Snail Mail Kit Swap: Follow Up

I hosted the Snail Mail Kit Swap on swapbot.com early this month. I wasn't sure if this swap would work or people would actually be interested in such a swap. And since this was going to be a bit pricey I was not confident at all. But surprisingly the swap had an overwhelming response. We had 54 swappers who joined in this project and thanks to all of you wonderful people the swap even made it to the top 10. And that was even more exciting!!! I am sure we all had fun putting the package together for our partners.

Well I received my swap from my partner Karen, today. And I love what she put together for me - it is so beautiful and so colourful and has many wonderful things that I like and would surely use.

Well I'll shut up and let the pictures do the talking. Thank you Karen for this wonderful and thoughtful package. I love it all. 

 Isn't this a beautiful and colourful envie??

 She packed it so well!!!

 This is the most beautiful and lovable box ever - thanks Karen.

 Covered with used envelopes - with addresses, stamps and  what not...!!! LOVE IT :*

 inside the box.

 Love all the cards, lettersets, envelopes, greeting cards, labels and the address book that says London was a hit!! It's one of my favorite city.

 Love this tiny little stamp you sent - will be using it soon and I love Papermate pens.

And I love cute and colourful owls too!!

Thank you, Karen - love the package!!!!

Letter Writing and Me

For the last few years I haven't received any festive or celebration cards, while I have been writing Christmas cards regularly to all my extended families for almost 3 consecutive years (except for the year 2010 - as I was busy preparing for my wedding).

I have been reading online and reading some books too - and I am being suggested that I should drop these people off my list who do not care to reply the letters or do not have the courtesy to send a simple greeting card.

Most of my extended family tells me its better to call then to write long letters. But I don't receive any calls either. How can people so busy? Many times I wonder if I am going wrong somewhere or is it that people just don't care? I feel neglected! It feels as if I am doing all that I can to keep the "flames" on,  while the opposite is true for them.

My grandma always says that family is always family and I have learned from her not to give up on our loved ones. So my latest project is to write to them and send greetings and mail them all that I can and give myself a time frame of 2-3 years before I drop them off the list. I pray that this relationship of sending and receiving mails can be restored. Its not just a tradition or a culture or a ritual but a way to say that, I care, I miss you,  I am thinking of you and Just because...

Many times I have realized that my friends and family who call me get lost within few minutes of conversation. They do not know what to say or ask beyond those typical questions like, "how are you? how is your husband? how are studies? you doing good?". I might sound frustrated but this is the truth. The calls are not intentional, just a formality so that they can say, "oh, we do call her from time to time".

I am not saying that I am perfect with maintaining this tradition or that I am so good with sending cards and so on...  I agree its not easy to write letters - it requires time, and thinking and an intention. You pour out your heart to someone when you write - either email or traditional mail. And that's why it required effort, and that's why letters are treasured and people require a response.

Sigh... me and my frustration.

The "S" for September Swap

 Hellooo Swappers!!!

Since its not too far for September, I thought of hosting this swap called "S for September". For this swap we will put together articles/items that begin with the letter "S", such as - sailor, salt, ship, sheep, salt, sweater, snail, stapler, snow, spa etc.. (you get the idea).

You will have 10 days to put 10 things together.

Be CREATIVE and think outside the box. Also include a letter or note explaining - why you included what you included. Fun isn't it? 

Please comment below if you have any questions or if things are not made clear. I am open for suggestions.

NOTE: NEWBIES are welcomed with well filled profiles (I'll check the profiles) NO FLAKERS please, I WONT angel this.

Tip: Please make sure you put some love and be thoughtful (checkout your partner's profile for likes and dislikes) in making this package - it should be something that you would be happy and excited to receive. Be CREATIVE!!!

This is an INTERNATIONAL SWAP.

CLICK HERE to join the SWAP (Last date: 14th August 2012)

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Here are few ideas to get you started: 

Sun, seed, shape, shoe, shop, sink, snail, snake, snow, soda can, star, string, summer, swing, sack, sail, soap, song  on CD, spoon, scarecrow, street, sidewalk, station, scene, snow, spring = Postcards, squirrel,  soup, spiders, sponge, stamps, scarf, stickers, etc...

World's Smallest Postal Service

While surfing online I found this cutest thing on web. Ever wondered on sending the smallest and tiniest letter or greeting card across? Here is someone who can do this for you - World's Smallest Postal Service .

And this is how it works:

 "You write a letter and it is transferred onto a tiny 1 inch paper. It is placed in a tiny envelope with address, stamped and wax sealed. The letter is then securely put into a see-through folded coin case and is packed with a magnifying glass."

And it's not just letters you can send but invitations, custom cards and even packages. And here's the coolest video of the coolest mailing kit.

Outgoing mails for today

 An attempt at doodling flowers.

 A small little something for my cousin

14 outgoing postcards - to family in India and Canada

Scenes of Singapore

My first Aerogramme from Singapore - Scenes of Singapore. Features women of Singapore in their ethnic wear.

Outgoing Mails

My outgoing mails for this week.

 10 Postcards - for Express Swap

 Mail Art ?

One of my favorite postcard - Market day Malaysian Style.

An aerogramme after a long time - Malaysian Cultural Dances

Letter Writing

It was during my primary school that I was introduced to letter-writing. Took me a while to get the format right, but given a choice it was easier to write a letter than an essay. And as a primary school teacher I did the same with my students - introduced letter writing before introducing short essays. And they loved it.

I was really able to put my letter writing skills into practice when my 'single' mom went to a foreign land to provide for my family (siblings and me). We stayed with my grandma in a small town and as a teacher herself, my grandma made sure that we wrote to our mom regularly about what we learned in school, the various activities we were involved in, detailed descriptions of our trips to the zoo and to the parks and so on. I guess these letters really helped to keep us connected to my mom who could only visit us once a year.

This writing ritual initiated by my grandma became a habit and a passion. It was no longer a pressure but a pleasure. It became a heart-to-heart chat filled with emotions. This exercise also helped to increase and enhance my vocabulary, I guess. I had to find the right words to convey the right message and meaning. When this became a passion, it was not just my mom I wrote to but to my friends and relatives as well. It evokes a desire to stay connected to your loved ones.

I guess letter writing is more than just the random "hi's and hellos" and "likes and follows" on facebook and twitter. When you start writing, you write with an intention engaging your senses - you think, you rethink, you construct sentences and reconstruct them. It's a wonderful exercise to engage your heart, mind, thoughts and emotions.

The best part about letter writing? Signing off, folding the letter and sliding it inside the envelope, sealing it, putting the address, walking to the post office to get the stamp affixed and dropping it into the red box. Ohhh... that's a bliss!

I enjoy writing letters and I hope you do too.