feminist images, leftist/democratic politics, 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).

• Dark chocolate, including sea salt, caramel, chili pepper, mint; I like white chocolate in small amounts
• Postcards (see above category for ideas)
• Beverages: coffee, black teas, Starbucks/Peets gift cards
• Incense: (long stick type): Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Amber, Vanilla, Jasmine, Pine,
• Bookmarks: handmade or store bought
• Paintbrushes (for acrylics, not natural bristle)
• Mini canvases or panels (2x2", 4x4", 5x7")
• Papers of all colors, prints, and textures
• Embellishments and ephemera
• Mosaic tiles, buttons, beach glass
• Natural items like shells, acorn caps, dried flowers, leaves, seeds, bones, feathers
• Images: moon, Buddha, feminine divine, animals, trees, natural places

Vacation: camping in National and State parks
Favorite holidays: Litha/Summer Solstice and Mabon/Autumn Equinox
Favorite natural places: Bodies of water, mountains, forests
Favorite season: Autumn
Music: Folk, world, alternative, new age, ambient, trip-hop

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