Christmas Postcards

So most of the mail I sent in December was in the form of postcards. These went out to friends, family, previous postcards swappers, pen pals and IGers. The cutting and sticking and glue and glitter was fun and totally brought out the Blue Peter kid in me. I think it is something I will try and do annually.

Traditionally people send New Year postcards (年賀はがき）in Japan. Some are hand drawn or include art work or family photos. So it was nice to do something similar for Christmas. Also postcards were simpler, quicker and cheaper that full blown cards.

@rehanu Giveaway

So I recently reached 1000 followers on Instagram, which was a very big deal for me. I decided to do the usual giveaway. I decided against a 'kawaii give-away' despite being in Japan and having easy access to all things kawaii. Mainly because I hate kawaii (sorry kawaii fans) and also there are many kawaii giveaway on IG. So I opted for traditional Japanese stationery, which was more my taste and the kinda give away I would want to enter myself. My eventual winner was @mandyloudarling.

So here is what I included, I bought a few bits from Yohira a store I mentioned before and the washi paper and doll mobile is from 'Shatoh' the paper shop in Kamakura where I buy all my washi sheets. I went for a slightly autumnal theme and am I going to add a few other bits and pieces before I send them off. 

Hand printed leaf card, washi paper sheets, paper geisha mobile, fumiko (envelope incense), blotting paper and paper face mask.  

Total haul 

writing paper from Yohira

 Paper doll mobile from Shatoh

 文香（ふみこう）Fumiko 

 Hand printed card

Blotting paper and citrus face mask 

Yohira

So after a little research Thursday I found myself in Hase (more about the trip in a future post). I was in search of a well-known paper shop called 'Yohira'. I found out about the shop on a site called ‘Upon a Fold’. I have to check other shop they mentioned Cloud Bldg they have moved and changed their web address since the blog post so it took me a little time to find it (damn my limited Japanese!). I will check them out when I next go to Kamakura.

Yohira did not disappoint though I wish I'd gone into the main stationery shop first. They have two shops side by side, paper goods and then one purely for stationery. I spent more than I liked in each but would have preferred to use some of the more in the stationery shop. But picked up some pretty washi stitched postcards, paper and and letter sets. 

I was spoiled the choice and if I had more money I would've bought a lot more than I did. I'm happy with the things I picked up. After I went to Hase-dara I'll write about that later, I managed to pick up a few little souvenirs which will be great envelope fillers. But below are my new purchases.

Outside display

 

Paper goodies

Beautiful patterns

I love the stitching on these postcards so cute!

The paper is so thick and lush!

You don't know how much I love theses!

Blotting paper, postcards, paper (for new envelopes!) and bookmarks

Paper Passions II

I finally started working with the new paper I bought. I gotta say I'm really pleased with the things that I've made. It's safe to say I can't wait to send them out to friends and family. The yellow, blue, red and pink floral envelope is off to the lovely Papered Thoughts. I hope she enjoys my response to her mail tag, I will definitely have to include a mail tag in some of my future letters.

I've long enjoyed her feed on Instagram and actually took some inspiration from some of her posts for some of these envelopes. I'm as yet undecided about the others but there is somebody on Instagram I would love to send a long letter to. Hopefully she's in agreement and I write that this coming week!

But I'm well stocked to get some summer letters out.