January 6, 2016

OUTGOING: C is for Cuba

Hello dear readers! I hope you have had a splendid New Year's Eve and I wish you all a very inspirational and creative 2016!


It has been a while, in between work, work and work (and some more work) I made the trip of my life: in November me and the boyfriend went to Cuba for three weeks! So obviously, my next letter in the chain of the ABC-snailmail project I am doing with Ingrid had to be themed: C is for Cuba. Yup, took me some time to make and write everything...but hey, that's what it's called snailmail for, right?


This snailmail was more of a long letter and sharing my travel stories and experiences with Ingrid kind of thing, rather than a artsyfartsy crafty package. I printed six of my favorite pictures from our trip, which I used to decorate some writing sheets. I basically took Ingrid on a tiny Cuba-tour through my stories, and told her about weird, funny and beautiful things that happened to us during our time in Cuba.


I also wrote Ingrid a letter, which actually was not really about Cuba but more of a reply to her last letter. It became quite long, like I already mentioned...quite some time passed since I last wrote to her! You have to trust me on my word that my writing sheets were quite fancy. I collected all kinds of Cuba-related illustration from the internet and printed them on some nice paper. In my enthusiasm I closed the envelope before taking pictures... Oh, the Che Guevara photo is one I made in Havana (quite the obligatory picture when you're there, I wonder how many tourists took the same one!) I stuck the photo into one of those nice Hema mini cards, on the inside it says "Hola!"


And obviously there had to be baker's twine and some white pen on kraft paper, right? Plus, I used all kinds of colored paper, which actually has a thought behind it: Cuba is the most colorful place I have ever visited, literally and figuratively speaking. Its people, its architecture, its history and its nature...just WOW.

What was your favorite travel destination ever?

Love,
Anne

September 26, 2015

INCOMING: B is for Batman

About a month ago, Ingrid and I started our ABC-snailmail project. I sent Ingrid a strawberry themed package, and a couple of days ago it was my turn to find this envelope in my very happy mailbox!


Yup, that's right! I received this super cool Batman snailmail! Such an original theme, and I just LOVE the combination of black, white and yellow.


When you follow Ingrid's blog, you will know she is the uncrowned queen of homemade stationery. Her blog bursts with great tips for making your own stationery. For this snailmail, she printed her own Batman paper for the gift envelope, and I am guessing the cool Batman sticker is homemade to. And confetti is always a good idea.


Speaking of homemade stationery and cute paper gifts, these Batman quote labels are super cool! She packed three of them in the snailmail package.

I am already contemplating my C-theme, I have got some big (Batman) shoes to fill!

Love,
Anne

September 23, 2015

FRIENDSHIP BLANKET: The start of something new

In my OUTGOING: August blogpost, I mentioned sending Louisette a granny square for her friendship blanket. I was so charmed by the idea of a friendship blanket, that I immediately felt my hands itching to start working on a friendship blanket myself. Well, 'working'...because you guys do all the work and I have an awesome puzzle once I collected enough grannies for a blanket.


So two weeks ago I posted a picture on Instagram of the gorgeous granny square Louisette sent me back as a thank you, asking people for participating in my very own friendship blanket. And seriously you guys: I have been overwhelmed by the response of people I don't actually know in real life, but just through letters or the internet. It's just heartwarming, I have no other words for it.


A combination of crochet and snailmail: what is not to love? I am going to post about my friendship blanket progress on my blog every now and then, and I decided to post a small granny square request here as well: 

Dear, dear reader of my blog, are you a lover of crochet and snailmail, and would you like to contribute to my friendship blanket? Please contact me at 365daysofsnailmail [at] gmail.com or through Instagram. I prefer cotton grannies (this will make it easier to join them eventually), but other than that I have no special wishes. Go crazy with colors and patterns, I am looking forward to receive your creative outbursts in my mailbox!


And obviously, you will receive a granny square back :-)

Love,
Anne