Valentines,VA Postmark

I wanted to share all the letters I received from my trip to Valentines, VA! It is so fun to have a mailbox filled with all the pink and red envelopes!

I just love the heart shaped postmark on every envelope along with the hand stamped heart Kathy

(the postmaster) stamps onto every envelope! It truly makes the mail that much more special!

I can't wait to head back to Valentines, VA next year!

Valentines, VA 2019

This past weekend my mom, Bells and I took our annual drive to Valentines, VA to mail all of our valentines! It takes about 2 hours to get there from where I live, so we make a day out of it. We always laugh that people probably think we are nuts for driving so far to mail letters. But it is something we look forward to every year and love doing!

We started out our day being matchy matchy in our Lularoe typewriter pattern! I had to have this dress as soon as I saw it. The pattern was so perfect!

44 valentines ready to be mailed!

Bells with some of her cards to mail!

I love all the vintage details about this post office! It has so much charm!

The postmaster Kathy has been the one behind the counter every year since we started going around 2014! She recognizes us every year and has seen Bells grow up since we have been coming in with her since she was 2 months old!

She gave Bells a gift bag this year filled with crayons and a coloring book! So sweet.

My mom and Postmaster Kathy

3 generations of letter mailers!

If you are ever up for a fun little journey next year I suggest adding the Valentines, VA post office to your list! And if you live to far away to make it there, you can always mail a stamped envelope full of pre-addressed stamped letters to them and they will make sure that they all receive the special Valentines, VA postmark and hand stamp! (More about the hand stamp in an upcoming blog post)

Valentines Post Office

23 Manning Drive

Valentines, VA 23887

xo,

e

Delivery Exception...

Well this is a first... I was expecting a package from lemonystitch (adorable fabric wash tape) and instead of it being delivered, I got this message from USPS. I am not sure what kind of Animal Interference they had considering all I have at home is an indoor cat that likes to look out the window. Has anyone else ever received this message before?

When I do receive the adorable fabric washi I am waiting on, I can't wait to share it all with you!

christmas present for my mailman.

I like to do something fun for my mailman every holiday season just to say thanks for all that he does all year long!

This morning I left him a nice card with a starbucks gift card and homemade mailbox cookies! I hope he enjoys his special holiday treat!

His present waiting to be picked up from the mailbox!

If you are looking for a card specifically for your mailman this holiday season, Hallmark has a great selection of different ones. 

sent with love. christmas cards.

I was very excited to get my christmas cards done this year as we had maternity photos taken and wanted to include them on my Christmas card this year! Plus, with only have 3.5 weeks left of this pregnancy I needed to make sure to get them done and out in the mail early this year!

All my pen pals should be getting Christmas cards in the mail soon! I went with an ugly sweater theme for theirs this year. 

I hope my card was the first one everyone received for the season this year!

received with love.

Received some lovely fall themed letters from my pen pals this week! 

paper source and #write_on.

Paper Source has teamed up with the #write_on campaign in an effort to promote National Letter Writing Month! Paper Source will be carrying two exclusive Write_On card kits, one designed by Egg Press and one by Hello!Lucky. Each kit contains 16 letterpress cards and envelopes, one Gelly Roll pen, plus tips and inspiration for writing letters.

Since I now work at Paper Source part time, I got to see the Write_On card kits first hand this past weekend and boy are they lovely!

Can you spot the two kits on the shelves?

I think both of these kits are just so lovely and perfect to add to any stationery collection! Which one is your favorite?

Write_On kits can be purchased at any Paper Source store for $26.95 or online at PaperSource.com.

snow day, take 2.

We had yet another snow day in Virginia Beach, Virginia yesterday. I went for a walk around the neighborhood and caught the mailman in action!

Thanks for delivering the mail even though it was nasty outside and the roads were slick! Remember to clear the pathway to your mailbox to make it safe for your mailman to make deliveries.

valentines, va.

This past Saturday I took a little road trip to Valentines, VA! I have been planning this little road trip for almost a year now and was really excited! The town of Valentines isn't even really a town but more of a community within Brunswick County. There is one building offering up expressions of love. The Valentines, VA Post Office!

Outside of the Post Office from the street.

The front porch and Post Office sign.

The Post Office is combined inside this tiny building with Wright's General Merchandise. The two have shared this small space since 1935. When you step inside you step back in time. Coca-Colas sold in glass bottles, an old stove and rocking chairs. The Post Office dates back to William H. Valentine, the town's namesake who served as the first postmaster from 1887-1911.

Mr. Wright bought the store took over as postmaster in 1951. He unknowingly started what would become a sensation! Embracing the town's name, he began rubber-stamping the mail with an emblem-featuring a heart and dogwood blossoms-that he designed himself.

Finishing up stuffing some of my letters!

My mom and I patiently waiting our turn!

The mail ladies working hard!

Sorting all my of valentines!

While we were there we overheard that there is a possibility this gem of a Post Office could be closing down. To hear that breaks my heart. Kathy did say that if it does not close, than most likely the hours would be reduced. I hope that the Postal Service realizes what a gem this place is and keeps it open.

I have found my new yearly tradition for my Valentines! If you would like your valentine's day cards postmarked from Valentines, VA next year than mail your pre-stamped cards in a larger envelope to:

Valentine VA US Post Office

23 Manning Drive

Valentine, VA 23887

Read more about this great Post Office here.

Post Office Contact Information here.

stamps: cut paper heart

Image from: uspsstamps.com

The Cut Paper Heart stamp adds another romantic entry to the beautiful Love stamp series.

This fanciful stamp takes its inspiration from the folk traditions of papercutting. The stamp art is reminiscent of liebesbriefe - ornately cut and painted love letters that are a form of scherenschnitte, the papercutting tradition brought to America in the 18th and 19th centuries by German immigrants. Not intended only for February 14, these early precursors to valentines carried declarations of love and sometimes proposals of marriage. The stamp art is a stunning digital interpretation of these traditional love-letter decorations. 

Like the liebesbriege, the Cut Paper Heart stamps are not just for use on Valentine's Day, but say "love" all year round.

Designed by art director Antonio Alcalá, the stamp features an illustration by Q. Cassetti.

The Cut Paper Heart stamps is being issued as a Forever® stamp.

You can read more about the Cut Paper Heart stamp here.