Jerimi in Idaho made my whole day with this sweet little handmade Valentine!

Jerimi was responding to February’s Question of the Month:

Do you give out Valentine’s Day cards to people?  Why or why not? Who do you give them to?  Do you make them or buy them?  How do you make the day special for you and your special people?

Jerimi wrote:

February 6, 2013

Dear Lovely Handwritten Notes,

First off, thank you for all you do!  Your blog and postal efforts are both so kind.  You have a generous spirit.

Second…question of the month!  WHOO!

I do send Valentine’s Day cards.  I make silly, overblown ones, with as much glitter as possible.  Sometimes I invent obnoxious fictional people along the lines of Pepé Le Pew for the cards to be from.  I think it’s fun. :)

I don’t actually do much to mark the day itself.  I just think it’s fun to make and send the cards to friends and other loved ones.  I don’t mind looking silly if it gets a smile from them.

Guess I’m a fool for love.  Thanks again!

Best Wishes,

Jerimi

I’m a fool for love, too, Jerimi — thanks for sending me some via USPS! You certainly got a smile out of me, and it appears that we are partners in the Glitter Enthusiasts Club.

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine’s Day!  To steal a line from Jerimi, thanks for all that you all do to spread kindness to others.  Be well!  xoxo

Hello all!  Happy February!  I’ve decided to pick back up the Question of the Week idea, only make it a Question of the Month.  I’m very excited to start receiving all of your thoughtful responses again.   :)

If you’re wondering what the Question of the Month is and how it works, start here.

So, I kind of love Valentine’s Day.  It’s sort of cute in a sickeningly sweet way.  And it’s a great excuse to make the special people in your life handmade or handwritten loveliness.  With this month of love and friendship in mind, here’s this month’s question:

Do you give out Valentine’s Day cards to people?  Why or why not? Who do you give them to?  Do you make them or buy them?  How do you make the day special for you and your special people?

Please send your lovely handwritten responses (or Valentines! Hehe…) to:

Lovely Handwritten Notes

P.O. Box 2674

Washington, DC 20013

United States of America

I look forward to all of your handwritten love. <3

I really am.  In fact, I’m so sorry that in order to show you just how sorry I am…here’s a photo of a postcard snuggling up to a cup of cocoa:

Isn’t it cozy and adorable?  Am I forgiven?

It’s kind of crazy how quickly this life thing can sweep you off your feet. When did it become December?  My to do list, both of the things that must be done and the endless things I’d love to do, is so lengthy.  I feel quite lucky, honestly, to have such a lengthy list — for there is so very much in this life to explore.  But, the point is, I’ve been a bit overwhelmed, and thus, Lovely Handwritten Notes kind of vanished. (And, here I was trying to tell people that it was easy to keep up with your letter writing…oops…)  Ultimately, I’m super sorry.  I still really like all of you, and you’ve totally been on my mind during this entire absence.

I logged on to check the project’s email tonight, and there was a nice handful of messages and addresses from new followers.  Each request for a letter came with its own unique little message of hope and kindness. Each one reminded me so vividly of why I started this project in the first place.  

Not to mention, I’ve received some of the most beautiful, thoughtful postcards, letters, and packages from around the world.  They’ve brightened my day and I can’t wait to share them with all of you.  And I will.  But, you might have to be a little patient with me.  I can’t keep up with the daily posts and I have a lot of letters left to send…so, here’s the plan!

I hereby commit to at least one new post every other week (with the hopes of doing one every week).  In addition, I plan to send out one lovely handwritten note per day to those of you who request them. Therefore, it may take a little time, but rest assured — joy and cheer shall find you in your mailbox!

Sound good?  

All of you lovely letter-writing souls are so great.  You really are.  Thank you for the constant reminders of why I adore this form of communication so very much.

xoxo

It’s not Wednesday, but I think it’s time for a new question.  After all of my troubles with the post office these past couple of months, it has gotten me thinking a bit about one of the reasons I started this project — to help save the post office!  

With that in mind…

What is your idea for helping save the post office?  It can be silly, bizarre, serious, quantitative, qualitative, or all of the above! 

Please send your lovely handwritten response to:

Lovely Handwritten Notes

P.O. Box 2674

Washington, DC 20013

United States of America

If you’re wondering what the Question of the Week is and how it works, start here.

Another question still up for grabs is:

What is something just really nice (a story, a joke, a quote, something you’d just like to say, a drawing, really, anything you can think of…) that you’d like to send my P.O. Box to bring it back into the sunshine so that I may then share all of the lovely mementos it receives from around the world on this here website so that not only I, but many more can benefit from their warmth?

I can’t wait to receive and share all of your fantastic letters!  Have a fantastic weekend! :)

EVERYONE…I’ve missed you.  I really have.  Things are fixed now.  Let’s get back to writing letters and spreading cheer, yes?

I’d like to thank Laura from Florida and Chloe from Australia for their courage, for their fearlessness, for their commitment to mailing kindness that is so strong that they braved the U.S. Postal Service shutting down my P.O. Box, charged forth, and like mavericks sent letters forth regardless.  They were the first two I received today.  You two sent my heart a flutter.  Thank you.

I have to admit to you guys that I’m a bit behind in sending out letters. You will have to be rather patient with me, but know that I will eventually get to you all.  I’m sorry!  They will be a little late.  But, I like to think that their tardiness makes them even more unexpectedly delicious…what do you think?

So, here’s the truth — my P.O. Box is lonely.  It needs some giggles, some good conversation, some hugs, some warm fuzzies…so, with that in mind, here’s the QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

What is something just really nice (a story, a joke, a quote, something you’d just like to say, a drawing, really, anything you can think of…) that you’d like to send my P.O. Box to bring it back into the sunshine so that I may then share all of the lovely mementos it receives from around the world on this here website so that not only I, but many more can benefit from their warmth?

I can’t wait to receive these ones.  And I can’t wait to share them!  It feels good to be back.  It most certainly does.  

I’m still behind in my posts.  BUT…I did respond to eighteen requests for lovely handwritten notes this evening!

I look forward to flooding the postal system with art in the morning.  :)

Also, I know I skipped the Question of the Week on Wednesday…I’m sorry.  I vote we start fresh next week!

I often feel like my environment affects the subject matter and wording of my letters.  Some of my favorite places to write people letters are in the United States Botanic Garden, on the rooftop of my work’s building, in lovely, little, local coffee shops, and at the lake near my house.

Where are your favorite places to write letters?  What do you like about them?  Do you think your location affects how you write?

Please send your lovely handwritten response to:

Lovely Handwritten Notes

P.O. Box 2674

Washington, D.C. 20013

United States of America

If you’re wondering what the Question of the Week is and how it works, start here.

You can never go wrong with a little color.  

Pizzazz.  And Cara in New Jersey knows how to use it.  She responded to the past Question of the Week: Why are you interested in this project? What is it that you like (or don’t like) about letter writing? 

May 2012

Dear LHN,

There are a multitude of reasons why I prefer a handwritten note over most other forms of communication, but my favorite reason is style.  A handwritten note leaves lots of room for personal self expression.  It’s the paper version of fashion!

<3, Cara

New favorite line! — “The paper version of fashion.”  I love it, Cara, thanks for sharing!

Cara also has a wonderful website on Etsy where she sells delightful letter writing supplies and other fun crafts.  Check it out at: www.chewytulip.etsy.com

I’m in awe of the creative souls this project attracts.

It’s the little details of this handmade postal love that can brighten any day.

One of these lovely souls goes by the delightful name of Madeline, and she lives in the United Kingdom.  I received this handmade card from her in the mail.  Yes, handmade.  Isn’t it beautiful?  It is so elegant and I love the colors.  I am truly impressed.

Madeline responded to a previous Question of the Week: Have you ever received a letter from another country?  Where, and from whom?  Do you remember what it looked like?  Had you yourself ever traveled there before, or did the letter make you want to?  If you haven’t received one, have you ever sent one to someone while visiting another country?

4th May 2012

…yes, I have received a letter from another country.  I once went on exchange to Hamburg, Germany, and before my trip my partner and I exchanged letters.  I think the first one was written in all different colours.  I was fascinated by the little things, like how Germans write their 1’s like a seven.  Strange thing to remember, but it stuck in my head.  I always loved getting those letters from Germany, and still do (we stayed in touch)…

All the best,

Madeline

I love that Madeline remembered the smallest details of these letters. What great memories to carry.

Thank you so much for such a fantastic, handmade card, Madeline! :)