Handmade Holiday

It's that time of year.  Craft show season!  I'll be at Handmade Holiday with my vintage stamp packs this Saturday December 3rd.  It's happening at 103 Bellevue Avenue from 11:00 to 6:00.  Can't wait!

holiday mailing dates

Here's Canada Post's suggested mailing dates for holiday cards:

Overseas November 29th (today!)
U.S.A. December 13th
Canada December 15th

More details about these mailing dates are here.  Now it's time to get writing..

good things

1. Pomegranates.
2. Mini panettone.
3. My Week with Marilyn.
4. The pom pom party at the workroom.
5. Stamp pack making while watching Julia make french bread.

incoming mail

This week I was one lucky gal.  I received mail from Portland, Serbia, Spain, Victoria and Toronto.  Thank you Jamie, Phillipa, Natasha, Pilar and Liz!

Japan Expo 1970

Some stamp designs knock my socks off.  These do just that.  They were issued by Canada Post for the Japan Expo 1970.  You can read a bit more about them here.

pink prints

I was digging through my wintery stationery and came across these pink Deadweight prints.  They were part of a few mystery bags that I got from Sandi.  Typed on the back and tucked into vellum envelopes they're all set to arrive in some of my lovelies' postboxes!

letters lift spirits

What gems these stamps are!  They were issued in the United States in 1980 to commemorate National Letter Writing Week.  Who doesn't want a stamp that says "P.S. Write soon"?

good things

1. Wrote ten letters this weekend.
2. Champagne.
3. Biutiful.
4. My first online stamp sale.
5. Marni + Jason's wedding.

incoming mail

Letters this week came from England, Ontario and BC.  A great big thank you goes out to Anna, Tanya, Amanda, Jessica and Harriet!

autumn + winter

Toronto has been experiencing autumn/winter/autumn weather lately.  One day a windbreaker is fine and the next a peacoat and mittens are needed.  These 1971 first day covers are the newest addition to my postal collection.

provincial postage booklets

When I came across these mini provincial postage booklets I was instantly smitten. Issued in 1982, each booklet contains four maple leaf stamps.  Printed on the back of each is a legislative building fact.  For example, Regina - Governor General Earl Grey laid the cornerstone of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in 1909.

Christmas stamps

Vintage Christmas stamp packs are now in the shop!  The tiny santas, trees and snowflakes are the perfect postage for your holiday greetings!

good things

1. A little mention on Oh So Beautiful Paper.
2. Rollerskating and arcades.
3. A celebratory lunch with my classmates and teacher.  "Graduated" from Intermediate One Italian!
4. Reading Letter From New York.
5. Vintage shopping on a cloudy afternoon.

incoming mail

Holy peaches!  Thanks to Philly for the peaches and glass mail.  Two other pretty letters arrived from Sarah and Merissa.  Thanks girls!

Korean stamps

Many years ago Joseph and I lived in Korea.  We taught English for a year just outside Seoul.  I remember LOVING the stamps and always sending beautiful letters to family and friends back home.  I received these stamps from Alice last week. Thanks for the rad souvenir Alice!

shop!

Big news:  I now officially have an online shop!  Vintage stamp packs are now available on bigcartel.  (And Christmas packs are in the works..)

84, Charing Cross Road

I came across this book at the library and was instantly hooked.  It's a book of letters between a writer in New York and a London bookseller.  Perfect on fall nights, with tea in hand. 

"I require a book of love poems with spring coming on.  No Keats or Shelley, send me poets who can make love without slobbering - Wyatt or Jonson or somebody, use your own judgement.  Just a nice book preferably small enough to stick in a slacks pocket and take to Central Park."  Helene Hanff

good things

1. Made sweet potato gnocchi from scratch.
2. Can't stop listening to this Stevie Nicks beauty.
3. Made my 2000th stamp pack.
4. A Sunday morning walk in the Don Valley.
5. Scrabble and sweets.

incoming mail

This absolutely beautiful package arrived in my mailbox last week.  Tanya letterpress printed these wicked I heart mail cards just for me.  How sweet! Thank you Miss T!

dream big

Dream big.  My favourite card from Parchment Post's autumn collection was made by Just a Jar Press in Ohio.  It's always a delight to receive these seasonal packages.  I'm planning on writing some notes in these beauties tonight!

cassette tapes

I'm smitten with cassette tapes.  So when I spotted these greeting cards I knew some letters needed writing!  You can read my full guest post for The Paper Place here.

good things

1. A Halloween campfire.
2. Vitamin Daily loves stamps!
3. Bat cookies and tea at Elm Hill Cookies.
4. Tap.
5. A little hometown visit.