Mail O' June

I can't get over how much I adore mail.
These past months, while my posting has been HORRENDOUS, I have still managed to find time to write letters to my fab pen pals! Here are only some of the wonderful incoming/outgoings that I have received/sent these past months!
Enjoy!

Incoming
I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful group of buds and pen pals alike who write such beautiful letters and create such beautiful mail art! Always a joy to open the mailbox to letters like these!

A pile of only some of the gorgeous mail art received this month!

Some of the (as always) gorgie mail from pen pal L., in U.S.A.

 

(And some of the lovely stamps adorning aforementioned envelopes.)

 

A recent lovely letter from S., in U.S.A.

A fab letter from J., in Australia.

A lovely letter from M., in U.S.A.

A phenomenal, action-packed letter from S., in Australia.

(and the gorgeous "Canberra" stamp--our nation's capital--stamped with her Quorn beauty!)

Outgoing
I can only hope that my outgoing letters bring the recipients as much joy as the ones I receive!

A handdrawn butterfly for my best bud; U.S.A. (and the stamp of which is the second to last in my Lady Bird Challenge stamp collection)

A little red for my cousin; U.S.A.

Some vintage nautical madness for an awesome pen pal; U.S.A.

Some arrows and hearts for my cousin; U.S.A.

A long overdue birthday package for pen pal J in Australia...

...and the vintage hand-finger-pointing decal for the package!

 

A long overdue letter for S., in Australia...

...and the washi-tape/typewriter decaling...

...and the gorgeous postage stamps (that I am super-duper in love with!! Including Lady Bird Johnson stamp which is the last in my Lady Bird Challenge collection of stamps!)

And a little outgoing orange to dear friend in U.S.A.

And such is the mail! Today, I shall write three more letters and might even post them on here!
I'd love to hear about your mail adventures! Comment below!
Cheers,
Ms. Always Traveling

Newness | 2013

Throughout the months of January and February, I was given some lovely new (antique) stamps from members of my family (thank you very much, loving family!) and my good pal Bill the Postman who works at my local post office.
Each one is gorgeous, and, since I was lucky enough to also receive a beautiful stamp holder (!!), I am able to keep all of the gorgeousness in one place.

 The stamp holder itself, a Standard, is gorgeous. Some of the stamp-holding prongs are bent out of shape, but I love it nonetheless. Nuances provide character, no?

Each of the stamps that situate themselves in the stamp holder--and there is a perfect amount of stamps (great thinking, lovely family!)--are gorgeous. Case in point, "Insured", a stamp from Bill at the post office.

The "Air Mail" stamp is another treat from Bill-y boy, while the "Past Due", a little unorthodox compared to the rest of the collection, was a family gift.

 

As you can see, the stamp is a self-inking press down stamp, and it has a gorgeous font PLUS a cute, little mini hand and lovely spiel: "This account has no doubt escaped your notice. Will you please favor us with a [illegible] by return mail and oblige?" Love it.

A more traditional stamp, this one has already been used on multiple occasions as the return label on my letters. Love it.

And two more beauties! The top one (complete with purple ink--oops!) was a gift from my family, and the bottom on a kind offering from Bill.

It makes me very happy to know that these stamps were once used by postal/office employees somewhere in the world back in the day. And it makes me even more happy to know that they are now safe in my collection.

Antiques, you make me happy.
~ Ms. Always Traveling

Lady Bird Challenge | One and Two

As I mentioned earlier this month, I bought a pane of Lady Bird Johnson stamps and intended to use them each on a different letter. I also noted that I would document my journey with the six wonderful stamps.
True to my word, here are the first two.

Both pieces are outgoing pieces to Australia (and so both will, obviously, require more postage than what is documented so far on these envelopes) and both are going to people that I think will appreciate the pretty stamps.

The first is a more purple-toned piece, which goes perfectly with the purple and pink-tinted envelope.
Headed to penpal S. in Australia, here is number one:

The second is a more green-yellow piece whose colours match perfectly with the colours of the envelope and written address. The back of the letter includes some stamping from some gorgeous new (to my collection) antique stamps. Headed to friend E. in Australia, here is number two:

What do you think? Have I done the first two Lady Bird stamps justice?
I hope you'll stay with this series as a conquer the next four!

Send with a purpose--
~ Ms. Always Traveling

The Complimentary Writing Desk

In this beautiful apartment sits an old-looking, possibly vintage desk that is perfect for writing and collecting of the various paraphenalias I love.
It is directly opposite the open balcony, and the soft breeze from the street cools the back of my neck when it gets just that little bit too warm.
I'm thinking this is the best complimentary item I've ever received at away-from-home-living-location (e.g. hotel/motel/apartment/hostel/etc.).
What do you think?

Above: WITHOUT LETTERS...
and...
Below: WITH LETTERS...

Write some lovely mail, spread international joy!
~ Ms. Always Traveling

Incoming

Today is Monday which, since it is the holidays (or, 'vacation) doesn't mean a whole lot to me other than that mail starts back up again! I love having no agenda and no concept of what day it is, but mail days keep me on track!

Today had some very lovely incoming!
International from my dear friend El. in Australia, that was adorned with a lovely drawing.

Other than that, nothing else! I look forward to checking my mail one last time tomorrow before I head to Europe!

Speaking of which, I can't wait! I look forward to posting on here about all that I see, experience, taste; I look forward to writing mail from across the globe and adorning envelopes with Parisian, Spanish, Italian decorations.
And the stamps.
I can't wait to use the stamps!

These are the stamps that the lovely B. bought me earlier in the year.

I am looking forward to using the stamps that the lovely B. bought me earlier this year, and buying new stamps in Spain and Italy! I can't wait! I wonder what it'll be like in France and Italy, where I can not speak the language, to converse my wants and requirements for my mailart pieces... Haha! We shall only see!

But until then! I shall write my final letters and check my mailbox one last time!

Penpals--please note that while I am away, I may not be able to write to you. However, when I return I shall be sure to send your replies instantly! I will still be writing on this blog with my adventures, hopefully extremely frequently, but my mail may be a little slow this next month. Please pardon that.

Last UNITED STATES post tomorrow!
Until then--
       ~ Ms. Always Traveling

Outgoing

Some outgoing mail to an outstanding woman--

 Made out of a NYC map...

 ...adorned with an Edith Piaf stamp...

...and a type-written address...


...to my wonderful Grandmother!

~ Ms. Always Traveling

1984

Summer Bucket List IN THE FLESH

This summer, I aim to read quite a far few books. Thus far, I am halfway through The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and about to start on a classic--George Orwell's 1984.

About two weeks ago, I was at the local dump-and-take yard (where people leave their perfectly good belongings, and others take them--for free!) and was scouring through the book section in the hope that I would find any of the titles on my Summer Bucket List. Just as I was getting started, the supervisor came through and told me that it was closing time. So, as I went to leave, I stole one last glance at the bookshelves, and lo and behold--1984 was sitting right there!

Now, the book itself was not in great condition. The covers were both dilapidated and rubbed to a pulp, with see-through parts here and there. Tape held the spine together, and there were some obnoxious stains in random places.
But, I was determined that this was the book for me.

So today, I took it upon myself to give the book a little...clean up.

And here is what I came up with--

Using an old Starbucks bag that T. left behind--the kind of bag that is both recycled and durable, I created a sort of cover for the book, protecting its valuable assets!

 Above: FRONT cover, and Below: BACK cover.

I love how the bright greenness of the print is still visible, even though it is on the back. Having a smidge of it on the front teases the observer, making them want to check out the back (at least, it makes me want to do that!).

Then, I used the pages from a copy of the New York Times: Book Review [from July 1st] to cover the inside two pages. I love the irony of the 2012 books juxtaposed on a much older book, especially one titled 1984!

 Above: One of the themes of the NYT:BR was of the complacency of the American Dream. So, I decided to cut out one of the graphics from that article and stick it right on in there to continue the theme of "crowned women"!

Above: the title page, left intact.

Although the obnoxiously random stains still exist--

--and the pages are still looking a little dilapidated, the book definitely looks a little better to me!

Plus, now I'll be able to chuck it in my bag in Paris and won't be worried that it is gonna fall apart into a million, classic-literature-joy pieces!

Got to love book-redo's!
Now I'm off to read the thing!
What has your summer day held?
Send some mail--read some books--
        ~ Ms. Always Traveling

OUTGOING

I'm finally back on track with the letter writing!
Here is my most recent outgoing!

After receiving some Return To Sender's in my mailbox the other day, I carefully examined one of them and realised that I had put the wrong address! So I fixed that dilemma and it's now on its way!

Then some outgoing, both within American (to E.) and to Australia (A.):

(UNITED STATES)

(AUSTRALIA)

I used a lot of stamps this outgoing, and I love all of them. Unfortunately, that means that I am running low. Time to go and buy some more, I think!

Write me a letter!
~ Ms. Always Traveling