Incoming and Outgoing Mail

Incoming Mail Deserves Outgoing Mail!

I have had some super nice mail coming in lately. I even got a letter from the famed: Limner over at Oh Write Me  blog.  I had been wanting to send her off a letter for such a LONG time, and she beat me to the punch!  Be sure to check out her blog for  some very artistic inspiration.

Writing letters is a labor of love!

Here is a batch of Postcrossing that is going out,  I have been rather inactive with this group  for a few months.  Time to get back into the groove.

I have been having fun with Swap-bot and having an Etsy store allows me to work on my "parceling" skills!

Two Austen Letter Writing Kits going out!

Some more yummies going out from Etsy.

Stay tuned.  I have an update on my letter writing organization that I would like to share with you soon.   I am hoping that it will help me stay a bit more organized.  What do you use that works?  I think that I am going to model my approach from Mrs. Murphy's Mailbox Magic 's system.  More on that later.

The Craftier, the Better,

Happy Snail Mailing.

Pam

Jane Austen Letter Writing Society

The Society Has Arrived!

I have GREAT news!  After literally more than two years of thoughts and ramblings in my head about starting a letter writing society that would be inspired by Jane Austen, it is finally a reality.  

I have always held a great admiration for the Jane Austen novels and movies based on her books.  I am a total, hopeless romantic.  I also enjoy Jane Austen's humor, wit, and her great perception and insight of human character. She was also a prolific letter writer although approximately only 160 of her letters survive today.  And did I mention the elegance of her writing?  It is precise, the vocabulary is rich, and the descriptions of everyday life--explicit.  

Periodically I have posted Austen themed mail on this blog.  I have also met fellow Janeites in the snail mail world at large from Swap Bot, A Month Of Letters, and even Etsy to name a few.  I also have a Jane Austen Letter Writing Society page right here on my blog.  It was really just a discussion forum to keep those interested in such a society informed on my progress or lack of progress, as was generally the case. I wondered if I could find a place on this blog to host my Letter Writing Society.  But the scope of Lost Art of Letter Writing Revived is rather broad, covering  just about anything in the snail mail genre.  The more I considered this, the more I realized that the Society needed a place of its own where it would not get lost in the hustle and bustle here.  

What is the Jane Austen Letter Writing Society--besides being a mouthful?  Ha ha.  It is a place where those with a heart and yearning for letter writing from an era long gone.  It is a place of exploration and fun.  It is a Pen Friend matching service, and a place for readership participation.  To be a part of the society one need not go far, it is "in the neighborhood" so to speak,   You can be a part of this unique letter writing experience by hopping over to the Society's home.   It is also listed in my blog list on the left.  

So Lady Pamela will pull up her skirts and amble her way over to the JaneAustenLetterWritingSociety.blogspot.com and take up permanent residence there.  Pam, the Crafty Snail Mailer will continue on here.

Write Letters.

Write Often.

Pam

Oh, Miss Jane !

...And a sneak peek into the Jane Austen Letter Writing Society...

I recently received a very unusual gift from my daughter...a doll!  But, not just ANY doll, no, no.  This happens to be none other than a Jane Austen Doll!

Look how cleverly packaged it came!  Book lovers of Jane Austen will enjoy this unique packaging.

Well, here she is , decked out in her regency finery!  Her accessories were her quill and her novel.

I enjoyed the "background scene" which was included in the box.

See?  She is gong for a stroll at Longbourn!

OK, OK.  So why the post on Jane Austen?  You know me...I hate to have a post here on my blog that is NOT Letter-Writing related!  So I thought  that I would give you a peek into what it going on behind the scenes of the Jane Austen Letter Writing Society!  It is about to "happen"  Please take a look at what is coming your way!

Here it is!  This is the official Jane Austen Letter Writing Society Kit.  I know it is a mouth full....but it is sooooo WONDERFUL!!!!  It is so crammed full of goodness, that I literally could not put another item in.  The box actually bulges!  I had to put gold foil seals on the top and bottom flap to keep it all in. I believe Jane would be proud to see her name on this kit.   You can check it out completely on  my etsy store: Lost Art Revived.   

Whatever you do...be inspired and do it well!  How about writing a letter today?

Write Letters.

Write Often!

Lady Pamela

Outgoing Austen Mail

Uses for paper bags...

This is a paper bag envelope.  This particular print really lends itself to "Austen Mail", don't you think?  Lace, silhouettes, and vintage prints all seem to beckon to a by gone day.  Except, we can make it a daily part of our lives with just a few supplies and  inspiration!  And while you are at it, try to include a few of your favorite  Austen Quotes

This  envelope is a vintage print bag I purchased off of Etsy.  I used my scallop punch and made the folded edge pretty.

You know me by now...I just have to finish off a letter, particularly Austen Mail...with a wax seal.With the doily, red velvet ribbon and wax seal I had to enclose this envelope in a cello bag envelope.  I'm sorry I do not have a picture of it in  its cello bag.  I also had to remove this stamp and place it on the outside of cello bag.  The Postal Clerk was so sweet.  She looked at this work of art and I guess felt that a metered postage stamp would mar the appearance , so she figured out how many stamps would need to be affixed....AND she asked me if I was interested in purchasing any other stamps....(oh yes, I always do!) so she let me look through the giant 3-ring binder...mind you there was a line of folks behind me.  I love the USPS!!!!!

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela

An Austentatious Response!

Out-Going Austen Mail...

I was delighted to finally clear enough time on my calendar to sit down and work on my response to my Jane Austen-ish letter from Lady Anna in Hertfordshire , England.  I sometimes start with the letter ...sometimes I start with the envelope.  This time I believe I got started on the letter first.  She had sent me plenty of fodder for writing.  I found that of course that we had a Jane Austen connection (she, being an authentic Janeite!), love of the Bronte sisters, and all things postal.  Because of all of this common interest, I had no trouble writing my crossed letter!

This was the first time I had used my customized  wax seal for the Jane Austen Letter Writing Society!

I was pleased with the results.

I had to really look around for my Jane Austen ephemera...It is hard to find these things here in the USA.  I had  been able to purchase some Austen items from Laura Boyle of  Austentation  (She is also on Etsy)  .  I encourage you to check out her lovely web site.   The proprietor is very friendly and ships out orders quickly.  I purchased the black silhouettes from her and other paper crafting  supplies  and was very pleased.

I'm afraid my letter was just a Bi-Fold Pocket letter and not nearly as elaborate as Lady Anna's ...I really should have made it a Tri-Fold because I had so much to put in it.  

You see...I could have used another panel for all of my enclosures.  I put the extras in a cute envelope, so it worked.

This is the outside. of my Bi-Fold Pocket Letter.  I secured  it with ribbon and stitched this cute crown to the ribbon.

Here is the final product.   Again, I do not have a picture of it in the envelope, but it did make it's way into the mail.

I do so hope that Lady Anna of  Hertfordshire, UK enjoys the effort!  Happy travels across the Atlantic!

Write Letters.

Wrote Often.

Lady Pamela

Jane Austen Snail Mail!

Whoa!  And I mean...Whoa!

When was the last time you received something in the mail that your jaw just literally dropped open?  Well it happened to me, and I would like to share it with you.

First, the envelope.  It arrived in a nice puffy,a slightly heavy envelope, rather large , approx. 8.5" X 5.5" and the outside of the envelope was only the beginning! Her handwriting is to "die for"!  I loved her pink script...so charming.

The parcel contained a beautifully vintage crafted tri-fold pocket letter, but with a gorgeous cloth cover, trimmed in lace.  Isn't it lovely?

As one opens the tri-fold, the first panel on the left has a laminated picture of Jane Austen in full, glorious color!  The pockets are gorgeously cut and also covered with the fabric. More on the details of the contents of the pockets in a moment.

The center panel contained the letter sealed with  gold wax and secured with a sheer pink ribbon.

The third and final panel  had a laminated quote  (one of my favorites with letter  writing) and another pocket with Austen goodies.

Here is the  Tri-fold fully opened.

Here is the crown of this jewel...a beautiful "Crossed Letter"!!! This was the first one that I had ever received....so you can imagine how closely I examined it in all of it's glorious detail.

And it just so happened, that I had , the week before, joined a "Swap Bot"... crossed letter swa  p!  Ahh..perfect timing! This was nice to receive, so I could see how they were done, up close!  If this sort of thing interests you...then you can find a partner on Swap Bot and do some crossed letter exchanges!

Great  pen pal quote.



Oh my heart!!!  Be still!

Ahhh...Jennifer Ehle was the ONLY one that would do for THIS Mr. Darcy!

 The other pocket had these pieces of interesting Austen tidbits! (I read every word of it!)

Oh my!  A real , honest-to-goodness Janeite wrote to me and shared her world  and love of all things Austen with me.  I feel a bit intimidated (in a good way...so I should probably say..."I am challenged to greater heights!") ;-)

Wow.  I was really blown away by the beauty and the sweet surprises in all of the pockets.  It was wonderful.  It was also a fine thing to receive a letter from a Janeite from ENGLAND!  It just seems to add a layer of authenticity to say you are a Janeite from the UK.  Ok.  enough ogling and on to what I am going to send back in reply to such gorgeousness!!!!!

Well...aha.  That is another post!  So stay tune, to see what I send out to the lovely Lady Ann. Until then...

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela