Letters & Journals

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Edward Gorey #24

The 24th Edward Gorey postcard is a scene from The Doubtful Guest. There's a short rhyme on the card that says:

"It came seventeen years ago- and to this day it has shown no intention of going away."

The 'it' in question looks like a lonely malformed seal wearing tennis shoes or ice skates.

And there we have it - the second to the last Gorey postcard from the 2011 postcard calendar.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Letter Links Dec. 7

It's a busy time of year for many, but there's always time to check out some posts on a few of my favorite blogs.

Writing Letters is not just for fun, it's good for you by 365 Letters
Sketchbooks, Gluebooks and Art Journals by A Penchant for Paper
Beginning to look a lot like you-know-what by Cappuccino and Art Journal
Tis the Season to Simplify by Inkophile
Etsy Letterpress Love by Missive Maven

Sunday, December 4, 2011

The winner for this month is Julie B. from Florida. Congratulations, Julie!
Here is the final monthly giveaway of 2011! I've decided to take a break from the monthly giveaways for 2012. It's just too much work now that I'm putting in extra time at my new job and trying to be successful and do a good job with that. I may do an occasional giveaway, but it won't be a regular affair.

Haley's Handmades is now known as Poodle & Cat. Love that new name! This month Haley has sent in 6 cards, a bookmark and magnet and a button.

Sakura of America donated this 6-pen set of brush pens in six different colors. Get your groove on with these fun colors!

This recycled book has new pages for your journal writing. Donated by Journals + Paper, this spiral bound book is a blank slate for your inspired and wondrous thoughts.

The Bonnie Marcus collection donated this notepad for all of your list-making tendencies. Shopping lists, guest lists, to-do lists. The world is waiting for your list masterpiece!

Crane and Company sent in this small blank book called 'Short Stories' because we all have a story to tell. Write your short story in this lined journal.

Next we have a set of Tree Greetings cards from Eraser Carver. If you like trees, you will love this set of three tree cards.

Tilia Press has been a long time donor and this month we are featuring a set of bee-themed Thank You cards from them. Lovely.

In My Book has three greeting cards/bookmarks in this month's basket. They come with a red envelope too so you can send and share.

The Verge De France stationery and envelopes were sent in by Karen at Exaclair. Who wouldn't want to write a letter using this combination? I know I would!

Finally, we have the Ecojot claendar for 2012. This beautifully illustrated calendar will set the tone for a harmonious and wonderful New Year!

The contest is open to everyone everywhere. Just leave a comment here. The December winner will be selected on January 1. The winner will be contacted by email and have 3 days to respond. I number each comment on this the website, the blog and the few I receive via email. I then use the Random Number Generator to select the winning number each month. Good Luck!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Pencil Box Photo

I took pictures of the four prize packages for the Mailbox contest that was held last month, however, only one of the pictures turned out. I guess I should have checked the photographs before I mailed the packages.

This felt-lined pencil box was filled with pens and pencils and was won by Pamela in San Francisco. The prizes going to Kelly, Phyllis and Barbara will just have to be a surprise.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Edward Gorey #23

The Edward Gorey postcard collection draws closer to the end with postcard #23 in the 2011 postcard book. Somewhere I must have missed a week as I only have two more after this one.

R is for Raccoon Coat

I'm in the process of mailing postcards to the people who kindly entered the mailbox contests in the Sept/Oct newsletter so I expect that one or two recipients will get one of the Gorey postcards. Others will receive postal museum cards, Minnesota cards, L&J cards or Antarctica postcards.

I've enjoyed having a theme and I'm considering what kind of regular blog updates I can do in 2012. Thoughts?

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Mailbox Contest Winners

Announcing the mailbox contest winners from the Sept/Oct newsletter. There were four prizes given away and each recipient selected the prize package they wanted to win when they mailed their entry. There were about 5 entries for each prize selection so I sorted the mail into A, B, C and D piles and selected one winner from each. Also, as I mentioned in the newsletter, if entries contained a photo or drawing of a post office box, then that person received an extra entry for the added effort.

Package A (ephemera) was won by Phyllis from CA. Here is the envelope Phyllis used and below is a photo of Phyllis's mailbox which happens to be

a mailbox slot in her garage door. She explains in her letter her experience of getting wet mail when it rains as well as having to get out of her car in the driveway to retrieve the mail each day so as not to run over it, which she has done.

Prize Package B (Pencil box with pens/pencils) was won by Pamela in CA with this decorated postcard. Pamela excels in mail art as many of you might recognize from her website, Cappuccino and Art Journal.

Here is the front of Pamela's card. Love all of that mailbox goodness!

Prize package C (Surprise goodies include journal, note cards, stamps, stationery, etc) goes to Kelly in IL. Love her telegram postcard!

Finally, Package D (set of cat rubberstamps) goes to Barbara, aka, CatBookMom. Creatively, Barbara used rubberstamps in the postcard she sent in. Aren't the snail and cats adorable? Nicely done!

I'll post photos of the prizes later this week when I prepare them to be mailed.

In the meantime, here is a sampling of some of the other mail themed entries that were submitted. Oh what fun my mailbox had in Oct and Nov!