A handful (from a large pile) of blogs I can't get enough of lately;

^ Clare Owen Illustration.




^ Two postcards sent for my New Years Resolutions Postcard Swap. My resolutions are over side.



^ A little something for Kiyasu.


^ Two envelopes full of postcards for lovely Jess.


^ A swap bot mail out.


^ I saw the Send Me A Million Postcards project via Jane and thought I'd help in the pursuit of 1000000.


^ For my favourite Arizonian, Garci.


^ A box of little goodies for miss Lillabilly. I've been having a great time freehand cross-stitching in bed before I go to sleep, haha. It's my new favourite hobby.



^ A re-purposed postcard box made into an envelope for Linsey. I hope that koala holds his shape for the trip!



^ I reused a great box that Lillabilly sent me to send my lovely friend Sylvia some bits and pieces. If you're interested to know where the 'Love Your Tree' reference comes from, looky here.


^ And last but not least, a package for my big brother (his name is actually Luke Wade, not Luquade).



^ In other news, I bought a big red spotty bow and a big red vintage flowy dress this week and got called a Christmas Elf by passers-by.


^ Last weekend we went with C's parents to the Evandale markets and I picked up some sweet old postcards, 1950's sewing magazines and old Australian stamps.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend folks!

^ Graham and Green doormats.

I've been putting off writing this mail post because I knew I would have to preface it with a something that makes me pretty sad - I don't think that I can reply to all of the mail I receive any more. I currently have a list of letters to respond to which I can't imagine ever being able to catch up with - I have a pile of beautiful, thoughtful, well written, wonderfully decorated letters and not nearly enough time to devote the same amount of effort to each in my response. I just have to admit that I cannot respond to every item of mail I receive any more.

A year ago I could not have fathomed being the recipient of so many incredible items of mail every day from lovely strangers, I am so grateful and it brings me a great deal of joy, but also a few pinches of guilt for not being able to respond to letters quickly enough, always having a huge pile of unreplied mail and receiving angry emails from people asking why I've not replied to their letter yet. I don't want my favourite pastime to make me feel guilty and I don't want letters to take me four months to reply to either.

So, if you are considering writing me a letter, still please do! I will continue to reply to as many letters as I am able to - my reply may not be prompt, but it will be genuine. I believe you should give as good as you get when it comes to mail. I look forward to writing more letters and having more time for letters.




^ This little package made my week. I am so lucky to count Micaela as a friend. Her incredibly kind and sweet letter was accompanied by a big box of (now long since devoured) pop tarts, among other gorgeous things. I can't wait to find some goodies to send miss newlywed's way asap.


^ Kim wrote me an great little card and included an excellent zine she'd come across with Morrissey affront it. Thank you so much lady.


^ I bought a sweet Newcastle themed t-towel from Trevor Dickinson's Etsy and this was the great envelope it arrived in.


^ A very sweet first letter from Rachel.


^ One of the cutest Christmas cards I've ever received, from April.


^ Something very sweet from Lucia in Switzerland, my first Swiss letter.


^ A grand little package from Kelly - I so hope to meet her in person some day :)


^ My sister's best friend Rokia sent me the cutest package with a detailed diagram of all of the things they got up to when they came to visit me a few weeks ago. Too sweet :D


^ Sweet Malaysian miss Audrey sent me another beautiful letter.


^ A lovely handmade postcard from Heidi.


^ A gorgeous first letter from Annie in Russia.


^ A fabulous old-timey envelope from Melinda, I so look forward to her correspondence.


^ Something wonderful and colourful from Rashel.


^ A brilliant package from Linda in Georgia.


^ Beautiful mail art from my favourite South Australian correspondent, Bree.


^ A wicked little package from Patty in Virgina including a gorgeous red bag and some Halloweeny goodies.

^ Bianca circa 1993 and this year's makeshift Christmas tree - the button tree.

This is just a quick note to let you know about a post I did on Laura's blog, Make Do & Mend as part of her Christmas Around The World series. Admittedly, I am not a very Christmassy person, but I had a lot of fun writing it. I don't think there's a formula for a typically Australian Christmas but a very hot day, a big Summery feast and a family get together are pretty quintessential here. If you'd like to read about my Australian Christmases spy it here.

Ps. Promise to finally do a mail post tomorrow, k? :)