Snail Mail from China

 A couple of weeks ago I swapped a postcard on Postcrossing with user YJ1989060 from Beijing, China. She sent me a beautiful card of the sea coast that was actually the winner of a photo competition and made in to a postcard! (Apparently collecting the postcards published from these competitions is quite popular amongst the younger crowd in Beijing.)

We agreed to a private swap and today the goods arrived (for both of us ironically enough)

The envelope and stamps

Each postcard is a winner of a photo/art competition that was published and each one is numbered. The red pocket (Top L) is an item that is used during festivals or holidays and is usually given from adults to children with money inside. Mine had stamps included hahah!

A few more postcards!

She was kind enough to send me some very lovely stamps from China--I need to write her back and tell her how much I love peacocks.

Paper cuts used as window decorations

(This is the postcard she initially sent me on Postcrossing one of 5,000 printed, also from a photo competition in China)

****On a side note, I found out today that Bev over at The PenPal Project  got the card that I sent her and she has actually visited the little town in Oklahoma that I am currently living in*****

USPS Stamp Releases for July and August 2011

For you stamp collectors out there, here is what The USPS is making available this month and next month.

Merchant Marine Series to pay tribute to the modern day fleet that has aided in the county's growth and security since it's founding. A four design issue, in panes of 20, featuring clipper ships, auxiliary steamships, Liberty ships, and container ships. These are Forever Stamps.

For release on July 27th, the Owney the Postal Dog issue will be available in panes of 20 and will be a Forever stamp. Owney was the mascot of the Railway Mail Service and considered a good luck charm to employees who encountered him riding in postal wagons and following mailbags being thrown on to trains.

The Edward Hopper American Treasures stamp released in August will feature The Long Leg oil painting by Hopper circa 1930. Forever stamp, available in panes of 20.

Flags of our Nation, to be released August 11th, will feature 10 different designs, including  Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the states of Ohio through Tennessee . Forever Stamp, available in PSA of 5 or coils of 50.

And last but not least!

The Send a Hello (Forever Stamp) issue will include 5 designs featuring Pixar Characters. Available on August 19th, these stamps will also be available in panes of 20.

You can learn more about these stamp issues, stamps that have been released already this year and those that are forthcoming by going to Stamp News Now.

Buy a Stamp, Save a Tiger

The "Save Vanishing Species Semipostal" is now availiable for pre-order from the USPS.  The stamps, which will officially go on sale September 2011, are First Class stamps which will cost 0.55 cents as opposed to the 0.44 of the regular First Class issue. The extra 0.11 cents will go to various conservation funds to save vanishing wild species.

You can find more info on the post office site by going directly to the stamp issue here Vanishing Species.

Little Corner of Fun

Hello Hello! This is my first little blog (and first blog post). I have always had a love of getting things in the mail, especially hand written letters or notes from friends or family and I also love to send mailbox surprises. Recently I started using a website called "Postcrossing" to exchange random postcards with people all around the world; I thought I would do a little more exploration to see if other people out there enjoy getting real mail as much as I do--and low and behold I have hit on a goldmine of different people in different locations longing for a little something in their post box.

There are a few links on the side that I think you might find interesting, please bare with me while I get this up and going. I will do my best to let the world know what I'm sending or what I have gotten and to post any links or articles that I come across in my search!

I welcome letters, cards or surprises from anyone who would like to send one and I am more than happy to send you a little something too, just let me know!

These are just some of my letters and surprises from my friend and dedicated penpal in Israel :)