postmarked with love.: February 2015

Friday, February 27, 2015

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.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

valentines, va postmark.

Isn't this postmark and hand stamp fantastic? This is the reason I love traveling to Valentines, VA every year to mail my valentines!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

snow day.

It was a cold snowy day yesterday in Virginia Beach! My job thankfully closed for the day so I spent the much needed time catching up on letters!

Don't my snow day themed letters look pretty sitting in the snow?

Zach and I decided to get out of the house and see how the roads were, so we drove to the closest Post Office to mail my letters off!

Monday, February 16, 2015

valentines, va.

My mom and I took our 2nd annual trip to Valentines, VA this year to mail all of our valentines! It is always a nice day driving there and sending off our pretty cards and letters!

I just love small post offices! There is something so special about them and this one is no exception. this small building houses a tiny post office and what used to be a market, but we found out that has since closed due to the lady retiring.

You can pick up a few Valentines souvenirs to remember your trip to the special post office! They sell mugs, t-shirts, postcards and koozies.

Kathy (one of the two ladies who works at the Valentines, VA post office) working hard behind the counter sorting and stamping envelopes.

A view from the front of the store.

A box full of koozies for sale. I bought one this year!

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

Saturday, February 14, 2015

stamps: vintage rose and vintage tulip

Image from: uspsstamps.com

A universal symbol of love, the rose adds a sentimental touch to correspondence. Vintage Rose is a stamp for all occasions.

The stamp art features an elaborate floral line drawing of a rose similar to the design of the 2015 two-ounce Vintage Tulip stamp. The drawings are details from engraved plates originally created by naturalist artist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717). A small, deep crimson heart on each stamp brings a dash of color to the designs.

The Vintage Rose stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp.

You can read more about the Vintage Rose stamp here.

Image from: uspsstamps.com

Traditionally a symbol of devotion, tulips add a sentimental touch to correspondence. Vintage Tulip, a new two-ounce stamp, can be used to accommodate the weight of heavy invitations for weddings and other celebrations, greeting cards for all occasions, and mailings such as small gifts that require extra postage.

The stamp art features an elaborate floral line drawing of a tulip similar to the design of the Vintage Rose stamp. These stamps were printed using the intaglio engraving process.

The Vintage Tulip stamp is being issued as a 70¢ two-ounce stamp.

You can read more about the Vintage Tulip stamp here.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

stamps: robert robinson taylor

Image from: uspsstamps.com

The 38th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors architect and educator Robert Robinson Taylor (1868-1942). For more than three decades, Taylor supervised the design and construction of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama while also overseeing the school's programs in industrial education and the building trades. He is also believed to have been both the first black graduate of MIT and the country's first academically trained black architect.

This stamp features a photograph of Taylor taken circa 1890, when he was around 22 years old and a student at MIT.

The Robert Robinson Taylor stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp.

You can read more about the Robert Robinson Taylor stamp here.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

dear sidewalk.

Image from: imdb.com

Dear Sidewalk tells the story of Gardner, a 24 year old mail carrier, who is struggling to contend with his identity as his quarter-life crisis is in full swing. His routine is thrown out the window when he meets Paige, a divorcee, enduring a mid-life crisis of her own. In this relationship there exists a synchronicity, as they find, despite their age difference, they're both confronting existential problems surrounding identity, love and the choices in front of them.

Starring:
Joe Mazzello
Michelle Forbes
Josh Fadem

You can download the movie from the following sites:
iTunes:
Available to Purchase for $12.99
Vimeo:
Available to Rent for $4.99 or Purchase for $9.99

Visit Dear Sidewalk to find out more information about the movie.

I will definitely be renting this to watch on my trip to Florida next month. If any of you guys rent/purchase it I would love to hear your reviews on the movie in the comments below!

Sunday, February 8, 2015

diy valentine's mini-zine.

I have a great little Sunday afternoon Valentine's project I found for you all today:

Design Sponge has a fantastic post about making a valentine's mini-zine! This isn't specifically mail related but I liked it to much not to post! If you are feeling motivated, you can make a few of these and send them out to your pen pals!

Image from: designsponge.com

The post includes a list of materials that you will need for the project and step-by-step instructions on how to make this adorably cute mini-zine!

Here are some cute ideas to help inspire your Valentine's mini-zine:

• I love you more than...

• My favorite things about you are...

• Things you do that make me smile...

• Reasons you should be my Valentine...

I have already started working on one to surprise my hubby with on Valentine's Day! If you make one, I would love to see pictures of how it turned out in the comments below!

Saturday, February 7, 2015

stamps: year of the ram

Image from: uspsstamps.com

Ring in the Lunar New Year with treats, noise, and celebration! A wooden candy tray, known as the chuen-hop or Tray of Togetherness, highlights the U.S. Postal Service®'s 2015 Year of the Ram stamp, eighth in the Celebrating Lunar New Year series. The Year of the Ram begins on February 19,2015 and ends on February 7, 2016.

In the United States and elsewhere, the occasion is marked in various ways across many cultures. Many families set out a candy tray, like the one depicted in the stamp art, to provide guests with an assortment of dried fruits and candies for a sweet beginning to the new year.

The Year of the Ram stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp.

You can read more about the Year of the Ram stamp here.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

gotham west market postcard wall.

My dear penpal Dawn mailed me this lovely photograph she took at the Gotham West Market in NYC!

If you have any plans to visit NYC in the future make sure to stop by the Gotham West Market to grab a delicious bite to eat from one of their eight vendors:

• Blue Bottel Coffee

• The Cannibal

• El Colmado

• Genuine Roadside

• Court Street Grocers Sandwich Shop

• Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop

• Choza Taqueria

and then stop by the postcard wall on your way out to drop a friend/family member a quick little note to say hello from NYC!

I absolutely love this concept and applaud Gotham West Market for having this! I don't ever need a reason to visit one of my favorite cities in the world, but this sure has made me want to make a trip up north a little sooner!

If any of you make a trip to NYC and get a change to go by and send a postcard I would love to hear all about it in the comments below!

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

new adventure at paper source.

In November of this past year I found out online that a Paper Source was opening up in my area. I was beyond excited as I LOVE shopping there when I am traveling to places that have one. I was out walking around our local Town Center and saw the sign stating "Coming Soon" and was thrilled that it was so close to my home. Long story short I joked about getting a part time job there and voilá, I started training/merchandising at the new location this past weekend!

I helped hang the calendar wall art and the samples of projects you can do with our fantastic fine papers section of the store on my first day of merchandising!

What Paper Source color are you?

I look forward to my new adventure as part of the new Paper Source Team in Virginia Beach!

Grand Opening:
Friday, February 13th, 2015
Paper Source-Town Center Virginia Beach
4536 Main Street
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

postage stamp frames.

I just recently discovered Anticipate Invitations Postage Frames! They are rubber stamps that frame your postage! They come in six different styles and each style has four different sizes available to perfectly fit your postage. (Fits Most Standard U.S. Postage-Both Current & Vintage)