What to Wear Wednesdays: Big Letter Pendant

Vintage Texas State Postcard by SouthernHeidiBelle on etsy

The Tuesday Post: No time for stamps...

Thank you postcardsavvyrebel 

Obviously this was a while ago, when postage was only 39¢.  Does anyone know if this would actually work?

I just returned from a trip to the Gulf Coast of sunny Florida.  It is so refreshing getting a full day's worth of sun, when you are used to a full [short] day of clouds - look up the "hours of daylight" for Seattle in the winter if you don't believe me.  Sarasota is at 22.3° N and Seattle is at 47.6° N.  That is comparable to Taiwan and England.  Needless to say, I spent a week daydreaming about all of the plants that I could grow in my garden - orchids mostly, but bromeliads, citrus and rubber trees, and peppers.  Yes, peppers take a lot of sun.  I don't have that sun in my yard.  I have shade.  Shade grows moss and lichen.

The pepper postcards, although much thinner than the Max & Co.  Post postcards, have a beautiful botanical illustration of several varieties of peppers (Piper sp.).  I think they would make wonderful invitations to a dinner party!  Or maybe handwritten menu cards?  Hmm...

I love the Piper oblongii  peppers - they're classic.  What is your favorite pepper?

You will find these postcards, as well as many others in the MaxAndCoPost etsy shop.

Deltiology 101: A guide to Grading Postcards

Here is a link to a guide for grading postcards.  It is quite extensive and discusses term as like album marks, pioneers, and silvering.   For example - did you know there are SIX grades of conditions of postcards, from Mint (perfect, like it was just printed)  to Poor (incomplete card)?  If you are purchasing cards over the internet, this will be a helpful guideline to decide if the card is right for your needs - or if the description isn't adequate, it will help you ask the right questions so that you know exactly what you are getting.   It is also quite useful for someone who is getting into serious collecting.

Saturday Market: Rifle Paper Co.

Rifle Paper Co. is one of my new favorite postcard designers.  I adore the flower bouquet "Thank You" postcards.  And I think I will buy some "North Pole" postcards to send next December.

Friday Philosophy

"I'm not funny, What I am is brave." by lindsalita on etsy

What to Wear Wednesdays: Postcard Gown

Postcard Gown by Shannon Decker

The Tuesday Post: Round Forever International Stamp

You heard me right!  It's a FOREVER International Stamp - and it is ROUND!  Boy, those postcards to Europe are going to look so stylish now :)

Now that we are catching up to the rest of the world in the "cool stamp" department, I wonder how easy they are to remove.  Have you ever tried removing one of the self-stick stamps from a postcard?  I have, and they ruin the paper on the postcard - not like the old lick-and-stick stamps that would slide right off when they were moistened.  In fact, most stamps from countries outside of the USA still use some sort of glue that appeases deltiologists and philatelists.

Regardless, I am still very excited to have a beautiful stamp that fits nicely on postcards!  What do you think about it?

Meet The New Members Of The Pacific Postcards Team

Butterfly In The Attic: Meet The New Members Of The Pacific Postcards Team...: "I am happy to report that the Pacific Postcards Team is growing! I will be introducing our new members over a course of a few posts. Help me welcome our newest members in post 1 of 10..."

Yup, Max & Co. Post is one of the newest members of the etsy Pacific Postcards Team!

Max & Co Post Bestselling Postcards

Since I started offering the Choose 5 postcard set, there have been postcards that stand out clearly as favorites - so I created the Bestseller Set.  This is a set of the 5 bestselling postcards (and it will eventually be updated as others make the bestseller list).  You will receive:

• Worldwide Airmail sticker collage
• Keep Calm and Send Postcards
• Turn-of-the-century (20th that is) black & white vintage photo of girl with a book
• Black & white photo of woman in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France from 1950's
• Black & white photo of grandfather on park bench with granddaughter and Steiff teddy bear, Germany, 1930's

As I offer more original cards, this set will evolve over time.  This is a great set for anyone who currently sends cards, trades cards, collects cards, or as a gift or for yourself.  I'm thinking as a Moving Away gift; Off to College Gift; Bon Voyage gift;  or Just Getting Started in Postcrossing gift... the possibilities are endless!

Deltiology 101: the Martha Stewart Postcard Album

I really want to make myself one of these albums.  Martha Stewart shows how to make cut-out pages with mats so that you can see both sides of the postcard.  It would be a great way to archive all of those postcards from my Grandparents, written from the 1930's on!

Saturday Market: LetterboxCo.

This shop (LetterboxCo.) looks like fun, doesn't it?  They have all sorts of airmail envelopes, baker's twine, and other vintage General Store goodies. 

Friday Philosophy

"True Love is not the kind of thing you should turn down" by The OceanStateOfMind

Thursday Link Love: Crankbunny

I just adore Norma Toraya's (aka Crankbunny) work.  I've purchased her cards on a few occasions and they are all of the highest quality.  I also just treated myself to this perpetual calendar.  It's both beautiful and ingenious!  I couldn't be more thrilled to have a piece of her work to look at everyday :)

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

What to Wear Wednesdays: Italian Holiday Dress

Italian Holiday Postcards dress by Annex

Annex designs very cute dresses - out of paper.  They are after my own heart.  While in getting my degree in apparel design from Western Washington University, I designed and wore this National Geographics Map dress for a ball gown competition.  I must admit it was a moment of rebellion that I designed it, because I was on a "sewing strike" - so the entire dress is put together with paper, clear contact paper and packing tape.  I did win "Most Resourceful" and held a place in history at the school for many years - it was probably my 30 seconds of fame.

I have to admit - I do like Annex's map dress better:

The Tuesday Post: Mr. Zip is back!

The lovable cartoon Mr. Zip that was created 50 years ago by the USPS (United States Postal Service) to encourage people to use zip codes when addressing mail, is making a come back.  He was retired in 1983, after 20 years of service.  Apparently he already appears on the Grand Central Station stamps and as a 3D character in some advertising.

I wonder where he will pop up next...

How do you like the new 3D version of Mr. Zip?  Where have you seen him recently?

Congratulations - you won a $25 etsy gift card...

Hurray!  Christine D., you get to go shopping on etsy - and maybe get those cat postcards you had your eye on!

Thank you all for playing along and helping support my new business.  I am really enjoying resourcing postcards for my fans.  I recently stumbled up an estate sale for a gentleman who was a mid-20th century cattle judge.  You can only imagine the photos I picked up there (think Dairy Queen, and not the icecream).  AND I am working on restoring a set of photos of GI's and their Gals from both World Wars!  Then there's the Checkbox Card set in development, and some original Christmas illustrations that may roll over into generic holiday greetings... Wow, keep in touch to see what's going on in the studio!

Happy shopping Christine!   And for everyone else that entered, if you would like a free postcard from Max & Co. Post, just send me a convo through my etsy shop with your address and I will pop one in the mail for you!

Happy [Chinese] New Year!

It's a new lunar year, and a new zodiac animal - the Snake!  The Chinese zodiac is based on a twelve-year cycle - each one represented by an animal.  2013 is the year of the Snake.  In Chinese myth, snakes were often seen as deities in disguise.  Snakes are cared for by the priests and are often seen around the Buddhist temples as deities of protection.  In Chinese culture, the snake is associated with the bravery of men and beauty of women.  The snake is also a symbol of wealth and money.

Saturday Market: Sandragrafik on etsy

I'm really in love with these postcards.  It's a tough decision, but I think the Queen of Hearts is my favorite - not that I would be upset at receiving any of the others.   You can find a whole line of Sandra Vargas'art on etsy.

Friday Philosophy

"Write Drunk, Edit Sober" by LiteraryEmporium

Thursday Link Love: Letter Writers Alliance

Another reason I love reading other mail enthusiast blogs (like Letter Writers Alliance), is because I run across things like this post => click here 

What to Wear Wednesdays: Bohemian Postcard Dress

Bohemian Postcard Dress by NaturallyBohemian on etsy

The Tuesday Post: How to tie a package knot

Ever want to send a parcel with brown paper and a pretty, but secure knot?  Here's a tutorial.  Your recipient is guaranteed to smile :)

BTW - I really like this website for tying knots.  All of the tutorials are animated to make it easier.  And I have regular twine to use this knot - it looks really romantic.

First Monday - Free Postcard with Purchase (Forgotten Piano)

I found this piano abandonded in a parking lot in Montreal outside a circus school.  I can't imagine why anyone would abandon such a beautiful instrument.  Despite it's condition, it still played, albeit a little out of tune.  There was something romantic in its voice - it was like a raspy tenor who smoked too many cigarettes and drank a few too many martinis.  I reminded me of a washed up Cassanova who had seen happier days.  If it wore clothes, they would be an outdated, but still stylish suit, with worn elbows;  a silk tie that was a little too wide and perhaps stretched with wear;  the pants were baggy;  the shoes scuffed;  the hat dusty.

Too often we judge the book by the cover.  Our "Cassanova" has stories to tell.  Love stories.  Happy stories of days gone by.  Stories that should not be forgotten.

In honor of those love stories that should be retold, I am including one free copy of this postcard with each order through my etsy shop or my ecrater shop.

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Deltiology 101: A Brief History of Postcards

Click on the image for a brief discussion of how postcards came to be from 1840-1915.

Saturday Market: Antique Postcard Collector's Cabinet

I would really love to own this cabinet.  I can no longer find it on the internet - I guess it sold - it's only on Pinterest now... sigh...

Friday Philosophy

Did you know that February is International Correspondence Writing Month (InCoWriMo)?  The challenge is to hand write and send one postcard or letter each day in February.  How fun.  I'm doing it, how about you?

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