Well, no mail today! Buuuuut....

But, I DO have a new pet! I decided that Lola the goldfish needed a friend so I bought a black moore goldfish! It's quite tiny and I still need to name it, but it's cute!

Also, I picked up some new labels today! I have the "Hello, my name is..." labels in red, but I needed them in blue, too!

oops! Forgot my outgoing mail!

I just now realized I forgot to show my outgoing mail!

I'm sending out to a letter to Sarah in France and we are both HUUUGE pasta fans! Anywho, she asked about my favorites and instead of writing all about it, I included drawings! Notice that I am not the best artist!

And then here are some outgoing goodies!

And the whole bunch!

Outgoing and incoming from yesterday!

I was so happily surprised to find a bunch of mail in my mail box yesterday! I'm working on replies as I write this (well, not AS I write this, but you get the idea!) and already have one heading out! So, lets get to the mail, shall we?

I was super surprised to get this FANTASTIC envelope in the mail from Jen! She put in so much effort and I LOVED the outcome! She made a booklet out of old maps and glued cut-outs of her letter to each page along with some cute embellishments like washi tape, stickers, etc! I don't show the content of my letters, but I'm going to include a photo of the back pocket where she included some lovely extras so you get a general idea of the design of the booklet. I almost squealed when I opened the packet! It would have been really embarrassing if I had because I was sitting outside my college waiting for a class to start! haha.

The envelope:

The booklet! This is the back page. :)

How cool is that? I wish my typewriter hadn't run out of ink because I think it would have been perrrrfect for my reply, but I'll just have to come up with something else!

Here are some of the other fab letters I got!

The first is from the wonderful Gladys! She was so sweet and totally thought of me! I sent her some stamps and she sent me some absolutely lovely gifts in return! She knows that I love obsess over Paris and sent me some Paris-themed sticky notes (which I will TOTALLY use!!) and also some super sweet airmail themed mini envelope memo notes! I've seen these before and really wanted to try some! Now I can!

Next was a WONDERFUL letter from Sarah and France! She's a transplant from England and I love hearing about her life! It's funny because she mentioned that on a clear day, she can see England from the sea front! How cool is that? And it's only a ferry ride to England for her!

Next, I received an always wonderful letter from my dear Arwen in Scotland!

How cute is this stationary? This is from a letter from Kiia-Riikka in Finland! And check out the pretty stamps!

The letter that I'm showing next is from a new pen pal! Terry from Alameda, CA! It's only a mere 2 and a half hours away! My dad doesn't work too far from there! haha! I love the Little Twin Stars stickers, too! Too cute!

And here are a few that I received today! Absolutely AMAZING!

First is a letter and package FULL of goodies from the lovely Ammy in Singapore! The stamps were just absolutely amazing, so naturally, I'll have to show those as well!

Peep the amazing contents! The little green square is a notebook and it has star anise on it, so it smells like licorice!

TO THE STAMPS! They are all different!

Naturally, the turtle stamp goes first!

Look at the looooong stamp!

I wish we had these awesome stamps here. :/

And on to Michelle's aaaahmayzing letter! I've got to go print some of my photos out for her today to send in my reply!

What is that, you see? You are correct! THOSE ARE VELLUM ENVELOPES! I almost had a heart attack!

And last but not least, a wonderful letter from Janina! I'm so glad she is doing so well in her pregnancy! I'm forseeing a baby verrrry soon! :D

That's it for today! I'm off to Walmart and my psychiatrist appointment!

Shamsy!

I re-worked some things and decided to do a review of Shamsy earlier than I thought! I loved this shop because of how unique the products are and how the design of everything (including the packaging!) really appealed to me! See the awesome paper airplane drawing!? Cute!

First off, I want to share Shamsy's answers to my normal interview questions! I don't want to put them in the regular format, so here goes!

I live in Dallas and own a print shop with my boyfriend, two gangsta cats, Grim and Guts (**ummm, awesome cat names, right?!), and my baby girl pitbull, Morrow. I screen print stationary, make handmade books, paint, draw, garden, ride bikes, and go sailing.

I have been crazy obsessed with stamps and paper since I was a little girl (**YAY!). My obsession led me to study printmaking in college and then to start a printing business with my boyfriend (Scott.). I enjoy making paper goods like cards and books because of the wonderful tactile nature of it all.

I am a mixed media girl. (**me too!!) I like the textures and layers you can get by using different combinations of media. Screen printing, markers, organic materials, inks, paint, collaging, lacquer, chalks, colored pencils...are all my faves to mix. In our print shop, we use recycled papers and eco-friendly inks and solvents. When making my handmade goods, I often use mixed media and a variety of techniques. (** an example!)

Natural shapes and elements and fun graphic patterns are recurring elements in my work. I don't really have a set line-up of characters (like a floating eye or bird. that I use in my work.

Paper, textures and colors in nature, my friends, everyday things like stickers on packaging, vintage children's book illustrations, and everything in between are all things that inspire me.

I certainly do plan on continuing my handmade goods as my life career. (**so good to hear!!) I make things with my hands because I have to or I just don't feel well. I had the corporate job and it made me feel empty inside because I wasn't able to make or do anything creative. Enough was enough and i couldn't live a lie any longer, so I decided to do what I love: make things hands. My thought was if I am passionate and true about what I do then how could I not succeed? My whole house/studio/print shop is a creative haven. (** jealous!) I am always working on a few projects at a time. I hope people who are fans of my goods are able to see all the love and fine-tuned craftsmanship I put in my work.

Fab, right? So, Shamsy mentioned that inspiration is drawn by things like packaging and I wanted to bring that bit up because I think the product packaging on these products is just fantastic. Simplistic, yet really eye-catching! Throughout the photos I'm posting, you'll see what I mean!

So, time to get to the goods! Keep in mind, you folks will be getting this entire package of goodies via a giveaway!

First up is one of my favorite items! There are actually two pin-back buttons, but I dropped one in my bedside table (my stationary drawer!) and I have to find it! I could have SWORN I photographed everything a while ago, but apparently I didn't! Peep the awesome branding! It's obviously a map button, but it's also packages on an ARROW! Unique as all get out, right?

Can you imagine a couple of these puppies pinned on your bag, mail kit, or jacket? I'm already seeing a few of these on a denim jacket or satchel....Mmmm.

The business card sized cards with matching envelopes are too cute, too!

Yeah, those are 2" by 3 1/2" pieces of beauty! It looks like these guys sit at $2.95 per card, which is a good price for the craftsmanship you are getting! The acorn card is hand screen-printed AND hand embellished! Check out the back of the cards! Pay attention to the gold, raised paper clip on the front of one of them, too!

Yes, that IS in fact washi tape! And ribbon! And an owl!

Shamsy cards are just as fabulous! You're looking at beautiful flat cards with matching envelopes! All of them are again, expertly packaged and absolutely gorgeous! The simple, yet also complex designs fit perfectly with the minimalist envelopes! I'm more or less head over heels for brown kraft envelopes, so I might be a bit biased.

Do you give anyone pins and needles?

Or play with yo-yo's? Yes, that is a lined envelope and embellished card, you see! I found this card really neat because it almost looks like everything is drawn on with a ballpoint pen!

See that lovely envelope? Not store bought! Hand cut lining! And check out the embellished yo-yo!

Last, but not least, here's a lovely hand screen-printed multi-colored floral themed flat card! And once again! This puppy comes with a hand-cut, hand-lined envelope!

So, all of these flat cards go for $6.95 a piece AND if you order more than one item, your shipping is free! Otherwise, you've got only a mere dollar of shipping! Honestly though, if I were you, I would stock up! These cards can be used for pretty much every occasion! How cute would the porcupine card have been for Valentines Day?! So, get ordering!

Seriously, though....check out the shop. There are some fantastic notebooks up for sale right now!

HANDMADE TO THE MAX ™!!

Puppy bed buddy. :)

Well, my parents and youngest brother are away, so it's just me, my three dogs, and my 16 year old brother until Sunday! You'll notice some puppy butt fur in some of the photos, haha. That is because this little boy (he's not little. 27 pounds of neurotic, 4 year old terrier....he was only supposed to be TEN pounds...) and he is taking up the entire left foot side of my bed. I feel my mother's pain! My brother and I each took a dog (the third one doesn't sleep in bed.) and I got Maxx. :) I'm sleeping with dog toys!

Just for reference:

I'll admit, he is pretty cute when he sleeps, haha. Or in general. But I think I might be biased! haha. Anywho, on to the mail! I got two wunderbar pieces of mail today!

The first is from Miss. Rin! She included some lovely extras and I really liked the techniques she used on the envelope! I'm going to have to try using some of my acrylics and water colors on some paper and see what comes of it.

Here are the stamps! I've already written the reply...it probably doesn't make much sense, though. My brain is feeling a bit fuzzy at the moment...has been for a few days. But as of yesterday, my neurologist says everything is alright! Apparently, I no longer have to have brain wave scans because my brain is constantly abnormal and has stayed that way for five years...comforting, right? Oh! And! I'm lucky enough to have the pleasure of getting a bone density scan...You would think one's doctor would tell them that the medication they've been on for five years (and will be on for the rest of my life...) CAUSES EARLY OSTEOPOROSIS! Ugh. Wow, where did all that come from? Guess it's just something that's been bothering me!

I also got this lovely, loooovely letter full of pamphlets and postcards (and a fantastic letter!) from Lou in England! Check out the dainty deco tape!

Here's some outgoing...Also in there is a baby name filled letter to Teresa, but the photo came out blurry! I'm just about to run out of air mail envelopes AGAIN! i really need to see if I can find a source around here.

Well, time to sign out! Maxx gave me his 'it's bed time' howl! Tomorrow, I'll be starting fresh with a VERY belated letter to Magda!

Yay for babies!

You know, I was really expecting more mail to be delivered today! Nevertheless, I received some lovely letters and some fantabulous news! One of my close friends and pen pals, Teresa, is having a little boy! Yay! She sent me the news in this letter:

With this stamp:

And I hope she doesn't read my blog because i already bought her something! :D

I also got a lovely letter from KG in Toronto! Isn't the envelope great? She sent me her awesome new zine, too!

The golden dragon stamp is one of my favorite Canadian stamps!

This is her zine...hand-stamped!

This is the best part...are you ready? MOOMIN STATIONARY!! I NEED to find myself some of this but Moomin stuff is so expensive! I hate it!

Debbie in the UK sent me a really lovely package. The envelope, paper, and all of the goodies matched! Her art is so lovely! And check out all of the postal stickers she made! They match the envelope!

Inside was a lovely typewritten letter (her typewriter was so much bolder than mine!) one matching stationary as well as matching goodies! Two postcards, stickers, a miniature notebook, and a sparkly pencil!

And finally, she sealed it with a gold wax seal! That's something I've always wanted (sealing wax and a seal, not her seal, haha.) but I could never afford!

The lovely Michelle sent a great postcard from Geneva! So pretty!

And last, but certainly not least, a letter from Kelli! I love her letters so much! And how cute is that address label?

I'm thinking that I really need to get a larger cork board so that I can display all of the postcards of the places I want to visit...My little inspiration board is so teeny and I have so much I want to hang up! I once hung postcards all over my wall and had a straight-up wall of postcards, but my OCD is really only allowing me a minimalistic room...Speaking of my room, I really need to clean it! I'm thinking I'll do a giant overhaul in the next few days because my parents are leaving with my youngest brother tomorrow (at four in the morning!!) and heading down to the Los Angeles area to try and get my grandma packed up a bit. So it'll just be me and my 16 year old brother at home alone until Friday! Well, time to get some letters written and get some homework done!