I have a confession to make

Good morning loyal readers.  I have a confession to make. I have dual personality traits. One side of me is very detailed and organized while the other side of me is quite chaotic and messy. My office as a whole is pretty cluttered, however, there are a few spaces within my small confine that I think are very organized and I would like to show you that area.  It's mostly the area where I store all of my stationery and art supplies. I am always inspired when I read a blog post about storing mail/art supplies so I hope that my post might give someone else a bit of inspiration or an "aha" moment.

My office is tiny and the layout is sucky. There is a built in desk which was already here when we bought the house so it makes everything kind of limited on where I put things. My work station/desk area faces west. The drawers in the picture above face south, but they are arranged on the north end of my office.  If I swivel my chair slightly to the right, my elbow touches this storage chest. Yes, that's how tight my space is. Ugh! You can kind of see what I store in the drawers- paper clips, highlighters, washi tapes, self inking stamps, and miscellaneous.

.

Washi tapes take up two drawers.

Right next to the first storage chest is another one.  This is still within an arm's length and I can access everything quite easily. The black drawers contain business related items for my doTerra oils and the Make-Up Eraser. This is also where I store all of my etsy items that are currently listed for sale or about to be listed. The mini storage chest on top in the middle is one I have my hands constantly in and out of.  It's where I store all my glues. The green and purple krates house sticky notes, and then you can see the green and white polka dot can where my pens are.

A look inside. I use the glue sticks for mail art and for gluing my handmade envelopes. I use the other glue on the far left more than any other glue. This is what I use to moisten and glue my vintage stamps to envelopes. Then there's double sided tape which I also use on my envelopes.

The drawer containing some etsy items for sale.

The postcards I enclose with every etsy order thanking my cusomers.

These set of drawers are next to the bookcase that is next to the black storage drawers. This is not within reach but it's not something I need to use constantly. Starting from the bottom up, this houses some of my paper goods including stationery/writing papers, handmade envelopes, photo papers, miscellaneous papers, address labels, and another drawer of miscellany.  Next to this I have a table with two large printers. One that does everything and another that is a photo printer that can print up to 19x13 photos. And underneath that table is a set of teal storage drawers (like the black ones, only more narrow with just 4 drawers). The table with the printers are on the East end of the wall. 

All handmade envelopes, most by me, but some by others who sent them in a swap, etc.

Next, in another post I will show you the rest of my storage for postcards, notecards, greeting cards and more stationery. 

Did I confess that I might be a tad bit of a hoarder when it comes to paper?

Well, consider this my 2nd confession.

Now go have a wonderful, creative day.

Monday's Missives

Hello beautiful morning!  Hello beautiful bloggers!

 Today is my 19 year wedding anniversary and life feels pretty good right now.

Thanksgiving is next weeek and Christmas is right around the corner, two of my favorite holidays.

I am beaming with happiness and I hope you are too.

Yesterday, I finally managed to write two pen pal letters.

See for yourself.

It's been a long time coming and I am still way behind in my replies, but I am working on it.

That's all that went out, however, I did receive a few Postcrossings.

From left to right, these come from Spain, China, and Taiwan.

The senders write:

Hello JarieLyn, My name is Alba.

I'm 27 and I'm from barcelona.

This is maybe one unusual card to send but since you liked very different things I thought that you would like this one of a typical "chiringuito" (beach bar) in barcelona's beaches.

So winter is coming finally, you must be happy about it.

On the contrary, I dislike cold and these days thinking of Christmas for me means working more days...

Enjoy the holidays because you can!  :D

Best wishes, Alba.

Hello JarieLyn!

Greetings from China!

My name is Hu Yong, a college girl, 21 years old.

I learn geography in University.

I think I am same as you in many ways. 

I like watching movies very much.

Once I feel tired, I will watch a film.

I like listening to the music, too.

Music always makes me excited.

I hope you will like this card.

Best wishes for you.

Fan-Shaped train head hotel build in 1922, located on # 1, sec 1, Ahangmet Rd, Zhanghua City.

It's the last one still working in east Asia.

*********************************************************************************

Last night I requested 10 addresses from Postcrossing, so you'll be seeing those tonight or tomorrow.

It took me a couple of hours to complete the postcards.

Hopefully, I'll have another pen pal letter in there as well.

Have a fabulous day everyone.

I'll be having dinner out with my wonderful husband tonight.

I am truly blessed with the perfect mate for me.

Three More Out the Door............

Good afternoon!  

My mailbox remains empty but that's okay.

I've got my momentum back and that's a good thing.

One of the reasons I like living in Las Vegas is because I like sunshine and warmth.

Currently, it's 96 degrees Fahrenheit which is pretty mild for summer.

It's humid and cloudy outside but I love it.

I usually don't write much on my mail blog because I think It would diminish what I write to my pen pals, but lately, I'm thinking I might change this.

It's like the old saying, "there's plenty of love to go around."

Or in this case, plenty of thoughts and ideas whether written in my blog, a letter or postcard.

It will be a gradual process but I hope to make this blog more interesting.

Yesterday, I mailed out three more letters.

These are going to Margie, Patt and Becky.

Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for stopping by.

Forward Movement

Hallelujah!

I finally have some forward movement.

Anyone who has ever been stuck in a rut, or who has had writer's block knows how good I feel at this moment. 

I just want to shout to the world, Woo Hoo!

Cheers to keeping the momentum going.

Now onward to the mail:

Yesterday I sent out two handmade postcards and one pen pal letter.

Five more pen pal letters going out today.

Including the letter posted in the first photo here's who can keep an eye out on their mailboxes:

Melanie, Rachel, Mariska, L. R., Jackie, and Lisa.

I also mailed out five Postcrossings.

They are headed to Florida, Finland, Taiwan, The Netherlands and Ukraine.

I haven't been getting much mail lately except for the occasional Postcrossing which I have been forgetting to take pictures of.

I have received letters from John and Lynn and Melanie recently.

But I only photographed one.

The very bright and cheery mail art from Lynn B.

Her letters are pretty darn great too.

Pink and Orange Combo Made My Day!

Good afternoon my peeps!

I've been a bit lazy with the mail  posts but here's some of what's been coming and going.

 

Today, I received this wonderful pink and orange envelope from Lynn.

 

 

The photo doesn't do it justice.

I must say, the contents of the letter made my day.

:)

 

 

This is Rachel's letter that never made it to me the first time.

It was returned to sender and she sent it back to me.

(she had already sent a replacement letter, but it's nice to get the original)

I love the envelope she made.

 

 

A letter from my husband's aunt. I get so tickled now every time she sends me a letter.

She wrote that she went to an estate sale and bought all kinds of paper for making envelopes, scrapping and for writing letters. It delights me that I inspired someone to write letters and make envelopes.

 

 

An official Postcrossing from Germany.

The sender writes:

Hello Jarielyn!

Greetings from Middle-Germany.

I live with my family in a small village near leiptig.

I'm 50 years old.

Our 2 daughters are 24 and 20.

I like reading books and writing letters.

Wish you all the best.

Ina.

 

 

Another official Postcrossing from Germany.

The sender writes:

Hi JarieLyn, the title of this card is "walking Angela Merkel's Camel"....

We finally have springtime here since yesterday-much too late!

Berlin is so much better in summer!

Can't wait to be able being outside after work in all those bars and parks and...

all those other beautiful places all over town that make it so much worth living here.

Have a good time & keep on writing many postcards.

Greetings from Germany.

Birgit.

 

 

An official Postcrossing from Greece.

The sender writes:

Hello JarieLyn!

Warm greetings from Athens with a postcard from the Poseidon Temple, Sounio.

I love photography and you can see my artwork at www.antonisgouzountis.com

I wish you all the best.

Best regards

Antonis.

 

 

This is from the swap, Adventures of the Traveling Postcard.

It's on it's 4th city.

I have signed it and am ready to send it to the next destination where ever that may be.

 

 

This is from my swap partner for Unload Your Stickers Swap.

 

 

From Russia, week 4 of themed messages RR on postcrossing.

 

 

Official Postcrossing cards going to Taiwan, Germany. Finland, China and New Jersey.

 

 

These are going to my partners for the Unwanted Stickers Swap.

 

And I sent a package to my friend Deyanira and a couple of pieces of mail that I forgot to photograph.

 

Keep on creating!

 

See you the next blog post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smart Women are Hot, and End of the Week Mail.

Hello and happy Sunday.

Today is one of my favorite days of the week because I have endermologie.

It's been one crazy week for me.

I have been on the go all week long, including yesterday.

 I was clearing out more clutter and trying to get my home office organized.

I came across this, which has been hidden away since 2009.

This used to hang in my REAL office when I had my business.

 

 

Also in my office hung original artwork by all of my employees.

More on that in another post.

It deserves more attention than I have time for at the moment.

 

I have received quite a few postcards, but still for a whole week and a half it's not a lot.

There were two days when my mailbox was completely empty.

Three people have said they sent me letters and I still have not received any of those.

I hope my post office isn't dicking me around.

I've been getting quite annoyed with them lately.

I think one of the postal workers is stealing the vintage stamps off of my envelopes because there have been several times now when I've gotten a slip in my postal box saying I owe postage.

Yesterday, the same thing happened and I showed the clerk a picture of the same piece of mail with the postage on it. But I still had to pay .46 cents.

It's really starting to piss me off.

 

Here's my outgoing for the week, also not much sent.

 

 

A letter to a pen pal.

 

 

Postcards for the Round Robin on Postcrossing.

These are going to Estonia, Russia, and the Netherlands.

 

 

A Postcrossing card going to Czech Republic.

 

 

A Postcrossing going to Maryland, USA.

 

 

A Postcrossing traveling to Germany.

 

 

This is for a swap I joined, Ephemera, Ephemera, Ephemera.

It was supposed to be sent in a 6 x 9 envelope, but as usual I got carried away.

 

That is all for now.

Tomorrow I shall be sending out my LEP Super Hero Kit.

 

Here's what I received this week.

 

 

A postcard from my pen pal Rachael.

 

 

An official Postcrossing card from southern California.

The sender writes:

Greetings and salutations from sunny Southern California, home to Disneyland, Hollywood and beautiful beaches.

I have lived here most of my life but I love to travel and see what else the world has to offer.

Next time I am in your area what should I see?

When I am not traveling I like to read in my free time.

I pray that this card finds you in good health.

May your year be full of many blessings!

Proverbs 3:5-6

Jason.

 

 

This is from another swap, Who Said That?

The swap required us to send a favortie quote.

This pc definitely met the requirements, however, not even a hello on the back of the card.

I do appreciate the creativity but I appreciate notes more.

 

 

An official Postcrossing card from Hong Kong.

(one of my new favorites)

The sender writes:

Hello JarieLyn,

It's Joyce from Hong Kong.

Is it always so busy in U.S?

"No one loses anyone, because no one owns anyone."

Best wishes,

Joyce.

 

 

Such cuteness in this postcard.

I'm a sucker for animals, especially dogs.

This is from one of my swap partners in the Round Robin, March Postcard Pals.

This one was sent from the Netherlands.

And I love the letter she wrote on the back.

 

 

An official Postcrossing card from the Netherlands.

The sender writes:

Hello!

A postcard from Gouda, the town where I live.

Gouda is world wide famous for the chees: Gouda cheese!

Hope you like our cheese!!

The city has several historic buildings, like the city hall which shows the picture.

In summer we have a tourst cheese market.

That's the reason, you have now a colourfull card with historic buildings!

Greetings from Cobi.

 

 

Received from my swap partner for the envelope swap.

Very cute envies and a little extra vintage recipe book.

Very cute.

 

That's all this week.

 

 

Postable: I have sent letters to everyone in my postable account.

Good Afternoon.

I am so glad you are here.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

 

Here's today's mail call.

 

Incoming:

 

 

A Postcrossing from the Netherlands.

The sender writes:

Hello JarieLyn,

Greetings from chilly Holland. We miss spring and summer.

I hope it will come soon.

Life is too beautiful to spend it in the cold.

I will go sailing today int he snow.

Jaap

 

A Postcrossing from Belarus.

The sender writes:

Greetings from Belarus!

My name is Sergei.

I live in Brest.

Wish you to spend this spring unforgettable!

 

 

Received this nice postcard from Jen, a LetterMo participant.

You can check out her blog here.

 

 

This is a reply to a postcard I sent out to a LetterMo participant.

This comes from Narcisz in Hungary.

 

Here's what I sent out today:

 

 

An introuctory letter to a LetterMo participant.

 

 

Another introductory letter to a LetterMo participant.

 

 

Introductory letter to a LetterMo participant.

 

I have sent out letters to everyone who added themselves to my postable account.

I had a total of 22 people, 3 of those I was already writing to anyway.

So that means that I sent out 18 letters/postcards to someone new.

Most of what I sent were letters.

I have also responded to everyone I received a letter from except for what I received today.

I think I did great considering that the first three weeks I couldn't hardly write due to pain.

I'm still open for new pen pals and people to write to.

If you're interested leave me a comment.

 

 

A postcrossing on its way to Massachussettes.

 

 

A Postcrossing on its way to Slovakia.

 

 

A Postcard A Day (23)

 

 

A Postcard A Day (24)

 

That completes my mail for today.

 

I hope all of your mailboxes are filled with love.