special delivery! christmas postcards have arrived

We've established that I just LOVE getting mail. (Who doesn't!?)

I love all kinds of mail besides bills and junk mail. Have I mentioned that I get a LOT of junk mail? It's not even mine! I get a nice collection of big and tall catalogs, hunting magazines, and cable tv offers, all addressed to long gone tenants of this apartment. That aside, this is a great time of year for mail because of all of the Christmas and birthday cards that find their way to me.

One type of mail that is extra special is orders from my printer! I love seeing what my designs look like in print. There's always that magical moment of opening the box and finding 50 or 100 or 150 copies of my own design...it's so satisfying!

Well, yesterday I received my Christmas postcards. Normally my print orders are for my wedding clients so this one was especially fun since it was a personal order!

I spent my free moments yesterday filling out cards for friends and family. I only have a few more to write before I send them off tomorrow.

This one in particular is to my brother, whom I'll see in two weeks.

Do you send out Christmas cards? Do you make or buy them, and what types of designs do you favor?

p.s. We got our first signs of snow yesterday with some flurries...I learned last year that I really hate snow! I'm not looking forward to that first snowfall at all. Do you love it or hate it? I want to learn to love it...but it's just SO COLD!

holiday cards & indecision

Sometimes I am really indecisive! I like to sit on decisions for awhile. I wish I didn't...but I do. I wish that I always knew exactly what I wanted...but I don't.

So forgive me for promising that my Christmas card design would be available in the One Lonely Apricot shop and not even finalizing my design until today...And considering most people start sending their cards out as soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers are eaten, I'm a little too far behind to offer them for sale this year. I did want to share with you the design I finally settled on, though, because it changed so much from the first one!

I'm happy with how these turned out, and will be sending them as postcards...I'll post a photo once they are printed.

Next year...next year there will be One Lonely Apricot holiday cards. :)

mail from me, mail from you

I love sending and receiving snail mail! I have not been so good about sending it over the past year for some reason, but I would really like to start back up again. I especially love sending holiday cards to my relatives as a way to stay in touch. A few days ago, I received these goodies in the mail from my friend Elizabeth who guest posted here last week!

It included three collage drawings, a Holga photograph, stickers (I love stickers!), and a note. I am still putting together a few things to send to her in return...I want my package to be as exciting!
Corey also received mail from Elizabeth on the same day...he ordered her chapbook! It is excellent and comes with some goodies inside, like the little sea drawings you see here. Get yours today, she is almost out!

thank you & merry christmas

The printer I use was having a sale, so new postcards have been ordered! I love sending personalized postcards. Most of the ones I ordered are photos, but I did one new doodle for a few thank-you cards:



&
Merry Christmas!

walk like an Egyptian

One of my favorite things in the world is mail. I think this stems partly from my love of record-keeping and partly from my love of...office supplies. Ever since I was a little girl...envelopes, postcards, stationary, pens, paper, stamps...love love love. I love both sending and receiving things in the mail.

Today I received this wonderful package from my friend Sharon! I met Sharon last summer when I studied in Greece. She goes to college in New York and recently went on another study abroad experience, this time to Egypt. She sent me this absolutely adorable handmade camel, as well as a little charm that stands for a healthy life (she said it is a symbol for the key of life), both items from Egypt. Her package made my day. :) I sent her a 'zine that I made a few months ago, but I'm going to have to think of something extra special to send back to her in return for this little treasure. Thank you, Sharon!