12 Cards of Christmas, Day 11

Peace
Altered postcards of Bethlehem

Merry
Altered postcards of Lancaster and Pennsylvania attractions

Found: Heritage Press Museum

I was lucky to have a rare morning all to myself today, and I took the opportunity to run a few errands without help. Afterward, I decided to head Downtown to enjoy two of my favorite Queen Street shops, Creative Reuse and Mommalicious. I shop at the first and window-shop at the latter!

While walking from one to the other, I passed the Heritage Press Museum. I only recently learned of their existence through an article in the local paper. After visiting both my intended destinations, I determined I would have a bit more solo adventure before retrieving the baby for naptime.

 (I first saw this text on Felt & Wire, and I'm thrilled to have my own copy to post in my workshop, printed in Lancaster!)

I dropped in the Museum and was welcomed by Mike and Bill, two members of the .918 Club. With limited space in the small storefront, they currently have two presses in use. An expansion planned for the fall will allow them to set up and use additional presses from their collection. They provided me with my own private tour, including the history of printing and demonstrations. Fascinated as I am with paper and type, I learned quite a bit.

(Yup, I printed this one. It will make a great postcard!)

I even got to try my hand at printing before I had to say good-bye. I hope to visit again soon; perhaps I can convince my dad it is time for another artists' date. I look forward to attending printing workshops with the .918 Club in the future. If you find yourself in Lancaster this summer, visit the Heritage Press Museum, and tell them the tall letter-writing lady sent you!

Found Friday: Yarn Bombing

This is the first yarn bombing I've been lucky enough to find in Lancaster City. 

Found it right in front of my favorite boutiques, Mommalicious and My Aunt Debbie, and just across the street from my favorite eatery, Rachel's Cafe & Creperie.

Check out this yarn bombing by my pen pal Mary Has Sound. 

(Thank you to my husband for snapping photos for me!)

No First Day of Issue Ceremony for Lancaster County Postage Stamp?

I am hard at work to remedy that situation!

Thank you to Donovan of LWA and Deb at my local post office for all your encouragement!

Do you know any mail-lovers in Lancaster PA? Send them my way! I can use all the help I can get!

Letter to the Editors:

I have read with interest and concern the Lancaster Newspapers stories concerning the demise of the Postal Service, the swift death of letter writing, and the few editorials that followed.

As an avid letter-writer (16sparrows.com/LWA), Postcrosser (www.postcrossing.com), and mail artist (iuoma-network.ning.com), I was thrilled to see that a photograph of Lancaster Country would be featured on the new international rate postage stamp to be released on
Friday, January 20th. After speaking on several occasions with Debra at the Rohrerstown Post Office Branch, I was frustrated to learn that the Central PA District Office passed on the chance to have a First Day of Issue ceremony.

Lancaster County has been my home for all of my 35 years, and I am proud of its history and heritage. I am also a firm believer in Real Mail, sending letters, postcards, art, and interesting parcels every chance I get.

I am awaiting a reply from the Director of Education & Public Programs at LancasterHistory.org because Debra suggested they may be able to offer a space on Friday the 20th the celebrate the release of this beautiful stamp. I believe the local Post office missed out on an opportunity for much-needed good press, but perhaps you can help me support our local postal workers and commemorate a postage stamp that will send an image of Lancaster County all around the world.

I am willing and able to organize and lead a small celebration and to provide letter-writing supplies to attendees. I realize this is a last-minute request, but I am grateful for any assistance or advice you can offer.

Thank you kindly for your consideration.

And THANK YOU for sending Real Mail!

Special Edition

Hooray! The United States Postal Service 2012 Stamp Issue dates are finally available at Beyond the Perf, the USA Philatelic website. January 20th is a BIG release date. Oh my, I can hardly contain myself. That's the day the Lancaster County international rate stamp will be available!

I talked to the friendly clerks at my local branch, and they think there won't be any big fanfare here because management is too busy trying to close the local processing facility. I might just throw my own little party if they are agreeable. They've gotten to know me, you know! A bunch more new postage stamps will be released the 23rd of January, including the Chinese New Year stamp, so I better get working on some dragon mail.

They are little bits of art that help get my mail where it's meant to go. **sigh** So lovely! Send more Real Mail!

The swift death of letter writing

The swift death of letter writing
from Lancaster Sunday News 4 December 2011

Another Real Mail article shared with me by my parents.
My mom plans to make photo copies of the article
and mail it to everyone she knows.

Ironic for it to appear in print news and online?
Stop lamenting and start writing!

Trees Galore!

34 Trees
Die cut trees on paper
33 different security envelope patterns
and one glittered tree (lower right corner)
Donated to Lancaster Museum of Art's Trees Galore fundraiser
celebrating its 34th year (just like me)

I had the pleasure of attending the Trees Galore! opening on 3 December 2011, First Friday in Downtown Lancaster with my dad, who donated on of his photographs of a tree in winter. He snapped a photo of my piece hanging in the museum, since the photos I took at home were terribly lit. We enjoyed viewing all the other contributions, but we didn't have a chance to visit any other galleries this year like we did last year. I guess we will just have to plan another First Friday outing together! Thanks Dad!

Hooray, snail mail!

My parents saved this for me from the 24 November 2011 Lancaster PA newspaper. Shortest editorial I have ever seen and probably my favorite! (I certainly hope it was mailed to the newspaper office.) Snail mail is way cool. Let's all send some more!

'Tis the Season?

I actually wrote this post over a week ago, but I have been debating whether or not to post it without further editing. I was raised with the motto, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Perhaps this is why I am so quiet/shy? Anyway, I decided that this is my little space on web to share my thoughts, and I should do just that, as long as they are well-written and not posted hastily.

Yes, it's that time again, time to start worrying about who will be offended by the holiday mail you send, or don't send.
My kids' Halloween--I mean Harvest--Parade is coming up and their costumes must be related to a book to be worn on school time. Not too hard with a witch and a zombie, but that's not the point. Oh, we are so fragile these days. In our efforts to not get sued and be all-inclusive, we are afraid to expose our children and ourselves to things outside our beliefs. Wouldn't want to Learn something New, especially at school, you know. Wouldn't want to Think or Question; that only leads to confusion.

I have lived in Pennsylvania my entire life, mainly in this small city, but for a time near Philadelphia, and a few summers in the state capital. Chartered by William Penn, it seems those who yell the loudest here these days have forgotten the state was founded on religious freedom, early democracy, and fair treatment of natives and immigrants. I do not wish to impose my beliefs on anyone, nor do I wish to have others' beliefs imposed on me, but whatever happened to open and honest dialogue and education?

I would love to travel the world and learn about as many different cultures and belief systems as I can. Alas, I am a homebody, with family responsibilities. So if you wish, send me mail, mail that challenges me to think outside these four walls and this sometimes-oppresive town/state/country. Open up new worlds for me, share old and new ideas. In return, please consider any mail I send to you an expression of who I am, a sharing of my ideas and beliefs with you, no strings attached. Thank you to superhero for reminding me that the art we chose to view is not always what we need to see to grow.

I just researched one of my all-time favorite quotes, a perfect conclusion to my editorial. “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Attributed to Voltaire but written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall from The Friends of Voltaire, inspired by a 1770 Voltaire letter to an Abbot le Roche, in which he was reported to have said, “I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write.” Coming full circle, Voltaire, a prolific letter-writer, praised Pennsylvania as the only government in the world responsible to the people and respectful of minority rights.

So, without further rants from yours truly, the post office brings us four lovely new issues with which to post our winter holiday greetings.

Madonna of the Candelabra by Raphael and Holiday Baubles, released 13 October 2011

Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, released 14 October 2011
I love how the colors and designs of these three work together! I will definitely be putting one of each on some of my bulkier mail this holiday season.

Truly, the more I learn, the more I understand there is so much more for me to learn. What did you learn today? What can you teach me?

Postcrossing Outgoing International

Vintage Lancaster County "Bountiful Harvest"
(A request for a multiview card and this was the only one in my collection!)
Sent to Korea

The month of May from my Papersource postcard calendar
A request for swans by a new member
Sent to Germany

Lancaster Country Amish farm harvest scene
Sent to Germany

Vintage line card of the Lancaster Post Office
(on the Retail Access Optimization Initiative list for possible closure)
Sent to Belgium

Anne Taintor card for a funny card request
(I hope she shares my sense of humor!)
Sent to Russia

I wrote about my love of autumn on most of these cards. The cooler weather gives me the energy to do some serious cleaning and some real cooking, two things I really dislike doing over the summer! I also like to be cozy and drink hot tea, both much more enjoyable in the fall.
Snuggle in and send some mail!

Postcrossing Outgoing to USA

Vintage linen card of the Lancaster Public Library
Sent to Texas

Lancaster County Amish corn harvest
Sent to Washington

Dining room at Wheatland, home of James Buchanan, with added stamps
Sent to Minnesota

I thought I would have a little more time for making and sending mail since two of the three kiddos are in school, but for some reason it hasn't worked out that way yet. I finally got back to sending some Postcrossing cards. I tend to wait until I can send four or five at a time, and the last batch of addresses I received were all new members. It was fun to choose cards to welcome them to Postcrossing. I hope they continue to send Real Mail and enjoy many happy mail days!