I used to write a lot of letters. Between late 2009 and early 2011 I sent over 500 items of mail. It was something I very much enjoyed (and happily documented here) but as you can imagine, I totally burnt myself out. Until today I hadn't written a letter in six months.

I have a slot-in-the-door mailbox. I usually hear the postman deliver my mail into it each morning because he seems to like to do it with a great deal of FORCE. I received a wonderful letter today from a girl named James in the Philippines - C found it about a metre and a half down our hallway. We should measure on the floor how far our mail is flung through the slot each day and see if the postman makes a new personal best. The letter James sent me really reinvigorated my feelings toward mail and connecting with likeminded people across the globe. So thank you James!



+ from James.



+ to James.



+ The recipient for this collage is a secret as it is a bit of a birthday card.


+ I sent two of these postcards to two of my favourite letter writing ladies in the USA. It was the most Halloweeny card I had.

I am slowly easing myself back into writing letters. I have finished university for the year and should have a few extra hours up my sleeve each week. I'd like letter writing to be something that I enjoy again and not something that feels like a full time job or something else to feel guilty about. It was hard to admit that I simply cannot reply to every letter always, or immediately. But I do love sending letters and that's what I'm going to do.

Image credit.

Today I signed myself up for The Sketchbook Project. In a few weeks I'll receive a sketchbook and will have until the end of January to fill it with whatever I like and then send it back. The thousands of sketchbooks that are sent back will then be exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. And when they're done galavanting they'll become part of the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Art Library for public view. When you sign up you have to choose a 'theme' - mine is 'Time Traveller'. I am super, super excited.



Want to sign up? You have until the 31st of October.
Use the code "ADDAFRIEND" at the checkout for a discount.

+ jacket: mother hubbard wynyard, dress: nanna's vintage launceston, shoes: harajuku lovers.

I bought this one of a kind jacket last weekend while on a little day trip with my friend Sara. We stopped in a tiny town called Wynyard (famous for its tulips) and I spotted this shop - a wonderfully 'organised clutter' antique kind of place called Mother Hubbard - I entered, walked all the way to the back without stopping, pulled out this jacket and then bought it. I would have loved to have spent a few hours browsing, but I knew I wasn't going to find anything to top the jacket. I'd love to go back. What a shame it's a three hour drive.

I wore this outfit today while C and I rode around opshopping. It was slim pickings today but I did find a rather nice art deco buffet for our tv to sit on. I hate waiting for things to be delivered though - I am very impatient. I also saw one of my dream couches, but after sitting on it for some time contemplating C and I decided that our existing couch doesn't yet need replacing (my cats are tending to that though). I am certain it won't be there next time. Oh well!

Care to share one of your happy places?