Saturday, August 10, 2013

Desperately Seeking Snail Mail Stationery

I received a lovely sympathy card when M's Grandma passed, from M's Grandma's sister.  Her sister passes and she sends us a note.  How sweet.  This lovely lady sends a note every Christmas, and I wanted to send a letter back.  I had used up all the letter writing paper I had, so I set out to find more... it's now weeks later, and I've searched in just about all the shops in town I can think of, with no luck.  I've also browsed online with little success.  It's quite possible that I've missed some, but I think the sad reality is that there is little call for paper for writing letters on.

Yes, I can pick up a pad of plain white paper that is letter sized, but I want pretty.  I want fun.  I want colorful.  I am so demanding.

Later...

I stopped in at Chapters on the way to pick up M from soccer camp yesterday.  We had been there somewhat recently, but I couldn't remember if I had checked.  They did have *TWO* styles of writing paper - one good quality but plain, and the other, one that I had seen online and liked.  So I picked up the 'Watercolor Birds Letter-Perfect Stationery' by Peter Pauper Press and have got my first letter written and ready to mail.  You might want to watch your mailbox this week and see in you're the lucky recipient!

I came across an article that said long letters are on the downturn, but that sending short notes is still quite popular.  I did find lots of card sets both in shops and online, so I would suspect that is true.  I do find that I send cards far more than letters; the difference maybe is that a card is usually sent because of an occasion, or for a reason, although once in a while I will send one just because.  A letter in my mind is completely just because.  It's a bit of love via pen and paper for no reason other than genuine affection.  And cards I can make; paper has to be bought... or so I thought.  I found a blog called Papered Thoughts and like some of the ideas she uses to send letters.  I might go through my scrapbooking stuff and make my own letter writing paper, too.

I guess what matters is that sense of connection - that there is something in the mail because I think you're important.  Whether it's a card or letter, bought or made, for a specific reason or none at all, it's something special.

I am going to try to send more mail.  You?  What was the last piece of mail you got or the last fun mail you sent? 

4 comments:

Morgan said...

I sent a long letter to my Great Uncle a week ago, just because I haven't seen him in a long time and I have been thinking about him lately. It was wonderful to get out my writing box and stick pen to paper.
I too did a search online for writing paper and was coming up empty handed...the lovely paper from my youth appears to have vanished...

MOM said...

Hey, I love my middle child!

And about stationery - I remember making some years ago for the Doerkson's kids when they were in Mongolia. They needed paper that they could write thank you letters on. I copied borders and other neat trims from the internet and even did envelopes to match. Some of the sheets I put lines on for the younger ones to use, and did some pretty adult stuff for Terry & Patty, as well. They turned out so well that I made some for myself.

MOM said...

Another thought - look at second-hand stores. I saw some lovely old stationery at The Goodwill last winter - unopened packages even!

Carolyn Ward said...

Good idea, Mom! And I've put four letters in the mail since I wrote this...