The other day my Mum told us that she thinks Michelle Mackintosh's new book Snail Mail is the most beautiful book she's ever seen. Except for books written by Ulmans, my Dad added! Only Michelle was the designer of my book Vantastic too, so I think she's clearly the winner.
A couple of years ago when I was deep in the exciting phase of signing publishing contracts and working out exactly what my book would be, I remember looking at my phone and noticing that Michelle Mackintosh had just followed me on instagram. Guessing what that might hopefully mean, I promptly burst into tears and called my publisher. She confirmed that she had just signed Michelle as my designer. I hung up the phone and did a mixture of every single silly dance move I could think of all around the house.
Michelle Mackintosh has designed so many of my favourite books; like Beci Orpin's and Pip Lincolne's and Louise and Margaret Fulton's and The Little Veggie Patch Co's.
And indeed Michelle did design my book and I adored working with her and we became firm friends. And I can honestly tell you that seeing Michelle's name proudly stamped on the front of the cover of a book instead of inside the front cover, makes me as happy as can be.
Last Friday we invited Michelle and our friend Chanie and her three girls, Ponie, Nancy and Honey, to come and Snail Mail it up with us at my Mum and Dad's house across the Lane.
First we ooooohed and ahhhhhhed over every page of the beautiful book and ate cake.
And then Michelle led us step by step through a few projects from her book.
First we learnt how to make envelopes and then we spent ages decorating and writing to our loved ones.
And then we folded Snail Males.
Since last Friday my girls have been snatching every spare moment to rummage around in the recycling and in the craft cupboard for old stamps and pretty papers and stickers that they then use to create and decorate Snail Mail for their friends.
From the back of the book -
Snail Mail is here to bring back hand written communication - and more - in one beautifully illustrated and perfectly proper little package.
Learn how to improve your handwriting (and your manners) make your own paper, envelopes, wax seals and pressed flowers; put together care packages for loved ones who need a bit of TLC; romance someone the old-school way; and craft beautiful mail art for any occasion.I love Snail Mail big time!!
And I'd love to pass on that love to you guys - I have two copies to giveaway thanks to the cool people at Hardie Grant. Leave a comment on this post telling me who you would most love to find Snail Mail in your post box from?
Australian residents only - sorry.
The two winners will be chosen by me and my girls on the weekend and notified in a blog post and by email.
Yay!! You gotta be in it to win it - so get commenting lovelies.
Until then - you can buy Michelle's book from Readings, and follow Michelle on instagram - @michellemackintosh.
Laters xx
I would most love to find snail mail from my marvellous Aunt who presently has throat cancer and is nearly finished her treatment for it, and I would love for that snail mail to say she has got the all clear.
ReplyDeleteI am stuck 1500kms away so I have been sending her a package a week and she sends me an SMS each time because at the moment she does not have the wherewithal to put something together, but I know once the treatment is done and she recovers from the chemo and radiation that she will send me a card to thank me, because that is how she rolls. :)
It has inspired me to get back into sending cards for family and friends, and I have been sending out some that include the things I have always thought but never said to the people I most adore. :)
What a gorgeous book! I can just imagine how excited you must be for Michelle. I would really love to receive snail mail from just about anyone, but mostly my Japanese teacher fron high school. We became friends after I finished school and firm pen pals. She would send beautiful, hand written letters full of words of wisdom, and I would write back, trying to emulate her lovely handwriting and way with words. I learned some very important lessons in those letters. We fell out of touch, and I miss her.
ReplyDeleteI would love to find letters from my Granny. She is no longer with us, sadly, but right up until she died, we wrote back and forth many, many letters. I still have most of them, but to get one right now, would be the best thing ever. I'd love to know what she thinks about my life now and get her crafty advice. I started crafting after she was already gone. Thankyou for making me think back, such lovely memories I have!
ReplyDeleteI would love to receive snail mail from the postie telling me that there won't be any more nasty bills in my letterbox just lovely hand written letters from around the world. Then I can create,draw and write lovely letters back to them.Wouldn't that be marvelous!!!!!!
ReplyDeletemmmm, snail mail, I love it! I would love to find a love letter from my husband telling me all the reasons why he loves me. He would be embarrassed reading this and I can't see it happening in the near future. He is more of a practical person and is not the romantic type. Don't tell him I said that.Failing that I would love to receive some snail mail from one of my crafty Instagram friends. xxoo
ReplyDeleteThat book sounds so ace - a book about snail mail that isn't about how to throw bills in the bin - awesomeness!!
ReplyDeleteI have also been enjoying the resurgence of penpals myself over the last year or so, I love getting 'happy' mail! In fact, Joe, who is now 4 always asks about my penpals sent me, what did they say etc etc. I love sharing with him all their news as well as the crafty stuff included. He enjoys getting mail (my mail) so much that I have been researching 'penpals' of his own through sponsoring a child in a country of need. ... and gosh, it's hard to choose which organisation to sponsor through! There are heaps, honestly, heaps! I have narrowed it down to three organisations and over the course of the next few months I'll be bringing up the topic with Joe every couple of weeks to truly spark his interest and then we'll get a map out and select a country/region to sponsor then take it from there. Hmm, this is turning more into a letter to my penpal rather than a comment - sorry Kate! Anyways, have an awesome Autumn day! Cheers, Rie.
too gorgeous. My 10yo has just discovered letter writing and i think she would LOVE this book and keep Australia Post in business for many years to come.
ReplyDeleteI always have wonderful memories of letters and parcels written in beautiful writing from Grandma . She is now dead but on my birthdays I always remember her beautiful letters . I would be happy to receive snail mail from any family member , but Grandma's always seem to have a little extra love there . I would also love to have snail mail from my dearly loved and departed father .
ReplyDeleteI would love to receive snail mail from my future self. I would love to read the details of daily life. Am I married? Do I have a baby? What kind of house am I living in and are my hands sore and twisted from the endless crocheting. Most importantly I would love to know if I am ok; if the worrying was necessary, if the uncertainty is still there. I am about to take a leap of faith and I have no idea how I'm going to land so a letter from the future me with the simple words "you'll be ok" would bring me unspeakable comfort. A big, warm hug that only handwritten letters can delivery.
ReplyDeleteThis year my big girls have been furiously writing letters to my cousins kids back in Ireland. They cover them in stickers and put little Aussie bits and bobs inside. The excitement when they get one back is beautiful to watch and has been reminding me of my penpal days when I'd get exotic coins from India from my penpal there. I think I had about 10 or 11 on the go when I was in my teens (well before email existed!) All the letter writing has inspired me to write a letter to an asylum seeker on Nauru. You don't know who you are writing to the first time you write or if the person will write back to you, but that's the letter I'm looking forward to the most. I just don't know who it will be from yet.
ReplyDeleteDear Kate, I would love to get snail mail from my mum who left this world when I was just graduating from Uni. We were like school girls, we laughed, we baked, we loved babies, nature, animals - we loved creative pursuits in many areas - she'd knit the body of the jumper, I'd do the sleeves (the easy bit hehehe), and we both loved writing letters and reading and writing itself. I have instilled the love of writing into my own two children. Words have impact and I love that. letters will never be replaced by technology. When Mum died, I took over her 30 correspondents. It helped connect me to the mother I had lost and it helped them get over the loss too. Mothers are legends. So I would love to hear from her after all this time. Love Lu xx
ReplyDeleteI would love to receive snail mail from my grandmother, Minnie. When I moved interstate we would write frequently and Minnie would always use beautiful paper, with her lovely scripted handwriting. She would include clipping from the paper, recipes, crochet patterns or anything else that she though would be of interest. We started adding stickers to our envelopes and at one time she had 100 Pokemon stickers to work her way though (not knowing what or who pokemon was - but just thinking they were cute). I inherited those stickers when she passed and have kept the snail mail tradition alive. Thanks for the opportunity to win such a wonderful book.
ReplyDeleteI would like to open up my letter box and see a letter from my lovely friend, Laura. She writes the Happy Pantry blog from all the way over in New Zealand (okay, I guess it's not that far considering. But I recently looked at a map and it's not as close as I thought it was!). We met online through an e-course (Blog With Pip - shameless plug) and have recently started emailing each other. I'd love to throw some good ol' fashioned handwritten pen pal business into the mix, too! I think, that way, you can really see a person shine through. Anyway, Snail Mail looks like a truly lovely book - can't wait to get my hands on a copy!
ReplyDeleteReally, I would have to say- I would love to get snail mail from absolutely anyone. Every year the amount of personal snail mail that passes through our letterbox drops significantly compared to the previous year. People don't write birthday cards or Christmas cards any more, let alone "just saying hello" cards. I always remember the excitement of getting mail from my penpal on the other side of the world when I was my kids' age and it saddens me that such delights are lost to the newest generation.
ReplyDeleteThere is really only one person I like to receive snail mail from...my Nan. She always makes me cards in her card making class, writes a lovely message inside and addresses the envelope old school style. I'm sure receiving snail mail from lots of other people would be amazing too, but I just love to get my Nan's letters ❤️
ReplyDeleteOh my!! This book looks absolutely stunning! It's beautiful <3
ReplyDeleteI'd love most to receive snail mail from my sisters, although I see them all the time I love having handwritten and handmade paper things to treasure and look back on in later years, they always stir forgotten memories!
Sarah x
That book looks gorgeous! My daughter would love to do the projects with me. I would like to find snail mail from my grandma and grandad up in the atherton tablelands. I haven't seen them for a long time as we live down in southern nsw. I really miss them!
ReplyDeletei would love to get some snail mail from my 7 year old granddaughter in Queensland she is my granddaughter who wants to do all the sraft along with me as her mother does not do it,only I am in Victoria so cant get to see her as often as i would wish if she was making these letters she would be posting them quite happily elizabeth s
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful book, you have inspired me to WRITE to my girlfriends! I would love to see snail mail from anyone I remember the thrill of getting mail as a child, sadly that doesn't happen anymore so any lovely letter would be amazing thats why I will write to my friends, so hopefully they will feel special and loved. xxbrenda
ReplyDeleteI love snail mail, and this book looks just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI would most love to receive snail mail from my childhood penpal. We wrote to each other for years during primary school, it was so great. We would even send each other large packages with presents for our birthdays and Christmas! I sometimes wonder what she is doing nowadays, how her life panned out. It would be so great to hear from her again!
I instantly knew the answer to the question "Who would you most love to find Snail Mail in your postbox from?" - my beautiful Mum, who passed away way too young, almost ten years ago, when I was in my mid-twenties, and just after my first baby turned one. I so often think "what was the recipe mum used for that?" or "what would mum tell me to do in this situation?", and wish I could chat (or correspond!) with her. But the amazing thing is, her whole life was a letter - of how to be a wonderful wife and mum, a great friend, an amazing cook, a stick-at-it-till-you-get-it-right inspiration. So even though I'll never really receive snail mail in the post from her, I can read her letter any time I want, by observing the beautiful life she led, and thinking on the wonderful example I was so blessed to have.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to get a snail mail from my friend who lives in America. She was my maid of honour at my wedding and we haven't seen each other in twenty years. We used to write each other all the time, but motherhood got in the way and emails were easier! Only the other day I was thinking it would be nice to get the pen out again and write her a long, scrawly letter about all the goings on in my life. x
ReplyDeleteDefinitely my Hubby! Okay, we live in the same house, have been married for 19 years, courted in snail mail days and love each other dearly but I have never received a letter from him. He doesn't have the slightest bit of romance in him, so my first love letter from Hubby would be my choice of letter! Sharon x
ReplyDeleteI would love to receive a snail mail from my first pet budgerigar, Ernie. Yes, this may sound weird but for a little seven year old who was abandoned by her parents, this dear bird taught me one of life’s great lessons at a most traumatic time when I was teetering on the edge of depression. This was about sixty years ago. Ernie taught me ‘unconditional love’. We were inseparable when I was not in school. He would come riding on the handle bars of my rusty old bike, walk in my Pop’s suburban back yard feasting on apples when in season, silver beet and all other budgerigar gourmet delights.
ReplyDeleteHe would sit on my head as I crafted and painted, often stepping in paint then walking over the paper leaving cute little prints. He would nibble the edges of paper with such a decorative pattern. At breakfast time he would sit on the edge of my plate of vegemite toast plate chatting away: ‘Ernie wants some crumbs Ernie wants some crumbs.’ If a tiny little creature could do all this and open the heart of a broken little girl then surely he could send a snail mail *smile*. I would understand his quirky hieroglyphics because I understood and trusted Ernie more than I did any human at the time.
I would love to win a copy of this book and would in turn create from it and send to anonymous little children who have been abandoned and need to know that unconditional love does exist in a sometimes cruel world.
Thanking you all for the opportunity.
I would love to receive snail mail from my grown up children. Even though we talk and text frequently there is something about a letter. Writers say so much more about how they are feeling and you can look and feel those words every time you re read it. I've kept old letters from my parents and have some of the letters I wrote to them when I was at boarding school - hilarious!
ReplyDeleteMy 9 year old is very crafty and would love this. We moved schools over a year ago and Sienna could use this to stay in touch with her BFF from her old school as we don't catch up in person much but she could still stay in touch. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
ReplyDeleteOooh, this book would be the perfect thing! We are moving to the other side of the planet and it would be a lovely way for my girls to stay in touch with their friends - they will be so very missed. Alisa x
ReplyDeleteI'd love to receive snail mail from my mum. Sadly she died 20 years ago. I'd love to be able to send her some snail mail too, introducing her to my children.
ReplyDeletecheers Kate
Oh I found this book the other day and it looks amazing! I'm just starting to write snail mail again and I think I'd most love to have a letter from my Great Nanna who I wrote to as a child... she has passed away now 6 years ago but I remember LOVING receiving her letters and would love to have written to her about adult things and compared them to how we discussed child things! Tears now. But thanks for the opportunity and a good trip down memory lane never hurt anyone!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the peek into this gorgeous book, Kate!
ReplyDeleteIt might sound silly, but I most want to see a letter in the post box from my daughter!
After reading your post last night I couldn't stop thinking about how this book might be just the thing to help my girl who loves every thing about writing - except for the physical act of hand writing (it's the thing she finds hardest at school, in spite of being so good at reading and spelling and imagining and so many other things!).
I have decided to start today and sneak a hand crafted letter addressed to her into our mail box. I hope she decides to reply. Thank you again x
I adore handwritten letters and I send them myself. I collect stationary, conversation through letters is a lost art in our computer age. I love to give and receive and I would love, love, love to have the book. I love the cover. Fingers crossed. I follow through Bloglovin (me too). Great giveaway, and so heart felt. I would be honored to win. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete~Crystal
A Day In My Life, Crochet & Reviews
http://krystlewv.blogspot.com
I got so excited over the book and the feelings behind my who I would love to get one from. I would have to say my dad. A man of little words, it would be nice to have something to show how he feels. Fingers crossed! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete~Crystal
I would love to get Snail Mail from both of my grown up children. I do appreciate getting short text messages but snail mail would be just soooo special! When you write a letter you are putting more time and more of yourself into it. Something to hold on to and treasure.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to get a letter from my Grandmother who has passed....she used to write to me when I was younger and I got rid of all the letters. I wish I could see her handwriting one more time.
ReplyDeleteAfter crafting with my nieces over the school holidays , they would love to do these letters & envelopes with me as I have all the stamps, glitter & crafting goodies that they can use instead of using the computer & send the mail to their friends
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ReplyDeleteOooo, love it! I'd love to find snailmail from my friend. She is since we were 16 my best friend. We sat together in math class and started talking, and we never stopped. Next year it will be 20 years.
ReplyDeleteI like to enter the give away for my other friend. She serves in the Northern territory with her husband and kids, he is a pilot for MAF and she is a full time mother of her beautiful boys. I really like to surprise her with this treat.
For her address you can check out het website it's http://www.missievlieger.nl/index.php/en/
I would love to receive a letter from my son. He is 19 and has been in the army for 2and a half years and live interstate that whole time.(he is currently in Townsville). Being a typical 19 yo boy communication is far and few in between. I am lucky if I get more then a two word answer to a text., so to receive a letter (which is such a rare thing these days) would be amazing. In basic training they actively encourage you to write letters as communication is limited so I did receive a couple so I know he can do it lol.
ReplyDeleteI would love snail mail from my Childhood pen pal. We lost contact many years ago, I think of her often. I remember our letters and the excitement of getting one. I would love my kids to have the same experience
ReplyDeleteI would love snail mail from my little grandaughter Indiana.. she's almost 2 and her mummmy has already got her a special letter box all of her own!. I'd love to send this type of fun snail mail to her.. and make snail mail together. She loves doing all sorts of arty things on her visits to Nana.
ReplyDeleteI would really enjoy receiving a letter from a friend I 'broke up with' 3 years ago. A long story but the break up was more difficult than any romantic relationship I have ever ended. The split came when I understood that despite our history together (many many years) that our friendship was damaging to my happiness. As I said long and complicated story...
ReplyDeleteWhy from her? Because I want to know that she is ok. Because since we 'split' I have been happy and I wish the same for her.
Why a letter? Because I want to read that she is ok then fold the envelope carefully to store atop the shoebox with the photos, ticket stubs, postcards, scarfs, bits and bobs, the flotsam and jetsam of our years together and close the lid knowing that it was the right thing to do for us both.
Oh this book is so adorable... I came across it when I was at my local bookshop a few days ago :) The person I would most love to find 'snail mail' in my postbox from would be my very sweet Nan. She passed away just before I turned 2 and I would so love to be able to 'hear her voice' just once. Because I was so young I don't really remember a lot about her... So I rely on the memories of family members. Oh my... Just how lovely it is to have those memories told to me, time and time again, so that I can lock them away safely in my heart and keep them forever. My dad always tells me how much I remind him of her and I'm sure we would have spent many a day together... Chatting, laughing, drinking tea, knitting, crocheting and simply just cherishing each other's company. I'm sure she would have taught me how to knit a lot better than what I can too ;) But most of all I would just love to hear that she is okay... And to tell her just how much I love her. Thank you so much for such a beautiful giveaway :) Lots of love xx Paige
ReplyDeleteI love to get snail mail from my friend, Lucy. She has sent me some lovely things she has made, inlcuding her very own book.There is that wonderful rush of anticipation when I see her handwriting on an envelope and know that something arty and creative is waiting for me inside!
ReplyDeleteI would love to receive snail mail from my son Brett - he is now 23 years old and I have not heard from him since he was 14 :( Not a day goes by that I do not think of him and regret decisions that I made when I left his dad... it would be lovely for him to contact me and say hey mum - I love you - I understand you are human you you make mistakes too...
ReplyDeleteSnail mail is awesome (and hopefully I'm not too late to enter the giveaway). I have always, always, always loved getting snail mail and sending snail mail to/from my mum - even though we don't live that far apart (3 hours) it's always lovely to get a little surprise in the letter box from her!
ReplyDeletejust received a lovely thank you note via snail mail from a young woman. I was so impressed that she took the time to write.
ReplyDeletewould love a snail mail letter from my son who just went to Iraq for 8 months.
ReplyDeleteI know it is only residents from Australia who could write, but I just wanted to tell a memory I have with snail mail.
ReplyDeleteBack in 91-92 I was in Canada and every week I received a handwritten letter from my mom. My mom died from cancer in 95 so her letters is one of the dearest things I have. I love to write and send happiness and smiles in the mail. From the Danish teacher. Maybe I should sent a letter to Australia would be nice.
Oh my gosh - this is SO EXCITING!!!!! I am in love with this book because it dovetails in sooooooo perfectly with my Childrens Book "Grace Has a Secret" which is completely and absolutely about this very thing - taking the time to send someone an actual handwritten letter telling them all the things you love about them!!! I would so dearly love love love to send a copy of my book to Michelle - do you have any idea how I am able to contact her/send her a copy?? Thankoyu so much for posting and this has just warmed my heart to melting point!!!! With love, Prudence Holling "Grace Has a Secret" xxxxxxxxxxxx
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