^ andrea sciascia.

Megan of The Ever Dazzling posted a 'Things To Be Thankful For' list today and I thought I might do the same. A kind of gratitude list;

• Tasmanian weather; I braved my first Tasmanian Winter and it was nowhere near as unbearable as I'd been told. I have thoroughly enjoyed the coat, scarf, mitten, beanie wearing, hot chocolate-sipping weather and being able to ride my bike without feeling hot and gross, though I'm looking forward to slightly longer days and a little more sunshine. Launceston Summers average a temperature of about 25˚C (77˚F) - nothing like Newcastle's 44˚C (111˚F) days, so I'll probably still be able to pull out the warm clothes I love. I feel very comfortable in this kind of weather and the air is so delicious and fresh :D
  
  
• Uplifting mail; I am lucky enough to receive at least one item of good mail every day, and sometimes someone's sweet words from across the globe can just set you off on your day with a great feeling. Sally's letter did that for me yesterday. Likewise, you internet folk are lovely. Thank you very much for the kind comments left on my second last post. I'm feeling far more positive already.
  
  
• Having somewhere lovely to stay; I've been grumbling a lot about not having found a house yet and once C's parents return on Monday we'll all be sharing the same roof until a house presents itself, but their home is a pleasure to stay in, a very welcoming, pretty and deliciously warm abode in a lovely suburb. It still kind of feels like being on holidays here and there's nowhere else I'd rather be (except in a house of my own).
  
  
• My boyfriend; I don't say much about him here (including his name) but he is high on my list of things to be grateful for. He's the loveliest man I've ever met and he treats me far better than I ever thought I deserved.
  
  
• Some blogs I'm grateful for lately (in no particular order); Intelligence Is The New Black, Lady Croissant, Love Katyha, The Art of Staying Up All Night, The Perfect Compilation Tape, Much Love Anna, The Ever Dazzling, With Love and Swallow, Queenie & The Dew, Pugly Pixel, Our City Lights, A Girl and Her Blog, Letters She Wrote, Cerebral Excrement, The Secret Tea Party, Make Do and Mend, Time After Tea, It's Gonna Be A Lovely Day, The House of Hearts, Missive Maven, Dolce Vita Micaela, Sylvia May, Deleting The Adjectives, In Our Bedrooms, The Tea Children, Make Tea Not War, Blackbird Corner, Being Blanche, Gracie Bella Butterfly, High Maintenance Hippy, Very Dark Horse, For The Easily Distracted and a whole bunch more and anyone who is kind enough to read this blog.
  

Also, some found giveaways;
- Rachel B. is having an Impossible Project giveaway - win yourself 3 packs of highly coveted Polaroid film, here (17th Sept).
- It is Rhianne's birthday today and she's giving away four different sweet prizes to celebrate, here (17th Sept).
- Sweet Gracie is having a giveaway including a gratitude journal and some of her Etsy goodies, here (18th Sept).
- Allana (aka High Maintenance Hippy) is having a 'brown paper packages tied up with string' Spring giveaway, here (19th Sept).
- Project You is giving away two of Rhianne's pretty prints, here.
- Green Tea & Red Nails is giving away a lovely bundle of things, here (20th Sept).

Newcastle, the city I just moved from, hosts a big annual festival called This Is Not Art (or TiNA for short) and 2010's installment is going to kick off very soon. All manner of fun, crafty, artsy things go on throughout the festival and my personal favourite is the big Sunday Zine Fair & markets. Susy Pow, zine lady and this year's Sunday Fair coordinator (and my friend), asked me to put together a poster to promote this year's fair and I thought I'd share it. Sadly this year I am 1500kms away from Newcastle and won't be able to attend, but I thoroughly encourage any Novocastrians (or wayward travellers) to attend. I'm sending my sister along with some coins to select and send me back some fair goodies. Last year I only gave myself a budget of $30 but I came home with so much stuff.



(This is the version of the poster without the logos at the bottom, hope Susy doesn't mind!)

^ Simple Blueprint September Calendar (via pieces of e).


I'm a bit late as I try to do these things on a weekly basis, but finally, here is a bundle of good mail that has been finding me lately;


^ Micaela's package arrived a little post-bruised, but its contents stayed intact and were delightful! I am so in love with the crocheted doily she sent that her mum made, and in red and white, she must know my taste! Another fabulous missive from miss M.


^ My belated BPS postcard for July from a lady named Pam. Gorgeous and thoroughly worth the wait.


^ A fabulous piece of mail art from IUOMA mail artist Sergio Della Giustina. I'll definitely be getting my pens and scissors and glue ready to make a postcard in reply soon.


^ One of sweet New Zealand mummy Stella's beautiful printed envelopes, containing a grand letter and some of her Frank & Dean postcards that I love. She sells some of her pretty paper wares here.


^ A pelican in my mail box from the Missive Maven - I'm going to try to scribble down a letter to her tonight.

Today's mail;


^ My lunch and the letters I pulled out of the mailbox today.


^ A sweet note from my sister in Newcastle. I just spoke to her on the phone and I miss her.


^ A deliciously decorated letter from Elisabeth in Norway. I am so going to sprinkle those stars in every letter.


^ My second letter from Mariah and a very lovely one.


^ Postal sweetness from Carla, her letters are some of my favourites.


^ My first letter from Hungarian miss Fanni. I love receiving sweet bundles of postcards, and the ones she included are awesome.


^ The goodies in this letter were squeal-worthy. My favourite, without a doubt, is the little package of 'Girls With Big Hair' stickers. So good. And, wonderful goodies accompanied a wonderful letter from Kaatje.




^ Free postcards for Bria who is on exchange in Sweden.


^ Postcard number one goes to my newest internet-pen-friend, a sweet Taiwanese miss named Kiyasu Oka. And the second cat-flavoured postcard I believe was my final BPS mail out.


^ A late letter to sweet miss Crystal in Quebec.


^ A mix cd package for a girl I went to high school with. Hope she digs it :)

I've been feeling really lacklustre over the past few weeks. I haven't been doing my university work, I haven't been writing letters and I haven't been doing much of anything. It takes hours to fall asleep and when I do, I sleep too much and feel exhausted and I find it impossible to will myself to get up. I can't concentrate or convince myself to do anything that I think I might enjoy and I don't want to be awake most of the time, but I can't sleep. I cry when I have nothing to cry about. Not having my own space and staying in someone else's house indefinitely has a lot to do with feeling down, but I've been feeling very bad for some time.

I know I could have omitted these things and nobody would be any the wiser, but just wanted to let you know, because I think it's important to acknowledge when feeling down becomes something that you're more accustomed to than feeling up. And I wondered why I felt so afraid and ashamed to share how I'm feeling. I pay my physical health far more attention than my emotional or mental well-being and I think it's probably time to seek some help. I'm finding that making note of small things to achieve each day, finding things to look forward to and getting out of the house are helping (although the house did lock me outside today for two hours!). I am very fortunate to be with someone who comforts and cares for me in all the right ways (and leaves me alone at the right times too) and I couldn't ask for anything more from him. He is one very positive constant.

How are you feeling today?

^ One of Mary Powers' lovely collages; buy them as postcards here.

Bits of a week:
♡ I applied for four jobs, including one as a 'Santa Photographer' (official title). I realised after submitting it that it means I'd get to wear an elf suit and potentially get my own creepy Santa photo (the first in 13 years), then I felt super excited.
♡ While shopping, C and I were just about to take our groceries to the counter and then I decided I had to ogle the make up section, but my browsing was rudely interrupted by the complex's fire alarm. Lethargically and confusedly the staff ushered us outside, to have us stand in the cold for fifteen minutes, watch the fire brigade screech up and find no fire, then we were allowed back in.
♡ I came across Vixen Vintage, fell in love and felt a great yearning for my in-storage sewing machine.
♡ I attended the first in a 3-part debate series at the local University - the topic; "Young people shouldn't waste their time reading Twilight and Harry Potter". Lots of interesting speakers, including Frankie's editor Jo.
♡ I made a digitally collaged poster for the Newcastle This Is Not Art Festival Sunday (zine) Fair. Very much enjoyed making it but felt several pangs of sad for not being able to attend this year (due to being 1500kms away). I took it for granted! (Not quite finished poster here)
♡ C and I attended four house inspections and applied for 3. Imagined arranging my furniture and decorating each.
♡ I dyed my hair, what I thought was dark brown, but turned out to be jet black. So, back to black (like my 16-year old self).
♡ Baked two batches of gluten-free banana, honey & white choc cupcakes. Yarm.
♡ Ogled this dress and considered spending some of my (very small) savings account.
♡ Sadly sent my final Benevolent Postcard Society postcard.
♡ Found this slightly mail related link; Panty By Post - a monthly underwear subscription.
♡ Bought; Greetings From The Ocean's Sweaty Face 100 McSweeney postcards, Hellcat Amazons postcards and Wanderlust USA postcard box.
♡ Browsed fascinated and quite creeped out at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's comprehensive documentation of executions since the 1980's - which includes every offender's photograph, a description of what they did and their last words. Creepy. Fascinating. Creepy.

Also;
♡ I thought some of you lovely creative folk might be interested in participating in Bears and Bunting's 'The World View Project' - it involves photography and mail - and you have until the 10th to sign up.
♡ And lovely Julie of We've Got Paper just reminded me of her stationery survey - if you fill it out you can win one of her sweet lettersets.

Today I woke up late to the sound of rain and felt very content. I'm going to spend the rest of the day with a few cups of Rooibos, a few episodes of Degrassi and a few letters to write. Hope you have a lovely weekend :)