King George VI stamps

I've always thought of myself as more of Queen stamp addict.  But then I came upon these King George VI stamps.  I'm now hooked on Queen + King stamps! 

good things

1. Flights booked for our summer holiday.  (Rome!)
2. Fiddleheads.
3. Daytrip to lilac-filled Port Hope + Darlington Provincial Park.  (A day of bakeries + a beach.)
4. Letter-writing party at Philly's.  (Complete with Harry Belafonte + Dolly Parton music.)
5. Wearing flip-flops.

invitation sets

A little while back I worked on a creative that was shown on Oh So Beautiful Paper and The Wedding Co.  I thought it was high time that I showed it on my own blog.  

Tanya, owner of Snap + Tumble, printed some gorgeous letterpress invitations that were then addressed by the talented calligrapher Barbara Kua and stamped up with my stash of vintage Canadian stamps.  I love how all of the elements work together.

red, white + blue

I have added some air mail-coloured twine to my stash of crafty supplies.  It was love at first sight!  Honestly, it's the little things that make me happy.

P.S. Thank you Bianca + Mike for the post!

Kid Icarus

It's official.  My vintage stamp packs are now available at Kid Icarus!  This shop is a stationery lover's dream!  Plus they also do custom screen printing.  They're located in Toronto's Kensington Market at 75 Nassau Street.  Get your paper fix then satisfy your sweet tooth!  (Kensington has some darn good bakeries.)

good things

1. Victoria day fireworks.
2. Homemade Arnold Palmers.  Half ice tea, half lemonade.
3. It's officially hot.
4. Two new stamps: Parks Canada + Gemini.
5. Late-night Terroni take-out.

rainbows + boats

My husband recently ordered a bike part from Germany.  I was beyond excited when the package arrived yesterday.  Not because of what the package contained but because of the grid of rainbow and boat stamps.  Adorable!  So many times a package arrives with one of those terrible print-it-out stamps.  I'm way more into using lots of low value denominations to make up the postage value.

1959 lake stamp

I've always loved the shape of the great lakes.  This stamp, issued in 1959, combines the shape of my beloved lakes with a maple leaf, an eagle and some damn fine typography!  

P.S. Thanks for the great lake love Alli!

the great lakes

The Spring Trunk Show was fantastic, as usual.  Crafts and friendly faces and sweets make for a lovely Sunday afternoon.  I couldn't resist the great lakes-themed paper and postcard from Kid Icarus.  I also came home with some more of Petra's and Sandi's cards.  (Sandi makes the VERY best surprise bags filled to the brim with letter-writing goodies).  

hot pink postcards

Rainy day activity: 

Writing notes to my lovelies on these hot pink letterpress postcards.

good things

1. Trinity Bellwoods farmer's market.
2. Bought a cute black strapless summer dress.  Perfect for Italian beaches!
3. Custard tarts.
4. Seeing lots of crafty friends at the Spring Trunk Show.
5. Dinner at Mercatto.  I forgot how much I love arancini (and prosecco!).

summer!

It's like summer out there!  The city is filled with flowers - tulips, daffodils and magnolias.  After a day of editing Joseph and I went for a walk to the park. We had iced tea, people-watched and read our books.  Ah, leisure!

Petra C

A few weeks ago I met Petra at the Drake Spring Market.  Her screenprinted cards are just right for some spring mailers.  Petra is one of many amazing vendors at this Sunday's Spring Trunk Show at the workroom.  Can't wait to do a little crafty shopping!

P.S. Eva from Sycamore Street Press included Send More Mail in a little write-up about vintage postage.  Thank you Eva!

Filler Magazine

You can imagine how excited I was when my friend Natasha V requested some vintage stamps as props for this shoot for Filler Magazine.  The vintage stamps are making headway in the fashion world!  You're amazing Natasha! 

PHOTOGRAPH: Natasha V

postage due stamps

I did a wee bit of research on these stamps that I recently came upon. Canada Post issued postage due stamps from 1906 to 1978.  They'd be used if a letter was sent with insufficient postage.  Once delivered the difference would be paid.  I just love the design and those swoopy arrows!

P.S. Thank you to Sarah for the sweet post on The Invitation Blog!

good things

1. Ice cream.  (Hazelnut from Ed's on Queen East.  To die for!)
2. Endless spring days.
3. A love letter booth at the wedding we shot on the weekend.
4. Cherry blossom picnic in High Park.
5. Modern Family.  Always, always makes me laugh.

forest stamps

Canada Post released these new beauties a couple of weeks back.  I've fallen for them hard.  That red speckled mushroom is like a cute cartoon mushroom.

London

I made a batch of these postcards last Friday afternoon.  Royal wedding fever had me rubber stamping like mad and sipping tea.  Yellow Owl Workshop stamp sets rock!

books

One of my favourite places in the city is the Parkdale library.  I swear that I frequent it two or three times a week!  Here are some books that I've read (and loved) lately..

1. Envelopes
2. The Lover's Dictionary
3. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party

1973 Queen

Still daydreaming of the royal wedding while editing..

P.S. The Postal Kits are making their way overseas!

good things

1. The Spring Wedding Show.  (Thank you to Tanya for rep'ing Send More Mail!)
2. Magnolias are starting to bloom.
3. Espresso.  (Properly consumed standing up at a marble-topped bar.)
4. Rabbit Hole.
5. Raspberry rhubarb pie on a rainy Sunday afternoon.