Incoming: Missouri

The lovely Brittnie Marie of Postage & Peonies (Instagram) was the very first person who agreed to take part in this project, and that alone makes her one of the best people ever.

When I first contacted Brittnie, I hadn't yet developed a clear idea about my parcels, so I think I sent her a completely random assortment of things that was altogether quite uninspired. 

That didn't stop her from sending me the sweetest, most generous parcel ever, though. Like I said, she's one of the best people ever. 

Brittnie's parcel really is something else. Every last bit is handcrafted to perfection, and exudes a lovely vintage vibe. She has an impeccable eye for detail, and I could already sense the amount of love that she put into everything before I even opened the package.

I'll let the rest of the pictures do the talking, because words would only detract from the inherent beauty of her work:

I have to butt in and say that this definitely made me squeal. Tiny little note cards in tiny little envelopes, oh my God.

Thank you for sharing such delightful treasures with me, Brittnie! I am absolutely blown away by your creativity, and feel so fortunate to have had the chance to exchange mail with you! 

Incoming: Singapore

When Natalie approached me to exchange parcels a few months ago, I immediately jumped at the opportunity because SINGAPORE!!! Having grown up in Singapore, the country and its culture have contributed greatly to who I am today. I still consider it my home, and am always super excited to interact with fellow Singaporeans!

How adorable (and appropriate) is the drawing of the girl in hijab!?

Inside was a parcel wrapped up in the cutest wrapping paper ever. As you'll see, Natalie has an amazing collection of the prettiest paper ever. I definitely spent a few minutes just stroking them, because omg soft, pretty paper!!

And inside that were even more bundles of joy!

She sent me a brush pen from Daiso, which I've actually spent a considerable amount of time looking for! She also included a letter-transfer sheet, which I'm really excited to try out since my typography skills are non-existent.

Tucked inside an envelope labeled "Pretty Things" was an altered picture that she took a while ago, a pressed wildflower (I definitely remember seeing them all over the place, but had never thought of pressing them!), and an adorable drawing of a puppy whose eyes I will certainly look into forever.  

Natalie is a designer and illustrator, and was kind enough to share some of her merchandise! The funky robot stickers and the (mystik) narwhal were all designed by her, and they are the coolest! I love them so much!!

She really has a knack for gathering the most random assortment of little things and making them work together perfectly, and my favorite of the lot has got to be the shells! A bit of background: I grew up with a German Shepherd, who sadly passed away when I was 14 (and still living in Singapore at the time). In line with our beliefs, we threw his ashes in the sea, and the shells that Natalie sent me were from the same beach! My heart swooned when she told me, and these shells will always be precious, because puppy. 

She also made me a mini-schedule book (!!!) and included two bookmarks, including one of her own designs! I actually have been looking around for a proper schedule book, so this came at the right time!

A peek inside the book...those little illustrations could turn anyone into a workaholic!

I say this all the time but I really am surprised that my pen-pals have been able to figure me out so well, and Natalie isn't an exception at all! She sent me an assortment of postcards, all of which are just perfect. The one that really made me gasp was the Bubble Balloon postcard, made by When I Was Four. I've been lusting over their goods on Instagram for a long time, and this postcard was actually the one that I really wanted, because I still can't get enough of those Bubble Balloons. Some of my friends can attest that I go absolutely insane when I find them in a little store, and spend hours entertaining myself with them. Because seriously, they're bubbles. That act like balloons. And they smell really good.

I think she's the only person I know who can make construction paper look so good. I love that she made a little diagram to tell me about herself, her background, and her aspirations! I thought that was particularly clever.

Natalie, thank you so much for your delightful parcel, and the lovely trip down memory lane!! I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to exchange mail with you, and I am seriously blown away by your talent and generosity. You've figured me out so well and I truly love and appreciate everything that you sent me!

If you're as impressed as I am by Natalie's work, you can find her on Facebook, Behance, and Society6, where she has various merchandise for sale. She is also available for commissions and is an all-round awesome person! 

Incoming: South Korea

Excuse my poor attempt at blocking out personal information, and check out this beautiful parcel from Hyein!

Are you squealing? Because I certainly was. How cute is the envelope on the left?!? It might be the most adorable thing that I own, hands down.

I also thought it was fascinating that Hyein and I both have the same pink washi tape that she used on the smaller envelope. It sounds ridiculous because globalization and all, but washi tape isn't as readily available in Saudi Arabia -- Knowing that someone all the way in Korea who was a complete stranger until now has the exact same one just blows my mind!

Hyein has been into mail art for over ten years, and it definitely shows. Who puts so much effort into the back of an envelope?!? When I die, I'd like to be cremated with these, please. Because that's not creepy at all.

These stunning postcards (and kitty sticky notes!!) were wrapped up in a gorgeous piece of lace. I love the postcards so much, they give off such a calm, vintage vibe!

The charming kitty envelope held so many treasures, starting with a long letter that Hyein painstakingly decorated. Each page was so different, yet it all tied together perfectly.

When Hyein first contacted me, I was immediately intrigued by how intelligent she seemed. Her letter only proved this further; Introduction letters can be incredibly daunting, yet each paragraph flowed with ease, as she detailed her background, interests, and aspirations in a fun, quirky manner.

She also included some delightful stickers and a whimsical tag. They are so different, and I just love how the colors pop! I think I need to move to Korea, because if this is any indication of what you can find there, then I think I've found heaven.

She also shared some Skin Food goodies and Orchid Green Tea. Yes, Orchid tea actually exists, and I had no idea until now. I love orchids!!

The smaller envelope held these kick-ass bracelets, which truly surprised me. After I graduated from college, I tried to incorporate more color into my wardrobe...which worked for a couple of years, until I realized that I really missed the simplicity (and dare I say, edge) of black. In my pursuit to regain said edge, I went in search of similar bracelets, and found absolutely nothing. Talk about serendipity -- these bracelets are a Godsend for my sartorial urges, and I'm so, so appreciative!

Hyein and I had agreed on a blind swap so that our parcels wouldn't be influenced by anything other than what little we knew about each other, and the results were incredible! We seem to share a lot of similarities, and we both agreed that we immediately clicked.

Hyein, thank you so much for your amazing parcel!! I am still blown away by how well you seemed to figure me out, and your mail art skills are absolutely inspiring! Every time I look at what you've sent me, I have a strong urge to embark on a creative project (or ten). I feel truly lucky to have exchanged mail with you, and I look forward to many more lovely interactions with you!

Incoming: Sweden

Lotte's parcel was the second to arrive during my happiest mail week, and I still can't get over how delightful it was! Check out this beautiful handmade envelope...

...which opened to reveal a perfectly rustic parcel! It's totally normal for your mouth to water at the sight of such beautiful paper, right? I mean, surely this happens to other people too? People make this with their hands, you guys. I kind of want to go out and buy Lotte a pair of gloves to ensure that those magical hands of hers are protected forever.

This picture is really more of a reminder for me because as we all know by now, I am clueless when it comes to packaging, and this seemed really clever!

Tucked inside was a bounty of ethereal goodies!

This beautiful customized matchbox immediately caught my eye, and I spent a few minutes just running my fingers over it, taking in all its beauty and texture! As I opened it and curiously inspected the contents, I felt a rush of joy and wonder. Inside were some lovely shells that Lotte found at a beach in Thailand, some gorgeous dried lavender, a little feather from her garden, and a cute little note describing the contents! To say that this little box is one of the most magical things I own is an understatement -- every time I pick it up and look through it, I feel like Alice in Wonderland!

Lotte must have read my mind, because in keeping with the Alice in Wonderland theme, she included some lovely Rose Wisdom tea in stunning packaging, complete with a delightful "Drink Me" tag! I am slightly obsessed with roses, so the flavor was especially perfect!

She also made me some delightfully rustic tags that I can't wait to use, and was kind enough to share some of her washi tape with me! Washi tape really is the best invention ever.

She's really got the mystical vibe down to perfection, check out these enchanting paper goods! I must confess that I rushed through the picture-taking process because I just couldn't wait to stick these goodies on my wall!

I really can't get over how well she's figured me out -- I burst out laughing when I saw these cards because they really speak to me. I have a hard time shutting my brain up when I craft because I just cannot get over this need to make everything perfect. If I'm not happy with something, I tear it up and throw it away, which only serves to make me feel worse. These cards will definitely serve as a good reminder to just do my best and have fun, without worrying about the results!

Lotte also sent me this stunning purse; how vibrant is that beautiful shade of red!? It's perfect for storing my luggage keys when I travel, and will help me remember her beautiful soul wherever I go!

If her creative brilliance wasn't apparent enough, here's a piece of information that will make your jaw drop: Lotte recently had an accident, and as a result she has to be careful not to strain her left arm. Seriously guys, if I were in her position, I would probably make a half-hearted finger painting and call it a day; I can't even produce such beauty as it is! 

Lotte, I am immensely grateful for all the effort that you've put into this marvelous parcel, thank you so much!! I am still overwhelmed by your talent and generosity, and I took an immediate liking to you from the moment you contacted me. You are such a kindhearted person and I feel truly lucky to have exchanged mail with you!

p.s. To see what I sent Lotte, click here. Her accident has actually made her more inclined to do creative things and write letters, so if you ever have an opportunity to exchange mail with her, definitely go for it!

Incoming: Texas

Amanda's parcel kicked off a series of delightful mail that arrived this past week, and I've decided that she is officially my happy mail fairy!

Can we take a moment to admire her incredible mail art skills? I actually debated whether I should open it up because I didn't want to ruin all that pretty washi tape! If you browse through her Instagram, you'll notice that she has an amazingly unique collection of stamps. She also weighs all her outgoing mail by herself and plugs it into the USPS calculator to figure out how much postage she needs. This woman is a mail Goddess!

Everything was perfectly bundled between pages from an old dictionary, which I thought was particularly clever!

The first (pink gradient!!) envelope contained a beautiful Polaroid card, pretty paper, and striking printable gems that she glued onto colored cardstock.

In the second envelope was another card with eye-catching typography, pretty hand-punched hearts (the glitter ones are to die for!), and more charming paper goods. 

Packing various things neatly in an envelope is something that I often find difficult, so Amanda's idea of tucking goodies in cards is particularly inspiring. See what I mean about her being a mail Goddess?! You can just tell that she's thought everything through. (Also, how cute is that "take flight" badge?!)

I've recently dived into journaling, so all these paper goods will definitely come in handy. She also included a fun list of her favorite colors, cuisine, beverage, music, and season, as well as a sweet note in such pretty handwriting!

Amanda, thank you so much for your beautiful mail! It was truly a pleasure opening each of the lovely envelopes and finding one surprise after another. You have been so generous with your parcel, and your creativity absolutely blows me away. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to exchange parcels with you!!

P.S. To see what I sent Amanda, click here and here!

Incoming parcel from the Netherlands

I've received my first parcel! Janine (@janineve1 on Instagram) from the Netherlands was kind enough to send me something first, and I am absolutely blown away by her creativity and generosity!

I received some beautiful stationery, including amazing paper strips and labels, numbered paper clips, and a sweet notebook.

Delicious tea (of course!) and samples of her favorite hair products, which I thought was a brilliant idea!

A delightful quote card that is just perfect (I'm all about love!) as well as a precious keychain. I can't help but wonder if everything in Netherlands comes wrapped in such wonderful paper. It's just so different, and so delicate!

I cannot fully explain how much I love this matchbox. It is beyond perfect, and I will think of this quote every time I have some coffee. I lust love this so much!!

Janine loves crocheting, and she's clearly fantastic at it! You can't really tell, but nestled between the knots is a piece of her dog's fur! I squealed in excitement when I noticed it, not only because I love dogs, but also because it's almost as if I went over to her house and picked this up myself!

And of course, a little note.

Isn't it just amazing how much thought and effort she's put into this parcel? I usually write my notes on plain old paper, but Janine went so far as to send me a card, and such a pretty one, at that! I only wrote her a short sentence about my likes, but every single gift that she sent was absolutely perfect, as if we'd known each other for a long time. It was all so intricately packed and labeled, and I just cannot get over how beautiful it all is. Janine, you have completely raised the standards and I hope to send you something equally magical. Thank you, truly. I'm still beaming over your parcel and have spent a few tea breaks looking over everything again and again. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to continue staring longingly at all the pretty paper that you've sent me.

EDIT: Janine wrote a lovely blog post about the parcel that I sent her. To read it, click here!