HAPPY MAIL - HAPPY ME!

I have stopped getting excited when the postman delivers mail. Usually there is a wodge of circulars that go straight into the recycling bag or the occasional bill (most are sent on line now).  
So when the post arrived this morning with a 'thud' my thoughts immediately went to a book that I have ordered.  So imagine my excitement when I looked and saw 2 packages and a letter.  Not a circular or a bill. A REAL letter, from a friend.  My heart flipped a few times and I dashed to the kitchen to open these. 

It was the arrival of the book I expected.  Marie Kondo's 'The Life Changing Magic of Tidying' which I mentioned here. I put the kettle on to make a cup of tea, thinking that I'd take a break while I read my letter.  Meanwhile I opened my second package.

And my heart flipped again!

Because it was a package from my dear friend Angela, in France.

First I smelt lavender... carefully sealed in a handmade sachet. 
Then I looked at this package, beautifully wrapped in a French bakery bag.  And I carefully started to untie..... 
And as I touched the leaf I realised it was still supple. I loved that it had a message written on it!  Such simple delights always make my pulse beat faster.

And when I turned the package over I saw a vintage postcard.  The photo shows a rustic cottage where cows shared living space with the family. Yes, that really used to happen!





And inside the bag.... a book! 

Actually, an Agenda dated 1958.

And on this day, 57 years ago, someone wrote on this page. 
I don't know what it says because I can not read or speak French.  But I'm interested to know and maybe you can tell me?

There are also other slips of paper inside too.

But before I go I thought I would show you the postcard properly. Because in the days before tv, maybe people sat and watched their
cows as a way of relaxing!

Me?  I'll choose one of my books thank you! 

I already have ideas how I will use this vintage Agenda. One time I would have cringed at the thought of tearing pages from a book or doing anything to change it.  Now I came to realise that books like these will be destroyed or hidden away on shelves perhaps never to be seen again.  So by breathing new life into this book I can create something that can live on.  And in this age of throw away, it is good to appreciate and make the most of what we have. Right?

And the other book? 

That will help me to get my life in order and decide what I need to keep throw away.  Well, that's the aim!  And that's the type of balance I am working towards.

But before I start reading I am going to put wax on the leaf that Angela sent me.  Because in Joy's letter she told me that a leaf I sent her back in June has kept well. It was picked off the oak tree that I follow and post about each month, and it now sits on her studio windowsill. How lovely to hear that others appreciate little things that come in happy mail too. 

So, thanks for popping by and as part of my 30 Day Blogging Challenge I'll be back with more tomorrow. Hope to see you then.

PAPERLOVE

Recently I took part in a wonderful online course called Paperlove, ran by Rachel Hazell.  I met others who shared my love for all things paper and I was so inspired by the creativity and ideas of others.  So much, that I have booked to go on a residential course next April, but more about that another time.  I am still working my way through the projects and a warm friendly group has developed on the forum, but what I wanted to show is a journal I made using a challenge to find papers that were easy to hand...

 

I love maps so one or two had to feature... 

 

A page from a garden magazine, and a recipe I printed for Sparking Cucumber Water.

The drink was delicious and a favourite in the hot weather we have been enjoying!

 

It's a fun to play with words and create new meaning

 

Another map!  This page was folded to make a pocket on the reverse - great for slipping tickets, receipts, photos or notes into.   This was the first book we made on the course and the pages were sewed together.  I will have fun using it as a journal.  

Something else I have enjoyed is seeing the happy mail that is being shared.  One envelope is completing the whole distance - being passed from one person to another.  Wow!!  I wonder if we can work out how many miles it will have travelled to complete it's final journey!  Meanwhile other letters are arriving and I did a happy dance this morning when one landed at my door.  Just look at this! 

A marbled paper envelope, hand folded, with a beautiful mini book inside.  My day was made, receiving this!  It was so thoughtful and beautifully done, thank you Helen!!  These will not become pages in a future journal, I will think of a special way of keeping them so that like the commemorate theme, they will not be forgotten.

One of the other things we were invited to do on the course was to make a list of all the paper items we could see.  I decided to do this while I was on a creative retreat last weekend as time offered more opportunity and here is what I found:

blank envelopes and cards, Amazon envelope, braille paper, scrapbook papers, morning pages journal, moleskin diary, diary, bin of offcuts, receipts, tickets, lottery ticket (sadly not a winning one!), tabs, tags, newspapers (including Russian!), A4 white paper, assorted card and other papers, mount board, grey board, tissue paper, serviettes,  various packaging for products and food, handmade books, toilet tissue, posters on walls, takeaway menu, junk journal, postage stamps, birthday and celebration cards, to do list, table covering, music sheets, price labels, wall paper, graph paper, magazines, sticky labels, postcard, notebooks, photo scavenger hunt list, gift card holder, paper plates, cardboard box for foil/cling film, photo paper, business cards, label on new product......

We are surrounded by so much paper every day, and so much of it just gets thrown away or sent for recycling.  But there is lots of fun to be had, so if you like upcycling, recycling and sharing with others then you may be interested in a Junk Journal Swap that I am organising.  Why not pop over to here and find out more?!